Translator: CinderTL
"Zhu Tianlei and Zhu Yi both bestowed upon me the grace of teaching and guidance, and each gifted me with mystic treasures they had personally used. To honor their kindness, I have never refined these treasures, but instead preserved them as cherished keepsakes. Would these treasures be considered their personal belongings?" Zhu Zhizhen asked.
A faint smile curled Song Wen's lips.
"Naturally. Where are these treasures?"
"In my storage ring," Zhu Zhizhen replied. "There's a jet-black low-grade magic artifact flying sword, gifted to me by Zhu Tianlei. And a mid-grade magic treasure shield, given by Zhu Yi."
"The divine souls of Zhu Tianlei and Zhu Yi will soon arrive to meet you here," Song Wen said, his figure slowly fading away.
Outside the Sea of Consciousness, Song Wen retrieved Zhu Zhizhen's storage ring from his robes.
After a brief search, a sword and shield materialized before him.
Activating the Ten Thousand Mile Breath Tracking Technique, Song Wen drew out the residual traces of breath from each mystic treasure.
Two wisps of green smoke drifted from the mystic treasures, hovering before Song Wen.
To his surprise, the angles and directions of the smoke indicated that while Zhu Tianlei and Zhu Yi were not in the same location, they were both heading roughly north, toward the Primordial Qi Death Zone.
Zhu Tianlei was much farther away, likely already near the Death Zone itself.
Song Wen had expected Zhu Tianlei to flee into the heart of the Qicang Domain, but he had instead taken the opposite path, hiding near the Death Zone.
As for Zhu Yi, severely wounded by Zhu Tianlei and in urgent need of healing, he couldn't have escaped far.
At Song Wen's command, Wu Yue steered the Giant Flying Ship northward.
After several days of flight, as they drew closer to Zhu Yi, Song Wen was astonished to discover that Zhu Yi's hiding place was Lotus Square City.
The ship gradually slowed, eventually hovering in the northwest sky above the city, over a mountain rich in Spiritual Qi.
Dozens of cultivation caves dotted the mountain's slopes, built by the Li Clan of Lotus Square City for rental.
"Wu Yue, go to Cave Mansion No. 13 and demand Zhu Yi come out. He's inside."
Upon hearing Song Wen's command, Wu Yue instinctively wanted to retreat.
As a mere Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, how could he dare to challenge a Divine Transformation Stage cultivator at his own cultivation cave? It would be akin to courting death!
Yet, in an instant, he discarded this thought.
He had come here with Yang Yu. If he were killed in full view of everyone, what would become of Yang Yu's reputation as a Void Refinement Stage cultivator?
Yang Yu would never allow him to be killed, at least not within Lotus Square City.
With this realization, Wu Yue's heart swelled with a newfound boldness, fueled by the borrowed authority of Yang Yu.
With Yang Yu's backing, no one in Lotus Square City would dare to disrespect him.
A mix of excitement and caution coursing through him, Wu Yue soared toward Cave Mansion No. 13, located near the mountain's summit.
"Zhu Yi! Senior Yang Yu himself has arrived! Come out and face your death!"
Wu Yue's voice boomed like a great bell, echoing across half of Lotus Square City and drawing curious glances from its inhabitants.
Some, eager for spectacle, took to the skies to observe from a distance.
Whether his opponent had advanced to the Void Refinement Stage or not, Zhu Yi, severely injured and only at the mid-stage Divine Transformation realm, knew escape was nearly impossible.
This realization weighed heavily on him, confirming his dire fate.
Simultaneously, he was baffled by how his pursuer had pinpointed his hiding place with such accuracy.
Just then, a team of six cultivators flew into view. All wore identical uniforms, each embroidered with a small 'Chen' character on the chest. The leader was a golden core cultivator, while the remaining five were at the Foundation Establishment Stage.
"Senior," the golden core cultivator called out, cupping his hands in a respectful greeting from several hundred feet away. "This is Lotus Square City, a hub for many cultivators. We humbly request that you show the Chen Family some respect and refrain from causing trouble, lest innocent bystanders be harmed."
Wu Yue's lips curled into a cold sneer. "You would do well to retreat immediately. You have no right to interfere in this matter."
"The Chen Clan Enforcement Team has no right to interfere?! What about this old man?" A thunderous roar echoed from the distance.
Before the words had even faded, an elderly man materialized before the six Chen Family cultivators, confronting Wu Yue directly. His eyes blazed like lightning, and an icy, oppressive aura radiated from his body.
"This old man wants to see who dares cause trouble in my Chen Family's Lotus Square City!"
Wu Yue immediately felt an invisible pressure, heavy as a mountain, descend upon him. A flicker of fear stirred in his heart, and he involuntarily retreated several dozen meters, positioning himself beneath the Giant Flying Ship.
Seeing Wu Yue's pathetic display, the elder's eyes flashed with disdain.
He then turned his attention to Zhu Yi, his tone softening into friendly cordiality.
"Fellow Daoist Zhu Yi, now that you've come to Lotus Square City, why not visit the Chen Family? If word gets out, outsiders might say we lack proper etiquette."
Zhu Yi wasn't surprised by the elder's show of goodwill.
This elder was Chen Heguang, the Chen Family's Ancestor. He undoubtedly knew of the Zhu Clan's recent upheaval and that Zhu Yi was now a solitary figure.
Chen Heguang's intentions were clear: he wanted to seize this opportunity to recruit Zhu Yi, bringing him under the Chen Family's banner.
"Thank you for the invitation, Fellow Daoist Chen," Zhu Yi said, his gaze fixed not on Chen Heguang but on the Giant Flying Ship where Song Wen stood. "However, I'm currently dealing with some... complications. I wouldn't want to involve the Chen Family."
His words were deliberately vague, hinting that his troubles might involve a Void Refinement Stage cultivator. Clearly, he hoped to use the Chen Family to buy himself a sliver of a chance to escape.
Chen Heguang, however, remained unaware of Zhu Yi's calculations and Song Wen's true cultivation level. He assumed Song Wen was Zhu Yi's enemy, seizing the opportunity to exact revenge while Zhu Yi was severely injured.
Turning to face Song Wen at the ship's prow, Chen Heguang spoke.
"Fellow Daoist, this old one greets you. You seem unfamiliar. May I ask your name? And what grievances do you hold against Fellow Daoist Zhu Yi? As the saying goes, it's better to resolve grudges than to harbor them. Perhaps this old one can mediate between you."
(End of the Chapter)
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