Chapter 148: Run Away!

Gong Luo was ultimately persuaded by Mo Chen.

She also wanted to rapidly strengthen her own power.

Ever since arriving in the Prison Dragon Realm, the countless facets of this realm had left her uneasy, wishing she could grow stronger immediately.

To that end, under Mo Chen's instigation, she finally agreed.

And as the Great Qian Imperial Dynasty carried out sweeping reforms, the puppets it sold climbed steadily higher...

Imperial Artisan Island, the puppet-manufacturing site of the Great Qian Imperial Dynasty.

Mo Chen looked at the several Dharma Artifacts before him that ceaselessly produced puppets, his expression proud.

"Hmph. A few mere artifacts for refining puppets, and yet they make the cultivators of this lower realm flock to them like ducks to water."

"Still... to possess such insight and Comprehension in the lower realm, to craft artifacts of this caliber — that Lu Sect Master is hardly ordinary."

"Could it be that this person is also a banished immortal reincarnated?"

Mo Chen mused inwardly.

Though when facing Gong Luo, his words had been full of disdain for Lu Qingyang.

But in truth, as a reincarnated person, and a banished immortal from the Upper Realm in his previous life, how could he possibly not be wary of such a figure?

At this thought, he formed hand seals, intending to perform a divination.

It's been many years since I last divined that Lu Sect Master. I wonder how his circumstances are now.

Regardless, I cannot let him discover what we are doing. Otherwise, with my current strength, it would be troublesome.

With that thought, his finger gave a slight flick, and various dharma seals flowed around his fingertips.

"Bzz~"

Instantly, a mysterious aura spread out from within his body.

Like green smoke, it drifted along his fingertip into the air.

However, once these auras reached a distance of several zhang into the air, they dissipated.

As if they could not find their target.

"Hm? What's going on?"

"It's only been a few years, and that Lu Sect Master's aura is already obscured?"

Mo Chen's brow arched, surprise showing in his eyes.

Then, as if refusing to believe it, he performed several more divinations, yet still with no result.

"No! Something is definitely wrong!"

As if sensing something, Mo Chen's eyes flickered with sharp light. His mind stirred, and he bit the tip of his tongue.

A drop of fresh blood fell from his mouth, vanishing with the wind.

Immediately after, those few wisps of green smoke began to rotate slowly.

Moments later, they condensed into form, as if striving with all their might to probe for the target.

Yet still there was no harvest, and in the unseen depths, it seemed he had even provoked a certain existence.

"Pfft!"

Suddenly!

As if suffering a backlash, Mo Chen violently spewed a mouthful of blood, both knees hitting the ground.

"Ah!"

A look of agony appeared on his face, his eyes full of terror.

"This... this is fortune protecting the body!"

"What terrifying fortune... this fortune..."

"I've only ever seen fortune like this on a Taiyi in the Upper Realm. Could this person be..."

"Impossible! How could a perfectly ordinary Middle Thousand World possibly have a Taiyi reincarnation!"

Mo Chen's mind was violently shaken.

No. Don't fear the unlikely — fear the one in ten thousand!

I cannot let him know. Otherwise, death is certain.

Go. Withdraw immediately!

Mo Chen paid no heed to his injuries, hurriedly rising to his feet.

He didn't even bother to gather his belongings. With a wave of his hand, he produced a strange Dharma Artifact that tore open space, and vanished from the Great Qian Imperial Dynasty.

Meanwhile, within the imperial palace, Gong Luo, still dreaming of wealth, was completely unaware that her State Preceptor had already fled...

It was only three days later that she heard from her subordinates of Mo Chen's disappearance.

This sent her into a furious rage, and she smashed the desk before her with a single palm strike.

"What did you say!"

"The State Preceptor is gone!"

"He didn't even leave a message?!"

Gong Luo hurriedly strode out of the great hall, rushing toward Imperial Artisan Island, wanting to find traces of Mo Chen.

But within his cave residence, aside from discovering a pool of dark brown bloodstains, there were no clues whatsoever.

Gong Luo stood in the center of the cave residence, her gaze dark, the more she thought, the angrier she became.

"State Preceptor, where exactly did you go!?"

"Don't you know that our Great Qian Imperial Dynasty needs you?!"

"To abandon us just like that..."

Gong Luo's heart clenched, feeling it was utterly bizarre.

On the other side, Lu Qingyang, through a sting operation, had brought Ma Liang along, tailing a group of cultivators to Huangji Island...

"I never imagined that in just a few decades, that woman would have built up such a large foundation."

"Tsk tsk. Nearly a million subjects. Impressive."

Lu Qingyang stood high in the air, gazing at the prosperous island before him.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

In truth, he had no intention of paying attention to this woman.

But since she had moved against the Chaotian Sect's livelihood, he had no choice but to handle it personally.

Moreover, he was quite curious how that woman managed to refine puppets of a quality extremely similar to the Chaotian Sect's.

Very well. Today I shall see just how hard this Emperor Fate Pattern is.

Lu Qingyang's eyes were deep as his figure transformed into a streak of light, hurtling toward the Great Qian imperial palace.

In fact, if not for the simulation before last, in which he obtained tremendous fortune, he would naturally have been unwilling to clash too heavily with this woman.

After all, the Emperor Fate Pattern was the most vexing thing in the cultivation world.

Just as ordinary martial sects hated mortal dynasties the most.

Cultivation sects likewise found cultivation imperial dynasties the most irritating.

The two were natural opposites.

Lu Qingyang originally didn't want to get involved either.

But now, with fortune upon him, he was confident the Emperor Fate Pattern was no longer too great a trouble.

Therefore, this tape he had to collect...

...

Gong Luo's figure was somewhat weary.

Surrounded by a coterie of guards, she flew toward the imperial palace.

The entire way, she kept wondering how her State Preceptor could have left without a word.

Could it be that I did something poorly?

Or is it that my Great Qian is beneath his notice? That shouldn't be...

Could the State Preceptor have encountered some danger?

That possibility is the most likely. Otherwise, the State Preceptor would not have left without a word.

At this thought, Gong Luo's heart tightened.

Her pace quickened considerably.

She intended to send people to search for Mo Chen.

Even if he were in danger, she ought to lend a hand.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

...

Within the imperial palace, all those she passed bowed to her, faces filled with reverence.

Gong Luo, however, had no heart to respond.

She hurried toward the great hall.

She was going to summon the assembled ministers to discuss a course of action.

But just as she stepped into the great hall, her figure abruptly froze in place.

One foot was outside the hall, the other not yet within, halted in mid-air.

Her whole being was caught in a state where advancing was wrong and retreating was also wrong.

And within the hall, a man in blue robes, with an ethereal bearing and a stern, radiant countenance, was currently seated upon the imperial throne that belonged to her.

Beside him, an old man in silver robes was also studying her with curiosity.

His eyes held a trace of admiration and sympathy.

These two were none other than Lu Qingyang and Ma Liang.

"Long time no see, Your Majes... ty?"

Lu Qingyang slowly raised his head, lifting his gaze to look at the woman with phoenix brows and ice-cold eyes, and spoke softly.