Chapter 76: The Grand Wedding Feast, Preparing the Gift
The furnace roared to life, and demonic energy surged. This was Lu Hange's second time refining the Furnace Pill. Compared to the one he made at the Three Thousand Dao Sect, his skill in alchemy had grown considerably. This time was different from the first. The first time, he killed the people of the Three Thousand Dao Sect before refining the pill. Now, Lu Hange intended to throw living people directly into the furnace. Pills made from the dead were always a bit weaker, and some of their karmic luck would inevitably be lost. Pills refined from living people were the most potent. The only drawback was that the million inhabitants of Azure Luan City were all mortals, without any cultivation. The Furnace Pills refined from such "medicinal ingredients" wouldn't significantly boost cultivation, but the benefit was that they would firmly lock in karmic luck, preventing any loss.
"Karmic luck!" Lu Hange declared. "Help me ascend to a higher immortal realm!"
The next moment, the black furnace lid flew open, and countless black chains shot out, each firmly locking onto a person. The tips of the chains pierced through collarbones and hooked spines, dragging people mercilessly into the furnace. Instantly, agonizing wails echoed across the land. Mortals' souls were too fragile; the screams ceased the moment they were dragged into the furnace. If it were a cultivator's soul, it could endure for at least ten breaths inside the furnace. But for these mortals, this was a blessing; the pain lasted only for an instant. They should be thankful Lu Hange didn't refine something like the Human Emperor Banner, which would trap their souls in eternal torment, a fate far crueler than death.
"Help me!"
"Saint Son, I was wrong!"
"I don't want to die, damn you, Lu Hange! I'll haunt you even as a ghost!"
"Immortal, please, save me!"
Each chain harvested a soul; flesh and blood were merely byproducts. Lu Hange floated in mid-air, his expression cold. If apologies could save lives, this world of cultivation would be a joke. The world darkened. Suddenly, Lu Hange's eyes turned pure black, devoid of any light. From his perspective, the mortals dragged into the furnace by the chains had their useless flesh removed, leaving only their souls and karmic luck. Lu Hange witnessed the flow of karmic luck. Everyone possessed karmic luck, varying only in quantity. Those who lived in poverty and hardship had only a faint wisp of karmic luck, while the wealthy and powerful, kings and nobles, had soaring, vibrant karmic luck. As far as he could see, the karmic luck of those being forcibly refined was decent. Of course, there were also those with very little karmic luck, mostly beggars on the streets or despicable scoundrels who had committed evil deeds.
"Of the ten parts of karmic luck in the world, Ye Feng, as the Child of Fortune, should possess nearly fifty percent alone ." "The remaining fifty percent is distributed among the common people ." Lu Hange's eyes flickered. This meant that even if Lu Hange killed everyone in the world, his karmic luck would barely be able to contend with Ye Feng's. No, Lu Hange had overlooked something. The Sect Master of the Three Thousand Dao Sect. Although this old man had been abandoned by the Heavenly Dao, he should have a considerable amount of karmic luck. Furthermore, based on Lu Hange's understanding of him, such a cautious and life-cherishing person must have been contemplating karmic luck for a long time. Perhaps even a portion of Ye Feng's karmic luck had been secretly stolen by him. Of course, this was just a guess.
"That old man knows too much ." "He must be killed ." A murderous glint flashed in Lu Hange's eyes. The Sect Master of the Three Thousand Dao Sect knew too much. If things had followed the previous life's trajectory, Lu Hange wouldn't have had to bother with him; the old Sect Master would have passed away in a hundred years. But now, he couldn't wait! History had changed. The Sect Master, who originally had only a hundred years of life, might live much longer in this life. "After I've massacred the Azure Luan Immortal Sect and refined their people into Furnace Pills, my cultivation should break through to the Body Integration stage. Then, I can return to the Three Thousand Dao Sect and take that old man's life ." Currently, Lu Hange couldn't defeat the Sect Master. If he pushed the Sect Master too hard and he lashed out in desperation, Lu Hange wouldn't be able to handle it.
Screams continued. An incense stick later, a pot of fresh red medicine simmered in the furnace. Looking down at Azure Luan City again, only a few people remained alive. Lu Hange didn't waste anything, throwing in one early-stage Mahayana realm cultivator and three peak Body Integration realm cultivators he had previously killed. Finally, silence fell over the world. The screams completely vanished. The overwhelming malice and resentment caused the furnace lid to boil, but under the reducing fire, the furnace became quiet again. Only one person remained alive: the City Lord of Azure Luan City. At this moment, the City Lord was utterly terrified, his eyes blank, as if he were an imbecile. Lu Hange grabbed him from afar, and the City Lord flew into his hand. Even so, the City Lord showed no sign of crying or begging, and even drooled from the corner of his mouth. Immediately after, a hand clasped the City Lord's head. As a burst of demonic energy drilled in, the previously imbecilic City Lord regained temporary consciousness and began to scream.
Soul-searching! It was one of the most common techniques in the cultivation world. Human cultivators despised this technique, but ironically, most cultivators knew how to use it. In simplest terms, you didn't have to use it, but you couldn't not know how to. Memories were extracted one by one. Lu Hange closed his eyes. This City Lord had a very rich life! No need to elaborate! Suffice it to say, it was an eyesore! Lu Hange felt like he was going to get sties. After much effort to filter out most of the useless memories, he finally found what he was looking for. A month ago, the Azure Luan Immortal Sect secretly convened with other immortal sects to negotiate. That evening, the Azure Luan Immortal Sect issued a warrant for Lu Hange's arrest. The City Lord's memories weren't detailed; he only knew that the Azure Luan Immortal Sect announced a new Saint Son, and three days later, the new Saint Son would marry the Saintess. They had widely invited powerful cultivators from various immortal sects to attend the grand wedding feast, and even some powerful demon cultivators were invited.
There weren't many useful memories; that was all. Lu Hange threw the City Lord into the furnace. It seemed many things had indeed changed in this life. In his previous life, Mu Nanyan and Ye Feng had indeed gotten together early on, but that woman was very cunning and kept her relationship with Ye Feng well hidden. Mu Nanyan hadn't officially become Ye Feng's Dao companion until Lu Hange's death. But in this life, these two were actually getting married... However, there was something else strange. The human immortal sects had always hated demon cultivators and disliked demon beasts. Although their disdain for demon beasts was far less than for demon cultivators, they shouldn't have invited demon cultivators to such a grand occasion.
"Three days from now..."
"There should be enough time."
Lu Hange smiled mysteriously. For these two's grand wedding, it was only right and proper to prepare a grand gift.
Chapter 77: Innate Poison Body! A Walking Killing Machine
Honestly, Lu Hange had underestimated Ye Feng. This person truly had some abilities! Judging by the time, it would have taken Ye Feng at least half a month to escape from the Three Thousand Dao Sect to the Azure Luan Immortal Sect. Yet, the Azure Luan Immortal Sect had named Ye Feng their new Saint Son a month ago. This meant that Ye Feng had become the new Saint Son of the Azure Luan Immortal Sect in just half a month after arriving there, and even had time to bring Mu Nanyan to his side. Such efficiency! It was a stark contrast to his time at the Three Thousand Dao Sect. Ye Feng had schemed for several years to join the Three Thousand Dao Sect, including various brainwashings, slanders, and framings of Lu Hange, yet he never sat on the Saint Son's throne, only managing to send Lu Hange to Sword Prison. But once he went to the Azure Luan Immortal Sect, the power of Ye Feng, the Child of Fortune, was unleashed. Terrifying indeed! Karmic luck was something usually unseen. But in crucial moments, karmic luck could save lives and bring about heaven-defying opportunities.
"That old fellow should come ." Lu Hange mused. Now that the Three Thousand Dao Sect only had the old Sect Master left, and Ye Feng was formerly a disciple of the Three Thousand Dao Sect, the Sect Master would come to the Azure Luan Immortal Sect to take a look regardless. He needed to plan carefully! This time, Lu Hange wanted to make a big splash.
A fragrant aroma emanated from the furnace. The lid lifted, and a pill landed in Lu Hange's hand. Its color was still blood-red, but the sanguine scent merely lingered on the surface, not deeply embedded within the pill. For a pill refined from mortal flesh and blood, such a quality was already decent. Gulp! He swallowed it directly. The pill didn't even require refining; it dissolved instantly upon entering his stomach.
"Just as expected ." "My cultivation hasn't greatly improved ." Lu Hange felt the spiritual and demonic energy within him; there was almost no increase. Throwing in the flesh and blood hadn't even caused a ripple. As for karmic luck, Lu Hange didn't know how much it had increased. This stuff was ethereal. Lu Hange only needed to know that the karmic luck of those million people hadn't escaped and was now all within his body.
