Chapter 306: "I'm Not Worn Out by Debauchery, So How Can I Look Tired?"
"So, Master, can I… help you?" Qing Lin whispered hesitantly as she clung to Lu Bu's shoulders from behind, her delicate arms wrapping around his neck.
Although her face wasn't visible, her flushed demeanor was unmistakable. Her arms, tinged with a faint pink hue, betrayed her nervousness and inexperience. It was her first time attempting such boldness, and while her actions were daring, her inexperience showed.
Seeing her like this, Lu Bu smirked faintly and slowly turned his head, leaning toward her.
Qing Lin's petite body trembled, her temperature rising as her whole body grew warm and flushed. Her small lips instinctively puckered as she shyly awaited her master's kiss.
Thwack!
"Ah!"
Qing Lin cried out softly, covering her forehead with a pitiful expression as she gazed at Lu Bu with a touch of grievance. He had just flicked her on the forehead!
"Hmph… you little rascal, you're not behaving," Lu Bu teased, rapping her gently on the head again.
"I'm not a little girl!" Qing Lin puffed out her chest indignantly, loudly protesting.
"Uh…" Lu Bu scratched his head awkwardly. Technically, she was older than Xiao Xun'er, so perhaps she wasn't a "little girl" anymore.
"Ahem… we'll discuss it later. For now, your focus should be on cultivation," Lu Bu said, clearing his throat and clenching his fist. "Wait until your Triple Jade Green Snake Flower Pupils fully mature. When you've mastered them, we'll talk about it."
"Really?" Qing Lin exclaimed in delight, throwing her arms around Lu Bu's neck and hugging him tightly, her heart brimming with joy.
Lu Bu: :)
The journey passed in relative silence. The massive python streaked through the skies, drawing countless curious gazes. However, upon sensing that the creature was a seventh tier magical beast, those onlookers stayed in place, not daring to act recklessly.
After all, anyone who used a seventh tier beast as transportation had to possess strength on par with a Dou Venerate. Such figures were few and far between in the Central Plains, with only the leaders of the Four Pavilions or the Three Valleys boasting such power. These were top tier experts in the Central Plains no one dared provoke them lightly.
In the blink of an eye, three days passed. Lu Bu returned to the Sacred Pill Mountain Estate with Qing Lin and Yun Yun in tow.
Within the estate, Medusa had emerged from her secluded cultivation. Though she had obtained the Seven Colored Origin Stone, she wasn't in a rush to break through to three star Dou Venerate, having just stabilized her power after taking the Detoxification Pill and advancing to two star Dou Venerate.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yi Xian had seen incredible progress, thanks to dual cultivation with Lu Bu. Her Dou Qi had become so full ahem, her dantian was so full that she was already preparing for another breakthrough. Her rapid advancement had even put her on track to surpass Medusa.
"Medusa!" Qing Lin exclaimed happily, flinging herself into Medusa's arms and affectionately rubbing her cheek against her.
"Qing Lin, when did you come to the Central Plains?" Medusa's elegant face lit up with surprise as she held Qing Lin close, scanning her from head to toe. "You didn't run into any trouble, did you?"
"Nope! I'm already at the Dou Ancestor level now, and I came here with Yanran. She's at the peak of Dou King!" Qing Lin said cheerfully. "Besides, as soon as we arrived, Master and Yun Yun came to pick us up."
"It seems like you've gained a lot this trip…" Medusa glanced at Yun Yun, her tone laced with subtle implications as she noticed the increasingly powerful aura emanating from Yun Yun.
"You can just ask Lu Bu yourself later," Yun Yun said softly, smiling as she stood next to Medusa. She reached out with her hand and pinched Medusa in a spot that neither Qing Lin nor Lu Bu could see.
What are you doing?!
Medusa's expression shifted as she covered her rear with her left hand, glaring at Yun Yun.
"Qing Lin, let's go. I'll show you to your room," Yun Yun said with a chuckle, ignoring Medusa's glare as she took Qing Lin by the hand and led her away.
