Chapter 1834: A Moment

Wei Wubing and Zhou Zhou Mobai, two elders whose combined ages neared two hundred, had once believed nothing in the world could shake them. Yet now, both breathed heavily, their hearts clearly agitated.

Creak!

A branch snapped in Zhou Zhou Mobai's hand, falling to the ground with a soft thud.

Wei Wubing asked first: "Really?"

He scanned Zhang Zhang Daohe from head to toe.

Over the years, the White Lotus Sect has been unusually quiet—too quiet. A cult founded on rebellion, suddenly silent for years, must be preparing something major.

Could this major event be the search for a passage to Xiu Xian Jie?

If so, everything makes sense.

The Worship of Gods Sect branched off from the White Lotus Sect, surely because someone within disapproved of Zhang Zhang Daohe's conduct and defected to form a new sect.

"Eunuch Wei, I would never dare fabricate such a matter. Brother Zhang, explain it to Eunuch Wei."

Zhang Zhang Daohe frowned. He understood Chen Chen Guanlou had revealed the secret out of necessity, yet he still disapproved, deeply dissatisfied.

"All these years, we've labored in vain, gaining nothing. We suspect our search for the passage to Xiu Xian Jie alerted the Immortals, who then sealed all passages."

"If the passage is sealed, what use is your head?" Zhou Zhou Mobai was utterly disappointed, about to strike—Wei Wubing swiftly stopped him.

"It's only a guess, nothing certain. Perhaps your records are incomplete and you've searched the wrong places."

Wei Wubing clearly had immense interest in finding the passage to Xiu Xian Jie and was willing to turn hostility into alliance, abandoning his pursuit of Zhang Zhang Daohe.

Chen Chen Guanlou smiled knowingly—he knew that once Xiu Xian Jie was mentioned, no martial artist could resist its allure.

Zhou Zhou Mobai shouted loudly: "Old Wei, what are you doing? Didn't we agree to kill him? Are we killing him or not?"

"Don't rush!" Wei Wubai soothed Zhou Zhou Mobai. "Master Zhang, correct? How confident are you in finding the passage to Xiu Xian Jie?"

"I have no confidence at all!" Zhang Zhang Daohe, seething with rage, spoke sharply.

Wei Wubing chuckled lightly. "Young Chen, what do you say?"

Chen Chen Guanlou was perfectly candid: "We are all Grand Masters, with long lifespans and ample time to search for the passage. If Eunuch Wei lends us aid and provides rare texts, we will surely succeed in our lifetimes. Then, we can journey together to Xiu Xian Jie, armed enough to resist Immortal oppression."

Wei Wubing nodded vigorously, agreeing with his words.

"I can provide the needed records. But I have one question: how did you confirm the existence of a passage to Xiu Xian Jie? How did you confirm it leads there? I beg you both to be frank."

Chen Chen Guanlou glanced at Zhang Zhang Daohe: It was time now to reveal a sliver of truth.

Zhang Zhang Daohe seethed inwardly, then reconsidered—if he could leverage Wei Wubing's power, perhaps they could achieve twice the results with half the effort and find the passage sooner.

He said solemnly: "Several years ago, in the Western Regions, I accidentally entered Xiu Xian Jie and stayed three days. Afterward, the passage closed and vanished, and I could not find it again."

Wei Wubing's breathing grew even more rapid; his hand clenched tightly around a handful of leaves, the force revealing his inner excitement.

"Master Zhang truly entered Xiu Xian Jie?"

"Brother Chen can vouch for this."

Chen Chen Guanlou nodded vigorously, confirming Zhang Zhang Daohe spoke the truth.

Wei Wubing pondered a moment: "When you went to Da Huang back then—did you find something?"

"We did find something—but before we could act, a sudden earthquake destroyed everything," Chen Chen Guanlou interrupted.

The tale must be nine parts truth, one part lie—to be believed.

To deny everything outright, to claim nothing was found, would sound false.

"So that's it!" Wei Wubing frowned in deep thought.

Zhou Zhou Mobai grew frantic: "Old Wei, you don't actually believe these two scoundrels? They're lying just to stay alive!"

"In the early Yu Chao Zao Qi records, there are countless accounts of Immortals descending—among the imperial court, nobility, and common folk alike. Are all these false?"

Though it seemed Wei Wubing was convincing Zhou Zhou Mobai, he was really convincing himself—convincing himself to believe Chen Chen Guanlou's "nonsense," to believe Zhang Zhang Daohe had indeed entered Xiu Xian Jie and stayed for days.

"Immortals descending—true enough. But a passage to Xiu Xian Jie? That's obviously fake," Zhou Zhou Mobai said, his skepticism commendable.

Yet here, his opinion didn't matter.

"Enough. We must try," Wei Wubing whispered. "We've trained for decades, unable to break through. Your problem remains unsolved. Perhaps finding the passage to Xiu Xian Jie can help us ascend. Do you want to give up?"

Zhou Zhou Mobai gritted his teeth—he certainly didn't want to give up.

But he hated being led by Chen the brat.

He couldn't help suspecting Chen Chen Guanlou was scheming. Yet Old Wei refused to listen, stubbornly pressing ahead.

"Then what do you propose?"

Wei Wubing looked at the two men: "Young Chen, I promise: from now on, I will cease pursuing Master Zhang, and I will provide ample records to aid you. But how can I be certain you'll keep your word and inform me promptly once you find the passage?"

Chen Chen Guanlou smiled faintly: "Eunuch Wei, you've long stationed watchers on me—my every move is known to you. If Brother Zhang stirs, you'll know. Let me inform you now: in a few days, I'll leave the capital. We need to find the Feng Shui Master Jin Fu. Without his help, searching for the passage will lead us down countless dead ends."

"Jin Fu? Isn't he missing?"

"Precisely because he's missing, we must search for him ourselves. Does Eunuch Wei have any contacts who specialize in such matters? If so, I beg you not to withhold them."

Wei Wubing waved his hand, indicating he had none.

Zhou Zhou Mobai had no interest in searching for people—he only wanted to fight. "Are we killing him or not?"

Chen Chen Guanlou bared his teeth—he truly wanted to slit Zhou's throat if given the chance.

But now, no opportunity existed.

"Where will you search?" Wei Wubing asked.

Chen Chen Guanlou answered first: "He vanished in the underground palace—so we start searching around it. If he survived and emerged, there may have been witnesses back then!"

"What if he died inside the underground palace?"

"Then we find a way to re-enter the palace, recover his body, and confirm his death," Chen Chen Guanlou said solemnly.

Wei Wubing pondered a moment: "The two of us will accompany you into the underground palace to search for him."

This development felt wrong.

Chen Chen Guanlou eyed the two suspiciously—searching for a man was likely a pretense; their real goal was entering the underground palace to seek opportunity. Zhou Zhou Mobai's Gong Fa was acquired there, and then he went mad. Could they be seeking a cure inside?

Like encountering a venomous snake, within three steps there must be an antidote.

"Alright, we'll enter the underground palace together!" Chen Chen Guanlou agreed readily. To hesitate now would be to betray tonight's efforts.