Nobody was there to teach Lu Li about the many miracles the Bead of Life could do. Once, Lu Li did ask Ming Yu and others, but he was told by Ming Yu to find out on his own, which would give him more insight into his Bead of Life.
Lu Li had just made a casual attempt, and he could already feel the wondrous effect of his Bead of Life. It was a pity that this was not the time to explore. He must hurry on. At the same time, he must closely monitor the surroundings. He had experienced too many occasions where his joy begot sorrow. He could not afford to make the same mistake again considering how dangerous it was in the Prison of Gold.
Lu Li cleared his mind and checked with his psychic power. His focus was on the journey ahead. But one thing did come to his mind, something that was troublesome.
Leng Wuxue!
He was a young master born off a branch of the Leng Family. He was talented, which meant his status in the family couldn’t be too low. He might be inferior to Leng Wushang and Leng Wuxin, but he was qualified to be regarded as a blessed disciple since he had reached the Human Sovereign Realm at such a young age.
Leng Wuxue was scared away by Yin Qingsi when he tried to murder Lu Li. However, Leng Wuxue did see Lu Li and his Token of the Blood Emperor. Leng Wuxue would object Lu Li joining the Leng Family if he found out about it.
Lu Li had pretended to be the Blood Emperor’s apprentice. According to Yin Qingsi, the Blood Emperor was a powerful warrior. Would the Leng Family be bold enough to welcome him, an apprentice of a senior warrior, into their family? Was there any hatred between the Blood Emperor and the Leng Family? Would he be killed as soon as he arrived at the Leng Family?
There was no clear answer!
Lu Li felt in a pickle. He could not obtain the antidote without going to the Leng Family. In half a year, he would be corroded and die. Yin Qingsi had stated that she couldn’t help him in any way with the antidote currently. As for looking for the antidote by Lu Li himself, that would be like asking for the moon.
“What to do?”
It seemed there was no way out. Lu Li fretted about it. He wracked his brain, only to realize that he must take his chances. He would go with the flow, but he had to enter the Central Imperial Universe. If he was killed before he arrived, then no amount of decision would do him any good.
There was one thing about Lu Li that was admirable!
He had strong willpower. He could drive certain matters off of his mind. For example, he had temporarily forgotten about the Heaven Reverse Universe or else he would have lost his mind…
He forced himself to dismiss certain things from his mind and with his strong willpower, he could do it. Not all had this ability. After all, humans had sentiments. It was inevitable for people to go off into wild flights of fancy and shed tears over the changes of season.
“Move!”
He shook the worry over Leng Wuxue away from his mind and concentrated on hurrying on. He flew in a low-key and controlled his speed to be around the Human Sovereign Realm’s level. He would choose to fly in the mountains, which would be safer.
He sensed some strong psychic power during the two days on the road. It must come from a senior warrior retired from society. Fortunately, the psychic power vanished after a quick check. Lu Li flew away afterward in a low-profile.
He had been lucky for the next couple of days. He didn’t run into anyone. The journey was threatening but not dangerous. Lu Li did feel a bit dull and bored, though.
He had been in the Prison of Gold for more than half a month. He should have covered half the way. He began to read the map and look for special landmarks to help him navigate.
It was two days later when he saw a peculiar-looking mountain which was like a huge sickle rising up from the earth.
“The Blade Mountain!”
Lu Li checked it against the map. He was delighted to know that he was not far away from the entrance to the Central Imperial Universe now. It would take him another four or five days at most.
“Boom, boom, boom~”
When he was closer to the Blade Mountain, he heard some explosion from the strange mountain. He could tell there were some people on the peak and the number was not small.
“Go!”
Lu Li would always go out of his way to hide in cases like this. He took a detour around the mountain even though he had to fly extra thousands of miles.
He didn’t dare to stop lest he might be drawn into the battle. He sped up to the extreme, continued westbound, and only slowed down after half a day.
“I need to take a rest now!”
He found a crack between several boulders to hide. He took out some clean water and dried meat, then treated himself with a feast. After which, he closed his eyes and sat with his legs crossed and dozed off.
Warriors at this stage could go on for a month without sleeping. They only needed to sit down once in a while to meditate and recharge. However, sleep was critical to humans. To wear himself out was not Lu Li’s intention. He would take a nap every now and then and enjoy a sound sleep when tired.
“Whoosh~”
Lu Li woke up with a start when he heard some noises in the sky two hours later. He opened his eyes right away. But he didn’t try to check. Instead, he hid his qi and energy and laid low.
From the distance came several people. Lu Li took a peek from the cracks in the boulders. He was relieved to find that those people were in two groups. Three Human Sovereign Realm warriors were chasing another two. They wouldn’t notice him.
As he had expected, the five warriors flew past in the sky. One did notice Lu Li but didn’t pay much attention to him.
The five Human Sovereign Realm warriors were young. Lu Li didn’t know which family they belonged to. When they were further away, Lu Li crawled out and left. He flew very close to the ground.
The scary yet safe journey continued on for several hours. He didn’t encounter anyone else and felt a burden had been lifted off from his shoulders. But his desire to develop grew stronger.
Without powers, he was nothing but a homeless dog in the Prison of Gold. He had to hide and evade, and he was always on thin ice. Anyone here could kill him. The precarious and scary days were not something he would enjoy…
Food must be eaten one bite at a time, and progress should be in proper steps. Lu Li understood this perfectly. He hated that he didn’t have more time to cultivate.
He carried on in fear and worry. To his surprise, the latter part of the journey went on smoothly. He was on the way for four days in peace when he saw another strange mountain.
One might argue it was two mountains with the peak connected together and a hollowed center. Looking from a distance, Lu Li felt he was looking at a huge arch bridge.
“Entrance to the Central Imperial Universe!”
Lu Li squinted. He had endured a long and arduous journey and met with many mishaps. Finally, he had arrived at the entrance to the Central Imperial Universe. Only by going there could he have a chance to live. This was the first step to the journey ahead.
“Phew, phew~”
He didn’t go toward the mountain rashly. Rather, he found a place and sat down to rest. He rested for six hours to build up strength and energy before he put away the Bead of Life and walked on in strides.
Leng Wuxin told him that at the entrance, he would be able to enter the Central Imperial Universe with the Zen Bead in his hand. She made it sound so easy but Lu Li disagreed. There must be powerful warriors guarding at the entrance.
He was wrestling with himself. If he was questioned at the entrance, should he say he was the apprentice of the Skyline or the Blood Emperor?
“Buzzing~”
As soon as he sat food into the mountains, Lu Li instantly felt three strong psychic powers. Lu Li could tell they must be from warriors of the Earth Immortal Realm.
Lu Li had no other way but to march on with determination. He used his psychic power to locate a huge cave in the mountain.
In this odd mountain, the cave stood out in particular. In order to enter the Central Imperial Universe, he must go into the cave and the three psychic powers originated from the cave.
Lu Li hopped on, like a beast, and arrived at the cave entrance after the time for one incense stick to burn. The three psychic powers had vanished.
However, as he reached the cave, he heard a hoary voice, “This is the restricted area. Leave now and you shall not come close or else we will take your life!”