Volume One: The Dragon Rises in the Wild Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Seven: Wind and Rain OBSCURE the Sky

Yu Ye sat on the sleeping mat with a piece of cloth laid out before him.

Two jars of wine had been traded for this single piece of cloth.

It was a crumpled, tattered rag.

It looked more like a dishcloth, two feet square and covered in grease stains. Yet, its texture was silk—thin and tough. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of characters were written on it in charcoal, along with three eye-catching large characters: *Avatar Technique*.

For some time now, Gui Yuanzi had used every trick in the book to swindle him out of fine wine. Could this so-called *Avatar Technique* be just another one of his deceptions?

However, Jiao Ying had strongly urged him to make the trade.

Yu Ye trusted Jiao Ying’s judgment, yet he remained deeply puzzled.

"How could a profound technique be written on a mere rag?"

"Perhaps it is a method for Gui Yuanzi to conceal his identity. The chants do not appear to be fake; some of the mnemonic verses seem familiar..."

"Do you understand the *Avatar Technique*?"

"I once studied the *Doppelganger Technique*, though I never mastered it. This *Avatar Technique* of Gui Yuanzi’s might be related to it..."

"What is the *Doppelganger Technique*, and what is the *Avatar Technique*?"

"As the name implies, splitting one body into two is the *Doppelganger Technique*. Legend has it that those who reach the Great Completion of cultivation can split into thousands; it is a supreme divine ability. As for the *Avatar Technique*, it is likely a method derived from it. It is difficult to distinguish reality from illusion, possessing the wonder of creating false bodies and avatars. It is not difficult to master the basics. As for its true nature, you might as well try it for yourself!"

"If the incantations were real, would the old Taoist have traded them for only two jars of wine?"

"The actions of a master cannot be measured by common standards!"

"I know he is a master, yet I always treat him like a charlatan!"

"Masters are not bound by conduct or restricted by words. You think him a charlatan, and he thinks you a fool. Set aside the *Divine Dragon Evasion* for now and attempt to practice the *Avatar Technique*..."

Just as Jiao Ying had said, regardless of whether the *Avatar Technique* was genuine, he would see for himself once he tried to practice it.

Yu Ye memorized the incantations on the rag, pondering them word by word. With Jiao Ying’s detailed explanations, he had mastered them within a few hours and began his practice.

More than ten days passed.

Counting the time, he had been away from Daze for over three months. The ship sailed day and night, and the vast sea seemed endless.

However, life on the ship had become peaceful. After his leg injury healed, Tao Feng seemed like a different person. He not only gave medicinal pills to the Chen family disciples but also joined several Taoist disciples in taking on the heavy responsibility of keeping watch. Perhaps the pain had led to reflection, awakening him, or perhaps he wished to make up for his past mistakes to avoid repeating them and regretting it too late.

Aside from washing pots and dishes every day, Yu Ye spent his time in closed-door cultivation. Of course, he also had to deal with Gui Yuanzi’s pestering. Ever since he had traded the *Avatar Technique* written on that rag, the old Taoist had an even more righteous excuse to drop by, and he always walked away satisfied, clutching a jar of wine. It was not that Yu Ye was willing to be fooled, but the incantations on the rag had brought him an unexpected joy. The *Avatar Technique* he had once doubted seemed tailored for him; it was not only simple to enter into but had already shown initial results after just over ten days of practice.

*Knock, knock.*

The sound of knocking echoed, not with Gui Yuanzi’s usual roughness, but with a hint of hesitation.

Yu Ye was still sitting in meditation in his cabin; he raised a hand to withdraw the restriction.

He heard someone outside say, "Brother Yu..."

It was actually Tao Feng?

"Please, come in."

"This... I shouldn't disturb you."

"Oh?"

Yu Ye stepped off the mat and put on his boots. The moment he rose, he was slightly stunned.

On the sleeping mat sat another figure, identical to him in clothing and appearance, though surrounded by a faint, blurry light. In an instant, it dissipated like a hallucination.

Was that the false shadow manifested by the *Avatar Technique*?

Gui Yuanzi had finally told the truth; his *Avatar Technique* was truly profound. It was not only simple to practice but quick to grasp. Although he did not know its true power, its value was certainly not something a few jars of wine could compare to.

Yu Ye opened the wooden door.

Tao Feng stood outside, his expression as before, but with less arrogance and more composure. He raised his hands and bowed, saying, "Brother Yu, I was in the wrong. I have come to apologize!"

"Ah..."

Yu Ye was caught off guard and quickly returned the bow. "Brother Tao, there is no need for this!"

Tao Feng was solemn. "Away from home, we share the bond of countrymen. The journey ahead is full of uncertainty, and I hope Brother Yu will look out for us. I have cast aside all thoughts of life and death, only hoping that the other fellow practitioners remain unharmed. If one of us returns home one day, there is hope for the revival of the Daze Taoist schools!"

Yu Ye did not know how to answer and nodded silently.

"Hehe!"

Tao Feng smiled with relief and turned to leave.

At the same time, Yu Xin, He Qingnian, An Yunsheng, and Luo Chen appeared on the deck, greeting him one after another. Looking back, he saw Meng Qingqing standing in front of the deckhouse, looking around with an unreadable expression.

Yu Ye retreated into his cabin and closed the door.

He had no grievances with Tao Feng and the others; if they could treat him with sincerity, he was happy to set aside his prejudices.

Yu Ye sat on the mat, the rag in his hand.

In just a few days, the writing on the cloth had become unclear. This *Avatar Technique* must have been something Gui Yuanzi had scribbled down on a whim...

*Bang, bang.*

Someone knocked again.

Immediately after, with a *clatter*, the door opened, and Gui Yuanzi barged in, reaching out his hand. "Aiya, the wine worm in my belly is acting up again. Save me, quickly!"