"Disperse ." With a wave of his hand, the demonic energy shroud covering Azure Luan City quickly dissipated. Not long after, sunlight once again shone down. The warm sun illuminated every corner of Azure Luan City, but the once bustling city was now empty. Red lanterns still hung on the doors of brothels, and steaming soup and rice remained on street vendors' tables. Everything seemed exceptionally eerie and silent. It was both a ghost city and a dead city! A million people had vanished completely. The pervasive murderous aura in the air also retreated into Lu Hange's body, lying dormant.
Just as Lu Hange was about to head to the teleportation array, his steps suddenly paused. He looked at a certain spot outside the city and raised an eyebrow: "Demon cultivators?"
Outside the city, in a hidden thicket, a pair of foxy eyes watched Lu Hange in the air. The moment she sensed Lu Hange looking at her, the person didn't hesitate and immediately turned to flee.
"Take another step!"
"Die."
A branch was forcibly thrust into the ground; the ordinary branch was filled with sharp sword intent. Seeing this, the person immediately turned back, kowtowed, and prostrated herself: "This servant has offended you, sir, and deserves death!"
A gust of wind blew, and Lu Hange appeared before her.
"Raise your head."
At his words, the kneeling person unhesitatingly raised her head, pulled off the veil covering her face, and revealed herself. Whatever Lu Hange said, she would do, for only then was there a chance to survive. It was a woman! And exceedingly beautiful! Her foxy eyes reminded Lu Hange of an old acquaintance.
"What's your name? What are you doing here?" Azure Luan City was not close to the Three Thousand Dao Sect, nor was it close to the Azure Luan Immortal Sect, and it was even a distance from the capital of the Great Liang Dynasty. It was strange for a demon woman to suddenly appear in such an ungoverned area. "This servant's name is Di Ji. I originally followed the demon army to invade the Three Thousand Dao Sect and luckily survived, coincidentally coming here ." The woman before him was indeed Di Ji. Lu Hange pinched Di Ji's chin, making her look him in the eye: "Coincidentally? This place is at least ten thousand miles from the Three Thousand Dao Sect's sect. As a demon cultivator, instead of secretly slipping back to the demon territory, you delve deep into human territory. Do you think that makes sense?" Di Ji's eyes flickered. It really didn't make sense.
"I prefer honest women ." Lu Hange smiled, his smile tinged with killing intent. In such a serious moment, Di Ji, looking at his handsome face so close, actually swallowed, her ears turning pink. Lu Hange was astonished. This woman was a nymphomaniac. Di Ji quickly composed herself and answered, "I want to follow you, sir ." Lu Hange wasn't surprised at all; he could roughly guess Di Ji's intentions. The demon cultivators had all died at the Three Thousand Dao Sect, and her fate would likely be miserable if she returned to the demon realm. Furthermore, her cultivation was low, and if she stayed in human territory for too long, she would undoubtedly face one of two outcomes: being played to death or being outright killed. Although humans hated demons, they enjoyed toying with demon women. On the other hand, demon men, though, preferred beast women of the demon race and were less willing to accept human women. On one hand, human women were too fragile. Demons were generally brutal, and this extended to the bedchamber; overly fragile women wouldn't last long. On the other hand, demons detested spiritual energy. While demon beasts also cultivated spiritual energy, they emphasized the reversion to their ancestral bloodline more. Moreover, demon beast women were tough and durable ; even if you smashed a mountain, a beast woman wouldn't die and might even ask if you'd eaten, implying your strength was too weak.
Di Ji was the offspring of a demon and a demon beast. Her cultivation was not high, and she still had many obvious beast-like features. Combined with her exquisite beauty and foxy eyes, if she fell into the hands of human cultivators, her weight would likely increase by at least three catties by the next day. For this very reason, Di Ji needed to find a patron. Lu Hange was the best choice.
"You are not worthy ." Lu Hange shook his head. He didn't need a servant, and even if he did, it wouldn't be Di Ji. Hearing this, Di Ji's expression darkened. She knew her cultivation was too low to be of any help to Lu Hange, and she might even become a burden , but she had nowhere else to go. Lu Hange no longer paid Di Ji any mind. Women were merely pink skeletons.
Suddenly, Lu Hange frowned slightly, looking down at his finger. His fingertip was stained with a deep black, clearly a sign of poisoning: "Poison?" The poison spread quickly. In the blink of an eye, the poison had already reached Lu Hange's wrist. Seeing this, Lu Hange showed no panic, asking with amusement, "Your real purpose is to poison me?" Di Ji was stunned, then quickly explained, "Sir, you misunderstand. I have an innate poison body; anyone who touches me will be severely poisoned. This servant forgot to warn you just now and absolutely had no intention of harming you!"
An innate poison body? With such a physique, who would dare touch you? Even if human cultivators were lustful, they wouldn't risk their lives for a woman's body. However, Lu Hange suddenly remembered something. His eyes finally showed a bit more interest as he looked at Di Ji: "Do one thing for me, and if you succeed, you can follow me ." An innate poison body , a walking source of poison. If used well, it could be a powerful weapon.
Chapter 78: Top-Tier Scheme! Indirect Poisoning!
The sun was warm and gentle. The weather today was exceptionally clear. No wind, no rain, no clouds. Looking up, the sky was a clear blue for thousands of miles. On an official road, a dozen carriages slowly made their way, their wheels crunching over small stones, causing a slight tremor. At the end of this road lay the prosperous city of Azure Luan.
"Boss," a young man from the caravan grumbled, "We've been traveling for half a month; let's rest."
Hearing this, a middle-aged man glared at the youth: "We've traveled for half a month just to enter Azure Luan City early. If we don't hurry, we'll miss the Azure Luan Immortal Sect's wedding feast ." "We're just a caravan. The Azure Luan Immortal Sect is a cultivation sect. Even if we rush there, we probably won't even get past the main gate ." The young man pouted. The division between immortals and mortals was a common understanding among both. "My grand-uncle is an outer sect handyman at the Azure Luan Immortal Sect, specifically in charge of guarding the gate. He can secretly let us in ." The middle-aged man immediately puffed out his chest with pride. Hearing this, the others looked on with envy. Cultivation... what an alluring word. If someone in the family cultivated, even if it was just a basic Qi Refining stage cultivator, they would be held in high regard and receive various preferential treatments.
"This time, I bought a Yuan Gan Grass from the merchant association. If I'm lucky enough to offer it to an immortal, they might even teach us cultivation techniques. Then, you all can rejoice in secret ." The middle-aged man's eyes burned with eagerness. If one could cultivate, who would want to remain an ordinary mortal? Even the emperor of a dynasty dreamt of cultivation every day. How much more so for these commoners?
"Let's move!"
"We must reach Azure Luan City by noon!"
Once the middle-aged man spoke, no one had any objections, and they were all filled with renewed vigor. The caravan sped up. At noon, the caravan finally reached the gates of Azure Luan City. However, unlike usual, the city gates were tightly shut today, and not a single guard was in sight. At the middle-aged man's signal, two strong young men first knocked on the city gates and called out a few times. When they received no response, they began to push the gates open with force. Creak... The city gates slowly opened. No one... Not a single soul!
"Spread out, look for people ." The middle-aged man waved his hand, and everyone scattered, heading down each street, shouting loudly. After a short while, everyone gathered again. "Boss, no one ." "Not a single person ." "Boss, it's very strange. I saw that many homes still had food on their dining tables. Although it's cold now, it's clear someone had started eating ." "Could it be haunted?" Everyone exchanged glances. The middle-aged man's face darkened. He was about to say nonsense, there were no ghosts in the world! But then he thought, since there were cultivators in the world, it seemed quite reasonable for ghosts to exist.
Just then, two figures appeared in the sky. Seeing them, the middle-aged man immediately knelt, and the others followed suit: "Immortals above, accept our reverence ." In mid-air, the two figures merely glanced indifferently at these people, then communicated with their divine sense.
"Can you feel it?"
"There's a demonic aura."
"There's no scent of blood in the air, but Elder Guo's soul plaque indeed shattered here."
"Also... the teleportation array in the city center shows signs of recent use."
Hearing this, one of the cultivators looked serious: "Are you saying a demon cultivator infiltrated human territory, massacred the million inhabitants of Azure Luan City, and even killed Elder Guo, an early-stage Mahayana realm cultivator?" A demon cultivator capable of killing an early-stage Mahayana realm cultivator and secretly infiltrating human territory must have grand ambitions! "It might not necessarily be a demon cultivator; it could also be Lu Hange ." The other cultivator pondered. Although the warrant issued by the Azure Luan Immortal Sect lacked details, the newly appointed Saint Son of the Azure Luan Immortal Sect openly stated that Lu Hange had fallen into the demonic path and had initiated a massacre at the Three Thousand Dao Sect. This news had also been confirmed. The two cultivators gasped. If it really was Lu Hange, then this person was truly heaven-defying.
"Let's go to the Azure Luan Immortal Sect first."
"Just say we found suspicious traces of Lu Hange."
The two immediately agreed. Just as they were about to move, one of them looked coldly at the caravan below: "What about these people?"
"Kill them."
"Alright."
