Chapter 217: Shameless Indeed

Chapter 217: Shameless Indeed

Feng Sha was lost in his own thoughts, but Lu Yan had already slipped away. He returned to his original quarters and found it to be a small servant’s room. It had everything he needed—neither too shabby nor particularly luxurious.

Lu Yan had died four times before surviving under the clutches of the great demon lord Ying Wujiu. Logically, his top priority should be to leave Floating Moon City and recover his soul fragment as soon as possible.

Isn’t every worker's lifelong dream to get a promotion and a raise? After enduring so long until the executive was about to retire, now was the perfect time to move from deputy to head position.

However, while treating Ying Wujiu’s injuries earlier, Lu Yan discovered something surprising—

The other party had the aura of a soul fragment.

Though faint, it was undeniably present.

In theory, the Red Lotus Hellfire in the eighteenth layer of the Netherworld could burn away all sins, and anyone who touched it would never be extinguished. An ordinary person would have their spirit and soul burned away, yet Ying Wujiu remained unscathed, possibly due to the soul fragment’s influence.

This was truly a case of finding what one seeks without effort after searching high and low. Having found the first piece, the rest would be much easier to locate.

Thinking this, Lu Yan immediately accessed the system panel. Since this was a world within a book, knowing the original plot would be incredibly helpful. However, most functions were grayed out, likely due to insufficient energy.

"Warning! Warning! Energy Insufficient!"

These bright red words floated before him, indicating that Lu Yan had very little energy left. If he were back at the space station, replenishing it would take mere minutes, but now he couldn’t return.

With no choice, he left the room, leaped onto the roof, and sat cross-legged facing the bright full moon, absorbing the faint lunar essence to convert into energy.

Night is always short; by three hours, the moon began to fade, replaced by the dawn. Lu Yan stretched and leaped down from the roof.

He spent the entire night, replenishing only 3% of his energy.

Though negligible, every bit counts, and having some is better than none.

Lu Yan drew water from the well to wash up when a figure in green appeared outside the courtyard gate, poking his head in and urging, "Lu Yan! Hurry up! Why aren’t you up yet? If we’re any later, we’ll miss breakfast!"

In Floating Moon City, meals started at the third hour of dawn, around 5:45 AM. If someone woke up late and missed the meal, they’d go hungry until noon. Among the many sacrificial vessels offered here, there was one named Tang Su who had the best relationship with Lu Yan, often accompanying him.

Lu Yan responded casually, "I’m coming!"

As a soul, he didn’t need to eat, but seeing Tang Su’s urgency, he hastened to join him at the kitchen hall. The sky had just begun to lighten, and the hall was already crowded with mostly gray-clad servants and a few figures in green.

The demonic realm was vast, with nine mountains and eight caves of demons, all bowing to Floating Moon City. Ying Wujiu ruled the city, necessitating numerous servants for cleaning and serving, along with beauties offered as sacrificial vessels, distinguished by their green robes.

The crowd was noisy, pushing and shoving like a bustling market. But as soon as Lu Yan entered, they fell silent, hundreds of eyes turning to him with various unspoken judgments, especially those in green.

Last night, Lu Yan had secretly climbed into the Lord’s bed. While the act was secretive, it was also impossible to hide entirely. News spread quickly, infuriating the other sacrificial vessels.

Ying Wujiu abstained from beauty and spent most of his time in seclusion. These beautiful women might waste their lives on the mountain, barely above the status of servants, making them resentful. Lu Yan’s actions made him an easy target.

A cold sneer echoed through the silent hall:

"Shameless!"

Lu Yan followed the voice to see a handsome man in green, glaring at him with disdain. Tang Su couldn’t help but rush forward angrily, "Qu Shaotan, who are you calling shameless?!"

Qu Shaotan sneered, "Whoever dared to crawl into the Lord’s bed is shameless. Tang Su, associating with such scoundrels will only disgrace yourself!"

