Chapter 357 – Attacking In Advance
His eyes couldn't catch up with the Sky Devouring Rat's speed but Lei Yu's spiritual perception was locked onto it. Even so, he still couldn't escape the terrifying speeds of its attack once it started moving.
This little thing was truly a huge headache. Lei Yu took a few deep breaths to calm down and to gather his thoughts. He had already made some calculations in his mind as he experienced the Sky Devouring Rat zooming back and forth in the air. The Sky Devouring Rat travelled at speeds three times faster than his own movement speed, but it was only twice as fast when it came to Lei Yu's attack speed. With this said, Lei Yu only had to strike out his sword earlier at the trajectory path of the Sky Devouring Rat. The rat's collision with his sword would be equivalent to him making an attack, right?
In other words, this advance attack was used when the speed of its target was too fast for the weapon in hand. Wasn't this method similar to someone on the ground shooting down an aircraft in the sky of the modern world? Before the enemy aircraft arrives at a certain point, you quickly calculate the path of the aircraft and the time it will arrive at a certain point. You then shoot out a missile at the location and by the time the missile reaches it, it will be the same time the aircraft arrives there creating the desired collision effects!
That's why Lei Yu was thinking since he couldn't compare with this damn rat in speed. The only thing he could do was make those calculations and hope for the best. Lei Yu began to calm down and no longer felt the previous rage. He started using his spiritual perception to help calculate a series of data points for the trajectory path.
The current distance the Sky Devouring Rat was located at was over ten kilometers. According to the distance, Lei Yu concluded that the time it will take the rat to reach its corresponding position would be less than half a second. During this time, Lei Yu only had to move his sword a short distance and control his power for the impact, and it will inevitably hit the target!
"Now's the time!" Without hesitation, Lei Yu swung out his Sky Devouring Sword. In an instant, a crescent shaped attack containing five starry dots appeared. This was the Thirty-six Lunar Star's first combination ability. Lei Yu watched with a grin as the brightly lit sword swung towards an empty area. He could sense that the Sky Devouring Rat was rapidly flying towards the impact point where his attack was heading towards.
"Boom!"
A bright light blinded the area. Lei Yu's Thirty-six Lunar Star's attack burst apart as the dispersed starry dots made one unable to open their eyes. It was at this time that Lei Yu revealed an expression of shock, "Not good, my attack didn't hit it!"
The moment before Lei Yu's Thirty-six Lunar Star attack landed, the Sky Devouring Rat veered off its trajectory path in order to barely dodge past. The rat was shuddering in fear because it almost became a rat firework.
Lei Yu didn't dare to be careless and forcefully calmed his breathing. Both hands grasped the Sky Devouring Sword and his power billowed out. If that Sky Devouring Rat wants to make another attack, it would first have to get past his defensive lightning barrier. Unfortunately Lei Yu was wrong because it seems like… the rat wasn't afraid of lightning! It rushed in from a distance as if it didn't care about Lei Yu's powerful lightning ability. It then forcefully bit down on Lei Yu's right arm!
Lei Yu clenched his teeth. The pain wasn't at the point of being unbearable, but with so many wounds, even Xue Yu and the Devil King's energy combined wouldn't be able to keep up the amount of injuries he was taking on. This time Lei Yu had definitely encountered a crisis!
Right after attacking, the Sky Devouring Rat was about to turn around and finally end Lei Yu's life! Lei Yu's previous attack had almost taken its life so its little heart was now engulfed in rage.
The speed of it turning around was even faster than its flying speed. The eyes of the Sky Devouring Rat then suddenly glowed brightly. It originally could only see things up close but its strength surged allowing it to now see things within a hundred meters away. This allowed the rat to aim accurately for a vulnerable spot on Lei Yu – his throat! No matter what heaven shaking abilities Lei Yu had, and as long as he hadn't reached the Mahayana stage yet, biting down on his throat would pretty much guarantee his death!
