Chapter 218: Discussing... Knowledge!
"What happened?" asked Shi Tian, the Sect Master of the Lion Abyss Sect, his voice cold and steady. Dou Xi was a Six Star Dou Zong, a top tier expert even by the standards of the entire Northwest Continent. Who could have killed him? Could it be one of the other factions?
Shi Tian's eyes flickered with a cold light. It seemed the Lion Abyss Sect's prolonged inactivity had made people forget its dominance and ambitions of ruling the land.
"Sect Master, Elder Dou Xi was sent to the Tagore Desert area to bypass the Heavenly Snake Mansion and establish connections with the Black Corner Region," the elder quickly reported.
Shi Tian nodded slightly. He remembered this. The sudden emergence of a Dou Zun from Jia Nan Academy had made him wary. But now his expression darkened could it be the Azure Snake Emperor who acted?
"According to the most recent updates from Elder Dou Xi, he had already allied with the Hall of Souls' Iron Protector," the elder continued. "That Iron Protector sought to harvest souls and was secretly manipulating the surrounding nations into mutual slaughter. After Dou Xi arrived, he struck a deal with the Hall of Souls, promising to help Iron Protector collect souls. In return, Dou Xi handed over the souls of three Dou Zongs and two Dou Huangs imprisoned in our sect as a gift. As part of the agreement, the surrounding territories would fall under our control."
The elder handed over a jade slip as he spoke. Shi Tian swept his gaze over it and frowned slightly. "Not bad. The Heavenly Snake Mansion hasn't noticed a thing. But why has Dou Xi suddenly disappeared?"
"I'm not sure. The death of Elder Dou Xi is a serious matter, so…" The elder trailed off. This was beyond his authority, and he had come to let the sect master decide.
"Investigate! Investigate thoroughly!" Shi Tian ordered, his voice icy. Golden light radiated faintly from his body as the space around him began to twist, the oppressive atmosphere suffocating those nearby like the calm before a violent storm.
The death of a Six Star Dou Zong was no small matter. The Lion Abyss Sect only had four Dou Zongs, even counting every last one of them. Now, with Dou Xi gone, their high end combat strength had taken a significant hit.
Though Shi Tian was arrogant, he wasn't stupid. The death of one of his men on territory near the Heavenly Snake Mansion couldn't possibly have nothing to do with them.
Someone had to pay for this, and even if the Heavenly Snake Mansion wasn't involved, he would pin the blame on them anyway.
"Yes!" The elder responded solemnly and turned to leave.
"Hehehe… Sect Master Shi Tian, there's no need to bother investigating. I already know the details." A sinister voice echoed through the grand hall, chillingly cold as it reverberated off the walls.
Shi Tian's gaze turned icy. The Hall of Souls!
"Come in," Shi Tian said coldly.
As soon as the words fell, black mist seeped through the walls of the hall, coalescing into a shadowy figure.
"Iron Protector?" The elder narrowed his eyes and questioned sharply.
Shi Tian remained seated on his golden throne, calm and unmoving, as if looking down on the world. He spared a brief glance at Iron Protector but showed no signs of respect. To him, these Hall of Souls rats lurking in the shadows weren't worth serious attention.
If the death of a Six Star Dou Zong wasn't at stake, Shi Tian might have already killed the Hall of Souls protector outright. After all, what could the Hall of Souls do about it?
"Hehehe… yes, it's me," Iron Protector replied with a creepy laugh.
"What happened to Elder Dou Xi?" the elder demanded.
"Hehehe… nothing much, he just ran into someone he couldn't handle," Iron Protector said mockingly. "The Snake Tribe's Medusa Queen. She's now an Eight Star Dou Zong and captured Dou Xi with ease."
"What?" Shi Tian's eyes narrowed, and his voice grew colder. "Medusa has been missing for a year, and she was only at the peak of Dou Huang back then. How could she suddenly become an Eight Star Dou Zong?"
"Hehehe, Sect Master Shi Tian, you seem to know a lot about Medusa…" Iron Protector's tone was laced with sarcasm. As a Four Star Dou Zun, Shi Tian had been paying close attention to the former peak Dou Huang Medusa his motives were hardly pure, and Iron Protector could guess what they were.
