Chapter 277: Old Doctor's Peril, Lu Qing's Fury

“Master, you’ve broken through?” Wei Zian sensed the surge of power radiating from his master and asked in astonishment.

“Yes. I owe much to Lu Qing here. Without his guiding force, I couldn’t have advanced so swiftly,” Ma Gu said, his heart filled with joy. He had never imagined he’d break through to Nei Fu Jing so quickly.

Lu Qing smiled. “Your foundation was already complete. I merely helped you cross the final threshold—nothing more than a gentle push.”

"Lu Qing doctor, what about me? What about me?" Wei Zian asked eagerly, watching as Ma Gu had instantly advanced under Lu Qing’s guidance.

“Your staff technique has been progressing remarkably well…” Lu Qing offered further instruction, and though Wei Zian didn’t break through, he still felt deeply enriched.

Hu Ze Zhi, who had been quietly observing from the sidelines, watched in awe as both Ma Gu and his disciple improved dramatically under Lu Qing’s guidance. Her respect for him deepened even further.

But she sighed inwardly—her leg injury still hadn’t fully healed. Though she could walk now without pain, she couldn’t fight. Otherwise, she’d have asked Lu Qing for personal guidance too.

For the next few hours, Ma Gu and Wei Zian continued refining their cultivation in the courtyard, deeply absorbed. As the sun began to dip westward, Master Lin Zhi Rui and Old Doctor still hadn’t returned.

Lu Qing turned toward Sheng Shan. “Strange. According to Zhi Rui Ge Xia, the time needed to comprehend Sheng Chi shouldn’t be long. Why haven’t they returned yet?”

“Perhaps Old Doctor had a sudden breakthrough and is lingering to deepen it,” Ma Gu suggested.

“Maybe…” Lu Qing nodded, but unease gnawed at him. It was subtle, yet undeniable.

Once he sensed it, his instincts flared. At his level, Spirit Soul Power was already stronger than most Xian Tian Jing masters. With the added strength of Shen Hun Fu Lu and the Soil Spirit Pearl, his spiritual awareness was far more acute than ordinary cultivators.

Something that unsettled him—wasn’t just coincidence.

“Could Master be in danger?” Lu Qing stood abruptly, eyes sharp and piercing toward Sheng Shan.

“Lu Qing, what’s wrong?” Ma Gu asked, puzzled.

“I suspect something has happened to Master,” Lu Qing said gravely. The dread in his heart only grew.

“Chen Laodaifu in danger?” Ma Gu gasped, then panicked. “What should we do?”

Hu Ze Zhi and Wei Zian wore identical expressions of alarm. They didn’t doubt Lu Qing—after witnessing so many of his miraculous feats, they trusted his instincts completely.

“If Master is truly in peril, then I must go to Sheng Shan. You all stay here. Do not leave the courtyard. This is Tian Ji Lou’s territory—no ordinary person would dare intrude.”

He turned toward the courtyard’s outer gate, speaking directly into the air.

“Is that not correct, Elder?”

Ma Gu and the others blinked, then turned toward the entrance.

“Indeed, young master, you are sharp,” said a white-bearded elder, stepping into the courtyard with a serene, otherworldly presence. His eyes sparkled with surprise—he hadn’t expected to be discovered by a youth still below Xian Tian Jing.

“Greetings, Elder. You must be the master of Zhi Rui Ge Xia, and the Lord of Tian Ji Lou,” Lu Qing said with a respectful bow, cutting straight to the point.

“None of that formalities. You wish to ascend Sheng Shan?” The elder didn’t deny it.

“Yes. My master went to Sheng Shan to cultivate the opportunity, but he has not returned. I am deeply concerned. Do you know why he lingers?”

Lu Qing locked eyes with the elder, his gaze unwavering and intense.

This Tian Ji Lou Lord had not appeared for two days—his sudden arrival meant something was wrong.

The elder, despite his Xian Tian Jing Wan Man cultivation, felt a chill ripple through him under Lu Qing’s stare. This was a sensation only triggered by true danger.

This youth… is far more dangerous than I thought.

Yet as the head of a great sect, his composure remained unshaken. His face betrayed no emotion.

“You’re correct. I just received a transmission from Zhi Rui. Your master did indeed encounter a minor difficulty on Sheng Shan.”

“What kind of difficulty?” Lu Qing’s eyes flared, a cold glint flashing within.

The elder felt an icy dread spread through his spine. This boy, barely Xian Tian Jing, was making him feel threatened.

“Zhi Rui reported that your master had already completed his comprehension of Sheng Chi and was about to descend. But on the way down, he was stopped by high monks from Xuan Kong Shan. They sensed your master’s Merit Light and detained him.”

“Xuan Kong Shan? One of the Four Secret Places?” Lu Qing frowned.

“Yes.”

“Why did they stop my master?”

“Your master carries Merit Light—a rare protective aura, even among Xuan Kong Shan’s monks. The high monks were curious and wished to discuss Dao with him. You need not worry. Xuan Kong Shan’s monks are compassionate by nature—they would never harm your master.”

“Then why stop him from leaving?” Lu Qing’s voice was icy. “Are they truly so kind, or are they simply taking advantage of my master’s gentle nature, knowing he wouldn’t refuse?”

The elder hesitated, at a loss. He, too, found it odd. Merit Light was rare, but not unheard of among Xuan Kong Shan’s cultivators. Why such a fuss?

At that moment, the elder’s robe trembled slightly. He withdrew a Jade Token from his sleeve, scanning it with his mind.

His body stiffened. His expression darkened.

