Chapter 63: Nether Heaven Shines

"You don't want to continue?"

Inside Xu Cheng's room, hearing Xu Lin's lament, his expression clearly showed some displeasure.

"Junior sister, can't you try again? That's a disciple of the Spirit Impurity Valley's Patriarch; if we just make that connection......"

Xu Lin had heard that sentence more than once.

I don't know why, but she felt her senior brother had changed a lot lately.

Although he used to be quite utilitarian and radical, at least he wouldn't use himself as a pawn.

"Clearly I'm already like this......"

Xu Lin felt a sense of grievance in her heart; her fingers unconsciously twisted the corner of her clothes, the fabric bunching up at her fingertips, and she felt the senior brother before her growing increasingly unfamiliar.

Xu Cheng seemed not to notice her oddness, continuing to talk to himself.

"Senior brother, I've done as you said; those clothes were originally intended for me to wear for you after we marry."

"But he wasn't moved at all, even taking advantage of the situation, I......"

Xu Lin bit her lip, her feelings very complicated.

At that moment, Xu Cheng suddenly turned to look at her: "You can't even bear this little grievance? Do you really want to spend your whole life in the Seven Monsters Sect?!"

"You think one month in the Heavenly Devil Sect can let us grow much?"

"By then, if we fail to pass the Heavenly Devil Sect Sect Leader's review, we'll still have to return to the Seven Monsters Sect."

"Yes, I admit the Seven Monsters Sect is not bad among the subordinate sects, but ultimately it's just a subordinate sect."

Noticing the senior brother's anger, Xu Lin retreated two steps in succession, and accidentally bumped into the bookshelf beside her.

She had thought she would be an exception to the senior brother, after all, since joining the sect a few years ago, the senior brother had indeed taken good care of her.

Often, when her cultivation went awry, the senior brother would also give her guidance.

But now, how could he suddenly seem like a different person?

"Senior brother, he hinted today that if I cultivate dual with him, he'll introduce me to that alchemist."

"That sentence was Xu Lin's fabrication."

"Lu Chen never said such a thing; she fabricated it to test her standing in the senior brother's heart."

"Dual cultivation?! Xu Cheng's expression changed, looking very reluctant."

"Seeing that expression, Xu Lin felt a surge of joy; it turned out the senior brother still had her in his heart."

"But soon, Xu Cheng's expression returned to normal."

"Then let's go! Just a whisper of pillow wind, and we can save ourselves decades or even centuries of struggle—why not?"

"You——!!"

Xu Lin's heart was instantly shocked; she stepped back a few more steps, her face full of disbelief.

"Could it be that I'm not as important as those connections?!"

"Important?! Xu Lin! Don't forget who pulled you out of the pile of corpses and brought you back! In the sect grand competition, who got you the Saintess position!"

Seeming to feel his words were a bit too much, Xu Cheng retracted his earlier expression and returned to the appearance Xu Lin often saw back then.

"Don't worry, I won't despise you."

"......"

Xu Lin fell silent.

She suddenly felt an emptiness in her heart, as if something was missing.

She gave a somewhat wooden nod, glanced at Xu Cheng, and returned to her own room.

Xu Cheng glanced at her, then also fell into contemplation.

These past few days, he learned through some channels the true name of that alchemist.

"Chu Lian...... she actually still has a fiancé in the Black Ashes Sect."

"I don't know what kind of relationship Lu Chen has with her."

"If that's the case, once we latch onto that connection, couldn't we just discard the mill after using it......"

"After repeatedly trying to win you over, if you still refuse, don't blame me."

Xu Cheng's expression turned sinister; then he moved, flying from the Heavenly Devil Sect toward the Seven Monsters Sect.

Returning to his residence, Lu Chen immediately told Gu Xiangxiang about Gu Xiaoxiao's situation.

After learning her sister was safe, Gu Xiangxiang also relaxed considerably.

