Chapters 140-149

Chapter 140: Peak of Mahayana Stage? Only Fit to Be an Alchemical Ingredient

Di Ji was intentional.

This woman clearly had ill intentions.

After all, only Lu Hengge dared to touch her.

However, Lu Hengge didn't mind. "Sit down, I have something to tell you."

Upon hearing this, Di Ji obediently took a seat.

There wasn't a single demon race maid or guard around. Di Ji knew very well that if Lu Hengge wanted to make a move, no one could stop him. Besides, dismissing these guards and maids created a private space for her and Lu Hengge.

"Young Master Lu, long time no see."

Di Ji smiled.

Five years unseen, Lu Hengge had become even more charming.

Even his temperament had changed, making him even more captivating.

If she could spend a passionate night with Lu Hengge, or even have a child with him, how wonderful that would be.

Of course, this was just a thought.

Di Ji also knew that Lu Hengge wasn't interested in her.

Moreover, there was news within the demon race that Lu Hengge and the princess had a close relationship. Although Di Ji was confident in her own beauty, she was still somewhat inferior to the princess.

Lu Hengge nodded. It had indeed been a long time.

"Did you find that medicinal herb?" Lu Hengge asked.

Di Ji's beautiful eyes dimmed, and she shook her head.

"I've tried my best to search, but in five years, there's been no news at all."

Di Ji was also helpless. She had done her utmost to search.

But there was nothing she could do. On one hand, the medicinal herb was too precious and hard to find; on the other hand, in these five years, the demon race had been suppressed by Chu Ge. Although their territory hadn't been reclaimed by the human race, it had suffered some damage.

For example, the Demon Emperor and the princess had both been injured by Chu Ge.

This caused the demon race to curb many of their activities.

Under such circumstances, Di Ji couldn't deploy too many demon cultivators to search for the herb.

Lu Hengge pondered for a moment.

Actually, there was another way.

Lu Hengge's body now flowed with the dragon blood of the Golden Sacred Dragon Clan. Dragon blood countered all poisons and evil spirits. If Lu Hengge's blood were used to refine a pill, it should temporarily suppress the Innate Poison Body.

Lu Hengge was considering whether it was worth it.

Soon, Lu Hengge figured it out.

If nothing unexpected happened, he should be close to ascension.

Helping the demon race grow stronger and become the sole overlord of the Western Extremity Realm wasn't impossible. Perhaps he would return after ascending.

Thinking of this, Lu Hengge spoke, "I will refine a pill for you shortly. This pill can temporarily allow you to control your Innate Poison Body. If you want to find a cultivation partner, or wish to conceive your own child, it's best to act quickly during this period. Don't say I didn't warn you."

Upon hearing this, Di Ji was overjoyed.

"Thank you, Young Master Lu."

Di Ji's beautiful eyes were filled with longing.

In reality, she wanted to bear Lu Hengge's child even more.

But she didn't dare to say such a thing.

Lu Hengge changed the subject. "I came here this time because I have something to ask you."

"Please ask, Young Master Lu," Di Ji's thin veil subtly loosened, revealing her fragrant shoulders. The scent of her fresh bath was somewhat stimulating. Since she couldn't say it directly, she would try to entice him with her body. What if Lu Hengge couldn't resist?

Lu Hengge said softly, "Do you want to be the Demon Emperor?"

At these words, Di Ji's expression froze.

Immediately, Di Ji understood Lu Hengge's meaning. "Yes!"

If nothing unexpected happened, the current Demon Emperor still had a very long lifespan. A peak Mahayana stage cultivation could live for tens of thousands of years. It would probably be thousands of years before the current emperor perished.

Thousands of years was a long time, with too many variables.

What if...

The emperor had other children...

Then Di Ji's position would become unstable again.

As for Mo Ke, he was useless!

Di Ji wasn't worried about Mo Ke at all.

What Di Ji truly worried about was the emergence of another competitor like Mo Yan, which would instantly change the situation.

"I will kill the Demon Emperor."

"You prepare to take office."

Lu Hengge's tone was flat, as if killing the Demon Emperor was as easy as drinking water.

Although Di Ji was happy, she was still somewhat confused. In her impression, Lu Hengge and the Demon Emperor had no interactions or grudges. Why would he suddenly decide to kill the Demon Emperor?

Indeed!

Lu Hengge and the Demon Emperor had no personal animosity.

But Lu Hengge needed him for alchemy.

For Zhu Zhu, the Demon Emperor was probably the most suitable alchemical ingredient to strengthen her physical body.

Lu Hengge stood up. He had already located the Demon Emperor. Due to his injuries, the Demon Emperor was still at the old demon race site and hadn't moved.

Seeing this, Di Ji quickly stood up. "Young Master Lu, are you leaving already? Why don't you stay for a drink? We haven't seen each other in five years; there's no rush."

If Lu Hengge didn't stay overnight, how would she get a chance?

Hearing this, Lu Hengge glanced at Di Ji. "I'm going to refine your pill."

Di Ji gave an awkward smile.

Di Ji found a quiet secret chamber for Lu Hengge. Not long after, Lu Hengge emerged with a pill and handed it to Di Ji.

"Take this, and you will have three years to suppress your Innate Poison Body. Remember! Only three years! If you haven't found a cultivation partner or conceived a child within three years, you probably won't have another chance."

Three years.

Lu Hengge would have long since ascended.

It was impossible for Lu Hengge to specifically return to refine another pill for Di Ji; Di Ji didn't have that much pull.

Di Ji nodded earnestly.

Three years!

For a cultivator, it was difficult to conceive a child in three years.

It seemed she had to quickly find a man.

Lu Hengge was out of the question, so she should find a more practical man.

Then, Lu Hengge disappeared.

Di Ji held the pill, not swallowing it immediately. Now wasn't the best time. After the Demon Emperor died, she had to quickly gain control of the entire demon race. Once her position as emperor was secure, she would then take the pill and find a man.

"Come!"

Di Ji commanded.

A maid knelt on the ground. "Demoness, please speak."

"Pass my order: all demon armies under my command are to withdraw to the old lands," Di Ji said coldly.

The maid was stunned. "Demoness, the entire army?"

"All of them!"

Di Ji was very firm.

She knew that if the Demon Emperor died, she wouldn't be able to sit securely on the imperial throne. After all, she was a woman, and her bloodline wasn't pure. In terms of support within the demon race, Mo Ke would definitely be higher than her, so she had to be fully prepared.

The maid was extremely shocked. How much effort had the demon race put into conquering these human territories? If they withdrew now, wouldn't they just return the land to the humans?

However, she dared not question.

The order was given!

Suddenly, the demon armies began to withdraw.

This action naturally drew the attention of the human race, but they didn't know what the demon race was up to, and immediately became nervous.

...

Thousands of miles away, at the old demon race site.

Inside the palace, Lu Hengge suddenly appeared, then grabbed across the void. A figure appeared in his hand—this person was the current Demon Emperor, the father of Mo Ke and Di Ji.

"Who are you!"

"I am..."

The Emperor was about to speak.

One second, he was in his secret chamber healing his injuries; the next, he found himself in Lu Hengge's hand.

Lu Hengge said softly, "I know who you are. No need for introductions."

Crack!

Lu Hengge's palm clenched.

Instantly, a terrifying force squeezed the Demon Emperor's body. Bones fractured one after another, and his entire body began to twist and compress. In just a few breaths, the Demon Emperor was crushed from a human shape into a ball.

Chapter 141: The Person Woke Up, But Their Mind Seemed Broken

"You..."

The Demon Emperor's words were choked in his throat.

His body was crumpled into a ball.

It looked like a gigantic pill.

The Demon Emperor's eyes, staring at Lu Hengge, were filled with terror. The last person who made him feel such profound powerlessness was that unknown Chu Ge.

Chu Ge's Sage's Words and Commandment by Word were still terrifying.

However, Chu Ge just happened to meet Lu Hengge.

If it had been anyone else facing Chu Ge, as long as they weren't an immortal, Chu Ge would have held the absolute advantage.

"My lord, spare my life!" The Emperor begged.

There was no other way!

He had barely survived Chu Ge's hand and hadn't yet fully healed his injuries, only to encounter Lu Hengge again.

He really had the worst luck!

Lu Hengge ignored him. From the moment he made his move, the Demon Emperor was destined to die. Among the entire demon race, there was no better alchemical ingredient than the Emperor.

"I am willing to offer all treasures of the demon race for my life!"

"Whatever my lord desires, take it!"

The Emperor spoke quickly, feeling that if he spoke any slower, he might never have the chance to speak again.

Lu Hengge scoffed, "Foolish! If I kill you, the demon race's treasures will all be mine anyway!"

Hearing this, the Emperor fell silent.

It seemed... that was true.

However, the Emperor still struggled to speak. "Where exactly did I offend you, my lord? Even if you want to kill me, at least let me die knowing why."

"You didn't offend me," Lu Hengge said softly.

The Emperor was astonished. "Then why..."

