Chapter 131: Iron Bone Diviner
Chapter 131: Iron Bone Diviner
Miao Sanxu shook his head. “Not good. The Mingyue Gate is thriving now, dead set on devouring the Lièyáng Sect, Broken Blade Sect, and Flying Dragon Gang. Fang Zhuqing, Jin Miaoyi, and I are all living in fear, considering other ways to survive.”
Cheng Lingyu asked, “If Mingyue Gate swallows the three major sects, you won’t survive in Yunyang City anymore?”
Miao Sanxu gave a bitter laugh. “We’ve had many bloody clashes recently, losing countless fellow disciples. If my cultivation level weren’t so low, I’d have been sent to the frontlines and died long ago.”
“Can’t you quit your sect?”
“Quitting now would make us deserters. You can guess what happens to traitors.”
Cheng Lingyu frowned. “What’s your plan then?”
Miao Sanxu said, “Slim Bamboo and I discussed escaping Yunyang City to lay low. We’ll return after things calm down. Jin Miaoyi’s situation is trickier – the Jin family has deep roots here. They can’t just flee like us.”
“What about Qu Wei?”
“She went to Guishun Valley and hasn’t returned.”
Cheng Lingyu’s face paled. “When did she leave?”
“Two or three months back. Went to merge with a Beast Soul. No word since.” Miao Sanxu answered truthfully, eyeing Cheng Lingyu’s sudden tension with confusion.
Cheng Lingyu’s expression darkened. Having spent two months in Guishun Valley himself without any trace of Qu Wei, dread coiled in his gut. That valley’s dangers – particularly the murderous white skeleton – made disaster all too likely.
Fang Zhuqing and Jin Miaoyi burst into the chess academy, brightening upon seeing Cheng Lingyu. They immediately began pouring out their grievances.
Cheng Lingyu hesitated. His sensitive status made this public meeting risky. “Let’s talk elsewhere. Being seen here endangers you.”
He led them to a backyard guest room, shutting the door securely.
Jin Miaoyi brought up Qu Wei, worry lining his voice. “They say even Spirit Masters gather at Guishun Valley now. No one knows why. I pray she returns safely.”
Cheng Lingyu said nothing, though anxiety gnawed at him. He noted Jin Miaoyi had reached the True Fire Stage of True Martial Eight Levels, while Miao Sanxu and Fang Zhuqing attained the River Stage. Their rapid progress surprised him.
“Your cultivation levels improved quickly.”
Fang Zhuqing spat, “Don’t remind me. After countless deaths in the Mingyue Gate battles, the sects handed out resources like candy. Now the strongest get sent to die first.”
“So you’re walking on knives.”
Jin Miaoyi nodded. “The Fatty and Slim Bamboo will flee. I’ll stay to monitor things and wait for Qu Wei.”
Cheng Lingyu produced over a dozen glittering storage rings. “I can’t advise you, but take these treasure artifacts. Good quality with ample space.”
Miao Sanxu’s eyes widened. “These are priceless! I’ve always wanted one but couldn’t afford…”
Cheng Lingyu shrugged. He had thousands of these rings – too wasteful to discard, yet useless to hoard.
Cheng Lingyu said calmly, “These are nothing special. I have plenty more treasure artifacts here—attack, defense, flying types. Take your time picking.”
He produced dozens of high-quality treasure artifacts: weapons, battle armor, magical artifacts, letting the three choose freely.
Fang Zhuqing beamed, “This is true brotherhood! Sharing fortune with comrades.”
Jin Miaoyi gaped, “Where’d you get all these?”
“From the Holy Emperor’s underground palace. Hundreds died there—I scavenged some wealth from the deceased. Take whatever you need.”
The trio eagerly divided every item between them.
“Surviving just got easier,” Miao Sanxu chuckled. Fang Zhuqing eyed Cheng Lingyu, “Got any top-grade healing pills?”
“Plenty. Split these.” Cheng Lingyu handed over unused resources from his stash.
“I’ve also got cultivation manuals suitable for your current levels.”
Miao Sanxu vibrated with excitement, “We’re rich! With these, a few years’ secluded training could make me a Soul Martial Realm expert!”
