Chapter 245

Chapter 245: Are You the Divine Weapon Emperor?

Inside the cabin, Lou Yun and Chang Xiang stared at each other, neither seeming willing to speak first. After a stalemate for a moment, Chang Xiang finally smiled slightly and said, "Alright, stop staring at me. I know you have questions for me. Ask away!"

After hesitating for such a long time, Lou Yun had already decided in his heart that today he must get some answers out of Chang Xiang. Now with Chang Xiang taking the initiative to speak, he naturally didn’t hesitate any longer and asked bluntly, "Brother Chang, what is your true identity? Are you… are you the Divine Weapon Emperor?"

Chang Xiang laughed heartily. "I wondered what question you would ask, but I never expected this one. Kid, your imagination is truly rich! Look at me; I’m clearly a person, while the Divine Weapon Emperor is a weapon. How could I possibly be the Divine Weapon Emperor? Do you think I resemble some kind of weapon?"

Chang Xiang’s teasing words didn’t make Lou Yun laugh. He stared at Chang Xiang with a very serious expression and said, "Brother Chang, you said yourself that your current state is called a ‘spirit,’ a state different from all of us. I never fully understood it, and you never explained it clearly. Therefore, I believe you are actually that Divine Weapon Emperor! You are the spirit of the Divine Weapon Emperor!"

"Hahaha!" Chang Xiang shook his head, still laughing. "Lou Yun, I ask you this: do you remember asking me about helping me restore my physical body? I said at the time your cultivation level wasn’t sufficient, so telling you was useless. Think about it, if I really were the spirit of some Divine Weapon Emperor, why would I need a physical body?"

Lou Yun thought this made sense. If Chang Xiang truly was the Divine Weapon Emperor, even if a Divine Weapon Emperor could develop some kind of spirit, it absolutely wouldn’t need a mortal body. A weapon with flesh and blood sounded incredibly awkward and utterly unimaginable.

However, Lou Yun was still a bit skeptical. "If you’re not the Divine Weapon Emperor, then who exactly are you? Why do you know so much about that world? How did you come to our Spirit Weapon Star? And why have you been helping me and our Lou Family so much? You couldn’t possibly be the one who secretly set up that special barrier around Lingjiang City, could you?"

Facing this question, Chang Xiang also banished his playful expression, becoming completely serious. "Kid, the person or force who set that special barrier is definitely not me. I would very much like to know who it was! As for my true identity… it’s not that I don’t want to tell you, I cannot tell you. I could easily make up some identity to deceive you. How would you know the truth? All you need to know is that I am a friend of your Lou Family, and I will wholeheartedly help your Lou Family!"

Lou Yun looked at Chang Xiang for a long moment before saying, "Alright. Then tell me how I can help you restore your physical body. Starting from now, whenever there’s an opportunity, I will help you find out!"

"Fair enough. To help me restore my physical body, you first need to help me find three items and five people."

"What three items? And who are the five people?"

"The five people are those who possess the Five Elements Contract. The three items are the trunk of the rootless tree, the first drop of dew produced after the Day Spirit Flower blooms, and the last drop produced when the Night Spirit Flower wilts."

What Chang Xiang mentioned left Lou Yun dumbfounded, because he hadn’t heard of any of it. However, the Five Elements Contract did sound a bit familiar. "Five Elements Contract? Like Miss Shui?"

"Correct. The five elements are Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Just as there are families who formed a Water Contract, surely there are also families who formed contracts with Gold, Wood, Earth, and Fire."

"Such families truly exist? And they’re like Miss Shui? If they unlock their respective contracts, they can freely control their corresponding element?"

"Yes, in that world, Five Elements Contract families do exist. On Spirit Weapon Star, I originally thought there were none, but unexpectedly, we encountered the Shui family. Perhaps the families of the other four elements also came to Spirit Weapon Star. Of course, this is mere speculation; there’s no solid proof. The one thing I can be sure of is that the surnames of Five Elements Contract families are invariably named after one of the five elements."

Lou Yun nodded. "So that means in the future, if I meet anyone surnamed Jin (Gold), Mu (Wood), Tu (Earth), or Huo (Fire), I should pay attention, because they are likely from one of the Five Elements Contract families, right?

"Hmm… I can only say it’s possible."

"Wait, that’s not right!" Lou Yun suddenly thought of something. "Can’t I freely control flames too? Does that mean I also signed a contract with fire?"

"Of course not! That’s the result of the cultivation method you practice and your master’s instruction. You signed no contract with fire! These Five Elements Contracts were definitely forged a very, very long time ago."

"Oh, I see. Then what about the other three things?"

"Don’t ask what they are. I’ve already told you the names. You just need to remember their names! If one day you truly manage to find them, then I will naturally tell you their purpose and how they are to be used."

