Chapter 77: Jia Xingtian: Hai Bodong, Did You Take the Wrong Medicine?!
Inside the mountain cave, Yun Leng explained everything he knew about Yan Xiao in detail, particularly emphasizing Xiao Yan's habit of wearing a mask to conceal his appearance and his mysterious connection with Hai Bodong.
As for what kind of relationship it was, Yun Leng couldn't say. Protector Wu didn't blame him, though. Protector Wu knew firsthand how cunning and resourceful that young man was if even he had been deceived, what could someone like Yun Leng, a mere pawn, possibly uncover?
"Take me to him!" Protector Wu ordered without hesitation, the clanging of his iron chains echoing ominously in the dark.
"Uh… My lord, both individuals hold significant influence. Additionally, the finals of the Alchemist Conference are about to begin, and all eyes in the capital are focused on that event," Yun Leng cautiously explained. "Many powerful figures are watching, especially the royal family and the Alchemist Guild."
"Fine. Then we'll act after the Alchemist Conference ends!" Protector Wu growled. Under his control, the Yunlan Sect had extended its tendrils throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire. While martial strength was important, intelligence was even more so it was his most prized asset and could not be compromised.
He didn't know why his superiors had given him such a specific task, but Protector Wu didn't dare defy their orders.
"Well…" Yun Leng hesitated.
"Do you have another problem?" Protector Wu's crimson eyes flared, and an oppressive aura instantly bore down on Yun Leng, making his face turn pale. His knees buckled, and he fell to the ground with a loud thud.
"The Alchemist Conference is followed by the Three Year Agreement… During that time, Sect Leader Yun Yun will be keeping a close watch. My lord, it may not be appropriate for you to act…" Yun Leng stammered, forcing himself to finish his words.
But Protector Wu was unmoved. Black mist surged around him, making Yun Leng tremble uncontrollably. Cold sweat dripped down his face as fear gripped his heart.
"Enough! Stop scaring him," a deep, authoritative voice suddenly boomed. Yun Leng felt the pressure on him suddenly ease as a white robed middle aged man walked into the cave. Looking at Protector Wu, the man spoke calmly, "It doesn't matter if we wait a few days. Let Yun Leng keep watch for now. When the time comes, I'll assist you personally. How about that?"
Protector Wu's crimson eyes flickered with hesitation, and he remained silent for a moment.
"Are you in a hurry?" Yun Shan raised an eyebrow, sensing something unusual.
"I need to return and report in a month!" Protector Wu snapped.
Yun Shan nodded in understanding. It seemed that every year around this time, Protector Wu would leave.
"Fine. Delaying by seven days won't make much difference," Protector Wu finally relented, closing his eyes as his crimson gaze vanished into the darkness. With Yun Shan's help, he felt more confident about capturing that boy's soul.
Though Xiao Yan wasn't particularly strong in combat, his crafty methods especially those targeting souls were a significant threat to Protector Wu's ethereal form. Furthermore, Xiao Yan had impressive escape techniques. In the blink of an eye, he could vanish without a trace!
The Hall of Souls specialized in dealing with spiritual entities and had formidable means for subduing normal cultivators. However, someone with a powerful soul and a physical body was an entirely different challenge.
"Very well, you may leave!"
Feeling as though he had been pardoned from a death sentence, Yun Leng scrambled to his feet and fled the mountain cave in a panic. Meanwhile, Protector Wu closed his eyes, and the crimson glow disappeared into the shadows.
Yun Shan exhaled softly and returned to his secluded training area.
When he had failed to forcefully break through to the Douzong level, this man had appeared before him, offering assistance not only to save his life but also to help him break through.
Yun Shan had been reluctant to accept at first. This man didn't look like a good person nor was he but Yun Shan had no choice. He had been on the brink of death and could only accept the offer.
Step by step… I'll see how this plays out. Yun Shan's expression flickered with uncertainty. This feeling of being controlled was deeply frustrating.
Outside the cave, high atop the mountain, Yun Yun sat cross legged, her expression cold as she gazed down at the figure of Yun Leng sneaking out of the cave like a guilty thief.
So, there really is something suspicious… Yun Yun's icy gaze sharpened as her hand lightly gripped a piece of paper. It was a portrait of Lu Bu.