Suddenly, the surrounding air became scorching. The people still kneeling below looked around in confusion ; many small flames appeared out of nowhere in the air, flying towards them. Immediately after, the flames touched their bodies and turned into roaring infernos. Screams erupted one after another! Before long, a dozen piles of black ash appeared on the ground, with no trace of human form. Having done everything, the two flew towards the teleportation array, and with a large amount of spirit stones fed into it, a dazzling light flashed, and the two vanished without a trace.
...
Outside the Azure Luan Immortal Sect, the terrain was high and steep. Lu Hange didn't rush to infiltrate the Azure Luan Immortal Sect. Instead, he brought Di Ji to a hidden spring: "Jump in."
"Ah?" Di Ji was stunned.
Lu Hange frowned slightly: "Unwilling?"
Di Ji quickly shook her head and obediently jumped into the spring. Lu Hange threw a pill to Di Ji: "This pill can maximize the power of your innate poison body. I want you to turn this spring into a pool of highly toxic water. Can you do it?" It didn't sound difficult, but truly activating an innate poison body would put her own life at risk. Lu Hange didn't urge her. Poisoning! Lu Hange was an expert. However, having a free source of poison nearby would save him some effort. If Di Ji was unwilling, he would do it himself.
After a long while, Di Ji gritted her teeth: "I will obey you, sir ." Hearing this, Lu Hange smiled and patted Di Ji's shoulder: "Strive to survive; I won't mistreat you afterward ." Di Ji swallowed the pill and jumped into the spring. In just a few breaths, under the dual enhancement of demonic energy and the pill, the spring water turned pitch black. However, the water flow became clear and transparent, colorless and odorless, after flowing for more than ten meters. Lu Hange looked at Di Ji in the spring, his eyes flickering. An innate poison body should be guided, not suppressed. Suppression was ineffective. From his experience in the previous life, the best way to control an innate poison body was to frequently activate it; the more it was used, the more the body would adapt. Of course, in this process, there was a high chance of death. But this was the fate of an innate poison body; it couldn't be escaped.
Lu Hange gazed into the distance. Faintly, a dozen female disciples of the Azure Luan Immortal Sect were bathing. One of them was the personal disciple of the Azure Luan Immortal Sect's Sect Master and frequently interacted with her. This personal disciple was Lu Hange's target. Of course, the ultimate target was the Sect Master of the Azure Luan Immortal Sect herself. Lu Hange's true poisoning target was only one person: the Sect Master of the Azure Luan Immortal Sect.
Chapter 79: What a Waste for Lu Hange; Ye Feng is Inferior to Him
In the spring, Di Ji trembled all over. Activating her innate poison body was undoubtedly suicidal for her. However, Di Ji knew in her heart that Lu Hange was an Eighth-Rank Alchemist. If she managed to survive, Lu Hange might genuinely be able to help her suppress her innate poison body, thereby assisting her in cultivation.
On the shore, Lu Hange glanced at Di Ji. Actually, Di Ji could come out of the spring now. But Lu Hange didn't wake her up. Instead, he set up several hidden formations around her, left some pills, and quietly departed. The more you suppress an innate poison body, the more painful the eruption will be. Therefore, one must learn to embrace the pain. The pill Lu Hange gave Di Ji contained hundreds of potent poisons, each a great tonic for an innate poison body. If Di Ji truly survived, she would no longer fear her innate poison body and could even use potent poisons for cultivation.
However, Lu Hange didn't plan to take Di Ji with him. Leaving her a pile of pills was already his greatest blessing. Lu Hange was accustomed to being alone. Or rather, he was no longer willing to trust others. Whether Di Ji lived or died afterward depended on her own destiny.
On the other side, in the pond, mist rose. A dozen female disciples frolicked together. The Azure Luan Immortal Sect did not oppose seeking Dao companions, but female cultivators had high standards; ordinary male cultivators were not to their liking, and the Saint Sons of various sects also looked down on them. Therefore, these female disciples usually preferred to amuse themselves mutually rather than benefit those male cultivators.
"Sister Zhuang cultivates so fast!"
"The Sect Master must be secretly giving her special lessons; how unfair."
"It's not fair; the Sect Master often calls Sister Zhuang to cultivate at night. We don't have that fortune."
"Sister Zhuang, we want to improve too!"
Their voices were like orioles, chirping. The woman called Sister Zhuang was named Zhuang Lan. She didn't answer but covered her mouth and chuckled softly , her fair, tender skin seemingly capable of oozing water.
Dong! Dong! Dong! Three sudden bell tolls rang out. Hearing this, the bathing women quickly put on their clothes and rushed towards the sect. Three tolls of the Heaven-Asking Bell! It usually only rang when something major happened. The last time the Heaven-Asking Bell was struck thrice was due to a major war launched by the demon race, which resulted in the deaths of two Body Integration stage elders of the Azure Luan Immortal Sect. The Azure Luan Immortal Sect also had a sect-protecting formation. However, these days, the sect-protecting formation had been deactivated. Many powerful cultivators from immortal sects and demon races were rushing to the Azure Luan Immortal Sect. To avoid trouble, the Azure Luan Immortal Sect had temporarily deactivated its sect-protecting formation. During the grand wedding, anyone, even mortals, could freely enter and exit the Azure Luan Immortal Sect. This saved Lu Hange a lot of effort.
Inside the main hall of the Azure Luan Immortal Sect, a group of elders sat in rows. Seated at the very top was a beautiful woman. Her ample figure squeezed into the narrow space of the seat. Her phoenix eyes were exceptionally beautiful, and she looked only thirty or forty years old, but in reality, she was over five thousand years old. The Azure Luan Immortal Sect had very few men; most of its members were women. "Is everyone here?" the beautiful woman at the head of the table spoke. The Sect Master was named Shu Qing. A long time ago, she wasn't called by this name, but because she never received a response from the Sect Master of the Three Thousand Dao Sect, she changed her name to Shu Qing, meaning to restrain desires. Beside her, a man and a woman sat side by side. By their positions, their status seemed even higher than the elders. These two were Ye Feng and Mu Nanyan. At this moment, Ye Feng held Mu Nanyan's hand, looking like an affectionate and harmonious couple. However, in reality, Ye Feng's thoughts were entirely on Shu Qing. That's right! Shu Qing was also part of his harem. It was true for Lu Sheng, and it was true for Shu Qing. However, conquering Shu Qing was much more difficult than Lu Sheng; Lu Sheng was only at the peak of the Body Integration stage, while this mature beauty before him was a peak Mahayana stage cultivator. Moreover, she had always kept her distance from men; besides the Sect Master of the Three Thousand Dao Sect, no other man had ever come close to her.
"Master, Sister Zhuang hasn't arrived yet," Mu Nanyan said softly. The next moment, a graceful figure appeared and stood respectfully behind Shu Qing: "Master, I'm here ." "Everyone's here; speak," Shu Qing said, looking down. In the grand hall, two cultivators stood respectfully, cupping their fists and saying, "We found traces of Lu Hange; he is suspected to have appeared in Azure Luan City ." Azure Luan City? Hearing these three words, Mu Nanyan felt a strange pang. These three words were a source of shame for her. Because few knew that Mu Nanyan, as a child, was a beggar in Azure Luan City. She had survived many cold winters only because of Lu Hange's care; otherwise, she would have long died in some alley in Azure Luan City.
"Where is he now?" Shu Qing asked softly. Hearing this, the two cultivators exchanged glances: "It's currently unknown , but the teleportation array in Azure Luan City shows signs of being used. We suspect Lu Hange is currently in the Azure Luan Immortal Sect ." At these words, everyone in the hall became restless. What was Lu Hange doing at the Azure Luan Immortal Sect? Of course, the most agitated person was Ye Feng. Hearing that Lu Hange might be in the Azure Luan Immortal Sect, his expression changed drastically. The terrifying scene of tens of thousands of people from the Three Thousand Dao Sect being cut down with a single sword was still vivid in his mind. That deep-seated fear was far from something that could be alleviated in a year or two.
"Don't panic!"
"Ye Feng, you're the Child of Fortune! What are you panicking about?"
"The Three Thousand Dao Sect didn't have any Mahayana stage cultivators before, which allowed Lu Hange to take advantage. Now, all the Mahayana stage cultivators of the Azure Luan Immortal Sect are here; if Lu Hange comes, he will surely die!" Ye Feng constantly reassured himself. The next moment, the two cultivators added: "One of our Mount Back Sect's early-stage Mahayana realm cultivators died in Azure Luan City. If it was indeed Lu Hange's doing, we ask the Sect Master to make full preparations to prevent any accidents."
