novelraw Chapter 319: First Encounter with Zhu Jiuge
Chapter 319: First Encounter with Zhu Jiuge
After stepping out of the teleportation formation, Long Xuan glanced around and, seeing no one in the vicinity, quickly departed.
He headed straight toward Qingshan City, where the Teng Clan resided.
Qingshan City was a territory of the Glorious Moon Empire, located about a ten-day journey away. At full speed, he would just make it in time.
From Di Xin, Long Xuan had learned that the Glorious Moon Empire was at war with the Dragon Soar Empire. As a result, Qingshan City, which served as a rear stronghold, had been left defenseless, with most of its Spiritual Sea-stage Gu cultivators and Gu Kings deployed elsewhere.
Currently, the Teng Clan had no Gu Kings stationed, and there were only a few Spiritual Sea-stage cultivators left. For Long Xuan, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Otherwise, with multiple Gu Kings guarding the Teng Clan, he wouldn’t dare risk such a reckless endeavor.
At full speed, Long Xuan traveled for about an hour when he suddenly sensed movement beneath the ground. His expression changed, and without thinking, he dodged to the side.
Just then, a pool of water seeped from underground, slowly condensing into the shape of a young man. The man looked at Long Xuan with a cold smirk.
“Your reaction is quite sharp. You’ve been tailing me since Xue Island—what’s your purpose?” the young man questioned first.
“How absurd. The road doesn’t belong to you; I can travel wherever I please. If you’re so bothered, why don’t you change your path? I guarantee I won’t follow!” Long Xuan retorted while observing the young man closely. The man’s aura was at the peak of the Marrow Cleansing stage. If they were headed in the same direction, it was highly likely that he too was after the Teng Clan’s Earth Spirit Fruit.
The sudden appearance of such a formidable competitor was not good news for Long Xuan.
It seemed that the war between the Glorious Moon Empire and the Dragon Soar Empire had created a power vacuum, tempting many greedy individuals to take advantage of the opportunity.
Long Xuan suspected that this young man was not the only one targeting the Teng Clan’s Earth Spirit Fruit. Other groups might also be planning to infiltrate the clan and steal the fruit.
In particular, those desperate rogue cultivators nearing the end of their lifespans, who couldn’t afford 'Breakthrough Pills', might take the risk of raiding the Teng Clan.
This growing competition would only complicate Long Xuan’s efforts.
The young man smirked and said, “If you’re not following me, then it seems we’re just traveling the same path?”
“Judging by your peak Marrow Cleansing stage, you must also be after the Teng Clan’s Earth Spirit Fruit.”
“The Teng Clan is surely facing numerous threats beyond just the two of us. I need a reliable partner—how about we work together?”
“We can cooperate against mutual enemies, share intelligence, and split the spoils equally. What do you think?” The young man looked at Long Xuan with a grin.
“I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you,” Long Xuan replied with a wry smile. “I can’t share much intelligence with you.”
“All I know is that the war between the Glorious Moon Empire and the Dragon Soar Empire has left Qingshan City defenseless. Most of the Gu Kings and Spiritual Sea-level cultivators have been deployed, leaving only a few behind in the Teng Clan.”
“I’m sure you already know this. Otherwise, you wouldn’t dare attempt to raid the Teng Clan either.”
Long Xuan was telling the truth. Most of the intelligence he had came from Di Xin, who was now unavailable due to unforeseen circumstances. This left Long Xuan with minimal knowledge of the Teng Clan, forcing him to rely on improvisation.
“You’re stating the obvious,” the young man scoffed. “Very well, to show my sincerity, I’m willing to share some intelligence.”
“But in exchange, I need your help to kill someone. This person is certain to head to the Teng Clan.”
The young man’s eyes flashed with murderous intent.
“Who do you want to kill? If it’s someone too troublesome, I might reconsider,” Long Xuan asked instinctively.
“I need your help to kill someone named Long Xuan. Don’t worry, I’ll handle the main attack—you just need to assist.”
