Wan Jian returns to his clan!

Chapter 203 Goals and Responsibilities: Separation for Reunion
"You stand on the mountain admiring the scenery, while someone in a building admires you."

Ouyang Zheng and the others were so shocked that they were less aware of the reactions around them.

For a moment, he didn't think about why those two powerful experts in Fengling City, who were several stories tall, kept sending troops out, but didn't come out in person.

And why does he only roar in front of Wufulou each time?

They seemed powerless to do anything.

Lu Wubing, however, knew this. He quietly hid in the shadow of a large tree thirteen feet away from Wufu Tower, watching the "performance" of the two people upstairs and downstairs and eavesdropping on their conversation.

That's right.

When he chased Bi Fenkong to the front of the building, and the prince ordered him to be intercepted, he knew that the two men's cultivation levels were slightly higher than his own as two divine intents rose up.

At this level of spiritual cultivation, there are no mediocre individuals left.

Even truly mediocre people cannot cultivate to the second level of the Innate Realm.

not to mention.

The Great Snow Mountain Thousand Autumn Sword and the Four-Linked Mountain Long-Eared Buddha have already cultivated to the ultimate level of the Innate Realm, which is the threshold of the third realm of the Innate Realm.

These individuals, in their youth, were all hailed as geniuses, a once-in-a-century phenomenon.

Now that he's older, his skills have become even more refined and seasoned.

He is not necessarily weaker than Master Bi, the leader of the Ziyang Sect, and may even be more troublesome.

Moreover, they were in their prime and had not suffered any injuries like Bi Fenkong.

Once a fight breaks out, it will only increase the variables and make the consequences unpredictable.

After all, it was two against one.

When the difference in combat strength is too great, we are not afraid of no matter how many come. The only concern is running out of true energy, exhaustion, or getting too tired to fight.

A master of the same level can truly prove the saying, "Two fists can't beat four hands, and even a tiger can't withstand a pack of wolves."

Therefore, there's really no need to fight to the death with these two old guys.

To break their alliance, all that's needed is to use the power of the Heart Sword to severely injure and kill that young prince.

The reason for not killing them was to make it seem like there was still a chance to save them.

It was done intentionally.

In order to restrain the opponent's expert.

Hope leads to disappointment. Once you shatter the opponent's hopes, won't that force them to fight desperately?
Just like on the battlefield, if you can't wipe out the enemy in one fell swoop, then the best way is to inflict a few more serious wounds.

A seriously wounded soldier—you can't just abandon him, nor can you give him your best care. But you can also make an example of him to deter the enemy. How wonderful!

Even so, Lu Wubing was still somewhat uneasy.

I want to ascertain the other party's attitude before deciding on my next move.

We must strive to resolve the external threats in the shortest possible time.

Because he has to go to Weijing again in a while, and there are some things that can't be delayed.

Regardless of her closeness to Weijing's maternal grandmother, this body truly benefited from her care. The magnificent white horse that saved her life, and the little black horse that always followed her—they were all gifts from her.

'If it were just her 70th birthday, she might not have made it due to too many other things to do. However, the information that the treacherous steward uncovered is worrying.'

He lied about many things, but there was one thing he didn't lie about.

The old lady is truly nearing the end of her life; she is very ill and about to pass away.

This birthday celebration might truly be the last time her loved ones see her.

Lu Wubing sighed.

It's impossible to just stand by and watch my grandmother, who is clearly ill and beyond saving, from thousands of miles away.

They clearly have the ability, but they don't try their best...

He just couldn't get over it himself.

For her mother, Chen Yulian, this will forever remain a knot in her heart.

Of course, there was another extremely important reason why I had to go to the capital.

Feeling the intense demonic intent burning like flames in his mind, Lu Wubing scratched his head again.

Don't be fooled by his composed and serene demeanor in front of others. In reality, he knows his own situation perfectly well; he's walking a tightrope.

The more experts you kill, the more primordial spirits you absorb.

Their mental and physical will also make rapid progress.

This is the good side.

Of course, there is also a bad side.

'My Dragon Subduing Sword Intent has only reached 50% of the Realm, while my Yuanling Sword Intent has already reached 80% of the Realm, only 20% away from touching the ultimate sword intent.'

If the Yuanling Sword Intent were to reach its peak first and refine an extreme, insane demonic intent, how would we suppress it then?

All sorts of auxiliary methods and drugs are ultimately just scratching the surface; they cannot solve the fundamental problem, nor can they directly eliminate this stubborn demonic force.

To fundamentally eliminate hidden dangers, the only way is to look inward. Therefore, obtaining the seal with the character "形" (form) is essential.

First, one must begin with the body, with the physical form, strengthening it to the point where it can suppress the body's transformation. Then, one must nourish the spirit, using a powerful will to subdue the soul's transformation.

