Phoenix Feather Sword streaked across the sky, passing through two dragon gates before returning to Lake Heart Island.

  The dense mist shrouding the island dispersed.

  The sword settled into place, and mini-Lu burst into spiritual energy with a pop, vanishing into the air.

  "Still scared, huh? Dragging Little Yinglong as a scapegoat to share the blame later?"

  Lu shook his head, speechless.

  Childlike indeed.

  He knew Zhu Long's actions—his main focus was bargaining in Martial Emperor City, but he sensed her little moves.

  "Getting more human. Good."

  He smiled.

  No blocking her or retrieving Little Yinglong.

  Li Sansi's possession was unforeseen.

  Death by Absolute Blade pursuit? Lu wouldn't intervene—his choice.

  But possession?

  Unacceptable.

  Li Sansi, his nurtured Body Storage—stolen like a ripe peach?

  Worse: post-possession cultivation rewards wouldn't go to Lu.

  Intolerable.

  Lu leaned back in his wheelchair, breeze rustling. He picked a chess piece.

  Placed it gently.

  ...

  Nie Changqing left Martial Emperor City. Hostility lingered heavy among disciples.

  Understandable—he'd slain many Golden Cores.

  Even Du Longyang barely tolerated him, spared only for Lu.

  From afar, Mo Tianyu's eyes lit up.

  "Old Nie!"

  He dashed from the crowd, divination cloth in hand—script in this world's tongue.

  "Old Mo? You here?"

  Nie genuinely shocked.

  Mo Tianyu in the city?

  Alive?!

  Mo smiled—old friends in foreign land, heartwarming.

  Surprised too—Nie emerged whole after capture.

  Young Lord Lu's influence.

  Mo pondered: if he were trapped, would Lu save him?

  Likely not.

  Only his divinations to rely on.

  "Out first."

  Nie pulled him toward the gate.

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  Mo blinked.

  Only then noticing the cold, angry glares.

  Lips twitched...

  "Bad timing?"

  "Pretend not knowing you—still okay?"

  Nie glanced, smiled: "Guess."

  "I'm leaving. Stay, and who knows when you're dragged into an alley and beaten dead."

  "Qi Condensation like you—Golden Core kills with less than five fingers."

  Mo rolled eyes, hurried with cloth.

  At the gate.

  Familiar figure: six-revolution Ye Qianxun.

  "City Lord's order—no more hunts. Lucky you..."

  Leaning on icy wall.

  "But killing our disciples? Debt unpaid."

  "Guard your blade... I'll claim it."

  Torrential Pear Blossom strong, but likely one-use.

  Fourth-fifth grade artifact—precious.

  Unprepared, Ye suffered; wounds ached.

  Nie glanced coolly.

  Strong foe—pushed him to Second Stage Heavenly Lock, but victory distant.

  "Arrogant..."

  Mo squinted, cloth ready.

  "Needs a reading."

  Stepped forward.

  "Brother, fortune?"

  Ye puzzled.

  Nie speechless.

  Flee, not divine!

  Suddenly.

  Mo's hairs stood—killing intent.

  "Old Nie, run!"

  Dragged him out.

  "Old Nie? Surname Nie?"

  Ye arms folded, amused. "City Lord allows challenges... Want battle breakthroughs? Dare—inner disciples await."

  Nie looked back deeply.

  Pulled beyond gate.

  Voice drifted: "Wait. I'll beat all Martial Emperor City."

  Disciples stirred.

  Audacious!

  As Ye squinted, street end exploded with sun-like aura.

  "Fortune-teller! Life for life!"

  Feng Yilou raged.

  Found the charlatan!

  Void gate infiltrator.

  Deceived him!

  "Senior Feng—calm!"

  Ye sensed murder, restrained him.

  "City Lord bans kills—or expulsion!"

  "Expel then! End him!"

  Eyes red.

  Not refined like Ximen Xianzhi—yang cultivation, temper unrestrained.

  "Don't! Ruin future over Qi Condensation fraud?"

  Ye helpless, held firm.

  Feng saw reason.

  But furious.

