Chapter 232: The Warning of the Sunset Sword Immortal

"Xiao Xianzi, are you sure you have no other disguise treasures?"

Zheng Fa had intended to disguise himself.

But he hadn't expected to wear women's clothing.

Standing before the mirror, he saw himself in a light yellow silk skirt that floated with an ethereal aura; his facial features were soft, his skin Bai Xi, his eyes large and his nose exquisite.

Even when looking at Xiao Yuying, he possessed a pitiful, delicate temperament.

How to put it? He quite liked this face on anyone's head... except on his own.

"No." The smile on Xiao Yuying's lips made Zheng Fa feel she was enjoying the show. "This Rainbow Feather Robe is my finest disguise treasure; even a Nascent Soul cannot see through it."

"Moreover, I do not usually like to disguise myself. When I do, I naturally only disguise myself as a female cultivator, so I need no other treasures."

"..."

Glancing at himself in the mirror once more, Zheng Fa sighed lightly; there was no other way.

The Jiushan Sect was not as wealthy as Xiao Yuying...

As the Sect Leader's disciple, he knew the sect possessed no illusion treasures capable of deceiving a Nascent Soul.

Spiritual materials in the Xuanwei Realm were becoming increasingly scarce; nowadays, having a single innate treasure counted as being very wealthy—Zheng Fa always felt that for most cultivators, an innate treasure was roughly a treasure more important than one's life, bought with one's funeral savings...

Only Xiao Yuying could casually produce a treasure like that.

That secret realm might concern Tianhe Zunzhe, or even concern the New Dao... Zheng Fa was absolutely unwilling to go openly.

Women's clothing it is!

"Shall we go?"

Seeming to understand that Zheng Fa had compromised, Xiao Yuying asked with a smile.

Zheng Fa nodded.

Xiao Yuying turned and walked toward the courtyard gate.

"Xiao Xianzi!" Zheng Fa hurriedly spoke up: "Do you have a treasure that allows us to depart directly from the courtyard, unseen by others?"

Just kidding, wandering around the Jiushan Sect like this.

How would I survive in the future?

"..."

Xiao Yuying sized him up from head to toe, smiled, and light flowed beneath her feet.

A long pole-like handrail appeared before Zheng Fa, surrounded by waist-high railings.

He then realized he was already aboard an ancient chariot; the body was wooden, entirely crimson, shimmering with flowing light, seemingly capable of blocking the eyes and ears of outsiders.

Pulling the chariot was a black-and-white beast, baring its teeth and snarling.

Zheng Fa bared his teeth.

Now I've seen a real national treasure...

It just feels a bit fierce, and something seems off.

"This Iron-Eating Beast is my spiritual pet," Xiao Yuying introduced with a smile. "This beast loves eating all kinds of dark iron; you know, I lack nothing of that sort."

It was clear she quite liked this spiritual pet.

To be honest, Zheng Fa was truly a bit envious—an enhanced national treasure, privately owned, cute, pettable, and capable of fighting.

Who wouldn't be dazed seeing it!

Though the Iron-Eating Beast looked bulky, it was truly an excellent chariot-puller; a journey of ten thousand li was covered in half a day.

"Xiao Xianzi? Why is the area nearby... so desolate?"

Looking at the scenery before him, Zheng Fa could not help but be stunned.

He saw a vast, boundless, desolate land where not a blade of grass grew.

Large chunks of cracked red mud extended from beneath their feet all the way to the distant horizon.

Apart from the red on the ground and the blue in the sky, there was not a third color between heaven and earth.

"I do not know either." Xiao Yuying shook her head lightly, her expression also bewildered. "This place was likely buried underground before, emerging along with the spiritual vein."

"The red soil you see now..."

Xiao Yuying suddenly turned her head, looking at Zheng Fa: "It should be blood."

"Blood?"

Zheng Fa's heart shuddered.

"I am not clear on the details, but I have seen records."

Xiao Yuying also looked at the seemingly endless red before her and said softly: "In ancient times, a great power fell; their resentment did not dissipate, turning a thousand li into a forbidden land."

"..."

"The resentment here has not dissipated; you must be careful."

Xiao Yuying indeed became much more cautious; they no longer flew in the sky but landed on the ground.

The chariot drove forward, sometimes encountering pools of black lakes blocking the path.

Even the fierce Iron-Eating Beast would whimper and refuse to move forward, so they could only take a detour.

The light surrounding the chariot flickered from time to time.

Zheng Fa knew that invisible things were attempting to attack them, and the chariot was automatically protecting them.

He looked up at the sky.

Indeed, clouds of red mist filled the air, seemingly hiding some danger.

This place was full of strangeness.

Without Xiao Yuying's treasure chariot, the two of them, at least Zheng Fa, would absolutely not be able to pass through this wasteland easily.

"Someone!"

Ahead, two figures suddenly emerged from the red mist.

Zheng Fa's heart grew even more vigilant.

Looking further ahead, he discovered these two were actually Yan Wushuang and the Setting Sun Sword Immortal.

These two stood here as if deliberately waiting for them—no, waiting for Xiao Yuying.

In his current state, he was an acquaintance to neither of them.

"True Person Han."

Upon seeing these two, even Xiao Yuying stopped her chariot and clasped her hands to bow to the Setting Sun Sword Immortal.

Clearly, she knew the Setting Sun Sword Immortal's formidable power.

The Setting Sun Sword Immortal smiled warmly, seeming no stranger at all, and spoke directly: "We wish to hitch a ride; could you do us a favor?"

Xiao Yuywei fell silent for a moment, then finally nodded.

Zheng Fa, his face cold, nodded to the two of them.

