Facing the Undying

"Oh? What is there to congratulate me for?" Lu Qingshan was somewhat puzzled. Just moments ago, Silver Moon Marquis had suddenly arrived at Wind Thunder Island only to vanish just as abruptly, and now Blood Eye, with whom he usually had no interaction, had rushed over to offer congratulations. Congratulate him on what? It certainly wasn't about his disciple, Ling Yu, having a shot at first place in the Genius Battle. After all, Silver Moon Marquis had placed a gag order on the fact that Ling Yu had grasped the Time Law, forbidding anyone from speaking of it. As long as Lu Qingshan and White Eyebrow World Master kept silent, no one would know... The other instructors in the secret realm still believed Ling Yu merely had the potential to make the top one thousand in the Genius Battle—though to them, that was already something well worth celebrating. "Instructor Lu Qingshan, do you know Lord Kunshaluo? The lord contacted me in the Virtual Universe just now and asked me to have you head over to Island 526 in the public area." Blood Eye's gaze was filled with anticipation. "Oh? Instructor Blood Eye, are you well-acquainted with Lord Kunshaluo?" Lu Qingshan lowered his gaze, seemingly understanding why Silver Moon Marquis had suddenly appeared on Wind Thunder Island earlier. Kunshaluo... wasn't he the Undying behind the Treasure Pavilion? To think he had pursued him all the way into the Qianwu Secret Realm. However, he hadn't dared come to Wind Thunder Island and had asked him to go to the public area instead; clearly, he had been warned not to approach this place... "Haha, Lord Kunshaluo is an Undying powerhouse native to our universe kingdom and an idol in the hearts of countless World Masters. Back before Lord Kunshaluo broke through to Undying, I ordered a few treasures from his Treasure Pavilion, and after dealing back and forth, we developed a bit of a connection..." Blood Eye had no idea what kind of relationship existed between Lu Qingshan and Kunshaluo. He pressed further, "Brother Qingshan, when are you heading over? It just so happens I was planning to take a stroll in the public area myself. Shall we go together?" "I don't plan on going." Lu Qingshan refused outright. "Not... What? You're not going?!" The smile froze on Blood Eye's face. An invitation from an Undying Deity! Anyone else would have been trembling with reverence and anticipation, yet Lu Qingshan actually refused? Lu Qingshan instead smiled and said, "Instructor Blood Eye, I have no friendship with this Lord Kunshaluo. On the contrary, there's a bit of bad blood between us, so I won't be going to see him." "Br—Brother Qingshan... How could that be?" Blood Eye smiled awkwardly. When Kunshaluo had asked him to pass the message, his attitude had been very cordial, giving no hint of any enmity between them. This Lu Qingshan was just a Domain Master transferred from the Qianwu Dojo headquarters. How could he have gotten on the bad side of an Undying Deity? Blood Eye grew anxious. He had indeed known Kunshaluo in the past, but after Kunshaluo broke through to Undying, the difference in their status had become worlds apart. He hadn't expected that the very first errand Kunshaluo ever asked of him seemed to have been botched... He hurriedly logged into the Virtual Universe and contacted Kunshaluo... "What? He's unwilling to come?!" "I, Kunshaluo, have personally come to the Qianwu Secret Realm, and he won't even give me this shred of face?!" "Does he honestly think I'd dare make a move against him inside the Qianwu Secret Realm?!" Feeling Kunshaluo's rage, a bitter smile crept across the corners of Blood Eye's lips. "My lord, Lu Qingshan is timid by nature. Ever since he arrived in the secret realm, he hasn't even left Wind Thunder Island once." "In that case, tell him to meet me in the Virtual Universe." "That should be fine..." After communicating with Kunshaluo, Blood Eye's consciousness returned to reality. "Brother Qingshan... Lord Kunshaluo wants to meet with you in the Virtual Universe..." He urged, "Kunshaluo is an Undying Deity after all, an existence neither of us can afford to offend. Even if there's bad blood, it's best to resolve it as soon as possible... I can tell Lord Kunshaluo isn't unreasonable. Since he asked to meet, it's likely to clear the air..." "The Virtual Universe... Heh... Then I shall see him." Lu Qingshan was certain that the other party had thoroughly investigated his