Chapter 233: Always Injured Yan Wushuang

For Xiao Yuying and the Dying Sun Immortal, things had become complicated, and both their expressions were grim.

Zheng Fa, however, remained calm.

What does the Cold-Faced Immortal's visit to this secret realm have to do with me, Zheng Fa of Nine Mountains?

"Master Han, can you now clarify what the secret of the Heavenly River Sect truly is?"

After a moment of silence, Xiao Yuying asked the Dying Sun Immortal.

They were all on the same boat now; she likely didn't want to remain in such ignorance.

The Dying Sun Immortal shook his head and said, "This matter… I think it's better you don't know."

"…"

"Is it related to Soul Transformation?"

Zheng Fa was slightly startled—this Lingye Immortal guessed correctly every time… this woman knew a lot!

Seeing the Dying Sun Immortal's surprised expression, Xiao Yuying smiled faintly.

"Master Han, I don't know your Heavenly River Sect's secret."

"But I've entered many secret realms—I've long known that the Soul Transformation method is incomplete… I simply never spoke of it."

Zheng Fa fell silent.

Don't be fooled by Xiao Yuying's seemingly reckless speech—she has secrets too!

By revealing this now, she was showing her sincerity.

The Dying Sun Immortal sighed and said, "Since you already know, I won't hide it from you…"

He then revealed the truth about the new method.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yuying frowned upon hearing it, clearly unable to comprehend.

"Master Han, are you suggesting the old demonic sect methods of the last epoch—or even our current immortal cultivation methods—cannot accommodate the Heavenly River Lord's new method?"

She suddenly asked.

"That's my guess."

"But that doesn't make sense…"

Xiao Yuying's doubt left them all stunned.

"What doesn't make sense?"

Xiao Yuying glanced at them, thought for a moment, then spoke:

"Because the Holy Ancestors of the demonic sect… were also seeking to create immortal methods!"

Zheng Fa's heart jolted; he turned to the Dying Sun Immortal, who stared wide-eyed, utterly incredulous.

Seeing he didn't believe her, Xiao Yuying shook her head: "I've been to an early epoch secret realm—inside were hymns praising the Holy Ancestors, oh, the Holy Ancestors are what we now call the demonic sect's founding masters…"

She seemed to be recalling something.

Slowly, she said:

"According to those hymns, these demonic Holy Ancestors modified the old methods of the epoch before last to create today's immortal methods."

Hearing this, Zheng Fa's mind was in chaos—

Until now, Master Han's words had led him to believe:

Both current immortal methods and demonic sect techniques were ancient legacies, and the demonic sect were relics from history's trash heap, obstacles to the new method.

But according to Xiao Yuying, those demonic ancestors were themselves creators of the new method…

He looked at the silent Cangkong, as if seeing a hundred thousand years of struggle across two epochs, generation after generation of cultivators…

"No wonder…" the Dying Sun Immortal murmured, shaking his head, "Our founder once said at least one of the demonic Holy Ancestors was a Path-Opening Ancestor."

Zheng Fa's heart trembled.

He remembered those words—Master Han had told him on the way to Nine Mountains Sect.

He'd said it to warn him not to enter demonic sect secret realms lightly.

Back then, they'd all assumed the so-called Path-Opening Ancestor had created methods like the Life-Bound Magic Treasure.

But now they realized: that demonic ancestor had also walked the path of the new method.

After a long silence, the Dying Sun Immortal sighed:

"The new method… hah, the new method is so difficult…"

Zheng Fa understood why the old man said that.

Across two epochs, in the Xuanwei Realm, the most gifted, brilliant, and powerful cultivators—only thirteen demonic ancestors and the Heavenly River Lord.

The demonic ancestors created the demonic sect methods.

The Heavenly River Lord created the Heavenly River method.

Yet even now, the Soul Transformation method remains incomplete…

…

This topic was beyond their grasp.

But having opened up so fully, both sides now had a foundation for cooperation.

"So, Master Han, you mean this secret realm is likely tied to the transmission of the Heavenly River new method—and we should avoid entangling ourselves in its karmic threads?"

Xiao Yuying asked the Dying Sun Immortal.

"Yes… but now…" Master Han sighed, "We've become thorns in others' eyes."

"I'm not worried about treasure-seekers."

"I fear they'll think we've taken the treasure or method from this realm."

"Even if we leave now, everyone will assume we stole something."

"…"

Xiao Yuying frowned.

Clearly, even her fearless nature felt wary of this situation.

But Yan Wushuang, beside them, seemed to have an idea and spoke up: "If you want to keep it secret…"

"Hmm?"

"Just kill them all—that'll keep it secret."

"…"

Xiao Yuying looked at the Dying Sun Immortal with a strange expression.

Zheng Fa sighed inwardly—what luck the Heavenly River Sect had with a disciple like this as the Sect Master's son.

"Can't kill them! Besides, we're righteous cultivators! Righteous cultivators!"

Master Han smacked Yan Wushuang on the head.

Zheng Fa thought for a moment, then said: "I have a contingency plan—no, an idea."

The Dying Sun Immortal blinked, then said at once: "Tell us."

"Just have the two of you fight."

Xiao Yuying and the Dying Sun Immortal froze, instantly understanding Zheng Fa's plan.

"You mean, our alliance is too obvious—better to pretend to feud so they lower their guard."

Zheng Fa nodded, then added: "And it must look real."

"After the fight, if we appear exhausted and give up the treasure, it'll be more believable." Xiao Yuying and the Dying Sun Immortal exchanged glances and both nodded slightly.

