Chapter 178: Come, Follow Me Inside…
Smack!
"Ouch… that hurt…" Zi Yan clutched her head with a pitiful expression she'd gotten another flick on the forehead.
"All you ever do is talk nonsense…" Lu Bu said grumpily. "I need your essence blood, just like last time. Got it?"
"Ah… you should've said so earlier!" Zi Yan's eyes lit up instantly. Great! This meant she could enjoy another delicious medicinal feast!
Ever since the last time Lu Bu asked for her essence blood, she'd been waiting eagerly for him to ask again. Finally, the moment had come.
"Wait a minute," Medusa interjected, narrowing her beautiful eyes with a smile that didn't quite reach them. "What's this about 'dual cultivation'? Care to explain?"
"Uh…" Lu Bu froze, coughing lightly into his fist as he handed Medusa a scroll he'd obtained from the Spirit Clan a dual cultivation manual titled "Wind and Moon Yin Yang Technique."
Medusa accepted the scroll with a puzzled look, but as she read its contents, her face flushed crimson. She hastily shoved it back into Lu Bu's hands.
"I… I'm going to spar with the puppet. You two… carry on!" she stammered, clutching her longsword as she turned and hurried out of the room. Her retreating figure betrayed a hint of panic.
Zi Yan couldn't help but giggle, her gaze filled with schadenfreude as she watched Medusa's reaction. She herself had reacted the same way before, and now it was Medusa's turn to experience the embarrassment.
Lu Bu cleared his throat twice, snapping Zi Yan out of her laughter. Without further ado, Zi Yan raised her hand and effortlessly forced out three drops of essence blood. Having done this before, she was already quite skilled at the process.
Moments later, a dazzling purple gold light illuminated the room as three drops of blood imbued with a terrifying dragon aura fused into Lu Bu's palm.
A flash of purple gold light flickered in Lu Bu's eyes as a powerful aura surged from his body. However, the process took a toll on Zi Yan her petite body trembled, and she nearly collapsed.
Lu Bu quickly caught her in his arms and took out a few restorative pills to feed her. Watching Zi Yan's pale little face filled him with heartache. If he were stronger, he'd march to Dragon Island right now and grab a Void Ancient Dragon to drink its blood instead.
Meanwhile, Medusa had already stopped sparring with the puppet.
The puppet's strength was overwhelming, and its attacks were merciless. After just two exchanges, Medusa found her blood and Qi roiling uncontrollably continuing the fight was simply impossible. Moreover, noticing Zi Yan's weakened state made her lose all interest in further sparring.
After assessing the situation and understanding what had transpired, Medusa returned to her Seven Colored Heaven Swallowing Python form to focus on cultivation. Lu Bu, on the other hand, took Zi Yan back to the Inner Academy.
As was customary, Lu Bu prepared several medicinal dishes in the kitchen. Zi Yan ate to her heart's content, devouring several bowls in one go.
The aroma was so irresistible that Medusa couldn't help but join them. And then… Zi Yan wasn't very happy anymore.
Sitting together, the three of them created an odd atmosphere that Zi Yan couldn't quite put her finger on. It felt… awkward. For some reason, she felt like their daughter.
Frustrated, Zi Yan channeled her annoyance into her appetite, wolfing down two more bowls of medicinal dishes.
Once Zi Yan was full and satisfied, Lu Bu decided to return to the Holy Gate. He'd been away for quite some time, and it was about time he checked in.
But as soon as he set foot inside the Holy Gate, he noticed something was off. Members of the sect were hurrying back and forth, looking as if they were in a rush. The once busy atmosphere felt distinctly less crowded.
"Huh… Lu Bu?"
A surprised voice called out. Looking up, Lu Bu saw none other than Nalan Yanran… and Xiao Yan.
"Don't look so surprised," Xiao Yan said with a grin. "The Strong Ranking Tournament is about to start, so most of the students are busy preparing."
"Oh… so that's what's going on!" Lu Bu nodded in understanding.
The Inner Academy's Strong Ranking Tournament was held to determine the top ten on the Strong Ranking list. The winners would receive the Heart Flame Tempering Body as a reward.
