Chapter 197
"Hahaha…" Seeing the expression on Xiao Yan's face, Elder Lin burst into hearty laughter.
Xiao Yan's face darkened further he could tell this old man was doing it on purpose! Deliberately trying to mess with his head!
"Where's Lu Bu? I'm here for something important," Elder Lin said after a moment, having had his fill of laughter. His visit wasn't just for fun; he had a legitimate reason delivering a reward.
The Black Corner Army operated as a military organization, and naturally, it upheld clear rules of reward and punishment. Lu Bu had rendered significant service, and so he was to be rewarded. Moreover, his identity as a member of the Ancient Void Dragon clan made him worth investing in and recruiting. After Gu Zhen reported the situation, the Black Corner Army had quickly approved this decision.
As for the Elders' Council? Oh, they didn't matter. They didn't have the authority to interfere in the internal workings of the Black Corner Army. If they tried, the Black Corner King would simply squash their objections with a single slap.
"He's over there," Su Qian said, pointing to a section of distorted and hazy space in the distance.
"Oh?" Elder Lin turned his gaze, and for the first time, a look of surprise and seriousness appeared on his face. "That boy… he's advancing to Dou Huang?"
Within the Gu Clan, there were very few who could achieve the Dou Huang level at his age. If he had the bloodline of a Dou Di, it might have been understandable, but this boy… he didn't!
The Gu Clan's youth, at a certain age, would undergo the Emperor Altar Baptism, which would grant them a dramatic surge in cultivation. Combined with advanced techniques, high grade pills, and numerous battles, the drawbacks of such rapid advancement would be completely eliminated.
Although this approach greatly enhanced the clan's overall strength, from an individual perspective, it was akin to forcing a seedling to grow faster than it should. In terms of future potential, some of the Gu Clan's youth might not even match Lu Bu.
As these thoughts passed through his mind, a sudden change occurred.
The spiritual energy in the surrounding heavens and earth became violent and turbulent, forming a massive vortex in the blink of an eye.
Xiao Yan's eyes widened in astonishment. "Is this… normal for someone advancing to Dou Huang?"
"Hm?" Elder Lin let out a slight hum of surprise as the distorted space in the distance gradually solidified, and the spatial barrier began to fade away. At the same time, a graceful figure appeared before everyone's eyes.
Xiao Yan's face twitched. According to Yao Lao, this woman was the Medusa Queen. But wasn't Medusa supposed to be at the peak of Dou Huang? How had she suddenly become a high ranking Dou Zong?
"A Seven Colored Heaven Swallowing Python?" Elder Lin was momentarily stunned as he recognized the aura emanating from the Medusa Queen.
Medusa nodded slightly, offering a polite salute to Elder Lin. Then, her figure flickered, and she stationed herself not far from Lu Bu, clearly standing guard. Although her senses toward the outside world were dulled, she could sense that the old man before her was likely a Dou Zun an existence she once considered merely a myth.
This was a Dou Zun, a realm she had once thought unattainable. But now… it no longer seemed so distant.
Her beautiful eyes sparkled with determination. "Little man…" Medusa thought to herself, her eyes flickering with a soft light. Dou Di may be a long way off, but walking this path with him… the achievements they could reach together would surely be extraordinary!
Elder Lin was even more puzzled by her actions. The Seven Colored Heaven Swallowing Python wasn't exactly on friendly terms with the Ancient Void Dragon. They weren't mortal enemies like the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix and Ancient Sky Serpent, but they certainly weren't on such intimate terms either.
And yet, here they were, looking like… a married couple?
Elder Lin scratched his head in confusion. "The magical beast world is really getting messy," he thought. It seemed the internal evaluation of this Eighth Commander would need to be raised yet another level.
Medusa paid no attention to Elder Lin, instead focusing all her attention on Lu Bu. In the center of the spiritual energy vortex, torrents of energy surged into Lu Bu's body. A vibrant green glow radiated from him, so dazzling that his face could no longer be seen clearly.
