NOVPUB
Chapter 136: Chapter 136 Xuanyuan Sect Disciples are Weaklings!
As his gaze fell on the wooden box containing Essence Energy Pills on the ground, Luo Cheng became even more curious about Ling Chulan’s identity.
The scene just now where Ling Chulan suddenly produced the wooden box out of thin air, he had seen it clearly.
A martial artist of the Transcendence Realm, able to use a Storage Treasure, and casually retrieving five thousand Essence Energy Pills without batting an eye!
Every single detail hinted at something extraordinary!
Luo Cheng suddenly recalled the portrait of the beauty on the Bounty Order.
Upon closer thought, the eyes of the woman in the portrait bore some resemblance to Ling Chulan’s.
At this moment, Ling Chulan noticed Luo Cheng’s gaze and spoke, "Luo Cheng, take these Essence Energy Pills."
Luo Cheng was taken aback and asked, "Why?"
Ling Chulan replied, "If not for your timely appearance today, I would have..."
Luo Cheng shook his head. "I saved you not for any reward."
He acted to save him because it was Ling Chulan.
If it had been someone else, he might not have lent a hand.
Hearing this, Ling Chulan’s gaze flickered slightly, as if he wanted to say something further, but suddenly let out a muffled groan. From beneath his black veil, thin streams of blood seeped out.
Luo Cheng glanced at him and frowned, "Your injuries aren’t light. Let me first help you remove the arrow."
"No need..."
Ling Chulan instinctively stepped back, shaking his head to refuse.
Luo Cheng knew what he was worried about and said helplessly, "Relax. I’ll only help you remove the arrow and treat your injuries. I won’t do anything else."
Ling Chulan hesitated briefly before finally nodding.
"Brace yourself."
In a flash, Luo Cheng moved behind Ling Chulan, swung his Meteor Sword, cutting the arrow shaft, and with a single palm strike, forced out the arrow head.
Cough!
Ling Chulan spat out a mouthful of fresh blood as blood gushed forth from the wound.
The loss of a large amount of blood weakened him so much that he could hardly stand.
Luo Cheng quickly supported him and took out a dark-red pill, pushing it into Ling Chulan’s mouth:
"This is a Two-star Healing Spirit Pill. Swallow it quickly."
Ling Chulan stared blankly at Luo Cheng before swallowing the pill.
Luo Cheng helped him sit down and said, "Your injuries are severe. Sit and recover first—I’ll stand guard."
"Alright."
Ling Chulan nodded faintly. Perhaps finding the surrounding area littered with corpses too filthy, he moved to a wind-sheltered rock aside and began meditative breathing.
This suited Luo Cheng just fine.
Just moments ago, he had lamented the wasted opportunity—so many Transcendence Realm martial artist corpses lying around, yet he couldn’t devour their Martial Souls.
Now, there was no reason to hesitate.
After scavenging the wealth off these bodies, Luo Cheng immediately began devouring their Martial Souls.
The grades of these cultivators’ Martial Souls ranged from One-star Martial Souls to Three-star Martial Souls, with Elder Chen’s being the highest—a Four-Star Martial Soul!
Once Luo Cheng had consumed all the Martial Souls, he felt an immense surge of Essence Qi flooding into his body, sweeping through his limbs and bones!
In his dantian, the long-dormant Dragon Energy grew rapidly agitated and lively, soaring and darting within his dantian.
Gradually, faint ripple-like patterns began to appear on the previously smooth surface of the Dragon Energy, as though something was on the verge of sprouting.
"It’s evolving this quickly!"
Noticing the change in his Dragon Energy, Luo Cheng’s heart burned with excitement.
The True Dragon Technique had nine levels; each breakthrough brought massive improvements in strength!
In the first level, Luo Cheng had only gained a strength increase of five thousand pounds; by the time he reached the fifth level, the increase was nearly ten thousand pounds!
For the sixth level of the True Dragon Technique, the strength boost would undoubtedly be even greater!
"As long as I break through to the sixth level of the True Dragon Technique, combined with my cultivation advancement, I’ll surely step into the Golden Body Realm of the Seventh Layer of the Transcendence Realm in one go!"
Confidence soared within Luo Cheng as he couldn’t help but marvel at the fortune of his current endeavor.
If he had remained secluded within the sect to cultivate, breaking through the sixth level of the True Dragon Technique would have been a far-off goal.
Ling Chulan was still healing. Meanwhile, Luo Cheng walked over to a cleaner spot to take stock of his gains.