This process was incredibly beneficial for Dou Ling practitioners it was practically a ticket to becoming a Dou Wang. Of course, one had to endure the Heart Flame's tempering; failure would result in nothing.
For Lu Bu, now an eight star Dou Wang, the reward was useless. Besides, he already had a juvenile Fallen Heart Flame in his possession he certainly didn't need a mere Heart Flame.
"Are you participating?" Lu Bu asked, curious.
"Not me," Xiao Yan chuckled. "Yanran is."
Nalan Yanran pursed her lips, looking a bit frustrated. She had spent the past few months training inside the Heaven Burning Qi Tower, but her progress had only brought her to the three star Dou Ling level.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan and Lu Bu had both reached Dou Wang Lu Bu, in particular, was an eight star Dou Wang, even stronger than her grandfather.
For someone who had always been hailed as a genius, this stark contrast was a heavy blow.
In truth, Nalan Yanran's cultivation speed was already impressive. It had only been half a year since she entered the Inner Academy, and she was already a three star Dou Ling comparable to other top talents like Wu Hao and Hu Jia.
In the original story, her strength had always been remarkable. When Xiao Yan sought revenge against the Yun Lan Sect, Nalan Yanran emerged from the sect's Gate of Life and Death as a Dou Wang.
Years later, when they met again in the Central Plains, Nalan Yanran had reached Dou Huang, trailing Xiao Yan by only a few stars.
Speaking of which… what exactly was the Yun Lan Sect's Gate of Life and Death?
"Your teacher left this for you." Nalan Yanran snapped out of her thoughts and handed Lu Bu a letter, her tone laced with mild annoyance.
Her irritation wasn't directed at Lu Bu but at Yun Yun. That woman only ever wrote letters to her man!
So much for a teacher caring about her student… women… Nalan Yanran huffed internally.
"Huh?" Lu Bu was surprised. The familiar fragrance of the letter immediately filled him with longing.
Opening it, Lu Bu read Yun Yun's heartfelt words of longing. It had been nearly six months since Lu Bu left the Jia Ma Empire for the Jia Nan Academy, and Yun Yun deeply missed him.
She also shared her recent experiences: she was now a seven star Dou Huang, having advanced by one star in just a few months.
This progress was partly thanks to the resources gained from the Jia Ma Empire's expansion and the high intensity battles she had been involved in.
Recently, the Jia Ma Empire had divided the Mu Lan Empire, causing political shifts. The Yan Empire had joined forces with the Chu Yun Empire to resist the alliance between the Jia Ma Empire and the Serpent People.
Xiao Yi Xian's Poison Sect had initially faced a siege from forces within the Chu Yun Empire. However, they allied with the Jia Ma Empire and the Serpent People, leading to the Chu Yun Empire's fragmentation.
Though there had been no large scale battles, smaller skirmishes were constant. These conflicts provided Yun Yun with numerous opportunities to grow stronger.
The Serpent People had also benefited. Thanks to continuous battles and medicinal supplies from the Jia Ma Empire, the eight major tribes had grown significantly stronger. Several new Dou Wangs had even emerged within their ranks.
Lu Bu frowned slightly. The Jia Ma Empire didn't seem to be in immediate danger, so there was no urgent need for him to return. Besides, it would be embarrassing to show up if he couldn't defeat Xiao Yi Xian yet.
With that thought, Lu Bu wandered around the Holy Gate for a while, but finding nothing requiring his attention, he returned to Zi Yan's residence.
By the time he arrived, Zi Yan was already asleep. Having lost some essence blood, she needed plenty of rest to recover. Medusa, however, was still awake, standing guard beside her.
As soon as Lu Bu entered, Medusa's sharp gaze turned toward him, scrutinizing him closely. She caught a faint trace of a feminine fragrance lingering on him. Something seemed… off.
"Where have you been?" Medusa asked, her tone cold and slightly displeased.
"This is the Jia Nan Academy. Where could I possibly go?" Lu Bu spread his hands helplessly. "The senior sisters here are a bit enthusiastic and keep trying to get close to me."
