Just like a small continent, on the vast North Sea Kun as Wang Hui had mentioned, there were indeed figures moving about. However, since they were quite far away and the back of the North Sea Kun was a dark bumpy appearance, it was not clear to see.

"Shall we go over and take a look? They might be from the Rain Master Tribe as mentioned by the Grand Priest." Wang Hui inquired of everyone after pondering for a moment.

"Although the Grand Priest said that the Rain Master Tribe does not reject humans, it still doesn't mean they will be friendly... I object." After some thought, Yue Lan, who was usually reticent, spoke up first.

No one contradicted Yue Lan's words. The incident they encountered in the third level's Thousand Forest layer was still fresh in their minds. To be honest, if the Shennong Clan hadn't been well-intentioned, they might already be rotting in a pile of dead leaves by now.

"That North Sea Kun might be their abode and means of transportation for the Rain Master Tribe." Zhu Bufan, who was straining his eyes, saw that there were indeed huge figures on the back of the North Sea Kun, but what was strange was that these people did not move about randomly. Instead, they were arranged in formation, ultimately protecting a specific area in the middle.

"Are you suggesting that we ask them to take us to the Heavenly Pillar?" Huo Ling immediately asked after hearing Zhu Bufan's words.

"No, not to mention whether the North Sea Kun is headed in the direction of the Heavenly Pillar or not, even if it were, they probably wouldn't care about us. Those who can control such a Demon Beast likely wouldn't pay attention to people like us. So, if we indeed need to make contact with the Rain Master Tribe, it's not with them." Zhu Bufan had already figured out that if truth be told, the North Sea Kun might be the 'Mount' belonging to some important figure of the Rain Master Tribe, and approaching it with their group might lead to conflict.

While Zhu Bufan and the others were observing from afar in the sky, the Rain Master Clan on the back of the North Sea Kun had also noticed Zhu Bufan and his group.

On the North Sea Kun, as Zhu Bufan had guessed, there was a massive 'transportation device,' a huge chair made from coral, giant clam shells, and various Luminous Pearls and other treasures, placed in the central position. Around the large chair was a skeletal framework carved from the bones of some unknown sea creature and it was draped with light blue thin silk. At this moment, the silk was drawn, and one could only vaguely discern someone lying on the gigantic chair.

"Yu Shiwan, who are those people?" A graceful figure seated on the lavish chair, without even glancing at Zhu Bufan and his group enveloped in azure light, softly inquired to a purple-clothed maid beside her, as if already aware of Zhu Bufan's presence over there. That voice, laced with an enchanting allure, was soothing and relaxing.

As soon as the words were spoken, the graceful beauty dressed in a purple gossamer gown with a light veil over her face stepped forward, bowed towards the seat and said, "Reporting to the High Priestess and Saintess. They seem to be outsiders."

"Outsiders? How many years has it been since outsiders came to the Starry Sea?" The figure inside the curtain seemed very interested upon hearing the purple-clothed maid's words. "But it's strange, none of them seem to have reached the Earth Rank; could this be the effect of what is called the Jade Talisman?"

"Yes, High Priestess and Saintess, those are indeed the Jade Talismans favored by the Human Clan, but such things are merely of a side branch," Yu Shiwan promptly answered after hearing the inquiry from the woman behind the curtain.

"Outsiders, eh..." After a period of contemplation, the woman behind the curtain then said, "Wan, send someone to invite these outsiders over to see what they really want by coming here. If they make any improper moves, kill them."

"As you command, High Priestess and Saintess."

"Remember not to let our Rain Master Clan's dignity be undermined. As for the rest, judge for yourself," the woman inside the curtain added after some thought.

"So you mean, you agree not to make contact with them?" After Zhu Bufan finished speaking, Huo Ling asked, indeed, if it was an entity using the North Sea Kun as its 'Mount,' they were not arrogant enough to interact with it. Moreover, they were merely passing through; it was unnecessary to involve themselves with the Rain Master Clan, especially after experiencing the 'friendly abduction' by the Shennong Clan, which ingrained this idea even deeper.

"We don't need to worry anymore because it looks like they have decided to make contact. Get ready, and retreat immediately if anything goes wrong." While discussing, Grand Steward Liu suddenly noticed that on the back of the North Sea Kun, four figures were rapidly approaching them.

Like them, these four individuals also had not reached the Earth Rank, but they were still capable of Stepping in the air, and their method was not much different from Huo Ling's wave-stepping, probably even more ingenious.

"Are you outsiders? What exactly is your purpose for coming to the Starry Sea?" As the four people approached, Zhu Bufan and his companions realized that these four were two men and two women. The men were clad in armor that seemed to be made from Demon Beast Armor, while the women, one dressed in light blue chiffon long dress and the other clearly that Yu Shiwang in a purple chiffon long dress, both had their faces veiled in sheer fabric. Their skin, regardless of gender, was exceptionally fair and smooth, and above their foreheads were deep blue 'river' symbols.

"Hello, we just want to pass through the Earth Gate to the Fifth Layer of the Tower, so we're simply passing through here without any ill intentions." Hearing the leading Rain Master Clan man's question, Zhu Bufan spoke to the clansmen of the Rain Master Clan.

