Chapter 367

Chapter 367: All-Round Changes

With Lou Yun’s hearing, he naturally didn’t mistake a single word the other party had uttered. Similarly, the name Yu Zili wasn’t unfamiliar to him. It was just that yesterday, after he had bound the critically injured Yu Zili to a rock and thrown him into the sea, hearing that name today from another member of the Yu Family – Yu Ruoming – truly left him unable to believe it!

In Lou Yun’s estimation, given those circumstances, not just Yu Zili, even he himself probably wouldn’t have survived!

Yet, Yu Zili hadn’t died. It seemed he had even returned to the Yu Family and informed them of Lou Yun’s return!

Yu Ruoming looked at Lou Yun with confusion, clearly not understanding why he was so agitated. Still, he repeated, "Yu Zili said that you injured him severely, and then he jumped into the sea to escape back to our Yu Family!"

Clearly, Yu Zili hadn’t told his family the whole truth. Probably seeking to save face, he had fabricated an excuse.

These words of Yu Ruoming caused Lou Yun’s expression to shift through a series of strange flickers – movements utterly indecipherable to Yu Ruoming. But had Yu Ruoming been able to read them, he would certainly have deeply regretted revealing that Yu Zili was still alive!

The change in Lou Yun’s expression stemmed from a resolution finally solidifying within his heart: while eliminating the Xiao Family, he would destroy the Yu Family as well!

Originally, after hearing about the Yu Family’s situation from Yu Zili, Lou Yun had remained indecisive about whether to destroy them too. His previous decision was that if he sensed that uncomfortable, chilling hostility from the Yu Family again, he would annihilate them without hesitation.

Now, upon learning that Yu Zili had survived such a situation and escaped back alive to the Yu Family, Lou Yun felt that chilling hostility once more. This Yu Family not only possessed remarkable patience but also incredibly tenacious vitality. Such a clan absolutely couldn’t be left intact. Otherwise, years later, given the slightest opportunity, they would surely find a way to destroy the Lou Family!

Therefore, Lou Yun finally solidified his resolve: not only would he eliminate the Xiao Family, he would also eradicate the Yu Family, at least before he journeyed to that other world!

Naturally, Lou Yun wouldn’t reveal these inner shifts to the Yu Ruoming before him. He sneered coldly, "So, do you still want to capture me alive?"

Yu Ruoming slumped his head dejectedly. Right now, he was struggling to preserve his own life; how could he entertain the notion of capturing Lou Yun alive?

Lou Yun’s eyes darted craftily. Suddenly feigning nonchalance, he changed the topic, "How long did you swim to reach Divine Weapon Island?"

"One day and one night!" Yu Ruoming answered frankly, entirely off guard.

"One day and one night?" Undisguised mockery filled Lou Yun’s eyes. "Could you possibly have stayed submerged the entire time? I truly admire your Yu Family, able to lurk underwater for so long, just like fish!"

Yu Ruoming completely missed the scorn in Lou Yun’s gaze. Instead, he stated with pride, "Of course! After leaving the Yu Family, I never once surfaced. Not even for a whole day and night! Even ten days and ten nights, our Yu Family can endure submerged in the sea!"

"Oh!" Lou Yun nodded, an idea already forming. Deliberately pausing for thought, he continued, "Alright then. If you can do one more thing to help me, I’ll let you go."

"Let me go?" Yu Ruoming visibly startled. He hadn’t expected Lou Yun to offer release.

"Yes!" Lou Yun affirmed solemnly. "When nations war, envoys shouldn’t be slaughtered. This basic principle I still understand!" Though war between the Lou Family and the Nine Clans was fact, Yu Ruoming was more assassin than envoy!

"Fine!" Yu Ruoming’s expression instantly relaxed. After all, given the chance to live, who would choose death? "What help do you need from me?"

"Teach me how to use the amphibious pouch you people crafted!"

…

It was the same rocky outcrop upon which Lou Yun had stood earlier. He brought Yu Ruoming back silently, and both plunged into the sea.

Eager to save his life, Yu Ruoming readily agreed to teach Lou Yun the use of the amphibious pouch. He did hesitate momentarily, wondering if teaching Lou Yun would pose some threat to his own side. But upon reflection, he decided it unlikely – at least, the Lou Family couldn’t manufacture such pouches themselves.

"You first need to stand on the Mat, then reach out to grab its two sides. Pull one side upwards forcefully while swiftly channeling spiritual energy to fill the entire pouch!"

Lou Yun followed the instruction. Sure enough, instantly, the Mat inflated with spiritual energy, taking on the form of a pouch buoyantly floating on the water.

"There’s a rope inside the pouch. Give it a tug, and the pouch will automatically seal itself. Simultaneously, another layer of skin will emerge outside, forming a hollow cavity to store air for your breathing!"

"To control the pouch’s movement, it’s simple. Fuse your own spiritual energy over the entire pouch. To descend, press your spiritual energy downward; to ascend, push it upward!"