"Can I not kill you if there's no grudge? After all, you are the Demon Emperor of the demon race. Why are you so naive!" Lu Hengge retorted, and the Emperor almost spat out blood from anger.

Killing someone should at least have a reason.

Even if Lu Hengge had said he just didn't like the Demon Emperor, that would have been fine.

But Lu Hengge didn't even give a reason.

"I..."

Before he could finish, crack!

The Demon Emperor's body was completely pulverized. Even his soul failed to escape, firmly locked within the ball of flesh.

"Although the Demon Emperor's demonic energy is rich and pure, it's not enough to elevate Zhu Zhu's physical body to an immortal physique. It needs a little auxiliary ingredient," Lu Hengge mused.

To become an immortal physique, a vast amount of energy was required.

One Demon Emperor wasn't enough.

Preferably, one more!

But the problem was, there was only one Demon Emperor.

Lu Hengge unleashed his divine sense, covering the entire old demon race site. He actually found a few hidden demon race treasures. Adding the demonic energy from these treasures, it might barely be enough for a try.

Additionally, Lu Hengge also detected Mo Ke's location.

Ever since Di Ji became the demon race's top young talent, Mo Ke seemed to have given up, indulging in women every day, not focusing on cultivation, and only thinking about having children.

However, Mo Ke couldn't help it.

After Mo Yan died, Mo Ke thought his bright future was arriving early, but he didn't expect Di Ji to suddenly rise. His cultivation talent simply couldn't compare to Di Ji's. In a very short time, he was surpassed by Di Ji, and the gap widened. Coupled with the Emperor's favor for Di Ji, he simply gave up competing.

Cultivating was so tiring!

Contending for the Emperor's throne was so tiring!

It was better to comfortably sleep with women.

If he could produce a few more pure-blooded demon children, he would also be making a contribution.

And surprisingly, his efforts in "cultivation" over the past few years had paid off.

Among Mo Ke's many women, two were already pregnant. Although it would still be a while before they gave birth, these two children made Mo Ke find meaning in life.

Lu Hengge considered it.

Mo Ke's demon blood was also very pure.

It wouldn't be bad for alchemy!

However, Mo Ke's cultivation was too low, and his demonic energy was scarce, so it wouldn't significantly enhance the pill's effect.

Forget it.

He'd spare Mo Ke.

Anyway, even if he didn't act, Di Ji wouldn't spare Mo Ke once she took the Emperor's position.

Di Ji wasn't stupid. As long as Mo Ke was alive, her position as Emperor wouldn't be stable. After all, Mo Ke was the Emperor's eldest son, the purest-blooded descendant. Just this point alone could win him considerable support from the demon race.

The next second, Lu Hengge disappeared.

At the same time, in the Demon Race Ancestral Hall, the life tablet representing the Demon Emperor completely shattered, turning into a pile of dust.

"The Emperor has fallen!"

"How is that possible!"

"Quickly go to the Emperor's Hall to investigate!"

The demon race was shaken!

The Emperor was only injured; how could he suddenly die?

.....

After Lu Hengge left, he didn't go to find Di Ji. He had already finished everything. The rest was for Di Ji to handle herself. If even then Di Ji couldn't secure the Demon Emperor's position, then it simply meant she wasn't worthy.

The sudden death of the Demon Emperor, coupled with the Demon Race Princess currently being in an unforeseen situation and unable to preside over affairs, would likely plunge the demon race into a period of turmoil until a new Emperor emerged and stability was restored.

Inside the Three Thousand Dao Sect.

The maid was still guarding outside the secret chamber.

The next second, a figure suddenly appeared.

"My lord!"

The maid quickly bowed.

Lu Hengge walked into the secret chamber, speaking as he went, "I'll be staying in the secret chamber for a while. If you have nothing else, you can leave for now."

The maid respectfully replied, "This servant will wait in the main hall. If you need anything, my lord, just send a sound transmission."

Lu Hengge nodded.

Creak~

The secret chamber door closed.

Lu Hengge stepped onto the ten-thousand-year cold ice, pulling out his alchemy furnace.

To be honest, he hadn't used his alchemy furnace in a long time.

He hadn't even taken out the furnace when refining the pill for Di Ji just now.

With Lu Hengge's alchemy skills, most pills could now bypass the normal refining process, informally known as "hand-molding pills."

But the pill he was about to refine now was more advanced and precious, so refining it with an alchemy furnace was a more stable approach.

Alchemical flames surged.

Instantly, the temperature inside the secret chamber rose sharply.

The ten-thousand-year cold ice showed signs of melting.

After three days and three nights of refining, Lu Hengge held a black pill in his hand. The small pill contained terrifying demonic energy; just a sniff could make one feel the demonic energy flowing through their body.

This pill was extremely precious.

It could be said to be almost the most precious pill Lu Hengge had refined since his reincarnation.

It contained not only the Demon Emperor's flesh, soul, and demonic energy, but also many precious natural treasures. Lu Hengge had even added a few drops of true dragon blood from the Ancient Sword.

Dragon blood had always been the best alchemical ingredient for body tempering.

With this, his confidence was even greater!

"I hope it works!"

Lu Hengge was still uncertain; this was his first attempt.

Lu Hengge placed the pill into Zhu Zhu's mouth. Instantly, an intensely rich black light enveloped Zhu Zhu. Her body began to frantically absorb the demonic energy from the pill, and her physical strength visibly increased. Finally, Zhu Zhu's body had the aura of a living person.

Lu Hengge was somewhat surprised.

He had thought it would take a long time for Zhu Zhu's body to fully absorb the pill's medicinal effects, but he used his Void-Shattering Eyes to observe, and at this absorption rate, the pill would be completely absorbed in just a few days.

Five days later.

On the ice bed, Zhu Zhu's complexion was rosy.

Lu Hengge wasn't sure if Zhu Zhu's body had advanced to an immortal physique. The best way was to test it.

The next second, Lu Hengge pulled out the Ancient Sword.

Swish!

A white light flashed.

The Ancient Sword didn't strike Zhu Zhu's body, but landed on the ice bed.

Upon closer inspection, Zhu Zhu had disappeared from the ice bed. A pair of bare jade feet stood not far away, gazing at Lu Hengge with cold eyes.

"Presumptuous!"

"How dare you swing a sword at me!"

Zhu Zhu reprimanded coldly.

Lu Hengge raised an eyebrow. The person had woken up, but her mind seemed to be broken.

Chapter 142: So-Called Concern, Worthless

Lu Hengge scrutinized Zhu Zhu.

At this moment, Zhu Zhu was completely different from before.

Not in appearance!

But in temperament!

The previous Zhu Zhu, though also aloof, would naturally show an affectionate demeanor when facing Lu Hengge. However, the current Zhu Zhu's eyes held disgust and disdain that appeared extremely genuine, not faked.

Lu Hengge's eyes flickered. "How should I address you? Zhu Zhu? Or another name?"

Clearly, the "Zhu Zhu" before him had changed.

To be precise, the soul within this body had changed.

Could it be soul possession?

"Zhu Zhu's" beautiful eyes were icy cold. If it weren't for Lu Hengge refining a pill for her and helping her strengthen her physical body, that last move would have been enough to sentence Lu Hengge to death. "You are not worthy of knowing my name."

Hearing this, Lu Hengge laughed.

But his smile was full of coldness.

Seeing this, "Zhu Zhu's" beautiful eyes furrowed slightly. Her power hadn't fully recovered, and crucially, Lu Hengge held the Ancient Sword. If they truly came to blows, she might be at a disadvantage.

Thinking of this, "Zhu Zhu" intended to soften her tone.

Unexpectedly, the next second!

Lu Hengge's figure vanished directly, then he gripped "Zhu Zhu's" neck. A ferocious dragon's head appeared behind him, staring intently at "Zhu Zhu." "I refined that pill for you out of consideration for Zhu Zhu. Who gave you the audacity to speak to me like that!"

Instantly, "Zhu Zhu" was motionless.

Her eyes were filled with shock. Although she hadn't fully recovered her previous power, Lu Hengge was only in the Half-step Immortal Realm, not even a true immortal, yet her divine sense couldn't track Lu Hengge's movements.

"You... let go of me..."

"Zhu Zhu" wanted to mobilize the demonic energy within her body to contend with Lu Hengge, but the Golden Sacred Dragon's might suppressed the demonic energy, preventing it from rising.

Not only that, Lu Hengge's grip tightened.

"I'll give you one more chance!"

"What's your name?" Lu Hengge asked coldly.

"Zhu Zhu" pawed at Lu Hengge's arm. She could barely breathe, let alone speak.

But Lu Hengge didn't let go, continuously tightening his grip. The bones in "Zhu Zhu's" neck creaked, until only then did Lu Hengge release his hand.

"Zhu Zhu" gasped for breath, stumbling back a few steps and coughing repeatedly.

Damn it!

She was actually threatened by an ant in the Half-step Immortal Realm.

What was even more frustrating was that she couldn't resist. If this were to spread back to the Immortal Realm, she would lose all face.

A moment later, "Zhu Zhu" spoke. "Mu Mu."

