Chapter Forty-Five: The Valley's Secret (Part Two)

In order to accelerate his progress in refining his marrow, Huron decided to have Wu Jue simultaneously comprehend a set of mid-level martial arts called the "Grand Treatise on Transforming the Mundane into the Void." This discipline, once mastered, was specifically designed to temper a person’s bone marrow and achieve perfect control over one's inner strength.

Previously, the seventy-three techniques Wu Jue practiced at the Great Forest Temple were merely physical skills, relying on brute force—innate physical power. However, mid-level martial cultivation was different; it trained one’s acquired inner energy. Once Wu Jue surpassed his limits, he could generate a fierce internal force beyond what ordinary people possessed.

For example, he had recently concentrated his Iron Bell Cover technique into a formless inner energy—that was the principle at work. Yet, Wu Jue’s current cultivation was somewhat unstructured; with the right discipline to guide him, he could achieve twice the results with half the effort.

Wu Jue immediately committed the "Grand Treatise on Transforming the Mundane into the Void" to memory as Huron had taught him, and began to ponder it carefully, gradually tempering his body. With the gifts he had previously received, along with the corpse core in his possession, he had enough to compensate for Earth’s lack of spiritual energy.

In the end, Huron still sighed. “It’s a pity that Earth now lacks sufficient spiritual energy. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been forced into seclusion here for over a decade, still unable to recover my power. The reason humanity’s martial arts remain stuck at the lower level is precisely because the world’s spiritual energy has become so thin.”

Wu Jue nodded. He, too, felt that ever since he’d received Huron’s gifts, his strength had grown, but his body felt increasingly difficult to control. Perhaps this was also due to the scarcity of spiritual energy.

After their conversation, they turned back to urgent matters. With Ter’s help, Xiao Yang had nearly completed repairs on the fortress. Now, it was assembled into a compact airship, capable of carrying dozens of people—future journeys would be far less difficult.

An Yi and the other two soon returned from the city, bringing plenty of supplies. They told Xiao Yang, “We found a warehouse with lots of purified water. Could you fly the airship there and load it up? We could even have a proper bath when we get back.”

Xiao Yang couldn’t help but sigh, “You’re already thinking of wasting water? That’s just sinful!”

Han shook his head from behind. “Don’t say that. It’s just a pity there’s not enough to go around. If a few more beauties joined us, I’d rather go thirsty than deny them a good wash, you know?”

That comment infuriated Xun’er, who zapped him with a jolt of electricity, making Han jump three feet in the air.

Wu Jue and the others laughed, “Serves you right!”

Having finished their business, they enjoyed a couple of leisurely days to recuperate, preparing for their next departure. Xiao Yang had received word that near Tianhai City, in a place called Jiangzhou, a distress signal had been picked up—there seemed to be survivors there, fighting a desperate battle.

Wu Jue nodded, “We’ll head there. But it’s best if we split up, so we don’t attract too much attention.”

Huron volunteered, “Let me act as bait, to keep the Celestial Execution Clan from targeting the group. I’ll disguise myself as Wu Jue and set out first, drawing their attention.”

Ter said, “I’ll go with you. The two of us can fight together.”

The two bade their farewells and set out, agreeing to regroup in Jiangzhou within two days unless something unforeseen happened.

After seeing them off, Wu Jue and the others boarded the airship, planning to depart under cover of night. Han couldn’t help but ask Wu Jue, “Master, do you think we’ll get there safely? It’s been so long with no news from the outside—what if Jiangzhou has already fallen?”

Wu Jue shook his head. “I don’t know. We’ll just have to take it one step at a time. As it happens, years ago I had a close friend there who helped me organize the resistance. I wonder what’s become of his descendants?”

“Oh? You have an old friend there?” Xiao Yang’s interest was piqued. He opened his computer and asked, “What’s his name? Maybe I can find some information on his descendants.”

Wu Jue thought for a moment and recalled the name. “His name was Gao Xingzhou.”

“Gao Xingzhou… that must have been over three hundred years ago. Let me check.” Xiao Yang did a quick search, and a few links popped up. He clicked through and couldn’t help but smile, “There really is someone! Apparently, he was a hero of a peasant uprising, and his descendants helped overthrow the feudal dynasty. Let’s see if there are any descendants left… There’s someone named Gao Ming, a top student in Jiangzhou, a descendant of Gao Xingzhou, but there’s no other information.”