Fang Zhuqing nodded, “After leaving Yunyang City, we’ll hide somewhere to cultivate before returning.”
Jin Miaoyi sighed, “Pity Qu Wei’s not here to share this.”
Cheng Lingyu’s expression darkened with silent sorrow. Miao Sanxu and Fang Zhuqing offered vague comforts, unaware of Qu Wei’s circumstances.
At dusk, Cheng Lingyu sensed Lan Xiaozhu’s arrival at the chess academy. “Keep talking—I’ll be back shortly.”
Jin Miaoyi waved him off.
Finding Lan Xiaozhu in the hall with Senior Sister Caiyun, Cheng Lingyu blurted, “Help me divine whether Qu Wei lives.”
Lan Xiaozhu softened at his distress. “Sanpao said she entered Guishun Valley before us. Never returned.”
Her gasp echoed understanding. Grasping Cheng Lingyu’s left hand, she led him outside. Gazing skyward, she shut her eyes and activated Celestial Cataclysm Divination.
Her frame trembled as eerie strength flowed into Cheng Lingyu, vanishing into the mysterious space’s four-star pyramid.
The quivering ceased. Drenched in sweat, Lan Xiaozhu slumped against him. “She lives.”
Weakly opening her eyes, she offered Cheng Lingyu his longed-for answer.
“Where?”
“I had just come out of Guishun Valley and avoided the skeletal figures and the man in gray. There’s a strange aura disrupting my divinations. If she intends to return to Yunyang City, she’ll appear by dawn at the latest.”
“Excellent! I can finally breathe easy knowing she’s safe. Rest now – I’ll inform Jin Miaoyi and the others.”
Cheng Lingyu’s entire demeanor brightened, his inner gloom dissolving instantly.
Upon hearing Qu Wei’s imminent return, Jin Miaoyi, Miao Sanxu, and Fang Zhuqing became ecstatic, immediately planning celebrations.
That evening after seeing them out, Cheng Lingyu entered the secret chamber where Caiyun and Lan Xiaozhu waited with grave expressions.
“What’s happened?”
He took Senior Sister Caiyun’s hand, his mesmerizing gaze meeting hers.
Caiyun shot him a warning look. “We’ve overlooked a dangerous element.”
“What element?”
Lan Xiaozhu sighed. “The Iron Bone Diviner. I assumed he’d left after two months, but he remains in Yunyang City.”
Cheng Lingyu muttered, “You mentioned this Iron Bone Diviner before. Who is he?”
“A formidable, sinister enigma,” Caiyun stated. “No one knows his origins.”
Lan Xiaozhu added, “His presence at Mingyue Gate shows he backs Bai Ruomei. He came here under some major power’s invitation targeting you. Though the Holy Emperor’s underground palace affair ended, he never abandons tasks halfway.”
“But my importance vanished when Hua Yuehong and Bai Ruomei appeared,” Cheng Lingyu argued. “Why would he pursue someone worthless?”
Caiyun countered, “We must identify which force hired him to understand his motives.”
“Few in Tianyang Empire can command him,” Lan Xiaozhu noted. “Beyond the Three Saints and Four Peerless, perhaps three others.”
“What’s our move?” Cheng Lingyu asked.
“We flee,” Caiyun declared.
“When?”
“Before tomorrow’s sunset,” Lan Xiaozhu confirmed.
Cheng Lingyu fell silent. Having just returned today, this abrupt departure felt overwhelming.
“Destination?”
“Xiyun Divine Mountain. Lou Ri City.” Lan Xiaozhu’s tone brooked no argument.
“Just to evade him?”
Caiyun explained, “We’ll seek shelter there too. Survival’s impossible without backing in this empire.”
The Three Saints and Four Peerless dominated Tianyang. With Cheng Lingyu’s numerous enemies and Caiyun’s limited cultivation, securing protection became urgent. Moreover, joining prestigious Lou Ri City brought cultivators both glory and purpose.
“What of our belongings here?”
“Pack essentials only.” Caiyun shrugged indifferently.
Cheng Lingyu smiled bitterly, overwhelmed by life’s sudden turns.