Chapter 488

There is no such thing as breaking through the limit of magic, so breaking through realms is the easiest.

But in terms of combat power, don't look at magic having reached the Eighth Realm—it is the weakest of Lu Xun's four powers.

Now in martial arts, once his internal dharma form manifests, combined with various powerful martial arts divine abilities, as well as the War Character Technique and Instant Character Technique plus Nirvana-level sword intent, he can crush early to mid Eighth Realm.

Even facing late Eighth Realm, he will not be at a disadvantage.

As for the immortal path, after breaking through the Sixty Layer of the Sixth Realm, he can also overpower early to mid Eighth Realm.

As for the demon race's power, needless to say.

With primordial ancient blood and dragon-transforming demon body, Lu Xun can even contend against the Ninth Realm.

But the demon race's power cannot see the light.

It is even more shameful than the power of magic.

Unless absolutely necessary, Lu Xun will not lightly use it.

On Lan Xing, Lu Xun absolutely cannot use it.

If in the Spirit Realm, he must also ensure no one discovers it before he dares to use it.

"I can add another binding target."

After breaking through the Eighth Realm in magic, Lu Xun can add another binding target.

As for who specifically to add, Lu Xun still has no good idea.

With his current strength and realm, an ordinary genius would only waste the system's binding quota.

Those not strong enough also have no need.

If binding, bind those with sufficient strength.

Or to make up for his own shortcomings, such as Lu Xun's perpetual lack of a magic meridian.

"What if we bind Barbara?"

Lu Xun suddenly had the idea.

Lu Xun had also considered this before, but because there was no good way to handle the curse, plus there were better binding targets, he never acted on it.

Now it seems we can try.

Barbara's time is running short.

And given the system's nature, after binding, the binding reward can solve some of the binding target's problems.

But Lu Xun is unsure whether it can solve Barbara's curse problem.

After all, this curse is caused by external force, not like other binding targets whose problems stem from themselves.

However, if we want to bind Barbara, we must first help her regain her human form.

Only after regaining human form can we kiss.

We can't possibly kiss her while she's in cat form, can we?

As for the favorability issue, no need to worry.

After years of getting along, Barbara's favorability toward Lu Xun has already reached 100%.

"Then again, we can try."

Lu Xun wants to try.

But helping Barbara regain her human form carries great risk—at least in this ancient road node it's not possible.

Or, we could use the banishment curse again to see if we can banish Lu Xun outside the nebula once more.

But doing so also carries considerable risk.

What if he can't come back?

The "door" through which Barbara last returned seems to be a one-time thing.

"Star Gate."

Lu Xun suddenly thought of the Star Gate.

Find the Star Gate, and you can pass through it to reach the next ancient road node, where you can operate.

If feasible, Lu Xun can just return along the Star Gate.

A round trip consumes twenty thousand units of Dark Energy.

For Lu Xun now, he can already bear it.

If not feasible, worst case Lu Xun can first place Barbara in the next ancient road node, then think of a way to deal with the witch.

If it can't be solved, anyway he must take Barbara away.

Lu Xun knows the location of the Star Gate.

But exactly which Spirit Realm it's in, Lu Xun still needs to try to find out.

Thinking this through, Lu Xun made a trip to the War Manor and found Director Xu.

"Little Xun, your flying vessel will at least take half a month to be ready; I'll keep an eye on it for you."

"Okay, thank you, Uncle Xu."

"Why be so polite?"

After a conversation, Lu Xun left the War Manor.

A few months ago, he asked Director Xu to help him buy a vessel capable of warp flight.

Director Xu told Lu Xun that such vessels are extremely rare.

Fortunately, after trading with that wandering civilization, the East obtained warp-flight technology, gathered a massive number of technicians, and is now manufacturing warp-speed vessels.

Once manufactured, Lu Xun can be among the first to obtain one.

Before having a warp-speed vessel, Lu Xun does not prepare to act.

His Instant Character Technique is powerful, but only in burst; it cannot be used for long-distance travel.

Placed in the starry sky, several hundred million, even several hundred billion billion li is not considered too great a distance.

Travel in the star sea still requires a flying vessel.

Over the past half month, Lu Xun decided to teach Bai Ling alchemy on Lan Xing, and he would also refine some pills for himself in the process.

By now, Lan Xing has been inside the Ancient Road Node for over four months.

