Chapter 21: Undeserved Calamity
“Junior Brother Xiao is indeed a man of striking appearance and talent.”
Lu Yang patted Xiao Shiye on the shoulder while laughing heartily. “I am Lu Yang. I likely entered the sect in the same batch as you, so I don’t count as your Senior Brother.”
“The same batch.”
Xiao Shiye was surprised upon hearing this, then immediately showed a look of admiration. “In that case, Brother Lu’s talent must be extremely excellent; otherwise, it would be hard to have such cultivation.”
“I don’t deserve such praise.”
Lu Yang waved his hand. He had self-awareness; his talent was definitely not good. His daily cultivation relied entirely on popping pills, and breaking through bottlenecks relied entirely on Demonic Arts.
If he had cultivated step-by-step, he estimated he would still be stuck at the Third Layer of Qi Refining.
Learning that Lu Yang was of the same generation, Xiao Shiye was no longer as reserved as he was at the beginning, and soon became familiar with Lu Yang. After chatting for a while, Lu Yang probed tentatively, “I just broke through and plan to return to my Cave Abode to stabilize my cultivation. Where does Brother Xiao plan to go next?”
“To be honest with Brother Lu, I plan to make a trip to the [Merit Pool].”
Xiao Shiye laughed. “I heard people say that the [Merit Pool] tests one’s luck the most. Since I’ve suddenly been quite lucky recently, I want to take this opportunity to try my hand.”
“[Merit Pool]…”
Lu Yang’s heart moved slightly, and he suddenly had a whim. “In that case, why don’t we go together?”
He had already tried the winning number Xiao Shiye used in the previous life, so he was very curious about what number Xiao Shiye would choose in this life, and whether there was really insider rigging.
At the same time, in a certain part of the cloud sea outside [Myriad Treasures Peak].
More than ten figures stood silently. The leader was a handsome young man dressed in white, looking elegant and unconventional, surrounded by clouds and mist.
Just then, one of them suddenly showed a look of joy:
“Senior Brother Liu, that guy surnamed Xiao has come out.”
Before his voice faded, the handsome young man seemed to wake up from meditation. The clouds dispersed, revealing a face that Lu Yang would absolutely never forget.
It was Liu Xin!
At this time, Liu Xin had also broken through to the Late Stage of Qi Refining. Moreover, having majored in the [Primordial Dao Scripture], he possessed a bit more of an immortal demeanor compared to ordinary cultivators.
“Finally came out…” The corners of Liu Xin’s mouth held a smile. At first glance, his appearance had none of the ferocity of a Demonic Path cultivator; instead, he gave off an amiable aura like a spring breeze. However, when he activated his True Qi and used the [Qi Gazing Technique] to look in Xiao Shiye’s direction, his smile suddenly froze.
“…Late Stage of Qi Refining?”
Liu Xin frowned slightly, obviously not expecting that Xiao Shiye would be accompanied by a Late Stage Qi Refining cultivator. This was a variable sufficient to make him change his plans.
Just then, a soft exclamation of surprise came from beside Liu Xin.
Liu Xin turned his head in response and smiled gently. “What is it, Qing Chen? Do you perhaps recognize that Late Stage Qi Refining cultivator?”
As soon as these words came out, the charming woman standing behind Liu Xin pursed her red lips. “To be honest with Senior Brother Liu, I actually do know that Late Stage Qi Refining cultivator.”
Immediately after, the woman spoke with a tone of jealousy and hatred, “That person is named Lu Yang, a disciple who entered the sect a few months ago. In the previous Substitute Death Yin Puppet incident, he left the market early and made a huge profit, earning at least ten thousand Contribution Points. Presumably, he relied on that huge sum to break through to the Late Stage of Qi Refining…”
The charming woman was none other than Fairy Qing Chen, who had followed Zhao Xuhe in the previous life.
However, unlike the previous life, in this life, Fairy Qing Chen had fallen out with Zhao Xuhe early on and had now long since become lovers with Liu Xin.
The reason for falling out was simple: Zhao Xuhe dragged her into speculating on Substitute Death Yin Puppets.
Zhao Xuhe went bankrupt, so Fairy Qing Chen naturally was no exception.
By the way, Liu Xin also speculated.
And because the impact of the Substitute Death Yin Puppets in this life was much greater than in the previous life, their losses after the bubble burst far exceeded the previous life as well.
