Chapter 128: Liu Ruyan Threatens Yang Dianfeng

Qin Jiuhuang was stunned. As he looked at Lu Jin again, a sense of unreality washed over him. He was thoroughly shaken by the young man standing before him.

The Soul-Binding Chains were truly horrifying. Forget a Jindan cultivator like Lu Jin; even a powerhouse of the Purple Mansion Realm like himself had been subjected to their torment for years. He had tried to escape countless times, employing every method at his disposal, yet it had all been in vain.

“You actually broke this seat’s shackles! Lu Jin, you have truly made me see you in a new light.”

An intense wave of excitement surged within Qin Jiuhuang.

“It is this disciple’s honor to rescue the Holy Lord,” Lu Jin replied.

As he spoke, the devouring power of the Heaven Burial Coffin whistled forth once more. As the black light erupted, the remaining chains shook violently, struggling against the encroaching power.

Lu Jin could clearly sense a strange devouring force emerging from the chains; it was a form of spiritual power, the very source of the chains’ ability to consume the soul. However, after a brief struggle, that soul-devouring spiritual energy was completely consumed by the Heaven Burial Coffin.

Before the Heaven Burial Coffin, any other devouring power was nothing more than the flicker of a firefly compared to the sun.

When Qin Jiuhuang finally set foot on the ground, he took a long, deep breath. That sense of unreality slowly dissipated as he felt solid earth beneath him. Though his body was frail, it could not mask the awe-inspiring dignity in his gaze.

The sensation of regaining his freedom was like a flood dragon returning to the sea. Lu Jin could catch a glimpse of an indescribable heroic spirit radiating from him. However, he was far too weak. Having been imprisoned and tortured for so many years, the fact that he was still alive was a miracle in itself.

“Lu Jin, please accept a bow from this seat!”

Suddenly, Qin Jiuhuang bowed deeply toward Lu Jin. Lu Jin immediately reached out to support him.

“There is no need for such courtesy, Holy Lord. If you do not mind, I have some resources here. While they may not restore you to your peak, they should help with your immediate needs.”

Lu Jin produced several spatial rings. These were spoils of war from his previous battles. Though he had used many during his own cultivation, the number of spirit stones within these rings still exceeded fifty thousand.

Qin Jiuhuang’s brow furrowed. “Lu Jin, great kindness cannot be expressed with mere words. This seat shall accept them.”

He did not waste time with further pleasantries, taking the rings and sweeping them with his senses. The vast quantity of spirit stones and medicinal herbs made him frown again. Perhaps to his former self, these resources were negligible, but now, like a tiger fallen on hard times, such a bounty was enough to startle him.

“Then this seat will not stand on ceremony.”

He sat cross-legged on the spot. With a flick of his residual spiritual power, he began draining the spirit stones one by one. Under his refinement, they were sucked dry of spiritual energy and crumbled into piles of gray ash. Then came the next, and the next.

Lu Jin remained silent. Since the Holy Lord intended to recover on the spot, he would act as his protector. After all, having such a figure by his side would undoubtedly provide a powerful ally against the Blood Moon Ancestor.

A 6th Transformation of the Purple Mansion Realm expert was far more powerful than Chu Tianxiong. Like Chu Tianxiong and Wang Min, Qin Jiuhuang had been victimized by the Blood Moon Ancestor; they were all on the same side. The more such powerhouses he had, the better.

Lu Jin had not expected that by climbing to the ninth floor, he would encounter the true Holy Lord of the Blood Moon Holy Land. In the Holy Land, there was indeed a Holy Lord whose status was second only to the Blood Moon Ancestor. But the world had no idea that the man currently holding that title was a monster impersonating him.

Meanwhile, outside the Sanctuary Tower, the crowd grew larger, but no one dared to enter rashly. Of course, having received permission from Elder Chi Yu, Liu Ruyan and Yang Dianfeng had already stepped inside. However, the two had hesitated to make a major move. They remained skeptical about the identity of the person who had reached the ninth floor.

“Junior Sister Liu, that person has already entered the ninth floor. There is no way it is Lu Jin. Believe me,” Yang Dianfeng said, even patting his chest for emphasis.

“Ignorant fool.”

Liu Ruyan’s words left him frozen in place. She had called him an ignorant fool? This was the first time she had ever spoken to him in such a manner.

But when Yang Dianfeng saw the cold glint in her eyes, his heart skipped a beat. Her gaze was as frigid as frost, carrying an air of inviolable majesty. Yang Dianfeng immediately fell silent. He knew that the current Liu Ruyan was no longer the woman of the past; she was no longer a mere tool to be used for his cultivation.

As Yang Dianfeng was lost in thought, Liu Ruyan’s voice rang out again. It was raspy, a tone that did not seem to belong to her, sounding more like a command. “You. Go up and see.”

Yang Dianfeng’s heart hammered against his ribs. Her tone brooked no argument. When he looked at her again, he saw a murderous intent in her eyes that was as cold as a blade.

“My current cultivation… I’m afraid…”

Before he could finish, Liu Ruyan spoke again, her voice layered with the Fox Master’s raspy rasp. “I will say this only once. Go, or you die.”

Yang Dianfeng’s scalp went numb. He never expected that one day he would be threatened so blatantly by this woman. Yet, even so, he did not dare to resist. There was a monster inside her. Furthermore, her combat strength already surpassed his own. If he resisted, even if Liu Ruyan didn’t kill him, the old monster inside her certainly wouldn’t show him any mercy.

“Fine, I’ll go.”

Yang Dianfeng gritted his teeth and steeled himself. He looked up toward the space above. He had no idea what he would encounter. Form the first time, his legs felt weak inside the Sanctuary Tower. Previously, he had begged his Shifu to bring him here to cultivate; now, it had become a place of dread that made his blood run cold.

Watching Yang Dianfeng disappear into the upper levels, Liu Ruyan narrowed her eyes. She looked at the array of monsters and demons she had personally constructed and gnashed her teeth.

Lu Jin! No matter how powerful you have become, I will tear you into ten thousand pieces today!

Ever since Lu Jin’s return, she had been repeatedly suppressed and even heavily injured. If not for the Fox Master’s power, she would likely be a corpse by now. But today, with Elder Chi Yu overseeing the situation and a sea of disciples gathered outside, she had the backing to retreat safely even if she caused a scene and failed to defeat him.

No matter how strong Lu Jin was, what could he possibly achieve against so many experts of the Holy Land?

After reaching the sixth floor, Yang Dianfeng proceeded to the seventh, eventually arriving at the eighth with trembling steps. The aura of this place had completely vanished due to Lu Jin’s arrival. Finally, with eyes full of terror, he began his ascent toward the ninth floor.

Footnotes: 

TN1: “A tiger fallen on hard times” (虎落平阳): Part of the idiom “A tiger down on the plains is bullied by dogs,” referring to a powerful person who has lost their position or strength and is now vulnerable.

Translator’s Note: Man, Yang Dianfeng has gone from the arrogant Saint Son to a glorified errand boy who’s literally shaking in his boots. Watching Liu Ruyan talk down to him with the Fox Master’s voice was cold. She’s really banking on the “strength in numbers” strategy outside, but she clearly doesn’t know Lu Jin just recruited a 6th Transformation Purple Mansion powerhouse. Do you think Yang Dianfeng even makes it through the door of the ninth floor before Lu Jin notices him? Drop a comment, it genuinely keeps me going.