As soon as the two left, Medusa felt herself being lifted effortlessly into Lu Bu's arms.
"Your Majesty, heh… you've finally finished your seclusion!" Lu Bu said with a grin, his hand supporting her soft curves as he pulled her close.
So he hasn't dual cultivated with Yun Yun yet… Medusa's delicate brows twitched as her fingers gently brushed against Lu Bu's temple. With a soft snort, she said, "You're being so forward already. Have you forgotten how hard you worked during your last retreat?"
"Hmm? Wasn't it you begging for " Lu Bu raised an eyebrow, starting to speak.
Before he could finish, Medusa clamped her hand over his mouth. "Scoundrel, you're the one who begged for mercy… Ah!"
Before she could finish her retort, Lu Bu's figure flashed, and they disappeared into a nearby room.
Northern Central Plains, Starfall Pavilion's Star Realm
Within the lush and verdant Star Realm, near the rear mountain, a training ground bustled with activity as Starfall Pavilion's disciples diligently trained.
Mu Qingluan surveyed the area. Seeing that no one was slacking off, she nodded in satisfaction.
"All right, take a short break. We'll resume in 15 minutes," Mu Qingluan said, clapping her hands. Her soft voice carried throughout the training ground, amplified by Dou Qi.
"Ugh… I'm so tired…" Before her words had fully settled, some of the female disciples had already started whining.
"Hmph! If you don't train hard now, you'll pay the price in battle one day!" Mu Qingluan scolded, her sharp gaze silencing their complaints.
"Ha ha… Senior Sister, do you think our Elder Xiao Yan is the rumored Dou Emperor prodigy?" one of the girls asked, her eyes sparkling as she attempted to change the subject.
"Yeah, yeah! Elder Xiao Yan is so young and already a two star Dou Ancestor. He must have the potential to become a Dou Emperor. Didn't he beat Wang Chen to a pulp the other day? That was so satisfying!"
"I wonder if Elder Xiao Yan is married…"
"You fool! Don't even think about it. That new senior sister, Nalan Yanran, is his betrothed. She's already preparing to break through to Dou Ancestor. You don't stand a chance!"
"Ugh, but what if Elder Xiao Yan and Senior Sister Nalan decide to break off the engagement?"
"Are you stupid? Why would they do that?"
"Who knows? What if one of them gets cold feet? Then… then wouldn't Senior Sister Mu Qingluan have a shot?"
"Wait, what? What does this have to do with me?" Mu Qingluan snapped angrily. "Everyone, assemble! Since you're all so energetic, let's extend training to eight hours. No breaks until it's over!"
"What?! Noooo…"
Groans erupted from the group as the disciples cursed those who had started the gossip.
Boom!
Suddenly, a powerful aura surged through the Star Realm, startling the disciples.
The elders of Starfall Pavilion quickly emerged, their expressions grim as they followed the source of the energy.
"What's the panic? It's Xiao Yan!" Elder Feng said as he stepped out of the hall.
Before his words fully landed, a black dot appeared in the sky, radiating an increasingly intense aura.
"An eight star Dou Ancestor?!"
"What kind of miracle pill did Xiao Yan take? How did his strength grow so fast?"
"Ha! Maybe he swallowed a ninth tier golden pill!"
As the elders whispered amongst themselves, Elder Feng watched Xiao Yan nervously. As one of Yao Lao's most trusted companions, he knew about Flame Mantra, but its strange nature worried him. Although Xiao Yan had successfully merged the Sea Heart Flame and Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, fusing the Bone Chilling Flame was far more challenging.
Hoo… hoo… hoo!
Before Elder Feng's thoughts could settle, waves of purple flames burst from Xiao Yan's body, their pale glow illuminating the sky. At the same time, his Dou Qi grew denser and more refined.