Though they were all sacrificial vessels, there were still hierarchies. Qu Shaotan was the young master of the Qu family from Wangzhou. Though his family had reluctantly offered him for protection, he had practiced cultivation since childhood and reached the seventh level of Qi Refinement, making others wary of him.

Tang Su opened her mouth to retort, but Lu Yan yawned and slowly walked up to Qu Shaotan, unperturbed. "You say I crawled into the Lord’s bed. What evidence do you have?"

Qu Shaotan was taken aback, then sneered, "What evidence do I need? Everyone knows you did such a shameless thing!"

Lu Yan raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So, no evidence then? You speak so confidently, as if you saw it with your own eyes. Anyone would think you were hiding under the Lord’s bed every day. Brother Shaotan, next time, don’t hide underneath. What if you scare the Lord?"

His words caused uproarious laughter.

Qu Shaotan’s eyes narrowed with anger. "How dare you speak so arrogantly! I’ll cripple you!"

Though only at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, it was more than enough to kill an ordinary person. Qu Shaotan formed a sword of qi with his fingers, sending it swiftly towards Lu Yan, breaking the wind. Tang Su tried to intervene but was too late:

"Lu Yan! Be careful!!"

Lu Yan didn’t dodge. As the sword approached, he suddenly flicked his sleeve, releasing a thin, pale green mist that coiled around Qu Shaotan’s attack, shattering it and forcing him to stumble back three steps.

"Bang—!"

Qu Shaotan, lacking skill, had used a family technique called “Qilong Out of the Sea.” Now, easily countered by Lu Yan, he fell to the ground, spitting blood, his internal organs churning.

Everyone was shocked. Most of these sacrificial vessels were men and women from poor backgrounds, some even from brothels, for whom cultivation was a distant dream.

Lu Yan, once an ordinary person like them, had suddenly become so powerful, defeating Qu Shaotan in one move!

Qu Shaotan was incredulous. "You! You don’t even have a spiritual root. When did you start cultivating and gain spiritual power?!"

Lu Yan pulled out a chair and sat down, secretly lamenting the 1% energy he had used. He poured himself a cup of tea, unaffected. "So what if I have a spiritual root or not? Do I need to report everything to you?"

He took a sip of tea, looking at Qu Shaotan with a mocking smile. "Your ancestors once subdued mountains and seas, creating thirteen Qilong sword techniques. Though your family has declined, you’ve failed to inherit even a fraction of their prowess."

Qu Shaotan’s face flushed with embarrassment. "You’re just a fisherman’s son from Xunling River. You’ve never even touched a cultivation technique. How dare you judge my ancestors?! Today, I lost because I was inferior. Next time, we’ll fight again, and I won’t lose!"

He stood up without assistance, glaring at Lu Yan, then turned to get food. The crowd dispersed, but their gazes lingered on Lu Yan, sensing a profound change.

Tang Su was the most surprised. He sat opposite Lu Yan, eyes wide.

"Lu Yan, when did you become so strong? Did the Lord teach you last night?"

Apart from this, he couldn't think of any other possibility.

Lu Qian took a steamed bun from his plate and explained vaguely, "Oh, when I used to fish at home, I met a wandering Taoist master who said I had the wisdom to learn, so he taught me a few moves. He just warned me not to start conflicts or show off, which is why I never mentioned it to you before."

Tang Su looked envious and sighed, "How wonderful. You can now defeat Qu Shaotan, so you must be at least at the eighth or ninth level of Qi cultivation. If you could get guidance from a great master and somehow obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill, your future would be even brighter."

Lu Qian sensed his disappointment and responded, "Opportunities in life cannot be forced. Who knows what other fortunes might come your way in the future?"

Tang Su shook his head, "Whatever. Anyway, we're already in this situation, destined to be cauldrons for others. By the way, earlier you mentioned the ancestors of the Qu family. Are you familiar with them?"