“Judging by how you dodged my attack earlier, your skills are anything but ordinary. That’s precisely why I want to work with you. If you can evade my attacks, you’ll surely evade his. He won’t be able to kill you.”
Hearing this, Long Xuan’s expression turned peculiar.
He wanted 'himself' to kill 'himself'? The sheer absurdity of the situation was laughable.
Hiring someone to assassinate him only to unwittingly recruit him? This Shui Juanyun truly had talent for comedy.
Without a doubt, this person was Shui Juanyun. His hatred for Long Xuan clearly ran deep, stemming from a mere framing incident.
At the moment, Long Xuan was in disguise, which explained why Shui Juanyun didn’t recognize him, leading to this farcical encounter.
Given the recent destruction of the Xue Clan by a mysterious force and the residual effects of the Repair Insect, Long Xuan wouldn’t dare reveal his true identity during such chaotic times.
“How can you be so sure that Long Xuan will come to the Teng Clan?” Long Xuan asked curiously.
The fact that Shui Juanyun was confident about his plans intrigued him—after all, only Di Xin knew of his intentions.
“Hmph! I can’t say it’s a certainty, but there’s at least a 90% chance.”
“I’ve fought him before and know that he possesses the Ten Absolute Physique.”
“Anyone with the Ten Absolute Physique faces an almost unbreakable bottleneck. Ordinary Breakthrough Pills won’t work—they require the most potent breakthrough treasures.”
“In this region, the Earth Spirit Fruit is his only option.”
“Unless he’s given up on breaking through, he’ll definitely come to the Teng Clan to seize the opportunity.” Shui Juanyun’s eyes glinted with ferocity.
He harbored a deep-seated hatred for Long Xuan.
Not only had Long Xuan’s schemes led to the destruction of his Spiritual Sea-stage body, forcing him to find a new vessel and start over, but they had also caused him to lose all his wealth. Unable to afford even second-grade Breakthrough Pills, Shui Juanyun had no choice but to gamble everything on raiding the Teng Clan.
Moreover, Shui Juanyun was obsessed with obtaining the Repair Insect, one of the treasures in Long Xuan’s possession.
“Alright, I’ll join forces with you to eliminate this Long Xuan. Rest assured—if I act, Long Xuan is as good as dead.”
“Now, let’s hear the intelligence you have,” Long Xuan said, steering the conversation toward his goal.
No matter the mission, intelligence was critical. The more he learned about the Teng Clan, the higher his chances of successfully stealing the Earth Spirit Fruit.
Seeing Long Xuan agree to his proposal, Shui Juanyun smirked. With such a skilled partner, he was confident that he could kill Long Xuan this time.
“This is the Teng Clan’s map. Memorize the layout first, and I’ll share more details as we travel.”
Shui Juanyun tossed a map to Long Xuan before turning and continuing on his way...
Half a month later, Qingshan City.
As Long Xuan and Shui Juanyun approached the city gates, they saw a group of Gu cultivators dressed in blue uniforms rushing out of the city.
The group appeared anxious, with five of them, exuding the aura of the Spiritual Sea Stage, standing out. These five led the charge at the front of the group.
From the information Shui Juanyun had provided earlier, Long Xuan knew these blue uniforms belonged to the Teng Clan’s Gu cultivators.
Many large clans wore uniforms representing their clan, such as the Long Clan, whose members typically wore black robes embroidered with dragons. The number of dragon claws symbolized the individual’s status within the clan.
Similarly, the Teng Clan’s Gu cultivators usually wore blue robes adorned with clouds. The number of cloud patterns indicated their rank.
Thus, it wasn’t difficult for Long Xuan to recognize that this group was undoubtedly from the Teng Clan.
Long Xuan’s mind stirred. Why were these Teng Clan Gu cultivators, with anxious expressions, rushing out of the city at this particular moment?
These elite Teng Clan members could have left earlier or later, yet they chose to leave now—on such a sensitive day—with evident urgency. It increasingly felt like a 'luring the tiger away from the mountain' strategy.
