Chapter 194 - Noisy Fellow
"Do you have any mystic crystals?"
"I do." Xie Lianzhen took out a pouch and threw it over.
Lu Mingshu opened it up. There was more than ten inside, and they all looked fine.
He just carries around this many mystic crystals, and he gave them to me without hesitation when asked. The Seventh Truth Platform is indeed rich!
Xie Lianzhen watched her arrange some kind of shape on the ground with pebbles. She left the center empty, then filled the gap with mystic crystals.
Xie Lianzhen couldn't contain his curiosity. "What are you doing? Casting a spell?"
Lu Mingshu side-eyed him and continued her work, ignoring him.
"Wait a second, didn't you get a hundred mystic crystals from Jiayan? What about the prize for ranking first?" he continued.
Lu Mingshu stood up and cleaned her hands. "Why would I use mine when I can use someone else's?" she slowly replied.
"Besides, this paltry number of mystic crystals isn't something that Young Master Lianzhen would care about, right?"
With that, Xie Lianzhen watched her scramble here and there, arranging different shapes at different places and filling the gaps with mystic crystals.
He suddenly disliked his legs a little. Why can I never stand up?
"Done." Lu Mingshu came back and passed him the pouch with only three mystic crystals left. "Could you help me out with something? Activate the spells later, alright?"
She pointed to the small spells arranged with pebbles on the river bank.
"How?"
"Transfer mystic energy to the mystic crystals."
Xie Lianzhen nodded.
"First, second, third, fourth… follow the sequence. The rest, leave to me. Start when I say so."
After that, Lu Mingshu leapt up to the steep incline. "Start!"
Xie Lianzhen flicked his fingers. A ray of light shot out and landed on the mystic crystal.
The mystic crystal activated. With a loud rumble, it lit up and swiftly spread out.
Followed by the second, then the third….
At the same time, the surroundings lit up.
After activating the four spells, Xie Lianzhen looked up. He saw Lu Mingshu running non-stop to each different spell placed on different slopes.
He sighed mentally and caressed his legs.
After all the spells were lit up, the different rays of light shot up and met at a point, forming a mild golden net.
At the same time, the energy spread out, and space started shaking lightly.
Xie Lianzhen was flabbergasted. That fast?
Lu Mingshu jumped up. Before he could say anything, she hit the back of the wheelchair hard. Xie Lianzhen felt light, and he floated up into the sky with his wheelchair.
"What are you doing?"
Lu Mingshu followed behind him. "Moving somewhere safe."
"Can't you just say that?" Xie Lianzhen felt like being mean. "I may not be able to stand, but I can still move freely. Do you have a problem understanding that?"
"It's faster like this."
After two more turns, they landed on a narrow slope.
Xie Lianzhen did not wish to say anything more. He had always thought that he would be fine even if he couldn't stand up since he was still able to travel anywhere he wanted. It just hit him that it was really inconvenient without functioning legs.
Space shook even more violently. The mystic crystals in the spells activated a certain energy, which was added into space. It was like a stream flowing into the huge river.
With the big difference in force, the stream would be submerged into the river. Due to the river being unstable, already having a hard time trying to balance itself, it would lose its balance with the stream interfering.
The ground below them shook violently. Xie Lianzhen reached out to grab onto Lu Mingshu.
Unexpectedly, she brushed him off when he held onto her sleeves.
"What the…" Xie Lianzhen swallowed back his words and looked at her in surprise. "What are you trying to do?"
He saw Lu Mingshu fishing out her sword and drawing two big circles around them both.
"Do you think you are freaking Sun Wukong? Drawing circles to prevent monsters from coming in?"
Lu Mingshu kept her sword. "I'm indeed Sun Wukong. What are you going to do about it?"
"What a joke…"
Xie Lianzhen kept quiet after realizing that everything outside of the circle was shaking violently, but the area inside the circle was only shaking lightly, as if there was some force protecting them.
"What's going on?" He changed his tune. "How did you do that?"
Lu Mingshu smiled in reply.