Clap! Ye Feng stood up. No! He had to escape! Damn it. Only two months had passed, and Lu Hange could already kill an early-stage Mahayana realm cultivator. Staying in the Azure Luan Immortal Sect now might lead to the same fate as the Three Thousand Dao Sect. "What's wrong, Saint Son?" "Are you feeling unwell?" Everyone looked at Ye Feng. Ye Feng's lips trembled, unable to utter a word. Shu Qing's smile remained unchanged, and she didn't even spare Ye Feng another glance. She just spoke lightly: "This Sect Master knows. We have arranged lodging for both fellow Daoists. You can leave after the grand wedding feast ." "Lu Hange is a heinous sinner. As a righteous immortal sect, our Azure Luan Immortal Sect naturally cannot tolerate such a demon. If he truly dares to come to the Azure Luan Immortal Sect, I would admire his audacity. Spread this news : things are mixed these days, and besides Lu Hange, there are many demon races; be wary of them all."
After saying this, Shu Qing rose. Ye Feng's performance disappointed her, but she didn't voice it out of consideration for Mu Nanyan. Shu Qing slowly walked away, her long skirt trailing on the ground without gathering a speck of dust. After Shu Qing left the main hall, the other elders also rose and departed. Hearing that Lu Hange had killed an early-stage Mahayana realm cultivator, they were only slightly surprised but not at all worried.
Not long after, Shu Qing arrived at a mountain and water bamboo pavilion. Behind her, Zhuang Lan stood respectfully. "Xiao Zhuang, what do you think of Lu Hange?" Shu Qing sat down, her eyes somewhat unfocused, lost in thought. Zhuang Lan thought for a moment and poured Shu Qing a cup of tea: "Rumor has it he is handsome and refined in appearance, with a gentle and easygoing temperament. However, this disciple has never met him in person, so rumors cannot be taken as truth ." Shu Qing took a sip of tea. "His appearance is indeed handsome ." "His temperament is also as rumored ." Shu Qing had met Lu Hange before ; after all, the Three Thousand Dao Sect and the Azure Luan Immortal Sect had a close relationship, and it was normal for their Saint Sons and Saintesses to know each other. "But he did indeed kill everyone in the Three Thousand Dao Sect. This child was once bound by emotion, possessing a talent for comprehending the Three Thousand Great Daos, but his cultivation progress was only mediocre. Now that he is free from emotion, he will likely soar ." A genius unburdened by emotions was the most terrifying. Shu Qing sighed: "Compared to Ye Feng, I'm more satisfied with Lu Hange ." Zhuang Lan asked curiously, "Then why did the Sect Master still choose Ye Feng?" "Nanyan likes Ye Feng ." "The word 'like' surpasses everything ." "Just like I like you ." Shu Qing's beautiful eyes curved, looking at Zhuang Lan. Zhuang Lan's light blue dress, though not outlining a breathtaking figure, perfectly suited Shu Qing's taste. Shu Qing didn't like men, but she liked women.
Chapter 80: This Rabbit Isn't Dead Yet?
The mountain and water bamboo pavilion was serene and quiet. On the other hand, Ye Feng was quite restless. At this moment, he was pacing back and forth in Mu Nanyan's cave. "Brother Ye, what's wrong with you?" Mu Nanyan asked, puzzled. Ever since returning from the main hall, Ye Feng had been distraught. Mu Nanyan couldn't understand why he was so worried about a crippled Lu Hange. Ye Feng didn't answer; his face was filled with indecision. Reason told him to flee! Lu Hange had not only massacred tens of thousands of people from the Three Thousand Dao Sect, but he could now also kill early-stage Mahayana realm cultivators. If early-stage Mahayana realm was Lu Hange's limit, then Ye Feng wouldn't be so worried. But the problem was, Ye Feng worried that Lu Hange hadn't used his full strength when killing the early-stage Mahayana realm cultivator. If that were true, then the Azure Luan Immortal Sect wouldn't be safe either.
However, a glimmer of hope remained in his heart. Although Lu Hange was powerful, the Azure Luan Immortal Sect had more than one Mahayana realm cultivator. To put it bluntly, if a group of Mahayana realm cultivators fought against Lu Hange alone, could there still be an accident? Because of this, Ye Feng didn't want to leave. This conflicting psychology kept him restless. After all, his experience at the Three Thousand Dao Sect had already cost him a third of his karmic luck. If the Azure Luan Immortal Sect couldn't protect him this time, his title as the Child of Fortune would soon be replaced.
"Nanyan ," Ye Feng clasped Mu Nanyan's shoulders, his expression exceptionally serious. "Tell me the truth, how many Mahayana realm cultivators does the Azure Luan Immortal Sect have?" Seeing this, Mu Nanyan also put away her casual thoughts: "There are eight early-stage Mahayana realm cultivators , five of whom are our sect elders, and three are guest elders. There are two peak Mahayana realm cultivators, my master..."
Chapter 81: Today's Weather is Fine, Suitable for Killing
Living creatures cannot be kept in storage rings. This is common sense. Lu Hange only intended to acquire this furry rabbit to intercept some of Ye Feng's opportunities, not to raise it.
Unexpectedly, after so long, the rabbit was still alive. Lu Hange pulled the furry rabbit out of his storage ring. Its fur, once bright red like fire and its body plump, was now emaciated to just bones, and its fur had turned a dull grayish-brown.
"It's not dead yet?"
"You have a tough life."
Lu Hange shook the furry rabbit in his hand. The next second, the furry rabbit's legs twitched. Seeing this, Lu Hange hesitated for a moment, then placed the furry rabbit on the ground. In just an instant, the furry rabbit began to run rapidly towards the forbidden area of Misty Mountain Immortal Sect.
Lu Hange's eyes flickered. The only purpose of a furry rabbit was for treasure hunting. This type of demonic beast was not aggressive, but it was extremely sensitive to natural treasures and various artifacts. It usually fed on spirit stones. Judging by the furry rabbit's reaction, there must be something delicious in the forbidden area of Misty Mountain Immortal Sect.
"The grand wedding is tomorrow."
"Let's follow this rabbit first."
Lu Hange's figure vanished.
Not long after, Lu Hange was stopped by a barrier. The furry rabbit could pass through this barrier easily, but Lu Hange could not. After pondering for a moment, Lu Hange concealed his presence and wandered around. As expected, not far from the forbidden area, he discovered a guarding elder whose cultivation was roughly at the peak of the Integration Stage.
All immortal sects had forbidden areas. However, the methods to enter them varied. The Sword Prison of Three Thousand Dao Sect was a forbidden area, and the method of entry was very simple, without any prerequisites; one only needed to walk inside. However, the forbidden area of Misty Mountain Immortal Sect was the Sky-Severing Cliff. If Lu Hange remembered correctly, entering the Sky-Severing Cliff required a special secret incantation.
The next second, Lu Hange appeared behind the elder. A hand suddenly clasped the top of his head. It was still the Soul Searching Technique! It was no easy feat to search the soul of a peak Integration Stage cultivator. Lu Hange used sword intent to sever his self-awareness and poured demonic energy into him, barely succeeding.
After a long while, Lu Hange released his hand. This person couldn't be killed yet! 嵐山 Immortal Sect definitely kept life tablets of elders and disciples. If he killed him, it would be an early exposure. Lu Hange had prepared a grand gift for tomorrow's wedding banquet. It would be a pity if an early exposure affected tomorrow's wedding banquet.
Thinking of this, Lu Hange tossed the elder aside. This elder's eyes were vacant, completely devoid of any spirit. The Soul Searching Technique caused severe damage to the user's soul ; light cases resulted in idiocy, heavy cases in death. Especially since Lu Hange combined it with sword intent and demonic energy, its power was even greater. The fact that this elder was still alive was entirely due to his peak Integration Stage cultivation.
"Xuanqing is enlightened."
"Immortal Sect Yao Dong."
...
After a lengthy secret incantation, accompanied by special spiritual energy gestures, a huge opening appeared in the barrier before him. Seeing this, Lu Hange's figure flickered and he rushed in. Sky-Severing Cliff, as its name suggested, was a ten-thousand-meter-high cliff that cut down from the sky, directly embedding itself into the ground. With the ground as the base point, ten thousand meters upwards led to the sky, and ten thousand meters downwards led into the earth.
Unlike the desolate scene within the Sword Prison, the Sky-Severing Cliff was filled with the chirping of birds and the fragrance of flowers. The air was permeated with the scent of various natural treasures. The towering, steep cliff walls were covered with all sorts of natural treasures, some of which even Yao Fan's storage ring didn't contain. To an alchemist, this was like a fairyland.
However, Lu Hange wasn't in a hurry to collect them. Instead, he searched for traces of the furry rabbit. Soon, in a cave entrance on the cliff wall, Lu Hange found the furry rabbit gnawing on something. With so many natural treasures outside, the furry rabbit hadn't touched any of them. Instead, it had exerted effort to climb into this cave entrance specifically to eat this.
"Dragon Bone Treasure Blood?" Lu Hange snatched it away. Seeing this, the furry rabbit immediately bared its fangs and growled. Lu Hange didn't humor it and kicked it away directly: "Get lost!" The furry rabbit immediately drooped its ears and began to look for other natural treasures to eat. Lu Hange's eyes lit up. Good stuff! Dragon Bone Treasure Blood! In his previous life, he had fortunately obtained a piece. But that piece of Dragon Bone Treasure Blood was taken by Mu Nanyan and given to Ye Feng.