Mu Mu?

Never heard of it!

Lu Hengge's eyes were cold. "Where's Zhu Zhu?"

Mu Mu twisted her neck. Fortunately, this physical body, nourished by the pill, barely reached the threshold of an immortal physique, so this small injury was nothing. "I am Zhu Zhu, and Zhu Zhu is me."

Hearing this, Lu Hengge raised an eyebrow. "Not soul possession?"

"Zhu Zhu is my reincarnated self."

Mu Mu could sense Zhu Zhu's fondness for Lu Hengge from her memories, but she didn't like Lu Hengge. This man was too violent; she preferred gentle and refined men.

In her previous life, when Mu Mu was in the Immortal Realm, she admired a certain Confucian Immortal.

Compared to that Confucian Immortal, Lu Hengge was as crude as an uncultured savage.

"Let Zhu Zhu come out," Lu Hengge commanded.

Mu Mu laughed in exasperation. "I am the main body; Zhu Zhu is merely my reincarnation."

Lu Hengge's eyes narrowed, a dangerous cold light piercing directly into Mu Mu's heart. An extremely dangerous chill made Mu Mu shiver. "Some words, I don't like to say a second time."

Seeing this, Mu Mu was so annoyed she tugged at her hair.

She had just managed to awaken her memories, only to wake up and encounter a barbarian!

She, a dignified fairy from the Azure Sea Jade Pool, was revered wherever she went. Why did she have to encounter Lu Hengge...

A few breaths later, Mu Mu conceded.

After all, she had already died once.

If she were to die at Lu Hengge's hands right after awakening her memories, then her reincarnation would have been meaningless.

"You're ruthless."

"When I fully recover, I'll make you kneel and call me mother."

Mu Mu finished speaking and directly closed her eyes.

A moment later, she opened them again.

The familiar feeling returned.

"Young Master Lu," Zhu Zhu said with a smile.

Lu Hengge nodded. "I thought you had died."

Hearing this, Zhu Zhu gave an awkward smile.

Actually, she didn't know what had happened. She had simply lost consciousness for a moment, but she had heard Mu Mu and Lu Hengge's conversation just now.

"This Mu Mu..." Lu Hengge asked.

Zhu Zhu explained, "She is from the Immortal Realm, chased to this world, and then forced to abandon her original physical body and reincarnate."

Mu Mu and Zhu Zhu were one.

Therefore, their memories were shared.

Being chased?

That plot sounded familiar.

Lu Hengge asked curiously, "Chased by whom?"

"Void Dao Palace," Zhu Zhu replied truthfully.

Good heavens!

It really was!

Looking at it this way, quite a few immortals had died in the Western Extremity Realm. Lu Hengge alone knew of three: Jiang Wuxu, Bei Cangwu, and Mu Mu.

Lu Hengge didn't think much about it. He just needed to confirm that Zhu Zhu was alive. Next, Lu Hengge had to go to another place: Yao Fan's hometown.

"Let's go."

Lu Hengge knew what was real and what was fake.

That was enough.

At least, the Heavenly Dao wasn't omnipotent.

Zhu Zhu asked, "When will we meet again?"

Lu Hengge patted off the ice chips on his body, exhaling a puff of white mist. "Next time we meet... it will probably be after I ascend. Anyway, your previous life was an immortal; you'll return to the Immortal Realm sooner or later."

Zhu Zhu's eyes were complex.

Returning to the Immortal Realm wasn't difficult.

What was difficult was that she worried she might gradually disappear in the future.

After all, she was merely a reincarnation.

As Mu Mu's power recovered more and more, this body would slowly become Mu Mu's, no longer under her control, and even her memories might be erased.

"Farewell for now." Zhu Zhu said with a smile.

Lu Hengge nodded.

Then, Lu Hengge's figure disappeared.

Zhu Zhu stood in the secret chamber, silent for a long time. Mu Mu's voice echoed in her mind: "You like him so much? What's so good about him? Besides having a face, he's useless in everything else. Once he goes to the Immortal Realm, he won't even have the advantage of his looks anymore."

Zhu Zhu shook her head. "He cares about me. Although I know this care is just a convenience for him, that's enough."

Mu Mu fell silent.

Cultivators seeking partners always sought resources, talent, or to climb higher.

Cultivators were more realistic than mortals.

Putting aside desires, a cultivation partner was a great help in one's cultivation.

Very few cultivators chose a partner purely out of the other's care for them, as this offered no help in cultivation.

"You're still young."

"When you've met more people, you won't think this way," Mu Mu thought that the Western Extremity Realm was too small, and Zhu Zhu knew too few men. Once she met many excellent young prodigies, the so-called concern would become worthless, and by then, Lu Hengge would also become insignificant.

Chapter 143: Intercepted

Mu Mu didn't understand Zhu Zhu's feelings for Lu Hengge, so she naturally thought Zhu Zhu was merely shallow-sighted.

But in reality, for Zhu Zhu, Lu Hengge had saved her in her most desperate and helpless moment, and had even meticulously cared for her for a period. This memory had nothing to do with Lu Hengge's appearance, nor with his cultivation or talent.

But unfortunately, Mu Mu didn't understand.

Zhu Zhu also didn't want to explain.

After all, this was her own matter.

Although she was merely an offshoot of Mu Mu's reincarnation, some things belonged only to her and not to Mu Mu.

"What do you plan to do next?" Zhu Zhu asked.

Hearing this, Mu Mu pondered for a moment. "Restoring my past life's power requires some time and the aid of natural treasures, so I'll need to go out and move around, see if I can find any natural treasures beneficial to the soul, and visit a few other places along the way."

"I have a few old friends who also died in this world. If nothing goes wrong, they should have also reincarnated, but their memories probably haven't awakened yet."

Mu Mu recalled past events.

Unconsciously, her tone was filled with deep resentment.

Back then, she was the most top-tier fairy of the Azure Sea Jade Pool. The Grand Elder even praised her for having the potential to become the second "Song Mingdao." Although opinions varied on Song Mingdao's character in the Immortal Realm, no one denied Song Mingdao's talent.

Even after Song Mingdao died, the older generation of immortals in the Immortal Realm still habitually compared younger generations to Song Mingdao.

Mu Mu was very ambitious.

She looked down on Song Mingdao.

She believed she could definitely achieve the Immortal Emperor position in the future, surpassing Song Mingdao in excellence.

But she, who had always held herself in high regard, was actually relentlessly pursued and hunted by the Void Dao Palace, powerless, eventually falling to a state worse than a dog, and was forced to reincarnate.

To her, this was an immense humiliation.

Even now, Mu Mu still believed her talent was unmatched, only lacking time to grow.

"Do you want to control the body?" Zhu Zhu asked.

As Mu Mu's soul awakened and her soul power strengthened, this physical body was gradually becoming dominated by Mu Mu, and Zhu Zhu could only attach herself to Mu Mu's soul.

"For now, you can still control the body."

"When we return to the Immortal Realm, I will help you reshape a physical body for your soul to inhabit."

Mu Mu still had some conscience.

At least, she wouldn't do something like abandoning a worn-out millstone.

Zhu Zhu's face lit up with joy.

That would be wonderful!

If she could separate from Mu Mu and become an independent person, that would definitely be a great blessing.

However, Mu Mu's tone shifted. "But I have one condition: you cannot become cultivation partners with that barbarian earlier. That barbarian is clearly not a good sort. There are so many excellent young prodigies in the Immortal Realm; I will personally find a suitable partner for you."

Zhu Zhu's smile stiffened slightly. "Let's talk about that later."

Then, Zhu Zhu walked out of the secret chamber.

In the main hall, the maid was still waiting, her eyes occasionally glancing anxiously at the entrance of the secret chamber.

Just then, Zhu Zhu gracefully walked out, her aura as deep and vast as the ocean. Zhu Zhu's aura was strengthening every moment, and her cultivation had advanced from the peak of the Mahayana Stage to the Half-step Immortal Realm. At this rate, she would break through to the Immortal Realm soon.

Although Zhu Zhu herself no longer possessed the Western Extremity Realm's destiny, the power within her did not come from the Western Extremity Realm but from the Immortal Realm, so the loss of destiny would not significantly affect Zhu Zhu.

"Princess!"

The maid's face lit up with joy, and she quickly knelt.

Zhu Zhu nodded.

During her unconsciousness, Zhu Zhu could sense the changes in the outside world, but as Lu Hengge had said, she couldn't respond.

The maid looked around doubtfully. "Where is that lord?"

"He left," Zhu Zhu said with regret.

Every time she met Lu Hengge, it was fleeting. They never sat down and chatted like friends. Lu Hengge always arrived very suddenly and left in a hurry.

The maid dared not ask further.

After all, this was the princess's private matter.

Zhu Zhu casually asked, "Has anything major happened recently?"

Major events?

The maid thought for a moment.

It seemed there weren't any.

However, a demon guard had just reported something: the demoness Di Ji had withdrawn the demon armies to their old lands, returning that human territory to the human race.

Hearing this, Zhu Zhu's eyes flickered a few times.