Xie Lianzhen stared at the circles in confusion.
Szzz~~~~
A soft cracking sound could be heard, and a crack appeared in space.
"I get it!" Xie Lianzhen clapped. "You already calculated that this area wouldn't be affected, and the circles are unnecessary. You just wanted to scare me."
Lu Mingshu looked at him with wide eyes.
She disliked that Xie Lianzhen always looked proud, so she purposely came up with a prank to scare him. However, he saw through it so easily.
"Well, am I right? Xie Lianzhen smiled brightly.
"How could you tell?" she asked. "Do you know math?"
"Not much. But I didn't need calculate it." He pointed to his chest. "I just read people."
"Hmph!"
Seeing her expression change, Xie Lianzhen probed. "You hate to hear that? Oh, I understand now." He nodded. "You may look smart, but you are always doing things that others deem stupid."
"Hmph!"
He smiled at her. "That's not the right mentality! This world is filled with cunning people. If you want to lead a simple life, you should come to me because I'll be the one dealing with them, and you can lead the simple life you want!"
Lu Mingshu furrowed her eyebrows and turned to him. "Xie Lianzhen."
"Well? I'm making sense, right?" He grinned.
"Do you know what you look like now?"
"What?"
"Draw a mole on your face and you could be a matchmaker!"
But Xie Lianzhen wasn't angered by her comment. "Aren't I matchmaking for myself? Oh, there's a saying that goes, 'A fierce woman is afraid of guys who pester.' Is this true?"
Lu Mingshu clenched her fists tightly. "Could I ask a favor from you?"
"Why do you need to ask for a favor? Just speak up and I will definitely fulfill your request."
"Great, then please - shut up!"
Xie Lianzhen raised his eyebrows. "Are you perhaps afraid that I'll succeed in convincing you?"
"You're so freaking noisy!"
"It's not a good idea to avoid this."
For the first time in her life, Lu Mingshu had the urge to dice someone into eighteen pieces. Does he think that I am actually unaware of what he's thinking? From seducing to threatening, now that he realized neither of those worked, he decided to just pester her. He had never truly changed his mind. He still thought it was fun to tease her.
What made her most irritated was that, even though she wanted to just cut through the tangled mess, she couldn't because Xie Lianzhen had blocked her escape route. She was afraid that she may not be able to control herself one day and kill him.
Kacha!
Space could no longer hold the vibration, and with one crack, space was filled with cracks and shattered.
"The barrier is broken!" Lu Mingshu shouted in glee.
Chapter 195 - At a Loss
The mystic crystals' energy was depleted, and space slowly found balance.
The barrier was now gone.
Lu Mingshu stood up, ready to go toward where the barrier once was.
Xie Lianzhen followed behind her. All of a sudden, he saw something flash by. "Don't move!" He tugged on Lu Mingshu.
"What is it!" Lu Mingshu shouted back at him in anger.
"Look!"
Seeing that he looked serious, Lu Mingshu looked over. "What the hell is that?!" She shrieked in shock.
A shadow slowly strolled over toward the opening in the barrier.
"Specter?!"
This wasn't Lu Mingshu's first time seeing this kind of beast. During the Nine Jade Palace spring hunt, she and the other newbies met a specter. Two of them were even killed back then. If she hadn't met Yan Wugui when she fell down the valley, she would've been dead too.
Specters were something of a traumatic experience for Lu Mingshu.
Tough and durable skin, as fast as lighting, and smart. It only took them seconds to kill a beast at the same level as them.
"There's a specter in Great Morning Mountain?" Lu Mingshu whispered.
"No," Xie Lianzhen whispered back. "The Seventh Truth Platform was built a thousand years ago, and Great Morning Mountain was cleared many times. All the ferocious beasts have been shifted to another area to raise. Only non-dangerous beasts are still here."
"What about this specter then? They only exist in places where there are demonic beasts."
"That's…" he muttered "it's hard to explain why it's here."
While they were talking, the specter had already made its way over. Its needle-like pupils lit up.
