Chapter 238

The moment Anuo returned to Lingquan Mountain, she felt her eyes burn.

Lu Xingzhou was sitting in a wheelchair, holding Shen Tang, as they appeared to be "strolling" around the pond.

"Feel here... See if there's a bump?"

"Oh, there is! Press it down?"

"No, that will fire."

Anuo paused, thinking intently.

"Oh, Anuo," Shen Tang exclaimed, spotting her and waving cheerfully. "Come here and give your master's wife a kiss."

Anuo reluctantly shuffled over with small, quick steps.

"You two are acting improperly outdoors in broad daylight! How can you have the nerve to let a child witness this? Where's your shame? Won't Mr. Ye be sick to his stomach inside the house?"

As she grudgingly drew closer, Anuo realized this wasn't the wheelchair Shen Tang had been using these past two days; it was Lu Xingzhou's.

Lu Xingzhou said, "I'm teaching your master's wife how to use this wheelchair. It's fully equipped with all sorts of functions, much better than her ordinary one."

It dawned on Anuo.

So, what they were pressing earlier was the mechanism for the Pear Blossom Needles in a Storm!

If Shen Tang were to go into battle, sitting in a wheelchair would obviously severely limit her capabilities. But with Lu Xingzhou's model, it was different; once she mastered its various functions, it might even boost her combat strength. Word spreading outside could also create the impression that "her broken leg still hinders her in actual combat; the high-end wheelchair merely compensates somewhat." This way, Gu Zhanting wouldn't think even a broken leg couldn't stop her, as she would still be relying on external aids.

But... wasn't this wheelchair the most important item Sister Yu crafted for Master? Was he just giving it away like that?

"What are you staring at? Come, spar with Tangtang."

Anuo asked, "Why doesn't Master spar?"

"I can't strike hard enough, it wouldn't achieve the desired effect... Uh, no, I need to sit here and instruct on its various uses."

Anuo said, "Then I can't strike hard either. I recommend someone else who absolutely can strike hard... Someone who will make this wheelchair smoke from every joint."

Shen Tang asked curiously, "Who?"

Anuo immediately ran towards the house, shouting, "Teacher! Teacher! Master called you an old woman!"

Shen Tang: "?"

From inside the house, a large, ethereal hand reached out and seized the wheelchair as if grabbing a chicken.

Not yet proficient with the wheelchair, Shen Tang instinctively activated a protective shield immediately. The large hand squeezed the shield, and with a "crack," the incredibly sturdy barrier cracked like an eggshell, though it didn't shatter completely.

Lu Xingzhou broke out in a cold sweat, just about to instruct Shen Tang to use the eject function and escape, when the entire wheelchair was lifted and casually tossed.

With a "splash," the wheelchair and the couple in it tumbled into the pond. After gurgling and splashing a couple of times, they both popped out of the water simultaneously, shouting, "Lu Anuo!"

Anuo poked her head out from the house, stuck out her tongue, and made a face. "Isn't this just helping you get familiar with the wheelchair? Was that force strong enough?"

The next moment, the large hand moved behind her, pinched Anuo's collar with two fingers, lifted her entire body, and "whoosh," tossed her into the pond as well.

Silence fell upon the world.

Ye Tinglan's voice drifted leisurely from the house: "This wheelchair, both in its materials and its inherent energy, is only at the upper fourth-grade level. It's not that the crafter didn't give you something good; rather, your abilities at the time couldn't wield anything of a higher grade. Although it appears to have many functions now, its power is insufficient for battles involving cultivators of the third rank and above."

Lu Xingzhou, ignoring his disheveled state, hastily asked, "Teacher, can it be modified?"

"This item of yours is partly a magical artifact and partly a mechanical construct. I'm not familiar with forging, but your Heavenly Sword Sect has its own forging hall, so you can figure out how to add materials and reforge it yourselves. As for its inherent power... the internal magic arrays need adjustment, and the built-in core energy source needs to be replaced. It's too late to find a suitable treasure to serve as the core right now, so for now, we'll just modify the arrays and materials."

Shen Tang was furious from being thrown into the water, but hearing this, she completely forgot her anger and quickly asked, "What kind of core is needed?"

