Chapter 109: Will You Reforge Level Seven Again?

No matter what, I must first get in touch with Lu Yanchang.

Using spiritual transmission, Hong Jian sent a message: “Brother Lu, head straight to the front-left; I’ll come to meet you.”

Without a word, Lu Yanchang dragged the remaining few demonic creatures and rushed toward where Hong Jian was hiding. Watching him weave like a swimming fish, narrowly slipping out from between the black vines several times, Hong Jian silently marveled: “This must be the martial skill he bragged about. Without extraordinary martial prowess, relying on pure spiritual power alone, he wouldn’t have lasted this long.”

At first, Lu Yanchang was focused solely on escaping, maneuvering around a black orb, and had run several dozen feet before suddenly realizing and looking toward the front-left in surprise. He called out, “Who are you, sir? How do you know me, Lu?”

The spiritual communication gave no clues of gender. Lu Yanchang never expected to meet Hong Jian at such a desperate moment.

Hong Jian had no time for pleasantries and urged, “Brother Lu, let’s first figure out how to deal with these few demonic creatures. I only have Foundation Establishment cultivation and no spells to use—I’m not sure how I can assist you.”

She was already swiftly flying toward Lu Yanchang as she spoke.

“Foundation Establishment… Can you first distract two of them? I’ll figure out the rest.” Behind Lu Yanchang, six black orbs pursued him.

At that moment, Lu Yanchang caught sight of Hong Jian opposite him.

For a moment, his feet faltered, and the black vines lashed him sharply on the back.

But Lu Yanchang felt no pain. First, as he claimed, he had considerable achievement in martial arts. Unlike other cultivators locked in the Demonic Prison waiting for death, he had spent decades reclaiming and even advancing his abandoned martial skills. The lack of spiritual energy beneath the glacier actually gave him room to exert his strength. His entire body was suffused with internal power; taking a hit or two was no great harm. Moreover, his attention was captivated by the person appearing before him.

Lu Yanchang felt he must have been poisoned by the demons at some unknown time, causing hallucinations.

The one speaking to him was not a living person but a sea-dwelling spirit.

His internal energy cultivation was not as convenient as spiritual perception; he could barely discern the other’s form at a range of several dozen feet.

The “spirit” had extremely long hair. People often described beauties as having hair that flows to the ground, but Lu Yanchang, who fancied himself a connoisseur of beauties, usually found excessively long hair tiresome and dull. Yet this spirit gave no such impression; her long blue-black strands floated behind her, swaying gently with the water like a net of boundless magic, instantly capturing his gaze.

Her face was very pale—the kind of pallor from never seeing sunlight. Her large eyes appeared slightly distorted underwater, and most dangerously, her wet clothes clung tightly to her youthful, exquisitely curved body, nearly causing Lu Yanchang, who hadn’t seen a woman in decades, to stare wide-eyed.

He bit his tongue hard, thinking irrationally: “Could it be that the demonic cultivators, knowing my weakness for tender beauties, deliberately released her to tempt me?”

While he hesitated, the “spirit” had already drawn very close and transmitted a message through spiritual sound: “With my cultivation, two might be a stretch; I’ll try leading one first.” As she spoke, she waved her hand, stirring a vast amount of seawater. A wave crashed underwater toward the nearest black orb.

This beauty truly came to help him!

A female cultivator at Foundation Establishment stage, willing to help him—there seemed to be only one person fitting that description. Judging by the recent move, this female cultivator had a Water affinity. And Miss Fang claimed to be from the Danya Sect. Lu Yanchang could hardly believe what he was thinking. Trembling amidst the demon entanglement, he asked in a shaky voice, “Miss Fang?”

Hong Jian didn’t understand why the clever and quick-witted Lu Yanchang was suddenly so dull-witted but managed to reply briefly before focusing on the demons she had provoked.

Fortunately, this was underwater, and she could use the Water Condensation Technique; otherwise, even if she wanted to help, she couldn’t attract the demons’ attention.

Lu Yanchang was overjoyed, a surge of blood rushing to his head. He hurriedly said, “Wonderful, you escaped too. Heaven has truly opened its eyes. Miss Fang, be careful; just lure one. Come, listen to my command. When I count one, two, three, you lead it directly in front of me. Watch as my ‘Heart Sword’ pierces them all in a row!”

Hong Jian observed his movements and realized he was about to repeat his old trick.

That powerful strike just now was the ‘Heart Sword,’ a transitional Dan stage technique.

The Heart Sword was truly a single, direct strike, devastating and unstoppable. But no matter how skilled Lu Yanchang was, he couldn’t perfectly line up six groups of demons before him. His remaining spiritual energy was scarce, so he urgently needed assistance.

While escaping, Hong Jian asked with concern, “How many more times can you use your spiritual energy?”

This was crucial. If he only had one last strike left, in such a chaotic situation and separated by water, even if Hong Jian risked her life to help, it would be difficult for Lu Yanchang to annihilate all six demons at once.

Fortunately, Lu Yanchang answered, “Exactly two times.”

As he spoke, Lu Yanchang slipped through the five demons’ encirclement and, riding the turbulent current, surged forward.

