Chapter 020

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‘ ‘ for thoughts.

“ “ for speech.

<> for non-verbal communication like telepathy

Please point out any mistakes/inconsistencies you find and feel free to comment on anything regarding this FF.

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Warning: May contain mature content (18+) of an adult nature. Read at your own risk.

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Note:

Although the full name mentioned here are Chinese style, (example: Fang Hao, surname Fang first then given name Hao), the names clubbed with descriptions are description and then given name instead of description and surname (example Fatty Hao and not Fatty Fang).

Btw, I read all your comments, but may not reply to each and every one separately.

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At the appointed time, Fang Hao waited with other outer, mostly senior, disciples for their scheduled transport. He chatted with them for a while, hoping to squeeze some last minute intel. The non-lethal brawling arena for Qi gathering layer had three ‘grades’ of matches. First grade was for those upto the 3rd layer of Qi Gathering. The second grade was for those from the 4th to the 6th layer. The third and final layer was for those in the 7th to 9th layer. As for those who were in the peak of Qi Gathering realm (10th layer), they only had the option of fighting in the proper lethal arena.

The rewards for the non-lethal arena were mainly fasting pills. Although the fasting pills was useless trash in the eyes of inner disciples, it was one of the few strands of hope for Outer Disciples! As long as they hoarded sufficient fasting pills, they could use it for a breakthrough into the Qi Condensation realm, regardless of the sequela of accumulated pill toxicity. Of course, Fang Hao didn’t put the reward in his eyes… he was more concerned about the possibility of the sweet-sweet xp.

Soon the appointed hour arrived, and the outer disciples were waiting for their transportation. Fang Hao tried to inquire about it…but his seniors replied in a vague and cryptic manner. After around a quarter of an hour, Fang Hao could see something shooting towards them form the horizon. It was indistinct at first…but as it approached them, Fang Hao could make out some details. It was what looked like a giant toad!

The Giant Toad was hurling like a comet towards them. As it approached nearer, Fang Hao could make out the garish orange shade on the giant toads body. It had huge warts all over its face and body. Over its back, it had a structure which looked like a triple floored pagoda over its back. The ugly giant toad landed around hundred meters away from them. Surprisingly, there were no shockwaves or disturbances…and the whole thing looked pretty smooth.

The Pagoda-like structure on the giant toad’s back had an ornate bronze twin-door on it. The Bronze doors opened and a grandma like figure appeared. She was an old wizened cultivator who looked in her sixties. She had pure white hair till her waist and wrinkles crisscrossing all over her face. She lazily glanced at the assembled outer disciples and said:

“Are you whelps waiting for an invitation? Come in, I haven’t got all day.”

At the sound of her voice, the outer disciples hurriedly cupped their hands towards their senior and started going through the bronze double doors in an orderly fashion. Obviously, this was not their first time doing so. Fang Hao was in line, near the end, as he imitated his seniors as he cupped his hands to the grandma cultivator and approached the bronze double-doors. However, the nearer he got to it… the more unrest he felt in his heart.

By the time he was around a dozen meters away from it…he was almost hyperventilating. It took a lot of his will power to suppress the primal reactions of his body. He glanced at the eyes of the giant toad, almost a football (soccer) field away from it…and the palpitations in his heart intensified! He didn’t feel an immediate sense of crisis…but a heavy oppression seemed to weigh on his being. He noticed that one of the giant pale-yellow reptilian eyes was staring at him, and the intensity of his instincts intensified. He was almost hyperventilating at his point. He paused, cupped his fists and bowed towards the giant eye. He heard some grumbling behind him, but he paid it no mind. He sincerely conveyed the thoughts in his heart.

“Junior greets esteemed Senior! Junior asks permission to be allowed inside the pagoda on senior’s back!”

Fang Hao’s head was bowed down… but his eyes were focused on the single reptilian eye staring at him. He thought he saw the eye blink quickly; and it turned its gaze away from him. Someone behind him grumbled, and went ahead of him, and others continued to go around him. Fang Hao paid it no mind. He finally felt the invisible pressure easing around him as he straightened himself and followed the queue into the bronze double-doors. He glanced at the grandma-cultivator, and thought he saw the flash of a smile.

Inside the pagoda like structure, there were multiple mats arranged, with each mat having a couple of cushions on it. Fang Hao selected an empty mat. Arranged the cushions and laid own as if to sleep. As soon as he was comfortable, there was roaring in his head. It sounded like a deep bass tone rumbling in his ears…but he was quite sure there was no sound.

Fang Hao was shocked at these words in his mind. He would be lying to say that he wasn’t a bit panicked. ‘Eh…is senior giant toad communicating with me telepathically? Or is there still some spirit wine left in my system making me hallucinate?’ He quickly glanced nearby at his senior outer disciples. It looked like everything was normal. He contained his emotions as he pondered. ‘I felt an instinctive fear while approaching the giant toad…and not without reason! How can my senior outer disciples not notice the pressure near Senior Gant Toad?’ He was in a dilemma as to his next course of action.

Meanwhile, the grandma-like senior cultivator was barely containing her emotions as she discussed mentally with Daoist Lombre.

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Sorry for the late chapter guys, I was too busy playing Siralim 2 this entire week. My computer situation is resolved...at least temporarily. SO I should be back to 1 chapter per couple of days barring unforeseen circumstances.

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