Ye Tinglan said blandly, "What, are you uneasy about the upcoming battle?"

Shen Tang said, "This isn't about me relying on it for battle; it's Lu Xingzhou's most important flying artifact!"

Ye Tinglan was silent for a moment, then replied, "There aren't too many requirements. Any highly compatible treasure with inherent energy of at least the third rank will do. If your spirit stone mine contains spirit crystals or even spirit marrow, that would work."

Shen Tang thought for a moment and pulled a precious pearl from her ring. "Will this work?"

Ye Tinglan fell silent for even longer, unsure whether to mention that he recognized it as the famous Royal Mountain and River Pearl, a treasure created by gathering the power of all mountains and rivers. Such a pearl typically served as a personal secondary energy reserve, providing a backup source to counter-attack even when exhausted. Not even the younger imperial princes possessed such an item, as there were only a few in the world. And she was going to use it for her lover's wheelchair?

But then he reconsidered; it wasn't as if it couldn't be disassembled. "Never mind," he said. "Since that's the case, you two go to the forging hall first. I'll help you rework the core later."

Shen Tang splashed out of the water, paddling the wheelchair straight for the forging hall, while Lu Xingzhou seemed to want to say something but held back.

How to put it... If even this wheelchair was modified, then there would truly be nothing left of the original essence associated with Yuan Muyu. His main cultivation technique had changed, the primary soul of his soul banner was different, and now the wheelchair's core and materials were being replaced... His alchemy teacher had changed, his alchemy flame was newly acquired, and even his alchemy furnace was stolen from Burning Incense Pavilion. But this wheelchair would need an upgrade sooner or later, otherwise, it wouldn't keep up with his needs. If the "fishy" scent was gone, then so be it... Perhaps only the learned combat skills and array knowledge remained; what was learned was learned and would never be forgotten.

"What's wrong?" Ye Tinglan's voice came. "You seem to be reminiscing about something."

Lu Xingzhou entered the house and saw Ye Tinglan sitting cross-legged by the bed. That familiar face always gave him the illusion of time and space intersecting. He seemed to have something to say, but knowing it wasn't *that* person, he felt there was no point in saying anything.

Ye Tinglan opened his eyes, met his gaze, and frowned slightly.

"How impudent."

"I'm not reminiscing about anything, and there's no meaning to it," Lu Xingzhou said, lowering his gaze. "It's just that old memories occasionally flash through my mind, especially when there's a trigger... I can't completely forget; after all, I'm not an immortal. It's true for revenge, and it's naturally true for other things too."

Ye Tinglan said, "You know that immortals are supposed to be free of emotions... People who are too sentimental can be wounded by memories at any moment, which is detrimental to cultivation. You seem to cultivate quickly, but perhaps the third rank will be an extremely difficult hurdle for you."

Lu Xingzhou smiled. "I haven't reached that hurdle yet, so who knows? Let nature take its course."

Ye Tinglan had always told his own disciples to let nature take its course, yet he felt Lu Xingzhou's case was different from theirs. But after all, he wasn't Lu Xingzhou's true master, so there was nothing more to say. He changed the subject. "As for your arena challenge, don't expect me to intervene significantly."

"I know," Lu Xingzhou replied. "I never planned for you to be the main force. It's not just about not wanting to trouble you; more importantly, this battle is meant to showcase the Heavenly Sword Sect's own prestige."

Ye Tinglan seemed to scoff. "Based on your display just now, hugging each other in a wheelchair and pressing bumps?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "It's just that the whole world has underestimated Shen Tang."

Even Gu Zhanting, or princes like Prince Jin and Prince Qi, have underestimated Shen Tang. Otherwise, they wouldn't have merely broken her leg and used third-rate forces like Burning Incense Pavilion to pressure her... Even this time, there's still no decisive, thunderous action.

They are destined to regret it.

Three days passed in a flash.

These three days were enough for the arena challenge between the Heavenly Sword Sect and the East River Gang to become widely known, drawing many spectators not just from Xiazhou but also from surrounding prefectures and counties. This was a duel featuring several third-rank cultivators on the surface, a high-stakes event that most ordinary cultivators might never witness in their lifetime. While ostensibly a comparison of whose "escorts" offered greater security, it was clear even to a child that this was a battle to determine the true leader of Dongjiang Prefecture.

