Chapter 133: Farewell, Escort

The Rise of Kyushu

Cultivators often have impurities in their bodies, which are expelled during body tempering. Besides impurities, pill toxins are also purged.

Disciples from major sects come here not just for body tempering in the Dragon Spring, but primarily to remove the accumulated pill toxins from their bodies.

Before arriving, they would consume large quantities of spirit pills to boost their cultivation, disregarding the buildup of pill toxins.

A single session in the Dragon Spring purges all pill toxins, enabling them to significantly advance their cultivation within a short time.

As a result, everyone in the group smelled foul. With ninety-eight people gathered in a poorly ventilated underground space, the pungent odor was overwhelming. It was no wonder the beauty-conscious female cultivators were nauseated by the stench.

While they had arrived unhurriedly, their return was swift as lightning, and in no time, they entered the great hall on the mountain.

Immediately, people from Green Feather Mountain led everyone towards the nearby mountain springs. Bathing immediately after body tempering had become almost a standard procedure. There were many springs in the vicinity, and men and women naturally separated.

Half an hour later, Lu Ye washed himself clean and changed into a fresh set of clothes, feeling much refreshed.

Xie Jin walked over, smiling, and asked, "Junior Brother, how was your gain?"

"It was alright."

"That's good," Xie Jin said. "However, the effect of this body tempering seems not as potent as before. I wonder if Junior Brother noticed. In the last two days, the mist in the secret chamber visibly thinned, and by the time we came out, it was almost gone."

"Is that unusual?" Lu Ye asked, feeling a little guilty.

"It's not necessarily unusual," Xie Jin replied, "but it's a bit different from what I've heard. The Dragon Spring only opens once every three years because the faint red mist needs time to accumulate. If too much is consumed at once, those who enter later won't be able to temper their bodies." At this point, he chuckled somewhat gleefully. "The cultivators from Tai Luo Sect probably don't know what's happening yet. They won't come out for another three days, so they'll likely go home empty-handed this time."

"That's terrible for them," Lu Ye remarked.

Xie Jin laughed heartily. "Anyway, our part with Green Feather Mountain is over. The rest is none of our concern."

Lu Ye nodded and said, "Senior Brother Xie, affairs here are concluded. I must take my leave." He had only been passing through this area but had been drawn into this Dragon Spring event and gained many benefits. Not to mention the merits and spirit stones, the final Dragon Spring tempering alone was a significant stroke of luck.

Although it had delayed him for ten days, it was still worth it overall.

He still needed to hurry to the Blood Sect's encampment and naturally didn't want to linger here.

Xie Jin looked around and said, "Junior Brother, don't be in a hurry to leave. It might not be safe for you to go right now."

Lu Ye pondered, "Tai Luo Sect and the Qin clan?"

Xie Jin nodded. "You don't need to worry about the Qin clan. The key is that woman named Han from Tai Luo Sect. Junior Brother contributed too much in this Dragon Spring gathering. Without protection, how could that woman named Han let you leave? Senior Brother Tang Wu specifically instructed me earlier to ask Junior Brother to stay with me for now. He will personally escort Junior Brother away once he has finished his affairs."

Lu Ye felt a little relieved. The reason he was eager to leave was precisely because he was wary of that female cultivator from Tai Luo Sect. He hadn't forgotten the look she gave him when he entered the great hall earlier.

At this moment, the Tai Luo Sect disciples were undergoing body tempering in the Dragon Spring, so she couldn't leave. Lu Ye had thought he needed to make a quick escape, otherwise, once she was free, he wouldn't be able to get away.

However, Green Feather Mountain had obviously considered this as well, which was why Tang Wu had given Xie Jin those instructions.

"What about Qiao Qiao'er and Song Xie...?" Lu Ye then remembered the two rogue cultivators who had fought alongside him.

Xie Jin smiled. "Junior Brother, you don't need to worry about them. Senior Brother Tang Wu has already sought permission from the sect and will accept them as disciples once we return."

Lu Ye secretly praised Green Feather Mountain for their shrewd planning; this way, he would be the only outsider given a spot in the Dragon Spring tempering. However, Qiao Qiao'er and Song Xie, though rogue cultivators, were no less capable than Green Feather Mountain's own cultivators, and their performance at this Dragon Spring gathering was excellent. It was worth Green Feather Mountain accepting them, and from now on, they would no longer be rootless rogue cultivators but members of a sect.

Green Feather Mountain didn't extend any invitation to Lu Ye because they believed he must be a disciple from a major sect, out to temper himself. With powerful backing, how could he possibly look favorably upon Green Feather Mountain, a minor sect?

The two chatted for a while. The Green Feather Mountain disciples had already begun to assemble; the Dragon Spring gathering was over, and they were returning to their sect.

In the great hall, Han Zheyue looked at Tang Wu with some unwillingness. "Eight hundred spirit stones, three hundred merit points," she said. "I'll give them to you personally, unrelated to the sect!"

Qin Wanli stood by, looking down at his feet and pretending not to hear anything.

Tang Wu's expression showed controlled anger. "Are you insulting me or do you want a fight?" he snapped, glaring sharply at Han Zheyue. "If you dare to utter another word of nonsense, don't blame me for humiliating you!"

Saying this, he strode out of the great hall, giving Han Zheyue no chance to speak further. Upon reaching the entrance, he threw out an object, stepped onto it, soared into the sky, and vanished in an instant.

Watching him depart, Han Zheyue gritted her teeth and cursed, "Bastard!"

She wouldn't have given Tang Wu so many benefits for no reason. Eight hundred spirit stones and three hundred merit points were merely blood money—they were buying Lu Ye's life!