"We can't escape a fight," Lu Mingshu said. She fished out her sword and turned to Xie Lianzhen. "Beware!"
As soon as she finished, she dragged the long sword-light and creating an image.
"Hey…" Xie Lianzhen mumbled to himself, "My basics are way stronger than yours, why do you look down on me so much?"
A black figure shot by. Seeing that she was attacking, the specter pounced over.
With the speed of lighting, it was standing right in front of her.
However, it wasn't really a threat to Lu Mingshu now. Back at Jade West Mountain Forest, she was only in the Inner Breath Realm. Encountering a Harmonization Realm specter as an Inner Breath Realm, she was able to survive for quite some time, so what about now?
She didn't even need to calculate anything. With a shake, her sword energy turned into strings and struck forward.
Hiss!
As if a candle had been extinguished, the tip of the sword slashed the specter's claw open.
The specter let out a scream. Being wounded stirred up its fierce nature, and it threw itself at Lu Mingshu.
Lu Mingshu jumped up to dodge the attack, and sword energy swept past.
At the same time, rays of starlight could be seen brushing over. Ding! Ding! Ding! Followed by sword energy. The specter tried to dodge the sword energy. However, it failed and slowed down after being hit.
Lu Mingshu seized the chance and began a continuous attack.
Starlight followed closely behind her attacks and hit the specter's eyes and knees.
Bang!
The specter was sent flying.
Its screams made their ears hurt, and it also made the specter look like it was insane.
Why would Lu Mingshu let go of this chance? She held her sword up high and chopped its head off!
Black-colored blood spurted out, letting out a hissing sound.
Lu Mingshu knit her brows and looked at the sword in her hand. A specter's blood was indeed very toxic. The sword that she used when she was in the Inner Breath Realm was corroded by a specter's blood. Who would have guessed that her current sword would face the same fate?
I'm very sorry, Master.
"Time to change your sword." The wheelchair rolled over. "Specter blood is not the only toxic thing in this world. There are many peculiar demonic beasts that are very venomous. Using a common sword will affect your ability. Let me give you a new one."
Lu Mingshu side-eyed him. "How much?"
"Huh?"
"How much does it cost?"
Xie Lianzhen smiled. "We don't need to speak about money. Just let me give you one."
"Hmph, thanks so much!" she replied sarcastically. Even though her sword had been corroded, the quality was still somewhat okay, so it could still be used for some time.
Lu Mingshu already had plans for her next weapon. The Golden Crystal Extract was still with her, and she had already sent a request to find a tool refining master in the Heavenly Wheel. When someone took up the job, the weapon would be ready soon.
"Are you not going to even consider it?" Xie Lianzhen chiseled away. "Not only do you need a sword, you need armor too. A good weapon and good equipment can increase your ability to a new level. I bet you can understand this after fighting for the New Generation Ranking. If I didn't have any protection, why would we still be safe and sound when we fell?"
Lu Mingshu turned to look at him, and the expression on her face was strange.
"What?"
"Do you think I'll marry you because you have money?"
"Huh?"
"Previously, you said that you wanted to help me escape Nine Jade Palace and give me everything I need and want. Now you want to give me a new sword… you're just trying to use money against me, right?"
Lu Mingshu wiped the sword on the specter's body to remove the blood before sheathing it.
"Oh, more than that!" Xie Lianzhen grinned widely. "Money, resources, connections, power, authority… anything. Of course, along with the most valuable thing, which is me. Didn't you say that my face is the most valuable thing I have? You need to know that not everyone can look this good. Others don't even get a chance, but for you, you just need to agree and it's yours!"
Lu Mingshu stared at him, flabbergasted.
"How does it sound? Are you touched?" Xie Lianzhen smiled like a Cheshire cat. "Not only that, you will still have what you want, and I'll give you all the freedom you want; I wouldn't try to control you. You can travel anywhere you want, you can even bring your relatives at Nine Jade Palace over! Oh yes, your master too! I know you badly want him to get his cultivation back. The Seventh Truth Platform has tons of secret methods and a rich network. With enough will, there will be a chance of recovering!"
