"The mark," Lu Li reminded Zhu Honggong.
"Oh." Zhu Hong patted Dang Kang's back. Then, he bowed and said, "Old friend, let me know if you're tired."
Dang Kang snorted in response to Zhu Honggong's words.
Lu Li said, "A cultivator who has entered the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm can go without eating or drinking for a long time. This beast is still young. If you're willing, you can give some of the life heart's energy to it."
"That's possible?" Zhu Honggong did not hesitate and brought out the life heart he kept near his chest.
The life heart glowed dazzlingly like a pearl on Zhu Honggong's palm. Then, he handed the life heart to Lu Li as he said, "Senior, why don't you do it?"
Lu Li coughed again and shook his head.
Zhu Honggong smiled in embarrassment. He had forgotten that Lu Li had burned his sea of Qi. If Lu Li were not treated in time, Lu Li would be crippled in the future.
Lu Li gestured with his hands as he said, "Put the life heart on the beast's back, and draw out its energy."
"Okay."
Zhu Honggong followed Lu Li's instructions and put the life heart Dangkang's back. Subsequently, he extended his arm before vitality energy began to surge out.
Dang Kang seemed to instinctively know what to do as it absorbed the energy.
After roughly 15 minutes, Lu Li said, "It's enough. Since it's still young, 100 years of life is enough for it."
"100 years?!" Zhu Honggong exclaimed in surprise.
"This life heart holds 2,000 years of life," Lu Li calmly explained, "After you sprout your tenth leaf, you can use it to activate your Birth Chart and form the Thousand Realms Whirling avatar."
"Me?" Zhu Hong pointed at himself with an apprehensive expression on his face. The sea breeze was rather loud so he thought he must have misheard Lu Li's words.
On the other hand, there were no changes in Lu Li's expression as he said, "You have the aura of the Great Void. Your future is better than mine."
"The Great Void?"
"You don't seem to know anything about yourself," Lu Li said.
Zhu Hong cleared his throat and straightened his back before he said with a smile, "I didn't expect that not only do you have a cultivation base, but you're sincere as well. I like sincere and honest people like you."
Upon hearing Zhu Honggong's words, Lu Li furrowed his brows slightly. He felt rather strange when he heard those words. In the end, he did not respond to those words. Instead, seeing as Zhu Honggong knew nothing, he decided to explain. "It's said that those who have been to the Great Void might obtain the qi and energy from the Great Void. Such people are highly coveted by major sects. Those who possess qi and energy from the Great Void are said to have eight lives, at least."
Zhu Honggong said in confusion, "But… I've never been to the Great Void…"
"In any case, that's all I know about the Great Void," Lu Li said.
Zhu Honggong nodded before he said, "Actually, I've never thought about forming the Thousand Realms Whirling avatar. I'll be satisfied if I can sprout nine leaves!"
"…" Lu Li felt his eyelids twitching when he heard Zhu Honggong's words.
At this moment…
Buzz!
The mark on Dang Kang's forehead lit up again.
"Senior!" Zhu Honggong pointed at Dang Kang's head.
After Dang Kang had absorbed some of the vitality energy from the life heart, its strength and speed were much better than before.
Lu Li looked at the mark and murmured, "I hope we're not too far away…"
Zhu Honggong was overjoyed. He said excitedly, "Dang Kang, speed up!"
The two people and one wild boar soon vanished into the horizon.
…
Zhu Honggong had wished they were close to their destination after the mark lit up for the second time. However, since that time, they had been flying above the Endless Ocean for almost half a month now.
…
After another six days had passed.
Early in the morning.
When the sun rose above the horizon, the coastline appeared before their eyes.
Dang Kang grunted and snorted excitedly.
Meanwhile, Zhu Honggong was stunned. He rubbed his eyes as though he could not believe what he was seeing. Then, he pointed at the coastline and said excitedly, "We're here! We're really here! Senior, we're safe!"
There were no changes in Lu Li's expression as usual.
After a brief moment, the duo finally arrived at the shore. There was no one on the beach; only a few weak birds and beasts could be seen in a forest of towering trees that could be seen in all directions.
After they landed, Zhu Honggong lay on the beach, facing the sky. Then, he began to inhale deeply.
Even a powerful black lotus expert like Lu Li who had activated five Birth Charts sat down as well. Although he was calm, a hint of mixed feelings could be seen on his face as he surveyed his surroundings.
In the end, Zhu Honggong rested for an hour before he sat up. He looked at the quiet forest warily and said, "Be careful, senior, The red lotus domain is fraught with dangers. We should find my master as soon as possible. Moreover, he's a skilled healer. He might be able to heal your sea of Qi."
