Chapter 369

Chapter 369: The Means to Aid the Heavenly Prides

Though Lou Yun had quickly withdrawn earlier, through his Spirit Vision he clearly witnessed the actions of the Three Brothers of the Lu Family. This deeply moved him. He had always regarded these three old fellows as not particularly serious, yet in truth, they were deeply loyal and righteous individuals!

Assisting the Three Brothers of the Lu Family in overcoming their bottleneck was a challenging task completed by Lou Yun. While it cost him one copy of the "Formation Path Expansion Decision", he gained three capable allies. Moreover, the content of the "Formation Path Expansion Decision" was already engraved indelibly in his mind. By any measure, he had profited handsomely from this exchange!

As he slowly walked back toward his own room, Lou Yun murmured aloud, "The Three Brothers of the Lu Family are no longer my concern. Next are Tie Sha and Wen Hou’s affairs!"

Tie Sha and Wen Hou, along with Chang Feng and Mo Bingju whom Lou Yun had recently met—and including Zhuge Mou and one other person Lou Yun had never met—all belonged to the mysterious organization known as "Heavenly Prides". They shared one common trait: each possessed a mysterious, powerful force within their bodies. However, none of them could freely control this force.

Back then, Zhuge Mou had instructed Tie Sha and Wen Hou to rescue Lou Yun precisely because they considered him one of their kind—and believed he had gained control over this formidable force.

Naturally, Lou Yun couldn’t reveal the truth: that the power within him actually stemmed from the Spirit, Chang Xiang. Therefore, this matter had remained unresolved.

Yet, as Tie Sha and Wen Hou had repeatedly risked their lives to aid him, Lou Yun felt increasingly uneasy and indebted. For what they had given, he felt he needed to offer some recompense. The best repayment, undoubtedly, would be helping them master the force dwelling within them.

Lou Yun himself lacked this capability. However, he recalled Chang Xiang mentioning once that a method might exist to aid the likes of Tie Sha. Thus, upon returning to his room, he immediately summoned Chang Xiang without delay: "Brother Chang, I remember you mentioned last time that you might have a way to help Tie Sha and Wen Hou control the mysterious force within them?"

Chang Xiang drifted over to a chair and plopped down onto it. He shot Lou Yun a sidelong glance and asked, "What? You want to help them?"

"Mm!" Lou Yun nodded emphatically. "Brother Chang, since I plan to confront the true Nine Clans in that other world, naturally, before I leave the Spirit Weapon Star, I must ensure my family’s safety. If I can secure the aid of Tie Sha, Wen Hou, or even the entire Heavenly Prides organization, I could depart with a lighter heart!"

"Pah! Pah! Pah!" Chang Xiang vigorously spat toward the ground three times—though, being a spirit, nothing substantial emerged. "What nonsense is this about departing with a lighter heart! I’m sending you for revenge, not to die!"

"I misspoke," Lou Yun conceded. "But Brother Chang, you yourself advised me to find a way to win over the people of Heavenly Prides. This is an excellent opportunity! Once I help them uncover a solution to control the force within them, we can immediately set out to find the items required to help regenerate your body!"

Chang Xiang gave Lou Yun another sidelong glance, a half-smile on his face. "Oh, so you do remember. I thought you’d forgotten all about it!"

Lou Yun wiped the grin from his face, his expression turning solemn. "Brother Chang, you jest. The Lou Yun of today owes everything to your guidance. I am not an ungrateful man. How could I possibly forget your affairs? It’s just that this time, concerned for my family’s safety, I returned to check on them first. If you disapprove, I’ll depart immediately to search for what you need!"

Seeing Lou Yun speak with such earnest intensity, even Chang Xiang couldn’t help but feel a rush of warmth inside. He smiled faintly. "Silly boy, it was just a joke. Must you react so strongly? Fine. Let’s discuss that mysterious force within Tie Sha and Wen Hou."

"It’s not that I reacted strongly. I feared you might misunderstand me!"

"I watched you grow up! One flick of your backside and I know what you’re plotting. How could I misunderstand you? Hey, are you actually interested in hearing the method to help Tie Sha and company?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Lou Yun bobbed his head repeatedly like a pecking chicken.

"In truth," Chang Xiang began, "during your departure from Biko Island back then, I already had a vague suspicion about the origin of the force within Tie Sha and the others. I just couldn’t confirm it then. Over this period, I’ve become almost certain of its nature. However… I must disappoint you: at this moment, there truly is no way to help them." He spread his hands in a helpless gesture.