This was part of an order issued by Yun Leng, yet Yun Yun knew that Lu Bu's face had long been concealed behind a mask. This particular face had never appeared in the capital.
There was no way Yun Leng could have known!
The Yunlan Sect has become so unfamiliar… Yun Yun thought coldly, her beautiful eyes flashing with a sharp light. Beside her, a peculiar longsword quivered softly, ready to strike. She had been too detached from the sect's affairs for too long.
When Lu Bu's plan is set into motion, I'll have to clean up the Yunlan Sect myself… Yun Yun resolved, closing her eyes once more to continue her cultivation.
The next day, in the mountains outside Jia Ma Holy City.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of deafening explosions echoed as a white energy sphere radiating intense cold unleashed countless ice spears formed from crystallized frost. Each spear transformed into a streak of icy light, relentlessly bombarding a golden energy sphere.
The golden sphere trembled under the onslaught, its defensive aura faltering as it was forced back into the mountain behind it.
"Damn it! Hai Hai Bodong! How has your strength suddenly increased like this?!" Jia Xingtian's voice was filled with disbelief, tinged with a hint of panic.
He had every reason to panic. Just two days ago, Hai Bodong had barely reached the two star Dou Huang level. Now, he had soared to six stars!
A four star leap in just two days especially at the Dou Huang level was utterly terrifying. Even during his days as a Dou Zhe, Jia Xingtian hadn't advanced this quickly!
"Hahaha! Didn't I tell you? I wasn't feeling well the other day!" Hai Bodong laughed heartily. "This is my true strength."
"Bullshit!" Jia Xingtian snapped, his voice filled with frustration. "Hai Bodong, what kind of medicine did you take?!"
"Bah! Only nonsense comes out of your mouth!" Hai Bodong retorted.
Perched atop a nearby tree canopy, Lu Bu stood silently, watching the two old men bicker and clash. Hai Bodong had brought him along, and now was the perfect time to discuss terms with Jia Xingtian. With only a week left until the Three Year Agreement, Protector Wu's days were numbered.
The sounds of battle rumbled on, but before long, the fight came to an end. As expected, Hai Bodong lost, but he was still grinning smugly, hands on his hips, while Jia Xingtian's face was as dark as a storm cloud.
"Spill it, Hai Bodong. How did your strength suddenly increase like that?" Jia Xingtian demanded, crossing his arms. As the guardian of the royal family and the strongest figure in the Jia Ma Empire, it was his duty to suppress any potential threats to the empire's stability.
"What sudden increase? I just took a Restoration Violet Pill to recover my original strength and an Imperial Pill to stabilize it. Nothing remarkable," Hai Bodong replied nonchalantly.
"Where did you get so many high tier pills?!" Jia Xingtian exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief. While the Mitel family was indeed wealthy, high tier pills weren't something that could simply be bought like common goods.
"I encountered a great master, of course!" Hai Bodong said with a sly grin, gesturing subtly toward Lu Bu.
Jia Xingtian's gaze shifted to Lu Bu, his expression growing more peculiar. "Don't tell me… this boy is the master you're talking about?"
"Why don't you meet him and find out?" Hai Bodong laughed. "Jia Xingtian, if I recall correctly, your royal family has a magical beast in need of medicinal care, right? And you could use some pills yourself, couldn't you?"
Jia Xingtian fell silent, glancing between Hai Bodong and Lu Bu. Finally, he raised a hand.
Two shadows emerged from the forest and vanished into the distance. Jia Xingtian had not come alone he couldn't afford to take chances. However, the current situation seemed to suggest… cooperation?
If that was the case, Jia Xingtian couldn't be happier.
Just then, several yellow streaks of light shot into the ground, forming a small defensive formation. Lu Bu floated over, his soul power surging outward like a tidal wave, pressing down with overwhelming force.
The sudden release of power caused Jia Xingtian's expression to shift drastically. This pressure it was no weaker than his own!
"Jia Xingtian," Lu Bu said with a faint smile, "how about a trade? You help me deal with someone, and I'll refine a pill for you. What do you say?"
Jia Xingtian's brow furrowed, his weathered face showing a flicker of interest. High tier pills were exactly what he needed.
(End of Chapter)
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