The base camp at Inferno was crowded. More now could be found outside the base camp as well since over half of residents of the Deserted World had come to the Inferno.
Ke Mang did close off the passageway linking the Deserted World and the Serenity Plains. Nevertheless, a large number of people still felt insecure. Ming Yu relocated all that wanted to come to the Inferno. The only ones left at the Deserted World now were those unwilling to leave and some warriors stayed behind to guard the passageway to the Serenity Plains upon Ming Yu’s instruction.
Ming Yu had decided that he must make the hard decision and let people destroy the passageway connecting the Inferno and the Deserted World should something go wrong.
Many families of the Northern Deserted had sent their best desiciples to cultivate in the Inferno. Clouds Plains also sent over some disciples. Currently, the number of elite disciples alone had reached over a hundred million. Counting people that had relocated from the Deserted World, at the moment, the Inferno had a total population of at least millions.
Tents were built outside the base camp. Given that the Inferno had an incredibly high temperature, it was not a suitable place for people to live in. That being said, it was a safe place.
Still, even in the Inferno, many people spent their days in fear. They were in constant worry that the four families’ powerful warriors would come unexpectedly and slaughter every single one of them…
From the north came a sharp air-piercing noise, which alarmed many people. Some ancient races that lived in the tent area walked out with their guards up.
“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~”
More flew up from the base camp. Ming Yu, with a grim look on his face, came over with some Noble Lord Realm warriors. He was bleached when he saw the bead and sensed its speed.
All the Beasts of Primordial Chaos in the Inferno had been killed. It had been proven that the Inferno had no other human beings. Ming Yu was terrified to see a bead popping out from nowhere in such a horrifying speed…
The bead floated above the tents. Someone inside checked with psychic power. Then, a group of people came out with Lu Li at the front. He felt distressful and guilty when he sensed the fear in people’s eyes.
“What?”
Ming Yu and all the others with him trembled. He looked at Lu Li in disbelief. He tried to move his lips several times to finally be able to ask, “Young Master? Young Master, is that you?”
Lu Li nodded. “Ming Yu, you have finally reached the Human Sovereign Realm,” said Lu Li.
“Young Master!”
Ming Yu dropped to his knees. Tears ran down his cheeks. The others that came to their senses also knelt down. Lu Li saw many familiar faces among the crowd, such as patriarchs of the Cyan Phoenix Race, Zi Lian and some young masters of the Bai Family…
“Saint Lord, it is Saint Lord!”
Further out, there were some ancient races. Some had recognized Lu Li. Many more got down on their knees. People were howling and wailing as if they had seen eldership. They shouted out their misery…
“All of you, rise!”
Lu Li waved his hand and said, “Do not worry. Your family and friends shall not die in vain. I, Lu Li, will settle the blood feud. If I cannot do that, I will commit suicide as an apology to you.”
Not wanting to waste more time, Lu Li asked Ming Yu, “Have my sister and the others given you their jade talismans of life?”
“No…”
Shaking his head, Ming Yu continued, “They left in a hurry so they didn’t give me their jade talismans of life.”
“Ming Yu, get up here. Come with me and we will fight out way to the Central Plains!”
Lu Li said coldly. “Ke Mang, when I am away, I will leave you in charge of the Inferno and the Deserted World. Now, open the passageway so I can get to the Serenity Plains!”
“Yes!”
The thought of the dozen Earth Immortal Realm warriors distilled hope in Ke Mang’s heart. He rushed toward the base camp. Ming Yu came after Lu Li but didn’t ask for any answers. He was Lu Li’s servants. As long as Lu Li had made his decision, Ming Yu would be with him, through thick or thin.
“Whoosh~”
Holding the Wicked Bead in his hand, Lu Li flew toward the base camp with a team. He didn’t spend time talking with Zi Lian or restoring morale. All he desired was to get to the Central Plains.
The entrance to the Inferno had been sealed by Ke Mang using a strong Inhibition Formation. Teleportation could not be arranged at the moment. Ke Mang and his people spent the time for three incense sticks to burn to finally open the passageway.
