Chapter 71: To Fish for the Cang Clan

Mourn for Ye Shijie.

The Future Master of the Xiang Jianzong: "Ye Shijie, are you alright?"

After sending a message expressing her concern for Ye Shijie, Chi Jiuyu sighed with satisfaction, logged out of the chat interface, sat up, and stretched.

Ding dong!

Another message came through; she thought it was Ye Shijie replying.

But when she checked the avatar, she realized it wasn't Ye Shijie—it was her Master.

Emmm…

After hesitating for two seconds, she still tapped in.

My Most Revered Master: "When does the third trial begin?"

The Future Master of the Xiang Jianzong: "You know about it too? / Little Duck Shocked"

As soon as she sent it, she realized she'd asked a stupid question—her Master was online, and both her Uncle and she were right here; her Master must be closely watching.

The Future Master of the Xiang Jianzong retracted a message.

The Future Master of the Xiang Jianzong: "Actually, I'm not entirely sure of the exact time, but Uncle said it won't be much longer."

My Most Revered Master: "Good."

My Most Revered Master: "So, are you ready? / Smile"

The Future Master of the Xiang Jianzong: "Ready for what? / Little Duck Confused"

My Most Revered Master: "Do you think pretending ignorance will help? / Smile"

"..."

Chi Jiuyu shivered, silently logged out of the chat app, and put away her phone.

What nonsense is my Master spouting? So scary.

"Now you're afraid?" Xu Xing walked out of the study, holding a sheet of paper. "Then why did you provoke Ye Shijie before?"

"You don't understand, Uncle," Chi Jiuyu turned, knelt on the sofa, and hugged the backrest with both hands. "How could I let fear of one incident stop me entirely?"

Let fear of one incident stop me entirely?

"Isn't that not how you're supposed to use that phrase?"

"Oh come on, it's close enough." She glanced at what Xu Xing held. "What's that?"

"I suddenly realized that hosting a large event requires local notification, so I looked up the format and drafted an application."

Huh? "Uncle, are you bored out of your mind?" Chi Jiuyu blurted out.

Xu Xing gave a polite, composed smile: "Jiuyu, would you like to experience a thirty-second round-trip through the starry sky?"

Thirty seconds? In that short a time, could I even survive?

Chi Jiuyu slid off the sofa, stepped aside, stood straight, and bowed a perfect ninety-degree bow, her voice loud and clear.

"Uncle, I'm wrong!"

This kid really knows how to bend and stretch.

Xu Xing shook his head slightly: "I'll let it slide this time."

"Hehe!" Chi Jiuyu immediately stood up, grinning. "By the way, Uncle, why did you even write this application?"

Who could stop you from doing what you want? "Rules have been established; why should I break them without cause?"

In most cases, Xu Xing still preferred to uphold the rules of this world.

"Besides, if everyone broke them, the Xiang Jianzong's rules would lose all meaning."

Moreover, this event won't be small—consider it giving the city mayor some time to prepare.

"Oh oh." Chi Jiuyu nodded, half-understanding.

"Alright, next, you'll handle something." The paper in Xu Xing's hand glowed with spiritual light and floated to her. "Go deliver this."

"Huh?" Chi Jiuyu blinked. "But Uncle, couldn't you just drop this straight onto the Silutangtang's desk?"

Why do I have to run errands? "To get you out and about, so you won't get bored and go provoking Ye Shijie again."

"I wouldn't do that," she still reached out and took the floating paper.

She was almost back to the sect—she wouldn't add fuel to the fire. "But Uncle, I'm famous. What if someone recognizes me?"

They might even block me on the road for autographs.

Ahh~ Such is the burden of a genius.

"Since the Happy Sect's charm cultivator incident, has anyone recognized you?" Xu Xing said coolly. "Just go."

Holy crap!

So that's why.

No wonder every time she encountered those Happy Sect idiots trying to flirt with her, they acted like they didn't see her at all.

The problem was with Uncle all along!

…………

Shortly after Chi Jiuyu rode away on her broken tricycle.

Inside the Secret Realm.

The changes had stopped.

The raging tornadoes vanished.

The once-flat Tongxuan Grassland was gone; in its place, towering cliffs like knife-carved blades pierced the sky, as if tearing apart the heavens.

But the most striking sight was the vast canyon, nearly spanning the entire Secret Realm, its edges unseen, and at its center, a sword peak bound in chains.

Boom—

A dark red lightning bolt slashed across the sky, illuminating the valley floor, followed by a rustling sound.

They were countless terrifying, grotesque silver creatures, so numerous and densely packed that one glance sent a chill down the spine.

Their arms were straight and elongated, gleaming with cold light, as if two razor-sharp longswords.

They lay motionless at the bottom of the gorge, occasionally twitching slightly, emitting faint sounds, as if waiting for an opportunity to awaken them.

Upon closer inspection, one could see their lower bodies were actually buried in the mud—or rather… they had grown out of the ground.

"So this is it—Brother Dao intends to use this Secret Realm as the venue for your third trial."

A voice suddenly echoed within the Secret Realm.

There, on one of the chains, stood a person—no one knew when he had appeared.

Hum~ The crimson moon, as if provoked, blazed with intense light; concentric ripples, tangible as liquid, rolled outward in layers.

Where the ripples passed, even Shanfeng that Qiu Jiuyu could not so much as scratch vanished soundlessly into dust.

"I was invited by Brother Dao—I did not intrude intentionally."

Yi Zhihe pointed a finger, and the terrifying vibrations ceased; the entire world seemed rewound, the several Shanfeng reduced to dust slowly "grew" back, piece by piece.

"Brother Dao, if you don't show yourself soon, your sword will strike me."

As his words ended, Xu Xing appeared beside him.

The crimson moon in the sky finally calmed.

"Brother Dao, your sword qi is quite volatile," Yi Zhihe chuckled.

"Let's begin," Xu Xing said coolly. "I'd like to see what tricks that old thing has to deal with you."

"Hmm, I'm quite curious myself."

Yi Zhihe looked down at the vast gorge that pierced The Entire Secret Realm.

As his gaze swept over them, the grotesque, terrifying creatures changed—their sword-like arms tinged with a strange purple hue, their blades adorned with intricate patterns.

Even the entire Secret Realm gained an indescribable, elusive aura.

After completing this, Yi Zhihe sighed: "I merely did it casually, yet it has added some complications to Brother Dao's trial. Still, the old thing's sudden urgency suggests there must be a reason."

He is an apex being of the Cang Clan; though his current power is limited, he remains no trivial foe—some disguise is necessary.

"What reason?" Xu Xing's expression remained unchanged. "Lure him out, and we'll find out."

Please collect, please follow!! (Chapter end)