Chapter 27: Tracking

By the time Lu Jin arrived at the back mountain of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, Wang Min had already followed him there. However, she did not act rashly. This was the territory of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect: though she was a disciple of the Blood Moon Holy Land, she knew the sect still possessed significant strength. She was not afraid, yet she chose to remain cautious to avoid an unexpected defeat in an unfamiliar place.

She waited for Liu Ruyan to catch up. As a disciple of the sect, Liu Ruyan was far more familiar with the terrain.

After consuming their healing pills, Yang Dianfeng and Liu Ruyan had mostly recovered their strength. Upon learning that Lu Jin had made off with the Soul-Breaking Fruit, they hurried to join Wang Min.

“Senior Sister Wang Min, rest assured: although the back mountain is treacherous, I know it like the back of my hand. Lu Jin’s decision to hide here is a death sentence; he has walked right into our trap!” Liu Ruyan spoke with absolute confidence.

“Good! In that case, find that fruit for me. If you succeed, I will do everything in my power to ensure your entry into the Blood Moon Holy Land!”

The fruit was clearly vital to Wang Min. Recognizing this, Liu Ruyan nodded vigorously on the surface while sneering in her heart. This woman was merely using her. If she ever became powerful enough, she would never tolerate such an arrogant attitude from her.

“Thank you, Senior Sister Wang!”

Wang Min nodded at the praise, but her gaze remained icy. She was the top female disciple under Elder Chi Yu: for someone who hadn’t even joined the Holy Land yet to call her “Senior Sister” was an insult to her status. But since the girl was useful for now, she could endure it. Furthermore, part of her resentment stemmed from her feelings for Yang Dianfeng: she saw Liu Ruyan as a thorn in her side.

Under Liu Ruyan’s guidance, the trio pushed into the depths of the mountain. Wang Min’s earlier tracking art could only provide a general direction; once they entered the dense forest, it became almost useless. The back mountain was filled with dangers: many disciples met their ends here, either devoured by beasts or killed by the hidden traps of their own peers.

Yet Liu Ruyan truly knew the area, perhaps even better than Lu Jin. For three years, she had frequently sneaked into these dark woods to cultivate, to integrate Lu Jin’s Supreme Bone, and to practice Master Fox’s Great Plundering Immortal Art. Many of her darkest deeds had been committed within these shadows.

Buzz…

While standing guard, Lu Jin did not cease his cultivation. The phantom longswords of the Ten Thousand Swords Prostrating to the Ancestor Art danced and rotated through the air, piercing and slashing with increasing precision.

With my current realm, I cannot yet push this art to its absolute limit. If I reach the Jindan Realm, I can surely break through to the next level of mastery.

However, against a fifth-grade Jindan, I can kill with full strength. Even against a sixth-grade, I have the power to put up a fight!

Lu Jin felt satisfied as he sensed the majestic energy roiling within his body. To have reached this level of strength so quickly after his return was a great success. He felt absolutely certain that he could kill Liu Ruyan in their scheduled duel with a single strike.

He retracted his focus and frowned. I wonder how far the Empress has recovered using that fruit? The Soul-Breaking Fruit is truly powerful; I wonder if I can use its energy to begin cultivating my own mental power?

Just as he was pondering this, a slight fluctuation reached his senses. His expression shifted instantly. Three figures had appeared ahead: Liu Ruyan, Yang Dianfeng, and Wang Min.

Wang Min’s aura was imposing: the strength of a sixth-grade Jindan made Lu Jin’s expression turn grim.

“They actually found me!”

Lu Jin was surprised, especially by the speed of Liu Ruyan’s recovery. While she wasn’t at her peak, she had regained significant combat power. Yang Dianfeng was in a similar state.

“Heh, Lu Jin, you bastard! You really were hiding here!”

“Hand over the Soul-Breaking Fruit to Senior Sister Wang at once. If you do, I might leave you with a whole corpse!” Liu Ruyan barked, her eyes brimming with murderous intent.

Lu Jin laughed coldly as he realized their intent. “I am afraid that if I am unwilling, I will not surrender what is mine. I certainly won’t give it to people I have a blood feud with.”

“If you want to take it by force, then the only thing waiting for you is a path to death. If you insist on being stubborn, I will see this through to the end.”

His voice was calm, yet it carried an indisputable authority.

“You!” Liu Ruyan was so enraged by his fearless attitude that she was momentarily speechless.

Wang Min finally spoke, her voice echoing with high-born arrogance. “The Soul-Breaking Fruit is not something for someone like you to use. Hand it over. Otherwise, forget a mere disciple: I won’t even show mercy to your entire Ten Thousand Swords Sect!”

Wang Min stood with her hands behind her back. Having reached the sixth grade of the Jindan Realm at such a young age, she indeed possessed the capital to be arrogant.

Lu Jin merely gave a faint smile in response. “You talk as if I actually hold your words in high regard.”

He did not strike first. Empress Qinglian appeared to still be in a state of deep cultivation: he could feel it, even if he didn’t know exactly what was happening inside the coffin. He would not allow anyone to disturb her.

“Since you are determined to be a fool, I will simply kill you and take the fruit myself.”

As soon as her voice fell, Wang Min attacked.

Boom!

A streak of blood-red light erupted as she lunged forward, clutching a blood sword aimed directly at Lu Jin’s heart! Her speed was so great that even Lu Jin’s expression changed.

“You are courting death!”

Lu Jin gritted his teeth. A sword light shot into the sky from his hand. Simultaneously, the surrounding air rippled like waves as his hidden arrays activated: the power of the formations gathered into a massive blade that clashed directly against the incoming blood sword!