It seemed the Emperor was in trouble.

Zhu Zhu had seen Di Ji a few times. This woman named Di Ji was very ambitious. Everything she did was for the sake of ascending the imperial throne in the future. The only reason she would abandon the human territories she had conquered and actively withdraw could only be one: to return and contend for the imperial throne.

The human race was currently weak.

Even if these territories were returned to the human race, they could always be recaptured later.

Zhu Zhu finally understood why the pill she had just taken was so rich and pure in demonic energy. It was because that pill was refined from the Demon Emperor. Now that the Emperor was dead, the curtain was about to rise on the struggle for the throne.

"Princess, should we return?" the maid asked.

Zhu Zhu shook her head. "Whatever happens to the demon race is none of our concern. Let them fight it out."

Anyway, she wouldn't be staying in this world for long.

She didn't care at all who would sit on the Demon Emperor's throne.

Suddenly, Zhu Zhu remembered something.

"Where is Mo Di Tian?"

Hearing this, the maid replied, "He is still searching for the whereabouts of the Immortal Cauldron, but other demon cultivators say that Lord Mo Di Tian is about to break through, and he might be in secluded cultivation right now."

Speaking of which, Mo Di Tian's origin was similar to Zhu Zhu's.

Both were from the Immortal Realm.

But the difference was, Mu Mu was chased to the Western Extremity Realm, perished, and reincarnated; while Mo Di Tian was directly thrown from the Immortal Realm into the Western Extremity Realm.

If nothing unexpected happened, Mo Di Tian would also eventually go to the Immortal Realm, but his ascension would take much longer than Lu Hengge's and Zhu Zhu's. After all, Lu Hengge and Zhu Zhu were currently in the Half-step Immortal Realm, just one step away from transcending tribulation and ascending, while Mo Di Tian was only just preparing to break through to the Half-step Immortal Realm.

"Where is he now?" Zhu Zhu's eyes flickered slightly.

"Unknown," the maid replied.

Zhu Zhu wasn't angry. Her maid's cultivation wasn't high, but she was loyal and good at serving people, so it was understandable that she wouldn't know.

Zhu Zhu waved her hand. "You may leave first."

The maid assented, bowing and exiting the main hall.

Meanwhile, inside her body, Mu Mu spoke, "Find this Mo Di Tian. He once used the Demonic Buddha Thousand Hands, which suggests he might have some connection to the dual-bodied Immortal-Demon Monk Gu Yu. Finding him might lead to Gu Yu's reincarnation."

Zhu Zhu nodded.

It seemed Mo Di Tian's origins were quite mysterious.

Zhu Zhu unleashed her divine sense, searching this area. Her own soul couldn't cover the entire Western Extremity Realm, but she also had Mu Mu's soul within her. The combination of the two expanded the range of their soul search by several times.

...

On the other side, Lu Hengge was on his way to Yao Fan's hometown when he was intercepted.

Chapter 144: Showing Off? I'll Make You Fly! Second Form of Immortal Slaying Art!!

In mid-air, Lu Hengge's figure hovered.

Not far across from him, a man dressed in a white robe blocked his path, his eyes filled with killing intent.

"An Immortal."

Lu Hengge was slightly surprised.

Other than the Heavenly Dao, there was actually a second immortal in the Western Extremity Realm.

Moreover, Lu Hengge could feel a familiar aura from this person, and even this face seemed somewhat familiar. After pondering for a moment, he asked curiously, "What's your relationship with Chu Ge?"

"I am his elder brother."

"My name is Chu Huan."

Oh!

So, he's Chu Ge's elder brother!

No wonder!

The first time Lu Hengge saw this person, he felt a sense of familiarity, as if he had seen him somewhere before. Speaking of which, Chu Huan and Chu Ge's facial features were somewhat similar, except Chu Huan's temperament was more refined, making him look like a frail scholar.

"Are you looking for me?" Lu Hengge asked with a smile.

Seeing this, Chu Huan's anger instantly surged. "You killed my brother, and you still dare to be so arrogant!"

"You've got it wrong."

"Your brother was killed by the Heavenly Dao."

Lu Hengge refused to take the blame.

Although Chu Ge's death had a direct relationship with him, the one who truly killed Chu Ge was the Heavenly Dao.

Chu Huan flipped his hand, and a two-meter-long Heavenly Pen appeared in his grasp. From its appearance, it seemed to be an upgraded version of Chu Ge's brush. Seven-colored immortal runes flowed on the pen's body, and every strand of hair on its tip came from an immortal crane.

An immortal-grade artifact!

Indeed!

Immortal weapons had become much more advanced.

"I'll spare your wretched life, come back to the Chu family with me," Chu Huan said coldly.

Hearing this, Lu Hengge's expression also turned icy.

"Are you unable to find the Heavenly Dao? Or do you not dare to find the Heavenly Dao?" Lu Hengge drew the Ancient Sword from his storage ring. A primordial aura spread, and Chu Huan's pupils constricted opposite him.

Ancient Sword!

A supreme treasure of the Immortal Realm!

A fiery glint flashed in Chu Huan's eyes.

Since ancient times, the Literary Dao and the Sword Dao had complemented each other. Scholars loved three things: reciting poetry, drinking wine, and dancing with swords.

In a sense, Literary Dao Confucian Immortals were also suited to the path of sword cultivation, but compared to using swords, they still preferred Commandment by Word. After all, Commandment by Word only required opening one's mouth, which was simply a boon for the lazy.

However, if one had a good sword, one could also practice swordsmanship.

In Chu Huan's eyes, this Ancient Sword was already his for the taking.

"Hand over the Ancient Sword."

"And you can avoid the pain of flesh!" Chu Huan said with an arrogant tone.

Lu Hengge twirled the Ancient Sword, playfully mocking, "If I hand over the Ancient Sword, you'll let me go?"

Chu Huan sneered, "Killed my second brother, and still want to live? Simply wishful thinking! You are destined to die, but I can make your death a little easier."

Lu Hengge twisted his neck.

Perfect!

He'd test the depths of an Immortal.

Chu Huan was an Immortal, true, but his aura was unstable, clearly indicating that he had just become an Immortal, and his immortal power hadn't fully stabilized. Chu Huan and the Heavenly Dao were similar; neither were in their peak state.

Such an opponent was just right.

Seeing this, Chu Huan understood in his heart. "Still want to fight? Today, I will let you know what it means to be an Immortal!!"

Lu Hengge had already begun to gather momentum, but Chu Huan was still barking orders.

Honestly, Lu Hengge sometimes didn't understand.

Just fight!

Just kill!

Why so much nonsense!

Yet, the enemies he encountered all liked to spout nonsense before fighting.

Just then, a slender figure appeared in mid-air.

The one who arrived was none other than Zhu Zhu, whom he had just parted with. At this moment, the one controlling the body was Mu Mu. Mu Mu had sensed the aura of an immortal, which was why she had rushed over to take a look.

Of course, most importantly, the aura on Chu Huan made Mu Mu feel somewhat familiar.

A Confucian Immortal!

Literary Dao!

When she was still a fairy in the Immortal Realm, she admired a certain Confucian Immortal, especially loving scholarly men who exuded a gentle and courteous demeanor.

"You brat also has this day." Mu Mu felt pleased.

Hearing this, Lu Hengge knew that the one controlling the body at this moment was Mu Mu, not Zhu Zhu.

Lu Hengge ignored her. His entire body's sword intent was ready to burst forth. The Sword Heart Profundity within his chest let out an emperor-like roar. Instantly, Lu Hengge seemed to transform into a sword.

Chu Huan also saw Mu Mu, a hint of astonishment flashing in his eyes.

What a beautiful woman!

Such beauty.

Even with his discerning eye as the Young Master of the Chu family, he had rarely seen anything similar.

"Lady, please step back."

"After I deal with this person, I will sit down and chat with you slowly."

Chu Huan, before fighting, didn't forget to flirt.

One has to admit, the scholarly demeanor truly stood out.

Although Mu Mu didn't like Lu Hengge, seeing that Chu Huan was an immortal, and knowing that Lu Hengge would likely suffer if they truly fought, coupled with Lu Hengge having refined a pill for her, it was only right for her to stand with Lu Hengge. "If you can't win, just concede. I can ensure your safety!"

Lu Hengge didn't speak.

Seeing this, Mu Mu pouted. "So stubborn! When you're almost beaten to death and crying for my help, I won't even acknowledge you."

Mu Mu retreated a distance.

When Lu Hengge was on the verge of defeat, she could jump out and declare herself a member of the Azure Sea Jade Pool, asking Chu Huan to spare Lu Hengge's life out of consideration for her, and then, under Lu Hengge's grateful gaze, maintain the cold aloofness of a fairy.

No!

Just thinking about it felt exhilarating!

This was the proper demeanor for a powerful woman!

Then, Mu Mu's expression changed.

After a long while, Mu Mu sighed softly. "Don't worry, I won't let him die."

She didn't know what was so good about Lu Hengge, yet Zhu Zhu seemed to be under a love spell, always thinking of Lu Hengge.

