Chapter 330: Moonlight
Wang Zhou had escaped!
Everyone, including Lu Ping, was shocked and at a loss of words.
The whole situation was hilarious. Although Lu Ping had comprehended the sword divine ability, everyone could tell that he was still learning how to use it. In other words, he couldn't unleash the ability's true power at all.
Wang Zhou could definitely have tested it out first, if at that point he discovered that he had to flee, at least it would be known that he tried, reducing the shame to Wang Clan's reputation. But now, he had fled without even trying, making the Wang Clan a laughingstock amongst the cultivators in the East Ocean!
"... it must be because Wang Zhou knew he wasn't going to win, but his arrogant disposition made it very difficult for him to verbally admit defeat, so he just left on his own."
Qiu Yong-Zhen was the most embarrassed and was put in an awkward position having been left behind by Wang Zhou. He thought of leaving as well, but he couldn't easily do so as he had to help maintain the Wang Clan's prestige.
"Mhm, Dao Friend Qiu is right, Dao Friend Wang has always been arrogant."
The others agreed to save Qiu Yong-Zhen's face. Their target was the Wang Clan, so there was no need to make another enemy. They were also feeling slightly despondent after putting themselves in Wang Zhou's shoes and realizing that they couldn't do much better than him. However, the crowd assured themselves that they would at least test out Lu Ping's sword divine ability before giving up.
"In that case, I will take my leave." Qiu Yong-Zhen quickly spoke and left in a hurry, ashamed to stay any longer.
Zhang Feng and Li Mao-Lin's minds were deep in thought. They left after congratulating Lu Ping for his success.
Qiao Zheng-Yan, who had stayed behind, smiled at Lu Ping, and said, "Little Brother Lu, you will become even more famous now."
Lu Ping smiled back and pointed at the Ashen Mountain Island, "I'm nothing compared to the large powers. Senior, will I have the pleasure of inviting you to the island?"
Qiao Zheng-Yan laughed happily, and then shook his head, "Thank you, but I have to go now. Besides warning the Wang Clan and preventing Crystal Palace's interference, I'm also here to inform you that Wave Listening House has officially become a small-sized party under the Northern League. A notice will soon be announced to the other parties and to the public."
Lu Ping was surprised, "The Wave listening House has just been formed and hasn't been certified through the Alchemy Conference, it should only be considered an unranked party, how did we suddenly become a small party?"
Qiao Zheng-Yan laughed, "Don't underestimate yourself, there's no other unranked party that is this strong. The Wave listening House has defeated the Wang Clan two times, proving its strength. Coincidentally, there is an empty slot in the medium parties after Shangguan Clan's annihilation by the snake monsters. A small party has taken its place, leaving an empty spot for your Wave listening House. This is a decision made by the higher-ups."
This was very good news. Although officially joining the Northern League would bind Wave listening House with lots of rules and obligations, it also meant that they would be taken under the Northern League's protection which was crucial for them at this time.
Lu Ping thought about the various affairs waiting to be settled and let out a sigh. Fortunately, Hong Ying and the others were helping him take care of everything else; he just had to make sure that they were going in the right direction.
Qiao Zheng-Yan also left with Qiao Wei-Ying. The young master was only here to repay his debt to Lu Ping in return for the Spirit Water Vein Nourishment Pellet. If not for the pellet, he would still be paralyzed and bedbound, not to mention becoming an Enlightened Master.
Lu Ping had finally established his power in the East Ocean called Wave Listening House. It was named after Wave Listening Island where it had begun, and was one of the 72 small parties underneath the Northern League.
The Wave Listening House, Zhang Clan, and Li Clan each occupied nine mini islands in the Three Clans Alliance's territory. Wave Listening House's territory also bordered Crystal Palace's Qiu Clan's territory.
Lu Ping concocted a batch of medicinal pellets to repay the Li Clan, Maiden Pavilion, and Black Mountain Gang for their help. Naturally, the spirit herbs were already provided as per the rules of the cultivation world.
Initially, this was Yue Jiang-Rui's job to do, but because he was still in closed-door cultivation for his Core Forging Realm breakthrough, Lu Ping had to do it himself. Lu Ping just concocted the Core Forging Realm pellets and left the Blood Condensation Realm pellets for Yue Jiang-Rui to do later.
This was because even after Yue Jiang-Rui's advancement, his alchemy still wouldn't be as good as Lu Ping, so it would waste more resources for him to concoct the Core Forging Realm pellets.
Additionally, Lu Ping was using the Core Forging Realm pellets to hone his alchemy and better prepare himself for the Heart Forging Pellets.
