Chapter 349: Yao Chen! Damn You, Yao Chen!
"Hua Yu?"
Lu Bu raised an eyebrow, looking at the elegantly dressed, regal beauty before him. A trace of surprise flickered in his eyes.
The original work had described her as a paraplegic old lady, bedridden and unable to care for herself, relying on Yun Yun to bring her meals.
Lu Bu's lips twitched as he observed the stunning, graceful, and youthful woman before him. You're calling this an old lady?
"Greetings to all," Hua Yu said, bowing slightly. Her melodious voice was as serene as a valley orchid. "This girl, the Nine Nether Earth Python… Though my adopted daughter is rebellious, her crimes do not warrant death. I ask you to spare her life."
Hua Yu's tone was gentle as she addressed Qing Lin with a slight bow. At her level, it was easy to discern the extraordinariness of this young girl. Not only did Qing Lin emanate an ominous, bloodthirsty aura, but her Dou Zong level strength combined with her spirit's advancement to the Spiritual Realm showcased her exceptional talent.
Not to mention the unique connection between Qing Lin and the Nine Nether Earth Python, which indicated an extraordinary bond.
"Hmph!" Qing Lin crossed her arms, a trace of dissatisfaction in her tone. "You're powerful, so whatever you say goes. But mark my words, if she dares to provoke us again or stir up trouble…"
"Kehehe… Don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Qing Lin's eyes gleamed coldly as a ferocious and brutal aura suddenly erupted from her petite frame, spreading across the area.
Smack!
Lu Bu raised a finger and flicked Qing Lin on the forehead.
"Ah, so annoying!" Qing Lin clutched her forehead, pouting angrily. "Why'd you stop me, Young Master?"
"What's the point of copying the Soul Hall?" Lu Bu knocked on Qing Lin's little head, a touch of irritation in his voice.
Qing Lin rolled her eyes and muttered inwardly, I wasn't copying the Soul Hall. I was copying you!
"Hoho… Rest assured, young lady," Hua Yu said, unfazed by Qing Lin's temper. "This unruly girl will no longer leave the Flower Sect. I give you my word I will seal her here for at least ten years."
Lu Bu's eyebrow arched. Looks like Hua Yu is preparing to find another successor. By suppressing Hua Jin, she's paving the way for a new leader to rise.
"That's more like it!" Qing Lin nodded in satisfaction.
"No! You can't do this to me, you damned old woman!" Hua Jin screamed in panic. She turned to Lu Bu with pleading eyes, desperately crying, "Xiao Lang, save "
Before she could finish, a flash of light sealed her lips with Dou Qi, cutting off her voice completely.
Nice work!
Yao Zi reverted to her human form, satisfaction glinting in her eyes. Let's see how you seduce men now!
Boom!
Suddenly, a deafening roar erupted from the distant battlefield as a wild storm of flames surged into the sky. The four colored flames spun violently, heating the atmosphere to unbearable levels. Even Dou Zuns immune to extreme temperatures felt the searing intensity of the fire a testament to the terror of Heavenly Flames.
"Xiao Yan truly lives up to being Yao Chen's disciple…" Hua Yu observed the scene with a grave expression, nodding in admiration. Such an attack wasn't something Hua Jin, a Four Star Dou Zun, could withstand let alone a Five or Six Star Dou Zun.
When it came to teaching disciples, Hua Yu silently admitted her inferiority to Yao Chen.
"Mmph?!" Hua Jin writhed in place, her sealed lips unable to form words, but her face was filled with shock and disbelief. That plain, ordinary looking boy is Xiao Yan?
Then who was I calling Xiao Yan earlier?
Her mind spiraled into chaos, unable to distinguish who was who.
Hua Yu cast a brief glance at Hua Jin in her grasp. As someone familiar with Yao Chen, she understood that aside from his famed Soul Ascension Technique, his most valuable asset was the Bone Chilling Flame ranked 11th on the Heavenly Flame List.