Lei Yu had no idea what the Sky Devouring Rat was planning but he still maintained his guard to his utmost ability. He couldn't understand why his unique lightning ability had no effect on the damn rat. Since it wasn't afraid of lightning and he had no way to attack it, there was only one outcome to this battle – Lei Yu was waiting for his own death!
Lei Yu actually didn't have any regrets coming here because it allowed him to experience the strength of different powerful beasts in this world. The one thing he couldn't let go of was that upon his death, his lovers will definitely try to look for him. But at this time, the only thing that can change his predetermined outcome was if a miracle appeared.
Sometimes one's fate cannot be changed, but Lei Yu narrowed his eyes and coldly harrumphed. How could someone like him that would never admit defeat give up so easily? He slowly folded up his sleeves exposing his toned muscles. In the upper portion of his right arm, the lightning brand started giving off a faint purple light.
Lei Yu had decided to throw everything he had on the line regardless of what price he had to pay. Even if he was to die, he would still at least get some return out of it!
It was precisely because of the Sky Devouring Rat's increase in eye strength and Lei Yu folding up his sleeves that produced the next unexpected event between those two!
The bite speed of the Sky Devouring Rat was ridiculously fast but Lei Yu had prepared to be wounded in order to injure the rat as well.
Just as the Sky Devouring Rat was under a hundred meters from Lei Yu, it actually veered off course! Its body didn't stop as it hurtled by, but its eyes that were the size of green beans was staring directly at the brand on Lei Yu's right arm!
"You are someone from the Lei Sect? That's the Sky Devouring Sword in your hands?"
The Sky Devouring Sword in Lei Yu's hand had already been swung around once and was about to slash down. But upon hearing those words, he stopped his actions midway and asked in surprise: "How did you know?"
The Sky Devouring Rat started squeaking a few times before asking: "You're a descendant of the Lei Sect?"
"That's right, I indeed am!" Lei Yu will never change this identity of his. Even in the Mortal World where he experienced many unhappy things at the Lei family, or when he told outsiders that he was part of Martial Sect, he had always regarded himself as someone of the Lei family. He still had that sense of belonging even though he was kicked out of the family. It's just that he would say it out loud to others that he had nothing to do with the Lei family, which was something that had brought him pain to this day.
"Why is the Sky Devouring Sword in your possession?" Asked the Sky Devouring Rat.
"The Sky Devouring Sword is… wait a minute…!" Lei Yu sucked in a breath of cool air, "I have the Sky Devouring Sword while your name is Sky Devouring Rat… could it be that you're somehow related to my sword?"
The Sky Devouring Rat had actually slowly landed onto Lei Yu's palm, seemingly unafraid that Lei Yu would suddenly attack it. Its little squeaky voice then said: "Young master, although I'm not sure if that's the correct title of yours, the Lei Sect has only ever produced three people that have the lightning brand. The first generation's Sovereign, the second generation's Sovereign, and of course the third generation's Sovereign. Perhaps the third generation's Sovereign might be young master you?"
Lei Yu's brains had completely short circuited and couldn't think straight. He originally was about to fight to the death with his opponent yet suddenly it was now calling him young master? Could there really be some intimate relation between the Sky Devouring Rat, the Sky Devouring Sword, and the Lei Sect?
Chapter 358 – Exploited By You
"Who exactly are you?" Lei Yu's heart was beating erratically as he stared at the little thing sitting on his palm.
The Sky Devouring Rat licked its forelimbs before replying: "I am the first generation's Sovereign's Demon Beast General – Heaven's Path Rat!"
"Heaven's Path Rat? You… aren't you called Sky Devouring Rat?"
"To tell you honestly, this Forest of Fog was created in order for us to wait for the third generation's Sovereign, which is you. If my guess isn't wrong, you should be Lei Rong Kun?"
Lei Yu's eyebrows twitched, "No, that's not me. I'm not ancestor Lei Rong Kun but I was fortunate enough to have met him once by fate."
"What did you say?!" The Sky Devouring Rat jumped into the air while its two hind legs straightened out. It was staring at Lei Yu who was suddenly filled with shock.
