Chapter 253: Chapter 253: A Nobody

Overseas, in a remote stretch of sea.

A streak of Flying Light zipped past. Within it was a young man with a grim expression. ’Is Mother… really trying to harm me, just as Father said?’

The young man was none other than Chongming.

Since his trip to the Qing Country, the young man had aged considerably. Although his Lifespan had not been diminished, a few strands of white had appeared at his temples.

The Flying Light streaked across the sea for a while longer before landing on a deserted island. It passed through what seemed to be a transparent water curtain. From the outside, the island looked desolate and lifeless, but upon entering, a young Daoist with red lips and white teeth had appeared out of thin air on the shore.

“Fellow Daoist Xu…”

A complex look flashed in Chongming’s eyes. He sighed, walked forward, and cupped his hands. “I’ve troubled you, Fellow Daoist. Chongming will surely repay this kindness in the future.”

If Lü Yang had been here, he certainly would have recognized him.

The young Daoist before him was none other than Xu Xin, who had been on terrible terms with Chongming on the Seizing Dao Battlefield. Now, he too was a Foundation-Stage Cultivator.

“Enough with the pleasantries.”

Xu Xin shook his head and his figure suddenly turned illusory. “I don’t want to get involved with you. You’re on your own, little young master.”

With that, his image silently shattered.

Chongming could only sigh at the sight. ’Father said Mother wants to harm me,’ he thought, ’but why did he still tell me to follow her instructions and go out to sea?’

In the Qing Country, when Chong Guang had sent Chongming out of the Dongyang Blessed Land, he had left him with a few instructions. Out of trust for his father, Chongming had followed them strictly. Although the heartless actions of his mother, Master Miaoyin, had left him deeply disappointed, he still pulled himself together.

’No matter what, I can’t return to the Stain Sect.’

Chongming took an Eight Trigrams Plate from his robes. This was a Divination Artifact Chong Guang had given him to conceal his Karma Links. With this treasure’s protection, no one should be able to find him.

At this thought, Lü Yang’s image suddenly flashed through Chongming’s mind.

’If the worst comes to worst… I’ll just outlast them!’

’I’ll outlast Mother until she’s dead!’

As the most outstanding disciple of the Stain Sect’s younger generation, Lü Yang’s deeds were already legendary, including his achievements of outlasting Arhat Fulong and scheming against the Master of Heaven Mending Peak until his death.

With the pioneering experience of Elder Chusheng to draw upon, Chongming wasn’t so lost. He quickly established his strategy: ’Youth is my greatest advantage. Mother is already in her third life. I can’t beat her in Combat or scheming, so I’ll compete with her in lifespan. I can definitely outlast her until the day she dies!’

If he was lucky, Master Miaoyin would die during her tribulation, and that would only be a few years from now.

If he was unlucky and Master Miaoyin broke through to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, it didn’t matter. It would just mean waiting another two lifetimes. As long as he could lie low and survive, there would always be a chance.

Thinking this, Chongming calmed down.

However, just as he turned around, he was horrified to discover a figure had appeared on the shore, standing atop the turquoise-white waves!

SPLASH… SPLASH… SPLASH…

The sound of the waves drifted in from a distance, crashing against the reefs on the shore and against the bottom of Chongming’s heart, making him feel as if he had been plunged into an icy cavern.

The newcomer rode the waves, treading on the sea foam, and landed lightly on the shore. His carefree demeanor was like that of a scholar on a spring outing. A gentle smile was always on his face, but though he smiled, his eyes were chillingly cold, without a trace of mirth.

“You certainly made me work to find you.”

In an instant, Chongming’s expression stiffened. He wanted to resist, but an indescribably immense pressure had already fallen upon him.

’It’s over!’

Although Chongming had only just reached Foundation Establishment, he was still worldly and experienced. Even when facing a cultivator at the Mid-phase of Foundation Establishment, he had the strength to at least fight back.

But this Perfected Person before him had merely stood there and sealed his Mana and Intention. Forget about fighting back; he could still think only because the other party hadn’t sealed his consciousness. This terrifying pressure, which felt like a difference in Position, was something only a Great Trueman at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment could achieve!

At this moment, despair filled Chongming’s heart.

However, to his surprise, the newcomer didn’t just grab him and instantly begin Refining him. Instead, after sizing him up for a moment, he voluntarily released the pressure.

Then, the newcomer stared straight at him.

“You recognize me.”

The three simple words were stated as a fact, without a hint of a question, full of certainty. It was as if he had already confirmed it, causing Chongming to involuntarily lower his head.

“…I heard my father mention you.”

“Fellow Daoist Chong Guang, is it?” Suohuan smiled upon hearing this, then walked up to him with his hands behind his back. His tone was calm as he said, “You have a good father.”

“I’ve been Overseas for a long time, and it’s difficult to communicate with the higher-ups in the Stain Sect. Therefore, I need some cover to muddle the karmic links. Your father fought to get you this position, which has saved your life and pulled you out of the vortex. You’re truly fortunate. Truly, truly fortunate.”