Thus, despite Xiao Yan's unassuming appearance and modest strength, his mastery of alchemy and possession of Heavenly Flames bore Yao Chen's unmistakable influence. If this boy isn't Yao Chen's disciple, who is?
"Hahaha, I'm coming!" Lu Bu chuckled, his figure flickering as golden light enveloped him, disappearing into thin air.
With such a golden opportunity, how could he not steal the kill?
"Netherworld Ghost Hand!"
Faced with the all consuming firestorm, Senluo Ghost Sovereign dared not be careless. Gritting his teeth, he roared as Dou Qi surged, condensing into a chilling, razor sharp ghostly claw. With immense force, the claw struck the fiery vortex.
Boom!
The firestorm and ghost claw collided, the impact echoing thunderously. Yet, as the two forces clashed, the ghost claw melted away like snow under the blazing sun.
"What?!" Senluo Ghost Sovereign's face paled. This so called "Xiao Yan substitute" had a mere One Star Dou Zun cultivation, only temporarily boosted to Three Star Dou Zun with secret techniques. How could his attack be so powerful?
"Kehehe… Die!" Xiao Yan's sinister grin widened, exhilaration flashing across his face. The Heavenly Flames were unrivaled in their destructive power, particularly against the cold, eerie techniques of the Ghost Sovereign.
Xiao Yan shifted his hand seals, taking a deep breath as the scorching air swirled within his body. Laughing maniacally, he shouted, his voice resounding like thunder:
"Expl "
Before he could finish, a figure wrapped in purple black flames appeared behind Senluo Ghost Sovereign.
Splat!
Blood sprayed through the air as a hand pierced through the Ghost Sovereign's chest.
Xiao Yan and the Ghost Sovereign both froze, their eyes wide with disbelief as they stared at the ghostly figure behind them Lu Bu.
"Farewell," Lu Bu sneered, his wrist twisting as he pulled his hand free.
In his palm, coated in blood, a transparent soul struggled and wailed. It was none other than Senluo Ghost Sovereign's soul.
"You bastard! Why did you interfere?!" Xiao Yan roared furiously. I almost had him, and you just swooped in?!
"Didn't want you to lose," Lu Bu said with a cheeky grin. He released a burst of purple black flames, which scattered Xiao Yan's fiery vortex with a deafening roar. The power of a Five Star Dou Zun surged from Lu Bu, undisguised.
Xiao Yan scowled, his frustration mounting. What's this supposed to mean? A warning? A threat?
"Here, take this." Lu Bu flicked his wrist, tossing Senluo Ghost Sovereign's storage ring to Xiao Yan.
"Hmph, at least you've got some conscience," Xiao Yan muttered, reluctantly catching the ring. As he inspected its contents, his mood soured there was no trace of the Heavenly Underworld Shura Hand, only the Nine Nether Ghost Hand Dou Technique.
"Mid tier Earth rank… Fine, I'll take it," Xiao Yan grumbled. But as for the Heavenly Underworld Shura Hand… I'll get my hands on it someday.
"Let's go," Lu Bu said, waving dismissively as he left with Qing Lin.
The Demon Flower Evil Lord was now entirely dead, with no soul remaining. Chen Tiannan and his son had also perished, their souls scattered into oblivion by Qing Lin's Three Flower Eyes.
With these three gone, the Heaven Rain Sect's Tian Di Xie would never find out who had killed Ren Xie.
The threat of those two peak Eight or Nine Turn Dou Zun old devils could be temporarily dismissed, allowing time to focus on cultivating and improving strength.
"Kid, send my regards to your teacher," Hua Yu said with a wave of her hand. Carrying the now speechless Hua Jin, she turned back toward the Flower Sect.
In the blink of an eye, only Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran remained.
