Chapter 78: I’ll Count to Three

The reason for choosing seven days later was carefully considered by Wu Daoyuan. The two clans had just fought a battle; in the first few days, the Liu clan would certainly be on high alert, afraid that the Wu clan might take another risk and strike again. But after seven days without action from the Wu clan, their vigilance would inevitably wane.

With the plan decided, the entire Wu clan began to operate in secret.

Within Wu Fuhai’s mansion—

"Gentlemen, I have persuaded the Wu clan to go to war against the Liu clan. The elders of the higher clan agreed to my request; you must not go back on your word," Wu Fuhai said.

"Rest assured. Your debt to the Wei clan will be wiped clean. Moreover, once the Liu clan is destroyed, the clan elders have promised to support you as the head of the Wu clan. After all, old Wu Daoyuan won’t last many years more," replied one of the Bei brothers.

The rest of the Wu clan was unaware that, in fact, the Bei brothers had pledged allegiance to the Wei clan several years ago, becoming high-ranking retainers of the Wei.

Wu Fuhai, being licentious, had unwittingly dallied with a woman who turned out to be a distant relation of the Wei clan—not an important role, but enough for the Wei clan to seize leverage over him. They then sent the Bei brothers to approach Wu Fuhai; faced with coercion and temptation, Wu Fuhai was firmly entangled in the Wei clan’s grasp.

"This time, in the battle to annihilate the Liu clan, our brothers will join forces with Wu Daoyuan to kill the Liu clan’s patriarch. We will deliberately hold back, allowing Wu Daoyuan and the Liu patriarch to wound each other severely. Then we’ll finish off the Liu patriarch, and gaining control over Wu Daoyuan will be a breeze. You will become the master of the Wu clan. Hand over two bloodline veins, and your Wu clan can retain its current status," the other Bei brother added.

"That will do," Wu Fuhai nodded.

...

Lu Yan now faced a problem: he had run out of martial provisions.

His Martial Elephant body’s martial arts avatar was on the verge of halting cultivation. He had come in haste this time, bringing few provisions, which he consumed in a day. There were some left at home—not enough—so he needed to buy more.

But when Lu Yan tried to leave, his path was blocked.

A burly figure stood ahead, arms crossed over a sword, his face stern. "The Liu clan master has ordered strict defense—no lapses allowed. Without his command, no one may leave," he said coldly.

This was Murong Kai, captain of the Seventh Squad.

The original captain of the Seventh Squad had been Sun Xiang. After Sun Xiang died, a Liu clansman took over, but after two years, he was transferred. Murong Kai, who had been vice-captain of the First Squad and had just broken through five limits, was then assigned as captain of the Seventh.

"Captain, Lu Yan has urgent family matters. He’ll be back within an hour at most," Lu Yan said politely, fists clasped.

"No. Not for an hour, not even a moment. If anything goes wrong, no one can bear the consequences," Murong Kai replied coldly.

"Captain, give us a break—I'll cover Lu Yan's post. One hour, nothing will happen," Wang Lin stepped forward with a smile.

"No. Don't bring it up again. If anyone abandons their post, don't blame me for being merciless," Murong Kai’s expression was icy, his tone brooking no argument. His vital energy surged forth, the powerful aura of five-time limit-breakers enveloping them.

Lu Yan’s face darkened.

The Martial Elephant body was close to merging man and martial art. If he broke through, his combat and survival abilities would be greatly enhanced.

In the days ahead—whether facing the looming war or covertly rescuing Lu Qingshan and Wang Cui—he would need formidable strength.

He had to buy martial provisions. Anyone who stopped him would be putting him in jeopardy.

"Wang, have the others stand down," Lu Yan said.

Wang Lin, long acquainted with Lu Yan, immediately understood his meaning.

"Scatter, all of you. Patrol your posts. If anything happens, watch your necks," Wang Lin waved. The other members of the Seventh Squad dispersed to their patrols.

Only Lu Yan, Wang Lin, and Murong Kai remained.

"I’ll count to three. If you don’t let me pass, you’ll bear the consequences..." Lu Yan said coldly.

"Bear the consequences? Such bravado. I’d like to see—" Murong Kai hadn’t finished his sentence when, with a loud bang, a burly figure lunged at him, casting a vast shadow.

