Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Raid

Meng Li had never been this hesitant before. Seeing her in this state, Lu Qingyun felt quite surprised.

Having just narrowly escaped death together, Lu Qingyun was not the type to make things difficult for others. Since there was no deep-seated hatred between them, he smiled and said, "Just say whatever is on your mind. There is no need to be secretive. If I can help you, I certainly will, but if I can't, then there is nothing I can do..."

Lu Qingyun was a very direct person. With only the two of them here, he saw no point in beating around the bush over trivial matters. Making things difficult for Meng Li would benefit him in no way.

Meng Li remained hesitant for a moment, deep in thought, before she slowly began to speak. "I cannot manifest my martial soul..."

Upon hearing this, Lu Qingyun’s eyes filled with astonishment. He looked at her with confusion; this was a major issue! On this continent, one must awaken a martial soul as a foundation to attain higher cultivation. If one could not manifest their martial soul, no matter how great their potential, it would be of no use.

Lu Qingyun asked earnestly, "What happened? Does this also have to do with the City Lord?"

Their greatest enemy was the Lord of Bixiao City, whose strength was formidable. With his current power, Lu Qingyun knew he could not escape the City Lord's control. From what Meng Li had said, the City Lord was ruthless, having even destroyed a family capable of crafting divine artifacts. But why would the City Lord do that? If he could force them to create more artifacts, it would only make him more powerful. What hidden truth lay beneath this?

Perhaps it was inconvenient to reveal secrets elsewhere, but here, in this desolate place, no one would ever appear. It was the perfect place to speak of hidden truths.

Meng Li’s expression was pained; she seemed surprised that she was pouring out her heart. This memory was clearly agonizing. She made a decision and slowly revealed another secret: "The City Lord once threatened our Meng family to forge a divine artifact for him. After he obtained the blueprints, we realized it wasn't a divine artifact at all, but a weapon of immense destruction. When our family refused, he was so tyrannical that he slaughtered our entire clan. To protect me, the family head sealed my martial soul."

Lu Qingyun did not fully trust her words; she might just be trying to make him hate the City Lord as well. Lu Qingyun was inherently cautious; if he wanted to do something, he had to get to the bottom of it first.

"How did your father manage to escape?" Lu Qingyun asked seriously. "Even with both of your strengths, even if you spent decades cultivating here, you wouldn't be able to kill the City Lord, would you? Since we've come this far, I don't think there's anything left to hide, is there? Must you continue to reveal things bit by bit?"

Lu Qingyun had already decided to assist her, so it was only natural to ask for the details. If she continued to withhold information, they would reach an impasse. Lu Qingyun was no saint; whether she succeeded or escaped this place had little to do with him in the end.

Meng Li understood her situation. Since she had started, she would explain everything. "We do have an inside contact here, but it is not convenient to reveal who it is yet. When we return, I will certainly introduce you! I only hope you can help me break the seal. Once I can manifest my martial soul, I will find a way to kill the City Lord."

As she finished, a ring on her finger glowed, and a fiery red dagger appeared in her hand.

The Dark Night Forest was thick with toxic miasma, and because sunlight could never penetrate the canopy, it remained in perpetual darkness, hence its name. Yet, the moment Meng Li produced that fiery red dagger, Lu Qingyun was stunned. The dagger shimmered with a dazzling brilliance, its light flickering like a burning flame. It was undoubtedly a divine artifact, and a top-tier one at that. For any family or sect, obtaining such an item would elevate their status immensely.

Looking at the dagger, Lu Qingyun had no desire to claim it for himself; he only marveled that such an artifact required immense talent and skill to create.

"Is this a divine artifact crafted by your family?" Lu Qingyun asked, startled.

Meng Li nodded without hesitation. "Yes, this is our family’s heirloom and the most powerful artifact the Meng family ever created. It was forged using divine fire and celestial cloud iron. No one left in the world can create such a thing now. It is useless in the hands of others; only by anointing it with our blood can its full power be unleashed. I cannot manifest my martial soul, so my essence blood cannot drip onto the dagger. You understand what I mean, don't you?"

How could Lu Qingyun not understand? He remained silent, inwardly lamenting the loss of the Meng family's extraordinary craftsmanship. It was a tragedy for the entire continent that such a family had been destroyed.

"How does one break your seal?" Lu Qingyun asked slowly. "It doesn't require... that kind of act, does it?"

In many places, dual cultivation was a method to break through restrictions, but it was often looked down upon because such techniques could be intimate and embarrassing.

Meng Li understood his implication, her face flushing bright red. "No! What are you thinking?" Though she had played the zither on the island in the middle of the lake in the pleasure district, she sold her art, not her body. Having been the young lady of a noble family, she was still an innocent maiden, and such a suggestion made her deeply embarrassed.

