Chapter 2422

The intuition of immortals is indeed keen, and sometimes highly accurate.

"It's probably Shangguan Biao." Zhu Xiuer snorted, "He hasn't shown himself yet—he must be plotting something!"

"Since we're here, if he makes a move, we'll have to meet it." He Lingchuan said, and then two more disciples of Changfeng Valley came down the mountain ahead.

This time he didn't hide, and together with Immortal Mingke, he shed the disguise of the cyclops and stepped forward, asking: "Greetings, elder brothers—may I ask where Shangguan Biao is?"

The two sized up He Lingchuan and Immortal Mingke: "What do you want with him?"

"To deliver something." He Lingchuan patted the blood urn in his hands, "I was instructed to bring this."

The two pointed east:

"Then don't go any higher—do you see that ghost-claw old locust tree halfway up the slope? He lives in the hut beneath it, last row, right against the mountain."

Such clear directions? He Lingchuan thanked them and headed in the direction they indicated.

After passing two more medicinal fields, they neared the old locust. Someone was working in the field, dressed like a Changfeng Valley disciple, but in a short jacket and leg wrappings—just like the gardeners on the mountain path earlier. In appearance and status, they were no match for Senior Brother Xu and the others.

He Lingchuan walked over two hundred zhang without anyone coming to obstruct him.

The closer they got to this old locust, the larger it appeared.

Its major branches spread like open palms, but twisted and vigorous, hence also called the ghost-claw locust.

Its canopy was lush and dense, completely shading the small houses below.

Yes, there were three rows of huts—stone foundations, wooden pillars, very simple in design, each attached to the next, not even like ordinary homes with heaven, earth, and kitchen—

More like the cubicles He Lingchuan had seen in another world, each only six or seven square feet.

Those living here must be nothing but beasts of burden, right?

A bamboo fence circled the door, and a stone table stood beneath the tree.

Most of the hut doors were shut, and no one was moving nearby—perhaps they'd all gone out to work.

The medicinal fields of Duzhi Mountain were thriving, so the tending duties must be demanding.

He Lingchuan continued holding the blood urn as he walked toward the rear of the row houses.

Behind the houses, a trickle of clear spring water flowed down from above, ding-dong-dang, forming a pool two zhang square in the earth hollow below.

The water was so clear that even two blue shrimp fighting in the stone crevices could be seen distinctly.

The stone walls beside the spring resembled a beehive—countless large and small, deep and shallow hollows, all covered in moss and thistles, yet some also bore plants: either pearl-like fruits, fine and even, or thorns sharp enough to kill a person, bristling and clawing, and some that could dance as viewers approached, swaying with rhythm.

All manner of strange flowers and exotic herbs.

Immortal Mingke suddenly pointed to the largest hollow and whispered: "Look—could that be the Wind-Dew Golden Lotus?"

The hollow was filled with water, at least three feet deep, the surface nearly three square feet, but only one plant grew there, all other weeds cleared away.

It was a lotus, with six or seven round leaves and three flowers, petals emitting a faint golden glow.

One lotus pod was plump, as if pregnant with lotus seeds.

He Lingchuan had imagined their trio entering without obstruction, but he hadn't expected to see the Wind-Dew Golden Lotus so soon.

Especially, the divine bone pendant on his chest trembled twice lightly, as if signaling him—this was the genuine article, unlike the others in the secret realm.

But it only trembled twice, without heat, nor did it form a red halo in his vision.

Most people and things in this secret realm were mere fragments of historical scenes, long since become past.

But this golden lotus should be real—entrusted by the Earth Mother to True Person Minghui, who bought it at the Mount Xushan auction and transplanted it into the Duzhi Mountain secret realm.

Isn't Shangguan Biao afraid they'll steal this treasure?

Zhu Xiuer's dozen eyes all glared at it together: "Shouldn't we just pluck this golden lotus?"

He Lingchuan was pondering when he felt the ground tremble slightly, as if something heavy approached from afar, but still distant.

"What is that?"

Immortal Mingke was puzzled: "Eh?"

"Something's coming—heavy footsteps. Right now!"

Immortal Mingke strained to sense for a few breaths, then shook his head: "I feel nothing."

Zhu Xiuer chimed in: "Neither do I."

He Lingchuan looked toward the pool—the water surface rippled faintly.

"Can't you see the change on the water?"

The other two glanced several times—the water was perfectly still, not a ripple.

Only He Lingchuan could sense the anomaly—why?

He lowered his head and glanced at the divine bone pendant—it emitted a faint red glow.

Ah, so it was the pendant's doing.

At that moment, a figure emerged from the mountain hollow, wearing a bamboo hat, plain clothes, also a short jacket, with fresh mud on his legs.

Seeing He Lingchuan and Immortal Mingke, he only muttered: "Why are they sending someone to deliver today?"

His face showed no particular expression, as if seeing a few strangers: "Is this today's feed for the golden lotus?"

But when He Lingchuan and Immortal Mingke saw his face, they couldn't help but stare at each other, seeing in each other's eyes an undisguised shock.

They had just come from the Changfeng Valley garrison, where Liu Yisheng had personally drawn a portrait of Shangguan Biao—very detailed.

The moment this person appeared, they recognized that face!

Though he looked much younger, his eyes lacked the portrait's sharp depth, yet both agreed instantly: this was the Shangguan Biao from Liu Yisheng's portrait!

They had just entered the Duzhi Mountain secret realm, and the behind-the-scenes big boss appeared so openly—shouldn't he maintain at least a hint of mystery?

Zhu Xiuer's killing intent surged—she blurted: "Shall we attack?"

If we kill this guy, won't our trip to Yujing City be perfectly concluded?

He Lingchuan knew the Spider Queen was itching to act, ready to spring, so he immediately shook his head: "No!"

Something's not right.

Shangguan Biao seemed not to have heard clearly: "What?"

He Lingchuan immediately corrected himself: "Yes, this urn must be handed over to Shangguan Biao himself."

He wanted to confirm again.

"That's me." Shangguan Biao reached out to take it.

As he drew near, even Mingke Xianren had prepared himself for a Lei Ting strike. At such close range, he was confident he could sever Shangguan Biao's head within half a breath.

But Shangguan Biao seemed unaware of the danger, truly stepping forward to embrace the blood urn, and then—

He took it from He Lingchuan's hand.

He Lingchuan laughed and let go, and nothing happened between the two.

He wanted to see what exactly was going on. His intuition told him that killing Shangguan Biao right now might not be the outcome they desired.

He had another idea:

If this were the historical period before the sale of the Fenglu Golden Lotus, and if the various figures appearing in this Secret Realm were essentially following their original life paths unknowingly, then might it be possible that Shangguan Biao before him was merely the Shangguan Biao of this historical fragment?