Chapter 21: Unforeseen Disaster

“Junior Brother Xiao is indeed a man of exceptional talent.”

Laughing loudly, Lyu Yang patted Xiao Shiye on the shoulder. “I am Lyu Yang. We likely entered the sect in the same batch, so I cannot be called your Senior Brother.”

“The same batch.”

Xiao Shiye looked surprised upon hearing this, but his expression quickly turned to one of admiration. “In that case, Brother Lyu’s talent must be extraordinary; otherwise, it would be difficult to achieve such a cultivation level.”

“I cannot accept such praise.”

Lyu Yang waved his hand dismissively. He had self-awareness; his talent was by no means good. His usual cultivation relied entirely on consuming pills, and his breakthroughs were achieved through the use of unorthodox arts.

If he had followed the standard path of cultivation, he estimated he would still be stuck at the third level of Qi Refinement.

After learning that Lyu Yang was of his own generation, Xiao Shiye’s initial reserve vanished, and he quickly became acquainted with him. After they conversed for a while, Lyu Yang spoke tentatively, “I have just made a breakthrough and intend to return to my cave dwelling to stabilize my cultivation. Where do you plan to go next, Brother Xiao?”

“To be honest with you, Brother Lyu, I plan to visit the Merit Pool.”

Xiao Shiye smiled. “I have heard that the Merit Pool is a true test of luck. It just so happens that I have been feeling quite lucky lately, so I want to take the opportunity to try my hand at it.”

“The Merit Pool...”

Lyu Yang’s heart stirred. Suddenly struck by a whim, he said, “In that case, why not go together?”

He had already tested the winning numbers from Xiao Shiye’s life in his previous existence, so he was curious to see what Xiao Shiye would choose in this life—to see if there truly was some foul play involved.

***

Meanwhile, in a sea of clouds outside Wanbao Peak.

Over a dozen figures stood silently. The leader was a handsome, elegant young man dressed in white, surrounded by swirling mists.

Just then, one of them suddenly showed a look of joy.

“Senior Brother Liu, that man surnamed Xiao has come out.”

Before the words had even finished, the handsome young man seemed to awaken from his meditation. As the mist dispersed, a face appeared that Lyu Yang would never forget.

It was Liu Xin!

At this time, Liu Xin had also broken through to the late stage of Qi Refinement. Furthermore, as a practitioner of the *Preordained Daoist Scripture*, he possessed an air of celestial grace that surpassed ordinary cultivators.

“He’s finally out...” A smile played on Liu Xin’s lips. At first glance, he showed none of the ferocity typical of a demonic cultivator; instead, he gave off a welcoming, gentle aura. However, when he mobilized his true qi to cast a Qi-Observation Technique toward Xiao Shiye’s direction, his smile abruptly froze.

“...Late stage Qi Refinement?”

Liu Xin frowned slightly. He clearly had not expected a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator to be accompanying Xiao Shiye. This was a variable significant enough to force him to change his plans.

Just then, a soft exclamation came from beside Liu Xin.

Liu Xin turned back with a gentle smile. “What is it, Qingchen? Do you recognize that late-stage cultivator?”

Upon hearing this, the charming woman standing behind Liu Xin pursed her red lips. “To be honest, Senior Brother Liu, I do indeed know that late-stage cultivator.”

She continued in a jealous tone, “His name is Lyu Yang. He is a disciple who entered the sect only a few months ago. During the previous Substitute Yin Puppet incident, he left the fray early and made a massive profit—at least ten thousand contribution points. I suspect he used that windfall to break through to the late stage of Qi Refinement...”

The charming woman was none other than Fairy Qingchen, who had followed Zhao Xuhe in the previous life.

However, unlike the previous life, Fairy Qingchen had broken ties with Zhao Xuhe early on in this life and had already become Liu Xin’s lover.

The reason for their fallout was simple: Zhao Xuhe had tried to drag her into speculating on the Substitute Yin Puppets.

When Zhao Xuhe went bankrupt, Fairy Qingchen was naturally no exception.

Incidentally, Liu Xin had also speculated.

