Chapter 297 – The Mystery of Embers Mountain

Time passed slowly as Lu Yuan waited anxiously.

Running away had crossed his mind, but at this moment, it would be the most unwise choice.

He wasn’t sure who would reach him first.

Instead of wasting time on escaping, Lu Yuan decided to organize his language in his mind.

Thinking about how to explain if a big shot from Penglai arrived before Yuwen Tong could get there.

As long as he could hold out until Yuwen Tong arrived, the crisis would be naturally resolved.

While Lu Yuan’s mind was racing with countless thoughts…

Suddenly, a shadow of a shuttle appeared on the distant horizon of the sea.

Lu Yuan’s pupils contracted slightly, and his mental power spread out with a flash of golden light in his mind.

After his second limit break in intelligence, his mental detection range had greatly increased.

Lu Yuan hadn’t known how much it had increased before, but now he was aware-

About ten kilometers.

It was less efficient than using his eyes.

Lu Yuan watched the approaching shuttle intently, his expression calm like water, but his body instinctively tensed up slightly.

He was fully prepared. If the person coming off the shuttle wasn’t Yuwen Tong, he would delay with words first. As soon as he sensed something was wrong, he would immediately enter [demon] mode and then escape…

Thinking about it, Lu Yuan realized he really did lack some means of escaping.

Speed had never been his strong suit; he hadn’t thought about running away for a long time.

Back when his strength was low, he would always consider a way out of every situation. As his strength gradually increased, he developed a habit of bulldozing his way through problems.

Maybe he should study if there’s any Ancient Evil Deity’s strength that represents speed…

While Lu Yuan pondered, the shuttle had already arrived over Penglai’s martial saint island.

Lu Yuan slowly stood up from his chair, quietly watching the shuttle suspended above.

He didn’t use his mental power to infiltrate the shuttle because whether the person inside was Yuwen Tong or a big shot from Penglai, it would be impolite.

“Hiss-“

The shuttle’s door opened, and a figure walked out.

Lu Yuan’s heart tightened…

But in the next second.

“Uh…”

Lu Yuan stared in shock at the curvaceous beauty in a tight combat suit who had just appeared before him and blurted out, “Xiao Rui?!”

Yes.

It was the same Xiao Rui who had introduced him to Yuwen Tong after the new blood trial.

Seeing Xiao Rui, Lu Yuan quickly put the pieces together and said, “I get it. Lord Tong is delaying them and sent you to get me out, right?”

Xiao Rui blinked at him, looking confused, “Who? Lord Tong is delaying who?”

Lu Yuan’s expression tensed, “The one behind Penglai.”

“You mean Lord Wu Hao…”

Xiao Rui shook her head and said, “Lord Wu Hao left Xia State yesterday. As for Lord Tong… she’s having a meal right now.”

“Uh…”

Lu Yuan was stunned.

Then he quickly realized… Yuwen Tong was joking with him?

Joking?!

This was…

Great!

Lu Yuan’s face lit up with excitement.

Yuwen Tong joking with him now meant his standing in Lord Tong’s eyes was rising fast.

This also meant his plan to ask Lord Tong to clear his shopping cart might actually work!

Gathering his courage, Lu Yuan hesitated for a moment and sent Yuwen Tong a “knock-knock” emoji.

His heart pounded as he anxiously waited for three seconds before receiving a “sneaky smile” emoji from Yuwen Tong.

“Whew-“

Lu Yuan let out a sigh of relief, a bright smile spreading across his face.

It was practically a done deal.

Getting closer to Lord Tong meant he was also one step closer to earning his merit and gaining his freedom.

“Didn’t expect it to be you handling things on Penglai’s side,” Lu Yuan said cheerfully to Xiao Rui.

Xiao Rui looked at him with a complicated expression and sighed, “I didn’t expect it either.”

Xiao Rui had already been in shock on her way here.

It hadn’t been long since she last handled the procedures for Lu Yuan’s joining Yellow Bear.

In such a short time, Lu Yuan had already grown to this level.

That “Innate Divine Blood, Six Wings Flying Bear” assessment wasn’t made lightly.

At this rate, Lu Yuan might soon advance to Six Wings.

“You defeated Wu Chao, the Lord of Heaven. Wu Chao was a legendary figure who once dominated an era, with an SSS power rating within Yellow Bear!”

Xiao Rui said to Lu Yuan with a complicated expression, “Before I saw the details, I thought it was done by one of the ‘supernovas.’ Most of the ‘supernova’ members recently returned, and the timing matches up.”

“Supernova?!”

Lu Yuan caught the unfamiliar term in Xiao Rui’s words and blinked.

Xiao Rui explained, “They are prodigies like you, cultivating Extraterrestrial Martial Arts.

This group usually stays at the extraterrestrial base for special training and sometimes cooperates with the Star Deity Group.

Each one is an extraordinary genius, One in Ten Thousand, so they are named ‘supernova,’ shining brighter than stars!”