"What I've said is a fact; I truly am not ancestor Lei Rong Kun. I am merely a descendant of the Lei Sect. According to the explanation the ancestor gave me, I should be the Lei Sect's fourth… fourth descendant to inherit the lightning brand. It was precisely this reason that the old ancestor passed the Sky Devouring Sword and the latter half of the Heavenly Thunder Manual to me." Lei Yu explained.
The Sky Devouring Rat was in thought for a while before asking: "What is your name?"
"Lei Yu."
"I am also the second generation's Sovereign's Forward General – Heaven's Path Rat. I am here waiting for the third generation's Sovereign Lei Rong Kun to retrieve the treasure that belongs to the Lei family. In order to recognize each other easier, my name was changed to Sky Devouring Rat so that it will be similar to the Sky Devouring Sword. My big brother's name is now the Heaven's Path Rat. My big brother and I were originally filthy animals cast aside by the population. Our master happened to enlighten us one day which allowed us to achieve the current strength you see today." The Sky Devouring Rat murmured.
Lei Yu understood that this little thing's master was the second generation's Sovereign, except he couldn't figure out why the Immortal World would have the Lei Sect's existence and not have it at the same time.
Lei Yu was really curious so he asked and got an answer.
The Lei family was originally the Lei Sect, a big family that awed the four seas from their business based powers. And their battle strength couldn't be look down on either. Due to their advanced development and trainings that evolved, a portion of the Lei Sect disciples managed to enter the Immortal World and establish a base for future generations. The Thunder Rune Sect was indeed the evolvement of the Lei Sect while the Mortal World's Lei family achieved their status from their inheritance.
Hearing this, Lei Yu finally got his answer that the Thunder Rune Sect was indeed of the same bloodline as his Lei family. "What is that treasure you were talking about? Am I qualified to go check it out?" Lei Yu asked.
"You are a descendant of the Lei Sect and possess the most supreme lightning brand, so why wouldn't you be qualified? Young master, come with me!"
As its voice faded, the Sky Devouring Rat squeaked a few times before slowly flying off. It kept its speed slow just so that Lei Yu could keep up with it.
Within this fourth region, it was too filled with rotten trees and eerily silent. This area had suffered the least damage because no large area of attacks was used like the previous ones. The Sky Devouring Rat had a tiny body so Lei Yu didn't feel a large area attack would help him at all, and would actually waste a lot of his internal energy. As for the Sky Devouring Rat, it had not been pushed to resort to its true abilities. Otherwise, this entire region would have definitely been completely obliterated.
Accompanying the Sky Devouring Rat, they started flying towards the large mountain. On the way there, Lei Yu was looking at the scenery and noticed it was no different from the other regions – they were all filled with dead trees. But as they got closer to their destination, Lei Yu started feeling a familiar aura.
"What is that?!" Asked Lei Yu as he pointed at a huge stone stele off into a distance.
Although its facial expression was difficult to distinguish, one could feel a kind of sadness as the Sky Devouring Rat replied: "That is my big brother who transformed into a stone stele in order to suppress that so called Devil King that young master mentioned."
"Why would something like this happen?" Lei Yu asked with wide eyes.
"If it weren't for young master's identity, I would definitely have not let you go. A few hundred years ago, the Devil King came to this Forest of Fog in order to steal the Lei Sect's supreme treasure. He managed to bypass the three barriers and came straight to the fourth region. My big brother… he was only at the late Boundary Transition stage so there's no way he could beat the Devil King who was already at the Mahayana stage. He gave up his soul and turned into a stone stele in order to suppress the Devil King beneath it. Big brother told me that the stone stele will be named the Heaven's Path Stone Stele while my name would be changed to Sky Devouring Rat so that the third generation's Sovereign will recognize me easier."
Hearing the Sky Devouring Rat's words, Lei Yu frowned and clenched his fists. He then started cursing at the Devil King in his mind: "You became like this because you were coveting my Lei family's treasure! You're a goddamn despicable villain!"
