Setting the Board, Watching from Afar

"Immortal Fate is too small, can't be bothered?" Lu Fan's answer left Lu Changkong somewhat speechless. Someone actually found Immortal Fate too small? Isn't having it good enough?!

"Will it be enough for Nie Changqing and Ning Zhao to go?" Lu Changkong frowned, confirming once again.

"It's enough." Lu Fan smiled.

Lu Changkong remained silent. He wasn't one to insist, and he also understood that there must be something significant about Lu Fan. Being able to contend with the scholars of various factions, perhaps he really had the qualifications to look down on Immortal Fate. Because according to the reports from the scouts, none of the scholars had appeared among the strong ones going to Wolong Ridge this time.

"Alright, as long as you're confident, it's fine. However, this outbreak of Immortal Fate is within the jurisdiction of Beiluo City. I need to guard Beiluo to prevent any unexpected situations from affecting it," Lu Changkong said earnestly.

Lu Fan nodded.

"Dad, when you have time, you can go to Hu Xin Island more often. There, it's actually not inferior to the usual Immortal Fate secret realms," Lu Fan reminded.

Lu Changkong had already reached the Second Stage of the Qi Condensation Realm on Hu Xin Island, which was beyond Lu Fan's expectations. In Lu Fan's view, spending more time on cultivation would be better.

"Alright, I got it. When things settle down here, I will often stay on Hu Xin Island. Those chrysanthemums... I actually find them quite pleasing to the eye," Lu Changkong said with a meticulous smile.

As a descendant of the farming family among the scholars of various factions, Lu Changkong always had a special affection for peculiar plants.

After Lu Changkong left, wearing his helmet and armor, with a sword at his waist, he left the courtyard and headed to the city wall. Wolong Ridge was a hundred miles outside Beiluo City. Once a battle broke out, it was very likely to involve Beiluo. Moreover, there were some governors who might attack Beiluo City under the pretext of Immortal Fate. Lu Changkong had to sit on the city wall to deter the surrounding areas.

---

Lu Residence Dungeon.

The ground was damp and dirty, and the air was filled with the smell of blood. This was Lu Fan's second visit to the dungeon. The first time, he had determined the life and death of many scholars with just a word, causing the blood on the walls of the dungeon to be washed for a day and night.

This was the second time, but this time, Lu Fan didn't have much killing intent.

Mo Liuxi woke up.

He was bound to a cross, his body tightly tied.

"I... I'm not dead?" Mo Liuxi opened his eyes, feeling a stabbing pain in his body, the aftermath of being oppressed by the terrifying spiritual pressure until his muscles ruptured.

The door of the dungeon opened.

The sound of the wooden wheels rubbing against the damp ground echoed.

The dazzling sunlight outside the door made Mo Liuxi couldn't help but want to shed tears. He closed his eyes, waiting for the light to soften before slowly opening them to see the appearance of the person in front of him.

Before him stood a young man with red lips and white teeth, wearing a white shirt, with his hair hanging down, and a face as fair as white jade, graceful and elegant.

Beside the young man was a fox-faced maid, swaying her figure, and a girl holding a chessboard, glaring at him with a fierce look.

There were also many armored soldiers around, emitting a fierce aura, filling the room.

Lu Residence Dungeon... Mo Liuxi recognized it. He was very familiar with the smell of the dungeon.

"Did the Mo Family send you to assassinate me?" The wheelchair stopped three steps in front of Mo Liuxi. The young man with red lips and white teeth played with his slender fingers and said lightly.

"To kill or to mutilate... It's up to you." Mo Liuxi's eyes dimmed as he hung his head.

Azhu, I'm going to die.

Mo Liuxi felt a little choked up in his heart, not regret, just a little lost. He was afraid that he would never see Azhu, who gave him the tasks, again.

"You're not a qualified assassin," the young man said, raising his hand. A pearl hairpin appeared in his hand, and he said lightly to Mo Liuxi, "Assassins shouldn't have such strong emotions."

Mo Liuxi suddenly raised his head and stared at the pearl hairpin in the young man's hand.

"So, give up being an assassin and join me."

Mo Liuxi was stunned by these words, seemingly unexpected that the young man, Lu

"If I can't do it?" Mo Liuxi's forehead was sweating profusely. The methods of this young man were too unpredictable. The terrifying spiritual pressure from before, like a mountain, was more frightening than the righteousness of Confucian scholars. It was also like his current effortless manipulation of objects. Mo Liuxi, being able to manipulate objects with his mind, understood the difficulty of such control.

"If you can't do it..." Lu Fan glanced faintly at Mo Liuxi. "Then you die."

"Oh, don't worry. Even if you die, I'll let Azhu see you one last time. But... she'll see your bloody head," Lu Fan grinned, showing a brilliant smile.