background after his arrival at the Qianwu Dojo, yet he had never laid eyes on this adversary. The Virtual Universe was absolutely safe. Meeting him would do no harm; at the very least, he ought to see what his enemy looked like. "Let's go to the Treasure Pavilion in the Virtual Universe's Qianwu City. The lord is waiting there." "No. We go to the Qianwu Dojo." Lu Qingshan shook his head. In the next moment, his avatar teleported to the Qianwu Dojo headquarters in the Virtual Universe. Finding a pavilion, Lu Qingshan sat down and ordered a drink. Before long, an Undying Deity covered in armor, with a demonic, bewitching countenance, appeared beside Lu Qingshan. "Lu Qingshan, you certainly are taking your leisure..." The androgynous voice sounded somewhat grating. Lu Qingshan looked up and saw the most demonic, bizarre appearance he had ever witnessed in his life: fair-skinned and beardless, with violet pupils. He had no idea what race this being belonged to. "You are Kunshaluo? The mastermind behind the Treasure Pavilion. What business do you have with me?" "Didn't your teacher ever tell you to maintain proper respect when facing a powerhouse?" "Sorry, I don't have a teacher... But my mother did tell me that one shouldn't snatch what doesn't belong to them. I wonder, does everyone have a mother?" "Heh, sharp-tongued..." Kunshaluo sneered. "Lu Qingshan, do not think that just because I cannot harm you in the Virtual Universe, you can behave with wanton insolence..." A fierce glint flashed through Kunshaluo's eyes. "I will not waste words on you. I'm giving you one last chance: hand over all the Luoke God Water in your possession... Otherwise, believe me, you will die a horrific death." "Then we shall wait and see!" Lu Qingshan was utterly fearless. As long as he didn't leave the Qianwu Secret Realm or Qianwu City, what could this fellow possibly do to him? He rose, intending to leave. "Halt!" Kunshaluo bellowed in fury, his expression contorting hideously. The rage in his heart had reached its absolute peak, yet he still forced it down and said, "Hand over the Luoke God Water, and I promise not to harm you. Moreover, I am willing to take you as a personal disciple. As my disciple, no one in the Qianwu Universe Kingdom will dare provoke you! Power, status, wealth, beautiful women—whatever you desire will be yours!" "Take me as a disciple?" Lu Qingshan looked up at Kunshaluo. Unfortunately, inside the Virtual Universe, he couldn't view the other party's talents. Otherwise, Lu Qingshan would have assessed whether this fellow was even worthy of becoming his own disciple. "Sorry, I have no habit of treating a thief as a father!" Lu Qingshan shook his head. With a single turn, his consciousness logged out of the Virtual Universe. He didn't believe for a second that this guy harbored any good intentions. Handing over the Luoke God Water and calling it a day? How could that be possible! Without Lu Qingshan opening up his soul to let him search his memories, this fellow would likely never feel at ease. There was never anything to talk about between them in the first place. This meeting was merely so Lu Qingshan could get a good look at his enemy, lest he seek revenge against the wrong person in the future... "Nesethes, did you memorize that man's appearance?" "Master, I've committed it to memory. Even if he turned to ash, I'd still recognize him." "That fellow is merely a Junior Undying Army Leader without an undying body, so it shouldn't even come to turning him to ash... Nesethes, cut off all incoming mail from now on. Don't reopen it for another ten years or so..." "Yes, Master!!" Lu Qingshan already had a premonition that Kunshaluo had gone completely mad. Although the chances of him tracking down Lu Qingshan's homeworld were slim, Lu Qingshan still sent messages to his son, Lu Lingxiao, and his father-in-law, Kevin, telling them to hide in the capital of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire for a while... The Black Dragon Divine Lord and Kunshaluo were mortal enemies; there was no way the Divine Lord would permit Kunshaluo to act brazenly in the imperial capital of Black Dragon Mountain. Even if his homeworld were found, as long as his father-in-law and son were safe, Lu Qingshan couldn't concern himself with the rest! The imperial bloodline numbered in the hundreds of millions; he couldn't look after every single one of them. Still, that was the absolute worst-case scenario!