Lu Qingyun was no scoundrel; he had only thought that her hesitation might stem from such a requirement. "Then tell me directly what I must do," he urged. "Why be so difficult?" He wanted to move forward; lingering in this environment for too long was not good. If the small box he held became saturated and could no longer neutralize the toxins, the consequences would be dire.

Despite the diversion, Meng Li had not forgotten her request. She finally revealed her true intent: "My father once said my martial soul is extremely unique. It requires the energy of a powerful martial soul to shatter the seal so it can be released again. Once my martial soul is free, these toxic miasmas will be nothing; they will become nourishment for my growth!"

Looking at the vast Dark Night Forest, Lu Qingyun was stunned. All this toxic gas could become her nourishment? What exactly was her martial soul? If released, would it cause a catastrophe? Being from a different world, Lu Qingyun thought differently; his past profession had made him a man of imagination who considered problems from every angle, always preparing for the worst-case scenario.

Though he didn't want to pry into her privacy, he couldn't help but ask, "What is your martial soul?"

Lu Qingyun believed his Azure Dragon martial soul was the strongest; in any world, the Azure Dragon was a supreme existence. Even in the kingdom where the High Priest once resided, the Azure Dragon was worshipped as a guardian deity.

However, Meng Li shook her head. "I don't know!"

"You don't know?" Lu Qingyun looked at her in confusion. "Are you joking with me?" He didn't find it funny at all; in fact, he felt a flicker of anger. They had begun to build trust, and he had chosen to believe her, yet she gave him such an answer.

Seeing his stern expression, Meng Li quickly explained, "No, no, you must not misunderstand! I had just awakened my martial soul back then, and it was sealed before I ever had the chance to manifest it."

"At that time, the Meng family was powerful, and no one dared to offend us. But as a precaution, they decided that as long as I never revealed my martial soul, I would never be a target."

Lu Qingyun nodded slowly, finally understanding. As the daughter of a family capable of forging divine artifacts, she would naturally be a target. If she appeared to be someone who could do nothing, she would pose no threat and thus face no danger. This was how the Meng family had protected her.

"Very well," Lu Qingyun said seriously. "But I don't think now is the time. Let’s move deeper; what if someone else comes?"

Before he could finish, the toxic mist in front of them slowly parted. Zhao Tuo appeared, holding a transparent orb that repelled the surrounding poison, followed by the Great Elder of the Zhao family.

"Heh, what an unexpected harvest," Zhao Tuo said with a triumphant smirk. "No wonder the Meng family disappeared so strangely; so this is the secret. I don't care what the City Lord does—that's not my concern—but to capture you and make you my concubine, and to gain the power to create divine artifacts... just thinking about it is thrilling, ha ha ha..."

Lu Qingyun didn't fear Zhao Tuo; without using his martial soul, he could easily kill him. But the Great Elder beside him was a true powerhouse. Lu Qingyun moved to shield Meng Li, his eyes filled with killing intent.

"Zhao Tuo, you know very well who we work for. You dare move against me? Aren't you afraid the City Lord will hold the Zhao family accountable? A puny Zhao family is no match for the City Lord. If he finds out, aren't you afraid of being wiped out?"

Meng Li remained silent, knowing that given her current powerlessness, anything she said would be futile.

Zhao Tuo burst into wild laughter. "Ha ha ha! If that's the case, we just have to make sure he never finds out! No one comes here. Soon, your corpses will be corroded by the poison. As for this woman, once I take her back, it might even count as a meritorious deed for me! Lu Qingyun, you should have known the consequences of crossing me!"

Lu Qingyun looked at the Great Elder beside him. Without that Elder, what was Zhao Tuo? Lu Qingyun drew his weapon. Even if he were to die, he would fight with everything he had.

"Fine," Lu Qingyun said slowly. "Since you've made your decision, I cannot save you. I have already told the City Lord that if I do not return, my final wish is for him to destroy the Zhao family!"

Meng Li caught on quickly. "Zhao Tuo, do you think Lu Qingyun didn't account for your despicable schemes? Prepare to die! The Zhao family will be ruined because of you!"

Zhao Tuo hesitated, his confidence wavering at their conviction. Just then, the Great Elder stepped forward, his voice low. "Why waste words with them? Kill them!"

The Great Elder lunged at Lu Qingyun, intending to catch him off guard. Lu Qingyun instantly summoned his Azure Dragon martial soul, the massive cyan dragon silhouette illuminating the surroundings.

"ROAR..."

The thunderous dragon roar shook the nearby trees to the ground. Yet, the Great Elder remained fearless, sneering with disdain. "Lu Qingyun, you may possess the Azure Dragon, but you cannot fully utilize it. Your cultivation is too low... Arrogant boy, die!"

"BOOM!!!"