Chapter 233: Yan Wushuang, Always Injured

For Xiao Yuying and Canyang Sword Immortal, the situation had become somewhat tricky, and both wore sour expressions.

Zheng Fa, standing aside, remained quite relaxed in his mindset.

What does the Cold-Faced Immortal Girl having visited a secret realm have to do with me, Zheng Fa of Jiushan?

"True Person Han, now you can explain clearly: what exactly is the secret of the Tianhe Sect?"

After a moment of silence, Xiao Yuying asked Canyang Sword Immortal.

Now that the few of them were beetles on the same boat, she probably did not wish to remain so confused.

Canyang Sword Immortal shook his head and spoke: "This matter... I think it is better for you not to know."

"..."

"Is it related to Soul Transformation?"

Zheng Fa was somewhat surprised in his heart; this Immortal Girl Ling Ye guessed correctly every time... This woman knows a great deal!

Seeing Canyang Sword Immortal's surprised expression, Xiao Yuying smiled faintly:

"True Person Han, I do not know the secret of your Tianhe Sect."

"But I have experienced many secret realms; I have long known that the Soul Transformation technique is flawed... it is just that this matter is inconvenient to reveal outwardly."

Zheng Fa was also speechless.

Do not think that because Xiao Yuying appears to speak without thinking—she too has secrets!

Her speaking out now was also to demonstrate her sincerity.

Canyang Sword Immortal sighed and said: "Immortal Girl Xiao, since you already know, then I will not hide it from you..."

He immediately informed them of the matter regarding the new technique.

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Xiao Yuying frowned, seeming utterly unable to understand.

"True Person Han, do you mean that the old methods of the Demon Sect from the previous epoch, or rather the immortal techniques we cultivate now, cannot accommodate Tianhe Zunzhe's new technique?"

She suddenly asked.

"That is my guess."

"But that is incorrect..."

Xiao Yuying's questioning left everyone momentarily stunned.

"What is incorrect?"

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

"Because the Demon Sect's Holy Ancestor... was also pursuing the creation of immortal techniques!"

Zheng Fa's heart trembled; he looked at Canyang Sword Immortal, only to see the old man's eyes wide open, his expression filled with disbelief.

Seeing that he seemed not to quite believe her, Xiao Yuying shook her head: "I once visited a secret realm from the early period of the previous epoch; inside were some praises for the Holy Ancestor. Oh, the Holy Ancestor is what is now referred to as the Demon Sect's Ancestor in sacrificial hymns..."

She seemed to be recalling something.

She spoke slowly:

"According to those sacrificial hymns, these Demon Sect Holy Ancestors, based on the old techniques of the epoch before the previous one, transformed them into the immortal techniques of today."

Hearing these words, Zheng Fa's mind was in utter chaos—

Old Han's words before had given him a persistent illusion:

The current immortal techniques and Demon Sect cultivation techniques were all inherited from ancient times; that group from the Demon Sect belonged to the old relics in the historical trash heap, the obstacles to the new technique.

But according to Xiao Yuying's account, those Demon Ancestors were themselves creators of the new technique...

He looked at Cang Kong, who remained silent, as if seeing two epochs, nearly a million years of time, and the struggles of cultivators generation after generation...

"No wonder..." Canyang Sword Immortal shook his head lightly, "The Ancestor once said that among the Demon Ancestors, at least one was an Ancestor who opened the path."

Zheng Fa's heart trembled again.

He still remembered these words; Canyang Sword Immortal had spoken them to him back then on the road to Jiushan Sect.

At that time, he had said it to warn Zheng Fa not to rashly enter Demon Sect secret realms.

Back then, everyone thought that this so-called Ancestor who opened the path was the one who created cultivation methods such as the innate treasure.

They never expected that, in fact, that Demon Ancestor was also walking the path of the new technique.

The group fell silent for a long while before hearing Canyang Sword Immortal sigh:

"The new technique... heh, how difficult the new technique is..."

Zheng Fa understood why the old man said this.