"Let's go too," Xiao Yan said with a shrug. The Flower Sect was now secure. As long as Hua Yu, the sect master, remained fine, the Flower Sect wouldn't fall to the Heaven Rain Sect or collude with the Soul Hall. This meant less pressure on the Falling Star Pavilion.
With that, a whistle sounded, and a massive green bird swooped down, stopping in front of Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran. They climbed aboard and began their return journey to the Falling Star Pavilion. The sky once again grew silent... but not completely!
On the ground, the space wavered slightly, and two heads popped out from the soil, their faces full of shock.
"Xiao Yan... actually has a body double! And he killed the Demon Flower Evil Lord..."
"We have to report this to the two sect masters immediately!"
"Yes, the third sect master's disappearance must be related to Yao Chen!"
"Let's go!"
The two quickly exchanged a few words before burrowing back underground, vanishing from sight.
A Few Days Later, in the Suoyu Mountain Range, at the Heaven Rain Sect:
Tian Xiezi held a scroll, his expression dark and brooding, his gaze sharp as a blade.
"Xiao Yan has two personas... A peak Five Star Dou Zun as Yao Chen's direct disciple, and a One Star Dou Zun as a decoy... The Demon Flower Evil Lord has already been killed by Xiao Yan... The whereabouts of the third sect master remain unknown..."
Smack!
The scroll was slammed heavily onto the ground. Tian Xiezi flew into a rage, veins bulging on his forehead.
"Yao Chen! Damn you, Yao Chen!" he bellowed. "It must have been that bastard who killed our third brother! It has to be him!"
"Brother, calm down. The third brother has only gone missing; it doesn't necessarily mean anything has happened to him," Di Xiezi said as he bent down to pick up the scroll. However, his expression was equally grim, his teeth grinding audibly.
Even as he spoke, he didn't quite believe his own words. If Yao Chen hadn't made a move, why would his disciple have come to silence them and kill the Demon Flower Evil Lord?
Perhaps the matter of the "Calamity Poison Body" was a lie from the very beginning. The true goal was to lure the three of them out.
What Yao Chen hadn't anticipated, however, was that due to their dealings with the Soul Hall, both he and his brother had grown cautious and rarely acted in person.
But Yao Chen had succeeded nonetheless, baiting their third brother out. Now, it seemed certain that the third brother had met a grim fate.
Still… sometimes, no news is good news.
All they could do now was hope things hadn't unfolded as they feared.
"Should we send someone to keep an eye on that decoy Xiao Yan?" an elderly woman inquired cautiously. Among Yao Chen's associates, that decoy Xiao Yan was the weakest. Capturing him wouldn't be too difficult.
"Fool! Do you think it's possible to spy on an Eight Rank Alchemist?" Di Xiezi snapped. Alchemists had powerful souls and sharp senses. Even the slightest disturbance could alert them.
Trying to monitor an Eight Rank Alchemist was tantamount to courting death.
Besides, that decoy Xiao Yan was traveling with Yao Chen. Spying on him under a Half Saint's nose? A death wish.
"Keep searching for the third brother. Find a way to contact him. Alive, we see the man; dead, we retrieve the body!" Tian Xiezi ordered coldly.
"Yes!" the elderly woman responded hurriedly.
"Brother, what do we do next?" Di Xiezi asked grimly.
"Wait for definite news about the third brother," Tian Xiezi said after a long silence. "But regardless of the outcome, the three of us brothers are no match for Yao Chen."
"Are you suggesting... we seek allies?" Di Xiezi's quick thinking immediately caught on.
"Exactly!" Tian Xiezi nodded. "Didn't Yao Chen already disrupt Heaven Rain Sect's plans? Didn't he kill the Demon Flower Evil Lord and so many others? The Heaven Rain Sect's Old Demon won't let Yao Chen off the hook.
"The situation hasn't escalated to an all out war yet, but we'll give the Heaven Rain Sect and Falling Star Pavilion a push to ensure they fight to the death!"