Mo Liuxi suddenly felt cold. On the side, Ni Yu glanced at her own sinister and terrifying young master, rolling her eyes. His talent for intimidating people... was so trashy.

Mo Liuxi closed his eyes, imagining what Azhu would look like when she saw his bloody head. Then he smiled bitterly. Perhaps Azhu wouldn't feel much. But...

"I agree," Mo Liuxi said.

Lu Fan smiled faintly. "Very good."

After that, under his control, the hairpin inserted itself into Mo Liuxi's hair bun. The ropes binding Mo Liuxi automatically broke, and he fell to the ground.

"Jingyue, take him to the island," Lu Fan's voice drifted faintly as the wheelchair turned automatically.

With a smile, Jingyue, carrying a sandalwood sword case, lifted Mo Liuxi's body.

---

Lake Heart Island.

The pleasure boat arrived. Yi Yue pushed the wheelchair off the boat, Ni Yu spat out, feeling dizzy, and carried the chessboard, her legs feeling weak. Mo Liuxi lowered his head, and Jingyue followed behind him.

In the distance, the sound of breaking through the air resounded. Nie Changqing and Ning Zhao suddenly appeared.

"Young Master," the two bowed.

Lu Fan waved his hand. "I'm disappointed in you. It took a whole night just to barely condense a wisp of spiritual energy?"

In one night, Nie Changqing entered the Second Stage of the Qi Condensation Realm, and Ning Zhao entered the Third Stage of the Qi Condensation Realm. However, Lu Fan was very dissatisfied. After all, the concentration of spiritual energy on Lake Heart Island was extremely high. Coupled with the gentle spiritual energy emitted by the ten chrysanthemums, the cultivation environment could be said to be the best in the Five Phoenix Continent. Yet their progress was so slow.

Ning Zhao bit her lip and lowered her head, feeling guilty. Nie Changqing was the same. They had disappointed Lu Fan.

"The secret realm of Wolong Ridge has appeared. You have one more day. Set off for Wolong Ridge one day later," Lu Fan said lightly, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Yes," Nie Changqing and Ning Zhao hurriedly replied.

Then they left to cultivate their spiritual energy.

"Jingyue, watch him. He can move around the island freely. If he dares to leave the island, kill him," Lu Fan said as the wheelchair moved automatically.

Jingyue straightened up hastily. "Young Master, leave it to me."

Then, glaring, he looked at Mo Liuxi.

"Yi Yue," Lu Fan suddenly spoke.

Yi Yue, who was pushing the wheelchair, was startled and looked at Lu Fan.

"You once asked me for Immortal Fate, and I didn't give it to you. Now, seeing your vigorous qi and blood, although you haven't reached the level of a top martial artist, you're getting there. Therefore, Young Master can give you a chance."

Looking at Yi Yue, Lu Fan said, "You will practice with Mo Liuxi on the island. If you can comprehend the sense of qi and enter the Qi Condensation Realm, Young Master will teach you true immortal techniques."

Yi Yue was pleasantly surprised, bowing her head to the ground, trembling with excitement. Lu Fan looked at the excited Yi Yue and said nothing. Yi Yue, Ni Yu, and Ning Zhao were different. Yi Yue bore an immense hatred. When Lu Changkong rescued Nie Zhao, Yi Yue, and Ni Yu from a pile of dead refugees, Yi Yue was the most special. Holding a blood-stained dagger and full of hatred in her eyes, she was the only one who escaped after being sent by the Mo Family to kill everyone in her family due to their opposition to the Mo Family's involvement in the affairs of West County. She escaped to Beiluo City with the refugees and was saved by Lu Changkong.

"Don't thank me yet. Wait until you've cultivated the sense of qi," Lu Fan said lightly, sitting in the wheelchair with his back to Yi Yue.

"Ni Yu, push me upstairs," Lu Fan said.

Ni Yu responded with an "Okay," pushing the wheelchair up to the White Jade Pavilion, arriving at the terrace on the second floor.

Lu Fan took over the spiritual pressure chessboard carried by Ni Yu and placed it in front of him. The chess box full of black and white pieces was placed neatly. Ni Yu busied herself with brewing green plum wine.

Rumble...

The clear sky suddenly began to be covered with dark clouds. The lake surface stirred up wind, and there was a heavy pressure in the air.

Lu Fan held the chess piece. In an instant, the scene on the pavilion changed, and clouds swirled above. As he lightly stroked the spiritual pressure chessboard, his eyes suddenly changed, becoming deep and distant. Each line that jumped on the spiritual pressure chessboard outlined the terrain of Wolong Ridge, while the gathering of heroes and countless troops outside Wolong Ridge was presented as red dots on the spiritual pressure chessboard.

He was the one setting the board, but he was also an outsider.

The game of the revival of spiritual energy had begun.