Chapter 343

Chapter 343: The Command of the Nine Families

Now on the blade of the Dream Emperor Sword, there appeared once more a pattern of a wolf opening its mouth and roaring skyward. The entire pattern was vivid and lifelike, looking just like the real thing!

After completing the process of Devouring Weapons, Lou Yun, just like before, did not rush to open his eyes immediately but maintained his meditative state, quietly comprehending all the characteristics of the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire.

After a long time, Lou Yun finally opened his eyes, and a greenish light flashed within them, just like the eyes of a starving wolf!

Lou Yun himself did not notice, and Chang Xiang did not detect it either, because Chang Xiang was more focused on the true origin of the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire. Although he knew a little about the origins of each Heavenly Fire, after Lou Yun first devoured the Fusang Fire and mentioned its true origin, Chang Xiang realized that what he understood about Heavenly Fires was merely a tiny bit, not comprehensive or complete at all.

Naturally understanding Chang Xiang’s meaning, Lou Yun gave a slight smile. Suddenly, a ball of flame emerged from his body, instantly detached, transformed into a giant wolf in the air, and lay beside Lou Yun!

Reaching out his hand, much like he would stroke Xiao Huo, Lou Yun gently touched the head of this giant wolf formed entirely of flames and said, "The Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire comes from a world named Sirius. In that world, there were no humans, only various animals, and among them, wolves were the most numerous and most powerful. It can be said that wolves ruled that world."

"Moreover, wolves on Sirius could cultivate just like us, and the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire was the first ball of flame spat out by the first wolf that achieved cultivation!"

"That wolf merely wanted to test its power. After spitting out the flame, it paid no further attention it and turned away. But it never imagined that the flame would not extinguish; instead, it gradually gained a trace of spirituality. Driven by this trace, it unexpectedly arrived in our world, discovered there were wolves here too, so it attached itself to a wolf. Over a long time, it truly transformed its own form into that of a wolf!"

Saying this, Lou Yun sighed and remarked, "It can be said that the reason the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire has the appearance of a wolf is entirely to show gratitude to its creator. Of course, it also greatly adores this form!"

"That is the true origin of the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire!"

After hearing Lou Yun’s account, Chang Xiang found himself somewhat speechless, especially since a wolf could produce such immensely potent Heavenly Fire inside its body—a reality truly beyond belief.

But no matter what, the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire’s true master was now Lou Yun, and Lou Yun’s magical weapon realm had smoothly ascended to the human level one-star!

By rights, this was the time to consider leaving the island. Yet Lou Yun seemed genuinely neglectful of his grasp on time. After pondering, he decided to continue cultivating there for a while, until he could produce soul fire, before leaving to search for the other items needed to help Chang Xiang reshape his body.

Chang Xiang unconditionally supported Lou Yun’s wish to keep cultivating. His reason for claiming that Lou Yun should first help reshape his body was solely to temporarily deter Lou Yun from cultivating the common weapon. Any other cultivation, though, he would not oppose. Thus, he once again hid that Lou Yun had actually been training there over eight months and silently accepted Lou Yun’s plan.

So Lou Yun recalled the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire back into his body and began cultivating soul fire!

Meanwhile, in the Huangfu Family basement belonging to Huangfu Xuanlan, Huangfu Ao, meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly saw a flash of light before him.

Huangfu Ao instantly opened his eyes, sprang up, and looked toward the large mirror shrouded in misty vapor still standing there.

On the mirror’s surface, a bright spot had now appeared, rapidly expanding and dispelling the vapor. This time, however, the spot was not created by Huangfu Ao with spiritual crystals but came from inside the mirror itself!

As watery ripples formed on the mirror, an aged face was revealed.

"Father!" said Huangfu Ao with a delighted expression. "You’ve finally contacted me; over this past half year, I’ve been nearly frantic with worry!"

The old man’s face showed a faint smile as he said, "Ao’er, your biggest flaw is being impatient and impetuous. I sent you to Spirit Weapon Star to give you a chance to temper yourself. Seems there hasn’t been much improvement!"

Though critical, there was no hint of blame in his smile or tone, showing he truly pampered Huangfu Ao.

Huangfu Ao, evidently used to these words, switched topics at once: "Father, how did it go discussing with the other eight families? Is there a result?"

