Chapter 516: He's Here

That voice belonged to none other than Gu Jue!

He sounded a bit frantic. “Mr. Xie is undergoing his Ascension Thunder Tribulation!”

Just that one short sentence, and then silence.

This was a method Gu Jue had devised to contact her, but it was single-use and had a limited message time.

It seemed that was the only sentence he had time to say.

Lu Sangjiu’s heart jumped. ‘I never expected it to happen so soon and so suddenly.’

Fortunately, Xie Ningyuan must have just started his Tribulation Crossing, so she still had a little time to prepare.

There were six Ascension Platforms in total, and there was no telling which one Xie Ningyuan would arrive at. She had to find others to help!

Luckily, she had gotten to know a few people during this time. She couldn’t worry about whether she was bothering them or not and immediately contacted Lie Rufeng.

“Mr. Lie, can you please help me stand guard at the Qiyue Sect’s Ascension Platform? If a Cultivator named Xie Ningyuan ascends soon, contact me immediately!”

She paused, then added, “If someone attacks him, please lend a hand if you can win. If you can’t, your own safety is more important. Don’t force it!”

Lie Rufeng wasn’t a very curious person. Even though Lu Sangjiu’s request was abrupt and lacked context, he didn’t ask any questions and simply replied with a single word: “Okay.”

Lu Sangjiu then said, “If it’s possible, could I trouble you to ask Mudao You to help me watch another one?”

Her relationship with Mu Lin was more superficial than with Lie Rufeng, so she wasn’t sure if he would help. She was just taking a chance.

Lie Rufeng again replied with a single word: “Okay.”

That meant two platforms were now covered. Besides herself and Luo Linlang, she still needed two more people.

She had no other choice but to try contacting Yan Xue.

Unfortunately, there was no response. ‘She’s probably still in seclusion.’

With Yan Xue unavailable, the last person Lu Sangjiu could think of was the Li Huo Sword Venerable.

Before asking him, she had to check with Lie Rufeng again.

Unfortunately, Lie Rufeng replied, “Master is in seclusion.”

Lu Sangjiu’s heart sank. ‘This time, I really can’t find anyone else.’

But Lie Rufeng quickly sent another message. “The Qiyue Sect’s Ascension Platform is already guarded by a disciple from my sect. I happen to know that junior brother.”

“If you’re short on people, I can ask him to help watch it, but he’ll only be able to notify you. He won’t intervene.”

Lu Sangjiu understood, of course, but she was incredibly grateful even for just that.

After thanking him, Lu Sangjiu wasted no more time. She and Luo Linlang immediately split up, each picking an Ascension Platform and hurrying over.

There were six Ascension Platforms, but only five of them. There was nothing to be done about it.

However, she was mentally calculating the time. ‘When the time comes, if no one reports anything, it must be the unguarded Ascension Platform.’

As for whether she could get there in time to save him after he was found, and whether she had the strength to do so, that was truly up to fate.

Xie Ningyuan’s ascension was happening too fast; she wasn’t completely confident.

‘But… I’ve always been able to fight above my level. Now that my strength has reached the Daluo Golden Immortal realm, maybe I can challenge an Immortal King?’

‘At worst, even just stalling for a little time for him would be good.’

‘I hope I chose the right one. Otherwise, I might not make it in time if I have to rush somewhere else.’

Praying inwardly, Lu Sangjiu quickly took a Teleportation Array and arrived at her chosen Ascension Platform to stand guard.

She kept a constant count of the time in her head. By her estimate, he would complete his Tribulation Crossing in about a quarter of an hour.

But this final quarter of an hour felt like an eternity to her.

Lu Sangjiu was completely tense, not even daring to blink for fear of missing something.

As she waited, she suddenly saw a man appear below the Ascension Platform up ahead.

He was muttering under his breath in dissatisfaction, “Calling me for help so suddenly… I wonder who this person is that’s so important. Is it really worth him making such a big fuss?”

Lu Sangjiu took a closer look. She didn’t recognize the man, but she could tell his cultivation was at the Late Stage Daluo Golden Immortal realm.

‘This man is most likely one of Ji Li’s people. If they’re all at this cultivation level, I think I can actually handle them.’

‘But on second thought, I just killed an Asura in the Demon Realm. Even though Ji Li doesn’t know my power has increased again, he probably wouldn’t just find Daluo Golden Immortals to help.’

‘I suppose that besides himself, he must have a few Immortal Kings with him?’

‘But Immortal Kings aren’t a dime a dozen. Ji Li probably couldn’t get too many to help with something like this, which is why Late Stage Daluo Golden Immortals are showing up.’

Now it all depended on Xie Ningyuan’s luck. If he happened to be teleported here, they would basically be in the clear.

However, as time ticked by, Lu Sangjiu, in her anxiety, did not see Xie Ningyuan appear.

Just then, her Communication Talisman vibrated. She hurriedly opened it to check.

It was a message from Lie Rufeng: “He’s at the Qiyue Sect’s Ascension Platform. There’s a Daluo Golden Immortal present.”

The Qiyue Sect! Lu Sangjiu never thought that Xie Ningyuan’s ascension would, by such a coincidence, lead him to her own sect.

And she didn’t know whether to call his luck good or bad. He hadn’t appeared where an Immortal King was waiting, but he also hadn’t appeared where she was.

Of all places, the one guarding the Qiyue Sect platform was Lie Rufeng’s junior brother, who absolutely wouldn’t intervene. Could Xie Ningyuan hold on until she got there?

Lu Sangjiu was frantic. Pushing her speed to its absolute limit, she raced to the nearest Teleportation Array. She didn’t even have the patience to queue, rudely cutting the line and rushing into the array before anyone could react.

While rushing over, Lu Sangjiu didn’t forget to send a message to Luo Linlang.

“Senior Sister, you don’t need to keep watch anymore. He’s at another Ascension Platform, and I’m heading there now.”

“Don’t come over now. Just find a place to hide and wait for my news!”

Luo Linlang quickly replied, disgruntled, “Trying to play the hero by yourself and leave me out again, are you? No way! I’m going too. Where are you?”

Lu Sangjiu was exasperated. “Senior Sister, don’t be difficult. Your cultivation isn’t high enough; you’ll be no help if you come. It’s better if you hide. If we end up getting killed, you might have a chance to collect our bodies.”

Of course, she was just saying that offhandedly. Cultivators had a professional habit: after killing someone, they always remembered to destroy the body and eliminate all traces. Generally speaking, no corpse would be left behind.

Luo Linlang was still angry, but Lu Sangjiu had no time to spare. After a moment’s thought, she also told her the method Lie Rufeng had shared for freeing Gu Jue.

She also mentioned the Li Huo Sword Venerable, saying that if Shen Yuzhao were to ascend in the future, he should remember to pay a visit to the Qiyue Sect to see him.

After saying this, Lu Sangjiu smiled. “So you see, Senior Sister, at least one of us has to survive to pass on these messages. People still need you. Be good.”

This time, Luo Linlang was finally at a loss for words. After a long moment, she replied, her tone heavy.

“You both have to come back alive. I’ll wait for you at the cave residence we rented before.”

She paused, then shouted with a sob in her voice, “And don’t forget you still owe me a huge amount of Spirit Stones! If you die, no one will be left to pay me back!”