Chapter 482 - 352: Come Over and Carry Her
Yuan Duo shot him an annoyed glance before offering a brief explanation:
"I’ve never gotten along with her. Don’t be fooled by us teaming up just now—we had no choice. There’s no way I’m going to carry her on my back."
After Yuan Duo finished speaking with a touch of haughty pride, Fang Qingyuan understood. He looked down at Chu Hongshang on the ground, and his heart skipped a beat. ’A beauty of this caliber... I never thought I’d have a day where I could be this close to her.’
Fang Qingyuan didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward, bent down, and took Chu Hongshang by the shoulders, hoisting her onto his back.
She was a little warm.
That was Fang Qingyuan’s first sensation, followed by an impression of softness, tenderness, fragrance, and smoothness.
Fang Qingyuan couldn’t quite put a name to the feeling in his heart. The once high-and-mighty Chu Hongshang was now so weak.
"Get your head out of the clouds. Let’s go."
Yuan Duo’s reminder snapped Fang Qingyuan back to his senses. He then supported Chu Hongshang’s bottom and subconsciously hoisted her up a bit higher.
Only after he’d done it did Fang Qingyuan realize how inappropriate it was. ’This... feels a bit like I’m taking advantage of her, doesn’t it?’
Fortunately, Yuan Duo was busy gathering the remains of the One-armed Nascent Soul and didn’t notice.
A few breaths later, Yuan Duo had the One-armed Nascent Soul’s remains bound in chains, dragging them along the ground. With Fang Qingyuan carrying Chu Hongshang on his back, the two of them quickly headed out of the Barbaric Wilderness.
...
In Qi Yun, on the shattered Si Liang Peak, the spiritual souls of three Divinity Transformation Cultivators were still in communication.
Among them, Elder Chen, the Master of the Miscellaneous Affairs Peak, looked at the devastation of Si Liang Peak, lost in thought.
"That Yuanhou Lion Dance has likely stepped into the ’Realm of Truth.’ No wonder it could cross a hundred thousand li, break through the limitations of our world’s Laws of Heaven and Earth, and fight its way all the way here."
"The Yuanhou Lion Dance has really entered the ’Realm of Truth’? If that’s true, it would be the second non-human existence in this realm to do so. Aside from the guardian of the Beast Taming Sect, it’s been so many years since another has appeared. It looks like the Beast Taming Sect’s expansion plans are about to hit a bloody wall."
The one who said this was Elder Zuo, the Master of the Five Elements Peak. He sounded astonished upon hearing Elder Chen’s analysis.
"Among the three of us, only Senior Brother Chen has barely managed to touch the ’Realm of Truth.’ To think that an Ancient Beast of the Wilderness has a higher realm than us... it’s absurd."
Xingxi, the Law Enforcement Peak Master, spoke indignantly. In front of his two senior brothers, he still acted like a junior brother with no filter.
"Indeed. After achieving Divinity Transformation, one must pass through the Three Calamities and Three Disasters, withstand the Great Heavenly Tribulation, and endure the Forty-Ninefold Tribulation before one can even begin to touch upon the ’Realm of Truth.’ I have no idea how this Yuanhou Lion Dance cultivated. It’s a true anomaly."
"Then, based on your earlier perception, Senior Brother, who actually won the fight between the Yuanhou Lion Dance and our Eldest Senior Brother?"
Hearing Xingxi’s question, Elder Chen carefully recalled the information he had perceived with his divine sense and finally shook his head.
"In terms of realm, the Yuanhou Lion Dance is slightly inferior. It seems to lack a systematic Cultivation Method for the ’Realm of Truth,’ relying only on instinct, unlike Senior Brother who is methodical. However, in its interpretation and understanding of the Nine Celestial and Human Techniques, the Yuanhou Lion Dance has a very deep foundation in the Void Technique."
"The Void Technique!?"
"Yes, the Void Technique. The origin of all things lies in the Great Void. From there arise the states of motion and stillness, and the rules of creation. Although this Yuanhou Lion Dance has only touched upon the Time Universe Law within it, it is still a formidable enemy that you three must be wary of in the future.
I, too, have gained something from this battle and need to enter seclusion for a time. I’ll leave the rest for you to handle."
A gentle voice echoed in the ears of the masters on their respective three peaks. Hearing this voice, the three of them replied in unison:
"We shall obey Senior Brother’s decree."
...