Lu Qian had replenished 3% of his energy last night, which allowed him to read the beginning of the story, though not the entire content. Seeing Tang Su's curiosity, he smiled while holding a bun and said, "If you want to hear my story, will you sweep the courtyard for me tonight?"

Tang Su pouted, "You always get the better end of the deal. Fine, go ahead and tell me. I'll sweep the courtyard for you."

"Good friend, true to your word!"

Satisfied, Lu Qian rolled up his sleeves, tapped the edge of his plate with a chopstick, and began speaking like a storyteller:

"Long ago, in the chaotic universe, Pangu split the heavens and earth, and demons roamed freely, causing chaos among humans. To protect humanity, cultivators were born, including the ancestor of the Qu family—Qu Liuer, the Azure Dragon Sword Immortal!"

"This person was originally a fisherman by the Azure Dragon River in Wangzhou..."

Lu Qian's earlier display had already stunned everyone, and many were secretly listening. Hearing him start an interesting tale, they leaned in to hear more about the immortals, but were surprised when he mentioned that the ancestor of the Qu family was a fisherman. Recalling how Qu Shaotan had insulted Lu Qian as the son of a mere fisherman, they couldn't help but laugh.

Lu Qian seemed too petty, perhaps seeking revenge?

Even Qu Shaotan's veins bulged on his forehead, grinding his teeth, ready to confront Lu Qian. His companions quickly held him back, whispering, "Don't provoke him; it's not worth it."

Qu Shaotan's chest heaved with anger, growling, "Should we just let him insult our ancestor?!"

His companions tried to calm him, "Let's hear him out. If he can't make sense, we'll get our revenge."

Qu Shaotan reluctantly listened as Lu Qian continued nearby.

"Qu Liuer grew up by the river, witnessing the Azure Dragon emerging from the depths to devour people, causing great suffering. He vowed to rid the village of this menace. But as a poor fisherman, where could he learn the martial arts needed to slay such a powerful beast?"

The crowd felt a deep sympathy, knowing how difficult it was for commoners to enter the world of cultivation or government service.

Someone asked, "What did Qu Liuer do?"

Lu Qian replied, "Though he had the resolve, he lacked the means until a tragic event changed everything."

"One day, Qu Liuer's father and fellow villagers went fishing and encountered the dragon, resulting in their deaths. Such incidents were common in the village, but experiencing it firsthand was devastating."

"That night, Qu Liuer became an orphan. A kind villager offered to adopt him, but he refused, instead leaving the village with a wooden sword he had made from mountain wood during a turbulent night."

"What did he set out to do? Seek immortality? Perhaps."

"He heard of a sacred mountain in the South Sea and embarked on a long journey with his wooden sword. He crossed countless mountains and traveled endless roads, enduring seasons, until he reached Mount Penglai on a snowy winter day."

The listeners were captivated. Cultivators usually traveled on divine beasts or used spells, but Qu Liuer walked the entire distance, showing incredible perseverance.

Tang Su's eyes sparkled, hoping the young man would return victorious: "Did the immortal accept him as a disciple?"

Even Qu Shaotan listened intently.

Lu Qian chuckled, "The mountain was indeed sacred, inhabited by immortals, but they no longer accepted disciples, especially poor boys. Qu Liuer had neither talent nor background. If anyone could become a cultivator by asking, wouldn't everyone be one?"

Though disheartened, the crowd understood the logic. Cultivation families were proud and unlikely to help a poor boy.

"Lu Qian, tell us how Qu Liuer became a sword immortal."

Lu Qian calmly continued, "He knelt outside the sacred mountain for five days, bowing step by step, but failed to gain entry. The immortal children mocked him, breaking his wooden sword and taunting, 'You can't even afford a decent sword. How can you cultivate? Go back down the mountain. Mortals have their fates.'"

"Those bastards!"