Dragon Bone Treasure Blood was not very useful for ordinary cultivators, but for demonic beasts and body cultivators, it was a heaven-defying divine object. If a demonic beast consumed Dragon Bone Treasure Blood, there was a certain chance for its bloodline to revert to its ancestral state. If a body cultivator consumed Dragon Bone Treasure Blood, it could greatly enhance the strength of their body and their vital essence. In his previous life, Ye Feng's ability to cultivate an immortal body was inseparable from Dragon Bone Treasure Blood.
But unfortunately, half of this Dragon Bone Treasure Blood had been eaten by the furry rabbit. Lu Hange narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at the furry rabbit. Should he roast it over a fire? Sensing Lu Hange's dangerous gaze, the furry rabbit immediately bolted, abandoning the half-chewed natural treasure in its mouth.
"Heh!" Lu Hange chuckled. Forget it. This thing still has some use. He sat down where he was. He swallowed half a piece of Dragon Bone Treasure Blood. In an instant, a large amount of bloody steam spread within Lu Hange's body. All the bones in his body burst with crisp cracking sounds. It was rumored that Dragon Bone Treasure Blood was formed from the essence of divine dragons after their demise. Lu Hange had never seen a true dragon in this world, only a few flood dragons that were close to transforming into dragons.
Lu Hange gritted his teeth tightly. Why did so few people pursue body cultivation? It was because they had to endure too much pain like this. Almost every time they broke through their physical limits, it could be called a complete transformation. Once one truly cultivated to an immortal body, the mortal blood in their body would completely transform into divine blood, a single drop of which would be a worldly treasure medicine ; mortal bones would become divine bones, and a single bone would be a sacred artifact.
One day and one night, Lu Hange remained motionless. The bloody steam on his body had not yet dissipated, but Lu Hange voluntarily opened his eyes and suppressed the unrefined residual medicinal effects.
"It's time to go out." Lu Hange stood up. At this moment, all the bones in his body glowed with a faint golden luster, and fine dragon scales faintly flickered on his skin, but they quickly disappeared. However, his cultivation had advanced a bit, from the Great Perfection of the Soul Transformation Stage to the peak of the Soul Transformation Stage. He was only one step away from the Integration Stage.
Today was the grand wedding banquet. Lu Hange was going out to "congratulate" them. Immediately, Lu Hange glanced at the furry rabbit sleeping soundly in the grass. A sword intent flashed past, nearly cleaving the furry rabbit in half, scaring it into squealing : "Follow me." The furry rabbit looked at Lu Hange timidly. Lu Hange said no more; if this furry rabbit ran away, he would kill it. There was no use keeping disobedient creatures. After a moment of hesitation, the furry rabbit still walked towards Lu Hange. Lu Hange casually pulled out a large pile of natural treasures and threw them into his storage ring. Then he picked up the furry rabbit by its ears: "These natural treasures are enough for you to eat for a while." The next second, the furry rabbit was thrown back into the storage ring.
The weather was nice today. Sunny and pleasant. If there was a bit of wind, it would be even better. That way, there would be no lingering smell of blood after killing.
Chapter 82: Asking If I Dare to Act? Then Open Your Eyes and Watch
"Valley Master of Carefree Valley arrives!"
"Sect Master of Relying Mountain Sect arrives!"
"Sect Master of One Sword Sect arrives!"
...
Misty Mountain Immortal Sect was adorned with lanterns and festive decorations. Auspicious red hung all over every mountain peak. The disciples guarding the mountain gate respectfully welcomed guests from various immortal sects, while cheerfully accepting various congratulatory gifts and registering them. This aspect was no different from the mortal world.
Inside Misty Mountain Immortal Sect, a maid was helping Mu Nanyan put on a large red gown. A phoenix crown adorned her head, and touches of rouge accentuated her already beautiful face, giving her the charm of a young married woman. It must be said that Mu Nanyan was indeed very beautiful. Once she shed her childhood beggar identity, she seemed to transform into a phoenix.
"Saintess, you look truly beautiful." The maid covered her mouth and chuckled. Mu Nanyan looked at herself in the bronze mirror, her lips also filled with a smile.
"Always flattering, go get a Spirit Gathering Pill." Mu Nanyan stood up. Perhaps even she hadn't expected to marry so early. A long time ago, Mu Nanyan believed that if she were to marry in the future, it would definitely be to Lu Hange. Their appearances matched, their cultivation talents were equivalent, and they were even childhood sweethearts with a deep emotional foundation.
But as time passed, she began to dislike Lu Hange. This dislike had no particular reason; she just suddenly found Lu Hange an eyesore one day. And then, she met Ye Feng. Although Ye Feng's appearance was not as good as Lu Hange's and his talent was slightly inferior, as Shu Qing said, love transcends everything.
"Where's the Saint Son?" Mu Nanyan asked. The maid lowered her head and respectfully replied, "Reporting to the Saintess, he's changing in the room next door." Hearing this, Mu Nanyan didn't think much of it.
But in the room just one wall away, Ye Feng was still bathing, steam rising from his body, a look of contentment on his face: "Xiao Rou, I'm tired, be sensible."
"Saint Son, it's time to get dressed." The maid reminded him. Ye Feng smiled. Even if he delayed a bit, Mu Nanyan wouldn't say much. "If you can get pregnant with my child before the Saintess, I'll let you be my concubine."
Ye Feng's words filled the maid with joy. Ye Feng dressed with the maid's assistance , donning a bright red robe that made him look exceptionally festive.
"Today, distinguished guests gather," "Sect masters from various immortal sects have all come," "They are all here to celebrate the grand wedding of the Saint Son and Saintess." The maid's voice was melodious and clear , her heart filled with envy. If only she were the Saintess of嵐山 Immortal Sect, such a grand wedding would surely become a beautiful story in the cultivation world. Ye Feng was also very pleased with himself. "I won't treat you unfairly," Ye Feng teased.
Just then, Mu Nanyan's voice came from outside the door: "Brother Ye, it's time to go to the main hall." Hearing this, Ye Feng tidied his clothes and strode out the door. Today, Mu Nanyan was exceptionally beautiful, and Ye Feng's eyes lit up. Cultivation was so boring! Life couldn't be just about cultivation! Ye Feng took Mu Nanyan's tender white hand: "Today is the happiest day of my life, Ye Feng." It must be said, a man's words are like a trickster's. Someone like Ye Feng was destined to have more than one woman; Mu Nanyan could only be one of his concubines.
The two walked out together. In the heavens and earth, various immortal cranes soared. A grand path of auspicious seven-colored spiritual energy unfolded .嵐山 Immortal Sect had truly spared no expense for today's grand wedding, which also indirectly demonstrated the profound heritage of a top-tier immortal sect.
"Congratulations, fellow Daoist, on your auspicious union!"
"Today, two hearts unite; tomorrow, they will ascend together!"
"The grand wedding of Misty Mountain, celebrated by all under heaven!"
A chorus of blessings resounded. Countless people were watching Ye Feng and Mu Nanyan. As for how many genuinely wished them well and how many were merely perfunctory, that was unclear. Ye Feng greatly enjoyed the feeling of being the center of attention. At this moment, he was truly the protagonist. All the grievances he had suffered at Lu Hange's hands had completely vanished.
"Saintess Mu, I heard you had an early engagement, supposedly with the Saint Son of Three Thousand Dao Sect. How is it that the groom has changed at today's grand wedding?" From a void, a female voice spoke, though no one could be seen. Her words, unlike the previous blessings, carried an aggressive and domineering tone. The speaker was Ji Hu. In the demon tribe, she was called Demon Fox. But upon returning to her own demon beast tribe, her name reverted to Ji Hu.
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent. After a few breaths, Shu Qing's voice rang out: "Matters of destiny cannot be explained by a single marriage contract. Just like Clan Leader Ji, didn't you also choose not to marry a genius from your own demon beast tribe, but instead married the Demon Tribe Emperor?" The atmosphere became very tense. Ji Hu smiled and said nothing. If she had a choice, she would rather marry Lu Hange than be a concubine to the Demon Tribe Emperor. Ye Feng's eyes were cold and sinister. Damn Ji Hu! She wanted to ruin his good fortune again! He had been displeased with Ji Hu for a long time, and his hatred for her had only grown since the Three Thousand Dao Sect incident.
"Thank you, Ancestor."
"Kowtow to Heaven and Earth."
The grand wedding officially began. Just then, a voice resounded throughout the heavens and earth, carrying a casual chuckle: "Lu Hange, the former Saint Son of Three Thousand Dao Sect, has come to offer congratulations."
Lu Hange actually came! Moreover... he appeared openly at the grand wedding, showing no intention of concealing his actions. Inside the main hall, an old man looked up at the sky: "He really came." Shu Qing stood beside the old man, her eyes as soft as water: "If you protect him, I can spare his life." The Sect Master of Three Thousand Dao Sect's eyes flickered: "Kill him. One Ye Feng is enough." Hearing this, Shu Qing nodded.
