Chapter 475

Chapter 475: Heart-Forging Trials

Previously, Zhou Luo had been troubled by Long Yu’s targeting. Now that Wang Yu Wei had arrived, he naturally intended to borrow her influence.

Once word spread back to the prince’s residence that he was traveling with her, he reckoned even Long Yu would surely have reservations.

If it had only involved the connection to the Wan Gu Sect, it wouldn’t have been enough to make Long Yu relent. But with the added backing of the Biquan True Sect, the situation changed entirely.

Therefore, at this critical moment, he chose to lay all his cards on the table.

Of course, he naturally omitted mentioning that Long Yunshuang was currently residing at Zhou Fu.

Upon hearing this, Wang Yu Wei frowned slightly.

She hadn’t expected Zhou Luo to incur the wrath of the Ninth Prince.

While the overall combat power of the prince’s residence couldn’t match the Biquan True Sect, the influence of their royal lineage was far from trivial, especially considering he was a prince personally invested by the emperor.

In this matter, openly tearing apart any semblance of decorum was out of the question.

After much deliberation, Wang Yu Wei turned to Zhou Luo, her voice resolute. "Rest assured."

Though she couldn’t openly defy the Ninth Prince, relying on her own strength and her various hidden cards, even if a Golden Core master made a move, she was confident she could protect Zhou Luo.

She reasoned the other party wouldn’t be so audacious as to openly and blatantly try to kill Zhou Luo right in front of her—doing so would be a grave insult to the Biquan True Sect.

Zhou Luo showed a troubled expression. "My fear is precisely if a Golden Core level master makes a move."

He said this deliberately, aiming to gauge if she truly possessed such confidence.

If she didn’t, he would refuse her proposal without hesitation.

Wang Yu Wei understood his worries and recognized his cautious nature. To reassure him, she replied with utmost seriousness. "Before this journey, my master entrusted me with an artifact. It enables me to withstand a full-powered strike from a Golden Core master and simultaneously alerts our sect of the incident.

This artifact was genuine, bestowed out of concern for her safety during her travels.

After all, she was the one disciple her master, the Golden Core master, valued most highly.

Unlike other Immortal Sects bound together by bloodline ties to solidify hierarchical control and influence, the Biquan True Sect strictly forbade union with men.

Consequently, they drew no distinction between direct disciples and ordinary practitioners.

Sect elders solely determined one’s rank and status based on demonstrated merit and unwavering loyalty.

This very principle was why Ye Qian, even after being banished from the sect, continued to receive support from her master.

To her master, Ye Qian was essentially no different from a daughter.

Only the sect’s strict prohibition against providing materials for forming the Golden Core to outsiders prevented her from directly assisting Ye Qian in reaching the Golden Core stage.

Even so, she managed to secretly arrange for the delivery of some auxiliary herbs.

"With your word, I am relieved," Zhou Luo said with a faint smile.

He believed the Biquan True Sect, willing to let her venture out alone, must have prepared many methods for her protection.

Besides, it was still uncertain whether Long Yu would even take action.

If he didn’t seize this chance to undertake the Heart-Forging trials alongside her now and ventured alone later, the danger would exponentially rise.

Moreover, facing formidable adversaries, he urgently needed to ascend to the realm of a Golden Core master.

Thus, weighing the odds thoroughly, Zhou Luo ultimately chose to agree.

However, Zhou Luo’s mind sprouted fresh doubts once more.

Just why must she insist I accompany her?

Could it really be only because I hadn’t tempered my heart?

Zhou Luo didn’t believe that was all. He felt certain she had some ulterior motive concerning him.

Though what exactly remained unknown.

Whatever the ulterior motive might be, he still chose to trust her character. Moreover, this was a chance to personally observe what she truly sought.

After lunch, Zhou Luo and Wang Yu Wei left the Zhou Fu.

Before departure, he made a stealthy trip to the secret chamber, informing Long Yunshuang he would be leaving and obtaining another Third Level symbol from her.

With this Third Level symbol, even if Long Yu attempted a forced entry, Ye Qian would have room to maneuver.

Assured by this, he followed Wang Yu Wei away.

"Where do you intend to go?" Zhou Luo inquired on the road.

"If we are to observe the varied states of mortal lives, naturally we cannot confine ourselves to this tiny Qinyuan City." Wang Yu Wei revealed a brilliant smile.

It was a genuine smile, not a feigned one.

"I understand." Zhou Luo nodded.

Since it was about the varied states of mortal lives, naturally that meant witnessing human suffering, the lives of those at the lowest depths.

Thus, the two departed Qinyuan Immortal City and began to wander throughout Qingyuan County.

To observe the true populace, they deliberately avoided powerful cultivation cities, traveling instead specifically to the secular world.

This development naturally reached Long Yu’s ears swiftly.

Soon after, information about Wang Yu Wei was laid before him.

Staring at this disciple of the Biquan True Sect, held in such high regard, he sank into deep contemplation.

"Quite cunning of Zhou Luo, riding on her coattails." he sneered coldly.

After uttering this, he took no further action.

Until he confirmed Long Yunshuang was within the Zhou Fu, Long Yu would not tear open hostilities with such a well-connected individual.

Beyond that, he currently had far more pressing matters to address.

Although successfully bestowed the title of Ninth Prince by the emperor, the prince’s residence was far less tranquil than imagined.

Conventionally, a steady approach, gradually sapping the strength of competitors before assuming power, would have been smoother.

But he had chosen to directly poison his own father. This violent seizure cast a long shadow over his later ascension to the throne.

When he dispatched troops to support the Chimagong Sect earlier, these underlying issues had already surfaced.

Hence, it was imperative he resolve them as swiftly as possible.

…

One year later, Zhou Luo had accompanied Wang Yu Wei to numerous places within the secular world.

They witnessed women coerced into prostitution within brothels.

They saw hawkers in bustling alleys and markets, street hoodlums, and disabled beggars lining the roadsides.

They watched men straining under heavy loads, performing backbreaking labor on docks.

Taverns, teahouses, inns – they observed all manner of guests.

They even involved themselves directly in conflicts between martial arts gangs, watching firsthand as two factions clashed violently over profit interests.

Wasn’t this, truly, a microcosm of the fierce struggles often seen between the great sects of the world of cultivation?

On this particular day, Zhou Luo guided Wang Yu Wei to a relatively remote village.

Nestled deep within the mountains and isolated by poor transportation, this village was steeped in poverty and backwardness.

Yellow dirt sprawled under the open sky. Only a single, deeply rutted mountain path cut through the hills towards the deeper valley – narrow, quiet, flanked by dense woods thick enough to house wild beasts that occasionally flitted into view.

Treading the muddy trail, both ignored the thick sludge coating their boots.

After a year of this journey tempering his heart, Zhou Luo’s transformation was especially profound.

Already mastering the Water Spirit Heart Method, witnessing this panorama of human existence had further refined his state of mind.

Not perfection, nor a flawless, unblemished state, but he had reached a level where ordinary external distractions couldn’t easily unsettle or sway him.

Passing through the mountain path, they reached the village…