Chapter 116: Extreme adversity leads to great fortune (High energy in this chapter)

“The moonlight, so dim,The earth, shrouded in night mist,Oh, the one in my dreams,Where are you?”

In the living room, the phonograph continued to play "The One in My Dreams."

Lu Dongliang had vanished, and so had He Yuxiu.

Lu Dongjun looked at Zhuo Yuling and asked, “Where did he go? What kind of technique is this?”

Zhuo Yuling looked astonished. “He Jiaqing, He Jiaqing’s technique. He Jiaqing is an itinerant cultivator.”

Lu Dongjun wasn’t concerned with He Jiaqing.

“Lu Dongliang is still alive!” Lu Dongjun exclaimed, his face filled with panic, glaring at Zhuo Yuling. “He won’t let us go! I shouldn’t have believed you!”

Head Guard Zuo Wugang came downstairs with Lu Xiaolan, accompanied by several other guards.

They didn't see Lu Dongliang, only Zhuo Yuling and Lu Dongjun, who had appeared at some point.

Wu Ma returned with a teapot; she seemed to have witnessed something.

Lu Dongjun looked at Wu Ma, his fingers subtly interlacing, and Wu Ma’s head fell to the ground instantly.

He Yuxiu had two attendants with her, and they saw the scene unfold.

From several meters away, Lu Dongjun made a light gesture towards their necks, and both their heads promptly dropped.

Against these low-level cultivators, Lu Dongjun didn’t need to get close.

To ordinary people, the deaths of these three seemed to have no connection to Lu Dongjun.

But for the guards who had just come downstairs, the connection was significant.

Especially for Head Guard Zuo Wugang, a Level Six master, who could perceive Lu Dongjun's actions.

Lu Dongjun didn't hide his intent. He pointed at Wu Ma’s corpse and shouted, “This is He Yuxiu’s person! He Yuxiu injured Big Brother, so I’m going to find Big Brother. You all must guard the mansion!”

Lu Dongjun rushed out of the mansion. Everything he said was true.

He was indeed going to find his Big Brother, and as soon as he found Lu Dongliang, he would kill him.

His order for the guards to protect the mansion had one purpose: to keep them from running around, especially from finding Lu Dongliang before him.

Lu Dongjun chose the most advantageous situation for himself, but it was not so favorable for Zhuo Yuling.

However, if these guards didn't leave, how could Zhuo Yuling rescue Lu Xiaolan?

Zhuo Yuling was Level Five, and Daboyins, hidden in the shadows, was also Level Five. Lu Xiaolan was only Level Three, an observational cultivator not skilled in combat, and all her magical artifacts had been confiscated by Lu Dongliang.

What to do?

In a moment of urgency, Zhuo Yuling had a flash of inspiration. She shouted, “Quick, check on Madam and Young Master!”

The guards paused for a moment, still bewildered.

Since entering the Lu family mansion, they had only followed orders from Lu Dongliang and Qiu Zhiheng.

But tonight, an unexpected event had occurred.

Butler Qiu, known as ‘the Monkey,’ was absent, Lu Dongliang was nowhere to be found, Lu Dongjun had given orders, and now Zhuo Yuling was also giving orders.

Should they obey them?

Zhuo Yuling shouted again, “Are you still just standing there?! He Yuxiu led people in and attacked!”

Head Guard Zuo Wugang came to his senses and told his subordinates, “Quick, go upstairs and see how the First Madam is doing. You two, check on the Eldest Young Master. You two, check on the Second Young Lady…”

Zuo Wugang assigned clear tasks, and most of the guards were dispatched, leaving only three guards to watch Lu Xiaolan.

But Zuo Wugang didn't leave; he was a tough opponent, a Level Six martial cultivator not easily dealt with.

Zhuo Yuling was considering the right moment to act when a guard rushed back in a panic. “Head Zuo, bad news! Miss Chunying and Madam Yeci are both gone!”

“Damn it! That blasted He family!” Zuo Wugang stomped his foot and hurried upstairs.

Madam Yeci could be ignored; Lu Dongliang didn't care for her anyway.