These departed opponents weren’t exactly poor. The pills and gold notes combined amounted to two to three million taels—a hefty sum indeed.
After safely stowing away his spoils, Luo Cheng glanced over at Ling Chulan, who was not far off.
"This guy is quite mysterious. I wonder where he hails from..."
Murmuring softly to himself, Luo Cheng shook his head. He hardly had the energy to worry about others’ business right now.
A moment later, Ling Chulan exhaled deeply and opened his eyes.
Luo Cheng asked, "How are you feeling?"
"Recovered sixty percent or so. I’m fit to move," Ling Chulan replied, rising and stretching his limbs. His bright eyes turned toward Luo Cheng:
"Luo Cheng, I’m quite curious. In just a month or two, not only did you become an Outer Disciple, but your cultivation advanced to the Fifth Layer of the Transcendence Realm, even defeating martial artists of the Sixth Layer. How did you achieve this?"
Luo Cheng smiled faintly. "Just sheer luck."
Seeing Luo Cheng unwilling to elaborate, Ling Chulan didn’t press further.
Everyone had their secrets, after all, and so did he.
A short silence fell between them.
Ling Chulan gazed at the overcast sky and said quietly, "Luo Cheng, I actually envy you."
Startled, Luo Cheng asked, "Envy me?"
Ling Chulan nodded. "Despite awakening a Wasted Martial Soul, it hasn’t deterred you in the slightest. If it were me, I might have given up already."
Luo Cheng paused, his mind drifting to the Ji Family, the overbearing Crown Prince Hall, and those who had mocked and scorned him. Slowly, he shook his head and replied:
"Giving up is easy, but it only brings pain to those who care and joy to those who hate. The boat has passed through a thousand mountains; the road ahead, though long, still shines brightly..."
Ling Chulan quietly listened. When he heard the latter part, a glimmer of light sparked in his eyes.
Luo Cheng said, "I plan to head to Wushi City next. Want to come along?"
Ling Chulan shook his head.
Having narrowly avoided exposing his identity in Wushi City earlier due to a moment of carelessness, he was unwilling to take the risk again.
"I’ve been away from the sect for a while. I should head back to report on my task."
Luo Cheng nodded and advised, "Your injuries haven’t fully healed. It’s best to rest for a few days first. There’s a small town a few hundred miles southeast of here. You can recuperate there."
"Alright."
Ling Chulan nodded.
After packing up their belongings, both mounted their horses.
Before parting ways, Ling Chulan looked at Luo Cheng with a serious expression. "Luo Cheng, thank you. I’ll remember today’s kindness for the rest of my life."
Luo Cheng smiled faintly. "It was nothing. Don’t take it so seriously. Farewell then."
With that, Luo Cheng spurred his horse and galloped away.
Ling Chulan watched Luo Cheng’s silhouette recede into the distance.
At that moment, a brilliant ray of sunlight pierced through the gloomy clouds, illuminating the land!
"The boat has passed through a thousand mountains; the road ahead, though long, still shines brightly..."
Ling Chulan softly recited the words to himself, his eyes growing resolute as he rode off toward the southeast.
Wushi City.
As its name suggested, the city’s walls were constructed entirely from black stone found on the nearby plains. From afar, it resembled an abrupt rise of inky-black mountains. 𝒏𝙤𝙫𝒑𝙪𝙗.𝙘𝒐𝙢
Luo Cheng rode tirelessly, arriving at Wushi City just past noon.
The Ling Family was a mid-tier family of Wushi City, specializing in mining and arms production. They had few experts in their lineage: less than ten Transcendence Realm martial artists and only one at the Third Stage of Tongxuan Realm.
Rumor had it that conflict was brewing between the Great Chu Dynasty and the Great Yue Dynasty along the border. The Ling Family was preparing a shipment of weapons and armor for trade in Linguan City.
To ensure safety along the route, the Ling Family had decided to hire disciples of the Three Great Sects for the journey.
Not only were sect disciples exceptionally powerful, but the mere reputation of the Three Great Sects was enough to deter most petty bandits.
Luo Cheng made a few inquiries and quickly learned the location of the Ling Family, speeding there on horseback.
"Family Head Ling, it’s already past noon. Since no one from the Xuanyuan Sect has shown up, I doubt anyone dares to take on this task."
"Exactly. Disciples of the Xuanyuan Sect are a bunch of cowards—if they came along, they’d just be cannon fodder! No need to waste time on them; let’s proceed with the selection already!"
As Luo Cheng reached the gates of the Ling Family, he was greeted by a chorus of mocking laughter.
