Chapter 348: Heart with Ill Intent

"Lord Ding, we've come to speak with you about something." Yi Geng Qianxing quickly spoke upon hearing Ding Huan was about to leave the sect again.

He had long wanted to discuss this matter in detail with Ding Huan.

But previously, Ding Huan had been intent on wiping out the Jiuyuan cultivators, then went to Jiaxing Mountain to rescue someone, and after returning, he immediately entered seclusion—so he had waited until now, until Ding Huan's return.

Ding Huan laughed heartily: "Come, let's go inside and talk."

The group arrived at the sect's guest hall, and Yi Geng Qianxing spoke at once:

"Lord Ding, originally, I, Lord Lin, Lord Feng, and Lord Xiu went to the Opening Heaven Battlefield seeking terrestrial immortals of the Third Layer, but we encountered a colossal iron pillar..."

Upon hearing "colossal iron pillar," not only did Ding Huan's expression turn serious, but Cang Yongqian and Senior Ji Gu also listened intently.

Yi Geng Qianxing slowed his tone:

"That iron pillar's spiritual sense simply could not penetrate it; the four of us attacked for several days with no effect whatsoever.

Later, Lord Lin's Baiyue Manor was attacked, so we were forced to leave, and at the exit of the Opening Heaven Battlefield, we met you."

Ding Huan was about to speak when he heard Yan Mei's voice from outside: "Lord, Elder Cen Xuan and Elder Qi Yonghan have come to pay their respects."

"Quickly invite them in," Ding Huan said with great delight—he had originally planned to invite Cen Xuan and Qi Yonghan to join him in the Opening Heaven Battlefield.

Now that they knew he had returned and came to Lanxing Sect on their own, it could not be better.

"Lord Ding..."

After calling out, Cen Xuan saw Senior Ji Gu and Cang Yongqian and exclaimed excitedly:

"Elder Senior Ji Gu, Brother Cang, I'm so glad you're both safe!"

Qi Yonghan also said: "After learning of the message sent by Bei Shu, I was extremely anxious. But when Cen Xuan and I arrived, Lord Ding had already left the Third Layer Star Continent.

We could only wait here for news, and thankfully, you were blessed by heaven—you returned safely..."

Senior Ji Gu smiled bitterly: "If not for Lord Ding rescuing me and Cang Yongqian, we'd still be locked in their iron cage, unaware when we'd be slaughtered."

"Thank you, Lord Ding," Cen Xuan and Qi Yonghan bowed together in gratitude.

They had survived together from the depths of the Four-Weight Strait, and fought side by side against the Jiuyuan cultivators—deep friendship had already formed.

Ding Huan laughed heartily: "We're all friends who've shared life and death—no need for such formalities."

"I agree with Ding Huan—we're all friends who've shared life and death. Just remember this bond," Cang Yongqian said.

When he was rescued by Ding Huan, he had decided: should Ding Huan ever need aid, he would give everything, regardless of life or death.

"Yes," Senior Ji Gu, Qi Yonghan, Yi Geng Qianxing, and Lin Yuqi all stood up.

Liu Yinzhu, who had remained silent until now, felt deep emotion—who could have imagined that a mere mortal chef who had arrived in the Dao Cultivation World would now become the foremost person on the Third Layer Star Continent?

To call Ding Huan the foremost person now is entirely justified.

This is a fact universally acknowledged by all cultivators on the Third Layer Star Continent—whether they liked Ding Huan or disliked him, none would deny it.

It was earned through Ding Huan's sincerity: the moment Bei Shu's message arrived, Ding Huan immediately prepared to rescue them.

Unfortunately, Guan Cui, who had brought Ding Huan to the Third Layer Star Continent, entered the Opening Heaven Battlefield and has since vanished—may she be blessed by heaven, and may no misfortune befall her.

Ding Huan said: "We all strive toward one goal. After this matter is settled, I will go to the Opening Heaven Battlefield—I must see that colossal iron pillar that Lord Lin and Lord Yi mentioned..."

"That iron pillar that no matter how hard you attack, cannot be moved at all?" Cen Xuan asked immediately.

"Elder Cen, you saw it too?" Lin Yuqi asked quickly.

Cen Xuan nodded: "Yes, when I first entered the Opening Heaven Battlefield, I saw that iron pillar—I even used a forbidden technique, yet still could not budge it an inch.

Its spiritual sense cannot penetrate it either—it's truly strange."

Ding Huan was overjoyed: "Since Elder Cen has also been there, that's perfect. Once I finish handling Lanxing Sect's affairs, we'll all head to the Opening Heaven Battlefield immediately..."

He paused, then added: "I must warn you all: Mu Chengzi may have some connection with Wu Zhanxia. If you don't encounter him, forget it—but if you do, be cautious."

"I need to attend to some matters in the sect. Wait here for me."

After leaving the guest hall, Ding Huan first sent a message to Jia Baihe.

After hesitating for a long while, he also sent a message to Mu Chengzi.

He was certain that if Mu Chengzi was still on the Third Layer Star Continent, he would know of his return.

If he invited everyone but omitted Mu Chengzi, it would be like hanging a sign that read "stolen silver here."

If Ji Xuwén and Xun Youshan's deaths truly involved Mu Chengzi, then don't blame him for avenging Xun Youshan and Ji Xuwén.

After sending the messages, Ding Huan went to the Scripture Library—he didn't know when he'd return next, so he needed to update the Small Universe Art.