A massive hand pressed against his face and slammed him hard into the ground.

Murong Kai had no strength to resist; his head struck the earth with a crash, stone fragments flying. He felt dizzy, as if his skull would split, blood gushing from his mouth and nose.

He struggled to rally his vital energy, desperately trying to break free, but that hand felt like a mountain, unmoving on his face. He was suffocating.

"So, will you let me pass now?" Lu Yan pressed Murong Kai’s face to the ground, towering above him, his voice cold.

Murong Kai nodded desperately, inwardly shouting—what happened to counting to three?

He was terrified. Lu Yan’s strength was nothing like a two-time limit-breaker. He far exceeded even Murong Kai’s five-time limit-breaker power, giving the illusion of facing a Martial Marquis.

To kill him would be effortless.

He was afraid.

Lu Yan eased his grip, releasing Murong Kai, and said, "I trust you understand what you should and should not say. Don’t think about informing the Liu clan. The Liu clan may not be able to kill me, but I could kill you with ease. Do you understand?"

Murong Kai nodded frantically.

Lu Yan let go.

Killing Murong Kai now made no sense; the captain’s death would quickly alert the Liu clan.

He believed Murong Kai was no fool—he would make the right choice.

Informing the Liu clan wouldn’t save his family. Unrealistic.

It would only enrage Lu Yan.

Even if Murong Kai did inform, Lu Yan no longer feared it.

His increased cultivation and power gave him far more confidence. Besides, this was a critical moment—the Liu clan needed him now, and would not target him at this time.

Of course, there was still risk—what if someone high up in the Liu clan acted irrationally?

But Lu Yan had no choice.

He always weighed risks and benefits.

Staying put would avoid exposure, but his Martial Elephant body would stagnate.

Suppressing Murong Kai carried some risk of exposure, but allowed him to buy martial provisions, enabling the Martial Elephant body to merge with martial arts and greatly increase his strength.

Clearly, the latter was more advantageous.

"My apologies," Lu Yan smiled, helping Murong Kai to his feet and straightening his disheveled collar. "Rest assured, if I get the chance, I’ll help rescue your family."

Of course, these words were casually spoken.

Combining threat and promise—after a beating, he offered a sweetener to lower the risk of being reported.

"Thank you, thank you, Sir Lu..." Murong Kai stammered.

"Come now, don’t be so formal. Just call me Lu Yan," Lu Yan said, his face serious, then strode away.

He first visited the Linglan Chamber of Commerce, purchasing a hundred pounds of martial provisions, then returned home to pack up what remained.

These provisions would be enough for his Martial Elephant body to achieve fusion with martial arts.

After packing, Lu Yan returned to the Liu clan’s bloodline vein, patrolling while chewing on martial provisions.

At such a critical moment, he ignored his stomach—chewing through at least twenty pounds of martial provisions a day, his Martial Elephant body progressing rapidly.

In only four days, the Martial Elephant body advanced from fifty to one hundred percent mastery, then transformed, breaking through to the realm of man and martial unity.

Lu Yan found a secluded spot to practice the Martial Elephant body and receive the gifts of heaven and earth.

His physique became even more burly and robust, muscles like forged iron, swelling when he channeled energy, resembling an elephant, his skin coarse and thick like armor, greatly increasing his defense.

But this time, the increase in vital energy capacity was small—not even ten percent—just as Lu Yan expected.

The density of his vital energy increased by about ten percent.

The martial body offered little improvement, but the Martial Elephant body itself, especially combined with the Vajra body, brought tremendous leaps in strength and explosive power.

"This physique is a bit intimidating," Lu Yan examined himself—arms as thick as a child’s waist, steel-like muscles, marveling quietly.

Especially that certain part below—robust and mighty, standing tall—he was startled himself.

"Better shrink it a bit," he thought. Channeling the Martial Elephant and Vajra bodies, his physique shrank to a more proportionate six-foot-three, muscular but well-balanced.

"Next is the Vajra Fist," Lu Yan took out the Vajra Fist manual and began to study it.

As for the Sky Hawk Eyes, he would save that for last.

Special martial arts were far more difficult and time-consuming to cultivate; better to leave them for a later, more convenient time.