Chu Huan's smile grew wider.

Fighting was boring!

But if he could display his power before a beautiful woman, then fighting became enjoyable.

After all, who would pass up an opportunity to show off?

To highlight his immortal transcendence, Chu Huan feigned a carefree demeanor and said, "I'll let you have three moves. After three moves, you'll obediently surrender."

Lu Hengge suddenly remembered something. He had previously wanted to refine Chu Ge into a pill to see if he could absorb the grand righteousness within Chu Ge's body, but something unexpected happened in the middle, and Chu Ge's corpse wasn't in his possession.

Thus, the idea of alchemy fell through.

But now, he had a new alchemical ingredient.

Chu Huan was a genuine Confucian Immortal who had transcended the immortal tribulation. The grand righteousness within his body was dozens of times that of Chu Ge, and even his flesh and blood were far stronger than Chu Ge's. If Chu Huan were used for alchemy, the refined pill's effects would undoubtedly be heaven-defying.

The Chu family was truly good people.

One Chu Ge was gone, and another Chu Huan was sent.

When he had the chance later, he would definitely visit the Chu family and, while he was at it, refine all the Chu family members into pills, so they could be together, whole and reunited.

"Immortal Slaying Art, Second Form."

"I grant you three feet of white light."

...

A smile played on Lu Hengge's lips.

Instantly, a sense of unease welled up in Chu Huan's heart.

This unease came so suddenly that he was momentarily stunned.

Chapter 145: Extreme Daylight! Crushing Divine Sense! Sealing the Five Senses!

The Immortal Slaying Art has a total of five forms.

Each form builds upon the last, progressively increasing in power.

After Lu Hengge obtained the Immortal Slaying Art in the Sword Tomb, he actually hadn't seriously practiced it, but relying on his experience from his previous life, coupled with awakening Song Mingdao's memories, he naturally comprehended the second form.

Not far away, a warning surged in Chu Huan's heart.

As a Confucian Immortal, he had absolute confidence in his premonitions of danger. Although he couldn't scheme and deduce like those of the Divine Calculation Heavenly Secret Pavilion, his subconscious sixth sense definitely wouldn't be wrong.

Chu Huan swallowed.

He was clearly an Immortal.

But why...

Did he feel like he couldn't withstand Lu Hengge's move?

No!

It wasn't just that he couldn't withstand it.

He might very well die.

Chu Huan's pupils constricted. His body's instincts urged him to dodge Lu Hengge's attack, but his pride as an Immortal prevented Chu Huan from moving an inch.

From his aura, Lu Hengge was only at the Half-step Immortal Realm.

And he was a true Immortal, a proud talent who had genuinely transcended five layers of immortal tribulation, forging an immortal bridge purely with grand righteousness.

He couldn't dodge!

He had to take it head-on!

If he dodged, where would his face be, Chu Huan's face? Where would the Chu family's face be? And where would the face of a Literary Dao Confucian Immortal be?

Chu Huan didn't consider himself a righteous gentleman. After all, scholars were often petty, a truth that applied equally in both mortal dynasties and immortal cultivation sects.

At this moment, Chu Huan even wished Mu Mu would disappear.

If there were no outsiders present, he would have dodged. Afterward, as long as he could kill Lu Hengge, today's incident wouldn't spread, and only he would know.

But unfortunately, Mu Mu was watching from the side.

Now, Chu Huan had no reason to dodge at all.

Suddenly, Chu Huan glanced at Mu Mu, a killing intent flashing in his eyes. Actually, there was another option: kill both Lu Hengge and Mu Mu. The news wouldn't spread either, but Mu Mu was simply too much to his liking. Killing her felt like a great pity.

In the distance, Mu Mu's eyes flickered.

Chu Huan had killing intent towards her.

Although the killing intent vanished quickly, Mu Mu still sensed it.

"He wants to kill me?" Mu Mu felt baffled.

She had only come to watch, and hadn't said more than a few words, yet Chu Huan was already thinking of killing her. What kind of Confucian Immortal was this! This was clearly a mental illness!

At this moment, Mu Mu's good impression of Confucian Immortals dropped a few points.

It seemed not all Confucian Immortals were gentle and elegant, with graceful bearing.

Mu Mu stopped looking at Chu Huan and turned her gaze to Lu Hengge, her eyes narrowed. "This barbarian, his cultivation technique is quite wild. I haven't seen similar sword techniques before, but even from this distance, I can feel the terror contained within this sword move."

Very few people had used the Immortal Slaying Art.

On one hand, there weren't many sword cultivators to begin with.

Naturally, the sword cultivation techniques derived from this small number of cultivators wouldn't be many either.

Secondly, the Immortal Slaying Art placed extremely high demands on comprehension.

According to Jiang Wuxu, after this technique was created by its original owner, only two people had truly mastered it: the creator of the technique and Jiang Wuxu himself.

However, Jiang Wuxu was quite unrestrained.

He never deliberately used sword techniques when killing, nor did he even intentionally use the Ancient Sword.

Many times, Jiang Wuxu would use whatever was at hand as a sword, and his moves were extremely casual. Sometimes, even Jiang Wuxu himself didn't know what his movements were before his opponent had already fallen.

For Jiang Wuxu, who was in the Half-step Immortal Emperor Realm, sword techniques had become impractical.

For this reason, Jiang Wuxu rarely used the Immortal Slaying Art.

Therefore, it was understandable that Mu Mu had never seen the Immortal Slaying Art.

Mu Mu still had discerning eyes; at least she could see the terror of Lu Hengge's move. The sharp sword intent sent shivers down her spine. Fortunately, the one facing this sword move was not her, but Chu Huan, that unfortunate fellow.

"Your judgment is barely acceptable."

"This barbarian's cultivation and talent are indeed formidable," Mu Mu murmured softly.

Inside her body, Zhu Zhu's happy affirmation came through.

Sword cultivators excelled in killing.

Especially in defying cultivation levels.

This was what sword cultivators loved to do most, and what they were best at.

This characteristic remained unchanged even in the Immortal Realm. Now, Lu Hengge, merely in the Half-step Immortal Realm, dared to contend with a true Confucian Immortal. If Lu Hengge were to become an Immortal one day, there would likely be quite a stir in the Immortal Realm.

Mu Mu couldn't help but deflate Zhu Zhu's joy. "What are you so happy about, you idiot! You're practically throwing yourself at him, but does he even want you? With our looks, we'd have people lining up to pursue us in the Immortal Realm. This Lu Hengge is completely unmoved. Either he's a damned bald monk, or he's interested in men."

No!

Just thinking about a damned bald monk made Mu Mu feel disgusted.

She liked to do two things most in her life. The first was making friends with Confucian Immortals, enjoying scenery and reciting poetry, which was quite pleasant; the second was opposing damned bald monks. Those Buddhist sects who claimed to save all sentient beings were hypocritical and nauseating, even saying things like "I shall ferry you across the sea of suffering" before killing someone.

But the Buddhist sect had immense power.

The Azure Sea Jade Pool only had a million disciples, while the number of people who believed in the Buddhist sect amounted to hundreds of millions.

Furthermore, the Azure Sea Jade Pool was very low-key, unlike the Buddhist sect which frequently held grand ceremonies and recitations. Therefore, the Buddhist sect held much more sway in the Immortal Realm than the Azure Sea Jade Pool.

No matter how much Mu Mu hated the Buddhist sect, she couldn't do anything too outrageous.

"He's not a damned bald monk," Zhu Zhu argued.

Hearing this, Mu Mu retorted, "What? Have you seen him in bed with a woman? I didn't realize you had such heavy tastes, enjoying watching that."

Zhu Zhu: ...

Zhu Zhu had never encountered someone who could leave her speechless twice in such a short time, and that person was her past self.

Compared to Lu Hengge, Mu Mu was even more perverted.

Zhu Zhu could only change the subject. "Why don't we retreat a bit further?! I always feel that Young Master Lu's sword technique is terrifying, and its range will be very wide."

Hearing this, Mu Mu nodded.

Good point!

She hadn't recovered to her peak yet; everything needed to be approached with caution.

Then, Mu Mu retreated a considerable distance.

Mu Mu stared intently at the Ancient Sword in Lu Hengge's hand. This sword was naturally a great treasure, but how much power it could unleash in Lu Hengge's hand depended on Lu Hengge's own limits.

Between heaven and earth, an extreme daylight enveloped everything.

All shadows were eliminated.

In her ears, a faint breeze whistled.

The moment the extreme daylight erupted, both Lu Hengge and Chu Huan's figures vanished in the brilliant white light. Even their divine senses were pulverized, and all their perceptive senses were sealed off.

Chapter 146: Flaws of the Immortal Slaying Art, Chu Huan on the Brink of Death

In the blinding white light.

Chu Huan's eyes first blurred for a moment, then his pupils revealed immortal radiance, finally allowing him to see Lu Hengge's sword technique clearly.

Instantly, the entire Western Extremity Realm began to shake.