For two epochs, in the Xuanwei Realm, the most talented, the most brilliant, the strongest—were merely the thirteen Demon Ancestors and Tianhe Zunzhe.

The Demon Ancestors created the Demon Sect techniques.

Tianhe Zunzhe then created the Tianhe technique.

Yet until now, the Soul Transformation technique still has flaws...

This topic was also beyond their grasp for them.

But having been so open and frank, both sides now had a foundation for cooperation to solve the problem.

"So True Person Han, do you mean that this secret realm is likely related to the inheritance of Tianhe's new technique, and we had best not incur any karmic entanglement?"

Xiao Yuying asked Canyang Sword Immortal.

"Yes... but now..." Old Han sighed, "We have essentially become thorns in someone's eyes."

"I do not care about cultivators seeking to seize treasures."

"I fear they will think we obtained some treasure or cultivation technique from this secret realm."

"Even if we leave now, others will still think we secretly snatched the treasure."

"..."

Xiao Yuying frowned.

Clearly, her fearless nature was also wary of this matter.

Meanwhile, Yan Wushuang beside her seemed to think of something and spoke: "Since we want to keep it secret..."

"Hmm?"

"Just kill them all, and it's secret."

"..."

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

Zheng Fa sighed inwardly—Tianhe Sect was truly fortunate to have such a sect master's son.

"You can't kill them! Besides, we are the Righteous Path! The Righteous Path!"

Han Lao scolded Yan Wushuang while patting his head.

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

The Residual Sun Sword Immortal paused, then immediately said: "Tell us."

"Simply, you two fight."

Xiao Yuying and the Residual Sun Sword Immortal paused, immediately understanding Zheng Fa's method's idea.

"You mean, since working together is too conspicuous, we should feign internal conflict to make them lower their guard."

Zheng Fa nodded, then added: "On the other hand, it's best if the fight looks real."

"After the struggle, if we are weakened, it will be easier to convince people that we gave up on seizing the treasure." Xiao Yuying and the Residual Sun Sword Immortal exchanged glances and both nodded lightly.

"In that case, we would indeed both have reasons to withdraw..." Han Lao stroked his chin and said, "But how do we make it look real?"

Xiao Yuying replied: "There are many Nascent Souls nearby. If we fake it, we probably won't fool them. It's best if someone gets truly injured."

After speaking, both of them looked at Yan Wushuang.

Yan Wushuang was stunned and pointed at himself: "Me?"

The two nodded.

"Why not Han Lao..."

The Nascent Soul aura on Han Lao flashed and vanished instantly.

"Xiao Xianzi... never mind!" Yan Wushuang pointed at Zheng Fa and said: "Why not this Xiao Xianzi! She made the suggestion!"

Zheng Fa was stunned.

Yan Wushuang, you can't provoke two Nascent Souls, so you come to bully me, a weak Foundation Establishment young lady?

"She is not suitable."

Who knew that Xiao Yuying directly shook her head and refused.

Yan Wushuang pouted and looked at the Residual Sun Sword Immortal; this cold-faced Xiao Xianzi was protected by Xiao Yuying.

But he himself was protected by Han Lao!

In terms of strength, Han Lao was still superior!

He turned his head and saw Han Lao slowly nodding at him and saying: "She is indeed not suitable."

"... Han Lao? Which side are you on?"

The four discussed the plan and continued moving toward the secret realm's depths.

The deeper they went inside, the darker the bloodstains on the ground became, with a grim red hue revealing a sense of brutality.

After traveling half a day, the Bronze Hall that Xiao Yuying had mentioned earlier appeared before them.

The upper part of the bronze hall was shaped like a tower.

The lower part resembled a square house.

Probably due to the erosion of time, the hall's body was less bronze-colored and more of a greenish-black.

By now, the sun was setting; both sky and earth were bathed in red, yet only this Bronze Hall stood between heaven and earth, its blackness weighing heavily on the heart.

The house faced them directly, featuring a small door carved with a symbol Zheng Fa recognized well—the mark of Tianhe Zunzhe.