"That gives us all plausible reasons to withdraw…" Master Han stroked his chin, "But how do we make it look real?"

Xiao Yuying replied: "There are many Nascent Souls nearby—if we fake it, they'll see through it. Someone must be genuinely injured."

As she spoke, both turned their gazes to Yan Wushuang.

Yan Wushuang blinked, pointing at himself: "Me?"

They both nodded.

"Why not Master Han…?"

Master Han's Nascent Soul aura flickered briefly.

"Miss Xiao… forget it!" Yan Wushuang pointed at Zheng Fa: "Why not her? She suggested it!"

Zheng Fa froze.

Yan Wushuang, you're afraid of two Nascent Souls, but you pick on me, a weak Foundation Establishment girl?

"She's unsuitable."

To his surprise, Xiao Yuying shook her head outright and refused.

Yan Wushuang pouted, turning to the Dying Sun Immortal—this Cold-Faced Immortal had Xiao Yuying protecting her.

But he had Master Han protecting him!

In strength, Master Han was superior!

He turned—and saw Master Han slowly nodding at him: "She truly is unsuitable."

"…Master Han? Which side are you on?"

…

The four agreed on their plan and continued deeper into the secret realm.

The deeper they went, the darker and more intense the bloodstains became, a dull crimson radiating a grim horror.

After half a day, the bronze pavilion Xiao Yuying had mentioned appeared before them.

The upper part of the pavilion was tower-shaped.

The lower part resembled a square, box-like structure.

Perhaps due to the erosion of time, the hall's surface was less bronze than a dark bluish-black.

The sun had already set, painting sky and earth in red, yet the bronze hall stood alone between heaven and earth, its blackness weighing heavily on the heart.

Directly facing them was a small door, carved with a symbol Zheng Fa recognized—the mark of the Heaven River Patriarch.

In the center of the symbol was a hollow, presumably the great lock Xiao Xianzi had mentioned.

But now Zheng Fa probably didn't need to play locksmith—he was back in his old scriptwriter role!

…

Around the bronze hall, many cultivators had gathered.

Zheng Fa glanced over them; their aura made his heart tremble—

The red mist along the path had been strange, and those who had reached this place were no mere beginners.

Among them were several Nascent Soul cultivators Zheng Fa had seen before; the rest, besides Nascent Soul, were mostly Golden Core cultivators like Yan Wushuang.

Cultivators at Zheng Fa's Foundation Establishment level were rare indeed.

He felt a flicker of nervousness.

Yet the cultivators' expressions toward him were even more tense!

Zheng Fa froze—suddenly he understood:

On his left stood the Crimson Sunset Sword Immortal; on his right, the Spirit Radiance Immortal.

What's there to be nervous about?!

…

The cultivators who arrived early had likely been blocked by the lock on this hall's door.

With the Crimson Sunset Sword Immortal and Xiao Yuying here, their fear naturally grew—

Xiao Yuying's Treasure-Seeking Dao Body was famed throughout the Xuanwei Realm.

And the Crimson Sunset Sword Immortal and Yan Wushuang were both of the Heaven River Orthodox Sect—who knew if this bronze hall held hidden doors?

The cultivators exchanged glances, as if reaching an unspoken agreement, and surrounded the four of them.

Zheng Fa stared.

Did these people plan to kill their strongest rivals?

Didn't they fear offending the Heaven River Sect?

After a moment, Zheng Fa noticed the crowd had left a passage open for the four—the passage led straight to the bronze hall's door.

Then he understood their intent—

Killing Xiao Yuying and the Crimson Sunset Sword Immortal was too risky.

They surrounded the four mainly to prevent them from monopolizing the treasure…

Han Lao and Xiao Yuying glanced around, then at each other; the four walked toward the bronze hall.

"This place truly holds relics of our Heaven River Sect's ancestors!" Han Lao reached out, as if to open the bronze hall's door.

"Wait!" Xiao Yuying suddenly spoke.

"Hm?"

"Let's settle this first—how do we divide the treasure inside?"

"This belongs to our Heaven River Sect!" Han Lao snorted coldly.

Hearing this, Xiao Yuying grew agitated.

"But we agreed—"

…

The surrounding cultivators watched the two argue, exchanging glances, yet didn't fully believe them.

Xiao Yuying and the Crimson Sunset Sword Immortal exchanged sharp words, their tempers flaring.

The Crimson Sunset Sword Immortal's rainbow light flashed—he gripped a short, round immortal sword.

Xiao Yuying showed no retreat; her body shimmered with aura, revealing four or five magic treasures on her person.

Without another word, they clashed.

The Crimson Sunset Sword Immortal, a famed great cultivator, clearly held the upper hand—until Xiao Yuying gritted her teeth and flung a jewel from her sleeve, striking Yan Wushuang directly and sending him flying backward into the bronze hall.

"Xiao Yuying!"

Han Lao's hair stood on end; he rushed after Yan Wushuang.

"Go!"

Xiao Yuying, seemingly unwilling to fight further, grabbed Zheng Fa and ran.

Zheng Fa caught glimpses of the surrounding cultivators' faces—amused, relieved. Their act had worked well.

Yan Wushuang's head slammed into the bronze hall's door with a thud.

To everyone's shock, the bronze hall's door opened instantly!

A roar erupted from within: "Traitor of the Heaven River! How dare you return?!"

A killing intent so chilling it froze the marrow of every cultivator present surged from the hall, sweeping toward them.

Zheng Fa froze—wait, does the Xuanwei Realm really use heads as keys?

(End of Chapter)