The power of this sword technique was so terrifying that the Western Extremity Realm itself could barely withstand it. The world rules of the Western Extremity Realm were very complete, capable of self-repair when damaged, but under the aura of the Ancient Sword, countless spatial rifts collapsed into void, unable to regenerate. In the void, even time fell into stagnation.

The planar limit of the Western Extremity Realm was too low.

Just the second form of the Immortal Slaying Art already showed signs of collapse. If Lu Hengge were to learn all five forms of the Immortal Slaying Art, the Western Extremity Realm would probably disintegrate while the sword technique was still being charged.

"Impossible!"

"You're only in the Half-step Immortal Realm!" Chu Huan roared in disbelief.

He wanted to use this method to steady his mind, but every word he uttered trembled.

At this moment, he understood Chu Ge's despair.

But this didn't mean Chu Huan would surrender without a fight. He flung his sleeve, shouting, "I have a word! Please! Commit suicide and return to the heavens!!"

Commandment by Word!

And this was a Confucian Immortal-level Commandment by Word.

In an instant, Lu Hengge felt his hands disobey him, bringing the Ancient Sword towards his own neck.

Chu Huan's Commandment by Word differed slightly from Chu Ge's.

Chu Ge's Commandment by Word began with: "The Sage says,..."

While Chu Huan's began with: "I have a word."

After becoming a Confucian Immortal, Chu Huan was a sage, so his words were golden edicts, no longer needing to borrow the words of other sages.

Lu Hengge's eyes narrowed slightly.

Commandment by Word wasn't weak.

It mainly depended on who used it.

"I don't even give face to the Heavenly Dao. For a mere Literary Dao Confucian Immortal to want me to commit suicide and return to the heavens, it's laughable!"

Lu Hengge sneered, and with a roar, the phantom of a Golden Sacred Dragon appeared behind him. Immediately after, Lu Hengge's left hand grew golden dragon scales, and his five fingers transformed into dragon claws.

In terms of combat power, Confucian Immortals were inferior to Sword Dao.

In terms of physical body, Confucian Immortals were inferior to Dragon Clan.

Even with a slight difference in realm, Lu Hengge couldn't imagine himself losing. Suddenly, the golden dragon claw extended, disregarding space, and instantly appeared before Chu Huan's eyes. "Since you like to talk so much, I'll tear your mouth off first."

Seeing this, Chu Huan's expression stiffened.

Dragon Clan!

And a very pure-blooded Dragon Clan!

Only now did Chu Huan discover that Lu Hengge's physical body was an immortal physique, and in terms of physical strength alone, Lu Hengge was even stronger than him.

Chu Huan was inwardly shocked.

A monster!

A Half-step Immortal Realm cultivation aura, yet a physical body of an immortal.

From this alone, it was clear that Lu Hengge cultivated both body tempering and sword cultivation.

Chu Huan instinctively used the brush in his hand to block the dragon claw. Only a crack was heard, and a distinct crack appeared on the brush's body. Its immortal aura dimmed significantly, and its artifact spirit also wailed in pain.

Rip!

A streak of blood appeared on Chu Huan's face.

The blood mark was long.

It extended from the tip of Chu Huan's ear almost to his mouth.

Just a little more!

Half of Chu Huan's face would have been torn off.

Chu Huan staggered back a few steps, reaching out to touch the wound on his face. The crimson blood made an expression of disbelief appear in Chu Huan's eyes.

Immediately after, an extreme rage surged through his heart.

Before he could vent his anger, Lu Hengge's sword-wielding right hand also transformed into a dragon claw, forcibly resisting Chu Huan's Sage's Words and swinging his sword.

The white light intensified!

Chu Huan's eyes narrowed.

Crack!

A crisp sound.

Immediately after, the white light rapidly dispersed, and the tremors in the Western Extremity Realm slowly subsided. However, the spaces annihilated by the sword intent could no longer be restored, leaving behind a vast, dark, empty void that continuously emitted suction, trying to devour surrounding objects.

Lu Hengge slowly retracted his sword.

In the distance, Mu Mu was dumbfounded.

"Holy cow!"

"This barbarian is so fierce!!"

Even if sword cultivators were adept at defying their cultivation levels, this was simply outrageous.

Fortunately, she had conceded earlier in the secret chamber, otherwise she might truly have died at Lu Hengge's hands. From the force of Lu Hengge's strikes, it was clear he was aiming for Chu Huan's life. As for the Chu family or his Confucian Immortal background, Lu Hengge completely disregarded them.

The world had truly changed.

A cultivator in the Half-step Immortal Realm actually completely defeated an Immortal.

"Is he dead?"

Mu Mu felt a bit of sympathy for Chu Huan.

Chu Huan had clearly only just become an Immortal. The traces of his immortal tribulation were still very obvious on him. Chu Huan hadn't even had the chance to ascend to the Immortal Realm and achieve his grand ambitions, but his dream had already shattered in the Western Extremity Realm.

Lu Hengge's eyes flickered slightly.

Immortals weren't easily killed.

The word "Immortal" represented a cultivation realm, and also represented eternal life with heaven and earth, coexisting with the sun and moon.

Even the weakest Immortal could not be instantly killed, unless Lu Hengge's strength truly surpassed Chu Huan's by a significant margin.

But Lu Hengge knew very well that the success of this move largely depended on Chu Huan's stubbornness. If he had been determined to dodge, this sword move would have been quite difficult to land, because the charging time was slightly long.

In a battle between powerful figures, a single breath could change the situation, let alone Lu Hengge's sword move taking dozens of breaths to charge.

Lu Hengge pondered inwardly.

Charging for too long.

This was a drawback.

The Immortal Slaying Art was not a flawless technique.

If the charging time for the sword move could be shortened, or if the sword move could be prepared in advance and then directly used when needed, without further charging, then this technique could truly be called unrivaled.

Chapter 147: Commandment by Word, Nothing More!

The Immortal Slaying Art has flaws, not intentionally designed by its creator.

Generally, powerful techniques require a certain amount of charging time because greater destructive power means greater consumption of spiritual energy. To accumulate and unleash spiritual energy in an instant is very difficult for cultivators.

Even upon breaking through to the Immortal stage, this problem still persists.

Because cultivators use spiritual energy.

Immortals use immortal qi.

There are differences in quality between the two, but in terms of activating techniques and wielding weapons, there is no fundamental difference between the two types of energy.

For this reason, many powerful killing moves are used as trump cards.

Lu Hengge didn't believe he had the ability to perfect the Immortal Slaying Art. After all, the person who created this technique was a true Immortal, and even Jiang Wuxu praised him highly. To receive praise from a Half-step Immortal Emperor-level expert already said it all.

So, Lu Hengge's first thought was to pre-charge.

If he could start charging during normal times and then use the sword move directly when fighting, without needing to charge again, then the Immortal Slaying Art's drawback could be considered resolved through another method.

This method is feasible!

Lu Hengge pondered for a moment.

A sword move charged but not unleashed.

It could be achieved.

However, Lu Hengge needed a lot of practice to truly master it.

Lu Hengge looked back at the pit on the ground. Chu Huan in the pit showed no signs of life; even his aura had vanished. Mu Mu, in the distance, thought Chu Huan was dead, but Lu Hengge's expression showed no sign of relaxation.

The second form of the Immortal Slaying Art was powerful, but it wasn't enough to instantly kill an Immortal.

If Immortals died so easily, the prestige of the word "Immortal" would be too low.

Thinking of this, Lu Hengge raised his palm.

Instantly, the sword body of the Ancient Sword displayed colors of seasonal changes. The inscriptions of the Dao of Time were lit up. The Four Seasons Sword Art's strength lay in its Dao, not in its sword intent. Anyone struck by the Four Seasons Sword Art would instantly have a large amount of their lifespan stripped away.

"Trying to play dead?" Lu Hengge sneered.

In the distance, Mu Mu swallowed hard, her eyes flashing with horror. "Is this Lu Hengge the reincarnation of a powerful figure?! The sword moves he uses are all hard-hitting, lethal moves. This man is ruthless, and the sword moves he uses are even more ruthless."

Mu Mu actually guessed correctly.

Lu Hengge was indeed the reincarnation of a powerful figure.

Coincidentally, Lu Hengge's previous, previous life was precisely Song Mingdao, whom Mu Mu had always looked down on.

However, Lu Hengge's current cultivation achievements had little to do with Song Mingdao.

Aside from inheriting Song Mingdao's memories and a very small portion of his cultivation, the rest of Lu Hengge's accomplishments came from his own efforts and various opportunities.

Strictly speaking, Lu Hengge was not Song Mingdao.

At least, in Lu Hengge's heart, his name was still Lu Hengge, and he had never thought of changing it back to Song Mingdao.

Mu Mu quickly pondered in her mind.

"This kid has the dragon blood and dragon might of the Golden Sacred Dragon. Could he be the reincarnation of that old fellow Bei Cangwu?"

"No, no."

"I've seen Bei Cangwu after he transformed into human form; he had a pumpkin-like face. It's impossible for his reincarnation to have such handsome features."

"Could it be Gu Yu?"

