C22 Meeting Su Xue Again

Dispatching Lu Hong had been no simple feat for Lu Chen. At that moment, he had depleted over half of his elemental energy, so he swiftly retrieved a Qi Recovering Pill from his storage ring and swallowed it. The pill worked its magic instantly, sending a warm current through his body, and within moments, his elemental energy was nearly fully restored.

The Lu family members watched Lu Chen from the edge of the deep pit, their faces etched with anxiety. They remained silent and motionless, their cold sweat falling silently as the atmosphere hung heavy with tension. They were acutely aware that their destinies now hinged on Lu Chen's decisions.

One individual, braver than the rest, stepped forward and asked with a quivering voice, "Lu... Lu Chen, do you truly intend to annihilate your own family?"

Regaining his composure, Lu Chen turned to see the speaker was a middle-aged man dressed in white—the Seventh Elder of the Lu family and the sole survivor among the current seven elders.

After a brief contemplation, Lu Chen shook his head. He was not one to kill without cause; the majority of the Lu family had no quarrel with him.

Relief washed over the crowd as they saw Lu Chen's negative response. However, in the next instant, Lu Chen's gaze lingered on a few young men in the crowd. With a swift motion, he dashed among them.

"Pfft, pfft, pfft..." Blood spattered as bodies burst apart violently.

The crowd was taken aback by the abrupt turn of events, stumbling backward in shock.

"The Lu family need not be destroyed, but these individuals have bullied and insulted me in the past—they must die!" Lu Chen declared, his words hanging in the air as the onlookers watched in fear. He then turned and walked away, Uncle Mo following behind him.

As Lu Chen was about to leave the Lu family compound, the Seventh Elder called out from behind, "Wait, Lu Chen, with the Patriarch now deceased, would you consider assuming the role yourself?"

The crowd was visibly startled by the proposition. A flicker of hope sparked in the eyes of some, clearly understanding the gravity of the situation. The Lu family had been greatly weakened, and without a formidable leader, they risked plummeting to the status of a third-rate clan. With Lu Chen as Patriarch, not only could the family's prestigious position be preserved, but there was also the potential to dominate River City unchallenged.

Lu Chen was well aware of their thoughts, a cold smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

The idea of him becoming the patriarch of the Lu family was laughable. He had no intention of obliterating the Lu family today, but he was equally determined to sever all ties with them.

Without hesitation, Lu Chen, with Uncle Mo in tow, slowly walked away from the Lu family compound.

...

Time slipped by silently, and before anyone realized it, three days had passed.

These three days were anything but peaceful for River City.

The upheaval within the Lu family swept through River City like a tempest, causing an uproar.

The Lu family, one of River City's three great families, had secured their position as the preeminent family just ten days prior by killing the Chen family patriarch and severely wounding the Tang family.

For such a dominant family to suddenly topple from grace was shocking: the patriarch dead, six of the seven elders gone. How could the people of River City not be astounded?

Adding to the city's disbelief was the fact that the one responsible was none other than Lu Chen, the so-called waste of the Lu family!

While the city reeled from the shock, Lu Chen remained nonchalant.

In those three days, aside from caring for Uncle Mo, he spent his time cultivating in the mountains behind the family estate.

After concluding his cultivation, Lu Chen opened his eyes, ready to leave the mountain.

Just then, he paused, turning to see a stunning woman in simple clothing approaching with graceful steps.

Upon recognizing her, Lu Chen's initial surprise gave way to a welcoming smile.

They walked towards each other, coming to a halt ten meters apart.

Su Xue gazed at Lu Chen, extending her delicate hand, her lips parting to speak, "Return the Storage Ring to me."

"The Storage Ring?" Lu Chen feigned surprise, chuckling, "I was quite clear that day. The ring was my reward for saving you. Why would I return it?"

Unfazed, Su Xue's gaze swept over Lu Chen, and with a subtle shift in her tone, she inquired, "You've cultivated the Pure Yuan Art, haven't you?"

Upon hearing her words, Lu Chen wasn't surprised. Clearly, Su Xue had arrived quite some time ago. Earlier, while he was meditating, the Yuan Power flowing through him had been detected by her.

Lu Chen nodded, offering no denial.

Su Xue went on to explain, "The Pure Yuan Art is a cultivation technique exclusive to my Essence Star Sect. It is forbidden for non-disciples to practice it. Should anyone be discovered doing so, the elders of our sect will take it upon themselves to personally strip the offender of their cultivation."

"Is that a threat?" Lu Chen's expression grew stern.

Su Xue simply stood there, her smile enigmatic and wordless.

Lu Chen's mood darkened further at her silence. If what she claimed was true, the situation was indeed dire.

On the True Spirit Continent, the hierarchy of sects was held in the highest regard.

The sects adhered to a rigid grading system, with nine distinct levels, Grade One being the lowest and Grade Nine the highest.

The Essence Star Sect, a Grade Two sect, was among the top four sects within the Song Country, boasting a strength that ranked high among its peers.

Even the weakest Grade One sects were protected by at least one Essence Breaking Stage expert, a force far beyond what someone of Lu Chen's modest Essence Gathering Stage could possibly challenge.

The thought of being hunted by the sect's elders for practicing the Pure Yuan Art was too grim to contemplate.

As his thoughts raced, a sliver of lethal intent began to rise within him.

Lu Chen's eyes narrowed as he fixed his gaze on Su Xue.

She was the only one aware of his practice of the Pure Yuan Art. If he could eliminate her, all his troubles would vanish.

With this in mind, Lu Chen subtly began to channel his Yuan Power, taking a stealthy step forward, his posture coiled and ready to strike.

However, just as Lu Chen was about to act, Su Xue's smile bloomed, her beauty as breathtaking as an alpine lotus, sending shivers through the heart.

Suddenly, Lu Chen felt an overwhelming presence emanating from Su Xue, locking onto him with an inescapable grip.

"Essence Gathering Layer Four?"

The power radiating from her was unmistakable, and even Lu Chen's pupils shrank in response. He hadn't anticipated that the stunning woman before him was a formidable expert of the Essence Gathering Layer Four. In a confrontation, he would stand no chance at all.

Lu Chen's face was etched with gravity as he gripped his hands tightly.

Unaware of the shift in Lu Chen's expression, Su Xue spoke slowly, "I came here solely to reclaim my storage ring. Of course, I didn't come to take it for nothing. My mission was to recruit disciples for our sect, but I was unexpectedly sabotaged by a fellow sect member and my mission was thwarted."

Lu Chen let out a breath and asked, "Are you trying to entice me to join the Essence Star Sect?"

Su Xue nodded affirmatively, "Indeed, joining the Essence Star Sect would be entirely beneficial for you. You'd gain access to cultivation resources, and the issue of mastering the Pure Yuan Art would be resolved with ease! What are your thoughts?"

After a moment of contemplation, Lu Chen realized that with Su Xue's strength, it was virtually impossible for him to consider silencing her. Besides, becoming a disciple of the Essence Star Sect seemed like a favorable prospect.

"Fine, I agree to your proposal. I'll become a disciple of the Essence Star Sect, and you can have your storage ring back. However, I have some unresolved matters in River City that I must attend to. Wait for me for three days, and we'll meet at the gates of River City."

"Agreed," Su Xue accepted without hesitation.

Lu Chen stepped forward, removed the pink storage ring from his finger, and tossed it to Su Xue before swiftly departing.

He had already transferred the valuable contents from that storage ring to another. Aside from a few articles of clothing and some jewelry, it was empty.

Su Xue caught the storage ring and infused a wisp of her elemental power into it. After a while, her expression softened.

Clearly, she was more concerned about those items than their material value...