It was already high noon by the time Wu Yu rushed back to the capital.
The news of two celestials battling along with the Shang Qian Hall being obliterated had already spread far and wide throughout the country. The entire Eastern Wu was embroiled in severe turbulence.
If you took a look at Wu Du, the once bustling streets were now desolate after just one morning. Many people were hiding inside their homes and didn’t go out.
The only person Wu Yu cared about within the whole capital was Princess Wu You; other than her, no one else could be used to threaten him. Hence, Wu Yu made haste to arrive at Wu You Palace. He had to grab her and hide her away.
Wu Yu recounted everything he saw and heard to Wu You once he arrived.
“Hao Tian is so vicious. He actually managed to persuade Jiang Junlin to kill you.” Wu You’s lofty eyebrows slightly furrowed.
“Hao Tian gave him a big gift. Jiang Junlin owes him for that and naturally wouldn’t hold back when repaying him. It’s a good thing that I looked into it, or else it would be too late to even run.”
After Wu Yu saw the Rebirth Fruit today, he finally understood how strong Jiang Junlin’s resolve was.
His Sword to the Heavens sect disciple identity wasn’t that useful anymore.
“Then what are you planning?”
Wu Yu calmly said, “Revenge will have to be delayed for a few days. Let me get you away from Wu Du first.”
Wu You was very clear on the urgency of the situation and quickly packed up. After making a few arrangements, she left the city with him. Wu Yu’s current physique was robust; carrying Wu You on his back didn’t seem to affect his speed in the least.
If he wasn’t worried that she wouldn’t be able to withstand the fierce winds, he might’ve been able to go even faster.
“After leaving Wu Du, we just need to make sure they can’t find us.”
Eastern Wu’s territory was boundless. As long as they left the capital, even if Jiang Junlin wanted to find them, it would be like fishing for a needle in the ocean.
Wu Yu hid within a tall mountain and found a cave. After chasing away the wild beasts inside and quickly tidying up, he left Wu You with a few days of living necessities. He sat cross-legged in a corner of the cave and began to cultivate.
This time, he took out the four remaining Qi Condensing pills.
He had originally planned to separate them into two doses and spend ten days or so to finish condensing qi.
“Wu Yu, is it really that serious?” Wu You was a bit worried after seeing his sombre mood along the way, rushing and on guard the whole time.
“There isn’t much time left. This is a crisis but it’s also an opportunity.”
Wu Yu spoke for a brief moment and reminded her again not to get too close to him. Without speaking any further, he swallowed the four Qi Condensing pills and started on his final battle.
“Nnng!”
Wu Yu groaned with a pained expression.
Wu You clasped her hands together tightly, the expression in her eyes slightly shaking.
The challenge he’s facing now is likely much more difficult than anticipated.
She knew just how much Wu Yu loathed Hao Tian Shangxian.
Wu You gripped her dress as she leaned against the cave wall. Every change Wu Yu displayed was heartrending.
She was right. The moment the pills entered Wu Yu’s body, he was pushed to his limits. A current of heat surged like magma within him, burning up his whole body.
It felt like sword shards sharp beyond compare were cutting into him as the hot current scorched throughout its path. Wu Yu’s tenacious internal organs and blood vessels were traumatized. His internal heat was churning and it seemed like he was going to detonate.
Endure!
His memories of Xi He Hall were especially prominent at this moment, repeatedly showing up in his mind.
Every single word Hao Tian had said was the collapse of Wu Yu’s world.
But even up until today, Hao Tian still didn’t know that he was Wu Yu!
Wu Yu’s greatest desire was to rip off his own mask in front of the whole world.
He...did not want to wait any longer.
It had to be now!
Cultivation, requires one to yield.
How else would those without great power live to be reborn again under such detrimental circumstances?
Wu Yu clenched his teeth and sped up the transformation process, guiding the power within the Qi Condensing pills to converge at the Origin of Power. The Danzhong point at his chest was incomparably bright. The light rays even managed to penetrate through mountains, illuminating the entire range.
One day! Two days!
Wu You’s emotions were in turmoil. She bitterly waited, tormented by her worry; the anxiety was too painful. When Wu You saw Wu Yu cultivating with more tenacity than the last couple times, she could sense the wrath and hatred within his heart now more than ever.
Wan Qing’s one death was far from enough to pacify his heart.
“Yu’er...”
Wu Yu was in a trance, not sleeping or resting for four days straight. His body that had just recovered a bit was weakened once again.
Wu You was really worried that he had been overly hasty and would end up destroying everything he had built up.
He could just slowly condensing qi like before. It would take him twenty days at most to finish. How come this time… When Wu You thought of this question and had just started to formulate an answer, Wu Yu suddenly turned into a ray of golden light and charged out of the cave.
“Younger brother!”
Wu You staggered while holding up her long skirt, hobbling out of the cave. The surrounding mountains abruptly began to tremble. The ray of golden light exploded in front of her eyes, glimmering against the heavens and earth. A vast, imposing aura was forming.
When Wu You raised her head, the corners of her eyes moistened as she witnessed Wu Yu completely enveloped in golden light. Wu Yu landed from two zhang up in the air. The rays of light had already dissipated but in Wu You’s eyes, Wu You was no different from a celestial.
