Chapter 29: Changes Across Various Worlds

Inside the chat group.

【System Prompt: Yue Buqun uploaded a designated red packet: The Score of “The Smiling, Proud Wanderer”.】

【Yue Buqun: @Lu Qing, group leader, this is a qin-and-xiao duet composed over several years by Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang. I found it truly excellent, so I thought to gift it to you for your appreciation!】

【Pang Bo: The Smiling, Proud Wanderer score? Old Yue, you’ve got skills! Has Liu Zhengfeng in your world already started washing his hands clean? How did you even get your hands on this score?】

Pang Bo had previously read “The Smiling, Proud Wanderer,” so he remained deeply interested in what was happening in Yue Buqun’s world.

On the other side, Yue Buqun, waiting for Lu Qing to claim the red packet, felt a sudden stir upon reading Pang Bo’s words.

【Yue Buqun: I’ve long wanted to prepare a suitable gift for the group leader, but as a man of the Jianghu with no great possessions, I deliberated long and hard before deciding to offer you this piece—the “Smiling, Proud Wanderer”—which once appeared in the original storyline!】

Upon seeing Yue Buqun dodge the question, Pang Bo immediately understood his intent.

Yet Pang Bo wasn’t angry; even he wanted to cling to the group leader’s leg, and given Yue Buqun’s world’s low level, he needed to cling even tighter.

【Pang Bo: Old Yue, the group leader isn’t even online right now—stop flattering him and tell us how you got this “Smiling, Proud Wanderer” score. What happened to Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang? Did they kill themselves?】

【Yue Buqun: These are my sincere words—how could you call it flattery? I obtained this score during Liu Zhengfeng’s ceremony of washing his hands clean. Qu Yang happened to be hiding there, and when I exposed his whereabouts, I asked them to perform together. I found it splendid, so I requested a copy of the score! As for Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang, they are currently traveling with me back to Huashan Sect!】

【Pang Bo: They’re returning to Huashan with you? Didn’t Songshan Sect or anyone else stop you?】

【Yue Buqun: …】

【Yue Buqun: Brother Pang Bo, you’re underestimating me too much! Though my cultivation base is the lowest in this group, I’ve still broken through to the Grand Master realm!】

【Yue Buqun: I merely revealed a fraction of my strength and easily defeated the Songshan Sect members. As for the other Five Mountain Sword Sects, I lured them with the sword techniques left behind on the Sigu Cliff, and they’ve agreed to gather at Huashan three months from now to discuss this matter together!】

【Cao Cao: Master Yue, you’re joking! The one with the lowest cultivation base in this group should be me! But your invitation for the Five Mountain Sword Sects to gather at Huashan in three months—surely you intend to reclaim the position of Five Mountain Alliance Leader?】

【Yue Buqun: Hahaha, Lord Mengde, you jest! I’m merely a man of the Jianghu—how could I compare to you, a regional warlord? As for the Alliance Leader position, I once valued it highly, but since joining this group, that desire has faded considerably.】

【Yue Buqun: The reason I’m gathering the Five Mountain Sword Sects on Huashan is solely to crush Songshan Sect’s plot to merge the Five Mountain Sects!】

【Cao Cao: And perhaps also to deal with the Demon Cult. Master Yue, by bringing Qu Yang back to Huashan, you’re surely inviting a flood of Demon Cult members.】

【Yue Buqun: I indeed have that intention! Decades ago, my ancestors of the Five Mountain Sword Sects failed to eradicate the Demon Cult. Now that I’ve gained sufficient strength, I naturally intend to try!】

【Pang Bo: You two are too wordy! @Yue Buqun, Old Yue, I’m also interested in the “Smiling, Proud Wanderer” score—can you send me a copy too?】

【Yue Buqun: Of course! But I’ve used up my red packet quota for this month—can I send it to you next month?】

【Pang Bo: No need for that hassle—just list the score in the group store. It won’t cost many points anyway; I’ll buy it myself!】

【Yue Buqun: Alright!】

【System Prompt: Yue Buqun listed “The Smiling, Proud Wanderer” score in the store!】

【Pang Bo: Damn, this score is expensive—it costs 100 points to buy!】

Hearing this, Yue Buqun, aboard a boat heading toward Huashan, paused in surprise.

He knew his “Zixia Divine Art” was valued at only 20 points in the store—how could this “Smiling, Proud Wanderer” score be worth 100 points?

【System Prompt: Pang Bo purchased “The Smiling, Proud Wanderer” score!】

On the other side, Lu Qing, just finishing his cultivation, received Yue Buqun’s @ message.

“The Smiling, Proud Wanderer score?”

Lu Qing scanned the chat logs, a faint ripple stirring in his heart.

