Chapter Thirty-Five: The Lotus Disc That Upgrades Itself

“Damn you! You actually possess a Heavenly Crystal Seed. Today I’ll strip your marrow and temper your sinews!”

The blood mist exploded, revealing the true form of Protector Sun. He now towered five fathoms high, his hair bristling like iron spikes. His arms stretched two fathoms long, but his hands were gone—his left wrist bore a blue fanged shield, while his right was fused with a golden giant axe. With great strides, he charged toward Lei Xiang within the Profound Heaven Fire Array.

With a thunderous crash, the golden giant axe struck the array, causing it to tremble violently. Fine cracks spread in all directions. “His secret art may not be fully complete, but this transformation alone is formidable. The power of that axe is at least tenfold what it was. The array won’t hold much longer.”

Protector Sun, now in a frenzy, struck the array again and again. Spiritual power surged within him, filling him to the brim. The array’s light dimmed, flickering so weakly it seemed on the verge of extinguishing.

Fortunately, at that moment, Linghu Chong activated the Autumn Water Bronze Mirror. A misty white vapor enveloped the golden axe, binding it so tightly it couldn’t budge.

Protector Sun threw back his head and chanted, “Blood Fiend shines bright, demonic desire soars to the heavens!” He spat a mouthful of essence blood, and the golden giant axe shuddered, let out a hideous shriek, and broke free, hurtling toward Linghu Chong.

“Autumn Waters and Sky as One!”

Linghu Chong reversed the bronze mirror. Where its light swept, white mist billowed upward, soon shrouding the world in fog. With another incantation, the mirror no longer emitted mist but fired countless white, translucent arrows that vanished into the fog in a flash.

Lei Xiang, recognizing the rare chance, sent forth his black and white Twin Swallow Darts, which dove straight into the fog.

Protector Sun cried out in alarm, but it was too late—arrows pierced him everywhere. His body, enhanced by secret arts, was unnaturally tough; he roared, his spiritual power forcing out hundreds of arrows, which reversed course, shooting back at Linghu Chong and Lei Xiang. Yet not a drop of blood flowed from his wounds.

He spat a black-red mist, which coalesced into a black demonic core that rose, bathing his surroundings in golden light and clearing the mist within five meters.

At that moment, Lei Xiang’s swallow-shaped dart arrived. Protector Sun, without even looking, slammed it aside with his golden axe, sending it spinning away at a hundred and fifty degrees.

But then, in an instant, a fist-sized mini-dart shot from the swallow dart—identical in shape but much smaller. At such close range, Protector Sun had no time to react. It plunged into his chest with a dull thud. Lei Xiang’s cold laugh echoed in his ear, “Don’t forget, these are Mother-Child Darts—Twin Swallows in Flight.”

Protector Sun burst into wild laughter. “Mere refined artifacts, not even worth a glance. Let me tell you…” Suddenly, he saw Lei Xiang point at him, and it was as if thousands of blue squares surged toward him. His body froze—he couldn’t move or speak.

Lei Xiang shouted urgently, “Now! You have but a single breath!” Without hesitation, he withdrew the Eight Treasures Dragon Spear and flung it skyward.

Linghu Chong did not tarry. His flying sword, empowered by the bronze mirror, shot forth at lightning speed and struck the black demonic core. Without its master’s control, the core shattered as if fragile as glass.

Protector Sun’s spirit was shaken, blood oozed from his seven orifices. Yet he could move again. He fumbled for a foul-smelling pill, intent on shoving it into his mouth—only to discover something was wrong.

He couldn’t find his mouth. He seemed to lack a head altogether. Staring blankly at Lei Xiang with the pill in hand, he saw Lei Xiang flash a smile, revealing his tiger tooth, and brandish the Eight Treasures Dragon Spear. Atop its tip was a massive head—one that looked exceedingly familiar to Protector Sun—then his lifeless body toppled to the ground.

Staring at the headless corpse on the floor, Linghu Chong asked quietly, “How did you do it?”

Lei Xiang dispelled the Profound Heaven Fire Array and grinned, tiger tooth showing. “It’s just a sealing technique. Our cultivation levels are too far apart, so I had to wait for an opportunity. The seal only lasts a moment.”

“Oh?” Linghu Chong didn’t press further, but gazed at Lei Xiang, his expression calm—yet Lei Xiang felt uneasy, until the Crown Prince interceded. “Brother, today we owe everything to you and Senior Linghu. Without you, the Lihuo Kingdom would have perished. With your strength and wisdom, I’d like you to govern the realm.”

Lei Xiang laughed, “If we’re brothers, let’s not speak of such things. Besides, I’m used to a carefree life. I don’t want to be bound by duty.”

“No, since ancient times, those with talent should lead. For the future of Lihuo, I insist you take my place.”

Before Lei Xiang could decline, Linghu Chong spoke up. “I disagree.”

“You disagree, Senior? Why?” the Crown Prince asked in puzzlement.

Linghu Chong raised his hand, casting a soundproof barrier, and stroked his beard. “Because I have a more pressing matter and hope Young Hero Lei will assist me.”

Lei Xiang spread his hands helplessly. “Forgive me, but my only wish is to cultivate diligently. I’m not interested in anything else.”

“What if it concerns the Blood Fiend Alliance? What if it would greatly aid your cultivation?”