Hearing that his old friend still had living descendants, Wu Jue felt a surge of emotion. He wasn’t even a man of this age—what would he say if they met?

The four of them waited quietly in the valley until nightfall, then set out under the cover of darkness.

The airship carried the four as it floated through the night sky toward Jiangzhou at a speed of forty to fifty kilometers an hour. The distance between the two places was only one hundred and fifty-six kilometers; they would arrive in two or three hours.

Xiao Yang told everyone to get some rest, promising to wake them when they arrived. He himself kept searching for information on his tablet.

His brain had become a portable database, storing all sorts of useful information in case his computer ran out of power, so he could always access what he needed. Even when there was nothing else to do, he never allowed himself to slack off, always maintaining his efforts.

Time passed unnoticed. Suddenly, the airship’s signal indicated they were approaching their destination. Han yawned and got up. “Xiao Yang, aren’t you going to rest? Aren’t you afraid you’ll end up looking like a panda?”

Xiao Yang sipped his coffee and replied, “You don’t realize—a clever brain releases more dopamine, keeping us energized and tireless. So you should try to get smarter too, instead of always napping.”

Han grumbled, “Are you mocking me? So you’re the smart one, huh? Fine, I won’t argue. I’ll go wake the master.”

He got up to rouse Wu Jue, but Wu Jue sat up on his own, his expression tense. “Something’s wrong—there’s killing intent. Xiao Yang, be careful, someone’s attacking us.”

No sooner had he spoken than the airship shuddered, as if struck by something. Xiao Yang quickly brought up the surveillance feed and saw a giant centipede clinging to the airship, gripping the hatch and trying to destroy the vessel.

“So the enemy’s come already, even disturbing my sleep,” Princess An Yi exclaimed, flying out of the airship in a flash. She grabbed the centipede, attempting to hurl it away.

Unfortunately, the centipede clung tightly, refusing to budge. An Yi managed to tear off two of its limbs, but to no avail.

The centipede began to spit black fluid, trying to corrode the airship’s hull. Seeing this, Wu Jue let out a mighty roar and kicked the ceiling of the cabin directly above him.

At once, the section where the centipede clung was kicked away, exposing the interior of the airship to the night. The craft went out of control and began to plummet.

Xiao Yang desperately tried to regain control as he shouted, “Master, this is reckless! How are we supposed to keep flying now?”

Han said, “Didn’t you see? That centipede nearly ate us all—this isn’t the time for caution. If things get worse, we’ll have to jump.”

Xiao Yang retorted angrily, “Jump? With no parachute? That’s a death sentence!”

Suddenly, Han grabbed him. In an instant, Han’s body flickered and transformed into a bolt of lightning, shooting out of the airship and vanishing into the sky.

In the next moment, the airship crashed uncontrollably to the ground, erupting in a burst of fire.

Wu Jue and Princess An Yi didn’t bother to watch the monster disappear overhead. They hurried to find their two companions on the ground, and at last saw Han safely setting Xiao Yang down—both had landed unscathed.

This time, it was everyone else’s turn to be shocked. “Han, your body…?”

Han looked at his hands as they gradually returned to normal, just as bewildered. “I’ve just realized—the connection between myself and the Divine Mirror was never severed.”

With a thunderous crash, the cursed centipede dove down from the sky again, landing right in front of the two. Han quickly pulled Xiao Yang away. Wu Jue and An Yi launched their counterattack, but before they could engage, a whistling arrow shot from the distance, striking the centipede squarely between the eyes.

The creature’s pair of ugly, blood-red eyes rolled, but it did not struggle. The arrow embedded in its skull suddenly exploded, releasing a cloud of smoke. The massive beast crashed to the ground, lifeless.

Wu Jue and Princess An Yi quickly retreated, instantly detecting the narcotic in the smoke. The archer was clearly a skilled hunter.

Once they reached a safe distance, they turned to look at their unexpected savior. It was a young man in sportswear, bow in hand, aiming at the two as he demanded, “Who are you?”