Xiao Yan didn't dare blink, staring intently at Lu Bu. This was the first time he had ever witnessed someone advancing to Dou Huang, and the experience was immensely valuable.
However, just as Xiao Yan was focused on the spectacle, the massive spiritual energy vortex in the sky suddenly dissipated without warning, vanishing completely.
"What… what's going on?" Xiao Yan was dumbfounded. Was that bastard Lu Bu messing with him on purpose?
"That kid's already broken through. He's just stabilizing his power now," Elder Lin explained casually.
As he spoke, the green glow surrounding Lu Bu faded away. Lu Bu slowly opened his eyes, exhaled a long breath, and stretched lazily as he stood up.
The sound of his joints cracking rang out continuously, and Lu Bu let out a satisfied sigh. "Ah… another breakthrough. Dual cultivation's going to be even easier now!"
Medusa's figure flickered, transforming into a streak of light that disappeared into Lu Bu's chest, as if her presence was no longer necessary.
"Hahaha! Xiao Yan, I've advanced to Dou Huang!" Lu Bu laughed heartily, immediately turning to share the joy with his "good brother."
"…I know," Xiao Yan replied through gritted teeth, his face dark and his mood utterly sour. It seemed it was time to search for the next Heavenly Flame. Only the flames were his true companions on the path to leveling up.
"Oh? And who might this be?" Lu Bu finally noticed Elder Lin and asked in surprise. He had been so focused on celebrating with Xiao Yan that he hadn't realized someone new had arrived.
"Haha, I am Lin Hao, a Vice Commander of the Black Corner Army. It's an honor to meet you, Eighth Commander," Elder Lin said, stroking his beard with a smile.
"Uh… greetings, Senior." Lu Bu cupped his fists respectfully. He couldn't sense any aura from the elder, which was unusual. As a high level seven tier alchemist with a soul strength approaching the pinnacle of the Mortal Realm, he should've been able to sense at least a trace of the elder's power.
A plain old man wouldn't be a Vice Commander of the Black Corner Army. That was impossible. This man was at least a Dou Zun!
But then… why would a Dou Zun serve as a Vice Commander while Dou Huang level fighters like Gu Zhen and Gu Luan were Commanders?
Confusion flashed across Lu Bu's face. This didn't make sense.
"Haha, I'm just an old timer. At my age, being a mere Dou Zun means all I can do is provide guidance and protection for young talents like you," Elder Lin said with a laugh. He was genuinely impressed by the potential of the Black Corner Army's commanders and leaders, whose future achievements would surely reach high level Dou Zun or even Dou Sheng.
"So, what brings you here, Elder Lin?" Lu Bu asked curiously.
"I'm here to deliver your reward," Elder Lin replied with a smile, pulling out a golden scroll and waving it slightly. "Here are the final two seals of the Emperor Seal Technique. Additionally, my lady asked me to relay a message to you."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan immediately perked up, his ears straining as he held his breath and focused. He… had a friend named Lu Bu, and he was very curious about this.
"Oh?" Lu Bu raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Why would Xiao Xun'er send me a message?"
At these words, both Xiao Yan and Lu Bu furrowed their brows simultaneously. Clearly, relations between Xun'er and Lu Bu remained as strained as ever.
Elder Lin's expression turned serious as he recited, "My lady's exact words are: 'Lu Bu, do whatever you like to Brother Xiao Yan I don't care. But I believe he will defeat you. You are no match for him! And don't even think about using Brother Xiao Yan as leverage to gain anything from me!'"
Xiao Yan's lips curled into a smile, his heart surging with emotion. As expected, Xun'er was always his guiding light!
After finishing the message, Elder Lin handed the golden scroll to Lu Bu. "Eighth Commander, this is your reward for the last mission. Please keep it safe and don't let it leak."
"Thank you."