Lou Yun tried it. It was indeed straightforward and easy to grasp immediately.

"To exit, just pull that rope again, then channel your spiritual energy outward along it, and the pouch will open!"

Yu Ruoming proved a responsible teacher, demonstrating with immense care. After a few attempts, Lou Yun was already proficient in operating and piloting the amphibious pouch.

Emerging from the pouch afterwards, Lou Yun spoke with satisfaction to Yu Ruoming, "You may leave now!"

Yu Ruoming blinked in astonishment, then offered a bitter smile. "Clan Head Lou, you’re joking. How can I possibly leave unless you lift the Seal Technique suppressing my magical weapon?"

Without his spiritual energy, Yu Ruoming was painfully aware of his limitations. Trying to escape by swimming purely with physical strength meant he wouldn’t get more than ten meters before being discovered by others on Divine Weapon Island.

"Oh, I can lift the Seal Technique on your magical weapon for you," Lou Yun conceded, "but I won’t be returning the amphibious pouch."

Yu Ruoming seemed prepared for this. He nodded, "So long as Clan Head Lou removes the Seal Technique on my magical weapon, you may keep the amphibious pouch."

Yu Ruoming’s swift approval took Lou Yun slightly by surprise. He showed no outward reaction, simply waving his hand to dissipate the Seal Technique: "All right, off you go."

Though he felt an energy surge within, unblocking his magical weapon, Yu Ruoming still ran a cautious energy circuit to confirm his cultivation was restored. As his strength returned, his gaze when he looked up at Lou Yun became suddenly flickering and uncertain. He contemplated whether this was the moment to strike, seize Lou Yun, and capture him!

After all, he considered himself a heaven-level magical weapons master, surely possessing higher cultivation than Lou Yun! And if he could capture him, he could return triumphantly!

How could Lou Yun not guess what Yu Ruoming was thinking? Inside, Lou Yun sneered coldly, almost rooting for Yu Ruoming to try. That way, killing him wouldn’t constitute breaking his word. Almost imperceptibly, Lou Yun’s eyes narrowed slightly, emitting two beams of icy, ruthless intent!

This chilling intent made Yu Ruoming shiver involuntarily. Simultaneously, any thought of capturing Lou Yun vanished like mist. Ultimately, they were still on Divine Weapon Island. If he couldn’t subdue Lou Yun instantly, the commotion would inevitably alert others on the island, making escape far harder later.

Crucially, facing Lou Yun, he, a heaven-level magical weapons master, found not a shred of confidence in victory!

Shaking his head helplessly, Yu Ruoming clasped his hands towards Lou Yun. "I thank Clan Head Lou for sparing my life. Yu Ruoming takes his leave!"

As the words fell, Yu Ruoming vanished abruptly beneath the water’s surface, swimming with desperate speed into the depths.

Watching Yu Ruoming ultimately abandon his attack and scurry away, Lou Yun couldn’t help feeling a pang of regret. He murmured, shaking his head, "Sigh. Anyway, I’ll obliterate their Yu Family sooner or later. Letting him live a while longer shouldn’t cause any harm." Having said this, Lou Yun returned his focus to the amphibious pouch in his hands, toying with it like a child enchanted by a new toy.

Just then, Chang Xiang’s voice echoed in Lou Yun’s mind, "You actually let him go? Without even tailing him? Following behind?"

Chang Xiang was naturally aware of everything that had transpired. He just couldn’t quite accept Lou Yun’s decision, prompting his question.

Lou Yun chuckled. "What good would killing him do if I didn’t let him go? Tailing him? Brother Chang, he abandoned the amphibious pouch precisely fearing I’d be hidden inside, following him back. Given his vigilance, he definitely won’t return straight to the Yu Family. He’ll lead me on a convoluted route. Besides, under the sea isn’t like land. Their Yu Family lives underwater year-round. Their understanding of the currents far exceeds mine. Trailing him undetected? I lack that confidence. Following him pointlessly would waste time."

"But…" Though Chang Xiang was still troubled, he found no immediate rebuttal.

Lou Yun added, "Moreover, I’ve mastered the pouch and gauged his level. He claimed it took one day and one night, submerged throughout, to travel from his Yu Family to Divine Weapon Island. That means the distance between the secluded Yu Family residence and the island is equivalent to what a Heaven level One Star magical weapons master traveling full speed in the pouch crosses in one day and night! I can pinpoint the approximate area where the Yu Family lies based on that. Locating their precise position within that zone shouldn’t be difficult."

After these words, Chang Xiang fell utterly silent. However, a peculiar sensation arose within him: a truly profound transformation had occurred in the present Lou Yun. And this change wasn’t merely reflected in his enhanced strength, but also in his intellect, his thought processes, his character – in every facet of his being!

To Chang Xiang, these changes in Lou Yun were deeply gratifying and anticipated. Because anyone who became an enemy of the present Lou Yun was assured an exceedingly grim fate!