Chapter 275

Overseas, Biyang Cultivation Realm.

As a streak of teleportation light shattered the thunderclouds encircling this sea region, it dissolved instantly, revealing a tall figure standing with hands behind his back, robes flapping in the wind.

"So, I've returned to a familiar place."

Lu Yang surveyed his surroundings; last time he made such a commotion overseas, a great battle had left Biyang Cultivation Realm a mere shadow of its former self.

Yet ironically, with the Xian Alliance's suppression gone, the entire spiritual root system collapsed—and yet this place flourished instead. Though no one had yet broken through to Foundation Establishment, given enough time, perhaps a hundred years or so, it might restore its former glory.

Lu Yang looked around, then pinched his fingers to calculate.

Though he had personally come overseas this time, he did not intend to immediately seek the Duanmu Yuan Tu. Instead, he planned to first strengthen his own power as much as possible.

'I really should hurry there.'

'After all, Duanmu Yuan Tu concerns my entire Dao path—if I'm too late and the Four Seas Sect takes it, I'll never get it back.'

'No, no, no—that's wrong.'

'No matter what, strengthening my power is always right. I've already risked much by coming overseas in my true body—if I lack strength, even a chance won't be mine to seize!'

For a moment, countless thoughts flashed in Lu Yang's eyes; in the end, the cautious 'play it safe' idea barely won out, prompting him to pull out a flying letter, ignite it with magic power, and send it off. Not long after, a streak of teleportation light shot from afar and landed before him.

Immediately, a refined young man stepped out from within.

'. Duanmu Yuan Tu?'

His expression was grim, eyes filled with surprise; the moment he appeared, he stared fixedly at Lu Yang, unwilling to approach immediately.

'I pay my respects to the Summoning Elder.'

Lu Yang bowed slightly and smiled: 'Is our prior agreement beyond the heavens still valid? I've come seeking your aid to forge a spiritual treasure for me.'

Lu Yang's tone was gentle, yet Su Huan's expression grew even tenser.

'Something's off!'

He could tell the Lu Yang standing before him was his true body—not a projection from beyond the heavens. But why would he come here in person?

This isn't like the Holy Sect at all!

Su Huan had witnessed Lu Yang's methods in Wan Wu Jie; this man possessed both ability and cunning, and had fully absorbed the Holy Sect's way of dealing with others.

How could such a person blindly trust a stranger True Person and risk his true body to meet him? Does he truly think he's some prodigy capable of overthrowing his superiors? Su Huan asked himself: if he were in Lu Yang's place, he'd surely use a projection—what if he got betrayed and killed?

'Elder?'

Lu Yang, watching Su Huan's stiff expression, asked curiously. Under his gaze, Su Huan's furrowed brows gradually relaxed.

'. The agreement still stands.'

Su Huan let out a loud laugh, abandoning his earlier doubts; his vigilance vanished like windblown dust, convinced he'd merely been worrying needlessly.

Instantly, the two felt they'd met too late, conversing with great delight.

As they spoke enthusiastically, Lu Yang recalled the dangers awaiting him in seeking the Cheng Tian Gang and Duanmu Yuan Tu—he realized having a True Person as backup would be far better.

He immediately spoke up:

'I'm about to seek the Cheng Tian Gang and Duanmu Yuan Tu. If you're willing, after forging the spiritual treasure, why not accompany me? I'll repay you handsomely.'

Upon hearing this, Su Huan waved his hand cheerfully: 'No problem!'

With those words, the overseas cultivator who had lived six hundred years in cautious restraint now wore an open, generous expression:

'No time to waste! I've just discovered a perfect forge site overseas—a sea eye containing underground fire and rich deposits of geng metal. If we forge here, drawing upon metal qi and refining with water and fire, we'll surely craft you an outstanding spiritual treasure!'

As he finished, Su Huan himself froze.

That 【Dihuo Haixin Lu】 was his stronghold, his most vital base overseas—had he really just revealed it? Wasn't that too reckless?

But then he reconsidered.

'After all, he's a Holy Sect True Person—he surely wouldn't covet my humble place. My priority is to forge his treasure quickly, then accompany him to seek the Cheng Tian Gang and Duanmu Yuan Tu.'

With that thought, he relaxed.

Suddenly, Su Huan felt dampness on his forehead; he wiped it away, amused—how could a cultivator of his level still sweat?

'What an oddity.'

He glanced at Lu Yang beside him—equally expectant, his expression perfectly natural, even as a large bead of sweat slowly rolled down his brow.

The two exchanged glances—and simultaneously thought:

'Hah! He's the same!'

If that's the case, then it's not strange.

The next instant, both cast aside their doubts and launched their teleportation lights into the sky, soon arriving at a desolate stretch of ocean.

Su Huan pointed his finger—and instantly, waves surged, parting in layers to reveal the seabed: a submarine volcano, its black pit gaping open, water gathering within, while a thousand fire veins spread outward like stars circling the moon.

'What an extraordinary 【Dihuo Haixin Lu】!'

Lu Yang's gaze flickered—he recognized this terrain was not natural, but painstakingly crafted over countless years by human hands.

'Elder's mastery is truly remarkable.'

Lu Yang bowed to Su Huan, who stroked his beard and smiled faintly—his usual impassive demeanor vanished, replaced by clear pride:

'Trivial skill, nothing to speak of.'

Su Huan formed a hand seal and unleashed a palm thunder; the banners around the volcano trembled, and the entire 【Dihuo Haixin Lu】 activated.

'Forging a spiritual treasure, especially one attuned to a cultivator's primordial spirit, is no simple matter. Not only must the materials be top-tier, you need an excellent forge, and finally, you must consecrate it with a spiritual essence. All I can provide is the forge.'

'The other two conditions—you must supply.'

Su Huan turned to Lu Yang, who exhaled deeply: 'Elder, rest assured—I've prepared everything in advance.'

Though he spoke confidently, Lu Yang's movements suddenly halted.

His face still wore a smile, but cold sweat dripped steadily from his skin; his eyelids twitched, and his clenched teeth trembled.

Yet soon, he regained composure:

'. Elder, behold!'

As the words fell, Lu Yang flicked his wide sleeve.

In the next second, apart from the Myriad Spirits Banner, he drew out all the other spiritual treasures, including the A-Bi Sword, the Formless Sword, and the Di Fu Golden Seal of the Dula True Decree!

In an instant, the radiance of the spiritual treasures flared so brightly it nearly blinded Suo Huan, and a most intense greed surged in his heart; yet the next second, as if blocked by something, all that greed vanished, leaving only deep sighs of admiration in his heart:

"What a host of spiritual treasures!"

Suo Huan clapped his hands and laughed, "Fellow Daoist, do you intend to refine all these spiritual treasures into one furnace? This act carries great risk; if it fails, they will all be lost."

Speaking thus, he shook his head repeatedly:

"However, Fellow Daoist, your fortune is truly profound."

"Were it any other furnace, with so many spiritual treasures I would simply turn and leave; but only within this 【Earth Fire Sea Heart Furnace】 do I have a method!"

(End of this chapter)