"No, that's not right either!"

"Gu Yu's appearance does match Lu Hengge's, but the problem is that Gu Yu was an Immortal-Demon Monk, who detested sword cultivators his entire life. How could he actively cultivate the Sword Dao after reincarnation?"

"Xuan Tianji?"

"That old fellow liked to play dirty tricks, never confronting people head-on, always hiding in the shadows fiddling with his Bagua Tortoise Plate to kill. His style is completely opposite to Lu Hengge's."

"Jiang Wuxu?"

"Sword Dao matches, appearance matches, conduct and style match, but I feel this kid isn't worthy."

Mu Mu eliminated many possibilities, but still couldn't figure out which powerful figure Lu Hengge might be the reincarnation of. Suddenly, Mu Mu thought of an even more terrifying possibility: Lu Hengge wasn't the reincarnation of any powerful figure at all, and had simply reached this point on his own.

If that were the case, then in the future, the Immortal Realm would see the emergence of another figure like Jiang Wuxu.

Back then, Jiang Wuxu ascended from a small world to the Immortal Realm.

In just a few thousand years, he cleared the Immortal Realm's 'dungeon', wielding the Ancient Sword to make all Immortals, demons, and monsters kneel and beg for mercy. Although Jiang Wuxu ultimately got stuck at the Half-step Immortal Emperor Realm and didn't advance further, he was hailed as the person with the most hope of achieving the Emperor's position in ten thousand years.

Crucially, Jiang Wuxu was accustomed to going it alone.

A sword cultivator without attachments was the most terrifying.

This meant that nothing could restrain him. Everyone in the Immortal Realm revered Jiang Wuxu, but everyone also detested him. In an Immortal Realm where people banded together and formed factions to cultivate, Jiang Wuxu was an anomaly.

Such a person, one was enough.

If a second one appeared, the entire Immortal Realm would collapse.

Unconsciously, Mu Mu's gaze towards Lu Hengge changed.

Lu Hengge probably didn't know yet what kind of hardships he would face when he ascended to the Immortal Realm, given his way of doing things!

However, a hint of excitement flashed in Mu Mu's eyes.

Perhaps...

She could win over Lu Hengge to join the Azure Sea Jade Pool.

With the existing relationship with Zhu Zhu, the chances of successfully winning over Lu Hengge were high.

First, use Zhu Zhu's personal connection to win him over, then use the resources of the Azure Sea Jade Pool to entice him. Double guarantee!

"If Lu Hengge isn't the reincarnation of a powerful figure, then winning him over means no future worries, and the Immortal Sect gains another Sword Immortal; if Lu Hengge is the reincarnation of a powerful figure, even if he later awakens his memories and ultimately chooses to leave the Azure Sea Jade Pool, the Immortal Sect would still surely gain many benefits."

A win-win situation!

At this moment, Mu Mu's hostility towards Lu Hengge instantly vanished.

After all, Lu Hengge would be her junior brother in the future. How could one harbor hostility towards one's own junior brother!

Back to Lu Hengge.

He unleashed the Four Seasons Sword Art.

The flow of time around them instantly accelerated, like a fleeting white colt, falling leaves, and flying flowers. The sword intent wasn't very strong, but the tremor of the Great Dao was extremely obvious.

Just then, from the deep pit.

Chu Huan no longer feigned death and shouted, "I have a word..."

"Your word my ass!"

Lu Hengge reversed his grip on the Ancient Sword, pointing its tip at the pit, and violently threw it out.

The next second, a gasp of surprise came from the pit.

Having his spell-casting prelude interrupted by the Ancient Sword, Chu Huan immediately panicked. He didn't even care about using Commandment by Word anymore, desperately activating his movement technique to escape the pit.

A figure appeared, looking extremely disheveled.

His immortal body was almost shattered.

The Heavenly Pen in his hand had completely vanished.

At this moment, Chu Huan was utterly wretched.

His body was covered in wounds, and immortal blood flowed like a trickling stream. His hair was disheveled, making him look like a ghost, completely devoid of his previous calm and composed demeanor.

Cough, cough, cough...

Chu Huan coughed continuously, as if his lungs were about to come out.

Commandment by Word!

Nothing more than that!

As long as he couldn't open his mouth, Commandment by Word was completely useless.

Chapter 148: The Next Jiang Wuxu

"Lu Hengge, we have no grievances, why must we fight to the death!"

Chu Huan panted heavily.

His immortal demeanor had completely vanished.

Lu Hengge raised an eyebrow. "I believe you were the one who tried to kill me first."

Hearing this, a hint of resentment flashed in Chu Huan's eyes, but he quickly reined it in. Before starting the fight, he hadn't expected Lu Hengge to be so strong. Moreover, he could feel a strong sense of destiny from Lu Hengge. Fighting Lu Hengge within the Western Extremity Realm put him at a great disadvantage.

Chu Huan pretended to be understanding. "I've thought about it carefully. In fact, my second brother's death truly had little to do with you. It was the Heavenly Dao's doing. I'll go settle the score with the Heavenly Dao now. We shall meet again."

Actually, upon closer thought, Chu Ge was already dead.

The dead could not be resurrected, unless his fragmented soul could be found for his reincarnation.

The dead were gone.

The living had to live on.

He couldn't possibly sacrifice his own life just to avenge Chu Ge, could he?

"Second brother, I am temporarily unable to avenge you. When I return to the family and gather all our forces, I will come back to avenge you!" Chu Huan comforted himself mentally. After all, after Chu Ge's death, he was the only surviving child of the Chu family.

Lu Hengge raised his hand.

The Ancient Sword pointed at Chu Huan.

Seeing this, Chu Huan was immediately startled.

He had truly developed a psychological shadow from the Ancient Sword.

"You want to fight when you please, and leave when you please? What do you take me for?" Lu Hengge had no intention of letting Chu Huan go; he still needed to refine him into a pill.

Hearing this, Chu Huan was immediately enraged.

"My Chu family has connections in the Immortal Realm!"

The Chu family had more than one Confucian Immortal. Chu Huan was merely a newly ascended Confucian Immortal. The family had ancestors who had been Immortals for a long time in the Immortal Realm, and it was said they had even established their own sect. Just this connection alone was beyond what Lu Hengge could compare to.

Lu Hengge hadn't spoken yet, but Mu Mu couldn't help but interject, "Your surname is Chu? And you're a Confucian Immortal? What is Chu Zhao to you?"

Chu Huan's face brightened.

It seemed this woman was from the Immortal Realm; she even knew his ancestor's name.

"To be frank with this fellow Daoist, Chu Zhao is indeed my ancestor's true name, but my ancestor prefers to be called the Brush Daoist," Chu Huan couldn't help but straighten his back, as if he himself were Chu Zhao.

Mu Mu's expression was strange.

"So you're a descendant of Chu Zhao."

"No wonder!"

Mu Mu shook her head.

Chu Huan was somewhat confused. Why did Mu Mu's reaction not seem to be one of respect...?

Mu Mu kindly reminded him, "Lest you don't know, I'll tell you in advance. If you survive today and go to the Immortal Realm, you must never mention Chu Zhao's name, or you will suffer greatly."

Chu Huan's face froze.

Lu Hengge interjected, "Then it's fine. He won't survive today anyway."

Upon hearing this, Chu Huan's mindset shattered further.

The series of events that transpired today were so bizarre that his Dao heart was somewhat unstable.

Lu Hengge sealed off the surrounding space, leaving Chu Huan no possibility of escape. He even mobilized the entire Western Extremity Realm's destiny to suppress Chu Huan. As long as Chu Huan remained within the Western Extremity Realm, his strength would be greatly diminished.

Instantly, Chu Huan felt his internal power become extremely sluggish and difficult to mobilize.

There was also another point.

The Western Extremity Realm was a minor world. The power in this world was primarily spiritual energy, and Chu Huan was already an Immortal. Spiritual energy was too low-grade for him and couldn't restore his power, but Lu Hengge had no such concerns.

Lu Hengge was in the Half-step Immortal Realm.

Essentially, he was still a cultivator.

No matter how much power he expended, as long as there was sufficient spiritual energy, he could absorb and restore it.

"You really want to be enemies with my Chu family?!" Chu Huan's eyes were icy.

Lu Hengge mocked, "Haven't I already been an enemy of your Chu family? You're saying that if I don't kill you, your Chu family will let me go?"

Chu Huan fell silent.

After a long while, Chu Huan spoke earnestly, "I promise!"

Lu Hengge didn't reply. He directly threw the Ancient Sword. He had chatted with Chu Huan for a while earlier because he needed some time to restore his spiritual energy. Now that he had recovered sufficiently, it was naturally Chu Huan's time to die.

"You!"

Chu Huan was shocked.

His immortal body was already on the verge of collapse. If he were hit by the Ancient Sword again, he would probably disintegrate on the spot.

In his haste, Chu Huan continuously dodged.

The Ancient Sword's speed was too fast, so fast that Chu Huan didn't even have time to use Commandment by Word.

