Traversing BTTH with the Devouring Ancestral Symbol

Chapter 2: The Talisman Master, Lu Bu

Lu Bu, a young man from a peaceful region historically untouched by war in the Heavenly Empire, had always lived an optimistic and driven life under the red flag of his homeland. However, fate had other plans. One evening, as he was walking his girlfriend back to her dormitory, an unexpected accident occurred. Whether it was a faint ringing in his ears or cold sweats clouding his judgment, neither he nor his girlfriend noticed the speeding truck barreling toward them from the side. With barely enough time, Lu Bu managed to push her out of harm's way before… well, that was it for him.

When Lu Bu regained consciousness, he found himself reborn into the prestigious household of an advanced dynasty within the Eastern Profound Domain. Yes, the very same Profound Domain with the eight Ancient Talismans, the Talisman Ancestor, and Lin Dong.

Lu Bu had lucked out in this new life. Born as the eldest son of his family, he was part of a noble lineage. His father was a prominent figure, holding the high rank of Duke. Coupled with his considerable talent, Lu Bu received extensive training and resources.

With the backing of his family and the convenient plot armor of this world, Lu Bu clawed his way up, eventually obtaining the Devouring Ancient Talisman before Lin Dong and leading his team to participate in the Hundred Dynasty War.

By the time he was heading toward Hundred Dynasty Mountain, Lu Bu's strength had already reached the Sixth Yuan Nirvana Stage, and he had become a One-Mark Talisman Master. At this level, aside from the Celestial Demon Marten, no one within the space of the Hundred Dynasty War could match him—not even those from the Tianyuan Dynasty.

But then, something unexpected happened. After acquiring the legacy of the Azure Dragon King, Lu Bu was making his way toward Hundred Dynasty Mountain when one of his subordinates inadvertently clashed with a group from the Western Profound Domain. Lu Bu acted quickly, killing the intruders on the spot. However, their reinforcements responded even faster. Before Lu Bu could send out a distress signal, two experts at the Life Profound Realm arrived, armed with a Pure Yuan Treasure: the Heaven-Sealing Array Diagram. Using this treasure, they sealed off Lu Bu and his party.

Though Lu Bu managed to severely injure one of them with the help of the Devouring Ancient Talisman, the other Life Profound Realm expert destroyed both his Nirvana Golden Body and his spirit with a single blow.

After that… well, here he was now. Lu Bu had somehow transmigrated once again, this time to the Dou Qi Continent.

"I never expected the Devouring Ancient Talisman to come with me…" Lu Bu muttered as he gazed at the familiar talisman floating before him. His emotions were a mix of awe and excitement. If this Ancient Talisman was missing from the Profound Domain, could Lin Dong still stand against the Yimo Emperor?

But none of that mattered to him anymore. He was now a man of the Dou Qi Continent.

"Alright, let's focus on recovering first," Lu Bu murmured to himself. With the Devouring Ancient Talisman in hand, healing his mortal injuries wouldn't take long.

Clasping his hands together, Lu Bu formed a series of seals. A faint black energy spread from his feet, enveloping the two corpses nearby.

"Devouring Domain, activate!"

With a soft command, the two corpses were instantly reduced to husks, while the gaping wound on Lu Bu's chest began to show signs of healing.

…

In the eastern part of Jia Ma Holy City, within the lake pavilion of a sprawling manor, a noble young man sat with his eyes half-closed, lightly plucking the strings of a zither. Dressed in a moon-white robe with golden embroidered clouds, he exuded an air of elegance and refinement under the soft glow of the moonlight.

At that moment, an elderly steward approached with a young servant in a green robe.

"Young Master, 9528 has arrived," the steward said in a low voice.

"This servant greets the Young Master," the green-robed servant, head bowed, said timidly, not daring to make any unnecessary movements.

"You've done well in reporting this matter. From today onward, you shall be given the name Yun Chun. You may leave," Young Master Yun Yu said indifferently, not even sparing the servant a glance. To Yun Yu, such a slave wasn't worth his attention. The only reason he had broken protocol and granted this audience was to demonstrate his impartiality in matters of reward and punishment.

"Let's go," the steward instructed.

"Thank you, Young Master! This servant will never forget your kindness and will serve you with unwavering loyalty!" Yun Chun bowed deeply in gratitude but suddenly spoke up again.

The steward's eyelids twitched at this unexpected outburst, a cold glint flashing in his cloudy eyes. Foolish wretch, he thought. Do you not know when to hold your tongue?

"Heh…"

Hearing Yun Chun's words, Young Master Yun Yu suddenly chuckled, his attention finally shifting from the zither to the servant.

"Yun Chun, do you think…" Yun Yu began, casting a glance at the steward.

"9527," the steward whispered softly.

"…that the matter of that ant is of any significance to me?" Yun Yu asked with a faint smile, referring to Lu Bu's original body as an "ant."

For Yun Yu, killing 9527 had been nothing more than a casual act, an effortless gesture. A mere ant wasn't worth his time or energy.

"This servant doesn't know…" Yun Chun stammered, cold sweat pouring down his back. He realized he had made a grave mistake. "This servant only knows that no one should be allowed to offend the Young Master."