  Embraced, roaring.

  Outside, Mo sweated.

  "Near death."

  "Sighed. Divinations from heart, thought... Too serious."

  Nie knife slung, glanced back.

  "Old Nie, plans?"

  "Return?"

  "No."

  Snow steps.

  "Recover, cultivate, challenge city."

  Mo stunned.

  "Young Master no orders?"

  Heart stung—Lu forgot him.

  But snow trekking: "Praised quick Second Stage. Keep pushing."

  "Need pressure, drive... No hunts now—perfect sparring."

  "Young Master's reason?" Mo puzzled.

  "Can't say—promised."

  Mo nodded, no press. Vanished in snow woods.

  Suddenly: "Old Nie, challenge time—tell me. Pre-read auspiciousness."

  "Good."

  "Remember—my readings... spot-on."

  Nie: ...

  ...

  Zhu Long and Little Yinglong smashed through air wall.

  Great Xuan guards reacted too late; Xuanwu Guards cowed by aura.

  Ignored.

  Boom!

  Little Yinglong mouth agape, cold wind—ecstatic.

  Exited zone—ripples.

  "More came!"

  "Strike—no escape!"

  Blade qi slashed.

  Absolute Blade swordsmen thundered.

  Zhu Long closed eyes, unexpected foes.

  But mere Foundation—unconcerned.

  Hand raised, pressed down.

  Boom...

  Bodies burst—blood fireworks.

  Little Yinglong on shoulder awed, excited—leapt.

  But scruff-pulled back.

  Bloody mist.

  Zhu Long shot forward.

  Golden Core blade qi slashed.

  "Dare kill disciples?!"

  Frowned, grabbed remotely.

  Qi shattered.

  Pressed—body exploded, core cracked, blood mist.

  Emotionless—eyes open once, bones everywhere.

  Death routine.

  Suddenly.

  Stunned, lashes trembled—familiar aura.

  Little Yinglong perked happily.

  Mist parted.

  Light streaked, landed on shoulder.

  "Dad..."

  Lips pursed.

  Caught...

  Little Yinglong flapped, saw mini-Lu—mouth opened for water arrow.

  Mini-Lu glanced, pointed.

  Spirit chain sealed mouth.

  Struggled futile—despaired, slumped.

  "Go."

  "See world. Settle later."

  Lu said.

  Curious her strength.

  Heavenly Lock entered—combat? Dragon species, cross-realm—Nascent Soul level?

  Lashes trembled.

  Tempted return.

  Boom!

  Golden Core death triggered.

  Terrifying aura from Absolute Blade—Nascent Soul approaching.

  Saw closed-eye Zhu Long, mini-Lu on shoulder.

  Both Nascent-level.

  Turned, fled—remembered mini-Lu, forced sect ban.

  No fight—escape.

  Junior clashes promised?

  Nascent instant!

  Trust?

  Ignored fleeing.

  Lu pointed valley—Li Sansi's soul fading.

  Valley, cave.

  Vines shuddered.

  Li Sansi eyes snapped open—crimson.

  "Intruders!"

  "Golden Core? No... Nascent aura!"

  Mouth spoke seductive female.

  "Rescuers?"

  Li dazed—someone?

  "Kill, nourish—shatter core fast!"

  Cold, excited smile.

  Elsewhere.

  Absolute Blade.

  Panicked Nascent returned.

  Cliff-seated Ye Shoudao opened eyes.

  "Golden Core with Nascent aura... Monster!"

  Chasm uncrossable.

  Even Human List top three couldn't.

  Void gate casual—could!

  Rose, black robes whipping, one-armed blade—streaked to valley.

  Zhu Long entered—eerie, lifeless cold.

  Suddenly.

  Rustling forests.

  Vines slithered like serpents.

  Planned stealth.

  Detected—accelerated.

  Mini-Lu on shoulder brow raised.

  "Daring first strike?"

  "No mercy."

  Smiled, waved.

  Chain shattered.

  "Go."

  Listless Little Yinglong eyes blazed.

  Dragon roar.

  Shot forward.

  En route—body swelled, swelled!