"High level Earth tier…" Xiao Yan murmured to himself, clenching his fists. Although he had perfectly refined and merged the Bone Chilling Flame, it hadn't pushed Flame Mantra into the Heavenly tier as he had hoped.
He had grown stronger, but the Dou Venerate realm still felt far away.
"Hahaha... Xiao Yan, not bad at all! I didn't expect your progress to be this rapid!" Elder Feng laughed heartily. The fusion was a success! The first time he met Xiao Yan, the latter had been a nine star Dou King. Yet, in just over half a year, Xiao Yan had advanced to an eight star Dou Ancestor, leaping across an entire major realm.
"Hehe… Elder Feng, you flatter me…" Xiao Yan's mouth twitched slightly, unsure whether to laugh or cry. Lu Bu was already a Dou Venerate, while he had just reached eight star Dou Ancestor. When would he ever surpass that guy?
"Hmm… are you dissatisfied?" Elder Feng frowned slightly. The path of cultivation should not be rushed; haste could lead to deviation or even a qi deviation. Besides, blindly chasing speed could result in unstable Dou Qi, which was disadvantageous for battles.
Xiao Yan simply smiled in response, his thoughts hidden. Ha, who even cultivates the old fashioned way nowadays? Look at Lu Bu, jumping realms whenever he feels like it. Look at Lin Quan and Yang Hao, skyrocketing in power overnight. Training the slow and steady way? That's just a waste of time! Consuming Heavenly Flames and popping pills suits me far better.
"Elder Feng, could you help me prepare these ingredients?" Xiao Yan took out a pen and paper, quickly jotting down two lists of medicinal materials. "Also, Elder Feng, you've traveled widely and have many connections. Have you heard any news about Heavenly Flames?"
Elder Feng took the list and glanced at it. His brows furrowed. "Minor Support Pill and Heavenly Fortune Pill? Are you planning to rely on pills to break through to Dou Venerate?"
Xiao Yan merely smiled and said nothing.
The plan was simple: use the Minor Support Pill to reach nine star Dou Ancestor, then train diligently to the peak of Dou Ancestor. From there, he could either rely on the Heavenly Fortune Pill to break through or, better yet, locate a Heavenly Flame and refine it to achieve an immediate breakthrough.
"Sigh… very well…" Elder Feng sighed in resignation. He knew Xiao Yan was driven by Yao Lao's plight, which pushed him to pursue power at all costs.
"As for news of a Heavenly Flame... there is some. It's in the Pill Tower," Elder Feng said after some thought. "The Three Thousand Burning Flame, ranked ninth on the Heavenly Flame ranking, is sealed within the Pill Tower's Star Region."
"Oh?" Xiao Yan's eyes lit up instantly. "But that Heavenly Flame belongs to the Pill Tower. Can I take it?"
"The top ten winners of the Pill Gathering are granted a chance to subdue the Three Thousand Burning Flame," Elder Feng explained.
"The Pill Gathering…" Xiao Yan murmured, his gaze becoming even brighter. His teacher had mentioned it before the Pill Gathering was the greatest event in the Central Plains, where powerful alchemists from across the continent gathered to compete for the title of champion.
Years ago, his teacher, Yao Lao, had won the championship of one such gathering.
"In that case… I must win the Pill Gathering championship!" Xiao Yan clenched his fists tightly. The Three Thousand Burning Flame this is mine!
"I'll go prepare the medicinal materials for you!" Elder Feng chuckled. Looking at Xiao Yan now, he felt as if he were seeing a younger version of Yao Lao.
"Oh, by the way, your fiancée, Nalan Yanran, came looking for you a few days ago. She's currently in seclusion cultivating. Make sure to spend time with her once she's out," Elder Feng said, patting Xiao Yan on the shoulder with a smile.
"Yanran's here?" Xiao Yan's eyes lit up with delight. Finally, his fiancée had arrived! Watching Lu Bu flaunt his harem of beauties had made Xiao Yan jealous enough to grit his teeth. Now, at least, his own fiancée was here to keep him company!
