Chapter 397: Slaughter of the Living Spirits

Chapter 397: Slaughter of the Living Spirits

On the ocean's surface, Lu Wu lay sprawled out, his arms and legs spread wide, gazing blankly at the sky with a bewildered expression. He couldn't fathom what had just transpired, no matter how hard he racked his brain.

Which part of the plan had gone wrong? Why were these leaders only Lord-ranked, while their boss was Epic-ranked? And it wasn't even a pseudo-Epic like the Third Apostle, but a genuine Epic—the kind that could swat Lu Wu away with a single tail swipe.

After being smacked by that tail, Lu Wu had no idea where he had landed.

As Lu Wu remained dazed, a commotion suddenly erupted on the ocean's surface.

Lu Wu glanced sideways and saw the little skull, who had also fallen into the sea, swimming towards him.

Upon reaching Lu Wu, the little skull first inspected him, relieved to find that Lu Wu was merely dazed and uninjured. Then, with a change in demeanor, the little skull crossed its arms and pointed at Lu Wu, looking utterly aggrieved, furious, and disappointed.

(Lu Wu had let the little skull down!)



The little skull was one to hold a grudge.

After being swatted once, it had harbored that grudge ever since.

Day and night, it thought of nothing but revenge.

Finally, with the chance to bring Lu Wu to find their nemesis, the little skull believed it had become stronger, and with Lu Wu by its side, it was certain it could get its revenge.

Boasting and brimming with confidence, the little skull vowed to make those big fish pay.

But no sooner had it finished its threats than the very fish that had swatted them before reappeared.

With a single tail swipe, it sent both the little skull and Lu Wu flying again, just like the last time.

This was too humiliating for the little skull, which had become increasingly clever.

(Hmph, Lu Wu, you've made the little skull lose face!)



The little skull had thought Lu Wu was so powerful, yet he couldn't even beat that big fish.

Lu Wu was utterly useless!

Muttering to itself, the little skull expressed its frustration while keeping an eye on Lu Wu.

Seeing that Lu Wu showed no reaction and remained dazed, the little skull grew concerned.

Had Lu Wu's brain been damaged by the fish's attack? Or was he heartbroken from the defeat? The little skull quickly patted Lu Wu's head in comfort.

(It's okay, the little skull isn't that angry.

But Lu Wu must strive to become stronger.

The little skull will also work hard to grow stronger, and next time, we'll defeat that big fish! Yes, and Tuan Tuan, that rascal, we'll take care of him too.)



Lu Wu wondered where the little skull had learned all these dramatic gestures, but as he was lost in thought, the little skull began consoling him.

Shaking his head, Lu Wu pushed the little skull aside and took out a map from his pocket.

He wanted to see where the shark's tail had sent them.

As he examined the map, Lu Wu's face darkened.

With a single tail swipe, the shark had sent both him and the little skull flying out of the boundaries of Fuchen City.

"That tail was too vicious! We must be thousands of kilometers away. It seems that a direct confrontation is out of the question. We can only find Xiao Jiaolong through other means."

Lu Wu couldn't help but sigh.

However, he didn't give up. He handed over the task of searching for Xiao Jiaolong to the Shadow Organization.

He instructed Number 72 to dispatch people to look for Xiao Jiaolong, while he himself had to leave for Dudu's side early, before Dudu's plan commenced.

Once news of Xiao Jiaolong's whereabouts arrived, he would set out.

"Let's go home," Lu Wu said, preparing to put away the map and head back to Jiangnan. But as he was about to roll up the map, he paused.

He had inadvertently glimpsed a place name on the map.

This place was none other than Changping, where Lu Wu had sought refuge from Lord Feng for a while.

"Changping doesn't seem too far from here. Why don't we pay it a visit?"

Lu Wu hesitated briefly before deciding to make the trip.

After all, it was on the way, and he could pay his respects to his old friend.

Although it was just a summon beast, and they had only spent a little over a month together, it had been both a mentor and a friend to Lu Wu, holding a significant place in his heart.

Having made up his mind, Lu Wu wasted no time. He immediately set off for the Changping Secret Realm with the little skull.

With Lu Wu's current strength, rushing at full speed was no problem.

Li Wu silently entered the Changping Secret Realm, unnoticed by anyone, and made his way to the Burial Ground with ease.

As he arrived at the Burial Ground, shrouded in a blood-red aura of malevolent energy, Li Wu's emotions were a mix of complexity and bewilderment.

On a sudden whim, he decided to pay a visit to the Old Bone.

Upon reaching his destination, Li Wu realized he had no idea how to pay his respects.

He hadn't prepared any offerings, nor did he know what form the ceremony should take.

Scratching his head in thought, Li Wu eventually rummaged through his spatial ring and produced an item.

"Old Bone, I came here without much thought, and I didn't prepare anything," Li Wu muttered.

"This is all I have on me right now."

"This is the head of a summon beast that killed you, and I'll offer it as if it were his. It'll have to do for now."

"As for his brain, I'll bring it to you next time I come."

"Rest assured, I will avenge your death."

Li Wu mumbled to himself as he buried the head of the summon beast in the Burial Ground. He then retrieved several bottles of wine from his spatial ring, pouring them out as an offering to the Old Bone, and opened one for himself, gulping it down.

Li Wu rarely drank, and when he did, it was usually due to Li Haikong's persuasion. Today was an exception.

Despite his average tolerance, the combination of the environment, his mood, and the quality of the wine quickly took its toll.