(T/N: 2 zhang≈ 6.67 m ≈ 22 ft)
Divine, domineering, swathed in mist, detached from worldly matters.
Spiritual power!
Wu Yu finally experienced the spiritual power of the first stage of Condensed Qi.
He finally possessed the first Origin of Power.
A whirlpool of spiritual power was continuously growing within the endless spiritual power sea that was located at the Danzhong point. Wu Yu was able to sense the surrounding spiritual qi of the heavens and earth even better now utilizing this Origin of Power. He and spiritual qi were already inseparable.
His spiritual power wasn’t any different from a normal person’s though because he had yet to cultivate a Condensed Qi technique.
Paired with spiritual power, my strength has increased sharply.
If I can learn a Condensed Qi technique and Dao skills in the future, my battle strength will be even stronger.
There was just one thing Wu Yu didn’t understand.
It feels like there’s a vortex somewhere inside my body, at times consuming spiritual power. Why is that?
Or maybe this is just how things are and I’m just making a big fuss over nothing?
He had never interacted with any other Condensed Qi stage cultivators after all.
Forget it. I’ll leave it alone for now since it doesn’t really affect my fighting.
Wu Yu and Hao Tian had exchanged blows twice and he had been suppressed each time. Now that he had reached the Condensed Qi stage, he couldn’t wait to fight again.
“How many days has it been?”
This was unexpectedly the first question he asked Wu You.
“Four days.”
Wu You couldn’t hold back her tears seeing her brother’s success. No one knew better than she did how much he had to shoulder to get there.
"Four days!"
Wu Yu revealed an ecstatic expression. He finally succeeded after four days, shortening the original timeframe by over a half. Even if there was more agony, it was worth it.
“From now until the Rebirth Fruit ripens, there’s still two day’s time.” Wu Yu inhaled deeply. As a matter of fact, he already had his own plan when he decided to refine all four Qi Condensing pills at once.
“Wu Yu, are you thinking of…” Wu You’s heart sped up and she grabbed onto Wu Yu’s arms.
“That’s right.” Wu Yu nodded his head and said, “There are two days left. Based on Jiang Junlin’s personality, there’s no way he’ll leave the Chiyang mountain range. These are the only two days we can be certain of his location! I just happened to reach the Condensed Qi stage at this time. I’m confident I can take care of Hao Tian!”
The fire within his heart was burning at a unprecedented height.
It was reminiscent of the moment he turned Wan Qing into meat paste after stalking her.
That’s right. Wu Yu felt there was no need to wait any longer. Today was the best time to eliminate Hao Tian Shangxian. Jiang Junlin was undoubtedly going to stay in the Chi Yang Mountains; he probably wouldn’t leave even if the sky was falling.
“But isn’t Hao Tian also in the Chi Yang Mountains…” Wu You worriedly said.
Her heart had too many concerns.
Wu Yu was just too crazy.
He lightly laughed and said, “Sister, how can you be so confused? I have plenty of ways to make him rush back. For example, Concubine Xi, Yuan Hao.”
So that was it!
As long as Wu Yu could get back to the capital and kidnap Concubine Xi and Yuan Hao, they didn’t have to worry about Hao Tian Shangxian’s return.
Jiang Junlin wouldn’t be returning since the Rebirth Fruit was on the verge of ripening.
This way, Wu Yu would have an opportunity to have a one-on-one battle with Hao Tian!
“Does it have to be today…”
Wu You’s heart was agitated. She wasn’t well informed about celestials so it was hard for her to know who was stronger.
“Sister, if we miss out on today, Jiang Junlin will have the Rebirth Fruit and then ally with Hao Tian. They’ll chase us to the ends of the earth and it’ll be at least ten times harder to kill Hao Tian by that time. In fact, if he gets scared, he can just return to the Zhong Yuan Daoist sect and I might never get to kill him.”
Wu Yu pointed out the crux of the situation.
“But what if some things are not like you anticipated? For example, what if the Rebirth Fruit matures ahead of time and Jiang Junlin happens to get it and returns with Hao Tian? What if Hao Tian has a lot of trump cards? You’re still young. You’re not a wily, old fox like him. What if you get killed by him instead…”
Wu Yu was simply too young. He had cultivated for less than two years — how could he compare to someone who had cultivated for over a hundred years?
Her two hypotheses were not unreasonable.
“Sister, first of all, I would retreat if Jiang Junlin came back in advance. Secondly, if I can’t kill Hao Tian and get killed by him instead, then that’s just fate!”
They were pressed for time. Even if Wu You was really worried, Wu Yu didn’t have much time to discuss it. He carried Wu You on his back and prepared to leave.
“Younger brother…”
In Wu You’s thoughts, such a large-scale battle was bound to have many accidents. If Jiang Junlin came back earlier, based on their methods, over a hundred years’ of cultivation, and battle experience, Wu Yu may not have the chance to retreat…
Wu Yu brought Wu You with him because he had to go back to the capital to meet the enemy head on. This mountain forest had fierce tigers and black bears. If he left her here without him to intimidate those beasts, there would be dire results soon after.
He didn’t know how long the battle would take so first, he had to bring Wu You to a populated place...