The victor would see their influence skyrocket, with potentially hundreds of vassal forces seeking refuge under their banner overnight. Within the entire prefecture, there would be no dissenting voices; they would rule supreme over a vast territory. Furthermore, this battle allowed for external aid, ostensibly to demonstrate that "connections are crucial in the martial world," but in reality, it also served to prove local dominance and whose network of connections was stronger.

It was widely known that the Heavenly Sword Sect had no significant network of connections. As the saying goes, "tea gets cold when people leave." Even if the old Sect Master had some connections, they were primarily in distant Yongzhou and would hardly benefit the current, entirely new sect. For others to step forward, mediate, or speak a few words on their behalf would already be out of respect for an old deceased friend; expecting significant assistance would be asking too much.

The East River Gang, on the other hand, had operated locally for so many years, establishing connections everywhere, and even boasted stronger backers. Just looking at the people seated by the arena, besides Shi Tielong, there was also Daoist Jingxu, the Sect Master of Lingyun Sect, proving Lingyun Sect's complete merger with the East River Gang. There was also Shi Chong, a second-rank elder of the Canglan Sect, and it was unclear if any of the fellow disciples he brought were also of the second rank. And who else might be backing Lingyun Sect?

People heard that Shen Tang was very strong, having exchanged a palm strike with Shi Chong and fought to a standstill. But that was just a palm strike! In a real fight, did they know how many unknown techniques a second-rank powerhouse possessed? Even if you could win, you'd likely be injured. How many do you think you could face? What if another second-rank cultivator appeared?

No matter how one looked at it, it seemed like a one-sided defeat. People simply couldn't imagine how Shen Tang dared to agree to such a challenge. One could only say that young people were full of vigor; a little achievement and they began to swell with arrogance.

A chilling sword intent permeated the distance. People's discussions gradually quieted down, and they turned their heads to look.

Lu Xingzhou walked at the front, pushing Shen Tang. To his left, a little girl was eating candied hawthorn, and to his right, another woman of mature grace drifted along. Behind them, a group in snow-white robes moved like a disciplined sword formation; each person resembled a drawn blade, and a chilling aura pierced the sky.

Many people gasped inwardly.

They had heard that the Heavenly Sword Sect was a mixed sect, comprising members from the Danxia Gang, Burning Incense Pavilion, and recently recruited disciples from the Dan Ding Gang, all from diverse backgrounds. Yet, such a motley crew had managed to cultivate a unified and fierce sword intent in such a short time. How had they achieved such cohesion?

And Shen Tang... they had never imagined that a person with a broken leg could be so beautiful. Sitting in a wheelchair didn't diminish her grace at all; instead, it added a touch of fragile beauty, so captivating that merely looking at her could make one hesitate to draw a weapon. Could she truly be a Sect Master? Could she command and subdue formidable soldiers and fierce generals?

And there wasn't just one such beautiful woman among them. Who was that beauty walking to Lu Xingzhou's right? She was like a heavenly goddess descended to the mortal world. At least at that moment, no one could tell who was more beautiful, she or Shen Tang. What people didn't know was that in their Emperor's heart, this woman was the most beautiful under heaven, whereas his own daughter, Shen Tang, was utterly ordinary by comparison.

Someone began to whisper, "Is it too late for me to join the Heavenly Sword Sect now?"

"Join what? They're probably about to be hammered into the dirt!"

"So what? The peak attracts false supporters; twilight reveals true believers! I want to accompany them as they rise from the mire..."

"Lu Xingzhou has already done that, wake up."

Upon arriving outside the arena, Lu Xingzhou stopped.

Behind him, everyone halted in unison, demonstrating disciplined and strict obedience. Now, looking at the motley appearance of the East River Gang, Lingyun Sect, and others, strange thoughts arose in people's minds... Who exactly was the irregular force that had only been established for just over half a year?

Shen Tang spoke softly, her voice carrying in all directions: "Heavenly Sword Sect's Shen Tang, bringing my disciples to answer the challenge."