The old man’s face turned stern. He nodded and said, "We’ve decided. Annihilate the Lou Family, capture Lou Yun alive. Whoever dares obstruct—show no mercy, kill them!"

"Capture Lou Yun alive?" Huangfu Ao paused slightly. "I’ve met Lou Yun; there’s nothing special about him. Why bother taking him alive? Wouldn’t killing him directly be simpler?"

The old man shook his head slightly. "According to reports jointly submitted by Spirit Weapon Star’s nine families, we suspect Lou Yun has a connection to the Divine Weapon Emperor. So we must not only capture him alive but bring him to our world!"

"Ah!" Huangfu Ao was completely shocked. "Bring him to our world? Does that mean I have to transport him?"

"To find the Divine Weapon Emperor, Lou Yun must not die. Besides us in the Huangfu Family, the Xiao Family also sent someone to Spirit Weapon Star. The two of you will bring Lou Yun back together."

Huangfu Ao’s mouth opened. Though unwilling about this demand, he knew this was the result of the nine families’ joint deliberation and impossible to alter. So he swallowed the words on his tongue.

The old man continued, "The other eight families will disseminate our decision too. The nine families can cooperate or act alone. Don’t trouble yourself with how they handle it; just sit securely at the Huangfu Family—only intervene if absolutely necessary—let them deal with the Lou Family! As for Gui You Quan, I repeat: you must never engage him. If you see him, flee immediately, as far as you can. Even if someone else becomes the scapegoat, so be it!"

In truth, even without his father’s warning, Huangfu Ao wasn’t foolish enough to fight Gui You Quan. He had no wish to lose his life on Spirit Weapon Star, a place he always looked down on!

"I understand, Father. I’ll go inform Huangfu Xuanlan and the others."

"Mm!" the old man nodded, a smile returning to his face. "Once Lou Yun is caught, contact me at once; then I will bring you back!"

After those words, the old man’s face faded slowly from the mirror. Huangfu Ao stood silently for a moment, then swiftly went to find Huangfu Xuanlan and told him the outcome. Next, he returned to the basement, resolved to stay peacefully there until Lou Yun was captured—never venturing out, leaving the Lou Family and Gui You Quan for others to handle!

Learning of the command from the nine families above, Huangfu Xuanlan’s brow stayed permanently furrowed. In the past, such an order wouldn’t have stirred extra thoughts; it was the fate borne by each of their nine families. But now it differed—he held deep distrust toward those nine families in that world, so he naturally would not obey blindly as before.

But with the order given and Huangfu Ao stationed among them, disobeying would bring consequences beyond his reach as clan head.

After a long pause, Huangfu Xuanlan sighed. He ordered all Huangfu Family managers gathered, then conveyed the command to them.

Yet, shortly after everyone departed, he secretly signaled his son Huangfu Hao, whispering brief orders in his ear. Hearing them, Huangfu Hao’s face blanched instantly. But facing his father’s stern gaze, he could only nod obediently, slipped away quietly, and left the island directly.

With this done, Huangfu Xuanlan exhaled a lengthy sigh. He knew Spirit Weapon Star, peaceful for so long, would soon erupt in chaos with this command. What followed, though, was beyond his control—only fate could decide his survival!

When Lou Yun opened his eyes once more, they held not only celestial energy but also a faint flicker of soul fire—the sign that he had successfully cultivated it.

At that moment, within the crystal in his mind, there was a wisp of flame too!

"How did it go?" Chang Xiang, seeing Lou Yun’s open eyes, eagerly pressed.

Lou Yun smiled faintly, his aura seeming slightly changed from before. "Succeeded!"

"Oh!" This outcome was within Chang Xiang’s expectations; after seeing the soul and cultivating, forming soul fire was mere matter of time anyway.

Lou Yun opened his mouth, exhaled slowly, and stood up. "Alright, we should leave now. Time to seek the other two items and people from the Five Elements families, to speed up helping you reshape your body. By the way, Brother Chang, how long was my cultivation here?"

This instantly dampened Chang Xiang’s cheer. Stammering, he replied, "It wasn’t too long… probably, just a little over a year!"

Lou Yun was mid-stretch, but at Chang Xiang’s answer, his whole body froze. Suddenly snapping alert, he roared thunderously, "I was cultivating here over a year? Brother Chang, why didn’t you tell me sooner?"

Stomping his foot hard, Lou Yun’s body vaulted straight out of the volcano crater!