"Heh… Look into my eyes and say that again," Yun Yu commanded coldly, his smile turning into a sneer.

Yun Chun was drenched in cold sweat as he slowly raised his head to look at Yun Yu. The moment their eyes met, Yun Chun's heart sank. An overwhelming pressure crashed down on him, making it difficult to breathe. As his master, Yun Yu's presence was simply too oppressive.

"I… only know… that I cannot… let anyone… offend… the Young Master…" Yun Chun stammered, barely able to squeeze out the words under the immense pressure.

"Your willpower is decent," Yun Yu remarked coldly, "but you betrayed your friend to gain favor. I won't place any trust in someone like you."

Yun Chun's face turned ashen at those words. He realized he had outsmarted himself with his petty schemes.

"Leave," Yun Yu waved him away dismissively, his tone full of disdain.

"Let's go," the old steward said coolly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. If Yun Chun dared to overstep again, there would be consequences.

"...Yes." Yun Chun's face was deathly pale as he bowed and left. He knew he had ruined his chances. Aside from being granted a name, he had gained nothing. Still, he comforted himself with the thought of 9527's hidden stash of savings.

"Good brother, you really helped me out here. Thanks," Yun Chun thought to himself, sighing in relief. Though things hadn't turned out as he hoped, at least he had made some gain.

But just then, the old steward abruptly turned his head, his sharp gaze slicing through the air as he looked southeast.

Clang! Yun Yu swiftly moved his hand, pulling a moon-white longsword from beneath the zither. A wary expression flickered across his face as pale green Dou Qi coated the blade, gray-blue flames swirling faintly around it.

Yun Chun stared at them in confusion. What was happening? Was there an enemy?

Tap, tap, tap.

At that moment, a figure emerged, walking calmly across the surface of the water. He had a handsome face, with sharp brows and starry eyes. His lips were curved in a faint smile, and he exuded an air of calm confidence, a stark contrast to the frail and vulnerable demeanor he once had.

"Who are you, to come uninvited in the middle of the night? Have you no manners?" Yun Yu asked, his sword reversed in his grip. Pale green Dou Qi spread across the blade, and the gray-blue flames danced ominously. He hadn't recognized Lu Bu's face yet and was unaware of the danger.

"Sir, my master is Yun Leng, the Great Elder of the Yun Lan Sect. Perhaps you've heard of him," the old steward said, his arms hanging loosely at his sides as gray-white Dou Qi swirled around him, forming small cyclones. He stepped forward, shielding Yun Yu as he spoke, but he, too, failed to recognize Lu Bu.

"Heh… so everyone's here," Lu Bu said with a faint smile, glancing at the three in the lakeside pavilion. Internally, however, his heart skipped a beat. Yun Leng? Wasn't that the unlucky Dou Wang killed by Xiao Yan?

"9… 9527—!?" Yun Chun's expression twisted in terror as he pointed at Lu Bu and shrieked, "Impossible! You're supposed to be dead!"

At those words, both Yun Yu and the steward frowned briefly before their expressions relaxed. Whatever wariness they felt melted away like snow under the blazing sun.

While they didn't know what kind of fortune this "ant" had stumbled upon, at the end of the day, he was still just an ant—incapable of causing any real trouble.

Dou Qi surged around both Yun Yu and the steward. On Yun Yu's body, a faint, blue-gray Dou Qi veil appeared, while the steward summoned floating gray-white stones around his hands, which quickly condensed into two sharp stone blades.

"Boy, I could crush you with a single slap while you were alive. Now that you're dead, what can you possibly do?" the steward sneered, his tone dripping with disdain.

Yun Chun's eyes darted back and forth, his hands fumbling behind his back as he quietly drew a dagger. His tongue flicked out to wet his lips. This might just be an opportunity…

"Dou Qi Veil, a Dou Shi. Dou Qi Materialization, and a Dou Ling…" Lu Bu muttered to himself, analyzing their strengths as their energy signatures flashed in his mind. As for 9528, he would deal with him later.

"Young Master, allow this old servant to handle him!" the Dou Ling steward roared as his shoulders tensed and his body shot forward like a coiled spring.

In an instant, countless sharp currents of wind sliced through the night sky, homing in on Lu Bu's vital points—his eyes, throat, chest, lower abdomen, and back.

The gray-white stone fragments, invisible under the moonlight, carried an aura of death as they streaked toward him.

With a faint whistling sound, the old steward vanished from view, reappearing above Lu Bu's head like a flash of lightning. The two stone blades in his hands came slashing down toward Lu Bu's Baihui acupoint at the top of his skull.

In the lakeside pavilion, Yun Yu's thin lips curved into a smirk. A mere ant dares to defy its master after coming back to life? How laughable.

An ant is still an ant, even if it comes back to life.

That said, Yun Yu's curiosity was piqued. He was genuinely intrigued as to how this insect had managed to resurrect itself.

"Uncle Yan, leave him alive. I have questions for him," Yun Yu called out, his eyes gleaming with interest.

(End of Chapter)

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