"Heehee, unfortunately for you, you've found out too late!" The Devil King's voice was more shrill and ghastly than before. Beyond Lei Yu's control, the skull flew out of the Universal Pouch and rushed straight below the Heaven's Path stone stele.
"Quick, stop him!" Lei Yu screamed in shock as he pointed at the demonic looking skull.
Hearing this, the Sky Devouring Rat flew at its maximum speed. A black shadow flashed by and blocked in front of the skull. "You're the Devil King?!" The Sky Devouring Rat yelled out.
"So you're still around." Said the Devil King's remnant soul before slowly turning around towards Lei Yu. "You've actually managed to acknowledge each other in such a short time. Looks like I made a mistake on this step, but it doesn't really matter. Since my true body is right in front, I want to see what you guys can do to stop me!"
"You son of a b*tch! So I've already been your chess piece ever since the Mortal World!" Roared Lei Yu as his eyes turned blood red and his body shook.
"That's right; you have been completely used by me. That Sky Devouring Rat was too annoying, actually giving up its soul to trap me beneath the stone stele. In my helpless situation, I could only stimulate your soul with a portion of my own soul in order for you to draw out the lightning brand. With that, I was able to also plant a seed of my power within you. From that day on, even if you want to get rid of me would be an impossible thing. Your entire life… has been fated to become my servant! Haha…"
"F*ck you motherf*cker!" Lei Yu was completely enraged. All this time he was being used by the Devil King. All those flowery words and all those pointers in cultivation, everything was for him to enter the Forest of Fog. Only when he entered this place would Lei Yu successfully help him rescue his true body. What hiding aura to escape the Sky Devouring Rat? What less people the better? All of it was bullshit, complete bullshit!
"Curse, go ahead and curse all you want!" The Devil King coldly laughed before turning around again. "Little mice, you think your big brother was that divine? If it weren't for that day when I was attacking the protective barrier and suffered some injuries, did you think your big brother could've subdued me that easily?"
Chapter 359 – A Trace Of Unwillingness
"Young master, kill his remnant soul! Kill him!" The Sky Devouring Rat had gone crazy thinking about the culprit who put its big brother in such a state. It started attacking like crazy but it was useless, all its attacks went through the skull as if it was nothing but air. The skull was simply an existence that nothing could touch!
Lei Yu's eyes were blood red with rage. He never imagined that everything was kept in the dark by this bastard. For nearly twenty years, he was filled with gratitude and formed a dependence on the green energy. Upon reaching the Immortal World, he found out the origins of it and started loathing it. And now it had turned to hatred. Lei Yu even felt like destroying himself just so that energy in his body would disappear for good!
After gasping for air, Lei Yu tightened his hand around the Sky Devouring Sword. "Devil King, you came here all because of my Lei Sect's treasure. You even used my identity in order to smoothly enter this last region. I can only hate myself for not realizing your plot earlier!"
"There's no need to be so angry." The Devil King smiled and continued saying: "The words I've said to you will still count. I will impart to you the cultivation methods after the Mahayana stage and will also gift you with a supreme treasure. But the supreme treasure of mine will have to be exchanged for the favor of your Lei Sect's treasure, haha…"
"There's one thing I don't understand: How did you manage to pass through the Chaotic Star Sea to reach the Mortal World in your state?"
"You dummy!" The Devil King smiled, "You should know the Chaotic Star Sea has four great guardians right? I… am one of them!"
"What?!"
"What?!"
Even the Sky Devouring Rat was shocked. Never would they have imagined that the Devil King was one of the four great guardians of the Chaotic Star Sea!
"Now you should I understand why I'm able to freely enter the Mortal World, right?"
When he previously saw how the Sky Devouring Rat's attack was useless against the Devil King, Lei Yu knew that it would be the same outcome for him. That's why he gave up on killing the Devil King and forced himself to calm down.
"Are you really some sort of invincible existence?" Asked Lei Yu with his eyes narrowed.
