334: Chapter 334 Goodbye Yuan Yao! Leaving Tianxing City!

Three days later, Lu Qiu was sitting cross-legged in the Quiet Room, sorting through his recent gains.

The void heaven cauldron, dark blue bead, ten thousand year spirit milk, soul nurturing wood, Soul stone... Every treasure passed through his mind as he pondered how to maximize their utility and integrate them into his cultivation system.

The void heaven cauldron was the number one secret treasure of the Chaotic Star Sea, inevitably hiding immense secrets that required careful study; the dark blue bead was the core Origin of the dark blue ice flame, and if he could refine it, it might elevate his ice-attribute Divine Ability to a higher level; the ten thousand year spirit milk was a life-saving divine item that could save his life at a critical moment; the soul nurturing wood could nourish the Divine Soul, which would be greatly beneficial for his cultivation of Divine Sense-type Divine Abilities.

Suddenly, the communication token at his waist vibrated slightly, emitting a faint buzzing sound that interrupted his thoughts.

He picked up the token and probed it with his Divine Sense, immediately sensing a familiar mark of Divine Thought.

It was Yuan Yao.

That mark of Divine Thought carried a trace of urgency, along with a hint of cautious probing; clearly, she had also hesitated repeatedly before deciding to contact him.

"She really came. It seems she has successfully left the Void Heaven Palace and found a safe place to stay." A smile appeared on Lu Qiu's lips as he stood up, straightened his robes, and walked out of the Quiet Room.

He arrived at the front hall and saw Xin Ruyin sitting at the table, flipping through an account book with her brows slightly furrowed, seemingly calculating something.

Xiaomei was nearby, wiping the tables and chairs while humming an unknown tune.

Seeing Lu Qiu emerge, Xin Ruyin looked up, put down the account book, and asked gently: "Young Master, are you going out?"

Lu Qiu nodded and said: "Yes, I am going to meet an old friend and will be back soon. You don't need to wait for me for dinner."

Upon hearing this, Xin Ruyin just nodded gently and urged: "Young Master, please be careful. It has not been very peaceful in the city recently. This concubine heard that some Cultivators were fighting in the streets, and the City Guard has been mobilized."

There was a hint of worry in her eyes.

"Rest assured, I know what I am doing." After saying this, Lu Qiu left the courtyard alone and walked towards an inn named "Yuelai Inn" in the city.

The streets of Tianxing City were still bustling with people, carts, and horses, appearing prosperous and peaceful. Peddlers on both sides of the road were shouting their wares—some selling spirit fruits, some selling Magical Artifacts, others selling Medicinal Pills—it was exceptionally lively.

However, Lu Qiu could keenly sense a subtle, tense atmosphere permeating the air.

Pedestrians on the street walked hurriedly, their expressions carrying an imperceptible gravity; few stopped to chat. Some shops had even closed for business, with notes posted on their doors saying "The owner is busy, temporarily closed," which was rare in the past.

Occasionally, one could see squads of Star Palace guards in armor patrolling the streets, their gazes sharper than usual, scanning every passerby.

Clearly, the rumors of the upcoming establishment of the Nixing Alliance had already caused undercurrents to surge in this largest city under the rule of the Star Palace. Those sensitive merchants and Cultivators had already begun making preparations in advance to avoid being caught in the coming storm.

Lu Qiu walked through several streets calmly, his pace neither fast nor slow, no different from the surrounding pedestrians, completely inconspicuous.

Soon, he arrived at the Yuelai Inn. This inn was located in a relatively secluded alley. The storefront was small, only two stories high, but it was quiet and elegant. There were few guests, making it suitable for private meetings.

He reported a room number to the innkeeper, who then obsequiously led him upstairs, asking with a fawning smile as they walked: "Is the guest here to meet a friend? Would you like me to brew a pot of tea for you?"

"No need, I can go up myself." Lu Qiu waved his hand and dismissed the innkeeper.

He arrived in front of a private room on the second floor and knocked on the door gently—three long knocks and two short ones, the secret signal they had agreed upon.

"Please enter." A crisp, slightly nervous female voice came from inside. The voice carried a trace of anticipation and also a hint of unease; clearly, the person inside was also waiting anxiously.

Lu Qiu pushed the door open and saw Yuan Yao, dressed in simple green robes with a hint of travel-weariness on her face, standing somewhat awkwardly by the table.

Her dress was stained with a bit of dust, and the hair at her temples was slightly disheveled, clearly having rushed here all the way without time to wash or tidy up.

She was clutching a teacup tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force. The tea in the cup had already gone cold, evidently having waited here for some time.

Seeing Lu Qiu enter, she quickly put down the teacup, stepped forward quickly, and bowed gracefully to Lu Qiu. Her voice carried a trace of excitement, even trembling slightly: "Junior Yuan Yao greets Senior!"

Lu Qiu waved his hand to signal that she needn't be so formal, then sat down on a chair by the table and said in a calm tone: "Miss Yuan Yao, no need for formalities. I asked you to come here to fulfill the promise I made that day."

With a flick of his wrist, a rectangular jade box carved from warm jade, which he had prepared long ago, appeared in his hand.

The jade box was entirely glistening white and warm to the touch. Its surface was engraved with fine Spirit Sealing Talisman runes, capable of maximizing the preservation of the medicinal efficacy of spirit items.

He gently placed the jade box on the table and pushed it toward Yuan Yao. "Inside this is a piece of soul nurturing wood. Take it. It is of superior quality and enough to nourish your Senior Sister's Soul and keep it stable."

Yuan Yao looked at the jade box, her breathing instantly becoming rapid, her chest heaving.

Her hands trembled slightly as she reached out, carefully lifting the jade box as if holding the most precious treasure in the world, fearing that a slight carelessness would cause it to break.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, as if calming her excited emotions, then slowly opened a crack in the jade box.

Instantly, a peculiar, gentle fluctuation that seemed capable of nourishing the Divine Soul spread out from the jade box like a spring breeze, instantly filling the entire room.

That fluctuation carried a tranquil and profound power, as if it could soothe all wounds on the Soul, making one's mind feel peaceful.

Yuan Yao's spirit, which had been somewhat exhausted from days of travel, was instantly revitalized!

She could even feel that her Divine Sense seemed to have become a bit clearer.

"That's right! It really is soul nurturing wood! And the quality is so high, the age is so old—it's ten times better than what this Junior expected!" A look of uncontrollable ecstasy instantly appeared on Yuan Yao's face!

Her eyes even turned a little red; it was an emotion intertwined with excitement and gratitude, with tears welling up. She quickly closed the jade box and held it tightly in her arms, as if holding the most precious treasure in the world, fearing it would fly away.

Then, she bowed deeply to Lu Qiu, her voice choked with emotion, extremely sincere: "Thank you, Senior, for your great kindness! This Junior will remember Senior's favor for the rest of my life! If there are any errands in the future, this Junior will not hesitate even at the cost of my life! Senior is my savior! My Senior Sister is saved!"

Lu Qiu calmly accepted her bow, then said in a calm tone: "Miss Yuan Yao, there is no need for this. This soul nurturing wood was exchanged for the Soul-Devouring Beast; it was a fair trade, each getting what they needed. You don't owe me anything. As for that Soul-Devouring Beast, I will also raise it well."

He paused and added: "However, I have one piece of advice. The current Tianxing City seems calm, but there are undercurrents, and it will soon become a place of trouble. The Nixing Alliance is about to be established, and war is about to break out. If you have no other important matters, it is better to leave as soon as possible to avoid getting involved in unnecessary trouble. Finding a safe and hidden place to peacefully recuperate your Senior Sister's Soul is the real priority. There are many deserted islands in the Outer Seas, sparsely populated, with decent Spiritual Qi—a good place to live in seclusion."

Yuan Yao was slightly startled upon hearing this, then nodded solemnly: "Thank you, Senior, for the reminder! This Junior also felt that the atmosphere in the city was a bit off. There are many strange Cultivators on the street, moving in a hurry, and many are in groups, carrying weapons. The purpose of this Junior's trip has been achieved, and I was just preparing to leave Tianxing City to find a safe place to recuperate my Senior Sister's Soul. This Junior intends to go to some deserted islands in the Outer Seas; they are sparsely populated and should be relatively safe. I will keep Senior's teachings in mind."

"That is very good. Then I wish you all the best and a reunion with your Senior Sister soon." After saying this, Lu Qiu said no more, nodded slightly to Yuan Yao, and turned to leave the room.

His pace was composed, without any hesitation.

Yuan Yao watched Lu Qiu's departing back, her eyes filled with gratitude and respect. After a long time, she withdrew her gaze, carefully put away the jade box containing the soul nurturing wood, kept it close to her person, and then also turned to leave the inn, quickly disappearing into the crowd and embarking on a new journey.

And in the few days that Lu Qiu spent preparing to leave Tianxing City, the outside world had already become turbulent due to a shocking rumor.

The cause of everything stemmed from a piece of news that came from an unknown source—it was said that the Heavenly Star Dual Saints' Magneto-Divine Light had reached the Major Achievement Realm and they were about to break through their seclusion!

And the Star Palace intended to take this opportunity to clear out some disobedient or uncontrollable factions to consolidate the Star Palace's ruling position in the Chaotic Star Sea!

Originally, everyone thought this was just a rumor. After all, such rumors appeared every few decades, and everyone was accustomed to them. Each time, it was all thunder but little rain, eventually fizzling out.

Many people treated it as after-dinner conversation and laughed it off.

But this time, the Star Palace seemed serious.

Because the Star Palace had actually issued an unprecedented "Heavenly Star Order" to all major factions!

The content of the Heavenly Star Order was very simple, yet filled with unquestionable tyranny and arrogance—all leaders of Sects and masters of major islands, upon receiving the Heavenly Star Order, must personally go to Tianxing City within the stipulated time to meet the Heavenly Star Dual Saints once!

