Chapter 391: Xiao Yan: Damn it, You Tricked Me Again!
"Here, Lu Bu, open your mouth, ah…" At the dining table, Yun Yun's face bloomed with a radiant smile. With her chopsticks, she gently picked up a piece of golden, fragrant roasted meat and placed it into Lu Bu's bowl.
"But... I'm holding you, so my hands are full, and I can't eat," Lu Bu said, looking helpless. One hand was wrapped around a pair of slender legs resting on him, while the other was around a soft, delicate waist.
"I'll feed you then," Yun Yun said softly, her jade like chopsticks bringing the golden roasted meat to Lu Bu's lips. Her beautiful eyes shimmered with anticipation as she gazed at him.
"Thank you, Sister Yun," Lu Bu laughed heartily, opening his mouth and taking a bite.
"Does it taste good?" Yun Yun asked, her eyes gleaming as she smiled gently. "After coming back from the Magical Beast Mountain Range, I put a lot of effort into learning how to cook."
"It's delicious! Anything made by Sister Yun is amazing," Lu Bu laughed heartily.
Qing Lin: (_)
Damn it!
Across the table, Qing Lin couldn't help but stare at her master and Yun Yun with a mix of helplessness and frustration. This scene felt so familiar. It was just like the last time but this time, the woman next to Lu Bu had changed. Meanwhile, Qing Lin was still stuck as the onlooker… Damn it!
Of course, she wasn't a child anymore, and she naturally understood what had happened between Yun Yun and her master. In fact, Yun Yun's cultivation had just broken through to the five star Dou Zun level yesterday, but suddenly, her strength skyrocketed. She'd leapt from being behind Qing Lin at five stars to the peak of eight stars, surpassing Qing Lin's freshly achieved seven star level.
And now, once again, Qing Lin was the weakest of all her sisters.
Thinking of this, Qing Lin rolled her eyes in frustration and decided to vent her feelings by wolfing down three large bowls of rice.
Just then, a powerful aura swept in from afar, heading straight for Lu Bu's manor.
"Hm?" Yun Yun's delicate face showed a trace of surprise before her brows furrowed slightly. "This aura… is it Xiao Yan? What's he doing here?"
"A nine star Dou Zun? Xiao Yan broke through again? So fast?" Lu Bu raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. When Xiao Yan left the Ancient Realm, he'd been at the peak of eight stars. Who'd have thought that in just a few months, he'd advance again?
But on second thought, it made sense. Xiao Yan's bloodline had been replaced with the top tier bloodline of the Xiao Clan from Xiao Xuan himself. Faster cultivation wasn't exactly unexpected.
"I don't want to see him," Yun Yun said softly, her eyes flickering as she quickly retreated with a playful smile.
"Sister Yun, you're being sneaky," Qing Lin giggled. Yun Yun clearly didn't want to face Xiao Yan because she didn't want her disciple, Nalan Yanran, to learn of her current strength. She wanted to surprise her!
Yun Yun chuckled but neither confirmed nor denied Qing Lin's words. Instead, she smiled, gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and said, "Lu Bu, handle him quickly. We still have some… training to do."
With that, she gracefully retreated with a tap of her toes.
"Don't worry, Sister," Lu Bu said with a soft laugh. While he was curious about what Xiao Yan wanted, it didn't really matter. His priority was his dual cultivation sessions!
In the sky, Xiao Yan sped toward Lu Bu's manor like a streak of lightning, a thunderous roar echoing behind him. His expression was grim, and his eyes gleamed sharply as he streaked toward the mountain.
Duang!
A loud thud rang out as Xiao Yan collided headfirst with the manor's invisible barrier, like a fly smacking into glass.
"Ow…" Xiao Yan groaned, rubbing his reddened nose in frustration.
"Lu Bu, you bastard! Open up, I need to talk to you!" Xiao Yan shouted angrily, stomping his foot and even kicking the barrier twice in irritation.
But suddenly, the barrier vanished without warning. Xiao Yan's foot swung into empty air, causing him to lose balance and nearly fall over.
"Every time I deal with this bastard, nothing good ever happens!" Xiao Yan growled, clutching his aching ribs. He felt his liver ache just from dealing with Lu Bu.
"Come in," Lu Bu's calm voice called out.
"Hmph! You didn't need to say anything; I'd have come in anyway!" Xiao Yan huffed, rushing toward the manor's main hall with a sour expression.
Inside, Lu Bu sat on the main seat, calm and composed, exuding an air of leisure.
Swish!
A dark shadow flashed as Xiao Yan landed in the hall, his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at Lu Bu.
"Sit," Lu Bu said nonchalantly, gesturing with his chin.
"Master, tea." Qing Lin walked in gracefully, setting a cup of tea in front of Lu Bu before leaving just as gracefully.
Xiao Yan sat on a chair and stared dumbfoundedly at the tea being served exclusively to Lu Bu. His own cup? Nonexistent.