The cultivators' gains in the Ancient Road Node have been considerable.

The spiritual items that Xie Yuyan purchased were also extraordinarily abundant.

Many rare pills, Lu Xun can now refine.

Including the Saint-grade Longevity Pill.

With so many Eighth Realm cultivators on Lan Xing whose lifespans are nearing their end, if there are sufficient materials, Lu Xun earning several hundred thousand units of Dark Energy from the Saint-grade Longevity Pill would pose no problem.

"Boss, you're amazing; how is it that as soon as you arrived, I learned this so quickly?"

Bai Ling's progress is too fast.

After Lu Xun taught her and demonstrated a few times, she basically got it.

"No, Bai Ling, it's you who's amazing."

Lu Xun praised.

"Boss, don't praise me; it's not you—I wouldn't be this amazing without you."

Bai Ling was delighted from being praised by Lu Xun.

Getting along with Bai Ling is still very pleasant.

Bai Ling's thoughts are extremely simple; her daily life consists of nothing but alchemy.

There are two things that make her happiest.

First, successfully refining powerful pills.

Second, being praised by Lu Xun.

"Little Xun, the flying vessel is ready; come pick it up tomorrow."

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

That day, Lu Xun received a message from Secretary Xu.

The flying vessel he wanted is ready.

Thus, Lu Xun concluded his half-month-long alchemy session, decided to rest well for a night, then set out with Barbara, first to find the star gate before speaking further.

"Meow~"

After Lu Xun finished washing up, Barbara's cat form once again curled up in his arms.

"Barbara, tomorrow I'll take you to find the star gate."

Lu Xun gently stroked her fur and spoke softly.

It's been a long time since I slept holding Xiao Bai.

Soon, Lu Xun entered dreamland.

"Meow~"

In the middle of the night, Xiao Bai sensed something, lifted her little head, and looked toward Lu Xun.

Only to see Lu Xun's expression shifting unpredictably, at times showing extreme fear, as if he had witnessed something terrifying.

"Meow!"

Xiao Bai kept crying out, trying to wake Lu Xun, but to little effect.

Seeing that the cries had no effect, Xiao Bai used her little paws to scratch Lu Xun, but still to no avail.

"Meow~"

Xiao Bai became anxious, running in circles.

Because Lu Xun's expression grew ever more terrified.

Even his face became distorted from fear.

Even until the next morning, Lu Xun showed no sign of waking up, no matter how Xiao Bai called or scratched, he remained unconscious.

Not only did he not wake, Lu Xun seemed to have suffered extreme fright, his whole body curled up into a ball, trembling there.

He even let out terrified screams.

"Meow~"

After Xiao Bai struggled all night with no effect, she became frantic.

Perhaps desperation bred ingenuity, or perhaps the sleeping Barbara sensed something.

Xiao Bai finally took action.

It placed its claw into its mouth, pierced the tongue tip, thereby obtaining a drop of fresh blood.

"Meow~"

Then Xiao Bai fed that drop of fresh blood into Lu Xun's mouth.

"Ah..."

This drop of blood took effect.

A few minutes later, Lu Xun shouted loudly and then woke up.

At that moment, he was drenched in sweat.

Even more astonishing,

his hair had turned half white.

Lu Xun's face still bore traces of terror.

His doubtful, unsettled gaze swept the surroundings; upon seeing Xiao Bai, Lu Xun finally regained some of his senses.

Meow~

Xiao Bai happily rubbed against Lu Xun.

Lu Xun picked it up and flew straight out the window.

Outside, the capital was filled with carriages and horses flowing like water and dragons.

Looking at the prosperous capital, Lu Xun couldn't help feeling as if he had returned to the mortal world.

Such a realistic and terrifying dream... impossible, I couldn't possibly have such a dream... this must be someone playing tricks...

Lu Xun let out a breath.

He had a nightmare.

It was still an extraordinarily terrifying nightmare.

Lu Xun almost died in the dream.

With his strength, even if he truly had a nightmare, he could realize it and turn it into a pleasant dream.

But last night, what he had was a nightmare.

It was still a nightmare so realistic it was extreme.

Moreover, Lu Xun had a premonition.

If he really died in the nightmare.

His soul would probably be doomed.

So, this nightmare is absolutely abnormal.

Someone must be messing around.

Someone wants to kill him.

Or they want to kill him through the dream.

This method is quite clever!