As he spoke, he shot Medusa a mischievous grin.
Hearing this, Medusa's eyes flashed coldly. Her curvaceous figure stiffened as she prepared to snap at him. But as she raised her head, she caught the teasing look in Lu Bu's eyes.
Her expression froze for a moment before she snorted coldly, turning her back on him without another word.
This guy did it on purpose. If a girl had truly taken advantage of him, how could there only be a faint trace of fragrance on him? And if he didn't want to be approached by women, who in the Jia Nan Academy could even get close to him without his consent?
He must have done this on purpose!
"Your Majesty seems quite concerned about me," Lu Bu said with a faint smile, plopping himself down beside Medusa.
"Hmph… You think too highly of yourself!" Medusa sneered, her cold and beautiful face as icy as ever, as if all the tenderness she had shown recently had never existed.
"It's really nothing," Lu Bu said with a chuckle, pulling out a letter and waving it in front of her. "Yun Yun sent me a letter."
Medusa's gaze flickered as she glanced at the letter, but she quickly averted her eyes.
"What does that have to do with me?"
Her nose caught the familiar scent on the envelope, and Medusa's heart relaxed slightly. She ignored Lu Bu's antics.
"Would Your Majesty like to read it?" Lu Bu asked with a mischievous grin.
"A letter from Yun Yun to you? Why would I care?" Medusa scoffed, clearly uninterested in his suggestion.
"It contains updates about the Jia Ma Empire and changes within the Serpent Tribe," Lu Bu said lightly.
Medusa's expression froze for a moment, her gaze wavering. She reached out and snatched the letter from his hand.
"Little Bu, I miss you…"
"…"
The first line of the letter, written in Yun Yun's elegant script, made Medusa's temples throb. But as she read on, she realized she had no right to be angry.
Which only made her angrier.
Taking a deep breath, Medusa skipped ahead to the part about the Serpent Tribe. Soon, her delicate brows furrowed, but they were quickly replaced by a faint smile.
Why had she risked everything to forcefully evolve, even at the cost of almost being incinerated by the Heavenly Flame?
It was all so she could lead the Serpent Tribe out of the harsh and barren desert, to provide her people with a better environment to live in.
And now, it had finally come to fruition. The Serpent Tribe had left the desert and was beginning to live normal lives.
"Feeling happy now?" Lu Bu asked with a smile.
"Yun Shan has done well," Medusa nodded slowly. She knew that Yun Shan's alliance with the Serpent Tribe was largely due to her being a Dou Zong powerhouse. Without her strength, the Serpent Tribe might have been the first to be divided and conquered.
"When are we returning?" Medusa asked. With Lu Bu already an eight star Dou Wang, staying in the Jia Nan Academy served no further purpose for him.
"No rush. I'll head back after I become a Dou Huang," Lu Bu replied with a smile.
Medusa's brows furrowed slightly in confusion but chose not to press further.
She understood Lu Bu's cultivation speed reaching Dou Huang wouldn't take him long. On the contrary, it was she who needed to work harder. Otherwise, it wouldn't be long before he surpassed her completely.
That wasn't some distant future; it was a reality fast approaching.
Medusa rubbed her smooth forehead. She couldn't change this fact. Perhaps in the not too distant future, Lu Bu wouldn't need her anymore.
"This won't do…" Medusa muttered under her breath. But as she thought about it, she found no solution… Dual cultivation? She had seen the manual and understood how the technique worked.
"!!"
A faint blush flashed across Medusa's beautiful face. She quickly suppressed the strange thought. There's no way I'd dual cultivate with him!
But speaking of cultivation… Medusa's brows arched. She still hadn't inspected the Seven Colored Original Stone she had acquired.
With that in mind, Medusa grabbed Lu Bu's arm. "Come with me. Let's head inside…"
"Huh?" Lu Bu was stunned. What was happening now?
"I want to examine the Seven Colored Original Stone," Medusa said plainly.