In mid-air, a figure appeared out of nowhere. A rusty longsword was casually slung over his shoulder, and a head of silver-white hair danced in the wind, appearing exceptionally unrestrained and uninhibited.
"Little junior brother, long time no see." Lu Hange smiled as he looked at Ye Feng. Seeing this, Ye Feng's inner nightmare immediately surfaced. Lu Hange had slowly become Ye Feng's inner demon; as long as he saw Lu Hange's face, Ye Feng felt chills run down his spine.
"Today, great cultivators gather!"
"There are dozens of Integration Stage cultivators alone!"
"Lu Hange, I give you ten guts, do you dare to make a move?!"
Ye Feng was full of confidence .嵐山 Immortal Sect had ten Integration Stage cultivators. And today, the sect masters from various sects who came as guests were also Integration Stage cultivators. If Lu Hange dared to make a move, he would be seeking death!
The next second, five heads fell from the sky. The five faces were very familiar. Mu Nanyan's pupils constricted ; these five people were all elders of嵐山 Immortal Sect, and they were all at the Minor Accomplishment of the Integration Stage. Lu Hange twisted his neck, making a crisp cracking sound. Two Dharma Idols appeared behind him, obscuring the sky and sun, giving off an immense sense of oppression : "Ye Feng, Mu Nanyan, if you two can invite a cultivator at the peak of the Integration Stage to protect you today, then I will be somewhat wary."
"If you can't..."
"Then let's all die together."
Chapter 83: One Layer of Protection Isn't Enough, I'll Add Another!
"Lu Hange, are you crazy?!"
"Dozens of Integration Stage cultivators are here, you're seeking death!"
Logically, when Ye Feng said these words, he should have been very confident, perhaps even speaking with an air of condescension, telling Lu Hange to kneel and enjoying the pleasure of humiliating and trampling him. But at this moment, his voice was trembling. He didn't know why he was so afraid, perhaps because of the five heads on the ground, or perhaps because of Lu Hange's fearless demeanor. Cold sweat broke out on Ye Feng's forehead. Such a familiar feeling! Two months ago, when Lu Hange was slaughtering Three Thousand Dao Sect, his expression was similar to this. No! The current Lu Hange appeared even more relaxed and at ease.
Unconsciously, Ye Feng took a step back. Looking at Lu Hange in mid-air again, his heart was already overwhelmed by fear. Lu Hange smiled and glanced around, numerous prying gazes falling upon him, as if trying to discern any signs of bluffing.
"Them?"
"If they dare to move, I dare to kill."
"I want to see, is嵐山 Immortal Sect's favor more important? Or their lives?"
Upon hearing this, all the immortal sect masters could no longer sit still. At this point, Lu Hange was not simply humiliating嵐山 Immortal Sect, but rather humiliating the entire Human Race Immortal Sect.
"Bold brat!"
"Arrogant!"
"A mere peak Soul Transformation cultivator dares to utter such wild words; today, you will be ground to dust!"
...
A chorus of reprimands rang out. The next second, a playful voice chimed in: "Lu Hange is a friend of my Nine-Tailed Sky Devouring Fox. If you want to harm him, I won't allow it!" A fragrant breeze swept by, and two figures appeared beside Lu Hange. One was Ji Hu. The other was the ancestor of the Nine-Tailed Sky Devouring Fox. The ancestor of the Nine-Tailed Sky Devouring Fox was also a woman, but her appearance was much purer than Ji Hu's. And because she had cultivated for too many years, she had forgotten joy and sorrow, her face always bearing a cold expression.
At this moment, the ancestor appeared slightly helpless. Her original intention today was to strengthen ties with嵐山 Immortal Sect. With this commotion, it was likely that relations with the human race would become even more strained. However, the ancestor was only helpless and did not scold Ji Hu. Demonic beasts valued bloodline. And Ji Hu was the purest bloodline among the Nine-Tailed Sky Devouring Foxes, the most likely genius to revert to her ancestral state. Although her current cultivation was only at the peak of the Integration Stage, she would eventually cultivate to the peak of the Great Perfection Stage.
"Ji Qiu."
"Is that what you mean too?" In mid-air, a voluptuous figure appeared, naturally it was Shu Qing. Shu Qing's face was cold, and anyone could see the anger in her heart.
"The little fox is the clan leader," "I listen to her." Ji Qiu's expression was blank. In terms of cultivation, both she and Shu Qing were at the Great Perfection Stage. Furthermore, demonic beasts were naturally inclined to body cultivation ; their powerful flesh, blood, vital essence, and bones far surpassed those of humans. Once she revealed her true form, Shu Qing's ordinary methods wouldn't even be able to break through her physical defense. Ji Hu looked at Lu Hange proudly, her expression beaming —she practically had "Praise me" written all over her face. Lu Hange shook his head and chuckled. This little fox... her personality really hasn't changed at all.
Shu Qing sneered: "Ji Hu is the concubine of the Demon Tribe Emperor. If the Demon Tribe Emperor knew she was protecting a man like this, the entire Nine-Tailed Sky Devouring Fox clan would suffer." Hearing this, a hint of hesitation finally appeared on Ji Qiu's face. To be honest, her bringing Ji Hu to Misty Mountain Immortal Sect's grand wedding today was already a clear indication of her indecisiveness, trying to play both sides between the demon tribe and the human race. If they failed to improve relations with the human race and also worsened relations with the demon tribe, the situation for the demon race would not be good. At that time, the Nine-Tailed Sky Devouring Fox would be the sinner of the entire demon race.
"Little fox..."
"This matter..." Ji Qiu transmitted her divine sense, wanting Ji Hu to reconsider. It was just a man, after all. He was nothing more than a bit handsome, a bit talented, a bit flamboyant, and a bit powerful... That's all. The more Ji Qiu thought about it, the more something felt off. If she really had to pick out Lu Hange's flaws, it might just be that he was a bit reckless. Ji Hu was very firm: "Grandma, I'm protecting him!" Seeing this, Ji Qiu said no more.
Then, Ji Qiu took a step forward, standing in front of Lu Hange, her eyes flashing with killing intent: "My Nine-Tailed Sky Devouring Fox clan has made its decision!" Just then, Lu Hange spoke helplessly: "Little fox, you should understand me." Ji Hu looked at Lu Hange. They gazed at each other for a moment.
"Grandma, we don't need to rush into action." Ji Hu understood Lu Hange. After all, she had followed Lu Hange for several years and was very familiar with his way of doing things. Ji Qiu frowned slightly, glancing at Lu Hange. Where did a mere peak Soul Transformation cultivator get such confidence? But what she didn't know was that a few months ago, Lu Hange was still a mortal with lost cultivation. In just a few months, he had cultivated to the Nascent Soul Stage and used his Nascent Soul Stage cultivation to slaughter the Three Thousand Dao Sect.
After hesitating, Ji Qiu retreated to the side, ready to manifest her true form at any time to escape with Lu Hange and Ji Hu. Just kidding! There was no way they could win a fight! She was alone, and there were dozens of human Integration Stage cultivators around. But if she was truly determined to escape, Ji Qiu was quite confident, as demonic beasts had a considerable talent for escaping.
But the next second, Ji Qiu's heart sank by half. Shu Qing saw Ji Qiu retreat to the side, and with a wave of her hand, layers of water ripples spread out, engulfing the entire Misty Mountain Immortal Sect. The sect-protecting grand formation! It could resist enemies and also trap and kill them. Looking at Shu Qing's action, it was clear she had no intention of letting Lu Hange live; she wanted to completely eradicate him.
"Lu Hange, wouldn't it have been better to live a humble life outside? Why seek death?" Shu Qing's eyes were complex. She used to think highly of Lu Hange; without any accidents, Lu Hange would definitely have been the next Sect Master of Three Thousand Dao Sect. But now, Lu Hange stood on the opposite side of the human race.
Lu Hange looked up at the sect-protecting grand formation. Suddenly, Lu Hange's eyes showed a playful glint: "I think one layer of protection isn't enough; why don't I add another?" Hearing this, Shu Qing's expression changed. The surrounding young female cultivators all blushed slightly. How could this man speak so flippantly! It was clear that everyone had a "story," otherwise they wouldn't have immediately thought impure thoughts.
"Immortal Trapping Array!"
"Rise!"
In an instant, the spiritual energy and demonic energy in the heavens and earth surged. Two opposing forces began to intertwine. Fine red lines emerged from the ground, like a large net enveloping the entire Misty Mountain Immortal Sect. Lu Hange had added another array on top of Misty Mountain Immortal Sect's sect-protecting grand formation. Today! No one was getting out! Lu Hange had given these people a chance to escape earlier, but no one had left. For today's slaughter, Lu Hange had prepared ample means. Lu Hange's idea was simple: to refine everyone present into Furnace Pills. The thought of Furnace Pills refined from dozens of Integration Stage cultivators made his heart surge with excitement, unable to contain himself.
