Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Tracking Xia Ningxue
In the dense forests of the Immortal Ruins, Lu Changsheng, along with several elders and disciples of Mount Shu, including Lin Qingzhi, hid in a cave, using Concealment Talismans to shield their spiritual energy.
Above the dense forest, elders of the Demon Sects flew by on their magical artifacts, their Divine Sense scanning the forest over and over again, attempting to find traces of Lu Changsheng and his party.
A day earlier, the four great Demon Sects had caught up with Mount Shu and the Martial Alliance during a fierce battle, resulting in Lu Changsheng’s small squad becoming separated from the others.
The four great Demon Sects had the advantage in numbers, and unless they could join with elders from other sects, escape would be difficult.
“My life-saving techniques won’t be enough to defeat so many Demon Sects elders, especially that Void Refinement Realm Calamity Serpent. It poses too great a threat to me; if it sets its sights on me, I’ll only have the strength for one strike.”
Lu Changsheng had still not broken through to the ninth level of the Dao Palace realm.
A breakthrough required the protection of others, and right now, Lu Changsheng was being pursued by the four great Demon Sects, without any chance to break through. Should he attempt a breakthrough, the resulting phenomena between heaven and earth would immediately draw the pursuers from the four great Demon Sects, leading to certain disaster.
Inside the cave, Lu Changsheng and others from Mount Shu, including Zhao Wuyan, Murong Shi, Chen Yao, and Lin Qingzhi, held their breath and focused their attention, only breathing a sigh of relief after the spiritual presence of the Demon Sects elders faded away.
“We’ve lost our way, and relying on luck to join with other sects is wishful thinking. Alas, am I, Zhao Wuyan, who was once wise and astute, actually going to die here?”
Zhao Wuyan sighed.
If not for the Calamity Serpent controlled by the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons, the people of Mount Shu and Martial Alliance wouldn’t have scattered under the siege of the four great Demon Sects.
“We are no match for the Calamity Serpent; facing such a demonic creature, we can only flee.”
Murong Shi, although at the ninth level of the Dao Palace realm, also couldn’t withstand the Calamity Serpent and the four great Demon Sects.
Chen Yao’s expression was grave, this time facing a life-and-death situation. With that thought, Chen Yao leaned her shoulder against Lin Qingzhi.
If they were destined to not escape this calamity, what was the point of hiding their feelings?
Perhaps I have a way to find the people from Inquiry Immortal Pavilion.”
Lu Changsheng took a talisman out from his bosom.
This was an Earth Escape Divine Talisman that Xia Ningxue had given to him as a thank-you gift, and Lu Changsheng had never used it. Furthermore, the Earth Escape Divine Talisman bore the scent of Xia Ningxue.
With the Technique of Ten Thousand Li Tracking, Lu Changsheng, even without appearing, could use a wisp of spiritual energy to track Xia Ningxue’s whereabouts.
Although this method might seem a bit creepy, Lu Changsheng no longer had the luxury of caring about that.
Joining Inquiry Immortal Pavilion would at least increase their numbers, find other scattered elders of Mount Shu, and try to join with other sects.
Lu Changsheng released a wisp of spiritual energy following the scent on Xia Ningxue’s Earth Escape Divine Talisman, beginning the tracking of Xia Ningxue’s location.
“We must find her.”
With so few people on Lu Changsheng’s side and facing the four great Demon Sects, even if Lu Changsheng utilized all his life-saving techniques, he couldn’t handle that many opponents.
He needed allies.
The group waited anxiously for an hour, and finally, Lu Changsheng’s expression changed, “I’ve found them, Inquiry Immortal Pavilion’s people are just 500 li to the east.”
“That’s great!”
Zhao Wuyan excitedly stood up.
With their level of cultivation, a distance of 500 li was not significant.
“We must hurry on our way.”
Lu Changsheng led the group out of their concealed cave to join up with the people from Inquiry Immortal Pavilion.
Murong Shi’s eyes flashed with surprise; she hadn’t expected Lu Changsheng to be so composed, subtly taking on the role of their leader.
Little did she know that Lu Changsheng had been using the system’s simulation function to repeatedly experience “battles of life and death,” enabling him to remain calm even in dangerous situations.
