Chapter 144: The Truth of the Man-Made Disaster
Chapter 144: The Truth of the Man-Made Disaster
The Flying Boat raced forward at high speed.
Elder Lu stood steadily on the front deck, controlling the Flying Boat and steering the direction. Behind him were Buming and Chen Xiangxiang. After the celebration ended, the three received a message from their Sect Leader Lu Hangzhi, and they rushed over in confusion. They accepted the first task assigned to them by the Xuanxin Sect, but they still did not know the specific details of the mission.
The three took the rare opportunity to admire the surrounding mountains and rivers while occasionally glancing back at the cabin.
After Lu Hangzhi boarded the boat, he never came out again and told them not to disturb him. He acted mysteriously the entire way, which was very strange.
“What’s wrong with Hangzhi?”
Chen Xiangxiang could not help but ask.
Buming, who had been holding back his curiosity the whole journey, rubbed his shiny bald head and said,
“I’m not sure… but if I suddenly became a Sect Leader, I would definitely work on establishing authority within the sect and do some serious work. But him? He hadn’t even warmed the seat before running out, and he even dragged his master out to cover for him. It seems like he’s going on a long trip.”
Elder Lu gave them a mysterious look and smiled.
“What do you two know? Hangzhi is going out this time to establish his authority.”
“Oh?”
“Elder Lu, do you know the inside story?”
Chen Xiangxiang and Buming immediately became interested.
“Doing things without knowing the mission details is not my style. Our destination this time is the Crimson Shadow Sect. I asked an old friend to investigate the situation there, and guess what? Not long ago, the Crimson Shadow Sect was taken over and is now occupied by a group of Evil Cultivators. The mountain gate has even been changed to ‘Jiuyou Sect’!” At this point, Elder Lu laughed. “Coincidentally, I heard someone mention the name Jiuyou during the celebration, so I looked into it further… Guess what I found out.”
“I know about Jiuyou too. He has been coveting the Spiritual Peak of the Xuanxin Sect for a long time and was driven back by Qin Huai… I see! Hangzhi is going to cause trouble for that Evil Cultivator Jiuyou.”
“That’s right, that’s right.” Chen Xiangxiang was enlightened by Buming’s words and smiled. “Jiuyou almost destroyed the Xuanxin Sect and committed terrible killings in the Xuanxin Sect’s territory. In the past, this matter might have been let go because the Xuanxin Sect didn’t have the ability to take revenge on a Spirit Condensation Stage Evil Cultivator. But now things are different! Lu Hangzhi has taken over as the Sect Leader of the Xuanxin Sect. Hehe, this Jiuyou is in trouble now.”
“Amitabha, well said, well said! So it’s about punishing evil and promoting good. This little monk loves that kind of thing the most.” Buming laughed loudly and proclaimed a Buddhist chant.
“And…”
Elder Lu’s smile widened as he drew out his words, continuing to reveal more: “From what I know, not long ago, the Crimson Shadow Sect discovered a Spirit Vein Mine within their territory. It seems the news was even leaked by a disciple of the Crimson Shadow Sect.”
“Eh!”
Chen Xiangxiang and Buming both showed surprised expressions.
“A Spirit Vein Mine? That’s a big deal!”
“Of course!”
Elder Lu laughed. “Even the lowest-grade Spirit Vein Mine can be cut into millions of Mid-grade Spirit Stones. If the quality is good, there might even be quite a few Supreme Grade Spirit Stones and priceless treasures! Not to mention that Spirit Vein Mines are usually accompanied by Spiritual Insects. These creatures feed on Spirit Stones and have been eating for who knows how many years. They are rare treasures between heaven and earth. If you can form a contract with them, they can provide an endless supply of pure Magic Power during battles. Their usefulness is comparable to Magical Artifacts!”
At this point, Elder Lu deliberately raised his voice, clearly intending for someone inside the cabin to hear.
As he wished.