Chapter 84: One Sword! Slaughter! Lu Hange's Terrifying Strength
A fine red net was attached to嵐山 Immortal Sect's sect-protecting grand formation. It seemed fragile! In reality, this red net could withstand more than ten attacks from a peak Integration Stage cultivator without breaking.
"You are very confident." Shu Qing's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. Where did Lu Hange get his confidence? Could it be that... he had help? Thinking of this, Shu Qing released her divine sense, covering the entire Misty Mountain Immortal Sect. After a careful search, she found no suspicious individuals. Ji Hu was also confused by Lu Hange's move and secretly transmitted a message to him: "Lu Hange, are you sure about this? Don't mess it up." Lu Hange didn't respond. Killing inherently carried the risk of being counter-killed.
Furthermore, with Lu Hange's current strength, even if he couldn't kill everyone, escaping would be quite simple. At worst, he could play a protracted game, kill a batch of people, then slip away, and return for a second round when Misty Mountain Immortal Sect relaxed its vigilance.
"Who wants to go first?"
"Or will you all come at once?" Lu Hange was getting impatient. He really wanted to taste what Furnace Pills refined from dozens of Integration Stage cultivators tasted like. Before anyone could answer, Lu Hange muttered to himself, "Forget it, all at once."
The next second, the two colossal Dharma Idols behind him materialized two massive swords. Terrifying sword intent immediately filled the entire Misty Mountain Immortal Sect. Every blade of grass and every tree was flattened. Countless demonic energies surged from his body, devouring all vitality. The demonic swords' hideous blood-red patterns continuously roared, eager to drink blood. Shu Qing's eyes trembled. What powerful sword intent and demonic energy!
"I'll fight you!" The speaker was the Sect Master of One Sword Sect, a cultivator at the Minor Accomplishment stage of the Integration Stage. However, due to being a sword cultivator, his strength was no less than that of a Great Perfection Integration Stage cultivator. Sword cultivators were fond of combat; the stronger the enemy, the stronger their will to fight. Moreover, the sword intent Lu Hange displayed was not weak at all, making him a worthy opponent.
"Sect Master Gu, be careful." Shu Qing also wanted to test Lu Hange's limits. At present, having someone voluntarily step forward was naturally the best outcome.
"Sword, come!" Sect Master Gu roared. The heavens and earth trembled! A white light flashed, and a sword wind arose out of nowhere. A three-foot-long azure sword, etherealized from spiritual energy, materialized. Seeing this, Lu Hange sneered. He was being underestimated! Although cultivators at the Integration Stage could use every blade of grass and every tree as a sword, a true sword cultivator's full strength could only be unleashed with their natal sword. Yet, this Sect Master of One Sword Sect had no intention of using his natal sword, merely conjuring a spiritual energy sword at will.
Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. It seemed this Sect Master of One Sword Sect had experienced too little of society's harsh realities.
"Today, I shall eradicate evil and defend the Dao!" Sect Master Gu raised his right hand. The three-foot-long sword hovered, its biting sword intent constantly expanding. Faintly, a long sword piercing through heaven and earth followed closely behind, shimmering with a faint silver glow.
"Is this the One Sword Sect's 'Immortal Sword Art'?"
"It is said to open the path to immortality with a single sword, truly impressive!"
"Sect Master Gu is cautious; he's using such a powerful sword technique against a mere peak Soul Transformation cultivator."
"After this sword strike, I'm afraid nothing will be left of him."
...
Exclamations of awe were endless. In their eyes, Lu Hange was just a toy. While sword cultivators were indeed powerful, even capable of fighting beyond their cultivation level, a sword cultivator as strong as Sect Master Gu could only barely hold his own against a Great Perfection Integration Stage cultivator. The further one progressed in cultivation, even a small difference in realm was like a chasm. Because of this, they found Lu Hange laughable.
"Grandma, be ready to strike at any time." Ji Hu looked somewhat uneasy. Ji Qiu's expression was solemn. This sword strike! She also felt threatened. The human race truly produced many prodigies! Unconsciously, Ji Qiu looked at Lu Hange. She wanted to see what kind of expression this young man, who was only at the peak of the Soul Transformation stage, would show in the face of such a terrifying killing move. Fear? Panic? Helplessness?
But after just a glance, Ji Qiu was stunned. Lu Hange's face showed no trace of the expected fear; instead, his face was cold, filled with angry indignation. He was angry, but what was he angry about?
"This brat..."
"He has a strong character!" Ji Qiu inexplicably felt a greater liking for Lu Hange.
"Die!" A sword struck down! The sword blade, piercing through heaven and earth, roared down like a mountain and sea. Lu Hange tilted his head slightly. The sword wind stung his cheeks. Lu Hange stood still, motionless. Seeing this, everyone thought Lu Hange had given up. This sword strike would make even a Great Perfection Integration Stage cultivator hesitate; killing a mere Soul Transformation ant was too simple.
"Grandma!" Ji Hu tugged at Ji Qiu's arm. Ji Qiu's eyes flickered ; although she greatly admired Lu Hange's fierce personality, the gap in cultivation realms was real. Saving Lu Hange and quickly escaping was the best course of action.
Just then, Lu Hange moved. The Ancient Desolate Sword, which had been resting on his shoulder, slowly moved behind him. The starting stance of the sword technique was so familiar.
"Four Seasons Swordplay." A murmur. In an instant, the vitality devoured by demonic energy in the heavens and earth was replenished, blooming anew. As far as the eye could see, vibrant vegetation flourished. In the blink of an eye, the scorching sun blazed, heat rising, irritating people's hearts. Then, the vegetation withered, yellow covering the sky. Finally, it transformed into dots of snow-white chill, and deep winter arrived.
A not-so-powerful sword intent swept out horizontally. Compared to the colossal sword descending from the sky, this sword intent was insignificant. But at this moment, the colossal sword hovered. It couldn't descend even half an inch! The Sect Master of Three Thousand Dao Sect, who was secretly watching the show, suddenly stood up: "The Dao of Time, he actually integrated the Dao of Time into his sword technique!" From Lu Hange's own perspective, this Four Seasons Swordplay was very slow, almost as light and imperceptible as a sword dance. But from the perspective of others, time seemed to pause for an instant. They couldn't see Lu Hange's starting stance, nor could they discern the speed at which this sword technique was unleashed.
Of course, time only paused for a moment. Soon, everyone regained their senses. They saw the colossal sword hovering, not descending, and all assumed that the Sect Master of One Sword Sect wanted to tease Lu Hange.
The next second, the colossal sword began to break inch by inch. Crash! Bits of sword intent light transformed into spiritual rain and fell. Everyone looked stunned. In mid-air, the Sect Master of One Sword Sect seemed to have been revived. His appearance reverted to his youthful self, and his hair turned from silver to soft black—this was youth. His eyes gradually deepened, his demeanor became composed, and his brows showed signs of age—this was middle age. He became stable and composed, his expression kind and amiable, his figure hunched—this was old age. This Sect Master had spent thousands of years to traverse the long journey of life. But now, in just a few breaths, he had walked through his entire life. The Four Seasons Swordplay was not just a simple sword technique; when this sword was unleashed, it could also plunder a person's lifespan, causing the river of time to flow rapidly over that person.
Bang! A loud sound. A cloud of blood mist exploded. At the same time, a mournful cry echoed through the heavens and earth, and countless spiritual rain fell, nourishing the world. It wasn't until the cold spiritual rain dripped onto their faces that everyone realized a Great Perfection Integration Stage cultivator had perished. Looking again, the Sect Master of One Sword Sect was gone, and his sword intent had completely dissipated...
Chapter 85: Ye Feng's Harem Collapses
The salty bitterness in the wind carried away the lingering smell of blood. The spiritual rain continued to fall. In the rain curtain, the Ancient Desolate Sword in Lu Hange's hand was slanted downwards, its blade unstained by blood. But the Dao inscriptions on the sword were still flashing with residual light, gradually fading. Under everyone's gaze, the Ancient Desolate Sword returned to its original state.
The Sect Master of One Sword Sect was dead. No one from the human immortal sects made a sound. All the arrogant expressions and expressions of ridicule had vanished, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity. What kind of sword technique was that just now?! It could actually instantly kill a Great Perfection Integration Stage cultivator and plunder their lifespan! It was clearly a Soul Transformation Stage cultivation, but he could kill a Great Perfection Integration Stage cultivator in an instant. This was like the difference between heaven and earth!
"This brat!" "What a monstrous talent!" The Sect Master of Three Thousand Dao Sect's eyes burned with eagerness. If only he had known earlier, he would have let Lu Hange go all out and kill Ye Feng. Now, all this trouble was caused by Ye Feng.
