Chapter 277: The Old Physician's Crisis, Lu Qing's Fury

Chapter 277: The Old Physician's Crisis, Lu Qing's Fury

July 11, 2024

"Master, have you broken through?" Wei Zian asked excitedly as he sensed the powerful aura emanating from his master.

"Yes, and I have to thank Brother Lu Qing. If it weren't for him guiding me with his powerful qi, I wouldn't have been able to break through so quickly," Magu replied, equally delighted.

Lu Qing smiled and said, "Your hard work has paid off, and I merely helped you take that final step by guiding you to overcome the obstacle in your path."

"Brother Lu Qing, what about me? What about me?" Wei Zian asked eagerly, hoping for some guidance as well.

"Your recent progress in practicing the staff technique has been remarkable..." Lu Qing offered some pointers to Wei Zian, who, although didn't break through like his master, still felt immensely grateful for the valuable insights.

Hu Zezhi, who had been observing the whole exchange, couldn't help but admire Lu Qing even more. She had been quietly recovering from her leg injury and was now able to walk without much difficulty, but she still couldn't engage in martial arts. Otherwise, she would have also requested Lu Qing's guidance.

Magu and Wei Zian continued to practice in the courtyard, grateful for Lu Qing's help and the progress they had made.

Time passed, and as the sun began to set, they noticed that Master Chen and Lin Zhirui had still not returned. Lu Qing turned his gaze toward the sacred mountain.

"Strange, according to Lord Zhirui, the time spent comprehending the sacred pool shouldn't be too long. I wonder why Master Chen hasn't returned yet?" Lu Qing said, a hint of concern creeping into his voice.

"Perhaps Master Chen had some enlightenment and is taking a little longer to return," Magu suggested.

"Perhaps..." Lu Qing nodded, but he couldn't shake the nagging feeling of unease that was growing in his heart.

As soon as he became aware of this uneasiness, Lu Qing's heart skipped a beat, and his instincts kicked in. At his level of cultivation, his soul power was already far stronger than that of many higher-level practitioners. Coupled with the enhancement of the soul talisman and the Earth Spirit Pearl, he had developed a keen sense for certain unseen dangers.

The feeling of unease could only mean one thing—something was wrong with Master Chen.

"Could Master Chen be in danger?" Lu Qing stood up abruptly, his eyes narrowing as he stared intently at the sacred mountain.

"Brother Lu Qing, what's wrong?" Magu asked, puzzled by Lu Qing's sudden change in demeanor.

"I fear something has happened to Master Chen," Lu Qing said gravely, his expression growing more serious by the second.

"Is Elder Chen in danger?" Magu was startled by the news and immediately grew anxious. "What should we do?"

Hu Zezhi and Wei Zian shared similar worried expressions. They didn't doubt Lu Qing's words, as they had witnessed his extraordinary abilities throughout their journey. If he sensed that something was amiss with Elder Chen, then it must be true.

"I'm going to the sacred mountain. You all stay here and wait calmly. Remember, do not leave the courtyard. This is the territory of the Tianji Tower, and ordinary people shouldn't dare to intrude," Lu Qing instructed, his voice firm.

"As you say, Brother Lu Qing. We will await your return," Magu replied, his expression determined.

Just then, a white-haired elder with an otherworldly aura walked into the courtyard. His eyes held a look of surprise as he addressed Lu Qing, "Impressive, young friend. To think that with your cultivation level, you were able to detect my presence."

"Greetings, Elder. You must be Lord Zhirui's master and the leader of the Tianji Tower," Lu Qing said, bowing respectfully. He didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point.

"No need for formalities, young friend. I sense that you wish to go to the sacred mountain?" the elder said, his eyes sharp and perceptive.

"Indeed, Elder. My master went to the sacred mountain to comprehend the opportunity it presented, but he has not returned for a long time. As his apprentice, I am worried about him, and I wish to bring him back. Do you happen to know why he hasn't returned yet?" Lu Qing asked, his gaze unwavering.

The elder, with his otherworldly aura, was the leader of the Tianji Tower, and his presence had been absent these past two days. Lu Qing suspected that his sudden appearance here must be related to the situation at hand.

As Lu Qing's intense gaze bore into him, the elder felt a chill run down his spine. With his level of cultivation, it was rare for him to feel such a reaction. This young man before him was far more formidable than he had imagined.

However, the elder was a seasoned cultivator, and despite his internal turmoil, his face remained calm and composed, giving nothing away.

