Chapter 43: Chapter 41: Lan Tianlu’s "Revenge Scheme" and "Unexpected Encounter

On the treasure boat, people were in groups of twos and threes, forming clusters, with only Lan Tianlu alone at the corner.

The matters of the Lan Family were known to everyone; Lan Tianming was in seclusion, and his wife seemed to be very displeased with Lan Tianlu, leading to his resource scarcity, making these days quite tough.

Noble families are adept at adapting to circumstances; once kicked from the core, the status naturally changes drastically.

For this, Lan Tianlu’s face was gloomy, but he did not speak much.

He drove the silver Dharma Boat and quickly landed at an empty cave entrance on the fifth layer of the Water Cave.

"Gu Yuan, you little thief, reclaiming everything from you starts now!"

In a place where there was no one, recalling everything from these days, Lan Tianlu couldn’t help clenching his teeth and said hatefully.

"That little thief refined the Spiritual Flood Dragon Celestial Water, so his strength should be quite good at the Hidden Flood Dragon Institute. If nothing goes wrong, he ought to be able to spy around the Shell King’s location. As long as I wait at the Shell King’s place, I will definitely catch that little thief."

"It’s all because of these foolish noble families who insisted on letting the disciples of the Hidden Flood Dragon Institute test the demon’s capabilities, otherwise I could have lurked and waited ahead!"

"You don’t care about the Shell King, but I need it!"

Thinking of the slow treasure boat, Lan Tianlu felt a surge of dark anger in his heart, but felt helpless.

If he doesn’t follow the noble family’s treasure boat, he can only come along with the Dragon Tooth Treasure Boat of the Hidden Flood Dragon Institute, as this is Daoist School’s expedition, and private visitations are not allowed.

But if he boards the Hidden Flood Dragon Institute’s treasure boat, he fears Gu Yuan will see him, won’t dare enter the Shell Field, and things will become troublesome again.

He must ensure that Gu Yuan dies at his hands to regain the Four Spirits Jade Pillar and secure a bright future at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

"But being late is fine, the Shell Field is vast, with thousands of cave passages, ordinary people can’t find the Shell King within a few days. I still have the Spirit-Seeking Paper Cranes and Compass; I’m sure to find that little thief’s trace!"

Lan Tianlu first cursed a few times, then sorted out his thoughts and felt cheerful again.

"Go!"

He threw out dozens of green paper cranes from his pocket; these cranes were lively and lifelike, water-resistant, fire-resistant, expeditious, capable of flying hundreds of miles in half a day.

They are the perfect method for seeking people and capturing enemies.

"It’s a pity I don’t have that little thief’s hair; otherwise, I’d locate him in moments."

Lan Tianlu sighed and then took out a golden Compass from his pocket.

"Luckily, my father left behind this Compass which seeks the Shell King, allowing me to seize the opportunity first!"

Lan Tianlu caressed the somewhat dulled Compass, his gaze reminiscent.

The internal strife within noble families is also brutal; for non-core bloodlines, life isn’t satisfactory either.

Thinking of this, his resentment toward his second uncle increased.

"Kill the little thief first, then nurture the Star Spirit; sooner or later, I’ll surpass my second uncle!"

"I’ll make him regret it!"

"What Lan Family’s Qilin child, I am the real Qilin of Lan Family!"

While operating the Compass, Lan Tianlu was overwhelmed with ambition in his heart.

"Hmm?"

But suddenly, his expression changed.

"Why isn’t the Compass moving?"

"Could it have lost its spiritual nature over time?"

The golden Compass trembled slightly, then remained still, seemingly devoid of spiritual nature.

Lan Tianlu’s face filled with urgency; he couldn’t help but increase his mana to activate the Compass again.

"Whirling sound!"

Perhaps due to the increased mana, the Compass finally moved; the golden spoon slowly gyrated before slightly shifting in direction.

Later, it seemed uncertain and shifted to another direction, then came to a complete halt.

"Hmm?"