"How could this be?!" Ye Feng fell to the ground, his face pale and eyes lifeless. He couldn't believe what he had just witnessed. An Integration Stage cultivator, the Sect Master of One Sword Sect, had been instantly killed by Lu Hange. He was once a proud genius, the Child of Fortune, always looking down on others. But now, Lu Hange had completely shattered his pride. He was truly terrified. Why was Lu Hange so strong?! Why did he, the Child of Fortune, have to live in the shadow of Lu Hange?! Ye Feng clenched his fists tightly. He hated himself for not having enough talent, and he hated the Heavenly Dao for being heartless. If he could cultivate to the Half-Immortal realm, his lifespan would be at least twenty thousand years, and he could easily suppress Lu Hange.
Although she had already guessed, Shu Qing's heart still sank when she heard the confirmation. She had kept herself pure for thousands of years for this man, and had even publicly claimed to be his confidante. Yet, he had no intention of helping at all.
"Misty Mountain Immortal will not fall." Shu Qing composed herself. By now, Shu Qing no longer felt much fear or worry. There were many Mahayana Stage cultivators present, and even several at the Great Perfection Stage. The more powerful Lu Hange appeared, the less the various immortal sect masters would tolerate his existence. Even if Lu Hange had the strength to contend with a Great Perfection Mahayana Stage cultivator, what if they all attacked him at once?
Below, Ye Feng fell to the ground. His mental state was on the verge of collapsing. Being chosen as the Child of Fortune was a blessing; but living in the same era as Lu Hange was a great misfortune. Mu Nanyan felt the same. She had always believed that after joining the immortal sect, she was stronger than Lu Hange. Not only did she possess a special physique, but she also received the full cultivation resources of Misty Mountain Immortal Sect. Moreover, as far as Mu Nanyan knew, although Lu Hange was the Saint Son of Three Thousand Dao Sect, he...
Chapter 86: Human Race Grand Cultivators Join Forces! Come! Battle!!
"Lu Hange, I don't wish to see a talent like you fall into the demonic path. I'll give you a chance to return to the righteous path."
Shu Qing spoke softly, "Please consider carefully."
Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions turned a bit strange. When the Sword Sect Master was still alive, she didn't say these words, but now that he's dead, she comes out offering Lu Hange a chance to abandon darkness for light. Wouldn't that mean the Sword Sect Master died for nothing?
Of course, no one spoke up.
Currently, the Three Thousand Dao Sect is effectively defunct. The Misty Mountain Immortal Sect is the strongest among the human immortal sects. Other sects at most have one Grand Ascension stage cultivator, and some might not even have one, with most, like the Sword Sect, having a Sect Master only at the Lesser Mahayana stage.
In contrast, the Misty Mountain Immortal Sect boasts two Grand Ascension stage cultivators within its sect.
Under its command, there are more than a handful of Lesser Mahayana stage elders and guest cultivators.
Oh! That's not right! Now there are only three elders left in the Misty Mountain Immortal Sect. Lu Hange has already killed five. The remaining three guest elders hold positions in the Misty Mountain Immortal Sect but rarely manage its affairs.
The ranking of top immortal sects is first based on the strongest cultivator's cultivation level, and then on the number of powerful cultivators within the sect.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk."
"Shu Qing is truly magnanimous."
"Lu Hange killed five elders of the Misty Mountain Immortal Sect, and she can still tolerate that."
"If Lu Hange joins the Misty Mountain Immortal Sect, do you think exchanging five elders for Lu Hange is a loss?"
"Loss?"
"It's a massive profit!"
Everyone communicated through their divine senses. Given Lu Hange's displayed combat prowess, if he were to truly join the Misty Mountain Immortal Sect, the sect would effectively have three Grand Ascension stage cultivators. Moreover, with Lu Hange's talent, if he doesn't die prematurely, he could very well become a peak Grand Ascension stage cultivator in the future.
Exchanging five Lesser Mahayana stage elders for a contemporary Sword Immortal, a future peak Grand Ascension stage powerhouse.
This deal! No matter how you look at it, it's a profit.
Lu Hange's expression was calm. A woman who would willingly submit to someone thousands of years her junior, even taking pride in bearing children for Ye Feng, speaking such righteous words seemed utterly ridiculous.
"Give me a chance?"
Lu Hange couldn't help but shake his head. "Cultivating demon arts makes it easier to become an immortal."
This statement sounds extremely contradictory. However, Lu Hange proved this with his experience from his previous life: cultivating demon arts, devouring all things, seizing destiny, and bringing everything in this world onto one person is the only way to potentially become an immortal. Relying solely on individual cultivation will never lead to immortality.
Hearing this, Shu Qing's expression darkened slightly. The people from the other sects, however, breathed a sigh of relief. They still hoped Lu Hange would die here; otherwise, if Lu Hange really joined the Misty Mountain Immortal Sect, they would forever be suppressed.
"I gave you a chance, but you were useless."
"Then don't blame me."
Although Ye Feng was trash, he was at least obedient. Shu Qing still preferred an obedient disciple; this was a matter of face.
"Heh."
"Waste of time."
Lu Hange felt that talking was superfluous, and the Desolate Ancient Sword once again took up a starting stance.
Seeing this, Ye Feng completely broke down. He was the only one who had seen Lu Hange assume this posture and survived this move.
"It's that move!"
"That's the move that killed everyone in the Three Thousand Dao Sect with one sword!"
Ye Feng screamed in despair. At this moment, he no longer thought about regaining Mu Nanyan's favor. After two months, seeing the starting stance of this sword technique again, Ye Feng had only one thought: to escape.
But unfortunately, the Misty Mountain Immortal Sect's protective array and Lu Hange's Immortal Trapping Array, a double array, meant no one could escape.
Unless... Ye Feng continued to expend his destiny.
Everyone heard Ye Feng's shouting, and their expressions also became serious. After the previous sword strike, no one underestimated Lu Hange anymore.
More importantly, the spiritual energy in the heavens and earth had been drained. The death of the Sword Sect Master caused the Heavenly Dao to rain spiritual energy in return, and the spiritual energy within the entire Misty Mountain Immortal Sect's range rapidly increased several times in a short period. This was a great boon for a sect. Without incident, the entire sect would benefit from it.
But at this moment, as Lu Hange assumed the starting stance of his sword technique, everyone was horrified to discover that the spiritual energy, which had multiplied several times, was rapidly disappearing. In just a few breaths, the spiritual energy density in the Misty Mountain Immortal Sect was even less dense than before the Sword Sect Master's death...
"This sword!"
"Extremely terrifying!"
Everyone realized this.
The next second, profound inscriptions once again flickered on the Desolate Ancient Sword. One after another, obscure runes lit up, and the rust on the sword's body was washed away, revealing the Desolate Ancient Sword's original appearance.
Shu Qing's pupils constricted slightly.
She finally understood. Why Ye Feng's fear was so strong. Her gaze fell upon the Desolate Ancient Sword, and the sharp sword light stung her eyes.
It wasn't just spiritual energy... The cultivation techniques that usually operated smoothly now became slow and clogged, as if suddenly moving from a flat, broad road to a muddy path, causing extreme discomfort.
The Great Dao was suppressing them!
"Monster!"
Shu Qing was shaken. She couldn't block this sword.
So, this was what the Three Thousand Dao Sect Master meant by preparing for the worst. A sword move that could decimate the Three Thousand Dao Sect was equally applicable to the Misty Mountain Immortal Sect.
Moreover, Lu Hange was stronger than he was two months ago.
"Fellow Daoists!"
"Let's attack together!!"
"We are defending the Dao and eliminating demons, we don't care about fairness and justice. As long as we can kill Lu Hange, it will be a good name spread throughout the world!"
Shu Qing shouted loudly.
Hearing this, the Sect Masters of the other sects nodded in response. Dozens of Grand Ascension stage cultivators all made their moves.
Seeing this, Ye Feng excitedly shouted, "Kill him! Kill him!!!"
Mu Nanyan inadvertently distanced herself from Ye Feng. As her favorability decreased, Ye Feng's perfect filter in her eyes also disappeared. Even if Lu Hange truly died here today, Mu Nanyan would not marry Ye Feng, nor would she become his cultivation partner.
Of course, Ye Feng naturally noticed this.
But Ye Feng didn't care. He just wanted Lu Hange to die. As long as Lu Hange died, he could use the system to re-raise Mu Nanyan's favorability. Anyway, favorability is something that can drop and then rise again.
Everyone glanced at Ye Feng, disdain in their hearts. They were the ones taking action. Ye Feng was the one shouting the loudest. He truly embodied the saying "a dog barks louder with its master by its side."
But it's good too! If the Misty Mountain Immortal Sect has such a Saint Son, it will probably gradually decline in the future, and then it will be their turn to sit in the position of the human race's top immortal sect.
Facing the combined efforts of dozens of Grand Ascension stage cultivators, Lu Hange not only showed no fear but also felt his blood boiling. Sword cultivators are warlike, and demon cultivators are also warlike. Coincidentally, Lu Hange has demon blood flowing in him and is a genuine sword cultivator.
With these two warlike factors combined, Lu Hange trembled with excitement.
Come! Battle!