"Hahaha!"
"Are you being disdainful, or do you just not trust me?" Xie Lianzhen continued. "The other conditions may not be what you desire, but isn't helping your master recover something you want badly?"
"I do want it badly." Lu Mingshu gave him a cold reply.
"Then why don't you agree?"
"Because my master would not like it."
"Oh…." That answer surprised Xie Lianzhen. He was at a loss.
"Master once said that, for the values I hold, I should always hold them. Never turn into someone I despise. What difference would there be between me and someone I despise if I change every single thing about myself? If he knew that I sold myself out, he would surely be unhappy."
"And the most important reason." She looked at him arrogantly. "You only said 'a chance,' but how much of a chance is there? 1%? Or 2%? I would be thanking the gods if there was even a 50% chance. It depends on luck, and you want me to self myself for that? I'm clearly on the losing end of that deal!"
Besides, with the Heavenly Wheel, as long as I'm capable enough, there will always be a chance for Master to recover. So why neglect the root and pursue the tip? I'm not silly!
While they were talking, a shadow flashed past the barrier. What would be the next thing to step out?
Chapter 196 - Victory Before Anything Else
Sword light dimmed, and Lu Mingshu sheathed her sword.
After the specter, demonic beasts came over one after another. Lu Mingshu already felt nothing.
"Why are there so many demonic beasts?" Xie Lianzhen raised his hand and rubbed his nose. This action made him seem like a kid, totally different from the "Young Master Lianzhen" that threatened her yesterday.
It made Lu Mingshu curious. Every time she thought she had seen through him, he showed another side that shocked her even more.
The gentle side when they first met, followed by the guy harboring evil intentions, then the ice-cold guy, and now an outgoing one.
Which was the real him? Lu Mingshu couldn't tell.
"We may be in trouble. There's so many demonic beasts… it may be a beast cave."
"That's weird." Xie Lianzhen rubbed his chin. "There aren't any beast caves near the Seventh Truth Platform, even a thousand miles away."
"Could it be…" Lu Mingshu deliberated. "This duplicated space is way earlier than we guessed?"
"You mean before there was a Seventh Truth Platform?" Xie Lianzhen immediately got what she meant.
Lu Mingshu nodded.
"Impossible." Xie Lianzhen denied. "When the Seventh Truth Platform was established, the forefathers put in a lot of effort. Great Morning Mountain was altered, so if this is before the Seventh Truth Platform was established, the land wouldn't look like this."
"This…"
If what Xie Lianzhen said was true, the situation they were facing now would be hard to explain.
"There's another possibility." Xie Lianzhen looked at the ferocious beast's body on the floor. "There is a place on Great Morning Mountain with so many ferocious beasts."
Lu Mingshu pondered for a while. "You mean the place where they raise them? The one that you mentioned before."
"Yes." Xie Lianzhen nodded. "But in order to achieve this, it would be extremely difficult. I see that this person has a partner who holds a high position in the Seventh Truth Platform."
Lu Mingshu nodded and stopped questioning. She shouldn't ask any further; this was an internal matter of the Seventh Truth Platform, and it wasn't good to know too many secrets.
"What should we do know?" After some hesitation, she asked.
"What do you think we should do?" Xie Lianzhen retorted.
Without hesitation, Lu Mingshu replied. "Move on and find out."
Xie Lianzhen burst out laughing.
"Why are you laughing?" She asked, displeased.
"This is so you."
"So me?"
"You like to take hold of your own fate, and you hate to wait," he said softly.
"…" Lu Mingshu felt uncomfortable hearing this. That seems to have a hidden meaning.
"If you're afraid, you can just stay here. With Young Master Lianzhen's means, you should be able to protect yourself, right?" She added on immediately, trying to sound tough.
"Miss, do I really look that useless? If we were to fight, you definitely wouldn't have the upper hand." He facepalmed.
"Heh!" Lu Mingshu grinned and walked forward to the crack in the barrier.
