Chapter 486: Chapter 453: A Chance Encounter_1

It is said that the treasure is related to the legendary True Spirit of Kun Peng.

To enter, one must possess the blood of Kun Peng.

However, only the Imperial Clan of the Sea Race has the blood of Kun Peng. Moreover, it must be from the top echelon of the Imperial Clan; otherwise, the purity of the bloodline is insufficient for entrance.

Lu Jingkong used to enter the secret territory multiple times in search of a method to access the treasure.

She eventually found the method.

It was the martial method she chanced upon – the Twelve Startle Cicada Skill.

As long as she mastered this martial method, she could merge the True Blood of Kun Peng and transform into the form of Kun Peng, allowing her to easily enter the secret territory when the time came.

Unfortunately, while she had fully mastered this martial method, she lacked the True Blood of Kun Peng for the merger.

She even secretly infiltrated the cemetery of the Sea Race Imperial Clan to obtain the True Blood of Kun Peng; however, despite collecting many bones, she regrettably could not refine any true blood suitable for merging.

She ended up offending the Sea Race and barely escaped their pursuit for her life.

After extensive exploration, it was discovered that a legendary sea beast, long dead, contained partial Kun Peng bloodline.

That was the Earth-splitting Whale!

Later, she found where an Earth-splitting Whale had fallen, but didn’t expect to be trapped there when her Nascent Soul left her body.

As for what happened next, Xu Mu already knows.

After hearing her account, he finally understood why she was trapped there.

Their meeting was indeed fate.

The reason she invited Xu Mu to explore the broken sky secret territory, besides his cultivation, was because he too carried the bloodline of the Earth-splitting Whale and had practiced the Twelve Startle Cicada Skill.

As no one before had entered the deepest part of the treasure, there was undoubtedly a considerable increase in safety if both entered together.

Due to Xu Mu breaking his promise, she had to enter by herself.

After entering the treasure, she indeed gained numerous benefits.

As for the specifics, Lu Jingkong lightly brushed over them, and Xu Mu didn’t foolishly ask.

However, when she left, she got caught in a sudden turbulence, and when she awoke, she had been thrown into this space.

“I explored the entire continent and did not find any way to leave,” Lu Jingkong sighed.

To her, if she couldn’t leave this world, everything else was meaningless, explaining why the country she ruled stopped expanding suddenly.

Xu Mu’s eyes flickered, and he suddenly asked, “Could I retrieve the weapon you found?”

“Haha!”

On hearing this, Lu Jingkong, who was somewhat melancholic, suddenly burst out laughing.

“Friend Xu, that isn’t right. What do you mean, ‘your weapon’? This is an ownerless object that I found on my way!” Lu Jingkong lifted the Sky-splitting Halberd from the ground and said with a smile, “If you say it’s your weapon, why don’t you call out to it and see if it responds?”

“…”

Xu Mu was somewhat speechless; Lu Jingkong was clearly not willing to give it back.

He had used this weapon more than once in front of her. How could she not remember it, given her powerful sensitivity?

“If you don’t want to return it, just say so. Why lie?” Xu Mu retorted.

“You understand the power of this weapon better than me. Do you think I would just casually give it to you?” Lu Jingkong laughed.

“Why are you so unreasonable? You know it belongs to my brother and still won’t give it to him,” Yue said indignantly.

She hardly ever had the chance to take a shot at Lu Jingkong, so naturally, she seized the moment to side with Xu Mu.

“What do you understand? Haven’t you ever heard the saying?” Lu Jingkong wasn’t irritated and chuckled, “The virtuous shall possess treasures!”

“So, you’re saying that you are more deserving than my Brother Mu?” Yue challenged.

“Of course! Otherwise, why would this treasure appear before me and not your Brother Mu?” Lu Jingkong responded proudly.

“You…” Yue was about to retort, but Xu Mu stopped her.

“Brother Mu, she’s being unreasonable!” Yue complained angrily.

Xu Mu just shook his head.

The Cultivation World is a place where the strong feed on the weak. If he were in her shoes, he’d likely have done the same thing.

The Sky-splitting Halberd was incredibly powerful. Whoever wields it, understands it.

Even in its current state, if it could be fully utilized, its power would undeniably exceed that of the so-called Heavenly Spirit Treasures.

In the outside world, a single Heavenly Spirit Treasure could suppress an ancient major sect.

Now, who would casually give away a treasure even more valuable than a Heavenly Spirit Treasure because of a few casual words?

“What conditions need to be met for you to return it to me?” Xu Mu asked.

“We are old friends, so let’s not beat around the bush. I found this item, and there’s no way I will return it to you unless you have a treasure of equal value,” Lu Jingkong stated conclusively.

The Sky-splitting Halberd cuts through everything. It’s undoubtedly a divine weapon among divine weapons. If she returned to the outside world, the halberd would be enough for her to establish a major power independent of the Cluster Stars Sect.

This priceless treasure, expecting her to give it up, is a daydream.

She hardly left any room for negotiation with Xu Mu.

If anyone had a treasure of equal value, who would want this instead?

Xu Mu’s eyes flickered, but his expression remained solemn, as though he had already anticipated her answer.

“What if I offer the method of leaving this place as an exchange?” Xu Mu asked.

“What? You know how to leave?” Lu Jingkong’s spirit was suddenly lifted.

“Correct!”

Xu Mu nodded.

“You’re not trying to deceive me, are you?”

Lu Jingkong scrutinized him, somewhat skeptical.

She had been here for decades without finding the way out; how could Xu Mu have found it right away?

“If you don’t believe me, I can make an oath to my Heart Demon,” Xu Mu confidently replied.

An oath to a Heart Demon isn’t very useful for junior cultivators, but for cultivators at the Nascent Soul Stage, it carries a strong restrictive force. It’s not something one would casually swear.

Hearing Xu Mu was willing to take an oath to his Heart Demon, Lu Jingkong could pretty much confirm he wasn’t lying.

But she still found it hard to believe that he uncovered the secret earlier than her.

Besides, she truly cherished the Sky-splitting Halberd.

“You can’t just deceive me with an ambiguous message. Even if you know the method, it must be difficult, otherwise you would’ve already left,” Lu Jingkong said matter-of-factly.

Lu Jingkong was a crafty old creature who had lived over a thousand years. She wouldn’t allow herself to be swayed by a few casual words.

“What exactly would it take to give it back to me?” Xu Mu asked.

Lu Jingkong pondered in silence, a glint in her eyes, before suddenly saying, “How about we have a contest? If you win, I will hand over the weapon. If you lose, you must tell me how to leave, and listen to my commands until we leave this place.”