"Uninvited guests are unwelcome," Lu Bu said calmly. "You barged in without so much as a greeting. Be grateful I didn't kick you out."
"Cut the crap!" Xiao Yan snapped, slamming his hand on the table. "What's the deal with the complete map of the Purifying Lotus Saint? Didn't you say you'd already collected all the pieces?"
"I did. There are four in total," Lu Bu replied, his expression neutral. Inwardly, however, he felt a jolt of surprise. Could the news about the space trade fair have leaked already?
"Damn it! Then explain this!" Xiao Yan yelled. "The trade fair's list of items includes another piece of the Purifying Lotus Saint's map! What do you have to say about that?"
"Didn't you claim you already had all the pieces back in the Heavenly Tomb?" Xiao Yan's frustration boiled over. "You lied! You didn't even have the full set, yet you still made a deal with us?!"
"Who said that?" Lu Bu replied with mock innocence. "I only said two words: 'a stroke of luck.'"
He raised two fingers to emphasize his point, even wiggling them.
Xiao Yan's face froze. Recalling the events in the Heavenly Tomb, he remembered how Lu Bu brazenly revealed Xiao Chen's location and used that to negotiate with Xiao Xuan. At the time, Lu Bu had only shown a quarter of the map, but Xiao Yan himself had jumped to conclusions and declared that Lu Bu had the full set.
Now, thinking back, Xiao Yan's anger felt like it had nowhere to go.
"Wait! Don't change the subject!" Xiao Yan shouted. "This isn't about what I said it's about you trying to cut corners on this deal! You didn't have all the pieces, yet you still dragged us into this!"
"Now I do have them," Lu Bu said with a shrug and a smirk. "The last piece is at the space trade fair. Once I get it, the set will be complete."
"Besides, the Purifying Lotus Flame only appears once every thousand years. We've still got years before it shows up. What's the rush?"
"You…!" Xiao Yan was seething. He knew Lu Bu wasn't wrong. A missing piece at this stage wouldn't impact the final deal.
What infuriated him was that Lu Bu had used this deal to tie Xiao Yan's hands.
If not for Xiao Xuan's agreement with Lu Bu, Xiao Yan could've fought for the map piece himself. At the very least, he wouldn't have to grovel before Lu Bu.
When Xiao Yan heard about the map appearing at the space trade fair, he'd even fantasized about Lu Bu begging for his help and bowing down in gratitude.
But now, Lu Bu was holding all the cards. With Xiao Xuan and Xiao Chen's stakes involved, Xiao Yan not only couldn't compete for the map but also had to help Lu Bu get it.
This bastard tricked me again!
Lu Bu, this bastard, has tricked me again! And it's a trap he's been digging for so long! Not just any trap, but a massive one! Damn it!
Xiao Yan's eyes turned red with rage. This is outrageous!
"Did I say something wrong?" Lu Bu spread his hands, smiling innocently. "The speed at which the map is collected doesn't affect our deal, does it? As long as we get it before the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame emerges, it'll be fine. Or… are you planning to compete with me for this map?"
As he spoke, Lu Bu's expression turned cold, his gaze sharp and dangerous as he looked at Xiao Yan.
"No! Of course not! Don't talk nonsense! It's just a measly nine star Dou Saint inheritance. Who cares? I already have a Dou Di inheritance, and you don't see me bragging about it!" Xiao Yan declared self righteously, immediately denying it. But deep down, he was fuming.
If I could beat you, I'd already have pounded you into the ground!
Boom!
Suddenly, a deafening rumble echoed through the air, and a powerful aura surged from the depths of Lu Bu's manor.
"What's this... Someone in your house is breaking through to the Transition Dou Zun level?!" Xiao Yan's eyes widened as he looked at Lu Bu in disbelief.
Who could it be? Which one of Lu Bu's lovers could be this powerful? Could it be the Ancient Void Dragon?
Before the thought even finished, a magnificent pillar of multi colored light shot into the sky, connecting heaven and earth.
"It's Queen Medusa…" Xiao Yan's eyelid twitched. This was the infamous snake woman queen from the Northwest Continent!
Back when Xiao Yan hadn't yet been hunted by the Hall of Souls and forced into the Central Plains, he frequently heard tales of this queen. One day, she'd killed countless Dou Zongs; the next, she wiped out some unfortunate Dou Zun. Her ferocity was so legendary that just the mention of her name could stop children from crying at night.
Xiao Yan had thought that with his bloodline inheritance, he might still fall short of Lu Bu, but not by much. However, now he realized that even Lu Bu's women could easily crush him.
Queen Medusa, for one, clearly could. And that toxic Heavenly Poison Woman who could rival Medusa was probably the same…
Thankfully, that Yun Yun Sect Master and the Holy Maiden of the Sky Serpent Mansion weren't as terrifying as those two.
"I'm out!" Xiao Yan's mouth twitched. Activating his Three Thousand Lightning Movement, he shot off into the distance. He needed to find his teacher in the Pill Tower to discuss his cultivation progress.