"Did Xun'er leave anything for me?" Xiao Yan asked excitedly, his tone filled with hope. Maybe… just maybe, there was something meant for him too?
"Hehe… indeed, there is a message. My lady asked me to deliver a letter." As he spoke, Elder Lin retrieved a white letter from his storage ring, its surface carrying a faint, elegant fragrance.
Xiao Yan's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he couldn't suppress the joy that crept onto his face.
Lu Bu, however, frowned deeply. Elder Lin's relationship with Xiao Xun'er resembled Ling Ying's quite a bit. Could it be…
Lu Bu sifted through his memories. If he wasn't mistaken, in the original story, Xiao Xun'er's first reunion with Xiao Yan after leaving took place in Ye City, located in Central Plains. At that time, Xiao Yan had been surrounded by the forces of the Soul Hall and Glacier Valley, and it was Xiao Xun'er who came to his rescue. One of her Dou Zun bodyguards seemed to be none other than this Elder Lin.
Later, during the same night, this Elder Lin interrupted Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Yan's interaction, preventing Xiao Yan who was nearly overcome by his desires from making a mistake. Otherwise, things might've escalated to an amusing mess.
So really, Xiao Yan ought to thank him!
"Hahaha… Eighth Commander, my mission is now complete. Farewell!" Elder Lin laughed heartily, clasped his hands respectfully toward Lu Bu, and turned to leave.
"Hey, Elder Lin…" Lu Bu immediately panicked. He hadn't expected this old man to be so decisive, acting without hesitation. He instinctively called out, wanting to ask him to stay and help deal with the Soul Hall.
But… why would Elder Lin help?
Lu Bu had no qualifications to request his assistance. Realizing this, Lu Bu's expression stiffened, and he fell silent, unsure of what to say.
At that moment, an explosive surge of energy erupted from the eastern side of the Inner Academy, the overwhelming energy waves sweeping across the sky like a tsunami.
"Oh?" Elder Lin, who was about to leave, paused in place, his eyes lighting up. "Someone's breaking through to Dou Zun?"
"Hahaha… this trip wasn't a waste after all!"
Elder Lin burst into laughter, his aura suddenly flaring with fighting spirit, his stance brimming with eagerness as though preparing for a battle.
Seeing this, Lu Bu raised an eyebrow. It seemed this Elder Lin was quite fond of combat. Oh, that made sense he had fought fiercely against the Ice Sovereign in the original story.
In the novel, this same Elder Lin had clashed with the Ice Sovereign, delivering a devastating blow with the Heaven Shattering Seal that left the Ice Sovereign in a sorry state. If not for Xiao Xun'er urging him to end the fight quickly, Elder Lin probably would've battled the Ice Sovereign for three hundred rounds.
If Elder Lin truly loved combat this much… then the crisis facing Jia Nan Academy might just be resolved!
A grin spread across Lu Bu's face as an idea struck him. Perhaps there might even be extra rewards in store like the Soul Hall Elder's soul, body, or some other valuable treasure.
"Brilliant!"
Lu Bu's eyes sparkled with excitement. He chuckled inwardly he was about to profit yet again!
Meanwhile, Elder Lin let out another hearty laugh. In a flash, his figure vanished into thin air without a sound, as though he'd never been there in the first place.
Su Qian and Elder Huo's expressions changed drastically. Without hesitation, they launched into motion, rushing toward the source of the energy surge. It had to be either Elder Qian or Elder Bai advancing in rank they had to witness this breakthrough!
"Breaking through to Dou Zun so quickly?" Lu Bu asked in surprise. In the original story, Xiao Yan's breakthrough to Dou Zun had taken a full year. He had needed the Yin Yang Mystical Dragon Pill, the Three Thousand Flames, and the star energy of the Falling Star Pavilion to succeed.
"It's not actually that quick. They've been stuck at the peak of Dou Zong for years, much like your recent breakthrough to Dou Huang. They've accumulated enough power; all they needed was the right opportunity," a voice interjected. It was Yao Lao, his tone ancient and weary.
