Chapter 69: The Ultimate Move of Xiangxing Fist

"This is a bit tricky," Lu Yang muttered, sensing something was amiss.

The others from the Yanjiang Branch had already left, rushing off to commit mischief, leaving only the three of them behind.

If left unchecked, the three of them could wreak havoc and turn the entire Immortal Ascension City upside down.

Unfortunately, their true nature prevented this. They were here as undercover agents within the demonic sect, and there were many real demonic cultivators present.

"No wonder I've never heard of anyone successfully infiltrating the Immortal Cult as a spy. So there's this kind of test," Meng Jingzhou mused, finding it particularly thorny.

"What's the worst thing you want to do?" Lu Yang asked.

Meng Jingzhou pondered for a long time before saying uncertainly, "Does going to a brothel count?"

Since childhood, his clan had forbidden him from going to places like brothels. His uncles, who had been there, all said brothels were terrible places, unsuitable for children.

Seeing his uncles' miserable state returning home and kneeling on washboards, Meng Jingzhou truly believed brothels were dreadful.

Now, as a single man—or rather, with his Pure Yang Spiritual Root—he couldn't go even more so.

For Meng Jingzhou, going to a brothel—such a rebellious act—was the worst kind of mischief.

Man Gu, on the other hand, couldn't think of anything at all.

"Alright, we still have a day anyway, so let's go relax at a brothel," Lu Yang suggested. He already had an idea. Seriously, could such a rule really restrict him?

It was still early; there was no need to act immediately. Since it was a rare opportunity, they might as well fulfill Meng Jingzhou's wish first.

Meng Jingzhou's eyes lit up. "Right, this isn't my real body. It won't hurt to go once."

"Let's go, let's go!" Meng Jingzhou urged the other two to accompany him.

He felt uneasy going to such a place alone.

The other two couldn't refuse Meng Jingzhou, so they had no choice but to go along.

The brothel was in a very conspicuous location, and the three found it easily.

Flamboyantly dressed women stood at the entrance, beckoning customers with handkerchiefs. A simple flick of their hands seemed to lure in the souls of passersby.

Upon reaching the brothel entrance, Man Gu backed out, retreating repeatedly. "I am a scholar. This is not a place for scholars."

"The sages say that beautiful women are but skeletons, and beauties who topple kingdoms will turn to white bones. I cannot make such a mistake."

The two of them tried to persuade him for a long time, exhausting their arguments, but Man Gu remained unswayed. They had to give up.

Lu Yang, quite loyal, said, "Since you're unwilling to go to the brothel, I'll go in your stead."

Man Gu breathed a sigh of relief, thinking Lu Yang was truly dependable.

Then, he watched as Lu Yang performed a set of Pictographic Fist moves, transforming into his exact likeness.

Man Gu was utterly stunned.

Lu Yang patted the stunned Man Gu, gesturing for him to relax. "I'm going in."

Man Gu quickly grabbed his other self. "You can't go! And even if you do, you can't go as me!"

"I'm doing this out of kindness for you. It would be such a pity if you couldn't go," Lu Yang said, feigning sincerity.

Man Gu adamantly disagreed.

"Don't be shy," Lu Yang cajoled.

In reality, Lu Yang was also nervous. He had never been to such a place before. What if something went wrong? Meng Jingzhou would surely laugh at him for life. Naturally, Lu Yang thought of transforming into Man Gu's appearance so that any embarrassment wouldn't be his own.

He definitely couldn't say that out loud.

As the three of them were bickering, they heard a loud rumble from the brothel, followed by women's screams and men's wild laughter.

The three spun their heads sharply, discovering more than a dozen cultivators rampaging through the brothel, some with respectable women clutched in their arms, evidently plundered from somewhere.

These cultivators didn't even bother to conceal their cultivation levels; all were at the Foundation Establishment stage, and the aura of two or three of them was no less than that of the previous Tiger Demon!

All these individuals were cultivators participating in the trial.

"Scoundrels!" Fury surged from the depths of their hearts, and they wanted to intervene and stop these people.

Meng Jingzhou and Man Gu moved to act, but Lu Yang stopped them.

