Chapter 866 - 120: Yin Yue Disappears

Sea surface.

The ship was speeding, and except for Lu Feng, everyone on board was smiling broadly.

This time, the harvest was abundant for everyone, and even the Innate Powerhouses found it hard to conceal their joy.

In Shao Chaozong and others’ eyes, Lu Feng was in a bad mood because Xu Siyuan died in the underwater cavern, grieving over the loss of a friend.

However, only Lin Chen knew that Lu Feng’s bad mood was indeed due to Xu Siyuan, but not because of his death, rather his betrayal.

Xu Siyuan had saved his life, and his Martial Path talent was extremely high; otherwise, even with Lu Feng occasionally providing him with Martial Path resources and his secret assassinations of other Martial Artists to seize resources, it would be impossible for him to have cultivated to the Innate Second Realm at his age.

Murder and treasure-hunting could indeed bring a fortune, but to train to the Innate Second Realm, the required resources are not something that can be met by just murder and treasure-hunting. To avoid revealing his identity, Xu Siyuan only killed those who were not the top elites of Guangwu City, but were similar or slightly better in background than him.

In the cabin, Lin Chen sat there, eyes closed, relaxing. He was already contemplating how much of the Innate Crystal could be liquefied with the Quenching Crystal Sand obtained this time.

"Brother Fang is not a Martial Artist from the islands near Nine Mountains Island, right?"

Zhu Ru spoke to Lin Chen with a smiling face. On the way here, Zhu Ru didn’t pay much attention to Lin Chen, barely speaking to him during the many days on the ship.

But this time returning, Zhu Ru was very attentive to Lin Chen, proactively seeking him out for conversation several times.

"No."

Lin Chen replied indifferently, knowing why Zhu Ru was so focused on him: she was curious about his strength. Even without Lu Feng’s wary glances, just based on Lin Chen’s performance facing the Blood Mist Beast previously, she would have paid him considerable attention.

"With Brother Fang’s strength, if you’re a Martial Artist from near Nine Mountains Island or from the Eastern Sea, I should have heard of you, it seems Brother Fang must be from another domain."

There are many Innate Second Realm Martial Artists in the whole Eastern Sea. Zhu Ru couldn’t have seen them all, but Martial Artists’ memories are never bad; even if she hasn’t met them, she would have heard of them.

For Zhu Ru, herself being in the Innate Second Realm, she is quite focused on Martial Artists of the same realm in the Eastern Sea. She can confirm that there isn’t a Martial Artist named Fang Zhan in the whole Eastern Sea.

"I come from Fulong Domain."

"Fulong Domain?"

Zhu Ru realized: "No wonder I haven’t heard of Brother Fang’s name; Brother Fang is traveling in the Eastern Sea?"

"Yes, my Martial Path has hit a bottleneck, so I decided to travel around."

Regarding Lin Chen’s answer, Zhu Ru had no doubts. When Innate Martial Artists encounter bottlenecks in their practice, choosing to travel, including cross-domain travels, is nothing out of the ordinary.

"Since Brother Fang is traveling, why not visit my Pingxiang Sect? Pingxiang Sect is on Star Moon Island, not far from Nine Mountains Island."

Zhu Ru’s enticing eyes blinked lightly, fully displaying the charm of a mature woman.

"I’ll visit if I have time."

After inviting Lin Chen to be a guest, Zhu Ru gracefully got up and left.

Lin Chen watched Zhu Ru’s departing figure, unsure of what kind of woman Zhu Ru was, but knowing she was smart and measured in her actions.

Clearly, Zhu Ru wanted to make connections with him, yet she was sensible, not using her advantages to persistently bother him.

Six days later.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have matters to attend to, so I’ll disembark first."

Before reaching Nine Mountains Island, Shao Chaozong bid farewell, Innate Martial Artists can fly over the sea and don’t necessarily need ships.

Often ships are used due to long distances; relying solely on flight can easily exhaust Innate Power within.

The amount of Innate Power within an Innate Martial Artist determines how much strength they can wield.

But now the ship was just half a day’s journey from the nearest island, with Shao Chaozong’s abilities, flying at most would consume only about 10% of his Innate Power within.

Shao Chaozong left straightforwardly, and after Shao Chaozong disembarked, in just two hours, Zhang Sheng also bid farewell, for the exact same reason.

The next day, Zhu Ru also left the ship, different from Shao Chaozong and Zhang Sheng; when leaving, Zhu Ru once again invited Lin Chen to visit Star Moon Island’s Pingxiang Sect.

"Brother Fang, these few are leaving because they carry Quenching Crystal Sand and are uneasy about returning to Nine Mountains Island with me."

Lu Feng watched the departing figures and explained the truth to Lin Chen.

Murder and treasure-hunting in the Martial Arts Realm aren’t anything novel; the Lu Family’s strength on Nine Mountains Island, in Guangwu City, is not weak. These three fear that after reaching Nine Mountains Island, Lu Feng might use the Lu Family’s strength to secretly target them.

"Both Shao Chaozong and Zhang Sheng are the strongest in their family, if my Lu Family really wanted to target them, it would be without hesitation. As for Pingxiang Sect where Zhu Ru belongs, although there’s an Innate Third Realm powerhouse, if my Lu Family acts secretly without giving Pingxiang Sect any evidence, it’s of no consequence."

In the Martial Arts Realm, even disciples of the same sect guard against each other, not to mention temporary cooperative teams like this.

In fact, if Lin Chen hadn’t overheard Xu Siyuan planning to seize the Lu Family’s assets, knowing only an old Innate Second Realm elder remained in the Lu Family, and because Yin Yue was still on Nine Mountains Island, he might have chosen to leave midway.

Such would be the safest choice.

...

One day later.

The ship arrived at Nine Mountains Island, and after disembarking, Lu Feng did not bid farewell to return to the Lu Mansion. Instead, he chose to go with Lin Chen to the inn.

Lu Feng’s action was to reassure Lin Chen that he wouldn’t change his mind upon returning to Nine Mountains Island, conspire with family elders against Lin Chen, and take back the Martial Path Will and treasures from the Hundred Objects Box.