LIGHTNOVELONLINE CHAPTER 289
Chapter 289: Beneath the Surface
To Lu Ming, the sudden appearance of Moonfiend Yue had been puzzling.
After their strange and brief encounter, months passed with no further contact. Moonfiend Yue had made Lu Ming her subordinate, yet she had sent no further messages, nor had the Blackmond Clan sought him out as she had suggested. For a time, Lu Ming even wondered if she had forgotten about him altogether.
Still, time moved forward, and Lu Ming continued to strengthen his abilities.
Fifty-two days into his cultivation, Lu Ming finally pushed his Flame Body Forging Technique to the Perfect level of proficiency. Every cycle of his training brought with it steady and deliberate progress.
- Flame Body Forging Technique Perfect (0/100,000)
[A Physique Realm Body Forging technique that requires Flame Stones for cultivation. Each cycle increases three-dimensional attributes by 20 points, granting an additional 20 free attribute points. One Flamestone is consumed per cycle.]
With his newfound efficiency in using the Flame Body Forging Technique, Lu Ming’s attribute gains had effectively doubled. While he knew that more advanced techniques from the Spirit Realm and Origin Realm promised greater rewards, the Flame Body Forging Technique remained a reliable tool. His proximity to a Flame Stone mine made it all the more practical.
Fifty more days passed, marking the 530th day of the Black Mist Calendar.
During one of his deep meditation sessions, Lu Ming felt something different. Slowly, two new Silver Patterns began to manifest on his chest, distinct and brimming with raw energy.
Silver Pattern: Fist Kill (Level 1)
Silver Pattern: Bow Kill (Level 1)
The new patterns carried the same energy as the Body Protective Technique he had developed earlier. Both of them exhibited the potential for further growth. Though Lu Ming’s Body Protective Technique had been singular for some time, these new patterns hinted at even greater power.
"Other Ancient Realm cultivators may focus on quantity, but for me, it’s clearly about quality."
Neither Moonfiend Yue nor anyone else could explain why his silver patterns were so unique, but that no longer mattered. As long as he continued to grow stronger, everything else felt insignificant.
Another two months slipped by. On the 590th day of the Black Mist Calendar, Lu Ming’s training was unexpectedly interrupted by a knock on the door.
Roxin stood there, her face reflecting slight concern. "Brother Lu, someone from the Blackmond Clan is here to see you."
Lu Ming’s eyes narrowed with interest. After nearly six months of silence, Moonfiend Yue's plan was finally moving.
Accompanied by Roxin, Lu Ming made his way to the front gate, where a hulking figure awaited him. The man was almost three meters tall, his dark skin gleaming under the light. A set of sharp, shark-like teeth flashed as he grinned down at Lu Ming.
"So, you’re the contact of the contact?" the beast rumbled.
Lu Ming remained calm, though inwardly he was confused. “Contact of the contact?” He had no idea what the envoy meant, but he kept his composure. "What business do you have with my lord?"
The man crossed his massive arms. "Our clan leader needs more Beast King’s blood, and he wants to acquire it through the contact."
Lu Ming nodded, though the request baffled him. Moonfiend Yue had never mentioned anything about Beast King’s blood.
"Wait here," Lu Ming replied, turning back to his quarters. Once inside, he retrieved his black token and channeled his Origin Power into it.
A lazy voice echoed from the token. "Lu Ming? What’s happening?"
“So she hasn’t forgotten me after all,” Lu Ming thought wryly. He quickly explained the envoy’s request.
Moonfiend Yue let out an audible sigh of exasperation. "These greedy beasts!"
After a pause, her voice became sharper. "Send the envoy away for now. Then come to Archean City and pick me up. We need to talk."
"Pick you up?" Lu Ming asked, puzzled.
"Yes, pick me up. You ask too many questions. Just do as I say," she snapped.
Not wanting to irritate her further, Lu Ming ended the communication. He returned to the envoy, delivering a simple message: "My lord will visit later."
The envoy grunted and left.
Lu Ming gave Roxin some brief instructions before setting out for Archean City. It had been over 200 days since he last left the quiet seclusion of the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
"I’ll treat this as a short break," Lu Ming told himself, though the uncertainty gnawed at him. His cultivation had been interrupted, and Moonfiend Yue’s true intentions remained unclear.
As he journeyed through familiar territory, Lu Ming couldn’t help but notice how much the landscape had changed. What had once been a vibrant, living forest was now a toxic wasteland. The aftermath of countless battles had scarred the land. Zombie beast carcasses littered the area, their decaying bodies leaching poison into the earth.
The air was thick with the stench of death, and the once lush foliage had withered to ash. It was clear that Origin Realm experts had fought violently in this region, leaving destruction in their wake.
Despite the overwhelming sense of decay, Lu Ming remained unchallenged. The aura of Esek that he carried ensured that no zombie beasts dared to approach him.
By the time Lu Ming arrived at Archean City, the situation had grown even stranger. The once-chaotic battlefield was now a scene of uneasy coexistence. The Undead Clan and the Insect Clan now shared the city walls, working side by side.
"What’s going on here?" Lu Ming muttered, confusion settling in.
From behind, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. "The Giant Clan has been betrayed by the Insect Clan."
Lu Ming turned to see Tang Chongye, also known as Iron Lump, strolling toward him with a smirk plastered on his face.
"Call me Tang Chongye," the man said with a grin.
As the two walked deeper into the city, Tang Chongye filled Lu Ming in on recent developments.
"The Insect Clan, under orders from the Origin Insect Mother, betrayed the Giant Clan and has now allied with the Undead Clan. Together, they’ve managed to cripple the Giant Clan’s forces."
Lu Ming processed the information in silence, the weight of Tang Chongye’s words sinking in. The betrayal of the Giant Clan by the Insect Clan was a shocking turn of events. The balance of power in the Black Mist Zone was shifting in ways no one could have predicted.
What other hidden schemes were unfolding behind the scenes?
End of Chapter 289