Nine Evolutions of the True Spirit
chapter-352-30041322

The teenager was none other than Luan Yu, the Wood Luan.

Luan Yu looked at Lu Ping’s pale-white face and vibrant essence. Clearly, Lu Ping was just exhausted from expending his true energy; there were no serious injuries. Luan Yu smiled, and said, "If you’re on the verge of dying, sure I will, but you’re still far away from that. Furthermore, I’m also a monster; it isn’t right for me to interfere in this matter."

Lu Ping took two pellets to recover his true energy and suppress his injuries, and then asked, "How is Little Qin’er? She’s been in closed-door cultivation for so long. You’ve been looking after her, do you know when the breakthrough will happen?"

Lu Ping was really hoping that he could get a few more helpers.

Luan Yu smiled, "She’s not doing bad, Qin’er has been consolidating her foundation. Teacher seems to have taught her many things; she wants to revise and study the Fire Luan’s heritage once more. Although this will delay her breakthrough, it will greatly solidify her foundation and help her awaken more of the Fire Luan’s heritage after the breakthrough. This way, she can unlock more of her cultivation potential and go further in the road of cultivation."

When it came to Lu Qin, Luan Yu was always talkative and proud of her.

A while later, Lu Ping recovered some of his true energy and returned to Xuan Qi Island.

…

On Xuan Qi Island, Chen Lian looked solemnly at Lu Ping who had just returned, and asked, "Is it really that serious?"

Lu Ping smiled bitterly, "I hope not, but I’m afraid so. The monster invasion is weakening, but there is still no news about Junior Uncle Qu, so I’m quite certain."

Chen Lian nodded, "I’ve already sent the disciples back to Tian Ling Mountain and have reported the situation back to the sect. However, the monster invasion is only targeting Zhen Ling Sect, with even monster infiltrators inside the sect’s territory; we won’t have many reinforcements anytime soon."

Lu Ping had expected this, and said, "Junior Uncle Qu is at the peak of the Core Forging Realm, hardly anyone in the Core Forging Realm can stall him, let alone kill him. Otherwise, those four monster Enlightened Masters would be besieging him instead of coming to attack the island. He must be trapped somewhere, but there’s no danger to him, yet."

Chen Lian thought about it, and said, "You’re right. Furthermore, the Late Core Forging Realm cultivators are all being closely watched, and we haven’t received intelligence about any monster Late Core Forging Realm monsters coming to this battlefield. In other words, the monster race can only rely on the Early and Mid Core Forging Realm cultivators to form an array formation to trap Senior Uncle Qu."

They were busy discussing when Hu Lili walked over.

Chen Lian saw Hu Lili, and deliberately teased, "Junior Sister Hu, since when did you train such a powerful group of Dao soldiers? Those monster bees have killed at least seven Late Core Forging Realm monster beasts and a dozen other monster beasts."

Hu Lili smiled at Lu Ping with her moon-like eyes, looked at Chen Lian, and then asked, "Senior Brother Chen, do you think that the Dao soldiers can be compared to you?"

Chen Lian didn’t understand her question, so he didn’t know how to reply. Lu Ping said, "The Dao soldiers still aren’t good enough to fight Core Forging Realm Enlightened Masters. But even if they could, I still wouldn’t allow it. These are all Amethyst Bees so I’m still looking forward to having them brew more honey for me, especially their royal jelly, that’s a treasure that can please even Great Ancestors."

Chen Lian was shocked after learning that Lu Ping had actually trained precious Amethyst Bees into Dao soldiers, and exclaimed, "These are Amethyst Bees? Are you kidding me? You’ve made them into Dao soldiers? You’re truly one of a kind!"

Hu Lili looked at Lu Ping with surprise and pride. Chen Lian couldn’t stand the sight of the two, and was about to find an excuse to leave, when Lu Ping’s expression turned serious, and he said, "How is the island’s protective formation? Are the spirit stones enough?"

Hu Lili also turned serious, and replied, "The chassis is fine, and the spirit stones are sufficient, what’s the matter?"

Lu Ping mulled for a second, and then said, "My spirit pets have found Junior Uncle Qu’s location. He’s a few hundred miles out northeast, I have to go. If reinforcements arrive from the sect, have them come meet me there."

Chen Lian was about to say something, but Lu Ping quickly said, "Senior Brother Chen, you have to be on the island. I just fought back two monster Enlightened Masters, we don’t know if they’re still around so you have to be here to safeguard the island and prevent it from falling into their hands."

Chen Lian hesitated, and then sighed, "I guess that’s the best arrangement. I’m sorry, if only I was stronger, I would be of much more help. Junior brother, be cautious, your true energy has still not fully recovered so please restrain from fighting if you can. I believe Senior Uncle Qu will be able to last long enough until help arrives from the sect."

Hu Lili’s gaze was full of worry after hearing Chen Lian. Lu Ping smiled warmly at her, and then answered Chen Lian, "Senior brother, don’t worry, I will be careful."

…

A few miles away from Xuan Qi Island, a small wave splashed and Lu Ping walked from out of it. He looked around carefully and saw nothing but the vast and empty ocean.