But Miss Chunying could not be ignored. Lu Dongliang had specifically instructed the guards to protect her thoroughly.

Only one guard remained beside Lu Xiaolan. Zhuo Yuling no longer hesitated. She suddenly lifted her long skirt, swayed her waist, and a long tail shot out from below her waist, piercing the guard’s throat.

The guard collapsed immediately, barely clinging to life.

Zhuo Yuling twisted her waist again, and the long tail pierced through the guard's head from above.

Lu Xiaolan was covered in shackles, but Zhuo Yuling didn’t bother unlocking them. She quickly took Lu Xiaolan and left the mansion.

By the time Zuo Wugang returned, only the guard’s corpse remained on the ground.

“What in the world is going on now?!”

Zuo Wugang’s eyes were bloodshot. Xiao Yeci and Lu Chunying were gone.

Now Zhuo Yuling and Lu Xiaolan were also gone.

If Lu Dongliang returned, wouldn't he skin him alive?

“Quick, quick! Call Butler Qiu!” Zuo Wugang finally snapped out of it. This matter had to be handled by Butler Qiu.

He Jiaqing had just settled back onto his hospital bed and stretched when he heard a voice in his ear: “Where do you think Lu Dongliang will go?”

“There’s no way to deduce that,” He Jiaqing replied softly. “I guess he doesn’t even know where he’s going himself. This is a sudden situation; he definitely didn’t prepare any prior location targeting.”

“I’m worried Lu Dongliang won’t die. Level Nine cultivators are incredibly hardy.”

“I have a premonition he will die, I just can’t see how he’ll die,” He Jiaqing said with a confident smile. “Just wait for his corpse. Puluozhou is about to change. The headlines will be yours.”

Lu Dongliang flew through the air.

He hadn't flown very far because he was severely injured and couldn't exert much strength.

He also didn’t know where he was flying. When performing the technique that teleports one vast distances, he would lose his sense of direction.

If he had a directional target, he could have pushed He Yuxiu to a specific location, or transported himself to one, but he had no opportunity at the time.

All other techniques were unusable. Level Nine techniques consumed immense energy, and combined with his severe injuries, Lu Dongliang was barely clinging to life. He could only rely on his Level One fortune-seeking and disaster-averting technique to fly in the most favorable direction.

Flying south, Lu Dongliang sensed, was the right direction. There was someone in the south who could save him.

He flew to the edge of Greenwater City, lost control upon landing, and plunged headfirst into a muddy ditch.

This was bad. He was suffocating.

He was going to choke to death on this ditch of mud.

Lu Dongliang, a Level Nine itinerant cultivator, one of the foremost masters in all of Puluozhou, and the head of its most powerful clan, found himself stuck in a muddy ditch, unable to get out due to his severe injuries.

Didn't it say flying south would lead to someone saving him?

A Level Nine itinerant cultivator dying in a muddy ditch?

Who would save him?

Who could save him?

Who…

Mud continuously poured into his mouth and nose. The weakened Lu Dongliang was losing consciousness.

Who could save him?

Li Banfeng walked to the edge of the muddy ditch and saw a person stuck headfirst in the mud, their legs still struggling.

He had just fled Greenwater City and was eager to return to Lanyang Village when he suddenly encountered this strange sight.

Li Banfeng casually pulled Lu Dongliang out of the mud.

Lu Dongliang’s entire face was caked with mud. Li Banfeng regularly read newspapers, so he should have recognized him, but at the moment, he couldn’t even make out Lu Dongliang’s features.

Li Banfeng helped clear the mud from his mouth and nose. Seeing a bleeding hole on his forehead, he initially thought of leaving him by the roadside, letting him live or die according to his fate.

Unexpectedly, Lu Dongliang suddenly grabbed Li Banfeng’s leg and begged repeatedly, “Save me, please, they want to kill me, save me…”

Lu Dongliang was right; someone did want to kill him.

Even though this was the edge of Greenwater City, Lu Dongjun would soon find him.

But Li Banfeng didn’t want to stay here long either. Carrying such a large living person, when would he ever walk back to Lanyang Village?

Should he take him into his portable dwelling and carry him along for a bit?