Meanwhile, Wave Listening House was operating smoothly under his leadership. The resources were distributed fairly to the island masters and disciples. So, after instructing Hong Ying to collect more spirit herbs, pellet recipes, and Mystical Inscriptions, Lu Ping felt confident enough to go into a closed-door cultivation session.
One year later, a vortex of spiritual energy formed above Wave Listening Island indicating Ye Bu-Qi's success. With that, Wave Listening House had gained an additional Core Forging Realm Enlightened Master, and more importantly, another Master Alchemist.
But because Yue Jiang-Rui's method of advancement used someone else's Golden Core, his advancement wasn't accompanied by a heavenly phenomenon like a normal advancement. Instead, there was just a vortex of spiritual energy as if it was just an ordinary breakthrough.
Even though Ye Bu-Qi would never see any increase to his cultivation base, he was still very grateful towards Lu Ping for giving him the chance, which he would never have found on his own.
After he exited his cultivation room, he saw Hong Ying waiting outside the door with an interspatial pouch containing many spirit herbs. Ye Bu-Qi Immediately sighed in his heart and quietly lamented.
Hong Ying looked at him, and said, "Some of them are for the Li Clan, Zhang Clan, and Black Mountain Gang; the rest are for us and our men. The young master has instructed that all alchemy-related matters will be in your care from now on."
As Ye Bu-Qi was now a Master Alchemist, Hong Ying had started to watch his manners around him. At the same time, Hong Ying was feeling proud to have another Master Alchemist by their side, thinking that Wave Listening House would surely rise to the top at this rate
In the following months, Wave Listening House worked on fully taking over the Wang Clan in the Fallen Rift, including the shares for the spirit stone mine on the nameless island. After that, Wave Listening House didn't make any moves for the next three years, relieving the nearby parties who were fearful of it expanding its power.
The Wang Clan's share of the spirit stone mine was only about 10,000 spirit stones per year which wasn't very much, amounting to almost the same as a mini spirit stone mine. However, it was still good enough for Wave Listening House since no effort was involved.
Three years later, many things had happened in the cultivation world, but nothing had really affected the situation in the Fallen Rift.
"Are you sure you don't want to come with me and learn about your identity?"
Chilian Ying had consolidated her cultivation base and reached the peak of the First Layer Core Forging Realm; she could break through to the Second Layer anytime. When she heard Lu Ping's question, she shook her head, "As I become stronger, my memories are also starting to come back to me. Even though I don't know the truth yet, whoever did this to me is far stronger than both you and I; returning rashly will only put us in danger. The best option is to continue to lay low and wait until the day I become strong enough to face my enemy."
Lu Ping nodded quietly, and said, "Well said. Besides, Wave Listening House needs someone like you to keep its momentum going. Hong Ying and Ye Bu-Qi aren't strong enough and lack the potential to reach the Mid Core Forging Realm. Yue Jiang-Rui will be assisting you with pellet supplies which should keep your cultivation progress going at a good pace."
Chilian Ying chortled happily, "You seem to have planned everything already, you really do consider Wave Listening House as a powerful addition to your cultivation journey. By the way, what sort of freak are you? How did you break through to the Third Layer Core Forging Realm so fast?"
Lu Ping, "..."
...
A few days later, in the southern region of the East Ocean, Sky Cleaving Sword Sect, Silver Island Sword.
The long-range teleportation formation was activated. An Enlightened Master walked out, paid the teleportation fees with mid-grade spirit stones, and walked straight into the city.
In the last three years, the tension between the human race and monster race had become increasingly heated, with battles evolving into frequent and large-scale fights. But because the higher-ups were deliberately controlling their people, the situation barely managed to remain under control.
Unlike the North Ocean, where the sects had come together to fight against the monster race, the East Ocean was divided into five groups led by the top five sects. For instance, the sects in the southern region were under the Sky Cleaving Sword Sect's lead to defend the monsters away from their territories.
As the closest island to the monster race's territory, Silver Sword Island was the first to face the monster race invasion. As a result, humans and monsters fought daily here.
Lu Ping rested in the same inn that he had stayed before. Three days later, on the night of a full moon, Lu Ping quietly went on his own to the human-monster battlefield.
Lu Ping casually killed a few Peak Blood Condensation Realm monsters. After releasing his hand from one of the dead monsters, he let out a long sigh of relief, and murmured to himself, "Finally... found you! Soul-searching techniques really are tedious to use, I hope it goes well this time."
Underneath the moonlight, Lu Ping's eyes were overflowing with killing intent!
Weekly Chapters (5/5)
Editor: Immortal BloodRogue
RD: Sorry for keeping you waiting, justice C330 has arrived!