Wei Wuyai appeared to be just an ordinary old man. His hair was a ghastly green, and his fingernails gleamed with an unusual light, clearly indicating that he practiced poison arts. However, Wei Wuyai did not possess the sinister aura that Lu Xuan had imagined. On the contrary, his demeanor was the most peaceful among all the great cultivators Lu Xuan had ever seen.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Wei Wuyai, and I greet Sect Leader Lu."
"I don't remember us meeting before."
"Hehe, indeed I've never seen you before. But fellow Daoist, do you know that quite a few people in Tiannan know of your existence? The Demonic Alliance back then offered an exorbitant bounty for your head. But for over a hundred years, no one has found you. Thinking..."
"You should know that until now, the Demonic Alliance's wanted notice for you was only for a Nascent Soul cultivator in the early stages. In less than two hundred years, you've already become a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. Among the cultivators of Tiannan in the last three thousand years, I'm afraid no one can compare to you."
"It was merely a stroke of luck overseas. Fellow Daoist, you were already at the late Nascent Soul stage a thousand years ago, just one step away from the Divine Transformation stage. How could a newly promoted cultivator like me compare?"
"Hehe, I know my own situation well. If nothing unexpected happens, I won't have the chance to reach the Nascent Soul stage. I only hope that in my lifetime I can protect the cultivation world of Tiannan and train a few disciples, and I will be content."
Lu Xuan remained silent, knowing full well that Wei Wuyai was telling the truth. Poison cultivation, indeed, possessed uncanny and formidable destructive power in its supernatural abilities. Its power was undoubtedly among the highest of all supernatural powers. However, few people cultivated it because poison cultivation offered little help in breaking through bottlenecks in martial arts cultivation.
Cultivating poison-based supernatural abilities will inevitably lead to backlash. Cultivators generally use a balancing method, coexisting multiple poisonous supernatural abilities within their bodies. However, this itself places a huge burden on the physical body. Poison is poison after all; except for some naturally born special spirit beasts, all living beings will be harmed.
The stronger Wei Wuyai's poison-based supernatural abilities are, the heavier the burden on his physical body becomes. His lifespan is already running out.
"Not only did Fellow Daoist Wei come to see me today, but what brings you here?" Lu Xuan changed the subject and asked about the other party's purpose.
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Chapter 525 Great Evolution Divine Lord
Wei Wuyai wanted Lu Xuan to return to Tiannan. He knew that if his lifespan ended one day, the Hehuan Old Demon and the Supreme Yang Master would definitely not be able to protect the cultivation world of Tiannan. Within two hundred years, it would be completely occupied by the Mulan people or even the Tuwu people.
Indeed, Wei Wuyai knew his two old friends very well. They were absolute selfish egoists. Right now, with him keeping them in check and Tiannan still having the strength to fight back, they could barely manage to put up a fight. But if he were gone, and no one was there to stand up for them, those two would almost immediately betray Tiannan's cultivation world.
In the original story, after Han Laomo had already demonstrated the high-level combat power of Tiannan, Hehuan Laomo's first thought upon seeing him was to kill him and seize his treasures. If he hadn't been suppressed by Wei Wuyai twice, the three great cultivators of Tiannan would probably have been replaced long ago.
For many years, Wei Wuyai had been troubled by this matter. He wanted to find a successor, but he could never find one. In the original work, it was Han Laomo who took over. The trope of being the number one swordsman in Tiannan even extended into the Immortal Realm.
However, the situation is now far more difficult and complex than in the original story. Wei Wuyai found Lu Xuan ahead of time. The moment he saw Lu Xuan, he knew that Lu Xuan was a powerful cultivator in the late Nascent Soul stage, just like him. Moreover, Lu Xuan's magical power was incredibly profound, far surpassing Wei Wuyai's. These powerful cultivators all possess extremely keen spiritual senses. He could even sense a deadly danger emanating from Lu Xuan.
"Fellow Daoist Wei's dedication to the cultivation world is admirable. However, it's too early to discuss these matters now. Let's address the issue of the Mulan people first. As far as I know, the Mulan people attacked Tiannan because they were defeated by the Tuwu people on the grasslands. The Tuwu people are currently ambitious and expanding in all directions. The situation in Tiannan is more complex and dangerous than it appears. We need to plan carefully."
Wei Wuyai gave a bitter smile.
"Sect Leader Lu truly has a clearer perspective than an outsider. It's a pity that too many people in Tiannan can't see this. Little do they know, even if we defeat the Mulan people with all our might, we will inevitably face another invasion from the Tuwu people. In fact, the best solution is to negotiate peace. We can cede some land on the border of Tiannan to the Mulan people and let them fight the Tuwu people while we recuperate in the rear. But after fighting for so long, there is already a deep-seated blood feud between the entire Tiannan region and the Mulan people. How can we negotiate peace so easily?"