Li Banfeng quickly dismissed this idea because he had never done it before.

He had brought living people into his portable dwelling, but once inside, they quickly ceased to be living people.

To put it bluntly, Li Banfeng would not allow anyone to leave his portable dwelling alive. He would not permit anyone to reveal its secret.

Li Banfeng ignored Lu Dongliang and prepared to leave.

But his legs wouldn't obey him.

A thought surged from his legs to his brain.

He wanted to save this person.

He wanted to bring this person back to his portable dwelling.

This feeling was incredibly strong.

He had experienced a similar feeling once before, when he was about to ride in the rickshaw of the rickshaw puller.

At that time, Li Banfeng had just advanced his level and didn't know how to use techniques, relying entirely on the rickshaw puller's guidance.

This feeling was even stronger than the last time.

Was he about to encounter another master cultivator who would give him guidance?

Li Banfeng hesitated for a moment, then helped Lu Dongliang up again. He wanted to ask him a few questions, but found that Lu Dongliang had lost consciousness again.

Seeing that he wouldn't wake up anytime soon, Li Banfeng again thought of abandoning him, but suddenly felt danger approaching.

Was it coming for this person?

Li Banfeng looked at the unconscious Lu Dongliang, feeling a bit uncertain.

If it truly was coming for him, leaving him here would surely mean his death.

The fortune-seeking and disaster-averting technique led Li Banfeng to make a judgment.

Saving this person was the right thing to do, so he would save him one more time.

Li Banfeng decided to first take him into his portable dwelling and then immediately leave Greenwater City. He would let him out once the danger passed.

At that point, if he could save him, he would; if not, so be it.

Li Banfeng dragged Lu Dongliang into his portable dwelling and immediately set off.

No sooner had he left than Lu Dongliang opened his eyes.

He hadn’t lost consciousness; he was faking it.

As a Level Nine cultivator, one of the strongest beings in all of Puluozhou and the head of its most powerful clan, Lu Dongliang’s act was beyond Li Banfeng’s ability to discern.

Before entering the portable dwelling, Lu Dongliang had opened his eyes once with extreme speed, glancing at Li Banfeng.

With that one look, he recognized Li Banfeng.

To capture Li Banfeng, Lu Dongliang had seen many photographs and remembered every detail.

Although Li Banfeng’s hair was longer, he had a full beard, and wore a top hat, this still couldn't escape Lu Dongliang’s eyes.

The moment he saw Li Banfeng, Lu Dongliang suppressed his inner excitement and joy, first using a spell to conceal his ill intent towards Li Banfeng.

Lu Dongliang’s level was too high; Li Banfeng only sensed good fortune, not danger.

Panting for a few breaths, Lu Dongliang finally managed to sit up with difficulty.

Was this Li Banfeng’s residence?

He actually lived near Greenwater City?

This kid was truly bold; he had never discovered him!

Scanning the dark room, Lu Dongliang found a faint glow in the corner.

This outline, could it be…

Lu Dongliang was thrilled. He went forward and embraced the copper lotus placed in the corner.

The copper lotus was still refining Madam Suomu. Li Banfeng had never returned her to the outer room, which allowed Lu Dongliang to discover it.

Destiny. This was destiny!

Thinking of what he had endured tonight, Lu Dongliang shed tears.

Just a few minutes ago, he had faced betrayal from his family; he had been assassinated by his own flesh and blood.

He knew Zhuo Yuling was extremely dissatisfied with the matter concerning Lu Xiaolan.

He knew Lu Dongjun had considerable ambition for the position of family head.

He knew Zhuo Yuling and Lu Dongjun had a lot of private dealings, possibly quite in-depth.

But all of this was within Lu Dongliang's control. He had even determined the opportune moment to eliminate Zhuo Yuling and Lu Dongjun.

He just hadn't expected it all to happen so suddenly.

He Yuxiu’s arrival was too sudden, Zhuo Yuling’s move was too sudden, and he had sent Butler Qiu away. His home had been ambushed, leading to this calamity.

During his flight, Lu Dongliang had thought this was the most terrible disaster of his life.

He hadn’t expected that after the disaster, the greatest good fortune would follow immediately.

