42: Chapter 42 Don't compare me to those good-for-nothings

One day later

A Fire Bird arrived from afar, flying toward the Great Yan Dynasty's royal palace.

"That should be the number one expert of the Great Yan Dynasty, True Monarch Crimson Extinction, Li Wushu."

Zhu Yuankong said as he watched the Fire Bird.

The number one expert of the Great Yan Dynasty was also a member of the Great Yan royal family. It was said that he was already attempting to break through to the Nirvana Realm.

"Correct."

Xu Lan nodded slightly as she watched the Fire Bird disappear above the palace.

If he had been here, Yan Capital wouldn't have been reduced to such a state by demonic cultivators.

Ninth level of the Other Shore.

Lin Ming saw the Fire Bird and the old man atop it, seeing through his cultivation level.

The rumors were indeed true; this True Monarch of the Great Yan royal family had reached the Peak of the Other Shore and was preparing to charge into Nirvana.

But Nirvana was not that simple.

However, with the Heavenly Sun Determination Herb, his chances of success would indeed increase.

Unfortunately, the Heavenly Sun Determination Herb was now in his own hands.

...

Royal Palace

Li Wushu stood before a patch of ruins with a somber expression.

"Old Ancestor."

True Monarch Gu Yan stood behind Li Wushu.

"The mark on the Heavenly Sun Determination Herb has been erased."

Li Wushu said in a heavy voice.

He had left a special mark on the Heavenly Sun Determination Herb specifically to prevent such an occurrence.

But now, that mark on the Heavenly Sun Determination Herb had been erased.

"Old Ancestor, what should we do?"

True Monarch Gu Yan's expression changed as he spoke.

He had thought that the Old Ancestor's return would allow them to recover the Heavenly Sun Determination Herb.

One had to know that the Heavenly Sun Determination Herb was crucial for the Old Ancestor's Breakthrough to the Nirvana Realm.

He never expected that the mark on the Heavenly Sun Determination Herb would actually be erased by those demonic cultivators.

He had underestimated those demonic cultivators.

Li Wushu stood in place, his face gradually darkening.

...

"We leave tomorrow."

Xu Lan said to everyone.

Since the Old Ancestor of the Great Yan Dynasty had returned, there was no longer any need for them to stay.

It was enough to leave a portion of the Disciples to assist in the reconstruction of the Great Yan Dynasty.

After all, they were a subordinate power of Yuanxu Mountain, so they had to provide a certain level of assistance.

As for Lin Ming and the others, they would naturally return to the Sect.

Upon hearing they were returning to the Sect tomorrow, expressions of relief appeared on everyone's faces.

For most of them, this experience had indeed been quite dangerous.

Even a True Monarch of the Other Shore Realm had appeared, and a practitioner of the Demonic Path at that.

Frankly, some among them had thought they were going to die here.

"Finally going back."

Tong Lingwei said with a bit of relief.

Once she returned to the Sect, she intended to stay there for a good long while; she likely wouldn't be taking any missions outside the Sect for the time being.

The feeling of facing a True Monarch of the Other Shore directly was indeed quite unpleasant.

"Senior Brother, I'm about to undergo my eighth Body Tempering."

Su Lianxue said to Lin Ming at this moment.

When facing the threat of the True Monarch of the Other Shore, under that pressure of death, the undigested medicinal power within Su Lianxue's body had been stimulated.

As a result, that medicinal power had integrated directly into her flesh, tempering her body.

This led her to be on the verge of her eighth Body Tempering.

"Is this the power of a Nine-and-a-half-segment aptitude?!"

Nearby, Zhu Yuankong looked at Su Lianxue and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

He remembered that this batch of Disciples had only entered the Sect about a month ago.

Su Lianxue was completing eight rounds of Body Tempering in a month; this cultivation speed was simply too terrifying.

He remembered that he had spent a full year in the Body Tempering Realm to complete nine rounds of tempering; as for further tempering, that was a luxury for Geniuses, and he didn't consider himself one.

At the same time, he was curious how many rounds of Body Tempering Su Lianxue could complete; a Genius like her would definitely not be limited to just nine rounds.

Xu Lan's gaze also fell upon Su Lianxue at this time.

Reaching the level of eight rounds of Body Tempering in just one month was indeed quite startling.

This speed of Body Tempering was among the top even in the entire history of Yuanxu Mountain.

"Not bad. I'll prepare a Medicinal Bath for you once we get back."

Lin Ming nodded.

He planned to hand over the steps for brewing the Medicinal Bath to her while he was at it. If this continued, he really would become her nanny.

However, this girl's Body Tempering speed was indeed not slow, though it was still a bit lacking compared to his own.

Lin Ming remembered that back then, he had tempered his body once every two days, which was still a tiny bit faster than Su Lianxue.

"Mhm."

Su Lianxue responded in agreement.

The group dispersed, and Lin Ming returned to his own room, got into bed, and slowly closed his eyes.

Nightfall

Inside the Great Yan Royal Palace

Li Wushu sat cross-legged on a prayer mat. A scorching Qi radiated from his body, only to quickly return inside, then radiate out again, and return the next second.

This cycle repeated continuously for about an hour.

After an hour, Li Wushu finished his cultivation session.

He still found it hard to accept that he had been plotted against by demonic cultivators and lost the Heavenly Sun Determination Herb.

This concerned his path to Nirvana.

For a moment, Li Wushu's state of mind faltered.

"Who are you?"

At that moment, Li Wushu's expression suddenly changed.

He saw a Masked Man suddenly appear before him.

He hadn't even sensed this person's arrival.

Li Wushu immediately became vigilant, and a scorching Qi radiated from his body once more.

The temperature in the entire room began to rise steadily.

"Li Wushu, Ninth level of the Other Shore. It seems the rumors are true; you are preparing for Nirvana."

Lin Ming looked at Li Wushu and smiled slightly.

This Masked Man was naturally Lin Ming in disguise, and he hadn't come to Li Wushu just to mock him.

"Who are you?"

Li Wushu questioned again.

To be able to sneak into this place without being detected, the person before him was either a high-stage Other Shore or perhaps even Nirvana.

Thinking of this, Li Wushu prepared himself to strike at any moment.

But Li Wushu's gaze suddenly fell upon Lin Ming's hand, staring fixedly at his right hand.

Heavenly Sun Determination Herb

A stalk of Heavenly Sun Determination Herb appeared in Lin Ming's hand.

"Heavenly Sun Determination Herb."

Li Wushu said in a low voice.

How could this person have the Heavenly Sun Determination Herb?

And why would he appear before him?

Could it be that this person was the member of the demonic Sect who stole his Heavenly Sun Determination Herb?

"Correct, this stalk of Heavenly Sun Determination Herb is indeed yours."

Lin Ming spoke directly.

"Someone from the Blood Refining Sect?"

Li Wushu's expression grew increasingly grave.

"Don't go grouping me together with those pieces of trash."