Because the impact of the Substitute Yin Puppets was far greater in this life than in the last, the losses both of them incurred were also far greater.

Not only were they on the brink of bankruptcy, but they also carried a massive amount of debt.

Because of this, they were forced to engage in activities they had never done in their previous lives—plundering their fellow disciples—to fill the losses caused by their speculation.

Over time, they had even formed a team. The members were all disciples with certain backgrounds in the sect who had gone bankrupt due to the puppet speculation. As for their targets, they focused on ordinary disciples who had little capital, left the market early, and made a large profit.

Xiao Shiye was their most recent target.

Now, after hearing of Lyu Yang’s exploits from Fairy Qingchen, Liu Xin’s eyes brightened. He clearly viewed Lyu Yang as a target as well.

“No time to lose. Move!”

At Liu Xin’s command, the gathered crowd let out sinister laughs. They each mounted their flying lights and sped toward the direction of Lyu Yang and Xiao Shiye.

***

Having just left Wanbao Peak and traveled some distance through the sea of clouds, Lyu Yang suddenly frowned. The sword pill between his brows pulsed as a warning.

Looking in the direction of the warning, Lyu Yang’s frown deepened.

With him and Xiao Shiye at the center, flying lights were surging in from all directions, like a massive net closing in on their position.

Before long, a voice drifted from behind them.

“Fellow Daoist, please stay your steps!”

Lyu Yang’s face darkened instantly.

To use such words meant the newcomers were ill-intentioned!

Without looking back, Lyu Yang ignored the voice. He focused entirely on driving his magic power, wrapping Xiao Shiye in sword light as they fled rapidly toward the Merit Pool.

However, the opponents were clearly prepared. Not long after they began their flight, Lyu Yang came to a halt. He looked around only to find that the surrounding sea of clouds had become thin, replaced by a vast, kaleidoscopic mirage that trapped him and Xiao Shiye firmly in its center!

“Such an unprovoked disaster...”

Lyu Yang’s expression was grim. Using his Qi-Observation Technique to look from a distance, he gritted his teeth. “One late-stage Qi Refinement, seven mid-stage Qi Refinement... our chances of winning are at most thirty percent...”

What should he do?

Just as Lyu Yang was contemplating a strategy, Xiao Shiye spoke up beside him. “Brother Lyu, if I am not mistaken, these people are coming for me.”

As he spoke, Xiao Shiye’s face showed regret. “It was my oversight. They are likely after my magical treasures and contribution points. I thought that after several months, they would have given up, but I didn't expect them to be so persistent. At this point, let us flee separately.”

“Flee separately?”

Lyu Yang shook his head. “The opponents have already blanketed this area of the sea of clouds. It seems they are using a powerful magical treasure; I fear we cannot escape.”

“It matters not, I have a way to deal with this.”

Xiao Shiye whispered, “I have two ‘Treasure-Breaking Cones.’ As long as I sacrifice one, I can open a path to survival. I am willing to give one to you, Brother Lyu.”

“You go first, Brother Lyu. I will cover your retreat.”

Having said that, he handed a treasure cone directly to Lyu Yang.

Lyu Yang weighed it in his hand and channeled his magic power, immediately realizing that Xiao Shiye was telling the truth; this treasure indeed held great hope of breaking through the surrounding mirage.

“...Are you certain you want me to go first?” Lyu Yang’s expression was unreadable.

“Brother Lyu, the mountains are high and the roads are long. We shall meet again.”

Xiao Shiye cupped his hands, a look of resignation and peace appearing on his face. He then turned directly to face the oncoming enemies, clearly prepared to die.

Seeing this, Lyu Yang fell into deep thought.

He had been in seclusion for three months and had never made any enemies. It was impossible for these people to be targeting him; moreover, compared to him, Xiao Shiye was clearly the bigger prize.

Therefore, what Xiao Shiye said was true.

If he abandoned him, he would most likely escape.

Should he do it?

Above the sea of clouds, watching Xiao Shiye charge forward with total disregard for life or death, the sword pill between Lyu Yang’s brows pulsed with warnings, and his expression shifted between light and shadow.