"Could it truly have lost its spiritual nature?"

Lan Tianlu’s face showed some suspicion.

In his heart, he had already mapped out a grand plan of revenge and future aspirations.

But unexpectedly, the first step of the plan had a slight mishap.

"However, it did point out a direction, so it shouldn’t be damaged!"

Mana probed for a long time, and the Dao Pattern of the Compass remained smooth, undamaged, showing no signs of losing spiritual nature.

"Let’s go and see!"

Lan Tianlu made up his mind, summoned a blue Electric Light Seal, and quickly headed towards one direction in the deeper water cave.

...

...

At that moment, in a secluded area within the water cave, Gu Yuan was refining Shell Pearl with closed eyes.

This place, within a few miles, had no Shell Pearls, and naturally, there were no demon beasts guarding it. Ordinary cultivators wouldn’t come here, extremely quiet, just suitable for refining Shell Pearl.

Rich mana surged like a river; with each breath, mana multiplied exponentially, increasing by one-tenth after some time.

Everything proceeded methodically.

As for the Compass seeking the Shell King, no matter how powerful, it couldn’t locate the Shell King Jade Pearl already swallowed and refined in the abdomen, except for one possibility.

...

"Boom!"

"Brother Yangg, hold on, kill the last Human-faced Spider, and not only can we survive, but we’ll also have a chance to take the Shell King!"

When Lan Tianlu arrived at the direction indicated by the Compass, a fierce battle was nearing its end.

Two ragged, exhausted cultivators fiercely besieged the remaining two Jade Water Human-faced Spiders.

Under their feet lay dozens of Red-tailed Apes and the corpses of two cultivators.

The scene was extremely horrible.

"So many Human-faced Spiders and Red-tailed Apes guard the Shell King!"

"And these humble lineage disciples of the Hidden Flood Dragon Institute are so fortunate to locate the whereabouts of the Shell King within just an hour!"

Watching the scene before him, Lan Tianlu was both surprised and delighted.

Surprised by the strong guards of the Shell King, delighted by the prospect of gaining benefits amidst the struggle of enemies.

"Before killing the little thief, I’ll first reap some minimal benefits!"

Qi Refining Disciples have no Life Tokens; outside the Daoist School, slaughter isn’t forbidden. Even if there is infighting, as long as it isn’t discovered, it’s nearly unpunishable.

Thus the "evil" within the cultivator’s heart is magnified.

Each year, Qi Refining Disciples die atrociously at the hands of their peers.

The Daoist School is aware but has never prohibited it.

Perhaps learning to avoid being ambushed is part of the trial.

"Blame it on your misfortune!" 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Seeing the battle reach its peak, Lan Tianlu decisively struck.

Electric light swiftly shattered the weakest dantian of Yangg Yue and the other cultivator, extinguishing them.

Then the long spear, like a dragon, rolled out with immense Qi power, pierced the two Jade Water Human-faced Spiders, ending the "tragic yet innocent battle."

"Comfortable!"

Lan Tianlu breathed a long sigh of relief, venting some of the resentment accumulated over the days.

After tidying up the battlefield, he hurriedly headed towards the Shell King’s place.

But just as he stepped into the water cave, his expression froze.

On the stone platform, the enormous Shell King shamelessly opened its shell, revealing empty shell meat.

But the Jade Pearl within was already gone, disappeared without a trace.

"Damn it!"

"Who!"

"Who stole my Shell King Jade Pearl!!"

Lan Tianlu was instantly furious, slapping the stone platform, venting his rage.

"Boom!"

He was carrying the Star Spirit, possessing immense Qi power, and with one strike, shattered the stone platform, revealing a peculiar passage.

This passage was different from the horizontal extension of the water cave, leading downwards, seemingly to a hidden location on the sixth layer of the Shell Field.

"Hmm?"

Seeing the bottomless dark passage, a thought of wild delight surged in Lan Tianlu’s heart.

"Could this be yet another new discovery?"

"Just like the White Worm Cold Prison?"