Chapter 1115: Red Dust Incarnation or Waging War to Sustain War?

"She only won by chance; one defeat means nothing. Let's redouble our efforts and try to make her use a second move!"

Immortal Fairy encouraged everyone, and it was highly effective.

Although they had used all their trump cards, expended vast energy, and endured a fierce battle, they were still no match for Yunzhi. Yet, they didn't feel tired; instead, they were all full of energy.

Before returning to the cave dwelling, they had all lain on the ground and slept for a long time. Now that they had woken up, they were well-rested.

Their injuries were more severe than Lu Yang's, but they possessed various methods that allowed for astonishing healing speeds. They would soon recover their full strength.

In a flash, Emperor Dou personally led the expedition, and everyone marched out in force, leaving Lu Yang alone in the empty cave dwelling.

Lu Yang blinked, not understanding what they were doing.

He ate a flower cake with his Enlightenment Tea, but realized something was wrong. He quickly picked up his book and shook it.

"Oh no, cake crumbs fell into the book's creases!"

As Lu Yang immersed himself in the cultivation method, when he looked up for the second time, he happened to see the Great Dou Dynasty returning from their campaign, having suffered a crushing defeat.

"Fifteen defeats are nothing; let's keep up the good work..."

Watching the group who, even before marching out, remembered to quietly close the door, Lu Yang absently ate a spirit fruit, when suddenly his face contorted.

"So sour! What kind of spirit fruit is this?"

When he looked up for the third time, Immortal Fairy was once again encouraging everyone:

"Eighty defeats are nothing; everyone take a break."

Everyone was staggering with exhaustion, with no strength left to fight. Even Qing He was so exhausted she simply collapsed onto the ground.

Even as Half-Immortals, they couldn't endure battle after battle like this.

However, there were gains. Their combined tactics were improving rapidly; the only problem was that their opponent was too powerful, so their progress wasn't evident.

Lu Yang's mouth twitched, and he finally couldn't help but ask, "Fairy, what are you all doing?"

"Conquering formidable foes and expanding our territory!"

"Achieving everlasting glory, ensuring our names live on in Dou History!"

"Challenging ourselves, surpassing ourselves!"

"Being granted marquis titles, reaching the highest ranks among officials!"

"One campaign, forever campaigning; the realm forever solidified!"

Each slogan represented a different goal, and Yun Mengmeng and the others were shouting eagerly, not appearing very tired.

The history of the Great Dou Dynasty's campaigns was a history of blood and tears. They had waged over eighty battles, big and small. Not only did Emperor Dou personally lead expeditions, and all three Great Generals mobilize, even civil officials like the Imperial Historian and the Minister of Rites abandoned their pens for the battlefield, throwing themselves into the brutal war.

Emperor Dou lamented the hardships of the common people. No matter how dire the war situation, he firmly refused to levy taxes, so as not to burden the populace. He was truly an enlightened ruler.

"We are conquering Yunzi!" Immortal Fairy stood with her hands on her hips, head held high, as if doing something truly remarkable.

Rumble—

The cave dwelling's door opened, and the target of their conquest proactively came knocking.

"Senior Sister!" Lu Yang raised both hands and honestly called out, to prove his innocence.

Yunzhi glanced at the books on Lu Yang's table and the notes covering it, and nodded in satisfaction. "Fairy Senior said you're compiling a cultivation method, and they didn't want to disturb you in the cave dwelling, so they came out to find something to do. I just came by to see if that was the case."

Lu Yang's eye twitched, thinking: *Fairy, you all might as well have quietly stayed in the cave dwelling playing mahjong or 'Fight the Landlord.'*

"You're doing well; keep studying."

Yunzhi offered a few words of encouragement and was about to leave, when Lu Yang called out to her.

"Senior Sister, if I want to stabilize my cultivation realm, is it better to choose the path of immersing oneself in the mortal world, or the path of cultivating through battle?"

Yunzhi thought for a moment: "Actually, it doesn't matter."

