Chapter 273: Leave

Wang Yu unconsciously swept his spiritual sense over Zhu Wuyan, only to find the other's spiritual energy fluctuations strangely irregular.

One moment, the energy was profound and unfathomable, as if surpassing the Qi Refining realm; the next, it dwindled to an abnormally faint level, as if barely at Qi Refining second or third stage.

What startled Wang Yu even more was that on Zhu Wuyan's face, shrouded in a faint crimson glow, one eye glowed blood-red while the other shone pure and crystalline white—both fixed on him, yet giving the chilling sensation of being watched by two separate beings.

Without hesitation, Wang Yu slapped his waist storage pouch; three pale red mirrors shot out, spiraling around his body, then, with a series of mechanical clicks, transformed into three floating artillery platforms.

Faint golden runes surfaced along the barrels of all three cannons, simultaneously locking onto Zhu Wuyan.

Simultaneously, one hand hidden in his sleeve flipped over, pinching a talisman marked with a blood-red long knife pattern.

Wang Yu regarded Zhu Wuyan with grave caution, fully aware of the terrifying nature of the other's blood cultivation secrets, and had already resolved to unleash his strongest techniques the moment combat began.

He must settle life or death within a short time; otherwise, given how stubborn blood cultivation arts were, once entangled, escape would be impossible.

But something strange happened.

At this moment, Zhu Wuyan merely stood coldly before Wang Yu, showing no intention to approach.

Wang Yu's mind stirred; recalling the conversation he'd overheard earlier, he shifted his bone boat's course slightly, drifting slowly away in another direction—as if intending to bypass Zhu Wuyan—yet the three floating artillery platforms before him still kept their muzzles trained on the figure.

The blurred crimson humanoid form of Zhu Wuyan made no move to pursue.

Wang Yu did not hesitate; he poured all his spiritual power into the bone boat beneath him. The flying artifact shuddered slightly, then shot off at full speed through the void.

…

The blurred crimson humanoid form watched the retreating silhouette of the bone boat, remaining utterly still.

"You truly won't act? If you let him go, how am I supposed to explain this to Blood Smoke Old Ghost?" A strange man's voice suddenly emerged from Zhu Wuyan's body.

"If it were someone else, I wouldn't mind taking care of it. But this one isn't an ordinary Qi Refining disciple—attacking him now would likely result in mutual destruction. Besides, he killed Blood Smoke Old Ghost's descendant. In the past, I'd have clapped my hands in delight." Zhu Wuyan replied slowly.

"This kid only looks like a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator—how could he possibly match you in a fight? That surprises me."

"Forget it. Originally, I planned for you to kill him and give Blood Smoke Old Ghost a favor, then bring you back from the Demon Luo Sect. Now, I'll have to take you back regardless of Blood Smoke Old Ghost's reaction."

"After all, this fragment of my soul has already taken root inside you—I won't let it go to waste, lest it hinder my future Dao cultivation." The strange voice replied indifferently.

"With your original body's cultivation level, Elder Tian Gu, you shouldn't fear Blood Smoke Old Ghost. But did this man truly kill Blood Smoke Old Ghost's descendant? How did you know and lock onto his location?" Zhu Wuyan asked, intrigued.

"Heh, this brat carries the Blood-Transforming Demon Knife talisman artifact—crafted from Blood Smoke Old Ghost's own essence blood. After centuries of dealings with that old ghost, even a hundred li away, I can still sense his essence blood's aura." Tian Gu Lao Zu chuckled.

"The Blood-Transforming Demon Knife talisman artifact is on him? Then not attacking was the right choice—if I had, my imitation Blood-Transforming Demon Knife would've been completely suppressed by that talisman." Zhu Wuyan was startled.

"What's to fear? It's just a talisman artifact. Others may fear Blood Smoke Old Ghost's Blood-Transforming Demon Knife, but I have ways to easily neutralize it—otherwise, why would I have sent you to approach him?" Tian Gu Lao Zu replied coolly.

"I see. Then I'm at ease." Zhu Wuyan finally nodded.

"Rest assured—you're different from ordinary Demon Luo Sect disciples. You were merely a backup blood spirit avatar for Blood Smoke Old Ghost. In a sense, you're not even a true disciple of the sect. Come back with me to the Black Soul Sect, and you'll become my fourth direct disciple. Even if Blood Smoke Old Ghost finds out, he'll have to swallow his anger. At worst, he'll just compensate me with some rare materials later." Tian Gu Lao Zu soothed.

"If this truly happens, Elder, you'll be my rebirth-giving parent. From now on, I'll dedicate my life and soul to you, repaying your life-saving grace." Zhu Wuyan was moved, swearing solemnly to heaven.

"I hope you remember your words today," Tian Gu Lao Zu replied with a dark chuckle, then fell silent.

Moments later, a streak of crimson light shot into the sky, racing swiftly in another direction.

…

Wang Yu flew over fifty li in one go, activating his spiritual sense at maximum frequency to scan behind him. Seeing Zhu Wuyan truly didn't follow, he exhaled deeply, reverted the three parent-child floating mirrors to their original form, and re-stowed them.

Yet he felt puzzled: how had Zhu Wuyan found him? How had he even set up barriers ahead of time—yet ultimately chosen not to attack, letting him leave?

Who was the other person who had been speaking with Zhu Wuyan?

Wang Yu couldn't make sense of it, so he gave up thinking further. He glanced at the white arrow-shaped shadow on his arm, adjusted his boat's course, and resumed full-speed travel.

Half a day later.

Above a dense forest near the border, a massive black hole was clearly visible.

Beneath the black hole stood over twenty towering humanoid golems, each two zhang tall, wielding enormous silver swords, their bodies constructed from spirit wood, standing motionless and alert.

These golems had no facial features, but on their chests were engraved clear silver characters: "Zhu"—they were all Qianzhu Sect golems, each radiating an aura nearing Qi Refining peak.

From all directions around, occasional streaks of light and flying vessels arrived, plunging directly into the black hole to exit the secret realm.

Above another desert region, another massive hole, wreathed in black mist, appeared.

Around the hole stood over a hundred bone demons, each one zhang tall, clad in armor, wielding various bone blades and spears. At the center lay seven or eight even larger bone serpents, their heads raised, tongues flickering, terrifyingly fierce.

…

Wang Yu spotted the massive black hole and the golem guards ahead, his heart leapt with joy. He urged his flying boat forward and shot straight to the hole's base.

The nearby golem guards all turned their heads toward him—but as his inner sect disciple token flickered faintly within his storage pouch, the Qianzhu Sect golems immediately returned to their stillness.

Wang Yu then steered his bone boat straight into the black hole above.