Since returning to the North Ocean, he had sat through the few tutor sessions delivered by Great Ancestor Liu Tian-Ling to her disciples. Her teachings, along with his accumulated experience over the years, had enabled him to see another rapid improvement in his cultivation.

As a result, his [Water Escape] spell was now much more exquisite and far more stealthier. He had also learned teacher’s famous mini water divine ability, the [Water Tornado], by himself.

A giant sea turtle surfaced from the water. He walked over to it on the sea surface, as if he was walking on solid ground. After walking on top of the shell, he asked, "Where are they?"

The sea turtle stammered, "Huang… Li… Island…"

Lu Ping tapped his forehead helplessly, and said, "These three naughty kids… Dagui, you have to practice talking more, otherwise it will be easy to tell that you’re a monster even when you appear in full human form."

Lu Ping sat down on Dagui’s shell, patted Dagui, and said, "Let’s go, head to Junior Uncle Qu’s location."

Then, he meditated quietly to continue to recover his true energy during the journey.

A few hundred miles northeast of Xuan Qi Island, a section of the sea’s surface was covered in thick white fog. A red fiery light could be faintly seen inside the fog, randomly hitting different places, making explosions and thunderous sounds.

"Qu Xuan-Cheng, you’re doomed this time! I’ve secretly summoned eight Enlightened Masters from different battlefields to form this Mystical Frost Ice Fog Formation specially for you. Cave Master Fu Li even died to trap you in this formation. I suggest you stop struggling, with your absence, Xuan Qi Island has most probably already fallen to our hands by now. You’ve failed the Zhen Ling Sect and you’ve failed the human race, they won’t accept you anymore. Why don’t you join us, you’ll be a powerful Cave Master, and even a Monster King when you advance to the Avatar Realm!"

In general, Core Forging Realm cultivators were given the titles of Enlightened Masters, and Avatar Realm cultivators as Great Ancestors. However, internally within the monster race, they had alternative titles of their own: Core Forging Realm monsters were known as Cave Masters, and Avatar Realm monsters were known as Monster Kings.

"Bullshit!"

The words stirred Qu Xuan-Cheng’s anger up even more, causing him to lash out with a series of attacks. The explosions from the attacks shook the formation and sent the white fog into a turmoil. Several shrieks of pain were let out, before the formation gradually stabilized and the faint red light turned even dimmer.

The same voice spoke again, but this time, it sounded gloomier and jealous, "You… you’re already at this stage? The peak of the Core Forging Realm knocking on the door to the Avatar Realm… No wonder the monster race sees Zhen Ling Sect as important as Xuan Ling Sect, at times, we are even more wary of you than them!"

"Hmph"

Qu Xuan-Cheng hummed coldly, and lashed out another series of attacks.

"Fortunately, I came prepared. I am hosting the formation myself, assisted by six Mid Core Forging Realm Enlightened Masters and six Early Core Forging Realm Enlightened Masters. Otherwise, you might really have slipped from my grasp."

The voice quickly became prideful and arrogant, as if the speaker was enjoying seeing Qu Xuan-Cheng struggle like a trapped beast.

Two miles away from the fog, Lu Ping was hiding behind a coral reef, between two huge stone slabs.

These stone slabs were the mysterious stone slabs he had found in the Land of Hundred Flowers; they were effective in blocking a cultivator’s divine sense and divine revelation. Lu Ping initially wanted to have Chen Lian forge them into a stealth mystic instrument, but he had never got around to it yet.

Lu Ping’s gaze was fixated on the fog in front of him, lights kept flickering in his eyes as he used the [Tri-Pristine True Vision] to see through the fog. As he looked more intently at the fog, the nodes of the formation also gradually appeared in his eyes.

After circulating the true energy in his body, even with the help of pellets, he had still only recovered one-third of his true energy. In his present state, it would be extremely dangerous to enter the formation where more than half of the monster Enlightened Masters were stronger than him.

However, he couldn’t sit by and do nothing either. Qu Xuan-Cheng’s situation wasn’t looking good, he had attempted to break out of the formation multiple times but to no avail. Additionally, his attacks were weaker and fewer with every attempt as his true energy was being depleted.

Lu Ping’s only advantage was the element of surprise. Right now, all the monster Enlightened Masters had their attention fixed on Qu Xuan-Cheng inside the formation. They were fortifying the inside of the formation to prevent him from breaking out. This meant that they would inevitably have to sacrifice the formation’s strength on the outside.

Furthermore, they also wouldn’t expect there to be anyone that could find them so quickly, and also travel here in time, from so far away. Not to mention they had dispatched four monster Enlightened Masters to attract Zhen Ling Sect’s attention by attacking Xuan Qi Island.

The formation shook again as Qu Xuan-Cheng had started another escape attempt. The voice said, "Qu Xuan-Cheng, you’re one hell of a stubborn blockhead. I’m done persuading you, I will give you the death you so desire! Zhen Ling Sect’s fame and power will crumble, and it starts with you!"

The white fog shrunk and became thicker, but in Lu Ping’s eyes, the nodes of the formation became even clearer.

Now is the time!

Lu Ping flipped his hand and the Golden Scale Sword appeared in his grasp, glowing with golden light once again.

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