And that opportunity had come in the form of the Heavenly Fortune Pill. Though Yao Lao hadn't thought much of the pill, as he had better alternatives, such as the Yin Yang Mystical Dragon Pill, it was still effective.
The Wind Venerable, Feng Xian, had relied on the Yin Yang Mystical Dragon Pill to achieve his breakthrough. Though the process had been painful, the pill's effects far surpassed those of the Heavenly Fortune Pill.
"Oh… Let's go take a look," Lu Bu said as he glanced at Yao Lao. Was this crafty old fox fully awake already, just pretending to be weak to avoid helping with alchemy?
Knowing Yao Lao's personality, that was highly possible!
Still, why had this old fox been so kind as to clarify things for him? Could he be plotting something again?
Lost in thought, Lu Bu activated Three Thousand Lightning Movement. Lightning flashed under his feet, and his figure vanished, darting toward the center of the energy storm.
…
To the west of the Northwest Continent stretched an endless desert of Gobi terrain. Winds howled, stirring up clouds of yellow sand that blurred the horizon, rendering the boundary between sky and earth indistinguishable.
Suddenly, the void began to distort, silver light flickering intermittently as invisible spatial ripples churned like waves on the sea.
On the ground below, countless venomous snakes and scorpions hidden beneath the sand shrieked in terror. They scrambled to escape, writhing and fleeing for their lives.
Yet, before they could get far, the invisible spatial ripples swept over them, crushing the creatures instantly and leaving only patches of blood staining the sand.
At the same time, a black dot appeared in the sky. It rapidly expanded, growing into a massive black vortex dozens of meters wide in the blink of an eye.
Moments later, several figures emerged from the vortex. Leading them was an elderly man in a violet robe, his hands clasped behind his back, his expression cold and indifferent.
Behind him stood four Soul Hall Protectors, their bodies shrouded in dark mist. Usually arrogant and overbearing, these Protectors were now silent, too afraid to even breathe heavily.
"So, this is the Northwest Continent?" The violet robed elder frowned, raising a hand to catch a wisp of silver light at his fingertips. He examined it briefly before shaking his head.
"As expected of a backwater place. The spiritual energy here is so thin it's no wonder the Northwest Continent is so weak."
As he spoke, his gaze swept across the distant, distorted spaces, his expression filled with disdain and contempt.
Zing!
Suddenly, the sound of a sword rang out, sharp and piercing. The yellow sand quivered, tiny grains slicing through the air like blades, scattering in all directions.
Simultaneously, a massive pair of golden snake like eyes, nearly a hundred meters wide, opened within the swirling sands of the void. The enormous pupils fixed on the violet robed elder, carrying a faint but undeniable sense of threat.
The elder's face darkened for a moment before he snorted coldly, black mist rising around him in defiance. As a Soul Hall Elder, he would not fear these so called savages of the outer regions.
Yet, in the next moment, more phenomena began to emerge in the void. A golden lion's head with wild, flowing mane. Thunderclouds flashing ominously. A sea of flames that seemed to blot out the sky.
Each of these manifestations radiated a faint, oppressive aura, silently issuing a warning.
The four Soul Hall Protectors shuddered, frozen in place. The dark mist around them seemed to freeze, and their crimson eyes dimmed, lowering submissively, as though they dared not provoke these forces.
The violet robed elder's face flickered with unease. Finally, he waved his sleeve, snorting coldly as he led the Protectors northward, away from the area.
As the elder left, the oppressive presence gradually dissipated, and the phenomena faded from view.
…
In the southeastern part of the Northwest Continent, bordering the Black Corner Region, lay a mountain range.
Deep within a grand palace, an elder clad in green robes slowly opened his eyes. His vertical pupils glowed faintly yellow before returning to a normal human appearance.
"Hmph… Soul Hall again…"
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