Chapter 259

Overseas, in a remote sea region.

A streak of cultivation light shot past, and within it was a young man with a gloomy expression: "Mother… is she really trying to kill me, as Father said?"

The young man was Chongming.

Since his trip to the Qing State, this young man had grown far older; though his lifespan had not diminished, strands of white hair had appeared at his temples.

The cultivation light flew across the overseas seas for a while, finally landing on an uninhabited island, yet it seemed to pass through a transparent water curtain—looking from outside, the island appeared desolate and lifeless, but once inside, a pale-lipped, white-toothed young Daoist Priest suddenly appeared by the shore.

"Fellow Daoist Xu."

Chongming's eyes flickered with complexity; he sighed and stepped forward, bowing with clasped hands: "You've gone to too much trouble, Fellow Daoist. I shall surely repay your kindness."

If Lu Yang were here, he would surely recognize him.

The young Daoist priest before him was none other than Xu Xin, who had once been deeply at odds with Chongming on the battlefield for the Dao—and now he, too, was a True Person of Foundation Establishment.

"Enough talk."

Xu Xin shook his head, and his figure instantly grew hazy: "I don't want any ties to you. Good luck, young master."

With that, his figure dissolved silently.

Chongming could only sigh, thinking to himself: "Father says Mother wants to kill me—then why did she instruct me to sail overseas?"

When Master Chongguang sent Chongming out of the Dongyang Blessed Land in the Qing State, he had left behind a few instructions; trusting his father, Chongming strictly followed them. Though his mother, True Person Miaoyin's coldness had left him deeply disappointed, he still rallied himself:

"No matter what, I cannot return to the Holy Sect."

Chongming took from his robe a Bagua Disc—Master Chongguang's treasure to conceal his heavenly fate. With this artifact protecting him, no one should be able to find him.

At this thought, Lu Yang's figure suddenly flashed through Chongming's mind.

"I'll just endure!"

"Endure until Mother dies!"

As the most outstanding disciple of the Holy Sect's younger generation, Lu Yang's deeds were already legendary—including enduring to death the Arhat Fu Long Arhat and tricking the Bu Tian Peak Master to death.

With the precedent of the Initial Saint elder's experience, Chongming felt little confusion and quickly set his strategy: "Youth is my greatest advantage. Mother is already on her third life. In combat and cunning, I cannot match her—so I'll fight her in lifespan. I'll outlast her until the day she dies!"

If lucky, True Person Miaoyin will die during Tribulation Crossing—it won't be many years.

If unlucky, and she breaks through to Foundation Establishment late stage, it doesn't matter—just wait two more lifetimes. As long as I hold on, there will always be an opportunity.

With this thought, Chongming calmed his emotions.

Yet as he turned around, he was utterly horrified to see a figure suddenly appear upon the shore, atop the pale-green waves!

"Hua hua hua."

The sound of waves drifted from afar, crashing against the shore's rocks—and against Chongming's heart—suddenly plunging him into icy despair.

The newcomer rode the waves, stepping lightly upon the foam, landing on shore with the grace of a scholar taking a spring outing. His face bore a gentle smile, yet his eyes were cold as frost, revealing not a trace of warmth.

"You've made me search quite a while."

Instantly, Chongming's expression stiffened. He wanted to resist—but an indescribable, overwhelming pressure had already settled upon him.

'Done for!'

Though Chongming had only just reached Foundation Establishment, he was no stranger to the world—even facing a Foundation Establishment mid-stage True Person, he still had the strength to act.

But this True Person merely stood before him, sealing his magic power and spiritual intent. Not only could he not move—he was barely able to think at all, and only because the other had not sealed his consciousness. Such terrifying pressure, bordering on a rank disparity, could only be achieved by a late-stage Foundation Establishment Great True Person!

At this moment, Chongming felt utter despair.

Yet to his surprise, the newcomer did not seize him and instantly dissolve him. Instead, after studying him for a moment, he deliberately released the pressure.

Then, the newcomer stared directly at him.

"You know me."

Four simple words, devoid of any question, filled with certainty—as if the truth had long been confirmed. Chongming involuntarily lowered his head:

"I've heard Father mention you a few times."

"Master Chongguang?" Su Huan smiled, then turned, hands clasped behind his back, walking up to him with calm tone: "You have a good father."

"I've long been overseas, unable to communicate easily with the Holy Sect's my lords. I needed concealment, needed to confuse the karmic threads. Your father secured this position for you—it saved your life, pulled you out of the whirlpool. You're truly lucky. Truly lucky indeed."