“Move!”
Lu Li took the lead and dashed into the passageway and arrived at the Deserted World. There, he didn’t let the Earth Immortal Realm warriors out just yet, fearing that something still might go wrong.
“Young Master, let me go out first!”
Worrying that some enemies were waiting at the other end of the passageway at the Serenity Plains, Ming Yu thought about going first to explore the way for Lu Li. But Lu Li shook his head no. He send out Leng Wuxin and let her take the lead.
Lu Li took out some jade talismans to give to Ke Mang and Leng Wuxin. She went out first. A moment later, a jade talisman Lu Li had in his hand broke. He waved and said, “Ming Yu, it is safe over there. Let’s go. Ke Mang, close off the passageway as soon as we are gone. Also, set up a destructive formation at the towering mountain in Inferno.”
“Whoosh~”
Lu Li rushed into the passageway with Ming Yu and teleported to the Serenity Plains where he sent out an Earth Immortal Realm warrior from the Wicked Bead at once.
“Buzzing~”
A Jun Family Earth Immortal Realm warrior came out. He looked around, puzzled. But he didn’t seem to be like a fish out of water. Lu Li asked him with excitement, “Uncle Nine of Jun Family, how are you feeling physically? Do you feel your abilities restricted here?”
Uncle Nine of the Jun Family blinked in bewilderment. He tried and mobilized some Xuan Energy. “Everything is fine,” he said.
“Good!”
Lu Li then let out the other Earth Immortal Realm warriors and all felt fine. Both Lu Li and Ming Yu were encouraged by the fact. The latter had some questions but felt inappropriate to ask.
Lu Li didn’t try to withhold any information. Putting all the Earth Immortal Realm warriors and Leng Wuxin in, he explained, “They are all my soul slaves. They are at my command.”
“Soul slaves, hiss~”
Ming Yu gasped. He already had had some guesses but he was shocked all the same when he heard it from Lu Li.
“Move!”
A glint of coldness rose in Lu Li’s eyes. He was ready to fight. “I will see to it that the four families repay their blood debt in kind.”
“Let’s go!”
Ming Yu took the lead and flew out with Lu Li following him closely. At the outside of the passageway, they found an advanced illusion formation. It must be Lu Ling who set it up.
But…
If the four families had planted powerful warriors at the Clouds Plains and the Serenity Plains, they could easily find the passageway none withstanding the illusion formation. How come the passageway was still secure?
“Let’s go to a city to take a look!”
Lu Li used Shrink Skill to change his appearance. He put Ming Yu into the Wicked Bead and flew toward a nearby city.
In the time for merely three incense sticks to burn, Lu Li had arrived a big city. He was very familiar with the route to the Central Plains. If this city hadn’t fallen into enemy hands, he could teleport to a coastal city from here and then get to the Central Plains, which was the fastest way he could go.
Above the city, Lu Li checked with psychic power but found no warriors of the four families. He did see some battle marks left in the city, though.
Lu Li put away the bead. Once again, he changed his appearance with Shrink Skill. He hadn’t reached the Human Sovereign Realm yet. But his energy at the peak of the Noble Lord Realm was strong already. His presence caught the attention of many warriors in the city.
The city didn’t seem to be a particularly strong one with merely two Noble Lord Realm warriors. Lu Li went to the city mansion and found two people that he remembered to be from the Palace of Sun. They should be… Lu Ling’s slaves.
“They are from the Qu Family?”
Lu Li’s eyes glowed as he saw them. When the slaves were still alive, Lu Ling must be as well. He yelled his question at once, “Are you Saintess’ slaves?”
“Saintess?”
The two Noble Lord Realm warriors looked at each other. They bowed in respect. One of them asked, “My lord, we are indeed Saintess’ slaves. Could you please tell us who you are…”
“I am Lu Li!”
Lu Li’s bone moved and he changed back to his own appearance. The two warriors got to one knee immediately. “Greetings, State Councilor.”
“Okay!”
Lu Li was relived. They were Lu Ling’s slaves. She was still alive.
…