"Passing by?" After scanning the six of them, the man's gaze lingered on Shan Ling and then he said: "You're from the Jiuli Clan, aren't you? Are you also going to the Fifth Layer? Don't you know that each Jiuli Clan can only stay within their own layer of the tower and cannot freely leave to go to other clans' territories?"

"What Jiuli Clan are you talking about? I am Huo Ling from the Thunder Clan's Electric Flash Tribe! I'm going to the Fifth Layer, what does that have to do with you weirdos? Get out of my way!" Seeing that this Rain Master Clan clansman was not being polite to her at all, Shan Ling's stubbornness kicked in, and she bluntly retorted the Rain Master Clan clansman.

As soon as Shan Ling spoke, the expressions of both parties changed. The Rain Master Clan's clanspeople's expressions changed naturally because of Huo Ling's extremely bad attitude, while Zhu Bufan and others' expressions changed because they realized that Shan Ling was indeed a trouble maker!

"Hmph, who do you think you're fooling? As fellow descendants of the Jiuli Clan, do you think we of the Rain Master Clan don't recognize a person from the Jiuli Clan when we see one? Tell me, what is the purpose of you humans mixing with this Jiuli person and coming to the Starry Sea?" With a cold snort, the leading Rain Master Clan man stepped forward, his face full of vigilance as he looked at the six people, with an aura rising from his body that pressed against everyone.

"You shut your mouth!!" After giving Shan Ling a fierce glare, which made her shrink back, Zhu Bufan then turned to the Rain Master clansmen and said: "Sorry, that's just her temper, she doesn't mean any harm. We really just want to get through the Earth Gate to the Fifth Layer, and we have no other intentions. We just need to know where the Heavenly Pillar is."

"Hmph! We'll naturally find out whether it's true or not. If you have no ill intentions, then come back with us for an investigation," said the Rain Master Clan man coldly, staring at Zhu Bufan, clearly unwilling to believe his words.

"Sorry, we need to hurry on our way, so we won't be going with you." Faced with the Rain Master Clan man's repeated poor attitude, Zhu Bufan also began to stand firm. His originally calm expression became cold. It was polite to give a good face at first contact, but to continue to do so after repeated provocations would be self-degrading, especially since Zhu Bufan was not a tyrant or killer, but neither was he an easy target.

The murderous aura accumulated from a month of killings in the Thousand Forest Layer began to leak out a little as Zhu Bufan's expression turned cold. When the Rain Master Clan man realized that he couldn't suppress Zhu Bufan with his aura, a cold light flashed in his eyes.

"Whether you go or not is not up to you!" Raising his hand, the man's palm suddenly twined with strands of water, and his palm, accompanied by the water currents, struck out towards Zhu Bufan's shoulder with such force that it made a whistling sound in the wind.

Seeing that the other party had made a move to subdue him, a terrifying cold light flickered in Zhu Bufan's eyes, He raised his finger, and his fingertip, carrying the Blood Spirit Poison Fire, met the Rain Master Clan man's slap head-on.

Seeing that Zhu Bufan dared to counter him with just one hand, the Rain Master Clan man was angry and sneered in his heart, intending to break Zhu Bufan's presumptuous fingers altogether, so he doubled the force in his palm.

'Pu' 'Boom!'

After a soft noise, a small explosion followed, and the Rain Master Clan man immediately clutched his wrist, staggering back, his face turning an especially frightening shade of iron blue. It turned out that Zhu Bufan had used the concentrated power of the Emperor Extreme Fist on his finger. The seemingly tiny flame was extremely powerful.

Moreover, Zhu Bufan, with his rich combat experience, did not foolishly collide head-on with the Rain Master Clan man. Instead, he precisely targeted the weak point of the opponent's force, dispersed the Qi Force wrapped around the Rain Master's hand with a flick of his finger. If not for worrying about offending the Rain Master Tribe and the trouble that would cause, the Rain Master Clan man's right wrist wouldn't have been merely a simple matter of needing a rest to regain mobility.

"Good! It seems you're intentionally opposing our Rain Master Clan!" The disrespected Rain Master Clan man's face turned iron blue, and his eyes looking at Zhu Bufan turned dangerous.

"I've said, we have no ill intentions towards the Rain Master Clan, we're just asking to pass by. If it were not for your provocation, we probably wouldn't even have a quarrel, at most it would be a problem between you and us. Of course, if your identity is powerful enough to represent your entire Rain Master Tribe, then I have nothing to say."

Faced with the Rain Master Clan man's baseless accusations, Zhu Bufan would not remain silent. His words left the Rain Master Clan man at a loss for words. Zhu Bufan and his companions didn't know, but he was clearly aware that the decision-maker of this group of four was not himself. Even if it truly were himself, he would not have the audacity to claim that he could represent the Rain Master Tribe with such arrogance. So, for a moment, he didn't know how to respond.

"Are you really just here to pass through?" Just when the man didn't know how to reply, the soft voice of Yu Shiwang finally rang out.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.