Chapter 469 - 341: Trouble on the Return Journey (Part 2)

Chapter 469: Chapter 341: Trouble on the Return Journey (Part 2)

Lu Ruikai chuckled and turned back to Yu Changsheng, a broad smile on his face.

"Changsheng, what do you think?"

"A wise decision, Sect Leader," Yu Changsheng said with a smile.

"What a shame." Lu Ruikai sighed softly and shook his head with a wry smile. "With the Black Wind Spirit Dragon’s bloodline, it should be far stronger. It’s just a pity its Origin was damaged, leaving it stuck at the Peak of Tier Three, unable to advance."

Then, on second thought, Lu Ruikai smiled. "But then again, who can truly say how things in this world are meant to be? If not for its damaged Origin, it would never have humbled itself to become the Spirit Dragon Sect’s Guardian Spirit Beast."

Upon hearing this, something stirred in Yu Changsheng’s heart. His expression grew thoughtful as he pondered, murmuring inwardly.

’Damaged Origin... The Profound Turtle’s injuries were also because of that... I wonder... could I possibly repair it?’

As this thought crossed his mind, Yu Changsheng couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. He glanced up at the Black Wind Spirit Beast, which was sealed, shrunk to the size of a small snake, and perched on Ruan Hao’s shoulder. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, gone in an instant.

’Never mind. I’ll figure these things out once I’m back at the sect. After I break through the Golden Core realm, I can start looking for my next beast to tame...’

Yu Changsheng shook his head, suppressing the myriad thoughts in his mind. He finally let out a breath and said no more.

"Now, we shouldn’t delay. Let’s hurry back to the sect."

Ruan Hao nodded. With a wave of his sleeve, the Wanxiang Sect’s enormous Flying Ship appeared, shimmering with a brilliant radiance.

"Disciples, board the Flying Ship! We’re returning to the sect!"

At Lu Ruikai’s command, figures leaped onto the Flying Ship without hesitation. Yu Changsheng was among them.

The Spirit Dragon Sect’s affairs were settled without taking much time. Suddenly, the expressions of both Ruan Hao and Lu Ruikai changed. They looked up toward the western sky, their brows furrowed.

WHOOSH...

In the western sky, not far from Celestial Killer City, a startling streak of crimson light tore across the heavens. With unstoppable momentum, it rumbled as it sped toward the southwest.

It moved so fast it was invisible to the naked eye and nearly impossible to track even with Divine Sense. The only reason Lu Ruikai and Ruan Hao had detected it was due to the astonishing power it radiated—power it made no effort to conceal.

This crimson streak, like a meteor, sent concentric ripples spreading out in its wake. The air thundered wherever it passed, and the very void seemed on the verge of shattering. Its speed defied description; one could only faintly perceive its presence through the undisguised, overwhelming aura it exuded.

Such an aura far surpassed the Golden Core realm; even the Purple Mansion realm was no match for it. A mere distant glimpse made Yu Changsheng’s heart pound in his chest, filling him with profound unease.

"This is..."

Lu Ruikai and Ruan Hao’s expressions changed simultaneously. They exclaimed in hushed, shocked tones:

"The Profound Yin Sect’s Divinity Transformation Ancestor... Xue Xuan True Venerable, has come out of seclusion!"

"And he’s carrying his supreme Divinity Transformation treasure—the Blood Profound Bell! This is earth-shattering! Judging by his direction, he must be rushing to stabilize the battlefield at the Southwest Border!"

Lu Ruikai and Ruan Hao exchanged a glance, took a deep breath, their expressions solemn.

Hearing this, Yu Changsheng narrowed his eyes. He focused his Golden Core Peak Divine Sense, resisting the turmoil in his heart, and reached out toward the distant streak of light. The silhouette of a figure began to take shape in his mind.

It was a figure cloaked in blood-red robes and shrouded in brilliant light. Its face was a blur, impossible to discern. Its aura was world-shaking and completely undisguised, almost as if it were deliberately flaunting its power.

A single glance sent a throbbing pain through Yu Changsheng’s spirit. The figure’s speed was beyond description. He stood atop a blood-red Profound Bell that was over three meters tall. The bell was covered in arcane patterns that glowed brightly, exuding a tangible weight like that of heaven and earth. Brilliant light streamed from it, suppressing the very void and showcasing the object’s extraordinary nature.

This was none other than the Profound Yin Sect’s supreme Divinity Transformation treasure, the Blood Profound Bell! And the one standing upon it was the Profound Yin Sect’s Divinity Transformation Great Power, Xue Xuan True Venerable!