He was currently hiding his identity; the more he spoke, the more mistakes he would make.

Better to maintain the image of a cold, aloof Sword Immortal.

Sure enough, Yan Wushuang glanced at her twice; seeing her cold expression, he apparently decided against forcing a warm face onto a cold backside, and merely clasped his hands to bow.

As for the Setting Sun Sword Immortal, he looked at him and smiled quite kindly...

"True Person Han, what brings you to this place?"

Xiao Yuying could not help but ask.

"You do not know?" Unexpectedly, the Setting Sun Sword Immortal looked more surprised than she did. "This place holds a treasure left by our Tianhe Sect; the news has spread like wildfire, and countless cultivators have gathered here."

Zheng Fa was stunned.

So the matter of this secret realm has indeed spread?

"As members of the Tianhe Sect, of course we must come and see!"

After Han Lao finished speaking, Yan Wushuang beside him nodded repeatedly, clearly agreeing.

Xiao Yuying frowned slightly, looking at the two of them, then turned to glance back at Zheng Fa, as if seeking his opinion.

Zheng Fa shook his head, having no particular thoughts.

It was undeniable that he was somewhat curious about the Tianhe Sect's legacy.

But this matter carried too much risk.

So his willingness to get involved was mainly to repay Xiao Yuying for her assistance back then.

Xiao Yuying pondered for a moment, then suddenly said: "So, True Person Han, have you come to compete with me for the treasure of this secret realm?"

"No..."

Unexpectedly, the Setting Sun Sword Immortal shook his head, glanced at Zheng Fa as if by accident, and said: "I am here to stop you from going to your death."

"..."

Zheng Fa slowly furrowed his brows.

Why did he feel these two were truly not here to seize a treasure, and that the information they revealed was all crucial?

First, these two mentioned that the secret realm had already spread and many cultivators had arrived.

Then they said they were here to stop Xiao Yuying from going to her death...

If one considered what this old man had told them before, it was almost certain that this secret realm truly had some problems, and might even be related to that so-called New Method.

Yet this Setting Sun Sword Immortal was truly a good person; he seemed completely unfamiliar with Xiao Yuying, yet still made the effort to come and deliver this warning.

But he felt that someone like Xiao Yuying would not retreat because of a few words from a stranger.

"True Person Han..." Xiao Yuying said with lowered eyes, "We are not related by blood or marriage, and in the past we have only met once..."

The Setting Sun Sword Immortal sighed and said: "This matter concerns a scandal of our Tianhe Sect... I am unwilling to see you lose your life for no reason."

"..."

Confusion appeared on Xiao Yuying's face.

"Back then, our Tianhe Sect suffered an internal strife; several disciples of extremely profound cultivation were branded as traitors, and several extremely fierce battles occurred."

Xiao Yuying exclaimed in shock: "Then this place..."

"This place is where one of those great battles took place."

Xiao Yuying nodded, then asked: "Then why do you say we are in danger of losing our lives?"

"This concerns an even deeper secret of our Tianhe Sect. I can only say that there may be some secrets within this secret realm that our Tianhe Sect does not wish outsiders to know—no matter who they are."

"..."

This old man spoke vaguely and unclearly.

The more Xiao Yuying listened, the more she frowned; she was clearly very confused.

Only Zheng Fa beside her seemed to understand—this place was probably not the legacy of Tianhe Zunzhe, but related to Tianhe Zunzhe's last supporters.

The matter Han Lao said he did not wish outsiders to know was probably not the New Method, but rather this history.

He looked at Yan Wushuang; the man's face was heavy and concealed pain, as if he understood.

Han Lao naturally understood.

Xiao Yuying knew nothing of this secret, her face full of bewilderment.

Zheng Fa... Zheng Fa still maintained the expression of a cold, aloof Sword Immortal.

His eyes were bewildered, his expression cold.

Very professional...

To be honest, he felt this Setting Sun Sword Immortal's arrival was strange and peculiar.

Stopping Xiao Yuying, and speaking so evasively.

If he hadn't heard this secret before, who could understand what this old man was saying?

Hmm?

Zheng Fa was stunned, looking toward the Setting Sun Sword Immortal.

Sure enough, the old man gave him a crooked smile, as if they were very familiar.

Does this old man know who I am?

Did he come to warn me?

Yan Wushuang, however, looked completely unaware, his gaze toward Zheng Fa extremely cold.

Zheng Fa looked at the Setting Sun Sword Immortal again; seeing the other's smile grow even gentler, he finally understood—

This old man came to warn him!

Xiao Yuying frowned slightly, seemingly deep in thought.

She probably couldn't understand why the Setting Sun Sword Immortal specifically came to stop her, but on the other hand, she seemed able to see the old man's sincerity and goodwill.

Thus, her heart was even more hesitant.

Just then, several powerful auras suddenly flew from behind. Zheng Fa turned his head and actually recognized two of them—precisely the two Nascent Soul cultivators of the Baixian Alliance who had attended Elder Pang's banquet back then.

As soon as these few saw Xiao Yuying and the Setting Sun Sword Immortal, their faces changed drastically. They said, "Xiao Yuying, Tianhe Sect! You have actually joined forces?"

Their tone was extremely wary.

Clearly, one was a treasure-hunting expert, the other from the Tianhezheng Sect.

Joining forces here brought immense pressure to the other cultivators.

Zheng Fa looked at Xiao Yuying and the Setting Sun Sword Immortal; both of them looked stifled—right now, if they didn't go, no one would believe them anyway...

Their identities were too special, and they appeared here; who could believe they had given up this secret realm on their own?

If they disappeared, others would only think they had some secret means or something.

That's why... one still has to cross-dress!