Bad Intentions

Lu Yan furrowed his brows. Several earthen walls sprang up in front of him as he quickly retreated.

Li Zhongkang changed his hand seals, and the talisman locks shifted direction, sweeping over the stone walls to coil around Lu Yan.

The "Manji" symbol following close behind lacked that ability. It barreled straight ahead, smashing through the earthen walls one after another, but its attack showed no sign of slowing.

A faint smile tugged at Zhang Daoyi's lips. His hands shifted through a series of seals, and streaks of pitch-black lightning poured down like mud.

"Northern Abyss Pool."

Lu Yan was in an extremely perilous situation. Surrounded on all sides, he fled in a panic toward Shaka.

Shaka's leg had recovered by now. He watched Lu Yan approach with a sinister grin, and the Gu King in his hand shot straight toward Lu Yan, trailing black light.

Strangely, Lu Yan suddenly curled his lips into a smile. The Tomoe in his eyes spun rapidly, transforming into pinwheels, and his figure grew indistinct.

The talisman locks, the "卍" hand seal, the black lightning, and even the Gu King all passed right through Lu Yan without causing him the slightest harm.

Lu Yan didn't slow down. He quickly reached Shaka and fired several shots from Ivory. Streaks of ice froze Shaka in place.

"Goodbye."

Lu Yan looked at Shaka's terrified, bewildered expression and gave him a kind smile. Ebony fired a bolt of lightning.

The ice around Shaka shattered piece by piece. A black hole appeared between his brows, and he toppled stiffly to the ground.

With a relaxed smile, Lu Yan picked up the black jar from Shaka's hand and aimed it at the Gu King hovering in the distance.

"Come on in, little darling."

The Gu King breathed out black light, its eyes sparkling with intelligence. It turned and tried to flee.

"You're not being very nice."

Lu Yan pursed his lips and fired several shots at the Gu King with Ivory, but it was small and incredibly fast, dodging every bullet.

"All right, what do you want?"

The jade talisman in Li Zhongkang's hand glowed with a soft green light, pinning the Gu King in midair. With a turn of his sleeve, he captured it, then glared at Lu Yan and asked.

Lu Yan toyed with the black jar in his hand, his expression somewhere between a smile and a smirk. "What do you mean, what do I want? You're the ones who came looking for trouble."

Zhang Daoyi recalled the Black Lightning scattered around them and frowned. "Is this really not a pocket dimension? How can it be so strange?"

Lu Yan looked completely innocent as he pointed to his Mangekyo. "I never said I had a pocket dimension. Where did that rumor come from? This is an ocular technique, and it comes with a space of its own."

"Amitabha."

Huiyun pressed his palms together, his face stern. "Master Lu, we have offended you greatly this time. The Zen Sect will prepare a gift to make amends. We shall take our leave."

Zhang Daoyi's expression was also somewhat grim. "The Celestial Master Sect will prepare a gift as well. Let us put this matter behind us. Farewell."

Li Zhongkang simply tossed the Gu King out of his sleeve and snorted. "Take this as compensation."

Seeing the three of them turn to leave, Lu Yan hurriedly called out, "Everyone, wait. I have something else to discuss."

The three turned back without speaking, waiting for Lu Yan to continue.

Lu Yan waved a hand, drawing the white mist scattered around them into the Kamui Dimension. He smiled amiably. "The world's spiritual energy is growing thinner and thinner. Your sects may all have pocket dimensions and do their best to maintain them, but even the spiritual energy within those dimensions is bound to dwindle."

"I may not have any new pocket dimensions, but I do have spiritual energy."

"If you replenish your pocket dimensions with plenty of spiritual energy, cultivation will become twice as effective. Then what could stop your sects from thriving again?"

Zhang Daoyi pondered for a moment, then slowly asked, "What do you want?"

Lu Yan glanced at the three men, who were already tempted, and smiled even more warmly. "It's simple. I like reading. Your sects just need to hand over a few manuals, and you can take spiritual energy home with you."

Li Zhongkang studied Lu Yan's smile, his expression thoughtful. "How much do you have?"

"As much as you want."

The pinwheel in Lu Yan's eyes spun rapidly. A pitch-black hole appeared in front of the three men, and they sensed a dense surge of spiritual energy.

"Don't waste it! Don't waste it!"

Zhang Daoyi wore an expression of deep anguish, but he hurriedly absorbed the spiritual energy dispersing around them.

"Fine. It's a deal."

A sharp glint flashed in Li Zhongkang's eyes as he nodded firmly.

After that, angry shouts and cries rang out from the forest now and then.

"Impossible! Don't even think about it!"

"You greedy brat! The nerve!"

"This is the Celestial Master Sect's core manual. Absolutely not!"

"You're driving me mad! You have no sincerity!"

An hour later, Lu Yan emerged with a broad smile, followed by the three men, whose faces were dark.

Lu Yan acted as though he hadn't noticed their expressions and smiled warmly. "Everyone, let me know as soon as you're ready. I'll bring the spiritual energy when you hand over the manuals."

"Hmph."

Li Zhongkang's face was sour. "I knew you'd learned a bellyful of dirty tricks overseas. You're downright devious and sly."

Zhang Daoyi had lost his smile, too. He cupped his hands. "Everyone, I'll be going ahead."

Even Huiyun couldn't keep up his dignified air. Halfway through an "Amitabha," he suddenly sighed, turned, and left. His pace seemed unhurried, yet he quickly vanished from sight.

"I'll have Simu get in touch with you."

Li Zhongkang glared resentfully at Lu Yan. A flash of green light flickered in his hand, and he vanished.

Looking at the now-empty forest, Lu Yan set off leisurely toward Xiangyin County, in an excellent mood. He even started humming a tune as he walked.

He hadn't expected the sudden idea he'd had in the Naruto World to prove so crucial.

Back in the Naruto World, Lu Yan had thought that if he ever traveled to a world lacking spiritual energy, he should use the Kamui Dimension to absorb plenty of spiritual energy in advance and store it inside.

Lu Yan had strong control over the Kamui Dimension. He could divide it into separate sealed spaces and store different items in each one.

He could also stay inside the Kamui Dimension and use his Mangekyo to control its movement. Back then, he had relied on this trick to borrow the small treasury from the Root headquarters, which Danzo guarded so closely.

The plan had succeeded, and he'd hooked several big fish. Lu Yan had practically finished everything he needed to do in this world and would soon be able to return to the Naruto World.

The Chen Mansion, Xiangyin County.

Chen Yulou cupped his hands and thanked Zhang the Great Buddha and Er Yuehong. "Buddha, Second Master, thank you both for coming to the apprenticeship ceremony and lending us your support."

Er Yuehong smiled and returned the gesture. "I should be thanking Chief Chen for the precious medicine he gave me. My wife's condition has improved, and I, Er Yuehong, am deeply grateful."

Zhang Qishan rose to his feet, adjusted his military cap, and cupped his hands. "I've repaid the favor this time. Chief Chen, until we meet again."

Chen Yulou knew Zhang the Great Buddha was always decisive, and that their relationship was far from cordial. He stood as well and smiled, returning the gesture. "Until we meet again."

Watching Zhang the Great Buddha and Er Yuehong walk away, Chen Yulou turned around and sighed. "The Jiumen's influence has grown rapidly in recent years for good reason. Zhang the Great Buddha and Er Yuehong are both formidable men."

Hua Maguai, standing nearby, chimed in. "Chief, now that you've become Master Lu's disciple, Xieling will surely surpass the Jiumen."

"Haha."

Chen Yulou smiled without answering. He looked at the sky outside, worry in his voice. "Why hasn't Master returned yet?"