Someone slammed the table in anger, surprisingly Qu Shaotan. He had only heard stories of his ancestor's glory, never imagining the hardships he faced, even being ridiculed by immortal children.

Lu Qian, unaware of the speaker, sipped tea and continued under eager and angry gazes:

"Qu Liuer endured countless insults, but remained calm. He threw away the broken sword, stood up, and looked at the closed gate."

"Immortal, I traveled far to reach here."

"I have no money, no education, and my parents and ancestors were fishermen. They lived by the Azure Dragon River and were eaten by demons."

"I only ask for a chance."

"I don't seek immortality or freedom. I just want a sword to protect those I care about."

The dining hall echoed with sighs: what a noble youth, facing such hardship.

Lu Qian continued, "Perhaps moved by his sincerity, Qu Liuer gained a glimpse of sword intent, causing the heavens to darken. The vermilion gate slowly opened, and an elder emerged, finally agreeing to teach him, but with three conditions."

"First, he would only teach the art, not establish a master-disciple relationship."

"Second, regardless of progress, he must leave within five years."

"Third, once he leaves, he can never return to the South Sea."

Tang Su sneered, "What a stingy immortal! Even talented disciples need thirty years to reach Foundation Establishment. Five years is barely enough to learn the basics! It's like sending a beggar away!"

Others agreed.

Lu Qian nodded, "Five years is indeed short, but for Qu Liuer, even a day was precious. He trained tirelessly day and night, and unexpectedly turned out to be a rare sword genius. He completed Qi cultivation in the first year, reached Foundation Establishment in the third, and achieved Great Perfection in the fifth, nearing Core Formation."

Tang Su's eyes gleamed, feeling vindicated: "Impressive! What a prodigy!"

Lu Qian added, "The immortal was pleased with his talent and guided him further, but couldn't break his vow. After five years, he sent him down the mountain, advising, 'Your Core Formation is imminent. Your future is bright. Focus on cultivation and avoid conflicts. In a hundred years, when you achieve the Dao, you can reemerge.'"

"A hundred years, for an immortal who lives forever, might be but the blink of an eye. But for mortals, it's a transformation from sea to land; perhaps even the fishing village has vanished into the long river."

"If it were anyone else, they would certainly heed the advice. After all, although Qu Liuer is a young genius, he is still just a sapling growing strong, not yet a towering tree. If he were to forcibly tangle with the Azure Dragon, he might lose his life and his future."

Lu Yan’s tone suddenly turned somber:

"But Qu Liuer never forgot why he went to the South Sea, why he sought the path of immortality. He carried his long sword on his back and journeyed back to the fishing village. The people were the same, only fewer and older. The old fishermen could no longer recognize the formidable young man before them as the once frail Qu Liuer. They regarded him with unfamiliar eyes, and Qu Liuer remained silent."

"Coincidentally, the Azure Dragon emerged from the water, coming ashore to devour all living beings within a hundred miles. The people fled in panic, but Qu Liuer drew his sword and charged forward, his white robe fluttering as he engaged the Azure Dragon in a fierce battle. The sky darkened, the sun and moon obscured, waves surged high, and the waters flooded the mountains and forests."

"This strike was the culmination of his entire life's training."

"This strike was imbued with the resolve to shatter jade and smash pottery."

"Qu Liuer struck again and again, disregarding his own safety, determined to suppress the thousand-year-old dragon beneath the river. In the end, he used his self-created ultimate technique, 'Azure Dragon Emerges from the Sea,' to perish alongside the dragon. The waters rose to the sky and then fell silently, leaving behind only a crimson hue. A prodigy had fallen."

The listeners were shocked and showed signs of distress:

"What? Qu Liuer died like that? How did he become the Azure Dragon Sword Immortal?"

"Qu Liuer’s righteousness! We could never do what he did!"

"Young hero, truly admirable! Lu Yan, tell us, what happened next?"