【System Prompt: Lu Qing claimed Yue Buqun’s red packet.】

【Lu Qing: Master Yue, you’ve gone to great trouble—this gift pleases me greatly! Is there anything you need help with? Don’t hesitate to ask!】

Though the “Smiling, Proud Wanderer” score held no practical use for Lu Qing now—even the vast universe of the Consuming Star World contained countless exquisite musical pieces—he couldn’t help recalling the “Smiling, Proud Wanderer” he’d read in his past life.

Moreover, Yue Buqun’s thoughtful gesture in preparing this gift was rare, and since Lu Qing could easily assist him, why not?

【Yue Buqun: Group leader, I’m glad you’re pleased! You previously gifted me a great deal of thousand-year spirit marrow—I still have plenty left, so I currently have no need for assistance!】

【System Prompt: Lu Qing uploaded a designated red packet: “Zixia Divine Art” (Improved Version)!】

【Lu Qing: Master Yue, I’ve already studied your Huashan Sect’s Zixia Divine Art and made slight improvements. Take a look—see if it helps you.】

【Yue Buqun: Thank you, group leader.】

【System Prompt: Yue Buqun claimed Lu Qing’s red packet.】

【Cao Cao: @Lu Qing, group leader, would you be willing to prepare some grain for me? I’m willing to trade my points for it.】

【Pang Bo: Grain?】

【Cao Cao: Yes! Previously, Dong Zhuo moved the capital to Chang’an and burned Luoyang to the ground. Now, the eighteen warlords have all dispersed! I plan to lead my troops to rebuild Luoyang and, opportunistically, rescue the Emperor. But Luoyang lies in ruins—what it lacks most is grain!】

【Pang Bo: Rescue Liu Xie? Lord Mengde, you’re still thinking of “holding the Emperor to command the warlords,” aren’t you?】

【Cao Cao: Not exactly! Compared to unifying the realm, I now wish to follow your footsteps and cultivate toward the fruit of immortality! But after reading “Romance of the Three Kingdoms,” I realized there are still many heroes in the world—I want to try gathering them all under my command. To accomplish this, “holding the Emperor to command the unfaithful” remains an excellent strategy!】

【Pang Bo: Holy crap, Lord Mengde, you’ve got a collection hobby?】

【Cao Cao: Collection hobby?】

In Luoyang, Cao Cao stared blankly—he had no idea what Pang Bo meant.

Meanwhile, in the Consuming Star World, Lu Qing, upon reading Pang Bo’s words, recalled childhood memories from his past life.

The instant noodles costing a few cents a pack… the little trading cards…

These once-faded memories became crystal clear after he became an Immortal Deity.

“If Cao Cao wants to ‘hold the Emperor to command the unfaithful,’ what changes might occur in that world?”

Lu Qing silently wondered: “But ordinary grain is far more troublesome for me than thousand-year spirit marrow or ten-thousand-year spiritual herbs!”

After all, given his current status and position, how could he possibly carry such mundane items?

Even on the entire Thunder Star, there were likely few grains suitable for ordinary people—collecting them would be difficult.

【Lu Qing: @Cao Cao, obtaining grain is somewhat troublesome, but I’ll gather some and send it to you shortly.】

In Luoyang, Cao Cao blinked upon reading Lu Qing’s message.

He’d assumed Lu Qing was the most likely person in the group to secure ample grain, given how Lu Qing had casually distributed hundreds of thousands of jin of thousand-year spirit marrow.

But now…

The group leader found it troublesome?

“Could it be that his world has abundant spiritual items but scarce ordinary resources?” Cao Cao silently speculated.

【System Prompt: Han Li uploaded a designated red packet: One Foundation Establishment Pill.】

【Han Li: @Lu Qing, group leader, I’ve obtained the Foundation Establishment Pill—please help me study it!】

Han Li had once considered waiting until the Blood Prohibition Trial to gather herbs and brew the pill himself.

But with two full years still remaining until the trial, after much deliberation, he decided it wasn’t worth the wait.

Thus, after purchasing numerous top-tier magic treasures and talismans, Han Li finally acted against the nephew of the Ye elder—who had never taken a Foundation Establishment Pill.

After successfully killing him, Han Li reclaimed the Foundation Establishment Pill that rightfully belonged to him.

【System Prompt: Lu Qing claimed Han Li’s red packet!】

【Lu Qing: Today’s unusual—we’re all online at once!】

【Pang Bo: Group leader, we’re usually online—it’s just you who’s always in seclusion!】

【Lu Qing: Really? My cultivation base is still too weak—I must seize every moment to train in seclusion!】

【Yue Buqun: …】

【Pang Bo: Group leader, don’t you consider how we feel when you say that?】

At that moment…

【System Prompt: Detected increased group activity—two new members will be randomly added to the group!】

(End of chapter)