Chapter 315: Your Wife and Children, I Shall Raise Them Fear Not the Cuckoldry!
"So fast!" Xiao Yan's face changed drastically, unable to suppress his shock.
Right now, he had already reached the Spiritual Realm in soul power and had also mastered Three Thousand Lightning Movement, an exceptional movement technique. Yet, despite that, he still couldn't keep up with Lu Bu's speed.
How was this possible?!
The moment Lu Bu disappeared, all the terror and horror that had filled Mu Gu's heart instantly morphed into pure dread. A bone chilling fear surged from his heels straight up to his skull.
Almost instinctively, Mu Gu spun around. The Netherworld Ghostfire Arm, which Lu Bu had smacked away earlier, eerily reappeared, smashing fiercely toward a seemingly empty space.
Boom!
A thunderous sonic boom erupted through the air. A white shockwave, resembling an apron, wrapped around the fearsome yellow crystal fire arm this was the sonic barrier created by extreme acceleration.
"Mountain Splitting Seal!"
A low voice rang out, and a purple black crystalline palm imprint shot out from the void, like a comet streaking across the sky, slamming down viciously.
"Fall back!" Xiao Yan's expression changed, lightning flashing beneath his feet as he instantly retreated.
Cao Ying grabbed Dan Chen and swiftly retreated, while Dan Chen let out a soft cry. A strange ripple emerged between her brows, forming a glowing protective barrier that enveloped both women.
Zi Yan merely pouted, her body shimmering with a faint purple glow. Though she remained motionless, the space in front of her suddenly solidified layer upon layer, forming barriers so dense that even a Dou Zun expert might struggle to break through.
Boom!
The two devastating attacks collided fiercely, triggering an earth shattering explosion that roared through the heavens and earth.
Waves of terrifying energy rippled outward, surging in all directions.
"Ugh…" Dan Chen let out a muffled groan. The violent shockwave drained what little color was left from her already pale face.
Cao Ying, startled, wasted no time. She quickly retrieved a pill and fed it to Dan Chen she had nothing else but medicinal pills!
As for Xiao Yan, his strength was already formidable, and with Three Thousand Lightning Movement aiding his evasion, he remained completely unharmed.
Zi Yan… well, the energy waves didn't even manage to crack her spatial barriers.
Xiao Yan scratched his head, sighing helplessly. His frustration surged he had thought that after his recent breakthroughs, he could finally test himself against Mu Gu.
But seeing the current situation… forget it. He couldn't even withstand the residual shockwaves of Lu Bu's attacks. Jumping into the fight? Yeah, no thanks.
"Imperial Seal Technique… It really is you!" Mu Gu gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot and his body trembling. On one hand, this opponent's strength was extraordinary, not beneath his own. On the other… how could he ever forget the deep hatred of having his arm severed and his heart pierced just months ago?
A brief wave of panic and fear surged through him, but then burning fury roared forth. Mixed with that anger was an undeniable trace of exhilaration.
This was the one responsible for the destruction of the Soul Hall's branch! If he could take him down, it would be a glorious achievement!
In an instant, excitement, hatred, shock, and fear clashed within Mu Gu's heart. His eyes turned completely crimson, and flames surged from his palms as a layer of yellow crystal coated his arms.
"Heh… interesting!" Lu Bu smirked in amusement. Not only was this guy refusing to surrender, but he was actually daring to attack?
"Villain, surrender yourself! Return with me to face the Hall Master's judgment!" Mu Gu roared, whipping his arm like a snake. A dark yellow flame instantly coalesced into a crystalline fire spear.
The fire spear tore through the void, leaving behind a deep, scorched mark in the air as it shot straight for Lu Bu's forehead.
"Three moves. That's all I need to end you." Lu Bu's voice was calm as he watched the spear fly toward him.
The moment he finished speaking, a golden glow flickered across his body. With a single step forward, his figure blurred into an illusion.
"What?!" Mu Gu's pupils constricted sharply. He immediately channeled his soul power, erupting it from his brow. I refuse to believe an eighth tier alchemist like me can't detect you!
"This isn't Three Thousand Lightning Movement!" Xiao Yan's gaze sharpened as he murmured to himself. What terrifying speed… this is far beyond what Three Thousand Lightning Movement is capable of!
"Ocean Flipping Seal!"
A calm voice echoed. A palm pressed against the vital point on Mu Gu's back.
"You !" Mu Gu's expression changed drastically. How could someone be this fast?!
Boom!
The crystalline imprint detonated instantly, sending a shockwave of terrifying force through Mu Gu's body.
"Pfft!"
Mu Gu's body trembled violently, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, his face twisted in horror.
From what he had sensed, his opponent's cultivation should only be at the one or two star Dou Zun level. How could he possess such monstrous speed?!
"Damned bastard… who the hell are you?!" Mu Gu's face turned ashen. The sheer force of the Imperial Seal Technique rampaged within him, wreaking havoc.
Had he not possessed his own Heavenly Flame for protection, he would have already been dead.