Xie Lianzhen sighed and followed.
The place beyond the barrier was different from the river bank they were just at. The surroundings were too quiet, and a sense of danger filled the air.
After some distance, they met a bunch of demonic beasts.
Yes, "a bunch." At least ten, forming an entire group. Their cultivations were all around the Inner Breath Realm or the Harmonization Realm. Fortunately, they didn't meet any Spirit Realm demonic beasts.
Lu Mingshu grasped her sword tightly and lean toward Xie Lianzhen. "Hmm."
"What?"
"If you are eaten up by them, leaving not even a single bone behind, will the queen murder me?"
Xie Lianzhen smiled. "You have a lot of confidence in her, huh? Wait until you actually see if she survives this."
The queen felt that she didn't have enough physical strength.
It had been years since she fought personally.
The blood of demonic beasts in front of her and the smell of mud brought her back to thirty years ago when she was still in the Seventh Truth Platform.
The her back then was like any other female disciple in the Seventh Truth Platform; listening to scriptures in the morning, cultivating at night… leading a simple life.
She was someone who had lived in a Taoist sect. Hearing the chimes of the morning bell, looking at the mountains around, and studying the heavenly laws. Carved balustrades and marble steps, divine and elegant dresses… those were things that couldn't be found in her life, and they were something that she didn't pursue at all.
What was always on her mind was whether the bunny that she kept in secret had been discovered by her master, or would she be forced to copy scriptures if she couldn't practice a skill well? The acrobats that her senior brother promised to bring her to watch in Tianyun City, would she ever find any time for that?
Now that she thought about it, the girl in her memories seemed like a stranger to her.
It was a totally different life from the one she was leading now. How did I even get to where am I now?
She could clearly remember the fight at the Yin Mountains. There were harpies everywhere, similar to the situation that was in front of her now.
Her senior brother pushed her onto his mount and shouted for her to leave.
The indefatigable suanni brought her far from the battle site. The last thing she could remember was her senior brother being drenched in blood.
That was the past of Qing'er.
After that, she became the queen of Zhongzhou - above everyone, second to only the emperor.
The carved balustrades and marble steps, the divine and elegant dresses that she had never thought about, were now in her life, existing as the realest things. Roping people in and suppressing others, fighting for authority - that was the war she had to fight everyday. A real fight like this never appeared in her life anymore.
Holding her sword, waving it in the air, and slashing.
Sweat dripped down, and fresh blood was flying everywhere. The things that she used to despise were surprisingly something that she missed badly now.
A fast and straightforward fight like this was way easier than all the mind games.
"Your Highness!" a shriek could be heard.
The queen beheaded the demonic beast in one slash and used her sword as support. She looked over to see a woman running toward her.
"Qingqing…."
Seeing that the queen was fine, Ding Qingqing heaved a sigh of relief and helped her to the side. "Your servant's late."
The queen shook her head. "Not late, just on time."
"What's going on? Why are we here? Your Highness, are we being plotted against?"
The queen smiled thinly. Her bright, pretty face had some blood stains on it, making her more dazzling. "Daring to do this during the Qilin Festival, and having such an accurate grasp of timing. Isn't the answer obvious?"
Ding Qingqing stared at the queen blankly. She then cautiously asked. "Is it… our own people?"
The queen sighed. "Only our own could do it, but I don't know who among the seven clan leaders are involved."
"Evil!" Ding Qingqing smiled sarcastically. "All these years, Your Highness has treated them well, yet they help an outsider…!"
"It may not be an outsider," the queen said. "Moreover, in some eyes, I have broken the rules."
Not much explanation was needed; Ding Qingqing knew what the queen meant. Xie Lianzhen taking over his position was evidence of the queen abusing her power.
"Let's find a way to get out of here first," the queen said. "This plan is risky for them. Aside from the fact that the elders are still guarding this place, His Majesty - who's in the Assimilation Realm - will be hard to stop."
"Then we…?"
"Persevere." The queen stood up and took out her saber. "If we persevere, we will be the ones who win."