Chapter 118: Flame Dragon Slash

Wang Zeyan and his companions were so shocked that their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. The figure before them was, of course, Lu Ming, but the techniques he displayed now were even more miraculous and formidable than before—truly earth-shattering.

Lu Ming drifted slowly to the ground. He carried an air of relaxed composure, his demeanor light and breezy, as if his entire temperament had undergone a transformation. During his month at the bottom of the pool, the influence of the Enlightenment Herb had cleared his mind and sharpened his wisdom, granting him a new understanding of everything he had learned.

He realized then that his "mental energy" was what the cultivation world called "divine sense." It was the foundation of all power; every form of energy required the activation of this mental energy. Having mastered both the power of a dragon and his own internal mana, the Enlightenment Herb helped him grasp the essence of power, revealing that all its forms shared the same fundamental nature.

The sword strike he had just performed was a technique he had created after this epiphany, combining dragon fire with his mana. Lu Ming named it the "Flame Dragon Slash." Having tested it just now, he found it immensely powerful. If he had possessed such a method earlier, he wouldn’t have had to struggle so hard to slay that centipede; a single Flame Dragon Slash would have sufficed. Beyond that, he had gained a fresh perspective on the various powers within his body; if he could integrate them all, he could unleash even greater destruction. However, this required further exploration and experimentation, not something to be solved overnight.

In particular, he discovered something crucial. The mana generated by his "Dragon Soaring Art" had previously only allowed him to use Dragon Language spells. While these spells were powerful and mysterious, Lu Ming was, after all, human, and using them felt incredibly awkward. Dragon Language was notoriously difficult to master, and he had only learned a handful of spells so far. Yet, his mind held vast, ocean-like reserves of human techniques and supernatural abilities. If he could use the mana from the Dragon Soaring Art to cast human spells, it would be far more suitable for him. Through the influence of the Enlightenment Herb, he felt he had touched the threshold of this transition. Once he crossed it, he would be able to master myriad human arts, elevating his capabilities to an extraordinary level. In the future, he wouldn't be helpless when facing mysterious tactics like the black-clad man's ability to turn into water; he would be able to find appropriate countermeasures. But this, too, would take time to explore.

Feeling lighthearted, Lu Ming turned to see Wang Zeyan and the others kneeling on the ground. He looked bewildered. "Why are you all still here?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Zeyan and his group nearly coughed up blood. They had been trembling in fear, not daring to leave, only to realize that the man hadn't spared them a second thought. If they had known, they would have left long ago to avoid all this suffering. However, they dared not voice these thoughts.

"Master, we offended you, and yet you saved our lives. We did not dare leave, so we waited here for your judgment," Zhao Bing said quickly upon seeing the master speak.

Lu Ming shook his head internally. He had completely forgotten about these people; to him, such a trivial matter was of no consequence. He looked them over, noticing their sallow, gaunt faces, unkempt beards, and ragged clothing. Seeing how miserable they looked from waiting for him, Lu Ming found it amusing. It seemed the saying "a master must not be insulted" remained deeply rooted in the martial world.

"You may leave now," Lu Ming said.

Wang Zeyan and his group were overjoyed; this was as good as a pardon. They felt relieved that their month of bitter waiting had not been in vain. After all, had they snuck away, they would have lived in constant fear.

Lu Ming then looked toward the group of timid men and women and told Wang Zeyan, "Properly settle these people. Also, you must keep everything that happened here a secret. Otherwise, you will bear the consequences."

His tone was stern. The group nodded repeatedly in terror. Seeing them comply, Lu Ming prepared to leave. Just then, Zhao Bing stuttered, "Master, could you show us the way? We've lost our bearings."

Lu Ming looked around and realized the terrain was unique, surrounded by mountains and dense forests. While one could roughly track direction in open areas using the sun or moon, it was easy to get lost in the forest. This was one reason the Witchcraft Sect had remained hidden for so long. Thinking it over, Lu Ming realized it was indeed unwise to let them wander off alone.

"Fine," he said. "I'll see you all the way."

He turned and walked out of the valley, with the group following closely behind. After three hours of trekking through dense forest, the view suddenly opened up. They had reached the Humpback Gorge scenic area. Seeing a few scattered tourists nearby, the group nearly burst into tears at the sight of civilization. Lele and Yaoyao, spotting a stream, immediately squatted down to wash up.

Lu Ming waited for them to finish, then led them to the entrance of the scenic area. He had Wang Zeyan rent a bus to take everyone home. As they were all from nearby villages—having been abducted by Yao Gang—their homes weren't far. With money thrown around by Wang Zeyan, the driver happily loaded everyone up and drove off.

Lu Ming, at Wang Zeyan's deferential invitation, sat in his Mercedes SUV. As they drove to Huishan Town, Lu Ming closed his eyes to rest. Upon arriving, he stepped out and said, "Alright, I'm going to eat some blood-filled noodles. Don't follow me anymore."

With that, he walked away without looking back. He hadn't eaten for a month, and the spicy, chewy noodles at that shop were his favorite. He decided to devour dozens of bowls. Wang Zeyan and his men felt a great weight lift from their shoulders; the ordeal was finally over, and the master hadn't caused them any further trouble.

"Young Master Wang," Lele said, "let's find a place to change and get something to eat. I'm sick of nothing but roasted meat."

With the danger gone, Wang Zeyan and Liu Shaoakun waved their hands. "Let's go. Let's feast. My mouth feels like it’s lost all taste."

Meanwhile, Lu Ming hurried to the noodle shop and dived in. It was past two in the afternoon, and there were no other customers. Aduo was wiping down the tables. Seeing her, Lu Ming quickly said, "Aduo, give me ten bowls of blood-filled noodles first. Make sure they’re fully loaded." He was starving.

When Aduo saw it was Lu Ming, she beamed. "Coming right up, brother, just a moment." She ran to the kitchen. Having been saved from a nightmare by Lu Ming, she was deeply grateful and thrilled to see him again. Soon, she brought out several bowls, secretly adding extra toppings, unbeknownst to the owner.

As soon as the noodles arrived, Lu Ming dug in. The intense, head-clearing spice and the sensation of fullness brought him sheer delight. He ate bowl after bowl, while Aduo watched, clutching her chest in disbelief—she had never seen anyone with such an appetite.

Not long after, a commotion broke out outside. Wang Zeyan and the others burst in, looking panicked. Zhao Bing was clutching his chest, clearly injured and stained with blood.

"Master, save us!" they cried as they entered.

Lu Ming frowned. Zhao Bing was an internal martial artist; how could he be beaten up by someone in a small town? "What happened?" he asked, still eating. He didn't really want to get involved, as Wang Zeyan and Liu Shaoakun were no saints, but he was curious about who could have injured Zhao Bing.

Wang Zeyan stammered, "After you left, we went to find something to eat. Some local thugs started harassing Lele and the others, so I had Zhao Bing teach them a lesson. But then those people brought in a master who injured Zhao Bing and threatened to skin us alive."

"Damn, who's that capable?" Lu Ming asked, slurping his noodles.

Wang Zeyan replied, "The man who came was very strong. He claimed to be a reserve member of the Flame Dragon Special Forces, about to head off for some 'Flame Dragon' special training. It sounded very prestigious."

Lu Ming froze. Someone from the Flame Dragon unit, getting into a street brawl over a petty dispute?