Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei, Starting as a Seeker of the Law

Chapter 97 The Dividing of All Laws

The candles on the wall were lit, and their dim yellow light flickered on the damp bronze wall, stretching the shadows of the two people into huge and distorted shapes.

The bronze jar was placed in the center of the ground, shaped like a silent giant egg.

Old Tang sat upright on top of the jar, his back ramrod straight, his neck stiff, like a stone statue.

Behind him, Lu Mingfei held the Myriad Laws Soul-Splitting Blade, its blade firmly resting against his neck. Old Tang could clearly feel the sharp killing intent emanating from the blade's edge.

"Do we... really have to do this?"

Old Tang's voice trembled uncontrollably. With the blade at his side, he dared not even make the slightest movement. "I feel like a prisoner in an ancient costume drama, kneeling on the execution ground, waiting to be executed in the autumn."

The scene was exactly the same.

If Lu Mingfei were replaced with a shirtless man, and the long sword gleaming with a ghostly light in his hand were replaced with a heavy, ring-pommel broadsword, it would be even more fitting.

"Then tell me,"

Lu Mingfei's voice came from slightly behind and above, tinged with a hint of teasing. "Should I spray some Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) on the knife, just to go through the motions and disinfect it?"

"Do you really think I'm a prisoner?!" Old Tang almost wanted to turn his head to protest, but the sharp, piercing edge beside his neck immediately froze him, leaving him stiff and motionless.

"Dude, can we be serious? This is a real gun to my neck! It could kill me!"

"This is very serious. Aren't we serious right now?"

Upon hearing this, Old Tang said somewhat irritably, "Do you think this is serious? We've been waiting here for ages."

As soon as he finished speaking, the heavy chill on his shoulder suddenly eased.

The knife was moved.

Immediately afterwards, the ground around me sank.

Lu Mingfei sat down on the bronze jar, right next to him, their shoulders almost touching. The Myriad Laws Soul-Splitting Blade, shimmering with an eerie light, rested on his lap. "What can I do?" Lu Mingfei's voice was weary.

Almost an hour had passed since they passed through the fiery gates and stepped into the underwater bronze city.

During that hour, Lu Mingfei tried almost every position on Old Tang, whether facing him directly, with his back to him, or even half-lying down.

Of course, he just genuinely wanted to behead someone.

The result is always the same.

The blade hovered, a ghostly light swirling within it, and then...

...That's all.

Lu Mingfei stared at the knife on his knee, his brows furrowed. He hadn't expected to encounter the same predicament he faced in the world of seeking the Dharma again in this world.

Inseparable.

They are inseparable.

Norton and Old Tang are not simply "parasites" or coexisting; they come from the same source, like two sides of the same coin.

Old Tang's spiritual power was as weak as a candle flickering in the wind, the soul strength of an ordinary person, not even as good as the most basic beginner in the world of seeking the Dharma. On the other hand, Norton's spiritual power, even though it was still dormant, was of a quality far superior to the former.

Most importantly, the two are not clearly distinct, like clay that has been completely broken down and then forcibly reassembled.

You have me I have you.

It's true that the Myriad Laws Soul-Splitting Blade can separate things, but it can't precisely pick out a single dyed thread from a tangled ball of cotton thread.

If he were to make a reckless move, wouldn't something terrible happen?

Lu Mingfei could even foresee the scene: with one slash, Norton's mental power might be cut out, but if Old Tang's already fragile mortal will were accidentally scraped off, who knows what part of him might be missing.

At that time, the most likely outcome for those left in this body will be a "mentally challenged child" who only has instinctive reactions to the outside world and cannot even piece together a complete "self".

What started as a simple, narrow-minded problem quickly turned into a deadlock, leaving one with no way out.

"Damn it."

Lu Mingfei cursed under his breath, realizing that in the end, it was still because his cultivation level was not high enough.

If he could control his power with the same exquisite skill as the scoundrel Immortal Lord, manipulating magical artifacts with ease, speed, precision, and ruthlessness, why would he need to hesitate here, afraid of harming innocent people?

"----call."

Old Tang suddenly let out a long, deep breath, breaking the silence.

He turned his head to look at Lu Mingfei, whose brows were furrowed, and saw the anxious expression on his face.

"Mingming," he began, "I think... I've come up with an idea."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the long sword lying across his lap before settling on Hui Lumingfei's face.

"If we keep trying like this, we'll probably waste another hour and still be going around in circles."

Old Tang isn't stupid.

He could certainly see that Lu Mingfei's hesitation stemmed from a desire to ensure his life as "Ronald Tang" was saved and his complete consciousness as a "human being" was preserved, all while ensuring that nothing went wrong.

But it is precisely this careful and cherished feeling that makes it even more important not to delay any longer.

Even though he wasn't having those bizarre dreams right now, he could clearly feel the changes happening inside his body.

No, the word "change" is too mild.

It should be said that "erosion" has been ongoing.

