Chapter 12: Exiting the Tomb (1/2)

”Not good!” The octet paled, whirling into a formation the instant before the emerald flames descended. A surge of crimson blood repelled the ferocious fires.

”Hmm?” Yuying frowned slightly. ”What's this? My Emerald Mistfire was blocked? No wonder you lot could stroll in here so casually.”

She smoothly unfurled a scroll between her fingers, enveloping the hall in an indistinct aura of light.

”The Panorama of Clarity! That’s the genuine article!” murmured one of the men in astounded shock.

”So Yuying didn't die in her heavenly tribulation a thousand years ago after all. She's been using this ancient tomb to recover from her injuries!”

”This is the power of an immortal!”

Whoosh!

Enkindled by the Panorama of Clarity's power, the Emerald Mistfire blazed forth, burning through the barrier of blood that kept it at bay.

”My apologies, senior brothers!” A sudden roar came from one of them, swiftly followed by a pulsing series of syllables from his throat, terse and peculiar.

”What are you doing, Lao Nuo?!” shrilled the other voices. Their comrade Lao Nuo had initiated a soul sacrifice art at this juncture, and they were the sacrifices!

Boom. Boom. Boom.

Sound after clamorous sound rang through the tomb. The seven victims' bodies spontaneously burst into sanguine fire and imbued Lao Nuo's body with their strength. The power he gained from sacrificing seven spirit realm cultivators allowed him to approximate an immortal's strength.

Yuying was utterly unprepared for this turn of events, and her mistfire dissipated without much resistance. ”Bastard!” She flew into a rage. ”How dare you sacrifice souls in the world of immortals!”

A wave of her hand summoned seven swords out of the Panorama and sent them churning toward her prey.

”Just you wait, Yuying! The Exalted Immortal Sect will be avenged!” Lao Nuo discharged a shrill shriek and his body exploded. A cloud of blood carrying his nascent spirit surged out of the chamber, then summarily disappeared.

Yuying's seven swords rushed out right after. There was a yelp of pain in the distance.

”Yuying, you destroyed my nascent spirit! You and I will be enemies until the end of time!”

Blood trickled out of the corner of Yuying's mouth. She landed and knelt on one knee. ”Master, Yuying was incompetent and let one person’s soul escape. I await my punishment.”

Lu Yun crawled out of the sarcophagus, dumbfounded by what he had just witnessed. The fight just now had taken maybe a dozen breaths, but the impact on him was tremendous. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen cultivators fight before. But compared to Wanfeng’s fights against Ge Long and the corpse flies, duels between immortals were on another level.

Life and death were decided in a matter of seconds!

I… I’ll become someone like Yuying someday. I too can become an immortal! The young man’s expression gradually shifted toward intense excitement.

“Rise.” Lu Yun breathed out a long sigh. “You’ve done very well already! Ah, yes... are there any other treasures in this tomb of yours?” He suddenly recalled why he was here in the first place.

“This tomb was built during the great war a hundred thousand years ago, after the death of an ancient immortal. Though Wayfarer buried my remains here, I don’t know what else the tomb holds.” Yuying seemed bewildered herself.

Disappointment flashed across Lu Yun’s face, but it left as quickly as it had come. Isn’t this splendid woman the greatest treasure the tomb holds?

Pill Fairy Yuying, a pill immortal!

“Have you heard of the Aurum Openia Pill, Yuying? Can you refine it?” He looked expectantly at his new… acquisition.

“Yes, master.” Yuying nodded.

“Fantastic!” Lu Yun shouted in exuberance.

“Master, the Aurum Openia is for those who can’t cultivate. What do you need it for?” asked a quizzical Yuying.

“Eh?” Lu Yun blinked. “Hmm. Yeah, I guess I’m already a cultivator now.”

Encountering Yuying and sealing his first envoy in the Tome of Life and Death had rendered his dormant bloodline utterly meaningless.

“Still, I need to get my hands on one of those pills. Not only that, but I have to announce my acquisition with great fanfare and celebration! Otherwise my newfound ability to cultivate will definitely be investigated.” Though Lu Yun was still a newcomer to the world of immortals, he knew the basics of dealing with other people.

Being the governor of Dusk Province was a hotly contested position. Everyone had their eyes and hopes on his dismissal half a year from now. The province itself was poor, but its governor had significant authority within Nephrite Major nonetheless.

There was no way he would resign now that he was a cultivator. If he was no longer the governor, his family’s past enemies would certainly hunt him down in the open.

Plus, Yuying was now one of his followers.

“So, uh, what level of cultivation are you now, Yuying?” asked Lu Yun.

“I am an immortal, master, but I haven’t gotten all of my strength back yet. At present, this servant is only as strong as an origin core cultivator.”

“Already an immortal, eh?” Lu Yun’s eyes brightened. He gave Yuying a onceover. Here was a prim, pristine fairy—one that called him master! He felt his heart heating up.

“Master shall have whatever you wish…” As she spoke, Yuying peeled the gossamer robe away from her body, once more revealing the lithe figure beneath.