The Rich Cultivator-Chapter 280. Exploring Further

Floating above the clouds, Feng Feiyan’s piercing gaze was fixed on the land below, half of which lay veiled under the ominous Abyss Mist. A faint smirk played on his lips, his expression a mixture of confidence and malice.

His purpose here was singular: to find Tyler White and settle a score that had haunted him for years.

After countless years of searching, tracking, and frustration, Feng Feiyan finally had a lead. Tyler White was within his grasp, and this time, no force in the universe would stop him from achieving his goal.

As he prepared to descend into the Ixalaria Continent, a sudden disturbance broke his concentration. A group of figures appeared before him, blocking his path.

"Greetings, respected Senior." The voice came from a man in a pristine white uniform, bearing the insignia of a high-ranking officer. "I am a Commander-level officer from the Federation."

Floating beside the officer was another group, their leader a dignified merman clad in an impeccable suit and coat. The merman bowed slightly and introduced himself, "I represent the Bank of Atlantis. My colleagues and I welcome you to the Ixalaria Continent, but—"

"But we regret to inform you that entry for Immortal-level beings is restricted due to the Abyss Breakout," the commander interrupted, his tone firm yet respectful.

Feng Feiyan’s eyes narrowed. "This level of Abyss is nothing to me."

"We are well aware of your strength, Senior," the merman replied politely. "Your reputation as a Half-Celestial precedes you. However, our organizations have decreed that Immortal-level interference is prohibited during this breakout. The Abyss serves as a crucible for young practitioners to grow. Moreover, your presence could potentially trigger the ascension of a powerful Abyss Monster."

Feng Feiyan’s expression remained calm, but his tone was firm. "I have business here."

The commander and merman exchanged glances. The tension in the air was palpable. Finally, the commander spoke, "We understand the urgency, but our orders are absolute. If your business is truly critical, we are authorized to assist you. Be it rescuing someone or finding a person, we can help."

Feng Feiyan’s smirk deepened. "How about killing someone?"

The merman’s calm demeanor faltered for a moment before he quickly shook his head. "That we cannot do. Taking a life invites karmic repercussions. Unless the target is an enemy of our organizations, we cannot involve ourselves in such matters."

The commander, however, seemed curious. "What is the level of the individual in question?"

"Master-level," Feng Feiyan replied casually.

The group of immortals stared at him, their shock evident. How could someone so far beneath Feng Feiyan’s rank provoke such wrath? If they knew that this "low-level" practitioner had humiliated Feng Feiyan in front of billions as a mere mortal, their astonishment would have been even greater.

"We cannot condone direct interference," the merman reiterated. "However, you could place a bounty on this individual. Let the Abyss practitioners handle him."

Feng Feiyan’s eyes glinted with determination. "I want to kill him with my own hands." His calm tone belied the ferocity of his intent, sending chills down their spines.

"Then perhaps an ’alive only’ bounty?" the commander suggested. "This way, the bounty hunters would bring him to you without crossing the line of karmic interference."

After a moment’s thought, Feng Feiyan nodded. It wasn’t ideal, but it would suffice for now. His gaze shifted back to the Ixalaria Continent, where the Abyss Mist loomed ominously over half the land.

’Perhaps it is your ’luck’ that the Abyss Breakout occurred now, Tyler White,’ he thought coldly. ’But that ’abnormal luck’ won’t protect you forever.’

With that, Feng Feiyan turned and vanished into the clouds, leaving the Federation officer and Bank of Atlantis representatives exchanging uneasy glances. The encounter was over, but the storm it foretold was only beginning.

┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉

Tyler, blissfully unaware that he had narrowly avoided a catastrophic situation, stretched lazily and emerged from the warmth of his instant home. Yawning, he pulled a juice bottle from his storage device, infused it with a touch of his Ice element to chill it, and took a refreshing sip. The chill beverage complemented his leisurely mood, his actions a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere surrounding him.

Outside, the rest of Group C was still awake, their faces haggard from a sleepless night. They had been tirelessly searching for the anomaly radiating high levels of Abyss Energy. Despite their exhaustion, their disbelief only grew as they watched Tyler step out, completely refreshed.

Tyler, being the scout the previous day, had been granted permission to rest. But no one anticipated that he would deploy an instant house—a luxury unheard of in this harsh environment. He had even invited the group to join him, but Maxwell, their leader, harbored a grudge and had politely declined the offer. Now, the group regretted their decision.