Lou Yun listened with rapt attention, only to be met with this disappointing declaration. "Why?" he demanded, frustration evident. "Brother Chang, since you know the origin of this force within them, surely you can identify a way to assist them?"

"A method does exist," Chang Xiang stated. "But no one can accomplish it."

Hearing that there was a way, Lou Yun’s eyes instantly brightened. "What method?"

"Let me be frank: the force inside them is currently dormant. For them to truly control it, this force must first be awakened!"

Lou Yun paused briefly, then became excited. "That sounds manageable! Zhuge Mou mentioned before that only when their lives are in peril does this force appear to save them. So, if we just attack Tie Sha and the others to push them into mortal danger, wouldn’t the force awaken?"

Chang Xiang shook his head firmly. "That wouldn’t awaken it; it would merely startle it. A startled force is utterly uncontrollable for them as they are now! Unless you mean to kill them, this approach is absolutely forbidden!"

"Why?" Lou Yun grew increasingly perplexed.

Chang Xiang smacked his own forehead. "Think of it this way: the force within them is akin to the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire that was once bound by the Dragon Suppression Plate! Though immensely powerful, it is sealed and slumbering. This seal, however, is complex. When its host faces grave danger, the force stirs awake temporarily to help them survive the crisis, then sinks back into dormancy."

"The host?"

"Yes. This force treats Tie Sha and the others as its hosts, parasitizing their bodies. However, being intensely violent and strong, such forces would resist fiercely if introduced in a conscious state. Therefore, someone placed this seal upon them! To successfully command it, you must awaken it while protecting the host with a power even greater than the force itself. Only then could you seek to master it."

"Placed a seal… by someone?" Lou Yun gradually understood. "So, the forces residing in Tie Sha and the others… were forcibly implanted into their bodies?"

"Indeed," Chang Xiang confirmed. "That’s my estimation, at least."

"But who possesses the capability to do such a thing? And what would be the purpose?"

"That," Chang Xiang shrugged, "I genuinely don’t know." Yet a fleeting sparkle in his eyes betrayed his words—clearly, he knew something he chose not to reveal.

Lou Yun, reeling from the shock, failed to notice Chang Xiang’s evasiveness and continued trying to process the information.

Meanwhile, Chang Xiang mentally pondered: Could he truly be the one behind this? If so, it shows he too refused to simply fade away without action. But why go to such lengths? With my help, couldn’t he trust?

"No!" Chang Xiang internally shook his head again. He likely anticipated my involvement—hence this elaborate contingency. Otherwise, besides me, who else could uncover the true origin of this force within Tie Sha and his companions?

Just… when did you orchestrate all this? How did it escape my awareness?

"What escaped your awareness?" Lou Yun snapped out of his contemplation, catching Chang Xiang’s accidental murmur of the last phrase.

Startled, Chang Xiang quickly composed himself. "I said… why hadn’t I conceived the true origin of the force inside Tie Sha and the others earlier?"

"Oh." Lou Yun didn’t doubt him. "So just what is the nature of the force within them?"

A mysterious smile touched Chang Xiang’s lips. "I cannot tell you that now. Not until… you possess strength exceeding theirs."

"Me?" Lou Yun pointed at his own nose. "Me, stronger than the force within Tie Sha and Wen Hou?"

Chang Xiang gave an incredibly solemn nod. "Yes. I too once doubted it could be you. But now it appears… you alone possess that potential."

"Thanks for the flattery!" Lou Yun retorted sourly.

Chang Xiang resumed his usual grin. "Right. Well, if there’s nothing else pressing… shouldn’t we commence preparations for departure? We need to locate materials to help rebuild this body of mine. Those items won’t be easy to find—succeeding remains doubtful. Ah, what a headache!"

Since he couldn’t assist Tie Sha and the others, Lou Yun could only begin fulfilling his promise to Chang Xiang: searching for the elusive ingredients needed to reconstruct his body. Yet Lou Yun couldn’t help but wonder: why had Chang Xiang grown so intensely eager to regain a physical form ever since Lou Yun’s soul began manifesting—and since he gained the ability to absorb and command the energy of heaven and earth?

He wouldn’t ask this now. If he did, Chang Xiang would undoubtedly dissuade him with half-truths and excuses.

Shooting Chang Xiang another disgruntled glare, Lou Yun snapped impatiently, "We depart tomorrow. Don’t worry—even if I must scour every single inch of the Spirit Weapon Star, I will gather everything you need!"