"Your guess is correct, young friend. I have just received a message from Lord Zhirui, informing me that your master has indeed encountered some trouble on the sacred mountain," the elder admitted, his eyes softening slightly as he continued, "But rest assured, the situation is under control, and there is no need for you to worry."

"What's the problem?" Lu Qing asked, his eyes narrowing as a chill crept into his voice.

The elderly man with an ethereal aura felt the chill in his bones intensify.

He was shocked to his core, wondering just how fearsome this young man was to make him, a perfect Enlightened Being, feel threatened.

"Zhirui sent a message saying that your master had already finished his enlightenment at the Sacred Pool and was about to descend the mountain.

However, on his way down, he encountered the monks from Xuankong Mountain, who noticed the merit light within him and stopped him."

"Xuankong Mountain, one of the Four Secret Lands?" Lu Qing was taken aback.

"Indeed."

"Why did the people from Xuankong Mountain stop my master?"

"Your master possesses the merit light, a protective aura rarely seen even in Xuankong Mountain. The monks there were curious and stopped him to engage in a discussion.

Young friend, there is no need to worry. The monks of Xuankong Mountain are known for their compassion and will not cause your master any harm."

"If they are so compassionate, then why are they preventing my master from descending the mountain? Are they taking advantage of his kindness and inability to refuse?" Lu Qing asked coldly.

The elderly man with an ethereal aura hesitated, unsure how to explain.

To be honest, he also found the situation strange. Why would the people of Xuankong Mountain stop the old physician?

While the merit light was rare, it wasn't unheard of among the monks of Xuankong Mountain, and it didn't seem worth all this trouble.

Just then, the elderly man's clothes fluttered slightly, and he took out a jade tablet to check its message with his spiritual sense.

His face grew grave as he absorbed the information.

"Elder, has Lord Zhirui sent another message?"

Lu Qing recognized the jade tablet as similar to the one Lin Zhirui had given to Master Chen.

"Indeed, it's from Zhirui."

The ethereal elder nodded slowly, his expression unchanged.

"What did Lord Zhirui say?"

Lu Qing's heart sank as he saw the elder's expression.

"Zhirui said that the monks of Xuankong Mountain want your master to join them, but your master refuses. They are now using an array to trap him and forcibly convert him."

"What?!"

Lu Qing's anger surged, and a chilling light flashed in his eyes.

The aura emanating from him caused the ethereal elder's heart to clench in fear.

He sensed an incredibly dangerous presence from Lu Qing, a signal that threatened his very life.

"Lu Qing, brother, what are we waiting for? Let's go save Old Physician Chen!"

Magu, standing nearby, was also burning with rage.

Although he didn't understand what "forcibly convert" meant, he clearly heard that the so-called monks were using an array to trap the old physician.

"Yes, Lu Qing, let's rush to the Sacred Mountain!" Wei Zian gripped his iron staff tightly.

However, Lu Qing's words stopped them in their tracks.

"No, this is something I should do alone. You two stay here and wait for news."

"But..."

"There's no need for buts!" Lu Qing waved his hand, cutting off Magu's protest. "The suppressive force on the Sacred Mountain is beyond what you can handle. Going there would be too much of a strain on your bodies."

Magu and Wei Zian fell silent, remembering their earlier experience watching Bai Bufan and the others climb the Celestial Ladder.

Even a Martial Arts Master like Bai Bufan couldn't climb too high on the Sacred Mountain. They feared that if they went, they might not even make it past the mountain's waist.

Thinking of this, the two men felt a deep sense of bitterness and frustration at their own weakness. In such a critical situation, they could do nothing to help.

"Don't worry, I will bring Master Chen back safely."

Seeing the disappointment on their faces, Lu Qing offered them reassurance.

"Young friend, are you sure you want to go to the Sacred Mountain?" the ethereal elder asked.

"My master is in danger. As his disciple, how can I stand idly by?" Lu Qing replied calmly. "However, Elder, I have one request."

"Please speak, young friend."

"This young lady, Hu Zezhi, has calamity looming over her, as you must have sensed.

I wonder when that calamity will strike.

While I'm away, I ask that you keep an eye on her and protect her from any potential threats."

Lu Qing glanced at the note that had appeared on the elder's body, knowing that the man before him was temporarily trustworthy.

However, he still secretly communicated with Little Li through spiritual transmission, instructing him to keep an eye on Xiao Yan, who was taking a nap in the room.