Hearing Lei Yu's words, the Devil King's nonexistent brows twitched, "Before I wasn't… but now, my abilities are near invincible in the Immortal World! After killing this little mouse, you will then become my servant. Once I gain the Lei Sect's treasure, I can easily leave the Immortal World and reach the destination that everyone has worked so hard for – the Celestial World! Haha…"
"Ahhhh, slash!"
The Sky Devouring Rat and the Devil King both widened their eyes and revealed looks of shock. They were shocked because the current Lei Yu had a light smile on his face.
"You… want to control… me? Stop… dreaming!" Lei Yu roared out while his whole body shook. He was holding the Sky Devouring Sword which had been stabbed inside his stomach. One could see Lei Yu contort with pain as he pushed the Sky Devouring Sword deeper inside him. The ground where he was had been drenched in blood already.
"Young master! What are you doing?!" The Sky Devouring Rat cried out in a piercing scream. It wanted to stop Lei Yu at its fastest speed but was stopped by Lei Yu's words. "I refuse to be a servant, especially a servant to this villain! Today, I will extract my Nascent Soul from my abdomen and shatter it. Then we'll see how he's going to live up to his own fantasy!"
Lei Yu's breathing accelerated while his face was filled with sweat. His face also paled making the current him look slightly terrifying to behold.
"What use is there? Humph!" The Devil King continued: "You thought that you could get rid of me by shattering your Nascent Soul? You're the one that's dreaming!"
The Devil King no longer bothered with Lei Yu's fate and started flying towards his target, the Heaven's Path stone stele!
The Sky Devouring Rat flew towards Lei Yu and landed on his shoulder. It then condensed its voice into a thin line of energy which was then transmitted into Lei Yu's ears.
"Don't worry young master; he's not going to succeed."
"Eh? Lei Yu's breathing trembled as he looked at the Sky Devouring Rat upon his shoulder. He watched it nod with confidence in its green bean sized eyes.
Lei Yu stopped his actions of extracting his Nascent Soul but didn't immediately pull the sword out of his abdomen. He then continued watching the Devil King as its skull got closer to the Heaven's Path stone stele.
The Heaven's Path stone stele was about five meters tall and three meters wide. Even though it wasn't that big, it still looked quite unique since the surface was filled with runes that Lei Yu couldn't make heads or tails out of. The only thing he knew was that the runes weren't engraved onto it but seemed to be naturally appeared when the stone stele was formed.
"Haha, I'm about to succeed!" This was the last time the Devil King's voice was heard as he entered the Heaven's Path stone stele.
For a while, there weren't any noticeable changes but Lei Yu and the Sky Devouring Rat continued staring.
It was at this moment that the runes of the stone stele suddenly brightened! The runes were being illuminated by a green light which allowed one to clearly see the strokes of each rune!
Lei Yu's eyes widened as he felt the energy seemed very familiar! Wasn't this the same as the Devil King's green energy? Could it be that the Devil King is about to succeed in escaping the stone stele?
"Young master, I think… he's definitely going to die this time!" The Sky Devouring Rat whispered in Lei Yu's ears.
"Oh?" Lei Yu appeared to have forgotten the pain in his abdomen and asked with raised eyebrows: "What do you mean?"
The Sky Devouring Rat then explained: "It has already been a few hundred years since my big brother's soul transformed into the Heaven's Path stone stele. The Devil King's true body has been pretty much melted into nothingness with only a trace left, and it was this slight trace that made the remnant soul unable to discover the reality of the situation. Since he chose to enter the Heaven's Path stone stele, he has fallen into my big brother's trap. The remnant soul has finally arrived to its cursed body, he's dead for sure!"
Lei Yu gasped as he couldn't believe what he was hearing. The moment he focused on the stone stele again, he started seeing runes shooting out from the ground as well. The Sky Devouring Rat advised Lei Yu to back away so they both retreated over a hundred meters.
"Boom!"
A mushroom cloud burst into the skies. Lei Yu once again witnessed a terrifying scene and completely believed what the Sky Devouring Rat had said. It looks like the Devil King was truly finished this time.