In a valley 50011 to the east, Zeng Yeqiu, the chief disciple of Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, led a small squad in rest and recovery, narrowly missing the Demon Sects elders and the Calamity Serpent that were pursuing Lu Changsheng and his group.
There are traces of the Demon Sects nearby; everyone be extremely careful.11
Xiao Meng’er, the second disciple of Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, warned everyone.
“Understood, senior sister,”
The members of Inquiry Immortal Pavilion responded in unison.
Xia Ningxue was meditating and practicing.
They from Inquiry Immortal Pavilion had chosen the wrong direction and were unable to find the Immortal Emperor’s legacy. It was only after receiving the distress message from Li Changye of Mount Shu that they changed their course.
Suddenly, Xia Ningxue’s delicate brows furrowed slightly.
“Strange…”
Xia Ningxue always felt someone was secretly observing her, yet the sensation was not unpleasant.
Xia Ningxue looked around, but couldn’t locate the source of the gaze.
Seeing Xia Ningxue’s strange expression, Xiao Meng’er asked, “Junior Sister Xia, what’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing, probably just my imagination.”
Xia Ningxue realized the feeling of being watched had disappeared, leaving her even more perplexed.
About half an hour passed and Lu Changsheng arrived at the valley with his companions from Mount Shu, prompting the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion people to go on alert.
Zeng Yeqiu, Xiao Meng’er, Xia Ningxue, and others had their hands prepped with sword techniques, ready to draw their longswords.
“No, these are people from Mount Shu.”
Xiao Meng’er recognized Lu Changsheng.
Lu Changsheng had made a remarkable impression on her at the Six Paths Conference.
“Finally found you.”
Having joined forces with the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, Lu Changsheng had finally found another group to lend a hand.
The strength of the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion was not weak.
“Lu, what exactly happened to you?”
Elder Ku Mu noticed that Lu Changsheng was accompanied by only about ten people, which puzzled him.
“It’s a long story…”
Lu Changsheng briefly explained the cause and effect of the events.
The four Demon Sects have joined forces, and there’s a Void Refinement Realm Calamity Serpent involved. Just relying on us is not enough; we need to find the elders from other sects.”
Zeng Yeqiu, who led the team, furrowed her brows tightly upon hearing about the predicament of Lu Changsheng’s group and grew even more cautious.
“I share the same view as Fairy Xia.”
“By the way, how did you manage to find our exact location? Do you have a similar way to locate the others?”
“To my embarrassment, I tracked you using the Technique of Ten Thousand Li Tracking by following Junior Sister Xia’s spiritual energy. Without personal belongings of the other sects, I would find it difficult to track them.”
“!!!”
Xia Ningxue, who was normally as cold as frost, suddenly flushed red.
Could it be that the gaze that had secretly watched her earlier was from Lu Changsheng?
If Xia Ningxue had known ahead of time that Lu Changsheng practiced the Technique of Ten Thousand Li Tracking, she probably wouldn’ t have given him the Earth Escape Talisman, which she carried on her person.
Since that’s the case, when daylight comes and we establish our location, we’ll use the Thousand-Mile Voice Transmission Talisman to contact the other’ sects.”
“That’s exactly my intention.”
Zeng Yeqiu and Lu Changsheng reached an agreement.
“Junior Sister Xia, please rest assured, today’s circumstances were extraordinary, which is why I had to track your energy. I would never use it for nefarious purposes.”
Lu Changsheng transmitted his voice secretly to Xia Ningxue.
Xia Ningxue turned her head away, giving no response.
“Hahaha, I never thought I, Zhao Wuyan, would have the opportunity to share life and death with the fairies from the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion. I would die without regrets this time.”
Zhao Wuyan tried to find humor in the midst of hardship.
“Get lost.”
Zeng Yeqiu was utterly indifferent.
Well, it seems I, Zhao Wuyan, am doomed to have no luck with women in this lifetime.”
Since Zeng Yeqiu was at the eighth level of the Dao Palace Realm, and Zhao Wuyan was only at the sixth level, he didn’t dare to flirt and resigned himself to leaning towards Lu Changsheng’s side.
Among the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion group, Luo Feng’s gaze landed on Lu Changsheng, eyes brimming with jealousy: “Lu Changsheng, since you’ve chosen your own death, don’t blame me for being ruthless. Xia is mine and mine alone.”