"Better than me."

Su Huan shook his head and sighed; Chongming looked utterly confused.

'What does he mean?'

Yet soon his thoughts halted—on his body, a faint glow slowly emerged, weaving into a graceful, slender silhouette.

Seeing this, Su Huan stepped back quickly.

"Your humble servant bows before Lady Qiluo True Sovereign."

The graceful silhouette's features were unmistakably those of the Zengcai Qiluo True Sovereign, who had once brewed pills for Lu Yang—now she appeared here, overseas!

Su Huan's hands grew cold; he sneered inwardly:

'Miaoyin is truly foolish and unaware. Does she not realize that as Master Chongguang's consort, every move she makes is watched by the True Sovereigns above?'

'On the surface, this appears to be a transaction between me and Miaoyin—she delivers her son Chongming to me for qi absorption, clear karmic ties, undeniable. But in truth, the True Sovereign is using Chongming's karmic thread to secretly meet me. Miaoyin is merely the True Sovereign's mouthpiece!'

At this moment, the Zengcai Qiluo True Sovereign finally spoke: "Speak. Why have you come to see me?"

"Your humble servant seeks only to ease your burdens."

Su Huan spoke calmly, bowing with proper ritual, softly: "Recently, though I dwell overseas, I have heard of the great events."

"Master Chongguang is truly the trendsetter of this generation's Holy Sect—single-handedly shifting the world. A pity he fell short at the final moment. It's truly regrettable."

"I lack Master Chongguang's abilities. I am merely a homeless dog—a small person."

"A small person can only drift with the current."

Here, Su Huan's tone finally showed a flicker of emotion: "I am willing to certify the Long Flowing Water—ease your burdens, break this impasse."

He bowed deeply, respectfully:

"You know, my lord, I am an outsider from beyond heaven. I do not cultivate a life-seed, nor refine innate talents. To this day, I have relied solely on qi absorption. My Spirit Ruin Blessed Land is water-elemental—meaning, for any water-elemental position, I have a chance to attain it."

"Even if it is the 【Long Flowing Water】!"

As Suo Huan's voice fell, 【Zeng Cai Qi Luo Zhenjun】 immediately narrowed his eyes: "You indeed have great boldness; the description 'drifting with the current' fits well."

This is indeed a blind spot!

As a cultivator from beyond the heavens, Suo Huan has no need for 【Chen Earth】; in essence, he uses the method of gathering Qi to strip the fruit position of this realm!

Once 【Long Flowing Water】 is stripped by him, it would be a de facto proof.

And having lost 【Long Flowing Water】, that mysterious Zhenjun suspected to be Ang Xiao would henceforth lack the completeness of the Five Elements, immediately falling from the position of late-stage Jin Dan!

However, this is not without drawbacks; although Suo Huan's pursuit of Gold does not require 【Chen Earth】, it is therefore difficult to resonate with the fruit position, and as a cultivator from beyond the heavens, devouring the fruit position of this realm's heaven and earth will inevitably bring great trouble, and will inevitably forge a death grudge with the mysterious Zhenjun!

Under such circumstances, the difficulty of pursuing Gold is several times greater than that of Master Chongguang.

Even if he succeeds, it will be hard to secure the position of Zhenjun, especially with the Great Tribulation of a thousand years approaching; a single misstep could make him the next Daoist Hong Yun Daoren.

Yet Suo Huan showed not the slightest hesitation.

He too was once the chosen son of a realm's heaven and earth, full of spirit and vigor, yet now he bends his back with utter naturalness, like an old man in the twilight of his years.

"This humble one seeks nothing else."

He lowered his head and said humbly: "I am willing to have my lord plant a prohibition on me and serve my lord with my life, seeking only a Dan fruit... even if only for one lifetime."

Chu Sheng Sect, Cloud Sea Reaching Heaven.

The three-month deadline was approaching; Lu Yang pushed open the door of the meditation chamber and walked in, only to see a handsome young man sitting upright on a cushion in the center of the chamber.

His appearance was identical to his own; the only difference was a sharp aura filling the space between his eyebrows. After all, he was cultivated and refined with a flying sword as the embryo, and his foundation was mixed with the sharpness of a sword cultivator, which was difficult to erase. Between the opening and closing of his lips, his heartbeat and breath were completely synchronized with Lu Yang's original body.

Seeing this, Lu Yang immediately showed a look of satisfaction:

"The Immortal Fetus is complete!"

(End of this chapter)