"Heh… still alive? Impressive." A hint of surprise flickered across Lu Bu's face, but he quickly regained his composure, smirking. "No wonder you managed to escape me twice before. Looks like you do have some tricks."
"Escaped… twice?" Mu Gu's face froze in confusion. Wasn't it just that one time a few months ago? The other time… the Northwestern Continent?!
Suddenly, realization struck. His expression twisted in horror. The last time he had been on the brink of death was indeed in the Northwestern Continent!
First, he had been nearly obliterated in a single punch. Later, the Black Abyss Army had pushed him so hard that he was forced to self destruct just to escape.
Wait!
Wasn't this the same Black Abyss Army commander who had wielded the power of the Ancient Void Dragon?!
He was the one who had nearly killed him before!
Three Thousand Burning Flame… Ancient Void Dragon… Imperial Seal Technique… Black Abyss Army…
One realization after another crashed into his mind. Mu Gu felt as if he had plunged into an abyss of ice. His body went rigid, and his blood seemed to freeze in his veins.
"You… you… you are the one… You destroyed the branch hall! It was you !" Mu Gu pointed at Lu Bu, his voice trembling, struggling to form a coherent sentence.
"Well, that was fast. You finally remembered." Lu Bu sneered.
A flash of golden light. His figure vanished.
A purple black flame covered fist emerged from the void, hurtling toward Mu Gu's face.
Boom!
The explosion of flames erupted with terrifying force. Mu Gu let out a miserable scream as he was sent flying, half of his face scorched beyond recognition. His tongue was charred and shriveled by the relentless Three Thousand Burning Flame.
Pfft!
A black mist shrouded hand pierced straight through Mu Gu's chest. Then, with a sudden yank, a transparent, ghostly soul was forcefully extracted.
"I told you three moves. That's all it takes to kill you."
"AAAHHH !" Mu Gu's agonized howls filled the air as he writhed and struggled desperately, trying to break free from Lu Bu's grasp.
"Hmph… If you couldn't win in battle, what makes you think begging would work?" Lu Bu sneered, sealing Mu Gu's soul into a jade bottle.
In the distance, Cao Ying and Dan Chen clutched each other, crying and laughing in relief. They had survived but every single one of their loyal guards had perished, self destructing without even leaving behind their souls.
Xiao Yan sighed softly. Part of him was thrilled his Heavenly Flame was within reach.
Another part felt regretful Lu Bu had utterly dominated the battle without even messing up his hair, making it impossible to gauge his true strength.
As for his supposedly one or two star Dou Zun aura?
Heh… anyone foolish enough to believe that could go ask Mu Gu's lifeless corpse how that turned out.
"Sigh, I really don't know how Lu Bu cultivates." Xiao Yan let out a sigh. Being surrounded by so many beautiful women, does he really not have any thoughts? Does he not get distracted?
Balancing cultivation while also spending time with all his female companions how does he manage his time so well?
It's truly envi no, despicable!
On the other side, Lu Bu ignored Xiao Yan's strange thoughts. He reached out and pulled out a strange black mist shrouded pouch.
This was a Soul Hall Soul Pouch, of which Lu Bu had several, all looted from Soul Hall Protectors and Elders.
With a flick of his finger, several souls immediately howled in distress as they flew out from the bag.
"Song Qing?" Cao Ying and Dan Chen looked at the ten or so spirits in surprise. While they didn't recognize all of them, many seemed familiar they were contestants from the Pill Gathering.
What shocked them most was that Song Qing, the disciple of the Pill Tower's Great Elder, had also ended up as nothing but a wandering soul.
"Ying'er!" Song Qing was overjoyed, calling out, "Save me!"
"Scram!" Cao Ying backhanded him without hesitation, sending his soul flying.
Beside her, Dan Chen immediately activated a soul barrier to protect herself, frowning as she looked at Song Qing with distaste.
At this point, Song Qing was essentially… a ghost.
Dan Chen and Cao Ying, of course, knew the difference between a spirit and a ghost, but still… it was unsettling.
Lu Bu reached out, his five fingers piercing into Mu Gu's corpse, extracting a clump of bright yellow flames. "Here, the thing you wanted."
With that, he waved the fire source in front of Xiao Yan.
The Mysterious Yellow Flame, a flame known for its overwhelming force and dominance, had been twisted into something eerie and sinister by Mu Gu's usage.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan's face lit up with uncontrollable joy. He scrambled forward, hastily accepting the Heavenly Flame from Lu Bu's hand.
Cao Ying and Dan Chen exchanged glances, a hint of envy and desire flashing in their eyes. A Heavenly Flame… what alchemist wouldn't want one?
Look at Qing Hua Old Monster he spent his entire life chasing after a Heavenly Flame, only to fail time and time again.
Despite the Cao and Dan Families being part of the Five Great Pill Families, they had never managed to obtain a single Heavenly Flame.
They had no choice but to seek out powerful Beast Flames or develop their own techniques to artificially create powerful flames.
"But… what do you plan to do with this Heavenly Flame?" Lu Bu smirked, amused.
"What… do you mean?" Xiao Yan, still immersed in his joy, blinked in confusion. What was Lu Bu implying?