At the top of the mushroom cloud, a green halo shot into the sky creating another loud boom. The green light then disintegrated into the surrounding area and disappeared without a trace. Lei Yu could feel a trace of unwillingness from it! This sense of unwillingness didn't come from Lei Yu but came from the Devil King.
"He is dead, but the thing inside me…" As the green halo light disappeared, Lei Yu immediately sent his spiritual awareness towards his Nascent Soul. The green brand was still there, causing his emotions to sink to the depths of despair.
"Don't worry young master; there might be method to dissipate the remnant energy inside your body." Said the Sky Devouring Rat.
"What method?" Lei Yu's eyes immediately widened. He pulled out the Sky Devouring Sword from his abdomen and Xue Yu frantically used her power to heal Lei Yu's wound. As for the green energy… it didn't move at all as if it was some type of dead matter residing inside Lei Yu.
"Even though there is, it's going to be slightly difficult. How about young master first come with me to go retrieve the Lei Sect's supreme treasure?"
Chapter 360 – Test Of The Earth Vein
What was this supreme treasure of the Lei Sect? Lei Yu had no clue but could only guess that it must be something extremely precious since the Devil King wanted it as well. His heart was filled with anticipation as he followed the Sky Devouring Rat past the stone stele towards the small mountain.
"Young master, this mountain has been sealed by the Lei Sect's second generation's Sovereign. You have to use the Sky Devouring Sword to chop the mountain in half before the treasure can be revealed." The Sky Devouring Rat mumbled towards Lei Yu as he stopped midair.
Upon hearing this, Lei Yu nodded as he grasped the Sky Devouring Sword with both hands. He lightly exhaled before exerting internal energy out of his body and injecting it into the sword. He then flew upwards into the sky before he started roaring out.
The strength to pluck mountains and rivers, and easily sweeping all obstacles away!
With Lei Yu's powers infused into the Sky Devouring Sword, it started shining brightly. The brightness was so bright that even the Sky Devouring Rat who had such poor vision, had to close his eyes.
"Ahhhhhhhh~!"
The bright beam of light that shot forth was like a huge war blade – the purple energy mixed with white starry dots cut through the air with a whistling noise as it headed straight for the tip of the mountain.
A beam of light sliced into the top of the mountain and pierced all the way to the bottom. Lei Yu watched as the mountain shook nonstop. This small mountain appeared to exude a powerful aura so if he didn't use all his strength, anything weaker would be unable to split it in half.
The mountain only shook but did not collapse. The area where Lei Yu split the mountain apart seemed to have separated into two parts forming two identical small mountains. And straight in the middle was a huge gap caused by the light beam.
Lei Yu looked at the Sky Devouring Rat and asked: "What do we do now?"
"Please follow me young master." After saying that, the Sky Devouring Rat flew forward towards the gap. Lei Yu quickly followed since he wanted to know what sort of treasure it was that would make the Devil King take such huge risks to seize.
As they got closer, Lei Yu could clearly feel that somewhere within the gap, there existed an extremely powerful energy! What could it be?
"Young master, this is the closest I can bring you. You should personally enter the area while I wait for you out here." The Sky Devouring Rat stopped its flight while saying this to Lei Yu.
After hesitating for a moment, Lei Yu nodded: "Okay."
Lei Yu gradually descended onto the ground since he had decided to walk instead.
There's a common saying: Both feet on the ground would calm a wavering heart, and both hands gripping a blade will solidify one's courage.
No matter how versatile flying was, this was not Lei Yu's choice of fighting style. He preferred to use the ground to help him explode forth his main focus of being fast. Lei Yu was unable to do this in the air because his speed was affected by one important factor – he didn't have wings.
Even though there shouldn't be any danger up ahead, at least being on the ground would ease Lei Yu's heart somewhat.
As he got closer, Lei Yu could feel the powerful energy flowing all around him. After holding his breath and clenching his teeth, he ignored the consequences and continued walking forward!
At times, the Gods will favor those that are courageous causing miracles to occur. But those people must also have a kind heart and a sense of justice. Even though the Devil King was powerful and courageous, he harbored evil intentions so he couldn't achieve his desires even unto death.
