Chapter 165: Journey to the Sea

"Yuan Tu, are you alright?"

On Buxian Peak, Lady Ruoxiang rushed to Lu Yang's side with a panicked expression, her Zhu Chun slightly parted; at first glance, one might have thought she truly cared for her beloved.

But Lu Yang knew what she truly cared about.

"Rest assured, the True Person's handwritten letter is unharmed."

Lu Yang smiled slightly, then exhaled a mouthful of scorching fire qi: "Very well, let Chen Shuqian come to assist my cultivation; I need to recover my injuries as soon as possible."

"Mm."

Upon hearing Lu Yang's words, Lady Ruoxiang's beautiful face immediately darkened slightly, but she quickly regained her charming smile and made way for Chen Shuqian.

Seeing this, Chen Shuqian was naturally overjoyed; she immediately shot a provocative glance at Lady Ruoxiang, then immediately supported Lu Yang as they slowly entered the secret chamber, for compared to Lu Yang alone activating the "Qing Luan Wu Fire," the efficiency of their joint refinement was higher, and the speed of injury recovery was faster.

Ten days later.

Lu Yang pushed Chen Shuqian aside, changed into fresh clothes with a refreshed spirit; his magical body, originally burned through inside and out by the "Tian Lu Li Fire," had already recovered more than half.

It had even become much more solid compared to before.

Lu Yang was not surprised; physical cultivation is inherently about breaking before establishing, so it was only natural that after suffering such severe injuries, he would benefit upon recovery.

However, he did not excel in physical cultivation.

The Saint Thief of the past was of little use in the current era, so even if the algorithm made his physical body more solid, it could only be said to be slightly more durable.

"The utility of this Qing Luan Wu Fire is quite significant."

Lu Yang sensed the changes within his body, his face showing slight surprise, for previously he believed the injuries he suffered this time would require at least ten years to heal.

However, with Chen Shuqian's unreserved assistance, he displayed a superhuman physique.

In just ten days, he had already recovered more than half, while at this moment, Senior Wu Cang, who had also suffered severe injuries, had probably just barely pieced his body back together after being severed at the waist!

Thinking of this, Lu Yang frowned again.

"Something is wrong."

The Jiutian Yi at his brow rotated, its treasure light illuminating cause and effect; although he still found no problem, Lu Yang felt a layer of shadow in his heart that would not dissipate.

He always felt that Senior Wu Cang was not quite right.

Although his actions were very consistent with the style of a True Person from a Saint Sect with a scattered cultivator background, Lu Yang still felt his movements were slightly too rash.

Since the 【Jiutian Yi】 could not detect any errors, Lu Yang could only temporarily set it aside.

Anyway, with the Hundred Lives Book present, regardless of whether there was a mastermind behind the scenes or any schemes, he would eventually uncover it, and it would surely be useful for the next time.

"Let us be cautious for now."

With a thought, Lu Yang secretly rode a gentle breeze, drifting down to land on the Saint Fire Cliff; very soon, a spirit of the formation came to guide him inside.

Inside the main hall, as soon as Lu Yang entered, he felt a glaring gaze fall upon him, carrying a strong sense of scrutiny; however, very soon a light exclamation of surprise rang out in the hall. Lu Yang looked up and saw Master Chongguang looking at him with a face full of surprise:

"Your injuries have healed?"

Lu Yang clasped his hands in salute: "Replying to Junior Uncle, indeed more than half has healed; the gift left behind by the Master of Buxian Peak was very useful, and this disciple has benefited greatly."

"Mm."

Upon hearing this, Master Chongguang immediately touched his chin with a strange expression, as if realizing something: "That is true... that was what he intended to use to counter heavenly thunder."

The next second, Master Chongguang came to his senses:

"I originally thought you would lie low for another ten-plus years, but since you have recovered early, I suppose you can immediately set out to seek the Cheng Tian Gang and Di Sha?"

"This disciple indeed has such intentions."

Lu Yang nodded: "This disciple swallowed the fortune of the Divine Martial Sect; sensing the heavens and earth with spiritual perception, I vaguely calculated that this disciple's opportunity should have fallen in the overseas lands."

"... Overseas?"

Hearing this, Master Chongguang frowned: "Pity; if it were in Jiangbei, I could directly act to retrieve that one Cheng Tian Gang and Di Sha for you."

"However, if it is overseas, only you can go retrieve it yourself. Fortunately, your opportunity is deep, and you possess a Heaven's Secret Treasure to protect your fate; few can calculate your whereabouts, and you are also clever, so I do not worry about you meeting disaster... Very well, I shall give this object to you for self-defense."

As the words fell, Master Chongguang produced a jade tablet.

The moment he saw that jade tablet, Lu Yang froze; for he had seen it! The Master of Buxian Peak from two lifetimes ago had used it to block a Jin Dan sword qi!

"This object is named the 【Imperial Decree Jade Tablet】, forged by the True Person."

Master Chongguang handed the jade tablet to Lu Yang and said indifferently: "Among the four inner peaks, every peak master receives such a jade pendant to use as a protective object."

"After Buxian died, his was reclaimed."

