Chapter 509: A Homeless Dog

Hearing the knock on the door, Lu Chao slowly raised his head.

He gently wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and after composing himself, he softly asked, "Who is it?"

"It's me, Lu He." From outside, a woman's voice, choked with tears, drifted in.

Lu Chao straightened his clothes a bit more before stepping forward and opening the door.

He saw his Third Junior Sister, Lu He, who had once been somewhat bossy, now looking incredibly fragile.

Her eyes were completely red, a clear sign she had been crying heavily.

She was holding a tray with several items on it. "Young Master Lu, this is a token of gratitude from our Sect Leader and First Senior Sister. Please forgive us for our poor hospitality today."

Lu He's voice was weak and pitiful, and she was now addressing him as "Young Master Lu."

It was a complete change from her usual self.

Frowning, Lu Chao suddenly realized. 'Have I really been asleep at the Qianjian Sect for a whole day?'

Looking at Lu He's distressed face, Lu Chao asked softly, "Is it about your Fourth Junior Brother? Did something happen...?"

Shaking her head hard, Lu He suddenly looked up, tears streaming down her face...

"It's Second Senior Brother. He's suddenly vanished."

"Just as we were investigating the traitor, just as we were about to expose him, he disappeared. We can't find him."

"Our Sect Leader and First Senior Sister are tracking him now."

A sharp glint flashed in Lu Chao's eyes. He nodded slightly, showing little reaction.

It was obvious that the Second Senior Brother, Ren Tang, knew he was about to be exposed and had fled the Qianjian Sect.

Lu He wasn't crying about anything else, but rather from the feeling of being betrayed by one of her own—a feeling that was incredibly agonizing and painful.

"Young Master Lu, First Senior Sister told me to tell you to be careful. Second Senior Brother..."

"No, that bastard Ren Tang probably hates you to the bone."

With that, she thrust the Qianjian Sect's gifts into Lu Chao's hands, then turned and ran off.

After watching Lu He's retreating figure for a moment, Lu Chao slowly withdrew his gaze and gently closed the door.

As far as he was concerned, the Qianjian Sect's affairs still didn't have much to do with him. After coming to understand his own combat strength, Lu Chao was no longer afraid of any potential retaliation from Ren Tang.

As for Lu He's feelings, he too had been betrayed before. He could understand, but he couldn't help.

'In any case, the Qianjian Sect's way of doing things is growing on me.'

Taking a deep breath, Lu Chao looked at the gifts on the tray...

Three bottles of Elixir Pills, a Sword, and a suit of Armor, all of them Moon-Level Celestial Grade. For the Qianjian Sect, this was an absolutely generous gesture.

Then there was a Storage Ring, filled with dazzling coins.

Finally, there were three sheets of paper that glowed with a golden light. It was the same kind of Crystal Profound Paper that Chi Xingxun had used to prove the Miracle of the Nether Spring, but these three sheets were blank.

This meant Lu Chao could use them and inscribe whatever he wished.

Without any ceremony, Lu Chao put everything into his Storage Ring. His gaze hardened. 'Father, Mother, and Brother, no matter what, I will remember everything and come find you.'

His mother had told him as a child that the nightmares were fake.

They might still be alive and well in this world. In any case, Lu Chao refused to think about the worst-case scenario. He first needed to remember where his home was, and only then could he search for answers.

'I will turn this so-called Life-taking Bone Calamity Star into a saving grace. And I will definitely live on.'

This was what his family had repeatedly told him to do: live.

With this in mind, Lu Chao sat down cross-legged...

'What I have to deal with now is the Green Bone Palace's inspection. I need to keep raising my realm and pass this trial.'

Taking a deep breath, Lu Chao opened the three bottles of Elixir Pills and examined their properties.

He then began his Cultivation while consuming the Elixir Pills. Only by raising his realm could more memory fragments surface, and only by raising his realm could he see more of the Star Moon Level Bones.

Lu Chao needed to advance at least two minor realms before the Green Bone Palace arrived.

...

「Rising Moon City. The Shengting Sect.」

CRACK!

A sharp, heavy slap echoed through the main hall of the Shengting Sect, followed by a piercing scream, and then the voice of Feng Xianyin...

"Ren Tang, your greatest value was being a spy inside the Qianjian Sect. What use are you now that you've run away?"

That's right. The one who had just been slapped was none other than Ren Tang.

After escaping the Qianjian Sect, he had made a beeline for the Shengting Sect to seek refuge.

However, the response he received was a heavy slap across the face.

Before, Ren Tang would have dared to challenge Feng Xianyin, maintaining the arrogant air of the Qianjian Sect's Second Senior Brother. But now, he could only clutch his face like a stray dog...

He thudded to his knees.

He looked at Feng Xianyin and the members of the Shengting Sect and said frantically, "I'm useful! I'm very useful!"

BAM—

Sect Leader Shengting shot out a blast of True Qi, slamming Ren Tang to the ground once more.

"You? What damn use are you?"

"When you were the Qianjian Sect's Second Senior Brother, you couldn't even get a simple list right! If it weren't for you, do you really think the Qianjian Sect could have held on for four months?"

"You didn't know Qian Ya had recovered her strength, and you didn't know Lu Chao was the Miracle of the Nether Spring! Tell me, what use are you? All the resources and benefits I've given you these past two years... were all a goddamn waste!"

It could be said that the Thunderbolt Sect's defeat in the final six battles was a direct result of being misled by Ren Tang.

Slammed to the ground, Ren Tang didn't dare show a hint of resentment. He just scrambled back up to his knees...

"I was useless, I admit, but it was all because of that Lu Chao! He's the one with the Fire Roaring and Water Chant Bone! He was the one secretly healing Qian Ya, and to think Qian Ya was on guard against me the whole time!"

At this, Feng Xianyin and the others sneered. They had known for a long time that Lu Chao possessed the Fire Roaring Water Chant Bone.

Because of Lu Dingtian's existence...

Following that, Ren Tang had no choice but to reveal everything about the advice Lu Chao had given to Qian Ya and the others during the final battle.

He was hoping to use Lu Chao to redirect their hatred.

As Ren Tang spoke, the members of the Shengting Sect were naturally seething with hatred and murderous intent...

"It's all Lu Chao's fault! Otherwise, the Thunderbolt Sect never would have lost," Ren Tang said, his whole body trembling.

Feng Xianyin and Sect Leader Shengting exchanged a look, the word "Kill" seemingly written in their eyes—aimed, of course, at Lu Chao.

But in the next instant...

Feng Xianyin looked back at Ren Tang and said coldly, "What I want to know is, what use are you from now on?"

Such talk was useless. What mattered was Ren Tang's value...

Ren Tang was suddenly at a loss for words. What use could he be? His Martial Arts Talent was decent, but the Shengting Sect wasn't lacking in that department.

As the strongest Sect in Rising Moon City, the Shengting Sect truly had no shortage of disciples with his level of talent.

"I'll give you a path to survival. When the people from the Green Bone Palace arrive, I need you to show up..." Feng Xianyin continued, then leaned in and quietly explained his plan to Ren Tang, including the role he was to play.

Finally, Feng Xianyin asked, "Have you memorized it?"