Chapter 15: The Crimson Earth Dragon

Luo Jiu and his companions were slaughtered on the spot!

Elder Chen Jiang watched this scene with an increasingly complex expression. Even now, he dared not believe that with his third-grade Jindan strength, he was no match for Lu Jin, who was only at the seventh stage of the Spirit Pearl Realm.

Lu Jin had killed the first-grade Luo Jiu with zero difficulty. And now Chen Jiang himself was a cripple; his Dantian was shattered, and his life was held firmly in Lu Jin’s palm. This feeling was more agonizing than death itself.

Meanwhile, Mo Chen and Zi Xuan were rooted to the spot, completely petrified. They had been worried just moments ago; now, beyond their surprise, they looked at Lu Jin with absolute admiration. They had been prepared to fight to the death: Lu Jin’s intervention had undeniably saved their lives.

“Friend, thank you for saving us!”

Mo Chen and Zi Xuan stepped forward and bowed respectfully. “We have no way to repay such a debt. If you have any commands, we will follow them even if it means ten thousand deaths.”

Lu Jin looked at them and got straight to the point. “You are going to save someone named Ling Tao?”

Mo Chen’s heart skipped a beat, but he nodded. “That is correct!”

Lu Jin continued, “Do you also know Qin Long, Zhou Wu, Wang Zimo, Xiao Wuji, and Ma Zhengcheng?”

The names he listed were the exact names from Chu Tianxiong’s list. Upon hearing them, Mo Chen and Zi Xuan’s expressions shifted once again, this time turning into pure joy!

“So, you are also a disciple of the Holy Tabernacle!”

“Why didn’t the Hall Master tell us that a super expert like Brother Lu Jin had appeared among the apostles?”

“Defeating a third-grade Jindan at the seventh stage of the Spirit Pearl Realm… Brother Lu Jin’s methods are truly beyond logic!”

The two spoke excitedly. They no longer called him “Benefactor,” but addressed him as a brother. Lu Jin noticed the change in their attitude and thought for a moment before speaking.

“I don’t know much about the Holy Tabernacle. Perhaps you could tell me more?”

Mo Chen grew even more enthusiastic. He had no doubts about Lu Jin’s identity. Within the Holy Tabernacle, any person who knew the names of five other apostles was considered a brother: this was a rule all members lived by. It was a secret organization where many members did not know each other and only communicated through special methods.

Since Lu Jin had listed those names in one breath, they were certain he was one of them. Rescue between brothers required no formalities; they spent their lives doing dangerous work for the Hall Master, so looking out for each other was a necessity.

Zi Xuan glanced at the nearby Chen Jiang.

Bang!

A burst of spiritual Qi erupted, knocking Elder Chen Jiang unconscious. “The secrets of our Holy Tabernacle must never be known by outsiders,” she said with a smile. Her heroic aura surprised Lu Jin.

“Brother Lu Jin, you are a disciple of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, right?” Zi Xuan asked.

Lu Jin nodded slightly. “Yes. Lu Jin of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.”

“Good! The Hall Master is the Sect Master, and you are also from the sect. We will coordinate well in the future!” Mo Chen said. His face then turned serious. “By the way, Brother Lu Jin, Ling Tao was hunted by that old dog. He is currently trapped in the Fire Dragon Cave, his fate unknown! We must rescue him immediately!”

Lu Jin frowned. “The Fire Dragon Cave? The one in the depths of the Thunder Abyss?” He knew the location well.

“Exactly! Brother Ling Tao sent a transmission from within the cave, but the signal has since cut off. I fear the worst!”

Lu Jin narrowed his eyes. “In that case, wait here for me.”

Mo Chen protested, “Brother Lu Jin, that cave is extremely dangerous. Legend says a Fire Dragon haunts the depths. With your strength…” He paused, laughing awkwardly. “I am not questioning your combat power, but your cultivation has not reached the Jindan Realm yet. I am worried…”

Lu Jin cut him off with a smile. “Don’t worry. The fire energy beneath the Thunder Abyss is not enough to threaten me.”

Without another word, he flickered away and dove back into the Thunder Abyss.

When he heard the name of the Fire Dragon Cave, Lu Jin remembered that several fire-attribute treasures he had hidden years ago were located nearby. Since he had begun practicing the Sin-Fire Prison-Suppressing Sword, those items were exactly what he needed.

As for the Holy Tabernacle, he had realized Chu Tianxiong established it to subvert the Blood Moon Ancestor. The list of names made the Sect Master’s intentions clear. While Lu Jin had no desire to be a puppet, he was more than willing to cooperate with the organization to avenge his Shizun.

“Brother Lu Jin really jumped down? This…” Mo Chen and Zi Xuan were both surprised and uneasy.

“Let’s follow him. More people mean more safety!” Zi Xuan said.

“Fine! We must save Brother Ling Tao at all costs!”

Swish! Swish!

The two wrapped themselves in spiritual Qi and dove into the abyss after him.

Meanwhile, Lu Jin had already reached the depths. A faint, nearly invisible Dragon Membrane covered his skin. With this layer of protection, the dangerous aura of the abyss could not touch him.

He was incredibly fast, leaping across the black rock crevices. After the time it took to burn half an incense stick, the space ahead suddenly opened up.

The dark space was filled with a flowing crimson glow: strange plants that had survived years of lightning and fire radiated a light that illuminated the massive cavern. Lu Jin had been here years ago, but back then, his cultivation was too low to sense the true danger of the place.

Ignorance is bliss. But now, the moment he appeared, a massive Crimson Earth Dragon surged toward him!

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The Earth Dragon’s underbelly scraped against the ground with a harsh, grinding sound. It was over thirty feet long. It flicked a massive tongue, and its twin pupils burned with actual fire. A bloodthirsty, savage aura filled the entire space.

The beast attacked the moment it spotted him! It leaped into the air, its fangs bared, and the stench of blood filled the air.

“Vile beast!”

Lu Jin flickered to the side, dodging the strike. With a thought, his spiritual power condensed into a longsword: it was the Ten Thousand Swords Prostrating to the Ancestor Art he had cultivated during his breakthrough!