Chapter 69: A Temporary Separation

Lu Qingyun had originally thought that the time for them to meet would be postponed, perhaps to a later date. However, their master wanted to see him so urgently, which came as a great surprise to Lu Qingyun.

This was because Lu Qingyun felt he had no connection whatsoever with this person; even if they were to meet, he seemed incapable of doing anything to help him.

Since even a subordinate of this master possessed such formidable strength, Lu Qingyun knew he had no way to compare. The gap between them was vast.

Nevertheless, since the invitation had already been extended, Lu Qingyun felt he shouldn't refuse, as doing so would show a blatant disregard for the other party's face.

After all, he had established a very favorable image and left a strong impression in front of the master of Penglai Inn. Refusing him now would inevitably cause a negative impact.

After a moment of careful thought, Lu Qingyun slowly spoke.

"Very well. Our business here has just concluded anyway. Since this is your territory, it would naturally be wrong to reject your kind intentions."

"It is my honor that your master thinks so highly of me, and I am truly delighted. However, may I ask if it's convenient to reveal what he wants to see me about?"

Lu Qingyun felt no fear whatsoever, nor did he view the matter as particularly troublesome.

He simply regarded the current situation as a rather unusual circumstance. Such a sudden summons certainly caught him off guard, leaving him momentarily uncertain of how best to respond.

Guan Wang shook his head slowly and said, "He only instructed me to come here and find you. As for his specific purpose, we are not privy to it. If this is inconvenient for you, I can return right now to report back."

"After all, you have traveled a long distance and endured so much; naturally, you need time to rest. For us to intrude so abruptly is indeed somewhat improper, and I consider it our oversight."

Guan Wang looked at him with an earnest expression, his eyes filled with anticipation. After all, this was a task entrusted to him by his master.

If he failed to accomplish it, it would be deemed incompetence on his part, and his master might well impose a punishment. Should that happen, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Lu Qingyun thought to himself that regardless of Guan Wang's previous motives, he had just stepped in to save all their lives.

For this reason alone, Lu Qingyun could not afford to cause him any trouble. Quickly, Lu Qingyun said, "I can go with you to see your master, but could I ask you for a favor? Can you ensure the safety of my friends? If an incident like the one just now were to happen again—"

"Given their current strength, I'm afraid they would be unable to defend themselves. You mentioned earlier that you would take responsibility for us until the very end, so I must trouble you with this matter!"

Lu Qingyun had to guarantee their safety; under no circumstances could he allow them to come to harm.

Although they would temporarily part ways tomorrow to go to their chosen locations for combat training to enhance their own strength—and Lu Qingyun naturally had to choose a place as well.

Vast Sea City, though situated on an island, was a gigantic one. Through years of evolution, it had long since established a comprehensive and well-structured set of rules, reaching a degree of order few other places could match.

The city was divided into numerous districts, each featuring vastly different levels of combat power.

Moreover, while fighting was permitted anywhere and at any time, cross-realm battles—where combatants fought opponents of higher tiers—were always held in high regard.

If a practitioner of superior strength deliberately targeted someone significantly weaker, they would inevitably be looked down upon.

After all, that was simply bullying the weak, an utterly contemptible act. Conversely, defying the odds by challenging those of higher realms and greater strength through sheer willpower and skill—

That would earn the admiration of others and mark the challenger as exceptionally courageous.

Such individuals would inevitably become the center of attention. Furthermore, these matches often involved substantial stakes; the fiercer and more brilliant the combat, the greater the wagers became.

Legend had it that on one occasion, someone even offered a divine artifact as a stake. However, that incident caused such an uproar that the City Lord personally stepped in to resolve it.

That legendary battle was said to be so breathtaking that even people across the entire continent learned of it.

Because that challenger possessed astonishing strength, fighting not just across realms, but leaping two entire tiers to ultimately defeat an opponent far superior in cultivation after an unimaginably grueling struggle.

At the time, the event shook the entire continent, leading some to boldly declare that cultivation level does not determine everything.

However, that assertion was shattered just a few years later. After all, miracles do not happen constantly; if they occurred every day, they would no longer be miracles.

Guan Wang said with utmost sincerity, "My men are already waiting outside. They will escort them to a secure location and ensure they are shielded from any threat or harm."

"If they are threatened here in Penglai Inn once more, or if anyone dares to lay a hand on them, you may take my head!"

Judging from Guan Wang's solemn expression, he was speaking from the heart, offering an absolute and sincere promise.

After all, since Lu Qingyun was the person their master wished to see, Guan Wang had to treat him with the utmost importance no matter what.

Should Lu Qingyun truly create a miracle in the future, it would inevitably send shockwaves through the city.

By then, Guan Wang himself could reap considerable benefits simply for having left a favorable impression.

The people here were all supremely shrewd. While one could not say every single action of theirs was calculated with a selfish purpose, none of their deeds were ever entirely simple either.

Although Lu Qingyun did not care for such people, he now needed assistance, and regardless of their ultimate motives, as long as their current display of sincerity was genuine, that was enough.

Lu Qingyun looked at his companions with a trace of reluctance. They were the very first good friends he had made upon arriving in this continent, whom he could truly confide in. Parting ways like this, even temporarily, felt deeply unsettling.

Perhaps they would meet again here in the future, but such reunions would surely be rushed.

Furthermore, using combat as a means to advance one's strength was an immensely perilous path.

There was always the possibility that tragic news might arrive one day. Though such thoughts were deeply unpleasant, the reality was starkly objective. Whoever was in his position would have to weigh every factor thoroughly and secure everyone's safety above all else.

Lu Qingyun said to everyone once more, "I hope that when we meet again, you will all have surpassed me. Though I am not exceptionally strong myself, I too have hopes of growing and will not let you leave me in the dust!"