“Much more fortunate than I am.”

Suohuan shook his head and sighed, but Chongming just looked confused.

’What does he mean?’

Soon, however, his thoughts came to a halt. A faint light emerged from his body, weaving itself into a graceful, beautiful silhouette.

Seeing this, Suohuan hastily took a step back.

“This humble one greets True Monarch Qiluo.”

The graceful silhouette’s appearance was none other than that of True Monarch Zeng Cai Qiluo, who had once refined a pill for Lü Yang. And now, she had appeared Overseas!

At this sight, Suohuan’s hands and feet grew cold, and he sneered inwardly:

’That Miaoyin really is a clueless fool. She never stopped to think that as Chong Guang’s Dao Companion, every move she makes would be watched by the Perfected Lord in the heavens.’

’On the surface, this was a deal between me and Miaoyin. She sent her own son, Chongming, out for me to perform Qi Collection on. The karmic links are clear and indisputable. In reality, however, the True Monarch is using Chongming’s karmic links to meet with me in secret. Miaoyin is nothing more than the True Monarch’s mouthpiece!’

Just then, True Monarch Zeng Cai Qiluo finally spoke. “Speak. Why did you wish to see me?”

“This humble one only wishes to share your Grace’s burdens.”

Suohuan’s tone was calm. He performed a formal Daoist salute with impeccable etiquette and said softly, “Regarding the major events of a few days ago, this humble one has heard of them, despite living Overseas.”

“Fellow Daoist Chong Guang is truly a trendsetter of the current Stain Sect, single-handedly shaking the world. It is a pity he fell short at the last moment, a cause for great sighs.”

“This humble one lacks Fellow Daoist Chong Guang’s methods. I am but a small figure, a stray dog that has lost its home.”

“And small figures can only drift with the current.”

As he said this, a hint of emotion finally entered Suohuan’s voice. “This humble one is willing to achieve the Fruit of Long-Flow Water to share your Grace’s burdens and break the current stalemate.”

His expression was solemn as he spoke respectfully,

“Your Grace knows that this humble one is an Outer Heaven Cultivator. I do not cultivate an Innate Ability or refine a Talent Skill. To this day, I have always used the Qi Collection Technique. The Spirit Ruins Blessed Land in my possession is of the Water Element. In other words, as long as it is a Water Element Fruit, this humble one actually has a sliver of a chance to achieve it.”

“Even the Fruit of Long-Flow Water!”

As Suohuan’s voice fell, True Monarch Zeng Cai Qiluo narrowed her eyes. “You have some nerve. ’Drift with the current’… that’s quite a fitting description.”

This was indeed a blind spot!

As an Outer Heaven Cultivator, Suohuan had no need for the Earth of Chen. In essence, he used his Qi Collection Technique to Deprive this world of its Heaven and Earth Fruit Position!

Once he Deprived the world of the Fruit of Long-Flow Water, it would be a form of achievement for him.

And by losing the Fruit of Long-Flow Water, that mysterious Perfected Lord suspected to be Ang Xiao would have his Five Elements become incomplete, causing him to immediately fall from his position at the Late Stage of Golden Core!

However, this was not without its downsides. Although Suohuan’s Seeking Gold did not require the Earth of Chen, it also made it difficult for him to resonate with the Fruit. Moreover, as an Outer Heaven Cultivator, swallowing this world’s Heaven and Earth Fruit Position would inevitably attract great trouble, and he would certainly form a death feud with the mysterious Perfected Lord!

Under these circumstances, the difficulty of his Seeking Gold was several times greater than Chong Guang’s.

Even if he succeeded, it would be difficult to secure his position as a Perfected Lord. Especially with the millennial great calamity approaching, the slightest misstep could make him the next Perfected Fortune.

Yet Suohuan showed no hesitation.

He too had once been the high-spirited Child of Destiny of an Outer Realm. Now, however, he bowed his back with utmost naturalness, like a decrepit old man in his twilight years.

“This humble one asks for nothing else.”

He lowered his head and said humbly, “I am willing to let your Grace plant a Restriction in me and serve you to the death. I only ask for a Pill Fruit… even if it is just for one lifetime.”

……

「Stain Sect, Sea of Clouds.」

The three-month period was almost over. Lü Yang pushed open the door to the Quiet Chamber and strolled inside, only to see a handsome young man sitting cross-legged on a prayer mat in the center of the room.

The man’s appearance was identical to his own, except for a sharp aura between his brows. After all, it had been nurtured with a Flying Sword as its embryo, so its very foundation was imbued with the sharp energy of a Sword Cultivator, which was difficult to erase. With every opening and closing of its lips, its heartbeat and breath were in perfect sync with Lü Yang’s true body.

Lü Yang’s face revealed a satisfied expression at the sight.

“The Immortal Embryo is complete!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep