NOVEL NEXT Chapter 439: Choosing the Next Move
"Instantly leaping ten million kilometers… what a technique." Jiang Chen's eyes lit with excitement.
The thrill faded as he tested it again. It takes too long to cast in the Nirvana Cleansing realm. I'd be wide open in a real fight. Still, once I master the Dao of Space, I should be able to slip teleportation right into combat.
He blurred and vanished once more, reappearing far ahead. Each long-distance jump chewed through his energy, and at most he could manage ten in a row—enough to span nearly a hundred million kilometers.
On the Prosperous Stone Immortal Star, that was no small feat. A hundred million kilometers was close to half the star's equator.
Before long, Jiang Chen emerged more than ten million kilometers away from where Lu Yi and Ying Luo were.
Up to now, Lu Yi still hadn't realized the Jiang Chen riding on Ying Luo's head was nothing but an illusion.
The Dao of Illusion really is handy. With it, so many things become easier, Jiang Chen thought, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He hid his presence, then used ordinary flight to slip closer.
In a blink, he hovered above Ying Luo, merged into the illusion, and quietly took its place.
Lu Yi never noticed a thing. His so-called Saint Demon Heart bloodline clearly wasn't doing much for his awareness.
He relied only on the warnings of Heavenly Fate, feeling a faint unease as Jiang Chen drew closer.
But since he was already hunted by the whole world, running into anyone put him on edge. With the trust he currently had in Jiang Chen, he pushed that feeling aside.
Right now, he was fully absorbed in practicing the Cleansing Breath Restraining Aura Precious Art.
His progress in both cultivation and martial arts was shocking. Reaching Minor Accomplishment in the secret art looked like it was just around the corner.
Time slipped by.
Jiang Chen, Ying Luo, and Lu Yi kept flying forward without stopping once.
Along the way, Lu Yi's divine sense brushed over a few cultivator cities and caught wind of the news—Bian Zhilin and the other nine had been completely wiped out.
"Holy crap! Ten Nirvana Peering realm experts, gone just like that. That prodigy from the Compassionate Sword Immortal Palace is terrifying," Lu Yi said, letting out a breath of relief. "Good thing we ran when we did."
"At the very least, he's at the Half-step Nirvana Cleansing realm," Jiang Chen replied evenly. "And we still don't know what weapons he might have."
Lu Yi drew in a deep breath. "So what do we do now?"
"We're probably already in the sights of that so-called genius from the Compassionate Sword Immortal Palace," Jiang Chen said, his expression hard. "He may only have two people with him, but chances are more Nirvana Peering realm experts are shadowing them. And don't forget—the Purple Crest Immortal Sect hasn't given up chasing us either."
He paused, thinking it through. "But those two sects are enemies half the time. If they run into each other, a fight's bound to break out. The longer we drag this out, the more likely they'll clash. That's the best outcome for us. Which means the smartest thing we can do now is slip out of sight and hole up somewhere quiet."
"Can we really stay hidden?" Lu Yi asked, uncertain if he had what it took to keep from being found.
"We can," Jiang Chen said with a nod. "Who's the best at tracking on the Prosperous Stone Immortal Star? Your mother, Lu Tingyun."
My so-called mother. A sharp pang ran through Lu Yi's chest. He met Jiang Chen's eyes. "Some people say you're the reason she died…"
"Do you really believe that? Of course not, or you wouldn't be here with me. I don't have the kind of power to make it happen, and your mother would never have thrown her life away just to hunt me down." Jiang Chen spread his hands with an easy smile. "The Purple Crest Immortal Sect's rumor tricks are too clumsy. They can only fool gullible, low-level cultivators."
"You're right. My mother was a powerhouse at the Nirvana Cleansing realm—she wouldn't have fallen so easily." Lu Yi gave a slow nod. "Her death is full of holes. It's more likely tied to the Purple Crest Immortal Sect's own internal fights."
The idea that Jiang Chen could somehow kill someone of that level was laughable.
"Exactly. And now, thanks to you, the Purple Crest Immortal Sect is scrambling to hold themselves together. If their reputation takes another hit and they become everyone's target, they'll never be able to keep control of half the Prosperous Stone Immortal Star." Jiang Chen's words carried steady conviction, his act flawless. "The truth's plain enough—anyone with eyes can see it."
"The Purple Crest Immortal Sect! They'll pay for my mother's death. I, Lu Yi, swear I'll have my revenge!" He drew in a deep breath, eyes burning with killing intent.
"I'm with you," Jiang Chen said firmly. "The Purple Crest Immortal Sect wants my dragon bloodline and Ying Luo, and they've even branded me a traitor. There's no middle ground between us."
"So that's it. They were after your bloodline and Ying Luo… no wonder you killed Sun Tianlin and the others. The Purple Crest Immortal Sect really is rotten to the core." Lu Yi's face shifted as he pieced together what he thought was the truth.
"Enough talk." Jiang Chen gave a faint, almost wistful smile. "Let's find a place to lie low."
"Aren't we already hidden?" Lu Yi asked, puzzled.
"My secret art only lasts for a while," Jiang Chen said, shaking his head. "Best to save it for when it really counts."
"Got it." Lu Yi nodded.
With that, Jiang Chen and Ying Luo led him as they streaked off into the distance.
...
Meanwhile, neither the Purple Crest Immortal Sect nor the Compassionate Sword Immortal Palace lost sight of their goals, even while trading barbs.
The Purple Crest Immortal Sect had already failed three times to kill Lu Yi and lost nearly twenty Nirvana Peering realm experts in the process—a heavy price.
But they weren't about to back down.
Wu Jiaxun, Bian Zhilin, and the others weren't true core members of the sect. They were more like outside talents the sect had raised.
The real backbone of the Purple Crest Immortal Sect's Nirvana Peering realm were people like Sun Tianhan and Yuan Liangjun, men of the same generation as Sun Tianlin.
Now, after the third failure, Sect Master You Shaojun and the Supreme Elders of the Sun and Lu clans decided it was time for Sun Tianhan and his group to step in personally.
As for the Compassionate Sword Immortal Palace, more and more of their Nirvana Peering realm experts had already slipped into the Purple Crest Immortal Sect's heartlands.
They scoured the area relentlessly, determined to track down Lu Yi and Jiang Chen.
...
At the spot where Bian Zhilin and his squad had fallen, the air split with rushing wind as beams of light streaked in from the distance, taking shape as cultivators in ornate robes.
Leading them was Sun Tianhan, the Sun Clan's most gifted talent of the "Tian" generation, who had lingered at the peak of the Nirvana Peering realm for some time.
Beside him stood Yuan Liangjun, Sect Master You Shaojun's chief disciple, no less remarkable than Sun Tianhan.
Then there was Lu Puxing, son of Lu Tingguang. His talent was outstanding, and his courage beyond question, though he was known to be a bit simple-minded. Still, he too stood as a peak Nirvana Peering realm powerhouse.
Along with them came six more Late-stage Nirvana Peering realm cultivators.
It was clear now—the Purple Crest Immortal Sect had unleashed the very best of its Nirvana Peering realm elites.
"Lock onto their auras. Find Jiang Chen and Lu Yi. And don't forget the True Dragon, Ying Luo—she's just as important!" Sun Tianhan's cold gaze swept the area, a flash of greed glimmering in his eyes.