Food System in Cultivation World-Chapter 487 - 451

In the back mountain, Chen Xu was hosting Feng Yuanbai and Wu Zhengze in the small hall of the wooden house.

Old friends reunited, it seemed as though both parties had not seen each other for a long time.

In reality, only more time had passed since Chen Xu last met Wu Zhengze.

But with Feng Yuanbai, it had only been a little over twenty days since they parted.

In less than a month, they met again, yet both could not help but feel as if a lifetime had passed.

After taking their seats, Feng Yuanbai’s first words were:

"Xu, it’s truly good that you’ve returned now, but where did you go during those days of your disappearance?"

Such bluntness was due to their close relationship, eliminating the need for circumlocution, as well as the urgency of the situation, leaving Feng Yuanbai no room for subtlety.

With Feng Yuanbai’s inquiry, Wu Zhengze also showed concern on his face.

Chen Xu, perceptive as ever, noticed an unusual look about both Feng Yuanbai and Wu Zhengze.

He deliberated briefly and replied, "The place I went to is somewhat related to the completion of the North-South Grand Canal at that time.

In specifics, I can’t say much, Brother Feng, Master, you may understand it as the gathering of merits from the completion of the North-South Grand Canal, which led me to come into contact with a secret realm.

At that time, I was struck by an extraordinary power of heaven and earth, naturally stepping into that secret realm.

I lingered in the secret realm for over ten days before finding my way back, until today when I returned home."

Upon hearing this explanation, both Feng and Wu looked enlightened.

Feng Yuanbai’s expression was even more peculiar, he exhaled a long breath and said,

"So, your disappearance was because you were trapped in a secret realm?"

Trapped in a secret realm?

This statement wasn’t entirely accurate, as Chen Xu’s stay in the Xuantian Star Realm couldn’t exactly be called being trapped.

However, with numerous secrets between the two realms, Chen Xu had previously tried to explain to Wei Yuan and Ah Shi what happened, only to be inhibited by a strange power, unable to articulate the details.

Thus, when Feng Yuanbai mentioned "trapped in a secret realm," Chen Xu did not explicitly deny it.

"I see, I’ve misunderstood," Feng Yuanbai said with a sigh, showing a hesitance to speak.

Chen Xu said, "Brother Feng, please speak your mind, there is no need for such formality between us."

He could see that Feng Yuanbai indeed faced a significant dilemma.

So he hesitated and finally revealed a shocking piece of news: "Xu, Wen the Great Scholar... has been missing for over ten days."

Upon hearing this, the small hall in the wooden house fell into a deathly silence.

Moments later, Chen Xu absorbed the meaning behind Feng Yuanbai’s words.

He subdued the storm in his heart and asked carefully, "Brother Feng, regarding Wen the Great Scholar’s disappearance, do you have any leads?"

Feng Yuanbai looked at Chen Xu, his gaze also swept over the similarly complex expression of Wu Zhengze beside him. He did not directly answer Chen Xu’s question but suddenly asked Wu Zhengze:

"Instructor Wu, you also have a legacy from your master in the capital; regarding the disappearance of Wen the Great Scholar, do you have anything to say?"

Wu Zhengze, who had spoken very little today, finally gave a bitter smile when asked and said:

"What I intend to say is likely what Prefect Feng also intends to say.

Xu, I previously even thought that you and Wen the Great Scholar disappeared for the same reason, vanishing at the same place.

Now seeing you safe and sound, I’m not only joyful but also increasingly worried.

If even Wen the Great Scholar cannot escape, how can you hope to be spared afterwards?

Your return home this time, while not known to everyone, will inevitably become widely known sooner or later as it’s not being hidden.

I fear that within a few days you will also... face a crisis."

Indeed, compared to Feng Yuanbai’s national concerns, Wu Zhengze was more worried about Chen Xu’s personal safety.

One Wen Daoyuan has already disappeared; if they dare target a Great Scholar, how could they possibly spare Chen Xu?

The greatest link between Chen Xu and Wen Daoyuan was their joint oversight of the South-North Water Transfer!

The profound connections during this period were clear to all three present without needing to be spelled out.

No one here was a fool.

What kind of power, what kind of insanity, would dare to target a Great Scholar?

And having even targeted a Great Scholar, Chen Xu, regardless of his renown, would likely not escape unscathed.

After all, could his reputation, however great, surpass that of a Great Scholar?

Wu Zhengze spoke with a low, bitter laugh: "Xu, I have taught the Four Books, preaching with absolute conviction, advancing even if a thousand were against me.

It is about sacrificing for justice, achieving righteousness through life and death.

A scholar’s head may fall, blood may flow, but integrity must never be forsaken.

Yet now, I actually wish to advise you... to stay under the radar."

Having struggled to say this, his subsequent words were more fluent.

He then asked Chen Xu a question: "Xu, might you still be able to return to that secret realm?"

This was truly advising Chen Xu to flee, to escape!

Such advice was as shocking as Feng Yuanbai’s earlier mention of "Wen Daoyuan’s disappearance."

Despite the bright light in the wooden house, the atmosphere among the three sitting inside was so heavy that it involuntarily chilled one’s heart.

Whirr, whirr, whirr—

It seemed as though a mountain wind was blowing outside the window.

Though the forest was shallow, the wind and waves were fierce.

Chen Xu remained silent for a time, as did Feng Yuanbai and Wu Zhengze.

No one knew what was going through Chen Xu’s mind at that moment.

He was so young, having just accomplished something that no one had managed to achieve in hundreds or thousands of years.

He led the South-North Water Transfer, gaining immense merit, so monumental that it could be said to alter heaven and earth.