When things reached their limit, they turned around for the better. This was exactly that.

Since reaching Level One, the fortune-seeking and disaster-averting technique had never disappointed him!

He was a Level Nine itinerant cultivator, just one step away from Level Ten.

But the cultivation for a Level Nine itinerant cultivator was too arduous. Lu Dongliang no longer wished to endure it, nor wait any longer.

He could consume elixirs; financial resources were not an issue.

However, ordinary elixirs had too many impurities and too much toxicity. Pure elixirs were rare, priceless, and virtually impossible to acquire. Lu Dongliang could hardly sustain his cultivation through elixirs anymore.

With the Profound Life Red Lotus, all of this could be resolved. Reaching Level Ten would be effortless.

Even reaching beyond Level Ten, to another realm, would no longer be an unattainable dream.

Now, what Lu Dongliang needed to do was to quickly recover his combat strength.

As he was, he couldn't even defeat an adult man, but if he rested for half an hour, he could recover to Level Three combat strength.

After an hour, he could recover to Level Five.

Resting for ten days would allow him to recover to Level Seven. Such was the physique and power of a Level Nine cultivator.

Beyond Level Seven, he would need slow recuperation.

But he didn't need to recover to Level Seven.

Although Li Banfeng’s cultivation was imperceptible, based on Lu Dongliang’s experience, it couldn’t exceed Level Three.

Don't think about anything else now. Concentrate on recovering. He could kill Li Banfeng once he reached Level Three.

Of course, if Li Banfeng returned even later, it would be safer to kill him after recovering to Level Five.

The wounds on his forehead and chest healed rapidly. Lu Dongliang’s strength was also slowly recovering.

Hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss.

Lu Dongliang, focused on recovery, couldn't help but open his eyes.

It was the sound of the Profound Life Red Lotus.

Through the lotus's glow, he saw the petals unfolding.

The Red Lotus had bloomed!

Lu Dongliang was thrilled!

This was a response to destiny!

This was a response to a powerful presence!

The Red Lotus had recognized him as its master!

Actually, he was overthinking it.

The Red Lotus Flower did indeed sense him.

But what it sensed was not destiny, nor a powerful presence, and certainly not a master.

Steam hissed out.

Clang, clang, clang, clang.

The phonograph, playing a slow tempo, accompanied by gongs and drums, slowly sang: “That madman once boasted he’d bring a Level Nine back as ingredients,I ridiculed him many times, but now I’m somewhat ashamed. I underestimated our man,Sisters, cultivation is imperceptible, but looking at his recovery speed, he must be Level Nine, right?”

Lu Dongliang was terrified.

He couldn’t comprehend what kind of being this phonograph was, but he could sense danger, an unresistable danger.

After recovering for a few minutes, Lu Dongliang already possessed Level One combat strength. He got up and ran, using his 'Wind on Flat Ground' technique to rush out of the room, but two phonograph needles hooked tightly onto his shoulders.

The phonograph had three needles and three record trays.

She had upgraded her hardware.

Two needles pinned Lu Dongliang in place, and two records embedded themselves into Lu Dongliang’s soul, beginning to slice.

“Sisters, good things are rare, let’s not stand idle, let’s dig in!”

The blood-infused pendulum flew up, piercing into Lu Dongliang's neck and began to suck his blood.

The copper lotus, with dew drops flowing from its heart, seemed impatient.

Lu Dongliang’s cheeks twitched, his expression desperate.

After experiencing what he thought was the greatest good fortune of his life, he plunged back into disaster, but this time, he couldn't escape.

It shouldn't be like this.

According to the guidance of the fortune-seeking and disaster-averting technique, Lu Dongliang couldn't understand how things had ended this way.

Before he completely lost consciousness, he understood.

He found Li Banfeng, which was indeed seeking good fortune, and Li Banfeng genuinely wanted to save him.

But the calamities brought by the phonograph and the Red Lotus were beyond his foresight.

Especially this bizarre house, it was even more unforeseeable.

Because his level was not high enough, and the difference was too vast.

Li Banfeng once wondered, what was the origin of that newspaper? Why did it dare to report on everything?