Lu Hangzhi stood up and walked out of the cabin, smiling.
“Hehe, Hangzhi heard you. Thank you, Elder Lu, for telling me.”
“I reminded you because I don’t want you to underestimate Jiuyou. After all, many Art Techniques of Evil Cultivators are profound and incredibly powerful. For example, an ordinary Mid Soul-Concentrating Stage Cultivator like Luo Sen can summon a Concentrated Spirit Peak Stage Blood Slave as long as he has enough Magic Power and Essential Blood. Its power can overwhelm a Concentrated Spirit Peak Stage Cultivator… Jiuyou is a soul cultivator. As long as he has enough Soul Pearls, he can create powerful spirit ghosts, even Concentrated Spirit Peak Stage ghost generals. You must not be careless.” Elder Lu solemnly reminded everyone.
Lu Hangzhi nodded.
“That’s why I invited Elder Lu and the other two to help.”
“That’s true…”
Elder Lu showed a gratified expression. “Buming is from the Buddhist Sect, and his Art Techniques can counter soul cultivators. Xiangxiang is skilled in Illusion Arts, and her spiritual abilities are far superior to ordinary Mid Soul-Concentrating Stage Cultivators. She can break Demonic Sound. As for this old man, my knowledge should be decent. If we’re careful, suppressing Evil Cultivators in a second-rate sect shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Elder Lu, you’re being too modest.”
Lu Hangzhi smiled and walked onto the deck, arriving at the bow.
Facing the magnificent scenery of the Barbarian Continent, Lu Hangzhi suddenly recalled Situ Chuyun’s words and could not help but sigh.
The three exchanged looks.
Elder Lu thought for a moment, his brows furrowing deeply. After a long silence, he finally spoke up:
“I don’t know why, but I noticed that after you returned to the Xuanxin Sect, especially after you disappeared for a while during the celebration, your mood seemed to have suddenly worsened. Did you encounter some trouble?”
Lu Hangzhi placed his hands behind his back, gazing at the rapidly receding mountains and rivers, and murmured:
“Elder Lu, have you heard of the Upper Realm?”
“Eh?”
Elder Lu was stunned, then suddenly showed a very serious and grave expression:
“Where did you hear about the Upper Realm?”
At these words, it was Lu Hangzhi’s turn to be shocked.
Did Elder Lu actually know about the Upper Realm?
How could that be…
Lu Hangzhi immediately became excited.
Seeing this, Elder Lu took a deep breath and said:
“Hangzhi, I don’t know where you learned about the existence of the Upper Realm, but a long time ago, there were legends and verifiable unofficial histories circulating in the Barbarian Continent…”
“Oh? What were they?”
“Before the Two Realms Mountain was invaded, there were many Mystic Light Stage Great Perfection Cultivators in the Barbarian Continent. But in the end, without exception, all of these Cultivators disappeared after going into seclusion. At the time, the sects of these Cultivators left behind some information…”
“Breaking through the void?” Lu Hangzhi thought of these four words often seen in martial arts and fantasy novels.
Elder Lu said:
“Based on the information left by these sects, we learned that these powerful Immortal Lords, after reaching the Creation realm, had mastered the ability to tear through space and cross over to the Upper Realm, and then they all left the Barbarian Continent… At that time, the Cloud Mountain Sect had the most Mystic Light Stage Great Powers, and the information they left was the most comprehensive. The Seven Great Sects once suspected that the Cloud Mountain Sect opened a Spatial Passage in an attempt to tear through space and enter the Upper Realm ahead of time, but instead attracted endless Monster Beasts… The Cloud Mountain Sect felt too ashamed to face the Barbarian Continent and their sect’s predecessors, so they recklessly sacrificed over a hundred Mystic Light Cultivators to construct the Spatial Rift Formation.”
After hearing Elder Lu’s account, Lu Hangzhi felt a sudden enlightenment.
Many previously unclear points became connected and easier to understand.