When compared to others, he could still hold his head high. But when compared to Lu Bu and his entourage, his Dou Di bloodline felt completely useless!
Watching Xiao Yan leave, Lu Bu's expression grew serious. The Space Trade Fair was apparently fast approaching, and yet he'd been entirely unaware.
"Women have distracted me too much…" Lu Bu sighed deeply, his head tilting back. But then, his eyes sharpened. I've allowed beauty to distract me and almost caused myself trouble. This can't go on. From this day forward, I will abst
"Lu Bu, what are you thinking about? Come here~" Yun Yun's soft, magnetic voice gently echoed in Lu Bu's ears, instantly shattering his resolve.
"Ahahaha, Sister Yun, I'm coming!"
A few days later, Tian Huo Zun zhe returned to the manor with an invitation to the Space Trade Fair, along with several alchemy recipes and soul skills gifted by Xuan Kong Zi and the others.
Among the soul skills, one or two were of the Xuan rank. While rare, they weren't particularly useful to Lu Bu. However, the alchemy recipes were valuable, most being for healing and recovery pills. Two, in particular, stood out they were for medicinal baths, perfect for… well, for Queen Medusa and the others to enjoy.
Additionally, there was a spatial ring packed to the brim with medicinal herbs.
To attend the Space Trade Fair, pills were essential. Lu Bu already had a stockpile of eighth tier pills, but those with seven, eight, or nine colored pill lightning were scarce especially the nine colored ones, of which he had none.
So, he had asked the Pill Tower for materials to prepare. The wealthy and generous Pill Tower sent an entire ring full of medicinal herbs. It was both a token of gratitude for Lu Bu's contributions during the recent battle and a recognition of his achievements. After all, Lu Bu had single handedly defeated an eight turn Dou Zun a feat that, outside the Pill Tower, could only be achieved by the Three Pavilion Masters themselves.
The gift also signified their hope to retain Tian Huo Zun zhe. The Pill Tower wanted to appoint him as a guest elder.
When Lu Bu discussed this with Tian Huo Zun zhe, the latter declined. He was unwilling to leave Lu Bu's side after the enormous kindness he'd been shown not only in restoring his body but also in advancing his cultivation. He couldn't abandon such a benefactor.
Tian Huo Zun zhe stated that he could assist the Pill Tower when necessary but would not formally become a guest elder.
Lu Bu had no objections to this, and Tian Huo Zun zhe returned to his residence halfway up the mountain, continuing his role as Lu Bu's protector.
"Well then… time to refine some pills!" With the matters concerning the Pill Tower and Tian Huo Zun zhe settled, Lu Bu focused his attention on alchemy.
The Myriad Beast Cauldron descended, and the Three Thousand Burning Flame ignited. Above the mountain manor, the long absent fragrance of medicinal herbs began wafting through the air once more.
Before long, Lu Bu's pill refinement attracted the attention of several figures from the Pill Tower. Xuan Kong Zi, Xuan Yi, and Yao Chen soon arrived with their disciples in tow, observing from a distance. Among them were Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and Xiao Yan, who stared with mixed feelings at Lu Bu's display.
Even some reclusive elders of the Small Pill Tower took notice, intrigued.
Initially, Lu Bu hadn't been taken seriously by these experts. But the Ancient Void Dragon Clan's involvement, the Black Submerged Army from the Gu Clan, and even the appearance of a Dou Saint from the Ancient Void Dragons had elevated Lu Bu's status.
Even the most esteemed alchemists from the Small Pill Tower now regarded him with caution.
Lu Bu paid them no mind, fully engrossed in his craft. He skillfully tempered the herbs, combined their essences in stages, and meticulously followed the recipe, gradually condensing the pill.
Time passed. Yao Chen and Xiao Yan soon departed, as the Starfall Pavilion was still recovering from its recent battle and couldn't afford their prolonged absence. They had come to the Pill Tower to discuss dividing the war reparations from the Hall of Souls.
Meanwhile, Xuan Yi, Cao Ying, and Dan Chen remained, watching until the end.
Boom!
The sky roared with thunder as rolling black clouds surged over the Sacred Pill City, darkening the skies once more after the recent battle had cleared them.
Before anyone could voice their surprise, nine dazzlingly colored streaks of pill lightning swirled within the clouds, their brilliance captivating all who witnessed it.
"It's only been ten days, and he's already refined a nine colored, eighth tier pill…" Cao Ying's eyes gleamed with admiration and envy.
"So powerful…" Dan Chen couldn't stop marveling. Among her peers, Lu Bu's alchemy skills were unparalleled. Even her teacher's abilities seemed comparable at best. Perhaps only the alchemists of the Yao Clan could rival him.
"This kid… How long has it been…" Xuan Yi's eyelid twitched. She vividly remembered Lu Bu's first attempt at refining an eighth tier pill. And now? He had already reached her level.
Truly terrifying!
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