If we consider the Yuanling Sword Intent as an incurable infectious virus, and without finding a specific cure, what we need to do is first strengthen our foundation and cultivate our vital energy, maximizing our physical and mental resistance so that we can spontaneously fight back and recover on our own, and thus get through this virus.

My grandfather's diary in Jiangzhou was vague and unclear.

How did he obtain the [Form] seal in the first place? Why did he only draw a part of it from memory? Who has the real seal? Is the other party very powerful?

Many things are unclear.

I wonder what that "Southern Sword" was thinking back then.

They would rather rack their brains to come up with many ways to cure diseases and save lives to counteract the evil spirits invading their minds than go to the capital again to complete the printing of the character "形".
Is it that it's impossible to understand it again?
Or is it that there is no chance to see that real seal again?

Grandfather Lu Chengyun may have had various concerns and unavoidable circumstances.

But Lu Wubing didn't think that much about it.

All he knew was that the path to immortality lay ahead, and no one could stand in his way.

Even experts at the level of the Eight Kings of the World, when it really comes down to life and death, are not incapable of finding a way to fight back head-on.

Thoughts surged like a tide.

A fleeting desire for the character "形" (shape) seal crossed Lu Wubing's mind, but his attention quickly returned to the newly acquired character "像" (likeness).

'This Ten Directions Seal is the most powerful and ruthless seal design I've ever seen. It's a pity I acquired it too early.'

It's clearly a powerful treasure or secret technique from the later stages of cultivation, yet it happened to be obtained at this particular moment, which is quite perplexing.

It can replicate other people's talents, skills, and even their life's accumulation; even calling it defying the heavens is insufficient to describe this ingenious method.

This is a classic example of thoroughly implementing the "borrowing" approach.

If an ignorant and incompetent person were to obtain this, they would rise to the top overnight and live a life of unparalleled success.

But this thing cannot be obtained by someone who aspires to immortality and has the potential to stand at the pinnacle of all living beings.

Because, damn it, this thing consumes his lifespan.

If you use it, you should expect to use it for at least several months to a year as a starting point.

Other cars use gasoline engines, but this thing burns your life.

As for what to use as a mat, Lu Wubing didn't think it mattered much. He possessed plenty of high-level secret techniques.

He simply couldn't bear to give up his own life.

Just like in my past life.

When you're young and fearless, you stay up all night and work like crazy, calling it "striving," but in reality, you're just trading your youth for money.

It depletes one's essence and spirit, shortens one's lifespan, in exchange for three meals a day and a place to sleep, and a life of prestige in front of others.

In reality, it was just three taels of loose silver. Occasionally, it could even accumulate a little surplus...

But when you get old, plagued by illness, and your life is nearing its end, no amount of money can buy you even a single second.

This is really frustrating.

Lu Wubing has now acquired a cheat device that can replicate any divine skill or secret technique in the world. He dares not let anyone know about it, yet he cannot use it without restraint. It's like having a hot potato in his hands.

Yes.

Now, one can indeed rely on youth and the fact that one can live for many more years to use this seal to exchange for talents, and even be so generous as to cultivate a loyal following and turn life into a smooth road.

What a load of rubbish.

How can one know that by using their own lifespan to reduce the difficulty, they can know that they have the opportunity to live a long life within their limited lifespan?

What if you're just a year or a few months away from breaking through to a higher level and gaining extended lifespan, but then you die of old age?
Therefore, this seal design is not actually a test of strength or weakness, but rather of choice.

Bodhisattvas fear causes, and sentient beings fear consequences.

You reap what you sow.

Lu Wubing absolutely did not want to repeat what he did in his previous life, when he chose a terrible major in order to get into a more prestigious university.

Later, after entering the workplace, I was universally hated...

The past is gone with the wind.

The death from overwork in a previous life may seem accidental, but it was actually inevitable.

Every choice you make comes with a price tag set by fate.

No one can blame.

Lu Wubing silently gazed at the shimmering golden sheet, wondering if Bi Fenkong had also endured a long period of torment before finally deciding to hide it under his skin and not to pass on any of his martial arts talents to any disciple.

Thinking of Xiao Hongying, the eldest disciple of the Ziyang Sect, who died so easily under the sword of Senior Sister Xiaolan, Lu Wubing felt a pang of regret.

Will I first despise Bi Fenkong, then understand Bi Fenkong, and finally become Bi Fenkong?

Even his prized disciple Xiao Hongying, whom he regarded as his own son and secretly took along when he went out to do bad things, was not copied with any powerful talents or secret techniques.

Seeing Bi Fenkong's present state, Lu Wubing felt as if he were seeing his own future.

A cool night breeze brushed against my body. The moon hid behind the dark clouds on the horizon.

Lu Wubing couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.

It's almost dawn.

A very faint sound came from Wufulou.

"Whether to pursue or not, the identities of those people are easy to ascertain. One of them possesses a vast ocean of true energy, several times stronger than the true energy of an ordinary innate realm cultivator. If I'm not mistaken, it should be Ouyang Zheng, the sect leader of the Heavenly Star Sect."

The other person possessed ethereal and ethereal true energy, echoing the moonlight in the sky. Their breathing was so faint as to be almost inaudible; clearly, they had cultivated the Heavenly Heart and Bright Moon Mind Technique, which allows one to "let the Heavenly Heart represent one's own, and the bright moon shine in all directions." They were either Yun Cang or Guang Han. As for the other person, they were not worth mentioning.

"How do you know we can't chase them? Are these people bait? If that person was indeed Lu Wubing, and he managed to evade the master's Earth Listening Technique, his strength is definitely not inferior to the two of us. If we can't break his miraculous movement technique, we'll only end up harming him instead of killing him."

In my opinion, not only should we not pursue them, but we should also not separate rashly at this critical juncture, lest we be defeated one by one.

Even if we storm the Heavenly Star Sect and the Bright Moon Sect, we might not gain much benefit... On the contrary, a careless move could cause His Highness to be harmed again.

If that's the case, then there will be no place for the two of us to stay in this southeastern region.

Yun Taixu's voice carried a hint of shrewdness and depth.

Clearly, the outward display of fury and roaring was merely for show.

When faced with a life-or-death choice, he chickened out faster than anyone else.

Thinking back on the brilliance of that sword strike still sends shivers down my spine.

Although the sword didn't pierce him, he felt the pain deeply.

As a fellow swordsman, he understood better than others the wonder of his opponent's swordsmanship and the ferocity of his sword intent...

Such an enemy should only be provoked as a last resort; whoever wants to provoke him can do so.

"If that's the case, then let Master You tackle this tough nut himself. He always says that the world is a game of chess, and if the players don't worry about it, why should we? We're just pawns."

The old monk chuckled and said, "The most urgent thing is to find a way to get His Highness back to the Prince's residence for treatment. By the way, the news must be kept under wraps and must not leak out. I reckon the injury is probably a bit serious..."

"What about Wang Tongfu? Would it be a bad idea to just leave him here?"

"Hmph, that fence-sitter..."

The old monk shook his head and basked in the sun.

“Eating what the ruler provides is a matter of loyalty to the ruler. Even this humble monk, a recluse, understands this principle, but he does not.”

As the prefect, he enjoyed too much, and inevitably had to bear too much. Whether he lived or died, who cared…?

As dawn broke and a sliver of light appeared on the horizon, Lu Wubing emerged from the shadows beneath the tree.

Looking back at Wufu Tower, he saw Prince Gong's son, drooling and being tirelessly chased by a maid with a strange expression. A smile appeared on his lips as he drifted out of the city.

"Take him back to the Prince's Palace for treatment? Ha! In this world, I wonder if there's anyone left who can heal someone whose soul has been damaged?"

Of course, I could save him, but how could I possibly do so?

This was also one of the backup plans left by Lu Wubing.

After reuniting with their master and the others, they traveled back to Mingyue Peak in silence, only to find Senior Sister Xiaolan still waiting halfway up the mountain, her hand on her sword, clearly unable to sleep.

"Junior brother, are you alright?"

Upon seeing Lu Wubing, she skipped over and grabbed her junior brother's arm, looking him up and down before letting out a long sigh of relief.

Ouyang Zheng's face darkened, his beard trembled slightly, and he thought to himself, "You little girl, didn't you see your father?"
Your junior brother's swordsmanship and martial arts are far superior to your father's. If anyone gets injured or has an accident, it's unlikely to be him.

"Humph……"

Ouyang Zheng decided to turn away and head up the mountain. He was still shaken by the events of the day and needed to calm down before discussing with Mingyue Peak how to proceed.

I simply can't stand those incredibly sour and mushy scenes between young people.

Senior Brother Bi actually died just like that.

The heaviness that has weighed on my heart all these years feels like an illusion.

Will the Northern Zhou Demonic Sect launch another attack?

What tricks will Prince Gong use this time?
There were so many things going on that he couldn't see them clearly.

Shen Liancheng, however, grinned widely...

He didn't think about anything, didn't worry about anything, just glanced at Lu Wubing, chuckled twice, and turned to leave.

Master Yuncang stepped forward with a gentle smile, took Ouyang Lan's hand, and said with a smile, "Little Lan, your cultivation and swordsmanship have improved extremely quickly these days, even surpassing all the disciples of my Bright Moon Peak."

Just as Junior Sister Qin said, you are beautiful inside and out, a hidden gem. Once you reveal your brilliance, you will truly astound the world.

"Uncle-Master, what do you want my niece to do? Let me make this clear first: I can still spar with Junior Sisters Xuan Guang and Xuan Lin, but if Uncle-Master Guang Han wants to advance further, he'll have to ask my junior brother. I have no way to help him; he broke through to the next level quite by himself."

Yes, in terms of swordsmanship, Ouyang Lan has perfected both the [Purple Star Divine Sword] and her signature [Yao Guang Sword]...

Regardless of cultivation level, just in terms of swordsmanship, she actually outshone all the disciples of the Bright Moon Sect, including some elders.

This is a bit hard to understand.

If Lu Wubing's rise to power was like a myth, then Ouyang Lan's case is also a small miracle.

Lu Wubing's swordsmanship is like the blazing sun in the sky—visible but intangible, and one doesn't even know how to learn it.

Here at Ouyang Lan's place, one could actually catch a trace of moonlight in the reflection of the water.

Upon hearing Ouyang Lan's words, Master Yuncang opened his mouth slightly, his eyes filled with astonishment, before exclaiming in amazement: "Who said that Junior Nephew Lan is not exceptionally talented? This insightful ability can directly point to one's true nature and illuminate the subtleties of the human heart."

Even I, an old woman, have never seen it before; it was truly a waste of time back then.

Okay, I won't bother you two anymore. I won't disturb your private conversation. I'll go back and catch up on my sleep first. Ah, getting old like this, lack of sleep is really uncomfortable."

"This old lady."

Ouyang Lan blushed and watched Master Yun Cang walk away, then couldn't help but stick out her tongue.

What kind of truth are you talking about?
He clearly wanted to hear his junior brother recount his experiences and, moreover, to spar with him in swordsmanship.

As a result, it became quite an awkward situation.

"If I'm not mistaken, the cities of Mingyang and Liyang will be peaceful for a long time to come."

Lu Wubing said with a smile, pretending not to see the blush on Senior Sister Xiaolan's face.

My heart felt warm.

Every time he returned from a battle, someone would stand on tiptoe and watch over him all night.

This feeling is actually quite nice.

"Then can I go to Weijing with you?"

Ouyang Lan blurted it out.

"Ok?"

Lu Wubing looked over in surprise, as he couldn't recall ever mentioning this to Ouyang Lan.

"I found out from Junior Sister Shen. Given Junior Brother's personality, a trip to Weijing is inevitable no matter what. It's a long and arduous journey, I..."

Ouyang Lan's enthusiastic expression turned slightly disappointed, and she lowered her head, not wanting to speak.

Of course she wanted to go on a long trip with Lu Wubing. Last time she stayed on the mountain, and this time she stayed on the mountain again, which made people very sad.

The eldest brother is also irresponsible; he leaves whenever he wants, and you can never guess what he's thinking.

Although the disciples on the mountain have made great strides, when it comes to encountering a master, there is still no one who can stand alone.

Even my father and mother.

In the past, it seemed powerful enough to inspire confidence.

With the arrival of the Northern Zhou Demonic Sect, chaos has broken out in both the imperial court and the martial arts world. Every now and then, extraordinary masters will intrude into Mingyang and target Tianxing Sect.

Looking back now, you can see the danger behind the strength of your parents.

So, it turns out, Father isn't as powerful as he seems.

The thought that if her junior brother left the mountain, the mountain would lose a pillar of strength and a backbone, and she would be worried if a powerful enemy came to attack.

To gain something, you must first lose something.

Life is full of hardships, and it's always difficult to have it all.

"It's not like we can't see each other again, it's just a long trip."

After thinking for a moment, Lu Wubing understood the inner turmoil and helplessness in his junior sister's heart.

She clearly didn't want to be separated, yet she sensibly took on responsibilities early on.

There was no other reason than that she was the daughter of the Tianxing Sect's leader, and currently the strongest fighter besides the sect leader and his wife.

In a moment of urgency, one could treat her as a natural-born combatant.

Especially after mastering the [Nine Forms of Wind and Cloud], and with the true meaning of the [Purple Star Divine Sword] by her side, she can hold her own against anyone who doesn't attack her directly, unless they are a master of the Innate Realm.

Even if we cannot win, we will never be easily defeated.

So if she doesn't guard the mountain, who will?

"I can not let it go."

Ouyang Lan sobbed and buried her face in Lu Wubing's arms. She was as strong as she had been these past few days, and now she was just as vulnerable.

Lu Wubing paused slightly, then gently embraced his senior sister's soft and warm body, and said softly, "Today's parting is for a long reunion. It won't be long before I return next spring."

"Then you can't lie to me."

"Do not lie to you."

Lu Wubing laughed.

"I'm a dog if I lie..."

"Uh!"

Lu Wubing turned to look at the kitten, only to see the kitten covering its eyes with its white paws, indicating that it hadn't seen anything. Then, it leaped down from the tree and headed straight up the mountain.

Clearly, it was afraid of getting beaten up if it was too slow to dodge.

……

(End of this chapter)