Lu Li did not respond to Zhu Honggong's words. Instead, he rose to his feet and patted the sand off his robes.
Zhu Honggong asked curiously, "What the hell is this place?"
Lu Li faced the direction where the sea breeze was blowing and rested his hands on his back before he asked, "What's your name?"
Zhu Honggong replied, "Zhu Honggong!"
Lu Li said, "I haven't formally introduced myself so I'll do so now. My name is Lu Li. I'm from the black lotus domain, and I'm a member of the Black Tower Council. Although I've burned my sea of Qi, I'm more than capable of teaching you. If you're willing, you can take me as your master."
Was there anyone in the world who did not want a disciple with energy from the Great Void?
Upon hearing Lu Li's words, Zhu Honggong shook his head and said, "No, I already have a master…"
Lu Li did not seem discouraged when he heard Zhu Honggong's refusal. He said, "That's not a big problem. As long as you're willing, we'll look for your master, and I'll personally explain the matter to him."
Zhu Honggong hastily waved his hands as he said, "No, no, no. The sun and the moon can be my witnesses; I'm loyal to my master!"
Lu Li frowned slightly as he asked, "I'm an expert who has activated five Birth Charts and formed the Thousand Realms Whirling avatar. How am I inferior to your master?"
Zhu Honggong shook his head and said with a sigh, "Master treats me like I'm family. How can I abandon him? Senior, please don't insist on this matter…"
Lu Li, naturally, would not force Zhu Honggong, seeing as Zhu Honggong was unwilling. He only said with a sigh, "Forget it then."
In Lu Li's eyes, Zhu Honggong was like a treasure with both talent and character. It was a pity he could not get Zhu Honggong to become his disciple.
Zhu Honggong said with a smile, "Thank you for your understanding, senior."
Lu Li returned Zhu Honggong's smile as he said, "Although you can't accept me as your master, it doesn't mean I can teach you. My cultivation base is as good as destroyed so I can only rely on you now."
"Rely on me?" Zhu Honggong was startled. At this moment, his hair suddenly stood on its end.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
A rustling noise rang from the forest.
Zhu Honggong said anxiously, "Oh, no! Senior, let's go!"
Dang Kang got up at this moment as well.
On the other hand, Lu Li only frowned and said, "Don't be nervous. Calm down, and deal with it."
"Senior Lu, you overestimate me. I only had six leaves before this! Even after receiving your energy and cultivation, at most, I'd have eight leaves now!" Zhu Honggong said as he dragged Lu Li away. Alas, when he turned around, he discovered it was too late.
More than a dozen cultivators flew out into the open.
One of the cultivators hovered in the air as he looked at Zhu Honggong and Lu Li. "Gentlemen, don't you think it's rude to trespass on the Flood Sect's Howling Wind Island?"
Zhu Hong waved his hand and hastily said, "It's a misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding! We will leave immediately!" Following that, he turned and called out, "Dang Kang!"
Dang Kang snorted lazily in response as though it wanted to continue sleeping.
"Please wait a moment," the man said, "If you have no ill intentions, you can stay as a guest on the island. As long as you're a friend of the Hong Sect, the sect will definitely welcome you…"
Zhu Honggong was startled by the man's words. He hastily waved his hands again as he said, "Truly, there's no need for that!"
Only a fool would stay on the island as a guest!
The man nodded and said, "In that case, I'll see you out."
"No need. We can leave on our own," Zhu Honggong said awkwardly.
When the man saw how nervous Zhu Honggong was, he said, "I don't mean any harm. I see that your robes are in tatters. You must have been attacked by sea beasts while you were on the island. I'll escort you out…"
Zhu Honggong said with a sigh, "Senior, you have good eyesight. We've suffered a lot during our journey here."
Meanwhile, Lu Li remained silent as he observed the situation. His Dantian's sea of Qi was still; there was no movement at all.
The man nodded and said, "If both of you plan to go to Great Qing, you must head to the north island. However, the sea there is extremely treacherous."
Great Qing?
Zhu Honggong was confused.
At this time, another cultivator suddenly said, "Hey, my eldest brother is trying to help you! Why aren't you thanking him? You're lucky that my eldest brother is kind and not petty."
Zhu Honggong cupped his fists together and said, "Thank you, senior. I really didn't intentionally trespass."
"It's a small matter," the man said before he turned around to say to his comrades, "All of you, return. I'll be back in a while."
"Farewell, Eldest Senior Brother."
Meanwhile, Zhu Honggong thought he was rather lucky to have met another kind person.