"Answer me!" Shi Tian's face darkened as he shouted.
The black mist surrounding Iron Protector froze, and the space around him distorted under an invisible pressure that squeezed him tightly.
"Shi Tian, are you planning to start a war with the Hall of Souls?" Iron Protector's shrill voice carried a hint of fear. He hadn't expected Shi Tian to attack him so suddenly.
"Do you think the Hall of Souls would start a war with my Lion Abyss Sect over someone like you?" Shi Tian's golden hair fluttered despite the absence of wind, and he sneered coldly.
Boom!
With a muffled explosion, Iron Protector slammed into the wall, his black mist dissipating into thin strands. His blood red eyes flickered, but he dared not speak further.
He'd hit a sore spot.
"I don't know why Medusa's strength increased so dramatically," Iron Protector said reluctantly, "but it's undeniable that she captured Dou Xi. As for what happened afterward, I don't know."
Just as Dou Xi had suspected before his death, Iron Protector had indeed been watching the entire time. However, the moment Lu Bu showed up, Iron Protector had quietly retreated into the shadows.
Unlike Dou Xi, Iron Protector had sensed the overwhelming and majestic soul energy emanating from Lu Bu and knew better than to expose himself. He had hidden the entire time, even as Dou Xi was captured.
Iron Protector refrained from sharing this detail with Shi Tian. Let the Lion Abyss Sect pay the price for underestimating their opponents!
Without waiting for a response, Iron Protector slowly floated out of the hall, leaving the Lion Abyss Sect behind. Whatever vengeance followed would be the sect's responsibility. All Iron Protector needed to do was trail behind them and collect souls.
"Send word to the Heavenly Snake Mansion. Inform them that I'm declaring war on the Snake Tribe and the Jia Ma Empire," Shi Tian ordered coldly. "Tell the Heavenly Snake Mansion not to interfere!"
"Yes!" The elder's eyes gleamed with excitement. The Lion Abyss Sect's dignity wasn't something those rural nobodies could trample on.
"When do we strike, Sect Master?"
"In three days!" Shi Tian's face twisted into a sneer. "In three days, I will personally lead three thousand warriors to the gates of the Snake Tribe. Let's see if Medusa surrenders without a fight or dares to resist!"
"Sect Master's foresight is unparalleled!" The elder burst into laughter. "When the Lion Abyss Sect's forces descend with the might of the heavens, what can a mere Snake Tribe do to stop us?"
"I'll inform the Heavenly Snake Mansion at once!"
As the elder left, Shi Tian's lips curled into a wicked grin. "An Eight Star Dou Zong… interesting. Let's see what kind of fortuitous encounter you've had over the past year, Medusa."
Black Mountain Fortress, in a royal estate nestled in the forest.
Originally built by the Jia Ma Empire's royal family as a retreat, the estate had recently been gifted to Yun Lan Sect after Yun Shan was injured.
A streak of light shot out from the estate, heading in the direction of Jia Nan Academy.
"What's this about, Lu Bu?" Yun Yun asked curiously, watching the disappearing light.
Beside her, Xiao Yi Xian also cast a puzzled look. It seemed to be a communication message, but… with whom?
"I'm reaching out to the Dou Zun from Jia Nan Academy. I've had dealings with him before," Lu Bu said with a faint smile. "I plan to ask him for help in tomorrow's battle against the Lion Abyss Sect."
"The Dou Zun from Jia Nan Academy…" Both women frowned slightly.
"Lu Bu, didn't that Dou Zun just recently break through? He's only a One Star Dou Zun," Yun Yun said, furrowing her brows. "The Lion Abyss Sect's Sect Master is a Four Star Dou Zun. Relying on him might not be enough."
The strength of the Lion Abyss Sect's sect master was no secret. The sect had intentionally spread this information to serve as a deterrent. Anyone daring to scheme against the Lion Abyss Sect had to consider the potential involvement of their Four Star Dou Zun sect master.
Yun Yun leaned gently against Lu Bu's chest, her delicate face full of worry. The overwhelming strength of the Lion Abyss Sect filled her with despair.
"Do you have another card to play?" Xiao Yi Xian asked softly, her red lips pressed together as she rested her head on Lu Bu's right shoulder, inhaling his comforting scent. The immense power of the Lion Abyss Sect weighed heavily on her heart, filling her with unease. Yet, in Lu Bu's embrace, she felt a rare sense of peace and security.