Lu Yuan’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t explain to Xiao Rui that he hadn’t started cultivating the so-called Extraterrestrial Martial Arts yet.

“Geniuses One in Ten Thousand… Does Extraterrestrial Martial Arts require such high talent?”

Lu Yuan asked.

Xiao Rui nodded, “Yes, extremely high.

I don’t know the exact requirements, but when this legacy was first obtained, many people died just trying to get started…

Anyone who manages to walk down this path to the end is truly blessed by heaven…”

As she spoke, Xiao Rui looked at Lu Yuan with eyes full of respect and envy.

“People actually die?!”

Lu Yuan’s heart skipped a beat.

He originally thought Extraterrestrial Martial Arts was just difficult to practice, not that failing could be fatal.

Seeing it this way, Yuwen Tong’s hesitation to teach him the [Origin Heart Sutra] might have been a form of protection.

Yuwen Tong had said he should first make a breakthrough to Grandmaster.

Did that mean one of the standards for cultivating Extraterrestrial Martial Arts was refining mental light?

Lu Yuan didn’t know, but he thought he definitely needed to have a detailed discussion with Yuwen Tong about everything concerning Extraterrestrial Martial Arts.

“…It’s not just death; it’s a kind of death where even the upload of your consciousness can’t save you. It’s as if your very Mark in the universe has been forcibly erased,” Xiao Rui continued with a serious expression. “Of course, now that you’ve succeeded, it’s not something you need to worry about.”

“Heh heh…”

Lu Yuan could only respond with an awkward smile.

“By the way.”

Lu Yuan suddenly thought of something and asked Xiao Rui, “Why didn’t Penglai’s Grandmasters and Wu Chao, Lord of Heaven, try to cultivate?”

He had been to Hutian and read many of Wu Chao’s notes.

He knew how obsessed Wu Chao was with finding a new path beyond being a pure martial artist.

He had even dabbled in evil martial arts and Mecha.

There was no reason not to attempt Extraterrestrial Martial Arts.

Afraid of death?

No, Wu Chao didn’t seem like that kind of person.

Xiao Rui pondered for a moment and replied in a low voice, “There were many meetings among the higher-ups of the organization to discuss whether to reveal the secret of Extraterrestrial Martial Arts to Penglai. Every time, it was vetoed.

These people from Penglai have lived for so long that many of their thoughts have become rigid. Moreover, their many concepts passed down from the old era are entirely different from today’s. Once they obtain this power, no one can predict the uncontrollable consequences…”

Lu Yuan nodded.

He was about to agree with Xiao Rui’s words.

Then Xiao Rui’s next sentence almost made him choke.

“Besides, I’ve heard that Extraterrestrial Martial Arts and pure martial arts are completely opposite paths. The higher your attainments in pure martial arts, the harder it is to succeed in cultivation.

The organization once tried to let several pure martial Grandmasters cultivate. Without exception, they all failed. Moreover, their deaths were far more gruesome than ordinary people…”

“What?!”

Lu Yuan was stunned.

“Xiao Rui, you must be joking…”

Xiao Rui shook her head, “I’m not joking. These are things I once heard Lord Tong mention casually.”

“Lord Tong said that…”

Lu Yuan’s expression froze.

Lord Tong said the higher one’s attainments in pure martial arts, the higher the failure rate in cultivating Extraterrestrial Martial Arts.

Pure martial Grandmasters are basically doomed.

But Lord Tong specifically told me to break through to Grandmaster before considering Extraterrestrial Martial Arts?

Does Lord Tong want me dead?!

For a moment, Lu Yuan found it hard to distinguish between truth and falsehood.

What kind of person is Yuwen Tong, the gracious, sweet-voiced, and generous Lord Tong, really?

“Are you okay?” Xiao Rui noticed the change in Lu Yuan’s expression and couldn’t help but ask.

“I’m fine.” Lu Yuan shook his head, forcing a smile.

His mind was a chaotic mess, filled with confusion.

The only good news was-

He hadn’t yet started practicing the so-called Extraterrestrial martial arts.

So, whether or not it posed a risk for him, there was still room to maneuver at this point.

Lu Yuan took a deep breath, temporarily calming himself down, then changed the subject. “Xiao Rui, you mentioned earlier that most of the ‘supernova’ members recently returned. Is it because of the legendary secret realm?”

Yuwen Tong had briefly mentioned this to him before, and he had kept it in mind.

“Yes.”

Xiao Rui nodded, “Lord Wu Hao left because of this as well.”

Xiao Rui checked the time and continued, “If the timing is correct, the legendary secret realm should have officially opened by now.”

It’s already opened?!

Lu Yuan was momentarily stunned, then asked with a flicker in his eyes, “Xiao Rui, do you know which of the nine legendary secret realms has opened this time?”

Xiao Rui answered.

“Embers Mountain! According to mythical legend, it’s the place where the Phoenix once underwent its rebirth through nirvana.”