"Don't be impulsive. There are only three of us; we can't defeat them."

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Meng Jingzhou asked anxiously.

Lu Yang waved his hand. "I have a way to temporarily boost my combat power. You two wait for me."

Meng Jingzhou and Man Gu were curious. They didn't have any Ten Ox Strength Pills on them. Had Lu Yang learned some secret art to temporarily enhance his cultivation?

Lu Yang took a deep breath, his movements growing softer, his vibrant gaze turning cold and expressionless, exuding an aloof aura.

Meng Jingzhou narrowed his eyes, then suddenly widened them.

Those movements were strikingly similar to Senior Sister Yun Zhi!

Lu Yang was performing the Lu Clan's Pictographic Fist, transforming into the Senior Sister's appearance.

He had joked before that the Lu Clan's Pictographic Fist had nine stages, and cultivating it to the ninth heaven could allow one to transform into a Tribulation Transcending stage mighty figure in an instant.

The reason he said this was that he had discovered his physical strength was slightly greater than his true self when he transformed into Man Gu.

The Lu Clan's Pictographic Fist could obtain a portion of the transformed person's power!

This power was definitely limited and couldn't grow infinitely stronger, but it was still quite formidable.

Lu Yang wanted to transform into Senior Sister's appearance to see how much power he could gain and if he could defeat these people!

Senior Sister, my apologies.

A breathtakingly beautiful woman appeared. Her glances shimmered with brilliance, and an ancient frost seemed to settle between her brows.

Meng Jingzhou and Man Gu, seeing this beautiful woman, instinctively held their breath, their legs trembling.

Lu Yang had successfully transformed into Senior Sister!

Lu Yang felt a powerful force descend from the heavens, surging into his body!

At Dao-Seeking Sect, Tianmen Peak.

Yun Zhi sat cross-legged atop the mountain peak, her eyes open, gazing at the sky as if she could see the boundless sea of stars far beyond.

Her aura was perfectly restrained; anyone looking at her would only perceive her as a mortal.

Yet, mortals do not float at the summit of mountains, nor do they possess eyes filled with glittering star rivers.

"Hmm? Who borrowed my power?" Yun Zhi withdrew her gaze, noticing a trace of her power splitting off and flying to the distant infinity.

"I'd like to see who has such audacity!"

Yun Zhi had never encountered such a brazen thief before!

She broke her mortal guise, her aura erupting like a sharp halberd, piercing through the clouds, fully displaying the imposing demeanor of Dao-Seeking Sect's Senior Sister.

Yun Zhi's soul left her body, transforming into a piercing stream of light, chasing after the trace of power that had separated from her.

"Cough!" Lu Yang couldn't even bear a fraction of Senior Sister's power and reverted to his original form.

Meng Jingzhou and Man Gu also breathed a sigh of relief. Lu Yang in Senior Sister's form was simply too oppressive.

*Crack—*

A crisp sound came from above.

Whether it was the rogue demonic cultivators committing arson, murder, and pillage, or the three preparing to act righteously, everyone stopped what they were doing and stared, dumbfounded, at the sky above.

The previously boundless space suddenly developed a crack, as if something had struck it.

*Crack, crack, crack...*

The crack, like a dry riverbed, grew wider and wider. With a loud *whoosh*, the crack transformed into a gaping hole, as if the heavens themselves had torn open.

A striking figure appeared in the opening, her brow slightly furrowed.

"This aura... is it the demonic sect?"

***

First year: The Grand Qian Princess first encountered the 'gentleman.' He was upright and righteous, upholding justice. She sneered, "A hypocrite."

Second year: During the imperial succession struggle, she lost everything by a single misstep and closed her eyes, ready for death. He was the only one who stepped forward, risking his life and status to escort her back to the capital. She scoffed, "Still somewhat of a gentleman."

Fifth year: After the coup, she ascended the throne as Empress. She offered him high office, generous emoluments, noble maidens, and beautiful women, all of which he refused. She frowned slightly, "Indeed, a gentleman."

Tenth year: Waking up in the morning, her body aching all over, she gritted her teeth and cursed the person beside her, "You call yourself a gentleman?!"