"Negotiations do not necessarily mean stopping the fighting. If all else fails, then we should negotiate peace through war."
"To negotiate peace through war?"
“That’s right, set up a arena. Have a few matches to settle old scores. Ten matches between Nascent Soul stage cultivators, ten matches between Golden Core stage cultivators, and ten matches between Foundation Establishment stage cultivators. Let the sects with grudges send someone up for a match. The outcome will determine the rights and interests of both sides.”
"...This is feasible. I need to discuss it with a few other old friends. Sect Leader Lu, please..."
"I won't go," Lu Xuan interrupted Wei Wuyai's invitation.
"According to certain agreements, I cannot take action unless those juniors provoke me. You can discuss this matter yourselves. Don't worry, if Tiannan really can't hold on, I will definitely not stand idly by."
Upon hearing Lu Xuan's words, Wei Wuyai's expression changed slightly, as if he had remembered something. He looked up and gazed deeply at Lu Xuan, his expression a mixture of shock and envy.
"By the way, Fellow Daoist Wei, I have a friend named Yuan Yao. She came to Tiannan from overseas via a teleportation array. She may have fallen into the hands of the Mulan people. If possible, could you please keep an eye out for her?"
"Of course, Sect Master Lu, rest assured, I will do my utmost to oversee this matter." As a veteran late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, Wei Wuyai clearly understood some of the secrets and knew what Lu Xuan meant by the agreement. Therefore, he said no more, but cupped his hands in greeting and turned to leave.
Lu Xuan didn't linger and turned to fly in another direction.
Lu Xuan's journey took over a year. He even traversed a desert along the way. This desert was constantly battered by fierce winds. Even with Lu Xuan's incredibly strong physical body and spirit, he couldn't sustain flight for long periods within it. In the end, he had to cross the desert on foot, finally arriving in the far west.
People in the far west actually know about this place. But because it's so far away, separated by that desert, basically nobody cares.
The Thousand Bamboo Sect was once one of the strongest sects in the far west. Of course, that was then; now, the Thousand Bamboo Sect is just a small, insignificant force. Facing Lu Xuan, a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, they were utterly powerless. Lu Xuan easily obtained the Great Evolution Technique he desired. However, unfortunately, he couldn't find the puppet possessed by the Great Evolution Divine Lord.
It's understandable, considering this guy claimed to have existed within a puppet for tens of thousands of years in the original story. If the disciples of the sect knew, they would have taken him back long ago. He's probably trapped somewhere and can't move around easily. Of course, the author didn't specify. After all, the Great Evolution Divine Lord was a genuine cheat code the author gave Han Laomo.
After wandering around the Thousand Bamboo Sect area, Lu Xuan still couldn't find the Great Evolution Divine Lord. Lu Xuan was somewhat frustrated; the original novel didn't elaborate on this part of the story. However, just as Lu Xuan was about to leave in disappointment, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure.
Old Demon Han has also arrived. This is not surprising; during his Foundation Establishment stage, he had come into contact with members of the Thousand Bamboo Sect and even obtained the first three volumes of the Great Evolution Technique. The Great Evolution Technique is considered a top-tier method for cultivating the soul, a supreme art for refining the spirit. Old Demon Han, having benefited greatly from his powerful soul, would certainly not let such an opportunity slip by.
Lu Xuan thought for a moment, then his aura vanished, and he secretly followed Han Laomo.
Old Demon Han clearly didn't know the exact location either. However, he somehow found some clues and had a clear objective. Eventually, he found a hidden cave.
This is probably some kind of safe house for the Great Evolution God. It's just a pity that after his soul entered it, he never came out again.
The cave dwelling naturally had various restrictions. However, it's estimated that the Great Evolution Divine Lord was in too much of a hurry back then and didn't have the strength to reinforce these restrictions. In addition, due to the great passage of time, Old Demon Han eventually managed to enter it after spending some effort.
Lu Xuan followed him inside, but as soon as he entered, he paused, a slight smile playing on his lips. With a casual wave of his hand, a bolt of azure lightning struck a spot in the void not far away.
The next second, Han Laomo's figure suddenly appeared. Thirty-six flying swords crackling with golden lightning enveloped Lu Xuan's entire body.
"Is this the Azure Bamboo Bee Cloud Sword?" Lu Xuan replied casually. Three shields appeared around him. Under the Heavenly Imperial Runes, all thirty-six flying swords were blocked.
Old Demon Han's expression changed. Countless sword lights merged into one in mid-air, transforming into a giant cyan sword.
However, Lu Xuan ignored the giant sword above his head. Instead, his body crackled with electricity as he nimbly shifted and leaped within a very small space. When he reappeared, he was holding a small, cyan figure in his hand. It was actually a Nascent Soul cultivator, Han Laomo's second Nascent Soul.
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Chapter 526 The Road Ahead is Broken