While they endured the freezing Abyss environment, Tyler emerged as though he had spent the night in a five-star suite. His refreshed demeanor only deepened the resentment in Maxwell’s heart.

"Good morning!" Tyler greeted cheerfully, oblivious to the glares directed at him.

Maxwell cleared his throat, masking his irritation. "If everyone’s ready, we’ll proceed. The river route seems to be the best option." He pointed at an engineer and a warrior. "You two, scout ahead."

As the group prepared to move, an alchemist in the team couldn’t contain her curiosity. "What about the house?" she asked, her voice tinged with envy.

"Oh, that? It’s a one-time setup, not portable," Tyler replied nonchalantly, waving his hand. "But it doesn’t matter. I’ve got more."

The group’s collective mood soured further. Several members twitched visibly at his casual wealth. Maxwell, in particular, tightened his jaw and turned away. Deep down, he regretted ever accepting that sparring match against Tyler. In a flash of extravagant charm usage, Tyler had humiliated him without breaking a sweat.

Group C reached the Noy River, but something was amiss.

"Is this really the Noy River?" asked one of the mages, squinting at the unsettling sight before them.

"It used to be one of the clearest rivers I’ve ever seen," murmured the man with the spear.

The river was now a disturbing shade of red, its waters teeming with bizarre creatures. Strange plant-like organisms had contorted themselves into the shapes of fish, leaping and twisting ominously.

"What in the Abyss..." Tyler muttered as he examined the peculiar plants. They emitted an unsettling aura, mimicking fish but clearly unnatural.

Maxwell’s expression darkened. "We need to find a way to cross. Tyler, you take the left side. The rest of us will move this way and look for an opportunity to cross."

The sinister edge in Maxwell’s tone wasn’t lost on the group. Everyone understood that Maxwell was singling Tyler out, likely as payback. But none of them spoke up, preferring to watch the drama unfold.

"Got it," Tyler replied indifferently and turned to head left. He didn’t care about Maxwell’s intentions. His calm and disinterested response only fueled Maxwell’s irritation further.

Maxwell led the rest of the group along the riverbank, his steps heavy with suppressed frustration. "Let’s see if there’s a crossing up ahead," he muttered, though his real focus was still on Tyler.

Unbeknownst to the group, a shadowy figure observed them silently from the depths of the forest. Its gaze flicked between Maxwell’s team and Tyler, who had taken the left path. Then, with barely a whisper of movement, the figure dissolved into the shadows, vanishing instantly.

Maxwell squinted at the strange fish-like creatures leaping in and out of the crimson river. "Test their strength," he ordered curtly.

One of the mages nodded, conjuring a fireball and hurling it at a nearby "fish." The creature exploded into charred fragments.

"Nice shot. So they’re not strong," Maxwell commented, a smirk tugging at his lips.

The engineer of the group was less optimistic. Scanning the area with a compact detection device, she muttered, "But there are a lot of them. A swarm could overwhelm us."

As if in response, the river began to churn. More of the fish-like entities emerged, their numbers multiplying rapidly. The bizarre creatures twisted and dove, their plant-like forms glinting ominously in the dim Abyss light.

Even Maxwell, usually confident to the point of arrogance, took a step back. "Fighting our way through isn’t an option," he murmured, unease creeping into his voice. The uncanny nature of these Abyss plants left him unsettled.

For hours, the team tried various approaches to deal with the creatures. Potions to repel them failed, artifacts fizzled out, and magical attacks only seemed to provoke more activity. Exhaustion and frustration began to weigh heavily on the group.

Suddenly, Maxwell noticed a figure approaching them from the distance. He frowned, his hand instinctively moved his staff.

"You’re back?" he asked sharply as Tyler came into view.

Tyler nodded, his expression calm. "I found a way to cross the river."

The group froze, stunned. "That quickly?" someone blurted out in disbelief.

"Follow me," Tyler said simply, turning back the way he came.

The group exchanged skeptical glances but followed nonetheless. Tyler led them to an enormous tree, its colossal trunk towering like a skyscraper. Massive branches stretched across the river, forming a natural bridge that connected both banks.

"We can use this to cross," Tyler announced, gesturing at the thick, sturdy branches.

Maxwell eyed the tree warily. "Are you sure it’s safe?" he asked, his voice low.

Tyler shrugged nonchalantly. He began climbing up the tree. Showing that it is safe.

The group didn’t notice the Giant Tree opened its eyes for a second and closed it.