"What kind of place is this?"
Lei Yu started mumbling to himself but what he never imagined was someone actually responding!
"Never expected that you've absorbed the Dragon Vein's essence as well."
"Who?! Who's that speaking?" Lei Yu anxiously look around and even spread his spiritual perception everywhere. But apart from the white fog hiding the environment, Lei Yu couldn't see anything suspicious. He also started feeling strange when his perception was unable to perceive anything living in the area.
"There's no need to try searching because you won't be able to find me. Since you are able to absorb the Dragon Vein's essence, most likely the Earth Vein will not reject you. But you must first pass three tests if you want to absorb the Earth Vein. Once you've successfully passed the three tests, the Earth Vein will recognize you as its owner. By then, the Dragon Vein inside you will be the pillar while the Earth Vein will become your foundation. And your achievements in the future will definitely not be small!" Lei Yu couldn't figure out who was saying those words and only felt like it came from everywhere. Even his spiritual perception was unable to detect any energy fluctuations so there was no way to find the source.
Lei Yu's scalp became numb as he recalled what he had heard in the past. This universe had the Heaven, Earth, and Dragon Veins. By fate and chance, he was able to absorb the Dragon Vein. Even though Lei Yu had never figured out the actual benefits of the Dragon Vein, he at least knew it had helped him somewhat. Never would he have imagined that the Earth Vein would be located here!
"Who are you? How did you know this place is the Earth Vein?" Lei Yu asked respectfully.
The voice was gentle but was filled with a majestic power that made Lei Yu unconsciously act respectfully towards it. "You should be humbly calling me old ancestor since I am the Lei Sect's second generation's Sovereign – Lei Chen."
"Lei Chen? Lei Chen?" Lei Yu started sifting through his memories of the ancestral records he had read in the past before he suddenly remembered the second generation's Sovereign. He was dumbfounded for a second before performing the necessary rituals of his status – Lei Yu immediately kneeled down. As the saying goes: One must kneel to the heavens and the earth, and one's own parents. One must also make three bows to the ancestors and the Gods. Lei Yu would never kneel down before anyone other than those mentioned, so when meeting an old ancestor, these ritualistic actions was a must.
"Old ancestor, where are you exactly? How come I cannot see you?" Lei Yu asked.
"It doesn't matter if you can see me or not. Time is of the essence, I only have enough to tell you about the three tests so you need to look out after yourself!" After pausing for a bit, the second generation's Sovereign's voice was heard again: "You must complete the 'strength, heart, and will' tests before the Earth Vein will recognize you."
"What do you mean by strength, heart, and will?"
"It means you must possess a powerful strength, a strong heart, and an indestructible will. Those three qualities complement each other. For example: If you have powerful strength but unable to handle an emotional blow, then you would fail. Having the first two qualities but lacking determination would also not work out in the end. I can only advise you of these things and you'll have to figure everything else on your own." The voice gradually appeared further away. Lei Yu called out a few times but didn't get a response, so most likely the old ancestor had left this area already.
Through his contact with the Devil King, Lei Yu found out that cultivators were able use their will to leave behind a remnant body or voice. Even though these remnant conscience are able to embody a trace of their owner's will, they are unable to function like its true body. The remnant conscience of the old ancestor was only his voice, that's why Lei Yu was unable to see his figure.
Just as Lei Yu was in deep thought about this, the area started changing! The fog gradually dissipated and Lei Yu's eyes widened at the surrounding environment!
"This isn't the previous environment, where am I?" Lei Yu was shocked as he looked at a bridge for humans to cross. This place was definitely not the Forest of Fog… so what kind of scenery was he witnessing?
Lei Yu started walking forward while his heart was filled with uncertainty. He stepped onto the wooden arch bridge and looked down at the river, noticing several bright red carps swimming about. Everything looked so real and didn't appear to be an illusion!
"Mother, stay here and enjoy the sun for a bit while I go to the market. I will sell these furs first before buying some white rice for us." A simple and honest sounding voice drifted into Lei Yu's ears.