The ethereal elder looked at Hu Zezhi's brows and finally nodded. "Rest assured, young friend. Until you return, I will remain in this courtyard and not leave."

"That evening, I would like to thank you, Elder," Lu Qing said respectfully, bowing to the elderly man before turning and striding out of the courtyard.

"Uncle Ma, please keep an eye on Xiao Yan. Don't let her wander off when she wakes up," Lu Qing added as an afterthought, his voice trailing off as his figure disappeared into the distance.

His speed startled the ethereal elder, who was steeped in the essence of the Immortal's aura.

"Who exactly is this young man, Lu Qing?" the elder wondered, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Never before had he encountered a youth whose true nature eluded his perception so completely.

He had a feeling that Lu Qing's visit to the sacred mountain would stir up a tremendous commotion.

Upon leaving the Tianji Tower, Lu Qing immediately employed his body-shifting technique and rushed towards the sacred mountain.

To increase his speed, he even activated the talisman embedded in his brow, causing a faint yellow glow to flash across his skin.

In an instant, Lu Qing's speed skyrocketed, and his body became like a wisp of smoke, swiftly approaching the sacred mountain.

His velocity was so great that the warriors along the way could only sense a fleeting figure passing by.

By the time they were startled and tried to get a clearer view, Lu Qing's silhouette had already vanished.

Soon, Lu Qing reached the northern area of the city, where the celestial ladder stood.

At that moment, there was still a large crowd gathered at the foot of the ladder, occasionally erupting into cheers and applause.

In fact, the number of onlookers had increased significantly compared to the day when Bai Bufan and the others had their contest.

It turned out that there were female warriors engaging in a competition on the celestial ladder, attracting a lot of attention.

"Amazing! Lady Li, as expected of a true disciple of the Guiyuan Sect, is not only peerlessly beautiful, ranking on the Beauty Rankings, but also possesses profound martial arts cultivation.

Today, she has climbed to the 160th step, not falling short of Bai Bufan and the others from a few days ago!"

"Saintess Zhao is also incredible, only one step behind Lady Li. She might even catch up soon!"

"As for the young princess of the Long family, she's a bit behind, lagging by three or four steps."

"Who would have thought that we would have the fortune of witnessing three beauties from the Beauty Rankings competing together? It's truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience!"

"It doesn't matter if we can't see their faces; just witnessing their graceful figures is enough for me to die without regrets!"

...

As Lu Qing approached the area near the celestial ladder, he overheard snippets of excited conversations from the crowd.

He realized that the competitors on the ladder were, in fact, several female warriors with captivating figures.

If it were an ordinary day, Lu Qing might have been tempted to pause and enjoy the spectacle.

However, with his mind occupied by concerns for his master's safety, he had no leisure for such distractions.

He deftly maneuvered through the crowd, reaching the base of the celestial ladder. With a powerful leap, he ascended dozens of steps in a single bound.

Then, with a light tap of his foot, his body shot upwards again, soaring dozens of steps at incredible speed.

Repeating this action, Lu Qing swiftly ascended the ladder, his body resembling a wisp of smoke.

Without pausing, he overtook the female warriors, continuing his ascent towards the top of the ladder and ultimately disappearing into the clouds and mist, out of everyone's sight.

This sudden turn of events caught everyone off guard.

It wasn't until Lu Qing's figure vanished into the clouds that the onlookers snapped out of their stupor.

Immediately, the crowd erupted into a frenzy of excited chatter.

"Am I seeing things, or did someone just rush up the celestial ladder?"

"No, you're not mistaken. Someone definitely climbed up there!"

"But how is that possible? Did the strange power of the ladder disappear?"

"The power didn't disappear. Look, Lady Li and the others are still catching their breath up there."

"Then who is that person, and how are they able to climb the ladder with such ease?"

"It's not just ease; their speed was unbelievably fast! Compared to the other day when the young man in the brocade robe reached the 200th step, this person was at least ten times faster!"

"Not only was their speed faster, but they also climbed to a much higher height. Did you see how they vanished into the clouds? They must have reached at least 300 steps!"

"Who is this person? Even a Precelestial Realm master wouldn't be able to climb that high so effortlessly, would they?"

...

In an instant, the area at the foot of the celestial ladder buzzed with excitement as everyone tried to process what they had just witnessed—Lu Qing's breathtaking ascent of the celestial ladder.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end