Otherwise, they would be exterminated in the name of disrespecting the Star Palace! There was no room for negotiation!

Those who disobey shall be killed without mercy!

Once this Heavenly Star Order was issued, the entire Chaotic Star Sea was in an uproar!

Countless Cultivators were shocked, and countless factions were enraged!

The Sect Heads of those large Sects, the masters of large islands—which one of them was not a hegemon of a region, usually high and mighty? How could they endure such humiliation?

During the heyday of the Star Palace, naturally no one dared to question such an order.

But now, the forces of the Righteous Path and the Demonic Path were constantly expanding, already having the momentum to rival the Star Palace, and they were naturally dissatisfied with the Star Palace's incredibly overbearing attitude.

Why should we go to meet you like subjects just because of one word from your Star Palace?

What do you take us for? Subordinates? Servants?

For a time, the entire Chaotic Star Sea had undercurrents surging. Leaders of major factions were secretly connecting and discussing; secret letters were passed between various islands, and secret meetings were held in various hidden locations.

A sentiment of resisting the Star Palace was spreading rapidly, like a volcano about to erupt, accumulating power underground.

And under this immense pressure, that organization that had been secretly preparing and connecting finally stopped hiding and officially surfaced!

The Nixing Alliance had shown its hand!

The General Protector of the Righteous Path's Myriad Laws Sect, the Late Nascent Soul Stage Great Cultivator Wan Sangu, and the currently recognized number one person of the Demonic Path, "Six Paths Extreme Sage", simultaneously served as the two leaders of the Nixing Alliance!

The joint efforts of these two big shots were enough to shake the entire Chaotic Star Sea! Their appeal was even more incomparable!

Once the Nixing Alliance was established, numerous Sects and organizations affiliated with the Righteous Path and Demonic Path announced their joining! Many neutral factions that were originally dissatisfied with the Star Palace also responded!

Even more than a dozen Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators who usually rarely appeared and had been living in seclusion for many years also joined the Nixing Alliance, serving as Elders!

The power of the Nixing Alliance instantly expanded to a terrifying level!

Its momentum was so great that it even overshadowed the Star Palace! The power structure of the entire Chaotic Star Sea was instantly broken!

When Lu Qiu heard this news from Xin Ruyin, he was drinking tea in the courtyard. The afternoon sun shone in the courtyard, with mottled shadows of trees, and it was very quiet.

He put down his teacup, a flash of realization in his eyes, without any surprise.

"Sure enough, it's the same development as in the original work. The Nixing Alliance has been established after all. The wheels of history have begun to turn."

He whispered to himself, then hesitated no longer and immediately said to Xin Ruyin, "Ruyin, the plan has changed. We cannot wait any longer. Since the Nixing Alliance has surfaced, war may break out at any time. Tianxing City, as the lair of the Star Palace, will inevitably be the primary target of the Nixing Alliance. Pack up immediately, we are leaving today! Take everything you can carry, and leave what you can't; don't feel bad about those external possessions."

Upon hearing this, although Xin Ruyin was a bit surprised by the Young Master's urgency, she did not ask further. She trusted the Young Master's judgment.

She immediately nodded and replied: "Yes, Husband Lu! This concubine will go prepare! Xiaomei, come and help!"

She and Xiaomei immediately got busy, packing luggage and organizing items, their movements swift and orderly.

An hour later, Lu Qiu, accompanied by Xin Ruyin, Xiaomei, as well as Xia Xinyan and Zhao Wen, a group of five, arrived at the teleportation array hall of Tianxing City.

The hall was much more crowded than usual, and many Cultivators were moving in a hurry with anxious expressions on their faces, evidently also preparing to leave this place that was about to become a battlefield.

The air was filled with a tense atmosphere; people were talking in low voices, their eyes filled with unease. The light of the teleportation array flickered constantly, and batch after batch of Cultivators were teleported away.

"We are going to Silver Shark Island." Lu Qiu walked to a teleportation array, said faintly to the guarding Star Palace Cultivator, and at the same time handed over a considerable amount of Spirit Stones.

After the guard verified the Spirit Stones, he nodded and activated the teleportation array.

The five of Lu Qiu stood on the teleportation array, and with a flash of dazzling white light, their figures disappeared into the teleportation array, leaving this city that was about to fall into the flames of war.

Just one day after Lu Qiu left Tianxing City, the Nixing Alliance fiercely launched a violent attack on the Star Palace forces!

For a time, war broke out everywhere!

The sounds of killing shook the sky! Countless escape lights crisscrossed over the sea, and the light of Magic Treasures illuminated half the sky!

Many islands controlled by the Star Palace fell one after another under the storm-like offensive of the Nixing Alliance! Smoke of war rose everywhere, and the people suffered!

Due to insufficient preparation, the Star Palace was caught off guard and retreated steadily!

Countless Cultivators fell in the flames of war, and countless islands changed hands!

The entire Inner Sea of the Chaotic Star Sea fell into flames and chaos! The peace and prosperity of the past were gone forever!