Yu Ye rolled his eyes and took out a jar of wine.

"Give me another one!"

"That's all there is!"

"Hmph, I am already so old; how many more times can you be filial to me? One day when I'm dead, no one will come begging you for wine..."

Gui Yuanzi grabbed the jar and turned to leave, muttering incessantly.

He was like an elder from a mountain village, venting his dissatisfaction to a junior, yet in his words and demeanor, there seemed to be a lingering sense of reluctance and concern.

Yu Ye was about to close the door.

Suddenly, a cold wind rushed into the cabin, and a few drops of rain landed on him.

Yu Ye stepped outside, only to see the dim sky filled with rolling dark clouds and a mist of rain approaching. In the blink of an eye, the wind grew fierce and the rain heavy. He hurriedly turned to take shelter when he suddenly heard someone shout—

"Qizhou... that ahead is Qizhou..."

Qizhou?

The ship had been sailing for over three months, with many delays along the way; how could they have suddenly arrived at Qizhou?

Yu Ye looked up.

At the top of the mast, a man sat on the sail. As he peered into the distance, he shouted excitedly, "Look, everyone—"

At the same time, a flash of lightning streaked across the distance.

Through the rain and mist, a small island faintly appeared beneath the lightning, only to vanish again into the storm.

At the same time, Tao Feng and the others, along with the Chen family disciples, rushed onto the deck.

Having sailed the sea for so long, it was rare to encounter an island. Regardless of whether it was Qizhou, it at least indicated that Qizhou was not far off.

The crowd cheered on the deck, craning their necks to look into the distance through the rain.

The three-month-long voyage was nearing its destination. The boredom, bitterness, terror, and anxiety of the journey were released in this moment.

Yu Ye could not help but smile.

Do not ask about the future; the destination is at hand. As the wind and rain darken the world, a new journey begins.

Just then, another flash of light darted through the wind and rain.

The crowd was still in their joy and did not notice.

But Yu Ye’s heart sank.

In an instant, the light moved from afar to near, circling above the ship and revealing the figure of a middle-aged man.

A cultivator riding a flying sword?

The crowd was stunned.

In that same instant, a voice boomed through the air—

"Listen well: dock at Qimen Island immediately. Any who dare to resist will be killed without mercy!"

The middle-aged man’s voice was imbued with spiritual power, making the ears of everyone on the ship ring. After speaking, he did not leave but continued to circle overhead on his sword, clearly intending to escort them.

The island they had seen earlier was undoubtedly Qimen Island.

The Chen family disciples, who had just been immersed in joy, were suddenly at a loss. The man on the mast scrambled down to the deck, his face still full of panic.

Yu Ye pondered for a moment and climbed the ladder to the deckhouse.

Tao Feng, Yu Xin, and other Taoist disciples followed closely behind.

A-Hu and several Chen family disciples were standing on the deckhouse, their bodies already soaked through by the wind and rain.

A-Hu was pale, his hands gripping the railing. He stared at the man in the air with a look of despair and whispered, "We’ve run into sea pirates..."

Yu Ye was dumbfounded.

The man on the sword was clearly a Foundation Establishment cultivator. And a high-level cultivator was actually acting as a sea pirate?

He heard someone behind him whisper, "It is said that along the coast of Qizhou, rogue cultivators commit all sorts of evils. It is true, and today disaster has struck..."

Yu Ye turned to look at Yu Xin, Tao Feng, and the others, then asked via sound transmission, "A-Hu, what will you do now?"

"What can I do?"

A-Hu wiped the rain from his face and said bitterly, "I can only obey the orders of that master; otherwise, the lives of my brothers on this ship will be lost!"

He had spent his life traveling the seas and was well-informed. Although there were seven Qi Refining cultivators from Daze on board, none were a match for a Foundation Establishment master. And on the island ahead, there were likely even more Qizhou cultivators. As they said, disaster had truly struck.

He heard Yu Xin say, "A-Hu and his clansmen might be fine, but I fear the rest of us will face a grim fate..."

Luo Chen said, "We must fight..."

Yu Xin retorted, "How can we fight a Foundation Establishment master..."

He Qingnian added, "We escaped the storm only to face this trial..."

An Yunsheng said, "Brother Tao, please decide..."

Tao Feng raised a hand to interrupt his fellow practitioners and said in a low voice, "Brother Yu, this time I will listen to you."

A small figure appeared on the deckhouse—it was Meng Qingqing, who added, "Yu Ye, I will listen to you too!"

Everyone looked at Yu Ye.

Yu Ye’s gaze swept across the anxious faces in the wind and rain. He did not speak, but turned and walked off the deckhouse, heading straight for the cabin.

In the ship’s galley, Gui Yuanzi was actually lying on a mat, dozing off.

Yu Ye approached him and whispered, "We have encountered a great disaster; please, Daoist Gui, come and help!"

*Hoo—*

Gui Yuanzi remained fast asleep, snoring continuously.

Yu Ye reached out to shake him, calling urgently, "Daoist, Daoist—"

"Who is it..."

The snoring stopped, but Gui Yuanzi remained lying down, his eyes bleary with intoxication.

Yu Ye said quickly, "Qizhou cultivators have hijacked our ship and are forcing us to Qimen Island. Please, sir, take action..."

"Asking me to drink? Bring it here—"

"I am saying..."

"Hehe, I am lost in a drunken stupor, unaware of anything, *hoo*..."

Gui Yuanzi seemed truly drunk, his mind muddled, his words incoherent, and he closed his eyes again, resuming his snoring.

Yu Ye took two steps back and sighed.

Regardless of whether the old Taoist was truly drunk, it was clear he did not care about the lives of those on the ship.

Since that was the case, it was better to rely on himself than on others...