Hong Jian couldn’t help but praise, “Impressive!”

Though she understood martial arts to some extent, seeing Lu Yanchang rely solely on his formidable physical strength without spells to perform such feats still amazed her.

This move cost Lu Yanchang much energy; his voice was slightly breathless: “This is the ‘Eight Steps to Chase the Toad.’ If you like, I’ll teach you when we return. Alright, get ready.”

Hong Jian immediately changed direction. Two demons charged from the left and right ahead of Lu Yanchang. He retreated while casting a spell, shouting, “One!”

Hong Jian dodged the entangling vines; her spiritual energy flowed, and her Water affinity gently pushed the seawater around her, making her move as gracefully as a mermaid, more adapted to the water than these aquatic demons.

If not for the perilous situation, Lu Yanchang would have liked to stop and admire. When he shouted “Two,” Hong Jian was already facing him, passing just in front and slipping past the demons.

She moved aside, and three demons formed a line—a godsend opportunity!

Lu Yanchang didn’t hesitate. Before even shouting “Three,” the Heart Sword was unleashed. Hong Jian didn’t need to look back; her spiritual perception witnessed the three demons shredded to pieces by a single slash.

Lu Yanchang breathed a sigh of relief—no mishaps occurred, much better than he expected. Now only three black orbs remained, and even without Hong Jian, he could nearly manage.

Sure enough, this round was easier. Following the same tactic, Hong Jian grew more precise with her movements, and with Lu Yanchang’s final strike, the sea returned to calm.

One of them was nearly out of spiritual energy, relying solely on internal power; the other was also greatly exhausted. The two had no time for more words and hurriedly floated upward.

Though they tried their best to avoid the battlefield, the scent of blood still drifted through the water.

Thankfully there were no further incidents. Lu Yanchang, a minor character often overlooked, had survived through luck and persistence—until he met Hong Jian.

A hundred or so feet from the surface, they could see the light. Above the sea, the glacier loomed like a vast mountain range, white and desolate, making the seawater appear even bluer. Beyond that, blue skies and white clouds spread, with a pale sun hanging high.

Lu Yanchang quickened his pace and suddenly thrust his head above the water. He took a deep breath and was about to howl at the sky. Hong Jian surfaced as well, stopping him: “Stop right there!”

Lu Yanchang froze, mouth wide open, then turned to Hong Jian with a somewhat comical expression.

She warned him, “Don’t be reckless and attract wolves.”

He reluctantly closed his mouth, displeased: “Sister Fang, I’ve been locked away for so many years, just finally escaped. Can’t I be a little happy?”

Hong Jian thought, but I’m not happy at all.

With little spiritual energy left, she first wrung the water from her soaked clothes. Having spent twenty years in the Demonic Prison without cutting her hair, she now felt it cumbersome upon surfacing. She roughly twisted it into a long braid, tied it with a strip of cloth, and walked while saying, “Don’t be careless. Let’s find some spiritual energy to restore our power first.”

Lu Yanchang glanced at Hong Jian’s expression and happily followed her.

“Sister Fang, what are your plans?”

Hong Jian pondered. So many things needed to be done: Ji Youfeng was dead, and she herself would become Ji Youyun’s prime target. To avoid his pursuit, she must stabilize her cultivation and then thoroughly study the “Great Calamity Scripture.” Twenty years had passed; who knew what had become of the Danya Sect? Chen Zaizhi must have long left Central Continent. And her younger brother, Fang Zheng—would he reach Xianyun Sect safely to find Jiang Yan? What changes had the major sects undergone?

Lu Yanchang heard nothing of her reply. When he glanced sideways, he saw Hong Jian’s face was grim, brows deeply furrowed. Suddenly, he felt this Miss Fang was very different from the little sister he had once fancifully thought he knew many years ago. In another setting, if she didn’t greet him first, he might hardly recognize her.

Her voice was the same, her manner still taciturn, but the sweet fragrance she once carried was gone.

Lu Yanchang, always sensitive around beauties, immediately understood why.

Those old men wouldn’t have spared a flower-like young lady. Surely, after she was transferred to the Black Tortoise Prison, her body and mind suffered great harm.

He felt he could no longer be happy. Just as a flower lover strives tirelessly to make blossoms bloom more beautifully and last longer, Lu Yanchang felt a duty to help Miss Fang forget her unpleasant memories and find happiness again.

But seeing her seemingly unwilling to stay with him, he hesitated, then asked, “Miss Fang, do you still remember Helian?”

Hong Jian nodded. Of course she remembered—deeply and vividly.

Reading her expression, Lu Yanchang continued, “He was captured by the Heavenly Demon Sect. You saved me this time, which already equals building a seven-level pagoda of merit. Why don’t we join forces and build another seven levels together? What do you think?”

P.S.: I just checked the forum and learned that the account “Life is Like a Dream” was hacked. I remembered how she said she had been working on a competition book review for a long time, refining it bit by bit, and it made me sad. Heart Fish rarely writes chapter reflections and doesn’t know if writing this here helps, but I hope this matter is resolved quickly. In the new year, I wish every friend well. Blessings~~~