"Understood!" Di Xiezi's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"For now, focus on cultivating. All sect resources are at your disposal," Tian Xiezi added. "You're already at the peak of Eight Turn Dou Zun. Before we get definitive news about the third brother, you must break through to Nine Turns. I refuse to believe Yao Chen can survive if two Nine Turn Dou Zuns assist the Heaven Rain Sect's Old Demon!"
Tian Xiezi's eyes burned with bloodlust, his teeth grinding audibly. A brother's death demands vengeance. Yao Chen, it's either you or me!
Falling Star Pavilion, Back Mountain Stone Tower:
The Medicine Saint, Yao Chen, stood tall, clad in white robes, exuding an air of aloofness.
Suddenly, his expression stiffened as an inexplicable chill crept over him, sending shivers down his spine.
"Hmm? Could someone be plotting against me?" Yao Chen murmured, his gaze sharpening as unease settled in his heart.
A whistling sound broke the silence. In the distance, a streak of green light shot toward him, and Feng Zunzhe appeared in an instant.
"You… huh? What's with that expression?" Feng Zunzhe asked curiously, noticing the lingering wariness in Yao Chen's demeanor.
"I'm not sure. I just feel like someone's scheming against me," Yao Chen said with a wry smile, his tone tinged with unease. At his level Half Saint there were few capable of threatening him, unless it was a Dou Saint.
"Ahem… Forget it. Let's get to the point," Feng Zunzhe said, changing the topic. "The invitations have all been sent out. Xiao Yan has returned from the Flower Sect with what seems to be good news."
"Oh? Let's go take a look," Yao Chen replied with a chuckle, shaking off his earlier unease. Together, they stepped forward, disappearing into the void.
Holy Pill City, Saint Pill Mountain Range:
In the estate, Lu Bu held a starry jade token in his hand, his expression somewhat amused.
"Yao Chen… is actually throwing a banquet to celebrate reaching Half Saint?"
"Maybe he just wants to announce his return to the world," Xiao Yi Xian replied, lying in Lu Bu's embrace. Her snow white hair spilled across his chest. Though her tone was a bit breathless, her face was radiant with satisfaction, brimming with playful intent.
"That makes sense…" Lu Bu nodded. In the original storyline, Yao Chen had announced his Half Saint breakthrough by using the corpses of Soul Hall experts, even defeating the Eighth and Ninth Heavens of the Soul Hall. His name had resounded across the Central Plains.
Now, with the Soul Hall inactive, only a select few knew of his breakthrough. Announcing it publicly was reasonable.
The former Medicine Saint wasn't fond of grand displays, but after experiencing death, Yao Chen had come to understand the importance of having a powerful force behind him.
"Are we going?" Xiao Yi Xian asked, twirling a strand of her snow white hair around her finger as it brushed lightly across Lu Bu's chest.
Her soft touch, coupled with the tickling strands, made Lu Bu's breathing grow heavy.
"No, why would we go? That old fox is crafty and untrustworthy," Lu Bu replied, quickly grabbing Xiao Yi Xian's hand. Any more of this, and he wouldn't be able to hold back.
"Then…" Xiao Yi Xian laughed softly, biting Lu Bu's chin gently. The rough stubble pricked her lips slightly, but she found herself enjoying the sensation.
"Of course, we continue our dual cultivation," Lu Bu said, his hands gripping her soft shoulders, his eyes gleaming red with urgency.
But just as things were heating up, his palm suddenly grew hot. A golden dragon seal appeared, and a voice echoed in his mind.
"Brother Lu Bu, Zi Yan's in trouble! Come quickly!"
"Hei Qing…" Lu Bu's face darkened. He wanted nothing more than to punch the big lug for interrupting. Damn it, this idiot… Wait!
Zi Yan's in trouble?!
Lu Bu's expression shifted immediately, and a heavy sense of unease filled his heart.
(Chapter Ends)
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