Unfortunately, Tang Wu refused. The Dragon Spring gathering wouldn't be the only one, and Tang Wu naturally wouldn't stoop to "killing the dog after the cunning hare is caught." If he did, how could he recruit rogue cultivators to fight for them in the future?

The journey from Central Peak to Green Feather Mountain's encampment was a two-day trek, neither too far nor too close. The vast procession continued forward. Halfway there, Xie Jin received a message. After a brief check, he looked up at Lu Ye and said, "Junior Brother Yiye, please wait here for a moment. Senior Brother Tang Wu will be here soon."

Lu Ye nodded.

Everyone knew it was time to part ways. Qiao Qiao'er, riding her large wild boar, took two steps forward and smiled at Lu Ye. "Junior Brother Yiye," she said, "remember your big sister's kindness, and if you miss me, come visit."

Before Lu Ye could speak, Amber, beneath him, let out a low growl at her. Qiao Qiao'er's face immediately darkened, and she slipped away, thinking, "Can't provoke it."

Song Xie sat cross-legged on his scorpion, passed by, and cupped his fist at Lu Ye, saying, "Take care!"

Lu Ye returned the gesture. "You too!"

Xie Jin and Tao Tiangang also bade him farewell one by one.

Soon, the Green Feather Mountain team crossed over the mountain and disappeared from sight.

Lu Ye, riding Amber, waited in place for a moment. A streak of light darted from the horizon, its powerful spiritual energy fluctuation very noticeable.

The streak of light approached, revealing its true form: a small flat boat.

Tang Wu stood at the front of the boat with his hands clasped behind his back, looking extremely suave. Seeing Lu Ye, he raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "Come aboard!"

Lu Ye thanked him and boarded the boat with Amber.

"Rise!" Tang Wu formed a hand seal with one hand, and spiritual energy surged around him as the small boat rose into the air. Amber, experiencing this for the first time, immediately let out a tiger's roar, lowering its body as if afraid of falling off.

Lu Ye offered some comfort, which allowed Amber to calm down.

"Where are you headed, Junior Brother?" Tang Wu asked.

Lu Ye wanted to ask how far Tang Wu could take him. If possible, he naturally wanted Tang Wu to take him near the Blood Sect, so he wouldn't have to rush through the dust of travel.

But this was clearly impossible. There was still a long way to go to the Blood Sect. Tang Wu was merely escorting him out of goodwill to prevent him from being targeted by Han Zheyue. Given his kindness, Lu Ye naturally had to be considerate.

"Senior Brother, please wait a moment," Lu Ye said, taking out a full map to check.

Seeing this, Tang Wu smiled slightly. "I can escort Junior Brother for a journey of up to two days," he said. "Two days from now, I have an appointment I must keep." He said this preemptively, fearing Lu Ye might point to a very distant location.

Lu Ye simply handed over the full map. "Head west, Senior Brother," he said, "as far as you can go."

Tang Wu chuckled. He took the full map, glanced at it, and said, "Let's aim for Yi'an City then. How does that sound, Junior Brother?"

Handing the full map back, Lu Ye located Yi'an City's position and nodded, saying, "As Senior Brother says. Thank you, Senior Brother."

"It's nothing," Tang Wu said, waving his hand. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly; indeed, Lu Ye's background was extraordinary, as he always carried a full map worth hundreds of spirit stones. Tang Wu recalled when he himself had first ventured out; he couldn't even afford a partial map, let alone a full one. However, now that his cultivation had reached this level, he wasn't envious of a full map, merely feeling a slight sense of wistfulness.

In terms of value, Tang Wu's small flat boat was far more valuable than a full map.

Cultivators at the Spirit Stream Realm level cannot fly through the air using their physical bodies; only those who reach the Cloud River Realm gain this ability.

However, once cultivation reached a certain level, they could use spiritual artifacts for flight. Although the energy consumption wasn't small, it was always more convenient for travel.

Lu Ye didn't know what specific cultivation level was required to fly with an artifact, but the seventh-level realm was clearly insufficient. When Dong Shuye chased him previously, he didn't use an artifact to fly; he slid along, which was far inferior to true flight.

They weren't familiar with each other to begin with, and neither was particularly outgoing, so the journey was relatively silent.

Every two or three hours, Tang Wu would descend and cultivate to replenish his spiritual energy.

Lu Ye naturally didn't think Tang Wu had exhausted all his spiritual energy. Tang Wu's actions were to maintain his combat strength, because while traveling in the Spirit Stream battlefield, no one knew when danger might strike. Keeping one's spiritual energy abundant allowed one to deal with unexpected situations.

With someone beside him, it was inconvenient for Lu Ye to consume too many spirit pills for cultivation, and cultivating with spirit stones was useless for him. He could only construct Spirit Gathering patterns in his spiritual apertures, and then sit there cross-legged, pretending to cultivate.

Two days later, the escaping light landed before a city. Yi'an City had arrived.

Lu Ye jumped off the small boat with Amber, turned and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Senior Brother, for escorting us all this way."

Tang Wu smiled. "It's nothing," he said. "Let's part ways here. We'll meet again!"

"We'll meet again!"

Watching the escaping light rapidly depart, Lu Ye looked on with envy, wishing he could be so carefree someday. However, roads are walked step by step, and meals are eaten bite by bite. Compared to other cultivators, his cultivation speed was already very fast.

It had been almost five months since entering the Spirit Stream battlefield, and he had already opened fifty-four spiritual apertures, a feat basically impossible for cultivators in the early stages.

Turning around, Lu Ye looked at the city ahead and climbed onto Amber's back. It was already late, and being unfamiliar with the place, it would be best to enter the city and rest for the night. Furthermore, he needed to procure some supplies.