Chapter 386: Nascent Soul

Xie Ningyuan pursed his lips and said to Gu Jue, "...Thank you."

Gu Jue shook his head. "I said I’d help you find a way, but in the end, I couldn’t help with anything. I don’t deserve your thanks."

Xie Ningyuan watched him, then suddenly chuckled. "Sometimes, I really think you’re such a perfect gentleman... it’s almost infuriating."

Lu Sangjiu couldn’t sense the undercurrents between the two men. All she could think was, ’Why does it sound like they’re about to start a fight?’

She shot Xie Ningyuan a glare. "Don’t you go starting trouble again. What’s wrong with being a gentleman? I think Mr. Gu is great just the way he is!"

Then, she offered Gu Jue a reassuring smile. "Don’t mind him, he just has a mean mouth!"

It sounded like she was helping Gu Jue, but it was still obvious who she was truly closer to.

That was why Xie Ningyuan wasn’t angry. He just feigned helplessness and said, "Alright, alright. I’ll shut up, okay?"

Lu Sangjiu nodded emphatically in agreement. "You should have shut up a long time ago!"

With that, she turned to Gu Jue, her expression turning serious. "I asked you to come because I have some really important things to tell you!"

Lu Sangjiu didn’t mention her true identity, Ye Zhiyao, or the matter of the Pseudo Heavenly Dao. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Gu Jue, she just didn’t want to add unnecessary complications.

She preferred not to say more than she had to unless she was discovered and forced to reveal it.

So, she only told Gu Jue about the third-party force that was cultivating the Demon Flower, intending to muddy the waters.

She also explained how Xie Ningyuan had been framed by Ting Chan and was now a wanted man, and why they couldn’t return to the Seven Emotions Sect for help and had to act on their own.

These were all complex matters, and it took her quite some time to explain everything.

Gu Jue listened attentively, his expression occasionally showing surprise or confusion, but thankfully, he didn’t doubt a word Lu Sangjiu said.

Gu Jue nodded. "I can’t believe so much happened while I was in seclusion... I also didn’t realize the situations at the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect and the Seven Emotions Sect had become so complex."

Lu Sangjiu, seeing him believe her so easily, was a little taken aback. "You... you just believe me? Aren’t you afraid we might be tricking you?"

’After all, it’s two major sects, the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect and the Seven Emotions Sect, against just me and Xie Ningyuan. Even someone who considered us friends would have some doubts, wouldn’t they?’

But Gu Jue just shook his head calmly. "I’ve dealt with both of you before, and we’ve even gone through life and death together. I trust your character, and I trust my own judgment."

"Besides, I heard about Mr. Xie’s situation yesterday and already had my doubts. Now that you’ve explained it, everything fits together perfectly. There’s no reason for me not to believe you."

To be trusted so completely was undoubtedly a happy occasion. A smile blossomed on Lu Sangjiu’s face. "That’s wonderful! I’m so glad you believe us!"

"Then..." She stared at Gu Jue nervously. "In that case, Mr. Gu, are you willing to help us?"

Gu Jue nodded without hesitation. "Of course. I..."

He paused, swallowing the words he had subconsciously been about to say—’I will always be willing to help you.’

After a glance at Xie Ningyuan, he rephrased. "You’re my friends. Helping you is the right thing to do."

"Besides, this concerns the fate of the common people; it’s not just a personal matter for you two. By any measure, I can’t just stand by and do nothing."

With Gu Jue’s promised help, Lu Sangjiu felt a little more at ease.

"Xie Ningyuan and I plan to find an opportunity to infiltrate the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect and investigate. After that, we’ll see if there’s a chance to capture Ting Chan."

"For this part, the fewer people involved, the better, so the two of us will be enough. As for you, I’m hoping you can find a way to persuade the Lingjian Sect to withdraw from this conflict. At the very least, I hope you can delay their involvement."

Gu Jue nodded in understanding. "Don’t worry. I will discuss this with my master. He is not an unreasonable man; he will trust me."

"But as for you two..." He hesitated. "Ting Chan is at the Late-stage Integration realm. Even though Mr. Xie has recovered his cultivation, it will be very difficult to stop Ting Chan if he tries to escape."

Lu Sangjiu nodded. "I know. Don’t worry, we won’t force the issue."

"My master and the others have gone to contact the other Major Sects. How about we all make our moves, and then meet up again to discuss the next steps once we have some results?"

Gu Jue said no more, simply nodding. "In that case, you two be careful."

Gu Jue came and left quickly. Once he was gone, Lu Sangjiu and Xie Ningyuan were in no hurry to head for the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect.

Lu Sangjiu looked at Xie Ningyuan. "I was already on the verge of a breakthrough before. I think I should advance to the Nascent Soul realm before we take action."

"However, I encountered the Pseudo Heavenly Dao during my Heavenly Tribulation for the Golden Core realm. I don’t know if it will interfere again this time, so there’s still some risk."

"If I fail to overcome the Heavenly Tribulation or get injured, you may have to proceed on your own."

Xie Ningyuan nodded. "Focus on your breakthrough. No matter the outcome, I will be here. Don’t worry."

He paused for a moment before continuing, "Last time, I accidentally healed myself by absorbing the Heavenly Tribulation. In the process, I felt like I sensed something... Little Jiu, I suspect that I have some sort of connection with this world’s Heavenly Dao."

"So I think, even if the Pseudo Heavenly Dao interferes with your Heavenly Tribulation and you find yourself unable to hold on, I might be able to help."

Hearing Xie Ningyuan say he might have a connection with the true Heavenly Dao, Lu Sangjiu suddenly recalled her time in the Western Demon Realm. The Bodhi Pearl had actively absorbed a sliver of the Heavenly Punishment Power from her body before heading off to rescue Xie Ningyuan.

’Looked at that way, maybe the Heavenly Dao really was trying to save him?’

’Then again, I also seem to have earned the favor of that same Heavenly Dao. It’s hard to tell what’s really happening.’

With that in mind, she didn’t say anything more about it, just nodding. "Good. In that case, I have nothing left to worry about."

The Heavenly Punishment Power within her had been heavily depleted back in the Western Demon Realm. Now, all that was left was a thread as thin as a single hair.

Lu Sangjiu could feel that it was now only capable of maintaining the balance between the Spiritual Energy and Demonic Qi in her body; relying on it for any more help was impossible.

That was why she had been worried that something might go wrong if the Pseudo Heavenly Dao intervened again. But with Xie Ningyuan there, she felt much more at ease.

The two of them purchased some Elixir Pills for their supplies and left Bodhi City.

They found a remote spot in a distant mountain range, set up a protective Array, and after making thorough preparations, Lu Sangjiu began her breakthrough.

In truth, that time she had entered Duoduo’s Heavenly Tribulation had brought her immense benefits. Although she hadn’t broken through right then, the tempering from the tribulation had made her own cultivation much purer.

So now, as she faced her own Tribulation Crossing, it felt surprisingly easy.

Even the Pseudo Heavenly Dao, which she had been so worried about, never made an appearance.

She passed her Nascent Soul Thunder Tribulation with exceptional smoothness, her cultivation only stabilizing once she reached the Mid-stage Nascent Soul realm.

Her path had always been so difficult that this bout of smooth sailing left Lu Sangjiu feeling a little unsettled.

’That’s... it? Has the Pseudo Heavenly Dao just given up on trying to deal with me?’