He also had many cultivation techniques and jade slips to leave behind in the sect's Scripture Library.

In Lanxing Sect, one didn't necessarily have to cultivate the Small Universe Art.

Ding Huan himself had just advanced to the Star River realm, so he could only update the sect's Small Universe Art to the Star River realm.

The Star River realm corresponds to the terrestrial immortal realm on the Third Layer Star Continent—on the Third Layer Star Continent, very few sects possessed cultivation techniques for the Immortal Bridge realm.

To prevent future talented disciples of Lanxing Sect from being trapped forever at the Star River realm, Ding Huan still provided his own speculation on the next realm.

Upon receiving Ding Huan's message, Jia Baihe rushed out of Jiaxing Mountain at once—she didn't even have time to use the teleportation array, but instead directly activated a directional teleportation talisman to head for Lanxing Sect.

"Brother Jia?" To Jia Baihe's surprise, as soon as she arrived outside Lanxing Sect's gates, she saw someone she did not wish to see: Mu Chengzi.

This made Jia Baihe frown.

Ding Huan had clearly told her not to trust Mu Chengzi—why was Mu Chengzi here?

"Brother Mu? Why are you here too?" Jia Baihe asked in surprise.

Mu Chengzi laughed heartily: "Of course, Lord Ding invited me! Alas, you missed a great opportunity last time..."

As he spoke, Mu Chengzi drew closer to Jia Baihe.

In truth, Mu Chengzi was still hesitant—this was outside Lanxing Sect, and Ding Huan had invited him, meaning Ding Huan had returned.

But Jia Baihe carried the Nine-Colored Immortal Bridge Lotus, and in his eyes, her combat power was utterly negligible.

If he struck suddenly, he could almost certainly capture Jia Baihe.

Capture Jia Baihe, and I'll leave the Threefold Heaven Star Continent immediately—who can catch me?

Should we act?

Fortune lies in danger—let's risk it.

Thinking of this, Mu Chengzi suddenly raised his hand, condensing powerful Dao resonance into a true qi hand seal; at the same moment, his treasure was about to be unleashed…

But his true qi abruptly stalled, then the Dao resonance shattered wildly.

Mu Chengzi, experienced as he was, knew instantly he had been poisoned—he immediately retracted all Dao resonance and domains, staring at Jia Baihe with an expression of utter disbelief:

"Brother Jia, what do you mean? We are both guests of Lord Ding. Why poison me out of nowhere?"

Though he spoke thus, Mu Chengzi was deeply shaken inside.

He knew well Jia Baihe's level in poison Dao—under his own domain's suppression, Jia Baihe had no chance to poison him.

At Jia Star Mountain, Jia Baihe's stronghold, toxins filled every corner.

But this is not Jia Star Mountain—it's outside Blue Star Sect. We merely met by chance here; there could be no pre-placed toxins from Jia Baihe.

Yet Jia Baihe not only poisoned me silently, but I didn't even sense it.

What does this prove? It proves Jia Baihe's poison Dao has undergone a qualitative leap.

Only poison Dao Dao resonance and laws could poison me without my awareness.

To poison using poison Dao laws—this makes one invincible wherever one goes.

Moreover, Jia Baihe's strength has increased more than tenfold since before; this leap in understanding the Great Dao is equally staggering.

How is this possible? How much time has passed? How could Jia Baihe achieve such terrifying progress?

Jia Baihe spoke calmly: "Oh? I saw you suddenly approach me, extending your domain and condensing a true qi hand seal—I thought you meant to attack me."

Mu Chengzi replied with a helpless tone: "Brother Jia, we were both invited by Lord Ding. We've now reached the gates of Blue Star Sect—do you really think I'd attack you? That's absurd."

"As for why I formed the true qi hand seal—look over there. Isn't there a massive boulder? Could there be a boulder blocking the entrance to my brother Ding Huan's sect? I was just going to move it."

Hearing Mu Chengzi say outright that Ding Huan had invited him, Jia Baihe grew even more puzzled—why had Ding Huan invited Mu Chengzi?

Though puzzled, she casually lifted the poison from Mu Chengzi and stepped into Blue Star Sect.

Mu Chengzi cast a wary glance at Jia Baihe, then followed her into Blue Star Sect.

He wondered—if Jia Baihe had left the Threefold Heaven Star Continent with him last time, could he truly have killed her and seized the Nine-Colored Immortal Mortal Lotus?

With Jia Baihe's current strength, he might not even be her match.

"So it's Brother Jia and Brother Mu who've arrived." Seeing Yan Mei enter the guest hall with Jia Baihe and Mu Chengzi, Qi Qi Yonghan and the others rose to their feet.

Seeing An Ran and Cang Yongqian unharmed, Mu Chengzi froze, then burst into laughter: "So you all arrived before me!"

After saying this, he turned to An Ran and Cang Yongqian: "I once visited Blue Star Sect and heard about Brother Xun and Brother Ji… sigh…"

An Ran sighed too: "Brother Mu, thank heaven you didn't come with us—that journey was far too perilous."

"We never imagined the Ten Thousand Worlds Trading Association would be so powerful—and so unreasonable."

"You went to the Ten Thousand Worlds Trading Association?" This time it was Mu Chengzi's turn to be stunned.

An Ran suddenly countered: "Of course—where else did you think we'd go?"