"Of course!" Lu Bu chuckled, his hands firmly wrapped around the slender waists of the two women, savoring the perfect sensation. "I have a Dou Zun level puppet in my possession, with the strength of a Three Star Dou Zun."
"You have something like that?" Both Xiao Yi Xian and Yun Yun widened their beautiful eyes in shock. This man truly had a bottomless bag of tricks.
"But… a Three Star Dou Zun puppet paired with a One Star Dou Zun at most might lead to a draw, or even leave you at a disadvantage," Xiao Yi Xian said, her tone tinged with worry. If they failed to kill Shi Tian, the consequences could be catastrophic. The retaliation of a Four Star Dou Zun wasn't something anyone could afford to provoke lightly.
"No big deal…" Lu Bu grinned. "I've got some ties with the Heavenly Snake Mansion. I'll take the puppet and get them involved together, we'll crush the Lion Abyss Sect."
"What if they refuse?" Yun Yun asked, her delicate brows furrowing.
"Then we'll beat that old Azure Snake into submission until he agrees!" Lu Bu snorted.
"Don't be reckless!" Xiao Yi Xian scolded, her voice filled with worry. The Azure Snake Ancestor was also a Four Star Dou Zun. How could Lu Bu expect to win in such a situation?
"They'll agree. The Lion Abyss Sect is such a tempting target. I refuse to believe the Heavenly Snake Mansion won't be interested in taking a bite out of them." Lu Bu shrugged. His plan was clear: intimidation mixed with incentives. The Heavenly Snake Mansion had no reason to refuse.
"Ah, so that's it!" Xiao Yi Xian and Yun Yun suddenly understood. The Lion Abyss Sect was doomed if three Dou Zun level combatants joined forces, Shi Tian would only have a chance if his strength exceeded that of a Five Star Dou Zun.
"Let's not talk about such boring things anymore…" Lu Bu's grin grew mischievous, and his expression turned playful. "The battle is about to start, so we should make good use of the time to… cultivate. How about dual cultivation?"
The two women in his embrace shuddered lightly at his words, their faces instantly turning a deep shade of red. For a moment, they were stunned and at a loss for words.
Swish!
Before Lu Bu could react, Xiao Yi Xian gracefully spun away, her soft and slender figure slipping from his grasp in the blink of an eye. "I… I need to attend to some matters at the Poison Sect. Lu Bu, you and Sister Yun Yun should cultivate first. Her cultivation is weaker and needs it more!"
As she spoke, Xiao Yi Xian, ever so considerate, took Lu Bu's right hand and placed it firmly on Yun Yun's waist, even tightening his grip slightly. With this, Yun Yun wouldn't be able to escape.
"Uh?" Lu Bu was dumbfounded. Wasn't she just clinging to him willingly? Why was she suddenly running away?
Then, a flash of inspiration struck his mind, and he suddenly understood. Earlier, Xiao Yi Xian had been weighed down by the overwhelming pressure of the Lion Abyss Sect and was prepared to face a desperate battle with no way out.
But now, Lu Bu had easily resolved the threat posed by Shi Tian, transforming her despair into hope for survival. This drastic change in circumstances had naturally led to her change in behavior.
"Did I just dig my own grave?" Lu Bu was speechless, feeling a pang of regret. He almost wanted to slap himself why did he have to show off?
"Let me go. I need to cultivate too…" Yun Yun struggled in his arms, her delicate face burning red. But since Xiao Yi Xian had already fled, how could Lu Bu let Yun Yun escape as well?
"Isn't dual cultivation the best kind of cultivation?" Lu Bu said with a sly grin, regaining his composure.
"No… I haven't even memorized the technique yet," Yun Yun said, her hands pressing against his chest. She wasn't lying this wasn't just an excuse.
When she first read the dual cultivation technique, she had been so distracted by the numerous… postures described that she had inadvertently spent too much time examining them. By the time she tried to focus on the actual method, Medusa had interrupted her, leaving her with only a vague understanding.
"Damn that Xiao Yi Xian! Just wait until I get my chance!" Yun Yun thought angrily, secretly vowing to get even.