"One month from now, let us meet right here. Keep our promise no matter what. I trust you, and I hope you trust me as well!"

Lu Qingyun had already mapped out a detailed plan. A month's time would undoubtedly yield massive progress for them, provided they engaged in daily combat.

And if there was one thing this place lacked, it certainly wasn't battles. If someone wished to fight ten or twenty matches a day, willing opponents could always be found.

No one came to Vast Sea City simply to admire the scenery; the vast majority arrived specifically for the sake of combat.

In other cities, private duels were strictly forbidden out of fear that chaos might ensue. Vast Sea City, however, resembled a gigantic gladiatorial arena where the sole purpose of visiting was to test one's combat prowess and understand the true limits of one's strength.

After a grueling bout of fighting, some might finally acquire a sense of self-awareness, others might grow even more arrogant, while many would absorb invaluable experience.

Regardless of the outcome, the ultimate goal was always to grow stronger and ascend to higher realms of cultivation!

Meng Li could finally hold back no longer. She sprang to her feet, ran toward Lu Qingyun, and said with deep emotion, "Don't do anything too reckless! A month from now, I refuse to hear any bad news about you!"

The bond between the two had undoubtedly undergone a profound shift. Though neither had explicitly confessed their feelings, after spending so much time together,

they had grown deeply concerned for one another, kindling a romance that was evident to everyone around them.

Putting on a relaxed facade, Lu Qingyun smiled and said, "Do you really think I'd let myself get hurt so easily? You underestimate me far too much. There's no need to elaborate on my strength, is there?"

"Your identity is special, so you must exercise caution and avoid being targeted. If things get too dangerous, just run back and hide. After all, you're a young woman; you shouldn't be too stubborn. You need to be a bit more flexible."

The two lingered, their hands clasped together for a long while, making the onlookers feel rather awkward. Fortunately, Fatty Wang chuckled and stepped forward, spreading his arms wide with a grin as he called out,

"Qingyun, don't go doing anything rash now..."

Deliberately pinching his voice to produce a bizarre, high-pitched whine, Fatty Wang sent a shiver of disgust through everyone who heard it.

Yet they all knew this was simply Fatty Wang's way of defusing the awkward atmosphere. The others withdrew their gazes, Meng Li hastily let go of Lu Qingyun's hand, and Lu Qingyun himself felt a flush of embarrassment.

After all, ever since traversing into this world, he had never crossed that particular boundary. Though his heart occasionally stirred, he refused to act imprudently, holding fast to his relatively traditional personal values.

Even though this continent lacked rigidly enforced moral strictures, his internal principles remained steadfast, unwilling to invite unnecessary complications driven purely by momentary impulse.

Lu Qingyun smiled at Guan Wang beside him and said, "Let's go. Your master is a busy man who must handle countless affairs every day, right? We shouldn't waste his time. Let's go hear what he has to say—perhaps he simply wishes to meet me out of ordinary curiosity."

Lu Qingyun believed the master of Penglai Inn must possess extraordinary power.

Without profound backing and immense strength, how could anyone possibly operate such a massive inn and guarantee the safety of every patron?

They surely possessed peerless might, which gave them such absolute confidence; otherwise, should anyone dare to cause trouble, the consequences would be catastrophic.

Lu Qingyun was intensely curious about what kind of strength such an inn master held, what heights he had reached, and what manner of person was truly qualified to establish such a colossal establishment within Vast Sea City.

Following Guan Wang, Lu Qingyun left the room and walked to the end of a corridor. Guan Wang produced a semi-transparent crystal card and swiped it across a glowing orb, instantly activating a teleportation array ahead of them.

Lu Qingyun's eyes were opened wide. While such technology would hardly be novel in his former world—essentially functioning as an elevator—this world's teleportation array was vastly superior. In the blink of an eye, that mysterious power could transport travelers tens of thousands of kilometers away.

The reason Lu Qingyun felt a sense of wonder was that both the architecture and the general aesthetic of Vast Sea City differed drastically from the world he once knew.

It almost felt as though the City Lord of Bixiao might be another transmigrator like himself, though he knew such coincidences were rare and chalked it up to mere speculation.

Noticing his dazed expression, Guan Wang smiled and said, "It seems this is your first time in Vast Sea City. This array is completely safe; you only need to trust me. In the blink of an eye, we will arrive at our master's quarters."

Coming back to his senses at Guan Wang's words, Lu Qingyun naturally understood the function of a teleportation array, having read countless accounts of them before.

With a mild smile, Lu Qingyun replied, "I never expected to find such a marvelous device inside an inn. It truly astonishes me; the power behind Penglai Inn is extraordinary indeed."

"I must admit I'm quite curious—what level of strength does your master actually possess?"

He understood many things conceptually, even if he had yet to experience them firsthand. Once he grew powerful enough in the future, he would surely realize all his current fantasies.

To forge a world of one's own—though that was undeniably a long and arduous journey.

Though Lu Qingyun had always harbored such ambitions, translating them into reality was exceedingly difficult.

After all, his current growth in power relied entirely on the rewards bestowed by his system.

Yet ever since arriving in Vast Sea City, the system had remained completely silent, as if it had broken down entirely.

Even during a life-or-death crisis just moments ago, it hadn't issued a single warning—something that had never happened before.

The system was usually acutely sensitive; previously, he could even use it to detect medicinal herbs nearby or anticipate approaching dangers.

Without dwelling on it further, Lu Qingyun simply stepped alongside Guan Wang into the teleportation array.

The moment they entered, a sensation of weightlessness washed over him, though he kept his surprise concealed. Opening his eyes a second later, he finally stood face-to-face with the master of Penglai Inn.

"Greetings, young man..."