“Elder, did Zhi Rui send another message?” Lu Qing recognized the token—it bore a striking resemblance to the one Lin Zhi Rui had given to Old Doctor.

“Yes. It’s Zhi Rui,” the elder said slowly, his voice heavy. “He reports… that the Xuan Kong Shan monks are demanding your master join their sect. When he refused, they trapped him with a formation, attempting to forcibly convert him.”

“What?!” Lu Qing’s fury erupted. Cold fire blazed in his eyes.

The air around him crackled. The elder felt his heart constrict—Lu Qing radiated a terrifying presence, one that threatened his very life.

“Lu Qing brother, what are you waiting for? Let’s go rescue Chen Laodaifu!” Ma Gu roared, fire in his eyes.

“Indeed, Doctor Lu Qing! We’ll storm Sheng Shan!” Wei Zian gripped his iron staff tightly.

But their outbursts snapped Lu Qing back to clarity.

“No. I’ll go alone. You stay here.”

“But—” Ma Gu began.

“No buts!” Lu Qing waved sharply, silencing him. “The suppression force on Sheng Shan is beyond your reach. Going up would destroy your bodies.”

Ma Gu and Wei Zian fell silent. They remembered seeing Bai Bufan and others struggle just to climb Tian Ti. Even a Wu Dao Zong Shi like Bai Bufan couldn’t go far. They, with far weaker foundations, wouldn’t make it past the mountain’s lower slopes.

Their faces twisted with frustration. They hated their weakness—unable to help in such a crisis.

“Rest assured,” Lu Qing said, sensing their despair. “I will bring Master back safely.”

“Are you certain you must go alone?” the elder asked.

“My master is in peril. As his disciple, I cannot stand by.” Lu Qing’s tone was calm, yet firm. “But I have a request.”

“Speak.”

“This Hu Gu Niang—her brow bears Jie Qi. You must have noticed. When will the calamity strike? While I’m gone, I ask you to protect her. Do not let anyone take advantage of her vulnerability.”

Lu Qing glanced at the glowing characters on the elder’s robes—the mark of a temporary guardian. He trusted the man, but still, through Spirit Soul Transmission, he quietly relayed a final warning to Xiao Li, who was napping with Xiao Yan inside the room.

The elder studied Hu Ze Zhi’s brow, then nodded solemnly. “You may rest easy. I will remain here until you return.”

“Thank you, Elder,” Lu Qing said, bowing deeply before vanishing in a flash.

“Ma Ye, watch over Xiao Yan. Don’t let her wander when she wakes.”

With those words, Lu Qing was already gone—leaving only a ripple in the air.

The elder stared after him, stunned. Who is this Lu Xiao Langjun?

He had never met a youth who left him so utterly baffled. He sensed a storm brewing—Lu Qing’s ascent to Sheng Shan would shake the world.

Outside Tian Ji Lou, Lu Qing immediately activated his speed technique, racing toward Sheng Shan. To accelerate further, he drew upon the Fa Fu within his Brow Qi Cavity.

A faint golden glow flickered across his skin—then his speed surged.

He became a wisp of blue smoke, streaking toward the mountain at impossible velocity.

The speed was so great, passersby only caught a blur—then nothing. By the time they tried to identify him, he was already gone.

Soon, he reached the northern district—the base of Tian Ti.

And there, beneath the mountain, a massive crowd had gathered, erupting in cheers every few moments. The number of people had even surpassed that of the day when Bai Bufan and others had competed.

A contest was underway atop Tian Ti.

“Brilliant! Li Xian Zi truly lives up to her name! Not only is she the most beautiful among the Mei Ren Bang, but her cultivation is extraordinary. She’s already reached level 160—on par with Bai Bufan and the others!”

“Zhao Sheng Nü is impressive too—just one level behind. She might catch up soon!”

“The Young Princess of the Long Family is lagging—four levels behind.”

“We’re lucky to witness three of the most renowned beauties of the Mei Ren Bang competing together—this is a lifetime honor!”

“Too bad they’re all veiled. We can’t see their faces.”

“Face or not, just watching their graceful movements is enough for me to be content for life!”

As Lu Qing approached the area, the voices reached him. He realized with surprise that the competitors were all exquisite female warriors—famed beauties from the Mei Ren Bang.

If it were any other time, he might have paused to admire the spectacle. But with Old Doctor’s life in danger, he had no time for entertainment.

He dodged through the crowd, leapt to the base of Tian Ti, and soared upward in one fluid motion—covering dozens of steps in a single bound.

Then, with a light tap of his foot, he shot upward again—another dozen steps.

He repeated the motion—each time, his body surged forward like a wisp of smoke, leaping dozens of steps at a time.

Before long, he reached the level where the female warriors were still climbing.

He didn’t pause. He simply leapt over them, shooting upward with blinding speed—vanishing into the clouds above.

The sudden disappearance left everyone stunned.

Only after Lu Qing vanished into the mist did the crowd react.

“Wait… did I just see someone climb Tian Ti?!”

“You didn’t imagine it—he actually went up!”

“But how? That speed—it’s impossible! Has the mountain’s suppression vanished?”

“Vanished? Look—Li Xian Zi and the others are still gasping!”

“Who is this person? How can they walk on Tian Ti like it’s nothing?”

“Not just like nothing—they’re flying! That speed… it’s ten times faster than the Brocade-Clothed Youth who reached level 200!”

“And the height they reached—way beyond! You saw it—vanished into the clouds. That’s at least 300 levels!”

“No Xian Tian Jing master could ascend that high so easily!”

Tian Ti’s base erupted into chaos. The crowd was utterly paralyzed—shocked beyond words by the sight of Lu Qing’s impossible ascent.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end