Chapter Fifty-One: Journey South

“Hey!” Shirtless, Lu Zhe darted swiftly back and forth through the depths of the forest, agile as a monkey. Suddenly, he spotted a tree ahead, its trunk as thick as a large bowl. Instantly, he channeled spiritual energy into his right arm, bounded quickly to the tree, clenched his jaw, tensed his arm until veins bulged, and then struck the trunk with all his might.

“Direct Collapse Fist!” Lu Zhe shouted. With a thunderous crash, the tree was snapped cleanly in two at the waist.

Next, Lu Zhe noticed another tree behind him, thick enough that it would take a man’s arms to circle it. He slid his legs, twisted his torso, raised his right arm, and drove his elbow fiercely into the trunk.

“Elbow Collapse!” he roared again. A deep boom sounded, but there was no crash of a tree falling. Looking closely, he saw that while his strike had blasted a gaping hole into the tree’s middle, it hadn’t broken through entirely—a few inches of wood on either side still supported the trunk.

Lu Zhe paused, examining the tree, then looked down at his own right arm. Blood was streaming from it, the backlash of his explosive fist techniques taking a clear toll.

He pulled a roll of bandages from his pocket and wrapped his injured arm. Picking his shirt up from the ground, he walked out of the forest.

It had been ten days since Old Ye left Lu Ze. In these ten days, Lu Zhe had done nothing but cultivate spiritual energy and practice the Collapse Fist with relentless intensity. Fortunately, Heaven rewards the diligent; not only had he advanced to Six-Star Spirit Adept, he had also made considerable progress with the Collapse Fist. Now, he could shatter a tree the thickness of a large bowl with a single punch, or blast a gaping hole in a tree as thick as a man’s embrace with his elbow.

Leaving the woods and stepping onto the main street of Qinglin Town, Lu Zhe watched the bustling crowds, his thoughts drifting involuntarily to Old Ye.

As he walked with his head down, someone suddenly patted his shoulder. He turned in surprise, and then delight, exclaiming joyfully, “Master, you’re back!”

The one who’d patted him was none other than his mentor, Old Ye.

Old Ye was dressed, as always, in a green robe that shrouded his body. In his hand, he still carried that emerald bamboo staff, and now he smiled at Lu Zhe with twinkling eyes.

After giving Lu Zhe a brief once-over, Old Ye said mildly, “Good lad, you’ve broken through to Six-Star.”

Lu Ze scratched his head sheepishly and offered a bashful grin.

Old Ye laughed heartily. “How’s your Collapse Fist training going?”

Lu Zhe raised his head and replied, “I can break a tree as thick as a large bowl now.”

Old Ye’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “You can break a tree that thick already? Let me see your right hand.”

At this, Lu Zhe raised his right arm and rolled up his sleeve, revealing the bandaged limb.

Old Ye examined the arm closely, then asked with some concern, “How did you train? How did you end up with an injury like this?”

Lu Zhe rubbed his head and smiled awkwardly. “Nothing special, just practiced every day.”

Old Ye chided him, “I told you before—the Collapse Fist is powerful, but its backlash is not to be underestimated. The best way is to practice once every three days, but you never listen. Don’t push yourself so hard that you ruin your arm.”

Lu Zhe protested, “Don’t say that, Master. I know my own body.”

Old Ye shot him a glare, sighed, and rummaged through his robe before pulling out a small jade bottle. He unwrapped the blood-soaked bandage from Lu Zhe’s arm and sprinkled the powder inside the bottle over the wound.

Lu Zhe was momentarily stunned, but soon felt the pain in his arm easing. Clearly, Old Ye’s medicine was effective.

Old Ye tossed aside the bloodied bandage, took a new one from his robe, and carefully wrapped Lu Zhe’s arm. When he finished, he rolled down Lu Zhe’s sleeve and said, “All done.”

This simple act stirred something sour in Lu Zhe’s heart. No one had ever cared for him like this since he could remember. Tears welled up in his eyes.

Old Ye looked at him, patted his head, and teased with a smile, “How old are you now, still crying? Be careful, or people will laugh.”

Lu Zhe turned away to wipe his tears quickly, then faced Old Ye again. “Master, where did you go?”

Old Ye began to stroll down the street, Lu Zhe walking beside him on the left. “It’s nothing,” Old Ye replied. “I just went to see someone.”

“Who?” Lu Zhe pressed.

Old Ye continued walking, not turning his head. “Someone who will be greatly important to your future.”

With that, he quickened his pace toward the inn where Lu Zhe was staying.

Once there, Old Ye ordered a few dishes, then sat down and said to Lu Zhe, “We need to set out.”

“Where are we going?” Lu Zhe asked.

“South,” Old Ye replied calmly.

Lu Zhe thought for a moment. “But to the south, it’s all desert.”

Old Ye nodded. “That’s right—we’re going to the desert. There’s something there you must obtain.”

Lu Zhe immediately asked, “What is it?”

“It’s something important for your future,” Old Ye answered with his usual calm.

Lu Zhe simply uttered an “Oh,” and said nothing more, turning his attention to the meal.

After they finished eating, Old Ye went to the counter to settle Lu Zhe’s bill for the past few days. Before the innkeeper could even reach for his abacus, Old Ye placed a few gold coins on the counter and said, “The extra is yours.” Without waiting for the innkeeper’s profuse thanks, he led Lu Zhe straight out of the inn and headed south.

If one were to say that heading directly south from Qinglin Town would lead straight into the desert, that would be impossible. Lu Zhe was in the southwest region, and the so-called “Boundless Desert” to the south was still an unknown distance away. Even traveling by long-range flying beast would take three or four days.

As they walked, Lu Zhe suddenly asked, “Master, where exactly are we going?”

Old Ye glanced back. “Didn’t I say? South.”

Lu Zhe forced a bitter smile. “Master, if we’re going to the south, walking like this would take over ten years. Shouldn’t we return to the Kingdom of Orga first and take a long-distance flying beast?”

Old Ye paused, thought for a moment, and then said, “I wasn’t clear. We’re not going straight to the ‘Boundless Desert’ yet. First, we’re heading into the southern mountains. To enter the ‘Boundless Desert,’ you’ll at least need to reach the rank of Spirit Master.”

Lu Zhe protested, “Didn’t you say there’s something very important for me there?”

Old Ye nodded. “Yes.”

Lu Zhe forced another smile. “Aren’t you worried someone else might take it?”

Old Ye laughed heartily and waved his hand. “Don’t worry, that’s not something an ordinary person can take.”

With that, he paid no heed to Lu Zhe’s hesitation and led him into the great southern mountains.