Immediately after, a life-sized Dharma Idol appeared behind Lu Hengge—one immortal, one demon, with appearances similar to Lu Hengge, but their eyes lacked the emotional fluctuations of a living person. A long sword condensed from spiritual energy appeared in the Dharma Idol's hand.

Lu Hengge and the Dharma Idol vanished simultaneously. The next second, Lu Hengge grabbed the hilt of the Ancient Sword, while the Dharma Idol appeared behind Chu Huan.

One in front, one behind, forming a pincer attack.

Swish!

Swish!!

Two sword lights flashed.

Lu Hengge and the Dharma Idol switched places. At this moment, Lu Hengge was behind Chu Huan, while the Dharma Idol was in front of Chu Huan.

The spiritual energy long sword in the Dharma Idol's hand slowly disappeared, and the Dharma Idol itself also slowly became transparent and vanished. In the end, only Lu Hengge remained standing behind Chu Huan, his back to him, putting the Ancient Sword back into his storage ring.

Chu Huan's body was cut into fine small pieces.

His immortal body completely collapsed.

Lu Hengge didn't waste anything. He took out his alchemy furnace and stuffed Chu Huan inside. After all, he was going to use Chu Huan for alchemy; every drop of blood, every piece of flesh was an essence for alchemy.

Now, Chu Huan was truly dead.

The Ancient Sword had severed all of Chu Huan's vitality.

As Lu Hengge's cultivation increased, the Ancient Sword slowly revealed its true power. Countless Immortals had died under the Ancient Sword in the past. A mere newly ascended Confucian Immortal was just child's play for the Ancient Sword.

In the distance, Mu Mu marveled.

It ended so quickly!

Chu Huan was not weak.

He was simply stunned by Lu Hengge's moves. Until his death, Chu Huan hadn't even used a few techniques, purely relying on his body's instincts to resist.

By the time Chu Huan realized he could use Immortal abilities to counter Lu Hengge, Lu Hengge had already decided not to drag it out, directly using the Ancient Sword to instantly kill Chu Huan, not even sparing his immortal soul.

In terms of cultivation realm, Lu Hengge was inferior to Chu Huan.

But in terms of combat experience, Chu Huan was as naive as a child who had just learned to walk in front of Lu Hengge.

Having finished everything, Lu Hengge prepared to leave.

Seeing this, Mu Mu called out to Lu Hengge, naturally hooking her arm around his shoulder, acting like a sworn brother. "I see you're a good kid. Why not join my Azure Sea Jade Pool! When I recover to my peak, I'll reshape a body for Zhu Zhu. Then, you two can become cultivation partners, and you'll gain both fame and beauty."

Lu Hengge glanced at the fair jade hand on his shoulder, then looked indifferently at Mu Mu.

A few breaths later, Mu Mu awkwardly withdrew her hand.

"I only cultivate my own Dao."

"I will not join any immortal sect!" Lu Hengge said softly.

Mu Mu shrugged. Darn it, he really is the next Jiang Wuxu.

Chapter 149: The Two Great Sinners of the Immortal Realm

"Young man."

"You're still too young."

"When you ascend to the Immortal Realm, you'll realize how important connections, resources, and background are. My Azure Sea Jade Pool is one of the three great pools, and we treat cultivators who ascend from lower realms equally, teaching without discrimination. Think about it carefully. If you change your mind, come find me."

Mu Mu spoke earnestly.

This was true.

Cultivation was always a competition of resources.

The reason Jiang Wuxu could become the number one sword immortal of the immortal tribulation, the sole giant among rogue cultivators, was largely due to his exceptionally good fortune. Wherever he went, he would obtain a large number of immortal medicines and immortal artifacts for cultivation. This was pure luck, but could Lu Hengge guarantee the same for himself in the Immortal Realm?

It would be difficult.

At least, Mu Mu thought it would be difficult.

In the Immortal Realm's millions of years, perhaps only one figure like Jiang Wuxu, with no background, had appeared. Moreover, stepping back, after experiencing the era of suppression by Jiang Wuxu, how could the various immortal sects of the Immortal Realm possibly allow a second Jiang Wuxu to appear!

Hearing this, Lu Hengge asked with interest, "Which is the strongest immortal sect in the Immortal Realm?"

The strongest immortal sect?

Mu Mu pondered for a moment.

That was truly hard to say.

After all, many old immortal sects were very low-key, not showing their true strength, but when it came to a life-or-death crisis for the sect, the combat power unleashed by these sects was no less than that of the Two Gates, Three Pools, and Five Peaks.

But on the surface, the strongest immortal sect was definitely the Divine Calculation Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

This referred to immortal sects.

Jiang Wuxu was an individual.

So he wasn't within the scope of Lu Hengge's question.

"Divine Calculation Heavenly Secret Pavilion," Mu Mu replied.

"What does this immortal sect primarily cultivate?"

"They primarily cultivate Yin and Yang Bagua, specializing in fortune-telling and deduction. This is an immortal art that ordinary disciples learn. If one cultivates this immortal art to a high level, one can even freely alter others' destinies, lifespans, and fates, and even achieve the ability to shield karma."

That was quite impressive.

Lower realm cultivators valued destiny; the stronger one's destiny, the richer their opportunities and the faster their growth. But in the Immortal Realm, Immortals valued karma more. Immortals would instinctively avoid anything related to karma, and the Divine Calculation Heavenly Secret Pavilion's ability to shield heavenly secrets using immortal arts was truly outrageous.

Of course, not everyone in the Divine Calculation Heavenly Secret Pavilion could do this.

Generally, only the Pavilion Master had this ability.

In addition, the people of the Divine Calculation Heavenly Secret Pavilion also had the longest lifespans among all immortal sects in the Immortal Realm. It was said that the hidden immortal ancestor of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion had lived through several cosmic epochs, even longer than the Ancient Sword had existed.

Lu Hengge was inwardly surprised.

Cultivating Yin and Yang.

Mastering Bagua.

Adept at fortune-telling.

These things sounded profound and mysterious, even more profound than a Confucian Immortal's Commandment by Word.

But unfortunately, such a sect was destined to be unrelated to Lu Hengge, because among the Three Thousand Great Daos Lu Hengge had mastered, what he was least proficient in were the Dao of Yin and Yang, divination, and deduction.

Lu Hengge didn't feel much regret, as he had never intended to join any immortal sect from the start. He was just very interested in such profound immortal arts. Perhaps he could visit the Heavenly Secret Pavilion sometime in the future if he had the opportunity.

"I'm going," Lu Hengge waved.

Seeing this, Mu Mu quickly spoke, "Be sure to contact me when you've made up your mind. If you don't know where the Azure Sea Jade Pool is, just ask for directions in any major immortal dynasty; they'll definitely know."

Lu Hengge looked at Mu Mu. "You were an immortal once, after all. Are there no communication methods in the Immortal Realm? Like transmission stones or something?"

"There are."

"But I don't have any on me," Mu Mu said.

Lu Hengge: ...

Lu Hengge shook his head, then started walking. Behind him, Mu Mu's calls continued, "You'd better decide quickly. With Zhu Zhu's looks, there will definitely be a bunch of suitors. Don't come running over wanting her after she's already married off!"

Before she finished speaking, Lu Hengge's figure completely vanished.

Mu Mu snorted.

Stupid kid.

Trying to act like a cold male god.

However, with Lu Hengge's strength and looks, pretending to be aloof was actually quite captivating.

Mu Mu released her divine sense again, perceiving everything in the area. Lu Hengge's speed was incredibly fast; in just a few breaths, he had already surpassed the maximum range of Mu Mu's divine sense.

"Sister," Zhu Zhu spoke.

Mu Mu hummed in response.

In private, the two referred to each other as sisters.

"Is the Chu family very powerful?"

The Chu family?

Mu Mu was stunned for a moment.

She subconsciously searched for a powerful family named Chu among the Immortal Realm's sects, but after a moment, she realized Zhu Zhu was asking about Chu Huan's family.

"Mediocre."

"This Chu family is in a small world called the Purple Mist Realm."

"Their overall strength ranks among the top in the small world families, but it's nothing remarkable in the Immortal Realm."

"Moreover, the Chu family is like a rat crossing the street in the Immortal Realm now, hated by everyone. If that Confucian Immortal had survived and gone to the Immortal Realm today, he would have known how fortunate he was not to have ascended yet."

Mu Mu explained.

Zhu Zhu suddenly understood.

Suddenly, Zhu Zhu asked, "Two great sinners? Who's the other one?"

"Song Mingdao."

"The Young Master of Buried Emperor Peak."

"Speaking of which, this Song Mingdao has some ties to my Azure Sea Jade Pool. His mother was a fairy from my Azure Sea Jade Pool."

"But this guy also defected to the Void Dao Palace. He has a Half-step Immortal Emperor cultivation but chose not to be an Immortal, opting to be someone's dog instead."

"Song Mingdao and Chu Zhao are the two most infamous individuals recorded in all ancient Immortal Realm texts."

Mu Mu shook her head.

The main reason she looked down on Song Mingdao was precisely this.