"Now that you are acting as peak master, I bestow it upon you; no matter what dangers you encounter overseas, with this treasure you will at least have a sliver of a chance to survive."

"Thank you, Junior Uncle!"

Lu Yang immediately accepted the item with a face full of joy, understanding in his heart that Master Chongguang had transferred funds again, further increasing his investment in him.

"Is there anything else you lack?"

Seeing that Lu Yang had accepted the jade tablet, Master Chongguang continued: "Better safe than sorry; the overseas lands are treacherous and unpredictable, so let us prepare everything for you."

Seeing this, Lu Yang did not hesitate and immediately said: "I wish to request a secret art for substituting calamities, and a magical treasure for self-defense; if there is a spiritual treasure that can replenish magic power, that would be even better. Oh right, bring one for escape as well; preferably one capable of breaking formations and escaping predicaments; high quality is sufficient."

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Before Lu Yang finished speaking, Master Chongguang abruptly interrupted him, then said in a bad mood: "Greedy! Do you truly think spiritual treasures are common?"

"Isn't there Junior Uncle?"

Lu Yang forced a smile: "With Junior Uncle's cultivation realm, mere spiritual treasures are nothing more than a snap of the fingers; you wouldn't want this disciple to die overseas, right?"

Hearing this, Master Chongguang snorted coldly but was not angry; after all, if one were not greedy, would one still be a Saint Sect True Person? After thinking it over, he produced three objects.

Seeing this, Lu Yang was immediately overjoyed: They really can prepare everything!?

"Don't get too carried away; there are no high-quality spiritual treasures!"

Before Lu Yang could express thanks, Master Chongguang preempted him: "Of these three, only one counts as a medium-quality spiritual treasure; the other two are low-quality spiritual treasures."

"Thank you, Junior Uncle!"

Lu Yang did not care; as long as it was a spiritual treasure, he accepted it with a smile. He immediately stored the three objects away, then calculated with his fingers and learned their origins.

Three spiritual treasures: the middle-grade one, named 【Cross-Void Golden Boat】, was for escape; as its name suggests, it could traverse the void, and more importantly, sail freely through the chaotic qi lands overseas, moving back and forth without obstruction, obviously crafted by Master Chongguang specifically for him.

The other two were 【Dwelling-Glow Robe】 and 【Essence-Guarding Stone】.

The former could refine a protective glow of mist to block one fatal attack; the latter could store magic power on ordinary days and be drawn upon for use in critical moments.

"For this journey, go quickly and return quickly."

Seeing Lu Yang put away the spiritual treasures, Master Chongguang also nodded, finally instructing: "Return within twenty years; I still have a great matter to entrust to you."

"This disciple understands!"

Lu Yang immediately nodded, then left the great hall, rode a beam of escape-light into the evening wind, and returned to Heaven-Mending Peak, having already withdrawn Chen Xinan into the banner.

At the same time, Lady Ruoxiang and Chen Shuqian also walked out together.

"Duanmu Yuan Tu? What has happened?"

"I have urgent matters and must leave immediately," Lu Yang said, his Dao-heart like iron, paying no heed at all to the reluctance in Lady Ruoxiang's eyes, clear as autumn water.

"If anyone comes asking about me afterward, tell them I have entered a death-seclusion and have not emerged."

As the words fell, Lu Yang, without looking back, obscured his karmic ties, rode a beam of escape-light once more to vanish into nature, and silently departed the Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea.

This time, he and Senior Wu Cang had fought to a mutual stalemate, already forging a great enmity; moreover, if his intuition was not mistaken, there was likely a mastermind behind Senior Wu Cang, so remaining in the Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea was no longer safe; it was better to leave, to leap out of this chessboard, and perhaps gain a vast and open sky.

In other words, it was time to pack up and run!

At the same time, inside a hidden cave dwelling.

Senior Wu Cang painfully pieced his body back together, looking at a bloodstain on his abdomen and, to his enduring heartache, a deep sword-mark upon his Dao foundation.

"I was far too rash this time!"

He did not know which nerve had misfired; upon learning that the True Lord's handwritten letter in Lu Yang's hand was written by 【Ang Xiao Bi Ri True Lord】, who had attained the 【Great Lin Mu】, and perfectly matched his own cultivated 【Panlong Divine Wood Dao Foundation】, his blood instantly surged, and he could not wait to rush to the door and forcibly seize it.

Now, looking back, there must be something wrong with this!

Although he was of a scattered cultivator's background, Senior Wu Cang was, after all, a True Person of a Saint Sect; perhaps he was not cunning enough, but having suffered many losses, he had a set of methods to cope.

"This Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea cannot be stayed in!"

Senior Wu Cang's thoughts raced, and he had already made a decision: "I am now severely injured; I cannot guarantee that some True Person of a Saint Sect will not harbor evil intentions and attempt to harm me."

"And whoever is scheming against me this time, as long as I leave, they should have no way to deal with me."

"No time to delay; we leave tonight!"

—But where to go?

Senior Wu Cang frowned, pondered deeply, and after a long while his eyes brightened, as if he had thought of a brilliant plan; he clapped his hands: "I have it; let us go overseas!"

(End of this chapter)