Chapter 408: Speedrunning Classic Plots

Lu Yang reflected that the Desolate Province truly lived up to its name; its fierce, untamed customs would require some time for an outsider like him to master.

"The Drop-Gold Merchant Guild has no intelligence regarding any battles involving the Integration Stage, so it seems there truly were none."

The Immortal Lady had noted that given the amount of Yang energy a living corpse could store, it could sustain its activity for two months at most; thus, Lu Yang had gathered all rumors and reports from the Desolate Province over the past two months, yet aside from domestic squabbles between husbands and wives, there was not a single record of an Integration Stage clash.

"Did it take place in the shadows, escaping even the guild's intelligence network? Or did that pack of living corpses simply lose their way and wander off?"

Had he not reviewed the intelligence of the Desolate Province, Lu Yang might have suspected the former, but now, having combed through the reports, he heavily suspected the latter.

"No matter, for now it is better to resolve Old Meng's issue first."

"According to the information, the Valley of Seven Emotions specializes in the arts of cursing. Perhaps I should pay them a visit?"

"Pardon me, do you happen to know where the Valley of Seven Emotions is located?" Lu Yang inquired of the merchant guild's staff.

Since Lu Yang had just spent a fortune purchasing the most detailed intelligence, the guild was naturally willing to throw in a piece of information for free; moreover, this could hardly be considered a secret, as anyone of a certain cultivation level knew the location of the Valley of Seven Emotions.

The guild presented Lu Yang directly with a map, clearly marking the position of the Valley of Seven Emotions upon it.

Upon departing from the merchant guild, Lu Yang caught the sound of a sharp shriek up ahead.

Following the noise, he discovered a tyrannical young master riding a horse down the street, attempting to abduct a young woman by force, while several lackeys and servants cheered from the sidelines. The young master seemed to possess considerable local influence; the onlookers were furious but dared not speak out, while the young master laughed arrogantly and the young woman wept bitterly.

"Will this never end?"

Lu Yang let out a long, quiet sigh, feeling that his luck with the fair sex was blooming to a rather ridiculous degree.

Yet that was not quite right either; could it be that because he had saved Meng Jingzhou's dog of a life from the Immortal Lady's clutches, an act of boundless merit, these romantic encounters were his cosmic reward?

Forget it, regardless of the reason, he had to settle the matter before him first.

"Hold your hand."

Lu Yang spoke softly, his voice not loud, yet it carried an unmistakable clarity in that setting, ensuring everyone present heard him clearly.

Ignoring the astonished glances of the bystanders, he walked briskly toward the tyrannical youth and helped the young woman to her feet.

"What audacity! An outsider, are you? Do you know who I am—"

Before the young master could finish his sentence, Lu Yang, without so much as blinking, raised his hand and delivered a swift slap across his face.

The young master was of a similar age to Lu Yang and possessed a decent cultivation level, sitting at the Great Perfection of the Qi Condensation Stage.

Seeing their master struck, the lackeys drew various weapons and rushed forward in a swarm, but Lu Yang, growing impatient, casually swiped his hand, summoning a fierce gale that blew all the lackeys completely off their feet.

These lackeys were not weak either, possessing the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Stage.

The watching populace was utterly shocked to see Lu Yang dare raise a hand against the young master.

"I have never seen this person before, is he an outsider?"

"He must be an outsider. Who in Yuanshan City dares provoke the Gu family, especially when the opponent is the eldest young master of the Gu family!"

"It is satisfying to watch, but I fear this man will find it difficult to walk out of Yuanshan City alive."

"To easily defeat even servants of the Foundation Establishment Stage, just what is this young hero's identity?"

"The Golden Core Stage! He must be of the Golden Core Stage!"

The young woman looked at Lu Yang with eyes full of tender affection: "My benefactor."

The young woman possessed a delicate beauty, fully deserving of being called a fair maiden; looking at the adoration in her eyes, Lu Yang suspected her next words would be that she had no way to repay him except by offering herself in marriage.

"The Gu family has vast property and great influence, reigning supreme in Yuanshan City. Your cultivation is extraordinary, benefactor, but facing the Gu family, there is still great danger. You should flee quickly."

"Haha, wishing to flee? You dare strike my son, and you still think you can walk out of Yuanshan City!"