"Hmm? It's not that complicated, though. Sister Yun Yun, you're already a high level Dou Huang you should have no trouble understanding it," Lu Bu said teasingly. But as he spoke, he suddenly realized something: despite being in her thirties, Yun Yun was still an innocent maiden, and her inexperience might have caused her to get distracted.
"Heh, no worries. Let's study this… knowledge together!" Lu Bu said excitedly, taking out a jade slip with a grin.
"Look here, Sister Yun Yun. After extensive research, I've identified three techniques most suitable for us: the 'Soaring Goose Backflip,' the 'Butterfly Air Flip,' and this one… the 'Monkey Embrace.'"
Yun Yun's face flushed even redder, and she continued to squirm and struggle. She had never encountered such a situation before, and now Lu Bu was dragging her into studying knowledge together.
"Huh?"
As soon as Yun Yun took the jade slip, she let out a surprised noise. Though it looked identical to the dual cultivation manual, its contents were completely different!
"Oh, my mistake. Wrong jade slip," Lu Bu said awkwardly, reaching to take it back.
"No, no. Let me take a look!" Yun Yun quickly stopped him, her expression serious. "This spirit infusion technique seems… extraordinary!"
...
Heavenly Snake Mansion, atop a mountain peak.
The Azure Snake Ancestor sat cross legged on a flat stone, his body surrounded by swirling mist that rippled gently with his every breath. As the mansion's supreme elder, he had little to do other than focus on his cultivation. Teaching disciples had also become part of his routine.
However, after Qing Lin had returned, she immediately locked herself away in secluded cultivation. Other than occasionally asking for cultivation resources or pills, she rarely interacted with anyone. She only emerged from time to time when she encountered issues while developing her Triple Jade Green Snake Flower Pupils.
Unfortunately, the Azure Snake Ancestor himself didn't possess the same pupils and could only provide her with ancient records, leaving her to figure things out on her own.
Just then, a gentle breeze swept through the area, and the space behind him rippled slightly. A middle aged man appeared quietly.
"What is it?" the Azure Snake Ancestor asked without turning around, his eyes remaining closed.
"News from the Lion Abyss Sect," the man said, bowing slightly. "In three days, they plan to attack the Snake Tribe and the Jia Ma Empire. They've asked us not to interfere."
"Oh?" The Azure Snake Ancestor's eyes snapped open, his gaze sharp and penetrating. "That's Qing Lin's homeland, isn't it?"
"Yes," the man replied. "Since it involves the Saintess, I thought it best to inform you, Ancestor."
"Hmph. Does Shi Tian think his words alone can dictate our actions?" The Azure Snake Ancestor sneered. "Does he think the world works that simply? Hmm…?"
As he was speaking, the Azure Snake Ancestor suddenly recalled something wasn't Lu Bu from the Jia Ma Empire?
"Send this information to the Jia Ma Empire and Jia Nan Academy," he said with a sly grin. "I want to see how that brat Lu Bu handles the Lion Abyss Sect."
"Uh… Ancestor, are we really not going to do anything?" The man was confused. The Saintess's homeland was essentially part of their sphere of influence.
"Haven't we already notified them?" The Azure Snake Ancestor replied, his tone playful. Whether Lu Bu was in the Jia Ma Empire or Jia Nan Academy, he'd surely receive the message.
"I'm curious to see how he handles the Lion Abyss Sect! Will he get crushed by Shi Tian? Or… will he get crushed by Shi Tian? Or maybe… he'll just get crushed by Shi Tian?"
The Azure Snake Ancestor couldn't help but grin as the thought amused him more and more. Was there anything better than watching two annoying people fight? Absolutely not!
"Three days from now, come with me to the Jia Ma Empire. And don't let Qing Lin find out about this seal the information." The Azure Snake Ancestor chuckled.
"Uh… yes, Ancestor," the man replied, utterly baffled. What was so entertaining about this situation?
Then again, seeing the mischievous glint in the Azure Snake Ancestor's eyes, the man suddenly grew a little curious. Could it be that the Jia Ma Empire held some surprises and that the Lion Abyss Sect was about to suffer a loss?
Well, no matter what happened, it had nothing to do with the Heavenly Snake Mansion!
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