Lei Xiang had yet to reply when the Crown Prince interjected, “If it serves both purposes, all the better! Please explain, Senior. My brother will surely consider it.”

“The Blood Fiend Alliance acts in defiance of heaven, wreaking havoc across Dongyue. Yet they are shrouded in mystery, like this Protector Sun—who would have guessed he was one of the Blood Demon King’s Eighteen Blood Killers? After years of investigation, we’ve learned the Hongji Foundation Academy is one of their major bases—perhaps even their headquarters. I’d like you, Young Hero Lei, to undertake this mission.”

“Our investigation and today’s events have proven your abilities. At the peak of the fourteenth level of Qi Refining, you’ve defeated a fifth-rank Black Bear monster and even contended with late Foundation Establishment cultivators. Your strength is unmatched in Lihuo. More importantly, your judgment, composure, decisiveness, and extraordinary intellect are the reasons we’ve chosen you. For this task, there is simply no better candidate.”

“You can enter the academy as a normal student, train and attend classes. Admission to Hongji is almost a guarantee of Foundation Establishment for those who strive. This would be a great boon to your path of cultivation. Please consider it carefully, Young Hero Lei.”

Lei Xiang did not answer at once, but bowed his head in silent thought. “Hongji Foundation Academy—I’ve never heard of it. But if it can help me reach Foundation Establishment, that would be ideal. And the Blood Fiend Alliance is indeed despicable. From the Lei Family Fortress to the Myriad Talismans Sect, and now Lihuo, they’ve opposed me at every turn. This grudge must be repaid. But for now, my strength is insufficient. Relying on clever schemes alone can’t guarantee victory every time. Only upon reaching Foundation or even Core Formation will I have true confidence.”

He weighed all the pros and cons, then addressed Linghu Chong, “The Blood Fiend Alliance must be destroyed, but I’m not yet strong enough to face them directly, so—”

Linghu Chong, anticipating his reply, interrupted him. “Young Hero Lei, allow me to clarify. You won’t be alone. We only want you to infiltrate the academy as a student, investigating while you study. Our people will contact you and assist with any difficulties.”

“Damn, you want me to go undercover? Ha! In my previous life, I loved spy stories like Infernal Affairs and Undercover. Now I get to play for real?”

After much deliberation, Lei Xiang agreed to cooperate with Linghu Chong and the others, enrolling at Hongji Academy to investigate the Blood Fiend Alliance. “Please tell me more about Hongji Academy, my identity there, and the means of contact.”

Linghu Chong was overjoyed at Lei Xiang’s agreement. He tossed him a jade slip. “Inside is the information on our agents and their contacts—memorize it, then destroy it. Now, let me brief you on the academy and your cover identity.”

Through the detailed introduction, Lei Xiang gained a preliminary understanding of both the mission and Hongji Foundation Academy.

Hongji Foundation Academy is the only Foundation Establishment academy in Dongyue, the nation’s highest institution—a sacred altar for all Qi Refining cultivators. Simply being accepted, combined with hard work, almost guarantees success.

A ninety percent success rate!

Such odds were astonishing. Having failed in secluded Foundation Establishment, Lei Xiang naturally sought other methods.

Moreover, over centuries, the academy has supplied Dongyue with countless Foundation Establishment cultivators. Most of the imperial court are alumni. If the Blood Fiend Alliance seeks power, they would surely infiltrate the academy, then gradually the government.

Back in the Crown Prince’s side hall, Lei Xiang set up his beast-hide defense, sealed the room with Restraining Seal, and sat to restore his spiritual power. He then took out a storage pouch to retrieve the Blue Lotus Disc.

This was his last secret weapon, known only to himself.

Other than copying items on the first and fifteenth days, the disc’s true abilities were still a mystery. But since it had once withstood a full-force blow from the Lihuo Kingdom’s ancestral master, Xuantianzi, it clearly held greater secrets—at the very least, its material was not of this world.

Today was the first day of the lunar month. The battle had cost Lei Xiang dearly—almost all his high-grade spirit stones were spent blowing up the ironwood engineering cart; his handmade talismans were nearly used up; even his beast-hide sheets for defense were down to three—all in urgent need of replenishment.

But when he brought out the Blue Lotus Disc, he was startled. Of the nine stone buds on its rim, three had silently bloomed into pale blue lotuses. “Last time only one opened—what caused them to bloom again?”

Pondering, he rummaged through the storage pouch. Besides the Purplewood Spirit Root and Weak Water Root, there was only one beast-hide defense sheet and a few low-tier talismans. He could only use his divine sense to communicate with the two spirit roots, but was disappointed by the result.

“They’re together every day, but neither spirit root knows how the Blue Lotus Disc advances—how odd…”

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him. “These spirit roots are always together—could it be that the Five Elements Spirit Roots help the disc level up? If I get a chance, I’ll try gathering the rest.”

On the morning of the second day, Lei Xiang packed the items copied overnight into his storage pouch, then began breathing exercises to refine his energy. “I must ensure my spirit, strength, and mind are all at their peak, to handle any emergency. After all, Hongji Foundation Academy is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers—one misstep and regret will come too late.”

The rising sun shone through the window, casting its light on Lei Xiang’s serene, smiling face, and glinting off his adorable little tiger tooth.

Perhaps, once he learned of the dangers awaiting him, he wouldn’t smile so easily.