WHOOSH...

After a few seconds, Yu Changsheng retracted his Divine Sense. Beads of cold sweat trickled down his forehead. His heart was still racing, roiling with the aftershocks of the encounter.

’A Divinity Transformation Powerhouse... every single move they make naturally stirs the great power of Heaven and Earth...’

After a long moment, Yu Changsheng calmed the frantic beating of his heart and exhaled, his expression once again serene.

This was the first time Yu Changsheng had ever witnessed a Divinity Transformation Powerhouse. The mere sight of that silhouette had left a profound and indelible impression on him.

’If I can one day reach Divinity Transformation myself, then I’ll have the true right to roam these lands.’

Yu Changsheng murmured to himself. Lu Ruikai and Ruan Hao also retracted their gazes, quelling the turmoil the powerhouse’s passage had stirred within them. Ruan Hao turned and said in a heavy voice:

"It seems the situation is truly urgent if even Xue Xuan True Venerable has been mobilized. We must not delay; the longer we wait, the more can go wrong. We should return to the sect immediately."

"Agreed."

Lu Ruikai nodded and quickly formed a Finger Technique to cast a spell. Without further delay, the Flying Ship surged with power. Propelled by a wave of Magical Power, it slowly ascended. A protective shield materialized, warding off the fierce Gang Wind, and the ship shot across the sky, speeding onward.

Celestial Killer City grew smaller and smaller behind them.

’It’s over...’

Yu Changsheng sighed to himself. Just then, Zhang Tianwen and Li Minghan walked over. A complex look flashed in their eyes as they looked at him, but they smiled and said:

"Congratulations. You gained a lot from this trip to the Secret Realm. I suppose your next step is preparing for the Golden Core realm, right?"

"Yes."

Yu Changsheng gathered his thoughts and nodded at the two with a smile.

"I can start my preparations once I’m back at the sect."

"Well, congratulations in advance on your success! After we get back, I need to start preparing for my own Core Formation."

Zhang Tianwen laughed heartily. Li Minghan scratched his head, his expression dimming for a moment, but he quickly chuckled along.

"I’m getting there... I’m getting there... This trip to the Celestial Killer City was dangerous, but at least the rewards were just as great."

"Right. Safety is what matters most. I hope it all goes well for you both."

Yu Changsheng nodded in response. His gaze drifted to the sky outside the cabin, watching the clouds stream past. The sun was bright, the Gang Wind howled without end, and his eyes took on a distant look.

’For some reason... I have this unsettling feeling... We need to get back to the sect quickly.’

After sighing to himself, Yu Changsheng chatted with Zhang Tianwen and Li Minghan for a few more moments before they all went back to their rooms, waiting for the Flying Ship to return to the sect.

The Celestial Killer Sect was located in the Far West Land, a great distance from the Wanxiang Sect. Even with Lu Ruikai deliberately pushing the Flying Ship to its top speed for the return journey, it would still take around ten days to reach their destination. This was its absolute limit.

Everything seemed peaceful. Five days passed in the blink of an eye.

「Until noon on the fifth day...」

The sun was shining brightly...

BOOM!

A colossal explosion suddenly echoed across the sky. The Flying Ship was rocked by a violent tremor, throwing everything inside the cabins into disarray.

"What happened?!"

Yu Changsheng’s eyes snapped open, jolted from his Cultivation. He slammed a palm onto the floor to steady himself, his expression grim.

CREAK... CRACK...

Before Yu Changsheng could figure out what was happening, the violent shaking intensified. Outside, a cacophony of explosions erupted, like countless thunderclaps crashing down at once. The roaring was incessant, and the Flying Ship began to list precariously.

"All disciples! We are under attack! Protect yourselves!"

The sudden assault instantly alerted the disciples. Before anyone could ask what was happening, Ruan Hao’s voice, vast and filled with fury, boomed throughout the entire Flying Ship, reaching every disciple.

"What? An attack?"

"You’ve got to be kidding! We’re almost back to the sect. How could this be happening?!"

"From the sound of it, our attackers are no ordinary cultivators..."

The disciples cried out, their voices laced with confusion and panic. For a moment, a commotion erupted within the Flying Ship.

Yu Changsheng’s brow furrowed, a deep sense of unease welling up inside him. He pressed his palm to the floor, closed his eyes, and spread his vast Divine Sense out past the cabin, toward the deck and the chaos beyond the ship.

On the deck, Ruan Hao and Lu Ruikai stood at the forefront, their expressions dark and grim. They were continuously forming Finger Techniques, desperately reinforcing the Flying Ship’s Protective Array.