For example…
Why did the Cloud Mountain Sect, as the largest super sect at the time, take full responsibility for the Monster Beast disaster at the Two Realms Mountain, even though the cultivation world was extremely selfish;
Why did Cultivators at the Mystic Light Stage Great Perfection level suddenly almost disappear in recent centuries;
Everything could be explained now.
If, as the Seven Great Sects had previously claimed, the Cloud Mountain Sect opened the Spatial Passage out of curiosity and accidentally stirred up trouble, there would have been no need for the Cloud Mountain Sect to lead themselves to extinction. But if over a hundred Mystic Light Great Powers acted out of selfishness, wanting to contact the Upper Realm early, that would be completely different.
This was a true man-made disaster!
And because of their selfishness, the Barbarian Continent had not seen a Mystic Light Stage Great Perfection Cultivator for centuries, almost cutting off the possibility of entering the Upper Realm;
Lu Hangzhi even suspected.
Because of the appearance of the Sky Passage, the Cloud Mountain Sect might have already realized that the Upper Realm was a world where humans and monsters coexisted, and they guessed the possible fate of human Cultivators who Ascended to the Upper Realm. They became even more unwilling to Ascend, so they set up obstacles on their cultivation path…
Thinking of this, Lu Hangzhi’s expression grew even more solemn. He sighed and told the three about Situ Chuyun’s existence and everything she said, word for word.
Elder Lu’s face turned ashen.
Chen Xiangxiang and Buming were so frightened their faces turned pale.
“How could this be!”
“Heavens! I thought we had already resolved the crisis at the Two Realms Mountain… If what that Immortal Lord from the Upper Realm said is true, the Barbarian Continent is truly doomed this time!”
Elder Lu’s face was dark as water, and he nodded.
“This matter is of great importance. I’m afraid… even if the Seven Great Sects give their all, they still wouldn’t be able to handle it.”
“Not just the Seven Great Sects!” Buming said bitterly. “Even if we gather all the Cultivators in the Barbarian Continent, we still couldn’t deal with a single Great Fiend King. Mystic Light Creation—a single Mystic Light Stage Great Perfection Monster Beast nearly destroyed all our Mind Focusing Cultivators’ defensive Art Techniques just with its breathing. If it really attacks…”
“That’s why I didn’t tell you, and I didn’t notify Honglian and the others. Once the Conquest Fiend God takes action, the Barbarian Continent won’t have a second outcome.”
Lu Hangzhi said bitterly,
“That’s also why I’m going after Jiuyou at this time. I’m afraid that when the Demonic Fiends invade, I will completely lose the chance to avenge my brothers.”
“…”
The three were left speechless.
“After this matter is over, if any of you have unfinished business, you should hurry and take care of it.”
“… I’m just an old bone. Being able to witness the destruction of the Monster Lair with my own eyes is already satisfying. What regrets could I have? But as for you, Xiangxiang, and you, little monk, if there’s anything you need to do, do it quickly.”
“It seems there’s nothing particularly important. I used to have one goal: to eradicate demons and defend the Dao, taking it as my responsibility to support the world. The last thing would probably be to sacrifice myself when the Demonic Fiends invade.” Buming’s words touched Lu Hangzhi slightly, who then turned to look at Chen Xiangxiang.
The latter gave a self-mocking smile:
“Me? I used to dream of buying an Illusion Arts-type Magical Artifact from the Two Realms Mountain. Once activated, I could create my own Abode, isolated from the world. But now… it’s no longer important.”
Lu Hangzhi nodded.
The three of them had no idea.
While they were chatting, a person in the void was secretly following them, watching the three from beginning to end.
Situ Chuyun deeply regretted it.
She regretted revealing too much information.
Now, not only had Lu Hangzhi lost his fighting spirit, but even Elder Lu and the other two had become disheartened after learning this news, acting as if they were just waiting for death to come.
“…”
For a moment, Situ Chuyun in the shadows was filled with gloom.