Within Awakening Lion Valley in the Barbaric Wilderness, inside the Yuanhou Lion Dance’s spiritual soul—a vast, white ocean of spirit—the flow of time was not entirely the same as in the outside world.
It depended on the Old Lion’s thoughts. At that moment, Huo Gan and Tu Ling were exchanging information about the outside world, and both were finding it fruitful.
Just then, the Old Lion tapped the book beneath him and asked the two,
"Have you finished your discussion?"
Tu Ling now understood his situation and accepted it quickly. He wasn’t the least bit saddened by his own death; on the contrary, he felt as if a lifelong wish had been fulfilled.
His original lifespan was already short. Even if he had defeated Chu Hongshang and returned, he wouldn’t have had more than a century or two left to live. While this was an incredibly long time for a mortal or a Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment cultivator, for a Nascent Soul like him who had lived for nearly two thousand years, he already had one foot in the grave.
At his age, he no longer hoped to break through the three gates and vie for immortality. He had a much clearer goal.
For the sake of this goal, what did his own life matter?
He hadn’t cared about the rewards for killing Chu Hongshang. Chaos and change—that was his lifelong ambition. And now, he had a real opportunity to achieve it, if only he could control this Old Lion’s mind.
"With your power, you could easily charge out of the Barbaric Wilderness. Whether it’s White Mountain or the Southern Border, tens of thousands of li of territory would grovel at your feet. Why stay here sleeping in this valley?"
Listening to Tu Ling’s words, the Old Lion remained sprawled out lazily and said,
"This life is good enough. In my long existence, I once established a vast territory. I bit to death any who wouldn’t obey me. But after being a king for so long, it gets boring."
"But things are different now. Even if you don’t take the initiative, sooner or later, the borders of humanity will extend to your feet. What will you do then?"
Tu Ling began to analyze for the Yuanhou Lion all the various pioneering efforts humanity had undertaken in the past. As the Yuanhou Lion listened, its expression began to shift subtly.
Then it looked at Huo Gan, who stood to the side. In all these years, Huo Gan had never mentioned any of this.
Huo Gan’s expression remained serene. He met the Yuanhou Lion’s gaze calmly, a smile gracing his lips.
But in the next moment, that smile shattered completely.
In the next breath, Huo Gan’s soul-body shattered, dissolving into wisps of pure soul energy that scattered throughout the white Spiritual World.
Tu Ling was stunned by this scene, then felt a pang of regret. He never would have guessed the Old Lion was so decisive.
But after that slight regret came excitement. A lion this decisive had a much better chance of succeeding.
After Huo Gan’s soul-body had completely dissipated, the Old Lion spoke gloomily,
"The world outside restricts me. I can’t leave as I please. It’s like another powerful beast’s territory; I must exercise restraint."
Hearing the Old Lion’s words, Tu Ling’s thoughts raced. Finally, a phrase escaped his lips:
"Observing the Heavens and Determining the Origin!"
At this, the Old Lion’s interest was piqued. He asked curiously,
"Observing the Heavens and Determining the Origin? What does that mean?"
Tu Ling organized the information he knew. In his two thousand years of life, there were very few secrets in the Cultivation Realm that could be hidden from him.
"The Great Zhou Academy holds one after its pioneering wars every hundred years. Furthermore, every thirty-six hundred years, the entire Cultivation Realm unites to hold a grand event. This is the ’Observing the Heavens and Determining the Origin.’
Its true purpose is to fine-tune the Laws of Heaven and Earth required by the various sects for cultivation, making them more suitable for cultivators. It’s a systematic and long-term plan. From the looks of it now, the ultimate goal is to completely alter this world’s Laws of Heaven and Earth, turning it entirely into a cultivation realm for humans, not a homeland for you Ancient Beasts of the Wilderness."
The Old Lion nodded upon hearing this. No wonder he subconsciously didn’t want to step out of the Barbaric Wilderness. The entire world in that human domain was hostile to him.
When his divine sense had crossed a hundred thousand li earlier, he had fought through the Realm of Truth. And the Realm of Truth is a place that is almost separate from this world’s Laws of Heaven and Earth, so naturally, it held no restraints for him.
In the Realm of Truth, time and distance are completely meaningless concepts. All that matters is one’s level of understanding of the Great Dao. In this, he had lost to the Master of Heaven and Earth Peak.
"Tell me your plan. What do you want me to do?"
Within the white Spiritual Space, the Old Lion finally got serious.