Not only were they on the verge of bankruptcy, but they also had a large amount of external debt.
Thanks to this, the two had no choice but to engage in the business of robbing fellow disciples—something they hadn’t done in the previous life—to fill the losses caused by speculating on Substitute Death Yin Puppets.
Over time, they even built a team. The members were all disciples who had some background and influence within the sect but went bankrupt due to speculating on Substitute Death Yin Puppets. As for their targets, they focused on those ordinary disciples who had small capital, left the market early, and made a fortune.
Xiao Shiye was the target they had been eyeing recently.
And now, after hearing about Lu Yang’s deeds from Fairy Qing Chen, Liu Xin’s eyes brightened even more. Clearly, he now regarded Lu Yang as a target as well.
“No time to lose. Move out!”
With Liu Xin’s order, everyone present let out eerie sneers. Then, each riding a streak of light, they flew towards the direction of Lu Yang and Xiao Shiye.
Just after leaving [Myriad Treasures Peak] and flying a certain distance within the cloud sea, Lu Yang suddenly frowned. The Sword Pellet between his eyebrows pulsed as if warning him.
Looking in the direction indicated by the Sword Pellet, Lu Yang’s frown deepened.
Centered on him and Xiao Shiye, streaks of flying light were rushing towards them from all directions, like a large net closing in on their position.
Before long, a voice came from behind.
“Fellow Daoist, please stay your steps!”
Hearing this, Lu Yang’s face instantly turned dark.
Even saying such words—the comer came with ill intent!
Lu Yang didn’t turn his head, ignoring the voice behind him. He only focused on urging his True Qi wildly, wrapping Xiao Shiye in sword light and fleeing rapidly towards the direction of the [Merit Pool].
However, the opponents clearly came prepared. Not long after Lu Yang fled, he stopped in his tracks. Looking around, he saw that the surrounding cloud sea had unknowingly thinned out, replaced by a vast mirage, bizarre and motley, trapping him and Xiao Shiye firmly in the center!
“Such an undeserved calamity…”
Lu Yang looked ugly. He observed from afar using the [Qi Gazing Technique] and instantly gritted his teeth. “One at the Late Stage of Qi Refining, seven at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining… Winning chance is at most thirty percent…”
What to do?
Just as Lu Yang was pondering countermeasures, Xiao Shiye beside him suddenly spoke: “Brother Lu, if nothing unexpected happens, these people should all be coming for me.”
Speaking of this, Xiao Shiye looked regretful. “It was my negligence. These people should be after the Artifacts and Contribution Points on me. I thought that after several months, they had already given up. I didn’t expect them to be so persistent… Since things have come to this, let us flee separately.”
“Flee separately?”
Lu Yang shook his head. “The opponent has already enveloped this area of the cloud sea, seemingly using some powerful Artifact. I’m afraid we can’t escape.”
“No matter, I have a way to deal with it.”
Xiao Shiye whispered, “I have two [Treasure-Breaking Awls]. As long as they are activated, they can open a path of survival. I am willing to gift one to you, Brother Lu.”
“Brother Lu, go first. I will cover the rear.”
After speaking, he directly handed one of the treasure awls to Lu Yang.
Lu Yang weighed it in his hand, circulated his True Qi, and immediately understood that Xiao Shiye wasn’t lying. This Artifact indeed had a great hope of breaking open the surrounding mirage.
“…Are you sure you want me to go first?” Lu Yang looked strange.
“Brother Lu, the mountains are high and the roads are far; we will meet again someday.”
Xiao Shiye cupped his hands, a relieved smile on his face. Then he actually turned around directly to face the incoming enemies, clearly prepared to meet his death.
Seeing this, Lu Yang fell into contemplation.
He had been in secluded cultivation for three months and had never made enemies. The comers couldn’t be targeting him. Moreover, compared to him, Xiao Shiye was obviously the bigger fat sheep.
So Xiao Shiye was not wrong.
As long as he abandoned him, there was a high probability Lu Yang could escape the predicament.
So, should he do it?
Above the cloud sea, watching Xiao Shiye’s figure moving forward indomitably, seemingly putting life and death aside, the Sword Pellet between Lu Yang’s eyebrows warned him, and his expression fluctuated uncertainly.
Advance chapters at Nightjar Reads · nightjarreads.com