The cold, heavy bronze walls all around him initially seemed to him as deathly silent walls.

But now, he "felt" it.

Deep within the walls, countless bronze gears were slowly turning in perfect harmony, while even deeper still, a vast and complex alchemical matrix, like a sleeping neural network, flowed with crimson energy.

Even... a faint, almost innate sense of "control" was gradually gathering towards him from these cold creations.

Without a doubt, the sleeping "King of Bronze and Fire," Norton, is continuously "transmitting" his mental power through some irreversible channel, attempting to cover, devour, and ultimately replace the tiny consciousness named "Ronald Don."

Time is truly not on their side.

As he spoke, Old Tang suddenly stood up and said, "Tear that talisman up."

He was naturally referring to the Soul-Locking Talisman.

"That talisman is specifically used to seal mental power, right? — Tearing it off should directly break Norton's seal."

He paused, his voice low but revealing a do-or-die determination.

"Once his mental strength is fully awakened..."

""

"Then you'll find him, won't you?"

Lu Mingfei didn't answer. He didn't even look up. What Old Tang could think of, he naturally could too.

The idea of ​​completely unblocking Norton before separating it sounds clean, efficient, and to the point.

However, the more direct the method, the easier it is to cut the hand holding the knife.

Just like sometimes, when you make a cut, all sorts of problems will arise. You have to cut slowly, deliberately, and systematically.

The risks involved are too great, like a gamble with one's life at stake.

Lu Mingfei couldn't be sure whether he would be the one to strip away Norton's consciousness first, or whether the King of Bronze and Fire would devour Old Tang's remaining personality first.

if..

What if the knife had fallen even a fraction of a second later?

Old Tang looked at him, then suddenly grinned, but the grin was rather unsightly.

"Scared?"

"I'm afraid," Lu Mingfei finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "I'm afraid I can't save you."

He spoke softly, yet his words carried more power than any roar. Old Tang's smile froze, then slowly vanished. After a moment, he spoke.

"This is the only way." Old Tang's voice was calm, almost resigned. "I can... almost hear 'his' heartbeat."

He looked at Lu Mingfei in front of him and gently stroked the Soul-Locking Talisman with his palm.

"Lu Mingfei".

"Here." Lu Mingfei stood up abruptly, the Myriad Laws Soul-Splitting Blade in his hand gleaming with a cold, eerie light, its blade pointing downwards like solidified mercury.

"Phew... I'm so afraid of pain." Old Tang grinned, but there was no emotion in his eyes.

"If it were just pain, I would have chopped you into mincemeat long ago." Lu Mingfei's lips curled up, the veins on his hand gripping the knife handle bulged, and he rolled up his sleeve to his elbow with his other hand.

"Then remember... to act quickly." Old Tang forced an ugly smile.

The next instant, he clenched his fists tightly and tore off the Soul-Locking Talisman.

Time seemed to freeze for half a second.

Immediately afterwards, Old Tang's pupils suddenly lit up with an indescribable, pure and violent golden color, like molten copper boiling in his eye sockets.

An immense, almost tangible pressure surged forth like a deep-sea tidal wave, threatening to crush the air in the entire space.

The bronze walls trembled violently, and the sound of countless gears turning merged into a deafening roar.

His face changed between two completely different expressions in a very short time.

—It belongs to Lao Tang's struggle, and another kind of more majestic, almost godlike indifference.

Two wills awaken within the same body.

With all his might, he forced out the last syllable of his own voice through clenched teeth: "Do it..."

...Mingming.

"You don't need to say it—"

The moment the last word was uttered, Lu Mingfei, who had been standing three steps away, suddenly blurred and disappeared.

Old Tang felt a slight chill in his chest. He lowered his gaze with difficulty and saw a clear, sharp blade protruding from his chest.

There was no blood. Fine, spiderweb-like golden cracks appeared around the blade, as if it were piercing not flesh and blood, but some kind of glass about to shatter.

"Wow, that was fast!"

Before his last thought could take shape, the world before him went completely dark.

Magical power surged along the blade. The blade of the Myriad Laws Soul-Dividing Blade shone like blazing silver, and the etched patterns on it seemed to come alive, meandering and flowing.

It wasn't the feel of cutting flesh; it was more like cutting into a thick, hot, boiling golden ocean.

Wherever the blade passes, things are forcibly "separated".

The part of Norton's will, like a bone being removed, was precisely severed by Lu Mingfei—along with most of the dragon blood essence within this body.

It's not that Lu Mingfei was unwilling to only strip away the spiritual aspects.

The dragon's blood inherently contains the will of the Dragon King; the two are intertwined and inseparable, like light and shadow. To sever the spirit, one must touch that scorching golden blood.

The blade trembled slightly, emitting a low, almost whimpering sound.

A wisp of dark golden light was forcibly drawn from the blade, entwined and struggled, and finally flowed down from the tip of the blade, dripping into the bronze jar beside Old Tang.