Lu Yang nodded, half-understanding, and interpreted Senior Sister's meaning: "Senior Sister, do you mean that the Great Dao has three thousand paths that all lead to the same destination, and no matter which one I choose, it's essentially a process of clarifying my mind, perceiving my true nature, and verifying my original heart? Does this align with my cultivation method?"

"No, what I mean is, given your luck, even if you choose to immerse yourself in the mortal world, it will eventually devolve into cultivating through battle."

*Senior Sister, saying that hurts me,* Lu Yang thought. *Although I enjoy fighting, I never actively provoke disputes. It's clearly that the Great World Strife is coming, battles are breaking out everywhere, and I just inadvertently got caught up in them.*

"Little Yangzi, don't be afraid. The Great Dou Dynasty will always be your strong backing. Go ahead and immerse yourself in the mortal world; if you encounter a fight, we'll help you fight it!" Immortal Fairy said, speaking with great loyalty.

The Great Dou Dynasty had been able to stand for several years without collapsing, and instead grew larger in scale, even establishing Lu Yang as its Crown Prince. This was entirely due to Immortal Fairy's approach of not judging by ability, but by the closeness of relationships, valuing loyalty, and upholding the ethics of the martial world.

After Senior Sister left, Lu Yang sighed, wondering when Senior Sister would come to his aid, and when this undercover identity would end.

Cultivation knew no time. Lu Yang shut himself in the cave dwelling, studying intently day and night. The rest of the Great Dou Dynasty also shut themselves in Lu Yang's cave dwelling, playing intently day and night.

Both sides had their own affairs, and time passed peacefully.

"Almost done," Lu Yang said, picking up a stack of papers and flicking them gently.

These past few days, he had researched cultivation methods, pondered their meanings, meticulously analyzed them, and added his own understanding. Finally, he had produced this piece of work.

Then, with a *bang*, the papers were flicked into dust.

Lu Yang covered his face. He had instantly surged to the early Tribulation Transcendence stage and hadn't controlled his strength, flicking his work into ash.

Fortunately, this was his own creation, so he could quickly rewrite it.

"I'll go find Senior Sister."

Lu Yang had now recovered mostly, no longer limping, and no longer needing assistance.

He opened the cave dwelling, and Immortal Fairy and the others, like bodyguards, all followed in a rush.

Lu Yang found Senior Sister at the peak of Heavenly Gate Mountain. Senior Sister had been at Heavenly Gate Mountain during this period.

Senior Sister sat on an imperial chair, holding a sword manual. Third Senior Sister, with her eyes veiled, played the guqin. The wind rustled the grass, and the scenery was as beautiful as a painting.

Seeing Lu Yang arrive, Yunzhi subtly put away the sword manual, but was still noticed by Yun Mengmeng.

"Oh, Xiaozhi, you're reading a sword manual again. Why don't you learn from me? If you can't learn it, just give up."

Yunzhi pretended not to hear Yun Mengmeng's words, and didn't bother to argue with her good sister.

"Is the cultivation method finished?"

"Yes."

Lu Yang respectfully handed the cultivation method to Yunzhi.

Yunzhi quickly read through it, and calmly uttered two words: "Not bad."

Compared to when he first started compiling cultivation methods, Junior Brother had clearly made great progress.

"Let me see, let me see."

Hearing Xiaozhi praise the Second Boss, Yun Mengmeng clamored to see it. Ao Ling, Qing He, and the others also leaned their heads together to look at the cultivation method in Yun Mengmeng's hands.

"It's indeed not bad," Qing He said, surprised. Although there were a few flaws, she was judging it with her current level of insight. If it were her in the Void Refining stage, she definitely wouldn't be able to write a cultivation method of this caliber.

"Young Cult Master is so amazing."

"Of course, how could our Second Boss not be amazing?"

"Senior Sister, then this cultivation method of mine..." Lu Yang looked at Yunzhi expectantly.

"Only needs 40% revision."