A furious laugh rang out, audible across half of Yuanshan City, as an imposing middle-aged cultivator arrived, glaring fiercely at Lu Yang with gritted teeth.

Lu Yang gave him no opportunity to utter a second word; with a casual flick, a beam of sword Qi flashed, pinning the newcomer directly to the wall.

After finishing the strike, Lu Yang turned his head to ask the young woman: "Is this the head of the Gu family?"

The young woman nodded stiffly, never expecting Lu Yang to act so decisively and with such formidable power, subduing the head of the Gu family—a man of the late Golden Core Stage—in a single move.

The head of the Gu family was terrifying indeed, but even more terrifying was his father...

Before the young woman could finish her thought, a second roar echoed from the distance.

"Who dares bully my son and my grandson—"

Following the guidance of the Invincible Pill, Lu Yang drew his Qingfeng Sword and executed the Severing Formula; before the opponent could even finish his sentence, he was pinned to the wall by Lu Yang, right alongside the head of the Gu family.

The early Nascent Soul Stage was indeed qualified to make Lu Yang employ his sword techniques.

"Are there any others left in the Gu family?" Lu Yang continued to inquire.

The young woman stared blankly for a long while before finally recovering her senses, continuing to nod stiffly: "Yes, the Gu family possesses a Soul Transformation Stage ancestor."

She secretly observed Lu Yang's expression, only to find that his countenance remained entirely unchanged, causing her to elevate her estimation of Lu Yang's cultivation by several degrees in her heart.

While she was lost in thought, the head of the Gu family secretly contacted the ancient ancestor, requesting his intervention.

"What bold youth dares bully my Gu family? Even if my family was unreasonable first, it should be I who disciplines them, where is the need for—"

Lu Yang said nothing, merely producing the identity jade plaque that hung from his waist.

"—where is the need for a fellow Daoist to take action! Gu here expresses his deep gratitude to fellow Daoist for disciplining these worthless descendants on behalf of this old man!"

Upon catching sight of the jade plaque, the Gu family ancestor abruptly halted his steps, descending from the sky to clasp his hands in gratitude and bow deeply.

Lu Yang was indeed no match for a Soul Transformation Stage ancestor, but why should he fight? In the face of a colossus like the Daoist Sect, a Soul Transformation Stage ancestor was simply not enough to look at.

Without needing an elder to intervene, any senior brother or sister pulled out at random could easily reclaim Lu Yang's honor.

The reputation of the Five Great Immortal Sects was more than enough to command the reverence of these local clan cultivators.

Lu Yang feared neither fighting the young nor meeting the old.

"Did you hear what the Gu family ancestor just said? The Daoist Sect, is it that legendary Daoist Sect?"

"The very same Daoist Sect from the storytelling chronicle 'Legends of the Daoist Sect'!"

"The head of the Five Great Immortal Sects!"

The bystanders marveled, sending up waves of astonished cries, never expecting Lu Yang's background to be so extraordinary.

The young woman also gazed at Lu Yang in utter shock, the look of adoration deepening further.

"No need for thanks. I only ask that Daoist Gu properly supervise your descendants, lest they bring ruin upon you. You should know, our Daoist Sect is currently troubled by the lack of missions posted in the Mission Hall," Lu Yang spoke in a clear voice, intended both for the Gu family ancestor and the surrounding populace.

How could the Gu family ancestor fail to grasp the hidden meaning in Lu Yang's words? Cold sweat began to pour down his face.

He offered a placating smile: "Certainly, certainly. Thank you for the reminder, fellow Daoist. After this matter, Gu will surely supervise his descendants with utmost severity. Should this occur again, the punishment of stripping sinews and hacking bones shall await them!"

The young woman bowed gracefully to Lu Yang: "This humble girl has no way to repay—"

"Repaying me by working like a horse or an ox in the next life will suffice," Lu Yang cut in just in time to block the young woman's impending words.

Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, he departed from Yuanshan City, returning the way he came.

"I hope I will not encounter such incidents on the journey back."

He felt that along this journey, he had not gained much useful intelligence, yet troubles had certainly been plenty.

"May the Immortals bless... forget it, relying on the Immortals is unreliable. I had better just pray for my own good fortune."