The body in front of him trembled violently.

The once blazing golden light in his eyes suddenly dimmed, flickering like a candle in the wind. A brief, struggling look resurfaced in "Old Tang's" eyes, a mixture of confusion, pain, and a fleeting sense of relief.

But it was only for a moment.

The remaining dragon blood, like the severed tentacles of an octopus, began to fight back frantically, driven by instinct.

The gold in those eyes began to gather again, but it lacked the previous domineering majesty and gained a wild, beast-like frenzy.

Lu Mingfei sheathed his sword, caught Old Tang's limp body, and gently laid him flat on the cold bronze floor.

Having lost most of its dragon blood essence and the will of the Dragon King, this body is no longer a complete "Dragon King's Body." Apart from the dragon blood still surging in its veins, there is almost no remaining power strong enough to overturn the world.

He straightened up and turned his gaze to the bronze jar that had begun to tremble uneasily.

The container was vibrating slightly, and there were muffled sounds of liquid churning and hitting the inner wall, as if something was awakening and struggling to take shape inside the container.

Will he wake up like this?

Lu Mingfei stared at the bronze jar and asked a question in the empty and oppressive bronze hall.

"Yeah, brother, you did something stupid."

The boy's voice came from the darkness.

Lu Mingze emerged from the shadows, like a human figure cut from the night. He walked to Lu Mingfei's side, also staring at the bronze jar that was shaking more and more violently.

"The King of Bronze and the King of Fire are twins. One wields the authority of the Dragon King, the other the power of the Dragon King. Each has a fatal flaw, like two sides of a coin, never able to be whole on their own."

"But now, you've 'combined' them."

He turned to look at Lu Mingfei, his golden eyes gleaming: "Do you know what this means?"

"You think he was at his peak?" Lu Mingfei countered, a smile even playing on his lips. "Should we..."

"Take another look?"

Lu Mingze was slightly taken aback, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

He turned his gaze back to the restless "egg," his golden eyes focusing their light as if trying to pierce through the thick bronze and see directly into its inner essence.

After a moment, he let out a soft "Eh".

The dragon king's egg, which was being nurtured in the bronze jar, was missing a large piece of its surging power.

It's not the weakness that comes from having something cut off, but rather as if something more essential and fundamental has been "dug out" prematurely.

It's like a container that was supposed to be full of lava, but before it was sealed, someone quietly scooped out the very core.

"This is....

...?

"The Three Truths Borrowing Treasure Technique," Lu Mingfei said calmly, raising his left hand. In his palm, a ball of blazing golden light slowly seeped into his skin. "Impressive, isn't it?"

Even though he had focused his mind on activating the Myriad Laws Soul-Splitting Blade during the separation ceremony, what could he do when he was a member of the Three Truths Sect?

His hand was constantly busy as he swung the knife down.

The majority of Norton's dragon blood and will essence that was severed away had already been silently "taken away" before being dripped into the bronze jar.

Lu Mingze stared at the gradually disappearing golden light clusters in Lu Mingfei's palm, remaining silent for a long while.

Finally, he suddenly laughed, a laugh that was somewhat helpless, and also somewhat...appreciative?

"Brother, you're such a scoundrel."

"I learned it from you."

"Now," Lu Mingfei held the Eternal Soul-Splitting Blade horizontally in front of him, "this Dragon King who has become one with the other—"

He paused, his voice devoid of emotion, yet it seemed to freeze the air in the entire bronze hall for a moment.

"How much strength do you have left?"

The bronze jar shuddered violently the moment the words were spoken!

As if utterly enraged by those words, or as a final, desperate act before death, blinding golden-red flames suddenly burst forth from the cracks in the jar!

That was no ordinary flame.

Wherever the firelight touched, the metal materials that made up the bronze jar quickly turned a molten dark red, like metal being thrown into a furnace.

The intricate dragon patterns twisted and deformed under the high temperature, eventually melting and flowing down like wax.

The tank is melting.

Molten bronze dripped down like viscous syrup, hissing on the cold ground and sending up plumes of white smoke carrying the smell of sulfur.

As the outer container disappeared, a human figure was finally revealed from what had been sealed inside.

His body shimmered with a molten gold-like luster, and fine, crimson-gold patterns appeared on his skin. Each pattern pulsated with light and shadow, as if crimson magma was flowing beneath his skin.

He slowly raised his head.

A pair of blazing golden eyes opened amidst the billowing steam and firelight, their depths reflecting the flames of fury.

There was no roaring, no shouting.

At that moment, Lu Mingfei also saw his face clearly.

That was a face exactly like Old Tang's.

The same eyebrow and eye contours, the same nose bridge curve, even the slight downward slant of the mouth is exactly the same.

But the expression on his face, which was a mix of cowardice and loyalty, was no longer there.

That familiar face was now looking at him with completely unfamiliar eyes.