After finishing a bottle, Li Wu felt a pleasant buzz.

Gazing around with a slight intoxication, Li Wu recalled his past training sessions with the Old Bone. He summoned the Celestial Cloud Sword and began practicing with it, starting with the Old Bone's foundational sword technique, Battlefield Swordsmanship.

Li Wu's mastery of this expansive and powerful sword style was now almost on par with the Old Bone's.

However, as Li Wu executed the moves, they bore deep traces of the Old Bone's influence, as if copied directly from him.

Beginning with Battlefield Swordsmanship, Li Wu transitioned into Slaughter Swordsmanship and the Enemy Slayer Sword.

The sword techniques he had learned from the Old Bone flowed seamlessly from his body.

In this state, Li Wu's performance was exceptional. After concluding the Enemy Slayer Sword, he felt a lingering desire for more, so he continued with his own Lu Clan Sword Technique.

This dance lasted for several hours.

The Lu Clan Sword Technique, strictly speaking, was not a single technique but rather a culmination of all the skills Li Wu had cultivated.

As of this day, the number of skills Li Wu had mastered could be counted in the hundreds.

With so many skills and sword styles, each with its unique flair, Li Wu's performance became increasingly peculiar, lacking the fluidity he had displayed when practicing Slaughter Swordsmanship.

This displeased Li Wu.

Frowning, he continued his dance, modifying the entire sword style with each stroke.

Whether it was due to the presence of the Old Bone or his intoxicated state, Li Wu found it remarkably easy to integrate and refine the sword style.

As he danced, inspiration struck, and he seamlessly integrated the sword style.

Although the refined sword style didn't change much, Li Wu's performance was now free of awkwardness, replaced by a sense of exhilarating smoothness.

The sword strike that had just fused dozens of skills could be considered Li Wu's most powerful attack at present. Even when unleashing the Divine Judgment with the Celestial Cloud Sword, Li Wu felt that it would not surpass the sheer killing power of the previous strike.

Li Wu was even confident that he could slay an unprepared Epic-ranked cultivator with that single strike.

"I guess I've learned a lesson from you, old man."

Li Wu attributed his mastery of this sword technique to the Old Bone.

He named this sword technique Slaughter All Lives, as its core was the Old Bone's Enemy Slayer Sword Technique.

Afterward, Li Wu did not linger for long.

After pouring the last few bottles of wine for the Old Bone, Li Wu gathered his emotions and left the Changping Secret Realm with Little Skull.

What Li Wu did not know was that as he stepped out of the burial ground, the massive grave mound in the center stirred slightly.

It was as if something was about to break through the earth.

But after a few struggles, it eventually returned to stillness.

...

Zone 1, Jiangnan.

Since January, Fucheng had become increasingly bustling.

On one hand, the construction of Jiangnan University's new campus had been completed, and a grand ceremony was to be held soon.

On the other hand, during the ceremony, the vice president of the student council, Pang Dudu, was about to undertake a significant task.

Once this task was accomplished, it would have a profound impact on the University Alliance.

Many were keeping a close eye on this matter.

Whether it was the universities supporting Pang Dudu or the various parties opposing her success, they had started to arrive in Jiangnan one after another.

Compared to the universities, those against the event were more noteworthy. The composition of these individuals was almost unimaginable.

The Education Bureau officials were the most vocal.

After all, Dudu was taking away their jobs.

If Dudu successfully established the University Alliance, the Education Bureau would essentially become obsolete.

So they were the most outspoken group, making it clear to everyone that they disagreed and would do their utmost to stop this from happening.

However, despite being at the forefront, the Education Bureau posed the least threat.

They were limited in the methods they could employ, and their most intimidating move had already been countered by Dudu, which was why she dared to undertake such a task.

Thus, their dissatisfaction would likely remain verbal, along with some rule-breaking actions.

Compared to them, the group hiding in the shadows was far more dangerous.

Their greatest danger lay in their concealment.

Hidden in the deepest corners, they watched like venomous snakes, their intentions unknown.

No one knew who they were, when they would strike, or what methods they would use.

This hidden group was the biggest challenge Dudu would face.

Until they revealed themselves, no one could predict the extent of their terrifying power.

One misstep, and Dudu might be obliterated by this force, leaving no trace behind.

This chilling prospect made Jiang Yuesheng extremely anxious.

Despite the imminent start, she persistently advised Dudu.

"Dudu, this is too dangerous. Let's just hold the celebration this time, and you can work on the University Alliance later.

We can take our time and plan carefully. You're still young; there's no rush to do it in a few years."

In Dudu's office at Jiangnan University, Jiang Yuesheng earnestly tried to persuade her.

However, Dudu paid no heed to her words.

Standing before the office's large floor-to-ceiling window, Dudu gazed at the newly constructed Jiangnan University with a slight smile, remaining silent.

Jiang Yuesheng was utterly perplexed by Dudu's thoughts at that moment.

In fact, Jiang Yuesheng's confusion extended beyond Dudu's current mindset; she was even more baffled by Dudu's transformation over the past few months.

Although it had all happened right under her nose, she couldn't help but wonder.

Is the woman before her eyes truly the same silly Dudu from before?

That silly girl who would get excited at the mention of Li Wu, who would beam with joy when someone praised him, and who would eagerly nod her head in agreement—how did she become this queenly figure, even more so than herself?

Could it be that she had changed into someone else, or had her body been possessed?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end