Chapter 131: The Shepherd of the Wind, Hao Bo [Request First Subscription!]

## Chapter 131: Haobo, the Wind Herder

Zhao Erbao felt a chill on his brow. Streaks of cold air, like living things, drilled into his mind, then lurked within his body and vanished.

His heart immediately grew cold, but he heard the other party say, "Don't worry, it's just a wisp of cold air. It will dissipate on its own in a few days; there's no need to worry."

Zhao Erbao wanted to cry but couldn't. "That's a lie!" he thought. "It must be some terrifying restriction!"

Recalling his previous encounter in the illusion, he shivered again and quickly stated, "Senior, please rest assured. From now on, whatever you say, I will do! I will never disobey!"

Li Fan smiled and did not reply.

He hadn't lied; what he had just sent into Zhao Erbao's body was indeed merely a wisp of cold air generated by the Azure Flame Illusion Spirit.

It had no specific function; it was simply meant to scare people.

Verbal threats from others are far less terrifying than the suspicions and paranoia arising within one's own heart.

Of course, he couldn't entirely rely on Zhao Erbao being intimidated. Necessary countermeasures were still needed.

The Formless Killing Intent had already secretly locked onto him, so there was no fear of him escaping.

After the stick, the carrot was also necessary.

Li Fan said to Zhao Erbao, "I don't need you to do anything else. Just like before, put all your effort into collecting artifacts from that unknown civilization. I will inquire about your progress periodically. Once the Dao Rhyme successfully condenses, you can also comprehend it with me." As he spoke, Li Fan handed him a one-way communication talisman.

Zhao Erbao was overjoyed upon hearing this. He eagerly accepted the talisman and once again declared his loyalty.

"Let's go, it's time to meet that little girl with the Spirit-Embodying Physique," Li Fan said coldly.

It took them over a day to return to Nightfall Island.

It was already night. Inside the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, the two sisters were chatting in their room.

Li Fan, with Zhao Erbao, suddenly appeared before them.

A faint trace of killing intent was revealed, locking onto them.

He said indifferently, "Are you two willing to work for me?"

The sudden appearance of the figures startled the two sisters. Just as they were about to scream, they found they couldn't make a sound.

They immediately understood the identity of the two figures before them: the legendary immortal masters.

The older sister, Yin Yueting, instantly turned deathly pale, but she understood she had no choice.

Just as she was about to answer, she felt her younger sister subtly kick her right calf. Her heart immediately relaxed, and she blurted out, "To the immortal master, we are willing to serve by your side."

Li Fan shook his head inwardly, knowing the young girl had misunderstood.

He then gestured for Zhao Erbao to explain to her.

Zhao Erbao, adopting the demeanor of an immortal master, explained the full story.

"You are to mobilize the power of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion to, along with me, fully commit to collecting ancient artifacts."

Yin Yueting, seeing that her special physique had been revealed, pursed her lips and respectfully affirmed.

However, Yin Yuzhen kept her head down, occasionally glancing curiously at Li Fan, showing no fear at all.

It was a pity that Li Fan had concealed his form, so she was destined not to see him clearly.

Li Fan looked at the three individuals, whose expressions varied, and gave his final instructions.

He said to Zhao Erbao, "Nightfall Island has no cultivators stationed here. You will stay here, help the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion expand, and improve the efficiency of the search."

"Of course, be careful in your actions and do not attract the attention of other cultivators."

"If you are truly unlucky and encounter a cultivator you cannot defeat, preserving your life is paramount. I will come to handle it afterward."

Zhao Erbao's expression became serious: "Senior's considerations are truly thorough."

Li Fan then added, "Although these two young girls are mortals, you must not oppress them. The task of collecting ancient artifacts still requires their full dedication."

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare," Zhao Erbao replied repeatedly.

A touch of joy appeared on Yin Yueting's face. She quickly pulled her sister down to kneel and bow, expressing that she would certainly do her utmost.

Li Fan nodded, then quietly left and returned to Myriad Immortals Island.

For Li Fan, the matter of collecting Dao Rhyme was merely a small interlude in his cultivation life.

He casually made his arrangements and would observe the final outcome.

What Li Fan was more concerned about was that his spiritual senses, twice, had subtly guided him to ultimately perceive the existence of those powerful beings beyond the Dao Harmonization realm.

Was it a coincidence, or was there some kind of inevitability?

If it was a coincidence, then so be it.

But if not, the implications contained within this couldn't help but make one ponder with dread.

"The Immortal Venerables are trying every possible way to conceal their traces, yet the subtle guidance between heaven and earth is, by all means, pointing towards them."

"When immortals fight, mortals suffer."

"However, the opportunities are truly tangible..."

Li Fan never believed that this world would have no power to resist the Immortal Venerables who defied the laws of heaven and earth.

Even a chicken will squawk twice before it dies. How much more so for the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth?

"It's just that not every cultivator might receive such guidance."

"There might also be some secrets hidden within this that I don't know."

After returning to Myriad Immortals Island, Li Fan once again began to study the formation jade slips.

The work of collecting Dao Rhyme artifacts proceeded in an orderly manner, under the combined efforts of Zhao Erbao and Yin Yueting.

Time flew by quickly.

In a blink, it was Anchor Year 19.

During this period, nothing major happened in the Cloud Sea.

However, a strange event caught the attention of many cultivators and became a topic of conversation in their leisure time.

The protagonist of this event was none other than Zhang Haobo.

When Li Fan emerged from his seclusion to rest, he learned about the incident from the discussions among the various cultivators.

"That Zhang Haobo is incredible now. Wherever there's a wind disaster, he goes there. With his pervasive sword light, those wind disasters are often shattered by him before they even fully form."

"Yes, it's said that the mortals in the Cloud Sea who suffer from wind disasters have even started setting up memorial tablets and offering incense to him."

"Zhang Haobo? I do recall that name. Wasn't he the one who tested his sword against a dozen puppets in some cave dwelling earlier?"

"Now that you mention it, I remember. But back then, he was only at the Qi Refinement stage, wasn't he? How did he become so powerful in just a few years?"

"Indeed, he's now at the late Foundation Establishment stage. His Wind-Slaying Sword Art is also astonishingly powerful. Ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators probably wouldn't last more than a few rounds against him."

"I just went into seclusion, and he's already late Foundation Establishment? How is that possible?"

"He's a genius, after all; you can't measure him by ordinary standards. I think he's just using the wind disasters to test his sword."

"What you're talking about is old news. The latest is, he's no longer 'Slaying the Wind' now."

"Oh? What's he doing now?"

"You might not believe it, but he's currently herding the wind!"

"Herding the wind? What does that mean?"

The cultivators looked at each other, utterly bewildered.

"Heh heh, you know what herding is, right?"

"No... that can't be, can it?" the cultivators exclaimed in disbelief.

"Herding the wind?" Li Fan's eyes flickered slightly.

"Zhang Haobo, what is he trying to do?"

He activated the Heavenly Sight and Earthly Hearing Art, and his perspective instantly shifted.