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Creak~
Lu Bu staggered slightly as he stepped out of Medusa's room, letting out a satisfied sigh after three days of hard work.
He swayed a bit as he made his way to a training chamber underground. At the center of the chamber lay a pristine white storage ring.
"Young man, you should practice moderation… you look utterly spent!" A faint glow emerged as Tian Huo Zun Zhe's voice echoed with an amused tone.
"I haven't been indulging in debauchery, so how can I look worn out?" Lu Bu replied with a faint smile, straightening his back confidently.
Tian Huo Zun Zhe: "…"
"Ahem… back to business. Elder Yao, where's the item?" Lu Bu coughed lightly, redirecting the conversation to more serious matters.
"Here it is!" Tian Huo Zun Zhe responded, flicking his finger. A large mass of radiant white light appeared it was the Soul Essence that he had secretly retrieved.
Lu Bu rubbed his chin thoughtfully and flicked his fingers, summoning several other items into the chamber.
Two scrolls appeared one titled True North Netherworld Art and the other Phantom Phoenix Step.
A black storage ring materialized as well, the one left behind from Mu Gu's severed arm.
Seeing this, Tian Huo Zun Zhe's figure flickered as he returned to his ring. While he was curious about these treasures, Lu Bu had already done so much for him, so he refrained from asking for more.
Lu Bu glanced at the Soul Essence before him. Opening his mouth, he unleashed a torrent of purple black flames, engulfing the Soul Essence to refine and purify any residual foreign energy within it.
It was best to handle the Soul Essence first it was too valuable and tempting, especially for alchemists. Keeping it in Sacred Pill City could invite unnecessary trouble.
As the Three Thousand Burning Flame scorched the Soul Essence, wisps of black mist began to seep out.
"So many tricks…" Lu Bu sneered coldly. He could clearly sense that the mist carried deeply hidden negative emotions. Directly absorbing the Soul Essence without purifying it would undoubtedly cause severe harm to the soul.
By its very nature, Soul Essence shouldn't contain such impurities. However, if someone had deliberately infused them… that was a different story.
Back in the Northwestern Continent, Lu Bu had spent considerable time purifying the Soul Essence he obtained there, clearing it of negative emotions. Otherwise, he would have had more time to plan, increasing his chances of capturing Mu Gu and Old Ghost Zhai Xing.
Unfortunately…
Still, the Soul Essence extracted from ordinary branch halls, while pure, was far from vast in quantity.
The Soul Hall was divided into the Tian Gang Hall, the Di Sha Hall, and numerous branch halls. The Soul Essence Lu Bu had taken so far came from branch halls, which paled in comparison to the main halls.
In the original story, when Xiao Yan led an assault on the Tian Gang Hall's human division, the massive amount of Soul Essence he acquired there propelled him from the early stage Heaven Realm to the Great Perfection of the Heaven Realm in one leap.
"It seems I'll need to target the Di Sha Hall next…" Lu Bu murmured, stroking his chin thoughtfully. Ordinary branch halls could no longer satisfy his needs.
With this in mind, Lu Bu summoned Qing Lin, Yun Yun, and Her Majesty Medusa, instructing them to divide the Soul Essence among themselves for refining and absorption.
Qing Lin needed it to suppress the Nine Headed Heavenly Serpent's soul if her soul power didn't improve, it could become a serious risk.
Yun Yun's Spirit Infusion Technique required a strong soul, so the Soul Essence would be immensely beneficial to her.
As for Her Majesty… while she lacked specific soul techniques, magical beasts were inherently vulnerable in terms of their souls. Strengthening hers could only be advantageous.
The three women didn't refuse. Lu Bu's soul had already reached the Spirit Realm, so the ordinary Soul Essence was of limited use to him. Worst case, they could always destroy a few more Soul Hall branch halls there was no shortage of Soul Essence to go around.
Thank you, Soul Hall, for the generous donations!
(Chapter End)
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