Chapter 785: The Furious Lü Bu

"Let me take a quick look at Zichuan's fortune," Fan Liang muttered as he used his ability to gaze at Chen Xi's aura, stroking his beard with satisfaction after his observation.

"Hmm, still stable, with gradual improvement, just like before," Fan Liang nodded approvingly. "But what's this connection with the national fortune? That wasn’t in the teachings."

Fan Liang was momentarily stunned, noticing a faint connection between Chen Xi and the national fortune, something he hadn’t seen in any of his previous studies. He was perplexed at first but, after probing a bit and confirming there were no risks, he felt reassured. He had a preference for those who seemed unremarkable but would one day shine brightly, taking everyone by surprise—a potential talent like no other.

"Zichuan, what are you looking around for?" Zhao Yun asked in a low voice.

"I feel like someone’s watching me," Chen Xi replied, shifting uncomfortably. "It’s like I’m being spied on, but I can’t figure out where from."

"There’s no one," Zhao Yun said after scanning the surroundings with his sharp, murderous gaze. He turned back to Chen Xi. "It’s clear."

"Maybe I’m just being overly sensitive," Chen Xi said sheepishly, realizing that he sometimes had a tendency to overthink.

After Liu Bei and his group finished paying their respects at the stone monument and Xuanyuan Ding, they gradually left the area. Chen Xi remained behind, as there were still matters he needed to take care of.

Once the others had gone, Zuo Ci, dressed in a Daoist robe and holding a horsetail whisk, suddenly appeared before the Xuanyuan Ding, acting as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Master Zuo, once again, I must trouble you to chant the scriptures," Chen Xi said with a smile.

"Aren’t you worried that I might be like those others, with my sights set on the Xuanyuan Ding? After all, it is a national treasure, and refining its fortune could grant someone at least an extra thousand years of life, if not immortality," Zuo Ci remarked, a flicker of something in his eyes.

"I don’t believe Master Zuo would do such a thing," Chen Xi replied calmly.

"You ‘don’t believe’? And that’s enough for you to leave the Xuanyuan Ding here so openly?" Zuo Ci chuckled, clearly skeptical.

"This is Taishan. No one can take the Xuanyuan Ding from here," Chen Xi said confidently, gazing up at the sky before looking back at Zuo Ci.

"Indeed, your forces are quite formidable," Zuo Ci murmured after some thought. "With your defensive formation covering the entire city of Fenggao, no one could steal it. For any individual, no matter how strong, it would be impossible."

"It helps that you have no interest in the Xuanyuan Ding. Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare entrust its protection to you. Stealing from the inside would be a problem," Chen Xi joked. "But I get the feeling that both you and Master Zixu have your own moral boundaries."

"It’s not so much a matter of morals as it is a difference in our pursuits. At the core, we’re all chasing immortality. But it’s just... different here," Zuo Ci shook his head, placing himself in the same category as those Daoists he typically looked down on.

"Is immortality really possible?" Chen Xi asked, genuinely curious.

"Yes. For someone like you, who has cultivated a spiritual talent, or for martial generals who have achieved the realm of Inner Qi Departure, it’s actually quite simple," Zuo Ci said something that left Chen Xi in disbelief.

"How can that be possible?" Chen Xi asked in shock.

"It’s easy. You simply need to clear your mind of desire, abstain from lust, greed, anger, and joy. Don’t succumb to any emotions," Zuo Ci’s words immediately extinguished any interest Chen Xi had in pursuing immortality.

"What’s the point of living forever if that’s what it takes?" Chen Xi rolled his eyes.

"Immortality is not the same as eternal life," Zuo Ci said, looking at Chen Xi with a meaningful expression. Chen Xi was momentarily taken aback and repeated the words to himself, "Immortality is not eternal life. I see."

"In that case, I’d rather live a brilliant life," Chen Xi shrugged. "Master Zuo, I’ll leave the Jingling Hall in your capable hands. Soon, the Xuanyuan Heavenly Ding will be brought here as well."

"Very well, I’ll watch over it," Zuo Ci nodded.

Compared to the dangerous journey Guan Yu faced while returning with the Xuanyuan Human Ding, Yan Liang had a much easier time. He only had to kill five or six immortals, the strongest of whom was merely his equal. At one point, Yan Liang encountered a situation similar to Guan Yu's, with a dozen immortals converging on him.

However, unlike Guan Yu, who was surrounded by ten immortals, Yan Liang wasn’t in nearly as much danger. The reason? Those dozen immortals were fleeing for their lives, relentlessly pursued by none other than Lü Bu.

Despite the fact that the immortals could fly and were relatively powerful, Lü Bu had been chasing and slaughtering them with his bow and arrows all the way from the northern frontier. Of the more than thirty immortals who had been on the run, only a dozen had survived.

After witnessing Lü Bu savagely cut down several immortals and capture a man named Beidou alive, Yan Liang warily kept his distance from Lü Bu. But Lü Bu didn’t even glance at him. Holding Beidou in one hand, Lü Bu continued his pursuit of the remaining immortals.

What Yan Liang saw next chilled him to the core. Lü Bu, ignoring his own injuries, slaughtered every single one of the immortals and then, with tears streaming down his face, tore Beidou into pieces before wandering away, utterly broken.

It was Beidou who had triggered Lü Bu’s uncontrollable rage and madness, causing him to disregard his own safety and attack recklessly. As a result of Beidou’s reckless actions, Lü Bu had exterminated every immortal and barbarian who crossed his path in the north.

If we turn back time slightly, just as Beidou was about to enter the Central Plains, Lü Bu had already killed most of Beidou’s original body and his clones. In desperation, Beidou unleashed his "Mark of Death" on Lü Bu.

The "Mark of Death" was Beidou’s trump card, a move that could supposedly kill even those who had achieved Inner Qi Departure. Lü Bu, of course, didn’t dodge it and took the full brunt of the attack. However, all it did was cause him to spit out some blood.

Though Lü Bu wasn’t heavily affected, others were not as fortunate. The move was a curse, and while it didn’t seriously harm Lü Bu, it dealt a fatal blow to his loved ones. Zhang Liao and Gao Shun were unharmed due to their strength, but Lü Bu’s wife died instantly, and both his daughter, Lü Qiling, and Diao Chan were gravely injured.

In that moment, Lü Bu, a man with an incredibly powerful will, felt the devastation happening to his family. Overcome with grief and rage, he swung his halberd with unmatched fury, obliterating all of Beidou’s clones and slicing Beidou himself in half.

Realizing he stood no chance, Beidou fled, dragging others into his path to slow Lü Bu down. Over thirty immortals from the northern frontier were wiped out as Lü Bu pursued Beidou without mercy. Even three powerful Xianbei warriors didn’t have time to declare their names before they were slain in Bingzhou.

In his berserk state, Lü Bu wielded his halberd with unstoppable force. He blocked all attacks through sheer momentum, his body covered in blood but his power undeniable.

And so, burdened with remorse, Lü Bu silently returned to Bingzhou. The dead could not be revived, and after losing Lady Yan, Lü Bu could not bear to lose Diao Chan as well. After slaying Beidou, he headed back to Jiuyuan, knowing that his grudges with the northern immortals and barbarians would be settled eventually.

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