And after these few days, Chu Lian's pill was finally completed just before he returned.

"Not bad; I thought you wouldn't be able to make it."

"Looking at Chu Lian holding the successfully refined pill, Lu Chen made a snide remark."

"\"Hmph! \" Chu Lian let out a cold snort, her expression somewhat displeased."

"\"Give me the pill, I'll deliver it. \" Lu Chen gave a lewd smile, took the pill from Chu Lian's hand, and left again.

He flew on his sword in midair, glancing toward Qin Yan's residence.

It seemed no one was there.

"\"Dual cultivation can't stop; I'll go take a turn later. \""

Lu Chen believed Qin Yan was surely even more anxious than he was.

Carrying the pill, he went all the way to the Sect Leader's Hall.

"\"Looks like I should be able to see the Heavenly Devil Sect Sect Leader. \""

Lu Chen actually felt a bit nervous inside.

But he's just an ordinary disciple of a subordinate sect; they probably wouldn't lay a hand on him, right?

(No line 60 content provided; assuming line 60 is empty, but we must output something. However the original had line 60 as the but sentence, which we already used as line 59. Actually we mis-numbered: let's recount: lines 58-60 are: 58 quote, 59 nervous, 60 but sentence. So we have:

【58】 "Looks like I should be able to see the Heavenly Devil Sect Sect Leader."

【59】 Lu Chen actually felt a bit nervous inside.

【60】 But he's just an ordinary disciple of a subordinate sect; they probably wouldn't lay a hand on him, right?

Thus we need to output 【60】 as that.)

【60】 But he's just an ordinary disciple of a subordinate sect; they probably wouldn't lay a hand on him, right?

For safety, he woke the Empress from her slumber and accompanied himself into the Heaven Demon Hall.

"You really are quite cautious."

"As a demon cultivator, being overly cautious is actually a major taboo; you need to change this personality."

The Empress Qi Luo's soul form floated beside him, her tone carrying a command.

"Yes, Empress Sister, I will definitely change." Lu Chen, already accustomed to her words, replied perfunctorily.

He originally thought the Empress would continue to argue with him over his tone, but the Empress suddenly changed her expression, her face instantly turning solemn.

"The aura of the Chaos Heaven Banner?!"

This familiar aura gave rise to a hint of hostility from deep within the Empress's heart.

"How could his treasure possibly appear in such a tiny Heaven Demon Sect?"

"Empress Sister, who are you referring to?" Lu Chen asked, puzzled.

"The person who schemed against me back then was the Chief of the Netherworld Clan, Ming Tianyao."

Although Empress Qi Luo is merely a soul form, the surging killing intent around her cannot be concealed.

Upon hearing those words, Lu Chen's expression shifted slightly.

He pondered for a moment, looked at the Empress, and then spoke slowly:

"Empress Sister, is the Chaos Heaven Banner you mentioned the treasure of this Ming Tianyao?"

"Hmm, probably he scattered his own treasure across myriad realms in search of my whereabouts, which is why it appears here."

"Moreover, it's likely not just his treasure; his countless incarnations have probably also found this place."

"But rest assured, even though I am only a weak remnant soul, I can still slay him!"

With the Empress's words, Lu Chen felt much more at ease.

"Empress Sister, may I go in?"

Lu Chen glanced at the gate of the Heaven Demon Sect.

"......" The Empress fell silent for a while; her killing intent remained undiminished, but her expression became much calmer.

If she were at her peak back then, as long as she wasn't ambushed by the Fall Emperor Ancient Treasure, not to mention one Ming Tianyao, even a hundred of them would not frighten her in the slightest.

Go in; this place only has one of his treasures, likely because of some accident, it was picked up by the Heaven Demon Sect Sect Leader.

Upon hearing that, Lu Chen's pupils dilated slightly.

A treasure used by a cultivator of the Empress's level—just how terrifying an existence must it be.

"Seize it! I must definitely find a chance to snatch it!"