Lu Yan’s throat was parched, regretting starting this tale. He took a sip of tea and said, "Qu Liuer, sword broken and strength exhausted, floated on the river. Suddenly, he heard a voice from above: 'Foolish child, do you regret it?'"

"Regret? Qu Liuer naturally had no regrets."

"He said, 'This sword has slain the Azure Dragon, and my body now belongs to the river. After death, I don’t seek reincarnation; I only wish for my soul to remain here, protecting the peace of the world!'"

"In that moment, he had a sudden realization, and the heavens and earth lost their color. The gates of immortality opened, boosting his cultivation. Qu Liuer needed only to step forward to ascend to immortality, escaping the mundane world!"

The gates of immortality opened?!

Everyone in the dining hall trembled with excitement. Since the last true immortal ascended from the Ten Realms, the world had seen a decline in immortals. Now, those who practiced cultivation were at best half-immortals, still bound by mortal bodies. Hearing Lu Yan recount past glories, how could they not be moved?

"So that’s how Qu Liuer ascended, indeed magnificent!"

"Though he destroyed his future, fortunately, the heavens protected him!"

Lu Yan raised an eyebrow: "Ascend? No, no, Qu Liuer did not ascend. If he did, he could no longer intervene in mortal affairs, which would go against his original intention."

"So he used a sliver of celestial energy to protect his vital organs and retreated to the mountains to heal, ignoring the open gates of immortality. The gates opened for an instant and then closed, leaving the world without a true immortal but gaining a Sword Immortal."

"Qu Liuer diligently practiced swordsmanship, relying solely on his own enlightenment. From forming a core to reaching the divine realm, and from transcending to the great perfection stage, he roamed the Azure Dragon River for centuries, protecting the people of Wangzhou. Finally, after a thousand years of merit, he ascended as a true immortal, earning the title of Azure Dragon Sword Immortal. The people built temples and shrines in his honor, ensuring perpetual offerings. For a thousand years, the Wangzhou region revered the Qu surname, thus its origin."

As Lu Yan finished speaking, the dining hall fell silent. Everyone felt as if they were still dreaming, unable to fully comprehend what they had heard.

At such a young age, Qu Liuer cultivated through self-enlightenment, seeing the gates of immortality yet choosing not to enter. He preferred to guard Wangzhou for centuries rather than ascend to immortality. Initially, everyone thought this prodigy would miss his chance, but he managed to achieve true immortality through sheer effort. It sounded almost too good to be true.

All humans, yet such a vast difference?

Qu Shaotan listened to the story of his ancestor, initially angry, then captivated. His body shook with excitement, and he straightened his back, feeling proud. He thought, though Lu Yan was of low character, he told the story well, not deliberately belittling it due to personal grudges. But where did he learn these stories?

Just as Qu Shaotan pondered, Lu Yan sighed, "What a pity, what a pity. The virtue of a gentleman lasts five generations. Qu Liuer’s courage in slaying the Azure Dragon and not entering the gates of immortality was remarkable. Yet, each generation seems worse than the last. His descendants are so disgraceful, turning a powerful technique like 'Azure Dragon Emerges from the Sea' into something akin to 'Earthworms Emerging from the Ground.'"

He openly mocked them, causing everyone to burst into laughter. Qu Shaotan was furious, slamming the table and rising: "Lu Yan, today’s loss was due to my inferior skill, but it doesn’t mean my family lacks geniuses. In a few days, I’ll bring the Azure Dragon Sword to show you its power!"

"The Azure Dragon Sword?"

Lu Yan blinked innocently, sounding pure and blameless, yet infuriating: "Do you mean the Azure Dragon Sword enshrined in your family’s rear hall?"

Qu Shaotan proudly lifted his head: "Exactly!"

Wait, how does this person know about the Azure Dragon Sword being enshrined in our rear hall?!

Realizing something was amiss, Qu Shaotan was about to question him when Lu Yan casually dropped a bombshell: "Oh, that sword? It’s fake."