Free Web NovelChapter 373: Chapter 331: I Object to This Union
Golden Core Masters should be flawless and unblemished, appearing as ordinary mortals when not exerting force, but Master Fengfeng’s aura was somewhat unstable, which was not the state a Mid-Stage Golden Core Master should be in.
Previously, he had his limbs severed, was poisoned, and the ensuing great battle left him no time to remove the poison, forcing him to use a secret technique that damaged his origin and the treasured magical treasure "Hundred Blessings Spiritual Ruyi" to suppress the poison.
After another great battle that ended in mutual destruction, Master Fengfeng was again heavily injured, and the poison resurfaced, fiercely penetrating his bones.
Now, after four and a half years, the poison was finally completely removed, and his cultivation restored, but the damage to his Golden Core’s origin was substantial. The involuntary leakage of aura was clear evidence of this, posing the greatest threat on his future path.
Furthermore, his left arm was severed, and he had yet to find a miraculous medicine for regeneration. On one hand, this slightly affected the flow of his spiritual power. On the other, having incomplete limbs not only attracted strange looks from others but also created significant internal obstacles, directly breeding a heart demon and affecting his ability to cross the Heart Demon Tribulation and achieve the Nascent Soul.
Speaking of heart demons, Master Fengfeng was already certain that the greatest heart demon during his future tribulation would be Lu Qian!
All his pain and suffering were directly related to Lu Qian, and the decline of the Xuanguang Sect was even more due to Lu Qian being the main culprit!
If he couldn’t grind Lu Qian’s bones to dust, he feared he would never overcome this Great Heart Demon Tribulation!
With this thought, Master Fengfeng’s anger surged, his eyes widened, and a fine breeze swept through, making all the Foundation Establishment cultivators present feel as if their skin was being sliced by knives, sending chills down their spines.
"Continue." Master Fengfeng said coldly.
Hee Yangchen paused for a moment: "...According to the above intelligence, Guh Niqiang has already left Chongming County."
In recent years, Hee Yangchen was eager to erase the stain of Lu Qian, so he transformed, becoming the vanguard against Lu Qian. Currently, most of the Shuangye Alliance’s intelligence came from Huanjian Peak’s investigations.
"Is there any way to track her?" Xu Chengyun asked.
Hee Yangchen shook his head: "Her escape speed is too fast, making it impossible to track her movements."
Sect Leader Xu Chengyun looked at his sect’s master’s expression and carefully analyzed, "Nine times out of ten, that woman left the county to prepare for her tribulation. Lu Qian knows that if she were to undergo her tribulation in the county, we would spare no effort to stop it, so it’s better to send her away. I think it’s very likely she entered Liangxiang County to cross tier under the protection of the Mingyu Sword Sect. This is both safe and close by, allowing her to return at any time if something happens."
Upon hearing this, everyone present agreed and nodded in approval.
Guh Niqiang carried Tribulation Qi, which was apparent at first glance and impossible to hide. Based on the approximate timeline of the appearance of the Tribulation Qi, Guh Niqiang’s cross-tier should occur within one and a half to two and a half years.
Thinking of Master Cangfeng of the Mingyu Sword Sect, Master Fengfeng’s eyebrow twitched, and he ground his teeth: "Li Xianyu..."
If not for his meddling, the Shuangye Alliance would have been wiped out long ago!
Former Fifth Elder Wangg Hao suddenly spoke: "We should also guard against Lu Qian’s trickery, deliberately lulling us into a false sense of security, hiding his strongest force, Guh Niqiang, to set a trap and lure us into attacking."
After years of probing and skirmishing, everyone has figured out that Lu Qian possesses the Thousand-Mile Mirror, which can directly contact Master Cangfeng through Shuangye Square. Guh Niqiang’s combat ability is evident, and no one present can outmatch her.
In this case, if only small groups are dispatched, they could easily be devoured by the Shuangye Alliance.
"That Lu Qian youngster only has this little cleverness." Master Fengfeng scowled with anger, "Even a lion must use its full strength to catch a rabbit, why would I not deploy my army completely and play some petty incremental tactics with him?"
"Once we move, we must go all out, uproot the Shuangye Alliance, and grind Lu Qian into powder!"
He turned to Ning Songzhi: "Have you contacted Master Kan Yuan yet?"
Ning Songzhi, although having some personal friendship with Lu Qian, even admiring his abilities and character, stood on the opposing side due to differing affiliations.
Nonetheless, the Xuanguang Sect was worried he might inadvertently ruin things due to any softened stance, so they didn’t place him on the front line for annihilating the Shuangye Alliance but rather had him assist the sect leader with internal and external sect affairs.
He answered respectfully: "Jiyang Manor just replied that Master Kan Yuan’s old wounds haven’t healed, making it impossible for him to agree."
Master Fengfeng snorted with a sneer: "What old wounds not healed? That old charlatan. Probably figured out some divination that makes him fear stepping into the fray. He doesn’t even understand the principle that man can overcome the heavens, what a waste of his cultivation to a Golden Core! Truly a waste of resources."
Those present dared not arbitrarily comment when he spoke about other Golden Core masters.
After a moment of silence, Master Fengfeng coldly said: "Open up my sect’s treasury; Ning Songzhi, go to Plum Blossom Marketplace, I refuse to believe we cannot find suitable personnel."
"Hee Yangchen, get your people moving!"
"By all means, before Guh Niqiang undergoes tribulation, erase the Shuangye Alliance from the map!"
All Elders loudly affirmed.
After the Shuangye Square Festival successfully concluded, the Shuangye Alliance left only a twenty-person law enforcement team in the marketplace to conduct joint enforcement with sects from Liangxiang County, while others returned to Lingsha City. Even Lin Le, the Business Steward, left Shuangye Square.
Because they were preparing to welcome the next big event: Lu Qian and Jiang Qingfeng were going to become Dao companions.
In fact, this news had already circulated widely. Just before Lu Qian was about to lead everyone back to Lingsha City, a softly seductive figure blocked their path.
"I object to this marriage!" Ji Yunrou tearfully said.
The pitiful, rain-drenched pear-blossom expression made everyone feel a sense of guilt, while the two white snakes on Ji Yunrou’s exquisite, jade-like earlobes also cooperated by adopting a dejected look.
Unfortunately, Lu Qian treated her as if she were air. Wang Yu, unable to resist a wry smile, said: "Sect Leader Ji, there’s no need for such behavior, this is just becoming Dao companions, not actual marriage."
In the Cultivation Realm, Dao companions and spouses, at their roots, are different concepts.
The term Dao companions originally carried no gender distinction, referring instead to two mutually compatible individuals forming a close partnership on the path of Dao, supporting one another and cultivating together. Both men and women can be Dao companions, as can same-gender pairs.
Yet, over tens of thousands of years, this concept has gradually skewed, with Dao companions now often seen as a precursor to cultivators’ marriage.
Because of cultivators’ long lifespans, marriage becomes even more significant. Consider that the coming centuries are to be spent with this person, possibly raising offspring and establishing a branch that may evolve into a cultivation clan. Therefore, cultivators approach marriage with extreme caution, seldom genuinely marrying hastily.
So, before marrying, one will first become Dao companions as a way to further evaluate mutual compatibility. To Lu Qian, it’s akin to modern society’s coupleship before marriage.
"Then, since it’s just Dao companions, what’s the harm in having one more?" Ji Yunrou wiped her tears, "Lu Lang, you heartless man, clearly having done this and that with me, yet unwilling to even grant me the status of a Dao companion?"