Clearly, Long Xuan and Shui Juanyun weren’t the only ones interested in the Teng Clan’s Earth Spirit Fruit.
Someone had already begun their move, attempting to draw away the Teng Clan’s limited protective forces using this diversionary tactic.
Judging by the situation, the 'luring the tiger away from the mountain' strategy seemed to have worked.
The departure of five Spiritual Sea Stage Teng Clan cultivators significantly reduced the difficulty for Long Xuan and Shui Juanyun to steal the fruit—a development they welcomed.
Shui Juanyun glanced in the direction the group had rushed and commented, "Judging by their trajectory, they seem to be heading toward the northern mining district. It looks like something has happened there."
A sly smile tugged at Shui Juanyun’s lips. “It seems someone else is using a diversion tactic against the Teng Clan. This is getting more and more interesting.”
“Just as I suspected—the Teng Clan’s defenses are thin. Many will seize this opportunity to target the Earth Spirit Fruit.”
“Let’s enter the city now.”
Shui Juanyun stopped paying attention to the group and swiftly headed toward the city.
Long Xuan followed closely behind, though he made sure to memorize the faces and physiques of the five Spiritual Sea Stage Teng Clan cultivators.
---
Before long, the two arrived at the Teng Clan’s main gate.
The Teng Clan residence was bustling with activity, adorned with lanterns and festive decorations. Red “Double Happiness” characters were plastered everywhere. Guests were coming and going through the main gate, and the courtyard echoed with laughter.
Long Xuan had already learned from Shui Juanyun that the Teng Clan was arranging a marriage alliance with the prominent Lin Clan. The Teng Clan’s eldest son was marrying a beautiful Gu cultivator from the Lin Clan today.
Thus, he wasn’t surprised by the celebratory scene in front of him.
At the moment, a long line had formed outside the Teng Clan’s gate. Everyone was holding gifts in their hands.
These were all Gu cultivators from various clans who had come to attend the wedding banquet. At the entrance, Teng Clan Gu cultivators announced the gifts loudly for everyone to hear.
“Wu Clan Patriarch, Wu Tian, gifts a thousand-year-old spiritual herb!”
Long Xuan had just arrived when he heard this announcement. He couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. With the Teng Clan’s Gu cultivators proclaiming gifts so loudly, no one would dare present anything cheap.
“Hmph! With so many people here, the Teng Clan will surely divert a large number of guards to entertain these distinguished guests. Their defenses in the hidden grounds will inevitably be thin.”
“They could have held this wedding at any other time, but they chose today. Truly, the heavens are on our side!”
Shui Juanyun let out a cold laugh and walked forward quickly.
He didn’t bother lining up. Instead, he strode directly to the Teng Clan Gu cultivator accepting gifts and arrogantly declared, “Shui Clan gifts a peak-grade spiritual weapon, the Crescent Blade!”
With those words, he placed a curved blade onto the tray held by the Teng Clan Gu cultivator.
This blade originally belonged to the former owner. However, since he wielded a sword rather than a blade, he simply used the blade as a gift, showing no attachment to it.
Initially, when someone cut in line, both the members of the Teng Clan practicing Gu and the guests behind them were ready to shout in protest.
But when they heard that the individual was from the Shui Clan, everyone fell silent at once.
Even the Teng Clan Gu cultivator responsible for receiving the gifts stopped himself from speaking out.
The Teng Clan, though considered a prominent family in Qingshan City, was insignificant on the grand scale of the Central Lands.
In contrast, the Shui Clan was a renowned and powerful family across the entire Central Lands. Apart from royal families of various nations, there were hardly any forces stronger than the Shui Clan.
The Teng Clan compared to the Shui Clan was like mud to clouds — an insurmountable difference. How could the Teng Clan afford to offend such a force?
Powerful clans always enjoyed privileges. Even cutting the line was permissible, and those being cut off wouldn't dare to complain.