Hearing that, Lu Bu's eyes flashed with a hint of disappointment. Oh… so it's just that…
"Ahem… One moment." Lu Bu got up, set up a protective formation around Zi Yan's sleeping room, and then led Medusa to a quiet chamber.
Zi Yan's small manor was clearly designed with private cultivation in mind, with several chambers specifically for training.
Inside the chamber, the two sat opposite each other. With a wave of his hand, Lu Bu summoned a radiant Seven Colored Stone.
The Seven Colored Original Stone contained a unique and potent energy that was immensely beneficial for Seven Colored Heaven Swallowing Pythons. If fully refined and absorbed, it could significantly boost Medusa's strength.
This was the fastest way for her to improve her power at the moment.
Gazing at the glowing stone before her, Medusa's lips curved into a faint smile. "Let me tell you something. The peak of a Seven Colored Heaven Swallowing Python isn't just seven colors…"
"But nine colors, right?" Lu Bu said with a knowing grin.
"How do you know that?" Medusa froze, clearly surprised.
"I have my sources," Lu Bu replied with a sly smile.
Medusa rolled her eyes in disbelief. She'd spent enough time with him to know he didn't receive any intelligence from external sources. This claim was likely nonsense.
But… how did he know so many secrets?
"You're such a mysterious man…" Medusa muttered under her breath.
"Then, do you know what I'm about to do next?" Medusa raised her chin slightly, a hint of defiance in her gaze.
"Check if this is an Eight Colored or Nine Colored Original Stone?" Lu Bu guessed with a grin.
"You… You even know that?" This time, Medusa was genuinely shocked.
"Your Majesty, there are few secrets you can keep from me…" Lu Bu said smugly, his tone dripping with self satisfaction.
"…"
Medusa was speechless. If that's true, shouldn't you be speaking to me in a more respectful and gentle tone, instead of acting so smug?
Shaking her head, Medusa dismissed the thought. This man just doesn't understand a woman's heart.
She pushed aside her distractions, focused, and pricked her finger. A drop of crimson blood fell onto the Seven Colored Stone.
As the blood made contact, the stone's vibrant patterns began to shift and writhe. Soon, an eighth color slowly emerged.
"Eight colors…" Medusa's face lit up with excitement. If possible, this might lead to a second evolution for her.
Lu Bu, however, didn't say a word. He stared intently at the stone. In the original story, it was nine colors. Although this isn't the same stone… my luck can't be that bad, right?
But after watching for a long time, Lu Bu saw no trace of a ninth color. Disappointment flashed across his face. So much for my luck.
Even so, something about the stone caught Lu Bu's attention.
He frowned and tightened his abdomen. "Your Majesty, there's something strange about this Eight Colored Stone. You'd best examine it carefully."
His fists clenched involuntarily.
It wasn't his fault it was the stone's influence. The serpent race was inherently seductive. In the original story, Xiao Yan had used many serpent based materials when crafting aphrodisiacs.
This stone carried a subtle energy that stirred emotions something akin to a natural aphrodisiac.
Medusa froze for a moment, then her face flushed as she explained, "That… is normal. The Seven Colored Heaven Swallowing Python naturally possesses a charm effect. This is just part of its nature."
"Oh, I see…" Lu Bu said, nodding in understanding.
"Wait you didn't know that?" Medusa was taken aback. She gave Lu Bu a sidelong glance. "Your so called 'special sources' didn't tell you this?"
Lu Bu: "…"
It wasn't in the plotline cheat I got, okay?
"Ahem… Alright, Your Majesty. Be cautious." With that, Lu Bu patted his hands, stood up, and left. Before leaving, he set up a protective formation around the chamber to ensure Medusa's safety.
"I hope nothing unexpected happens…" Lu Bu muttered to himself, wary of the unknown.
…
Meanwhile, in the Chu Yun Empire's capital, Poison City:
The skies were clear, the weather sunny a type of day the city's residents didn't particularly enjoy. They preferred the cold and damp.
At that moment, a faint, nearly imperceptible black mist swept across the sky above Poison City.
"Ke ke ke…"
(Chapter Ends)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Johanssen