"Okay, we have a deal then. And now we’ve already met the Shui family, one of the Five Elements Contract families. That leaves four more families—there’s still some hope!"

Lou Yun’s words only earned a silent smile from Chang Xiang. However, silently, Chang Xiang thought: Silly lad. Though I’ve told you the truth, achieving these conditions will be far harder than getting your revenge. Never mind whether the members of the Five Elements families are even alive in this world anymore… just finding those three items might be even rarer than discovering heavenly fire. You’ll just have to search slowly.

Although he still knew nothing about Chang Xiang’s identity, Lou Yun at least believed that he definitely wasn’t the legendary Divine Weapon Emperor.

"Enough!" Chang Xiang put away his smile. "Kid, your questions are finished. Now it’s time we discuss serious business. Regarding what Xiao Tong said about the sacred objects of their Nine Clans just now, what do you think?"

The cultivation method practiced by Lou Yun was named "Devour Weapons." The magical weapon level could indeed advance by devouring common weapons for minor rank increases. However, for major rank breakthroughs, according to Chang Xiang, it was best to devour Divine Heavenly Weapons – weapons which emerged naturally between heaven and earth. Only that would significantly enhance Lou Yun’s strength and power. The problem was, the few known Divine Heavenly Weapons were currently held by the Nine Clans. Lou Yun’s current strength was insufficient to seize them. Helpless, following his master Mr. Commoner’s advice, Lou Yun had turned to devouring heavenly fire instead.

Though the results of devouring heavenly fire were also good, Chang Xiang firmly believed that, if possible, devouring Divine Heavenly Weapons was preferable. At the very least, devouring Divine Heavenly Weapons was much safer!

The temperatures of heavenly fire were notoriously difficult to control. Even though Lou Yun possessed an ice crystal jade weapon, there was a world of difference between using a magical weapon to devour it and using his own body to control it outright. The slightest misstep in the former could result in utter obliteration!

Now that the Divine Heavenly Weapons had reappeared, Chang Xiang saw it as an excellent opportunity. He felt Lou Yun should find a way to seize these items.

Seeing Lou Yun remain silent, Chang Xiang grew somewhat anxious. "Kid, though you’re now at Mystery Rank, at the rate you cultivate, reaching human level shouldn’t take too much longer. But heavenly fire… that’s something rare and difficult to find. During this time, you might not encounter it at all! You can’t exactly force Xiao Huo to spit out heavenly fire, can you?"

Honestly, Lou Yun had considered that method. He just couldn’t predict the outcome. Who knew if Xiao Huo would willingly expel heavenly fire? And if it refused? It wasn’t like Lou Yun could kill it!

After contemplating seriously for a moment, Lou Yun spoke. "Here’s my plan. The matters at hand for now are temporarily settled. Right now, I want to return home and stay for a while. On one hand, to help my family grow stronger faster. On the other, to properly study the estates my Second brother entrusted to me. I’ve realized this: relying solely on my own strength to seek revenge is fundamentally impossible. So, I must strengthen my own forces before I can effectively contend with the Nine Clans."

"After completing these tasks, I’ll prepare to keep the appointment with the Huangfu Family and see if there’s a way to steal their sacred object."

Chang Xiang also thought carefully about Lou Yun’s arrangement. Lou Yun’s plan was actually the most reasonable. Though the Nine Clans targeted the entire Lou Family, the only member currently capable of opposing them was Lou Yun himself. Any other Lou family member encountering the Nine Clans would be doomed to a swift death.

Given the strength of the Nine Clans, it was indeed impossible for Lou Yun alone to achieve the goal of revenge. He needed to expand his power. The Lou Family itself couldn’t be relied upon in the short term, meaning he must rely entirely on the estates Beichen Ming had handed over, especially the Divine Weapon Alliance.

Chang Xiang had seen the strength of those four leaders and the Eastern Master. All of them, in terms of ability, intellect, and leadership, were talents of the highest caliber. If wielded effectively, they truly could form a powerful force.

"Mmm, I agree with your idea. However, I think besides the estates your Second brother gave you, you should also try to win over the people from ‘Tianjiao’ (Skylords). Their strength is genuinely formidable!"

Lou Yun had witnessed the true strength of Wen Hou and Tie Sha this time. When releasing the seals on the formidable power within them, these two could contend with, and even surpass, the future clan heads of the Nine Clans. He was certain the strength of the other Tianjiao members wasn’t far off. To gain their help would be immensely beneficial!

"I do want that. But you heard what Zhuge Mou said to me last time. Their goal is focused on controlling that mysterious power within them. Getting them to help me probably isn’t something easily achieved."

Chang Xiang suddenly smiled mysteriously. "In that case, tell them that you might have discovered a way to help them control and master the power within them…"