When they heard that a Gu cultivator from the Shui Clan had arrived, all the Teng Clan Gu cultivators were initially stunned but quickly displayed expressions of excitement.
For a great family like the Shui Clan to send representatives to the Teng Clan’s wedding banquet was an immense honor for the Teng Clan. How could they not be thrilled?
“From the Shui Clan! Presenting a peak-grade spiritual artifact!”
The Teng Clan Gu cultivator shouted loudly, his voice filled with excitement.
Immediately, the eyes of everyone in attendance turned toward Shui Juanyun.
Shui Juanyun sighed inwardly. He knew that being overly conspicuous would be detrimental to his mission.
However, he had no choice. He was most familiar with the Shui Clan, and using their name reduced the risk of exposure.
Now that he could not return to his own home, he could only occasionally borrow the Shui Clan’s identity.
After presenting the gift, Shui Juanyun did not linger and walked directly into the venue.
Long Xuan shamelessly said, “I’m with him,” and followed him inside without hesitation.
The Teng Clan Gu cultivator believed him and did not stop him, allowing Long Xuan to enter without presenting a gift. He effectively gained a free meal.
When word spread that a Gu cultivator from the Shui Clan had arrived, the head of the Teng Clan immediately showed a look of excitement. Without hesitation, he abandoned the guest he had been conversing with and hurried to greet them.
However, just as he approached Shui Juanyun, another excited shout rang out at the door.
“Zhu Clan’s top genius, Zhu Jiuge! Presenting a peak-grade Gu insect — the Hundred Poisons Gu!”
The announcement stunned everyone once more, drawing their attention toward the entrance.
The Zhu Clan was a clan as prestigious as the Shui Clan. Unlike the Shui Clan, however, the Zhu Clan’s main family was based in the Glorious Moon Empire, where their influence was far greater.
No one could have imagined that the Teng Clan’s wedding banquet would have enough face to attract representatives from the Zhu Clan.
What was the relationship between the Teng Clan and the Zhu Clan?
First, someone from the Shui Clan had arrived to offer congratulations, and now a representative from the Zhu Clan had appeared. Was the Teng Clan on the verge of rising to power? They had connected with so many powerful clans.
Many guests began reevaluating their relationship with the Teng Clan, their expressions fluctuating.
The head of the Teng Clan couldn’t hide his excitement. With such distinguished guests attending his family’s wedding banquet, he was overwhelmed with pride.
Immediately, he abandoned his path toward Shui Juanyun and turned to greet the newcomers.
In the Glorious Moon Empire, the Zhu Clan’s influence was far greater than that of the Shui Clan. It was clear which was more significant.
At the entrance, a tall woman holding a little girl’s hand walked in with a proud expression.
This was someone she had recently befriended at the academy. With some smooth talking, she had managed to convince her to attend her brother’s wedding banquet.
Zhu Jiuge, the Zhu Clan’s top genius, certainly didn’t disappoint. Her gift of a peak-grade Gu insect was a grand gesture.
The woman felt an immense sense of pride. Today, she had brought great honor to the Teng Clan.
At this moment, both Long Xuan and Shui Juanyun turned to look toward the commotion.
Long Xuan clicked his tongue and said, “Tsk, tsk. A peak-grade Gu insect as a gift? What an extravagant gesture. Does her family not care about the cost of peak-grade Gu insects?”
Shui Juanyun, seeing the small figure in the distance, let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, it wasn’t someone he was familiar with. If it had been Zhu Yue, that troublesome woman, things would have gotten far more complicated.
“The Zhu Clan could never have ties with the Teng Clan. That little girl is too naive and must have been deceived by the woman next to her.”
“To gift a peak-grade Gu insect right off the bat — she’s certainly generous.”
“Why won’t she give one to me? I’d love to be her friend!” Long Xuan exclaimed.
Shui Juanyun smiled bitterly. He was no longer the high-status young master of the Shui Clan that he once was.
His collection of peak-grade Gu insects had been wiped out in battle, and now, he was in desperate need of them.