In the center of the symbol was a hole, which seemed to be the large lock Xiao Xianzi had mentioned earlier.

But now, Zheng Fa probably didn't need to act as a locksmith—he was returning to his old profession as a screenwriter!

Many cultivators had already gathered around the Bronze Hall.

Zheng Fa glanced around, and the auras of these cultivators made him feel a bit terrified—

The red mist on the road was extremely strange; cultivators who could come here must have high cultivation.

Among them were a few Nascent Souls Zheng Fa had seen before; the rest were mostly Jin Dan like Yan Wushuang, aside from the Nascent Souls.

Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage like Zheng Fa were extremely rare.

He couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.

But the expression on these cultivators' faces looking at him made him even more nervous!

Zheng Fa paused—suddenly understanding:

On his left was the Residual Sun Sword Immortal, and on his right was Lingye Xiao Xianzi.

What was there to be nervous about!

The cultivators who arrived early were probably all blocked by the lock on the hall's door.

With the arrival of the Residual Sun Sword Immortal and Xiao Yuying, they naturally became even more wary—

Xiao Yuying's Treasure-Seeking Dao Body was well-known throughout the Xuanwei Realm, not to mention...

This Remnant Sun Sword Immortal and Yan Wushuang are both from the Tianhezheng Sect; who knows if this bronze hall has left behind any secret passages!

These cultivators exchanged glances, seemingly reaching an unspoken understanding, and proceeded to surround the four of them.

Zheng Fa was stunned.

Could this group intend to kill off their strongest competitors?

Aren't they afraid of offending the Tianhe Sect?

After a while, Zheng Fa realized that this group had actually left a passage open for the four of them; at the end of that passage stood the great door of the bronze hall.

Only then did he understand their thinking—

Killing Xiao Yuying and the Remnant Sun Sword Immortal was too risky.

They surrounded the four of them mainly to prevent them from hogging everything...

Han Lao and Xiao Yuying looked around, then at each other, and the four of them walked toward that bronze hall.

"This truly is the legacy treasure of our Tianhe Sect's ancestors!" Han Lao reached out, as if intending to open the great door of this bronze hall.

"Wait!" Xiao Yuying suddenly spoke up.

"Hmm?"

"Let's agree first on how the treasures inside should be divided."

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

Hearing this, Xiao Yuying seemed to panic.

"Didn't we agree..."

The cultivators around watched the two argue, exchanging bewildered glances, yet they did not fully believe it.

Xiao Yuying and the Remnant Sun Sword Immortal traded a few heated words, and the two seemed to have truly worked themselves into a rage.

A flash of rainbow light appeared in the Remnant Sun Sword Immortal's hand as he grasped a round, short immortal sword.

Xiao Yuying showed no sign of backing down; layers of precious light radiated from her body, and she appeared to be carrying four or five magical treasures.

Unable to agree on a single word, the two actually began to fight.

The Remnant Sun Sword Immortal was, after all, a renowned great cultivator; Xiao Yuying seemed to be losing ground. She gritted her silver teeth, and a precious pearl suddenly flew from her sleeve, smashing Yan Wushuang backward and sending him hurtling straight toward the bronze hall.

"Xiao Yuying!"

Han Lao's hair stood on end in fury, and he immediately chased after Yan Wushuang.

"Go!"

Xiao Yuying, as if daring not to fight further, grabbed Zheng Fa and ran.

Zheng Fa could glimpse the expressions on the faces of the surrounding cultivators—a mix of enjoying the spectacle and relief; it seemed their acting had been quite successful.

Yan Wushuang's head struck the great door of the bronze hall with a loud thud.

To everyone's surprise, the door of the bronze hall actually opened directly!

A furious roar came from within: "Tianhe rebels, you dare come here?"

A killing intent that made the cultivators present shiver with fear surged forth from the hall and rushed toward the crowd.

Zheng Fa was stunned—wait, is using one's head as a key a trend throughout the Xuanwei Realm now?

(End of this chapter)