"Mysterious Yellow Flame can't be stored in a storage ring," Lu Bu chuckled mischievously.
Unlike Lu Bu, who could easily use formations to seal flames within his body, Xiao Yan could only carry it around manually.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan's expression stiffened. He had almost forgotten he was still participating in the Pill Gathering. After gathering all the necessary medicinal ingredients in the Pill Realm, he would have to return and refine pills under the watchful eyes of countless spectators!
But… refining a Heavenly Flame takes time. There was no way he could finish in just a few days.
"Heh heh… So, pick one Heavenly Flame or the Pill Gathering. Which will it be?" Lu Bu asked with interest.
Xiao Yan's face turned from blue to white, filled with internal conflict and frustration. What now?
He hadn't joined the Pill Gathering for the glory it was for soul cultivation techniques and the vast collection of ancient pill recipes stored within the Pill Tower.
But now, with two paths laid out before him, he found himself at a loss.
Cao Ying and Dan Chen once again exchanged glances, unsure of what to say.
Xiao Yan's strength was undeniable. With his Spiritual Realm soul and nine star Dou Zong cultivation, he certainly had the potential to refine a pill stronger than theirs.
But now…
It was clear that Xiao Yan would never give up a Heavenly Flame just to continue participating in the Pill Gathering.
"He's helping me…" Cao Ying bit her lip. Could it be that Lu Bu…?
A faint light flickered in Cao Ying's beautiful eyes. Hidden within her sleeve, her jade like hand clenched slightly, and a mix of gratitude and excitement flickered across her delicate face, as if she could hardly suppress it.
"Damn it…" Xiao Yan grimaced before gritting his teeth and stomping his foot. "To hell with the damn Pill Gathering I'm out!"
As expected, Xiao Yan wasn't about to give up a Heavenly Flame for the competition. Between the two choices, he decisively chose the power granted by the flame.
"Good luck!" Lu Bu grinned. "In that case, you should stay in the Pill Realm and focus on cultivation. If you end up getting sealed inside… don't worry, brother. I've got you covered!"
Lu Bu's expression suddenly turned solemn as he placed a reassuring hand on Xiao Yan's shoulder. "I'll take good care of Xun'er for you. Your wife and children I shall raise them. Fear not the cuckoldry!"
"The next Pill Gathering… thirty years from now, you can come out then. By that time… heh heh heh!"
Xiao Yan's face darkened. If it weren't for the fact that Xun'er's teacher was Yun Yun, I might have actually believed that!
Off to the side, Cao Ying's expression turned strange. She bit her thumb lightly. Why does Lu Bu have such a weird preference? Why does he like other people's wives…?
"Ahem… Enough nonsense. Since I'm giving up the Pill Gathering, why would I stay here to refine the Heavenly Flame?" Xiao Yan scoffed before clenching his fist.
A pale white jade stone appeared in his palm.
This was a Space Stone, a safeguard given to contestants by the Pill Tower though its effectiveness was limited.
Cao Ying and Dan Chen still had theirs intact, as they hadn't used them before Mu Gu destroyed them. Song Qing, on the other hand, never even got the chance to take his out.
Xiao Yan had full confidence in Xun'er. Even more so in Yun Yun. As Xun'er's teacher, there was no way she would let Lu Bu lay his hands on her.
But… ahem, the Pill Gathering was held once every thirty years, and the Pill Realm might also only open once every thirty years.
Just to be safe, it was better to leave first. After all, a Heavenly Flame… could be refined anywhere.
Once he was done refining it, and once the Pill Tower elders found his teacher's whereabouts, it would be time to set out and rescue him!
With this thought in mind, Xiao Yan clenched his fist, activating the Space Stone.
With a soft crackling sound, spatial waves rippled outward, and he vanished from the Pill Realm.
"Alright, time for us to go as well." Lu Bu shrugged. He waved lazily at Dan Chen and Cao Ying before turning to leave with Zi Yan, heading toward the Myriad Medicine Mountains.
He had to take Xiong Zhan out of the Pill Realm once that was done, everything here would be settled.
"Oh, right. Dan Chen, Cao Ying there are still Soul Hall spies among the contestants. Be careful." Lu Bu casually warned before his figure slowly faded away.
It was time to return and give Qing Lin and Yun Yun a proper upgrade!
Pill Tower! Holy Pill City!
On a high platform, the three Pill Tower giants furrowed their brows as they watched Xiao Yan emerge from the spatial rift.
"Xiao Yan… The disciple of Yao Chen actually failed in the second round?" Xuan Yi frowned.
"Hmm… Wait, something's not right. Why is he holding a Heavenly Flame?" Xuan Kongzi was about to speak but then paused, eyes narrowing in surprise.
"There are no Heavenly Flames in the Pill Realm," Tian Lei Zi said gravely.
"Looks like something major happened in there…" Xuan Kongzi's gaze flickered. Seizing a Heavenly Flame isn't easy… could Lu Bu have been involved?
If I recall correctly, Xiao Yan and Lu Bu seem to have quite the relationship…
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