Chapter 341

"This is..."

Jiang Qiulan's expression shifted slightly as she stared at the dark sword and the storage treasure, vaguely guessing something, then looked up at Shen Yi.

Shen Yi gave a slight nod.

He then briefly explained to her about Zheng Zisheng of the Xuanguang Cave and how the Zheng family had raised the Sui Wood only to be counterattacked by it.

Clearly, the adopted disciple of the Dark Sword True Person had accidentally uncovered the Zheng family's secret and never made it out alive.

But a single Zheng family could never have framed a Yao Huang of the Nineteenth Grotto.

Someone from the Xuanguang Cave's Transformation of Spirit Realm True Person must have intervened.

"I understand."

Jiang Qiulan quickly grasped Shen Yi's meaning.

The Divine Thunder Sword Art of Shenniao was a secret not passed down outside Mount Wutong; if she could recover it, she would have accomplished a great deed for Mount Wutong.

She might even earn a favor from Nie Jun.

Provided she could clearly explain that the disciple's death had nothing to do with her.

There was another use: conceal her identity and use it to blackmail the Xuanguang Cave.

If handled properly, the profits could be immense.

But either way, the risk was extreme.

Any slightest mistake, and both Mount Wutong and the Xuanguang Cave could easily kill her.

After a moment of thought, Jiang Qiulan slowly stored the pile of items into the storage treasure.

She had just said she didn't want to be a beast waiting for her parents to return from the hunt and feed her—offered a fresh fish, she had to first remove every bone, leaving only the tender, succulent meat.

So Shen Yi placed down a live fish.

If she couldn't even eat this food right before her mouth, then don't speak any more big words.

"I won't let them go to waste."

Jiang Qiulan's face grew even more solemn; she knew Shen Yi didn't care about this, but she cared deeply, and wanted him to know.

Given the power the young man had previously displayed, few beings in this world could threaten his life—Mount Wutong was one of them.

She didn't need a high rank.

As long as she could stand nearby, offering tea and listening when the elders discussed matters, she could greatly assist Shen Yi.

"Proceed with caution."

Shen Yi showed no great concern or endless chatter.

This woman already had enough pressure.

He simply turned toward the stream and said casually: "If you can't make it, return to Daqian."

Hearing this, Jiang Qiulan looked at his waist, her fingers twitching slightly, but ultimately did not raise her hand.

For a sharp sword,

when the scabbard's brilliance far exceeds the blade's, it has already lost its value—somewhat tragic.

What she must do now is make herself sharp and hard again.

At least when the scabbard strikes out, she won't fear that the blade hidden within will shatter from the impact.

"Understood."

Jiang Qiulan whispered.

He already possessed the strength to guard the Nine Provinces.

Even causing her to feel a faint allure toward that comfort—but just as Shen Yi had passed through Bai Yun County, passed through Outside Qingzhou, anyone who fell into that comfort would become, like others, a passing traveler on his path.

"Go."

Shen Yi gave a slight nod.

He felt a cold wind sweep up behind him, then vanish from the spot.

He reached out and took out a water lotus, glancing at it briefly.

After breaking through to Soul Transformation, this item held virtually no value for him.

But the bloodstains upon it represented a gesture of goodwill.

He transferred it into the silver bell.

Only then did Shen Yi take out the two storage treasures he had picked up from the Xuanguang Cave cultivators.

He mentally called out to Lady Qinghua.

The Golden Body manifestation returned at a speed invisible to the naked eye; since imprisoning Bai Yu Yao Huang in the Great Prison, those few dark-golden feather cloaks had pushed its speed to an astonishing level.

This effect was actually quite good.

If Daqian encountered any trouble, it could arrive at the fastest possible speed.

The Golden Body manifestation casually dropped a figure.

Ma Guangshan crouched trembling on the ground, utterly confused—why had his mission to explore a cultivator's cave ended up like this?

He hadn't even reached the cave's location.

Yet he had first encountered the Xuanguang Cave cultivators.

After the incident at the Eight Directions Dining Hall, he had assumed Shen Qianbei would take him and avoid these shameless cultivators.

Instead, the young man had marched straight toward them.

And slain three Transformation of Spirit Realm cultivators in succession... Was this still the same Shen Qianbei who had quietly sat in the corner of the dining hall last time?!

If I had this kind of power,

when Nie Jun ascends to the ninth floor, I'd at least be dining on the eighth.

"I have one more favor to ask."

Shen Yi raised his hand to signal the other to sit properly, then opened the two storage treasures.

He had expected to search with great difficulty.

Instead, his divine soul first detected a pile of ancient scrolls.

Shen Yi casually unrolled a few, seeing only maps of mountains and rivers on them, then looked at Ma Guangshan: "What is this?"

The man with the black mole first showed surprise, then his eyes filled with intense fear: "This, this, this... my fellow Daoists invited me to explore the cave dwelling, using this very thing as proof."

Recalling the previous incident made him overthink a bit more.

Could it be that those fellow Daoists of mine have perished again in the hands of the Xuan Guang Cave?

These beasts! How dare they call themselves an immortal sect!

Seeing Shen Qianbei still looking at him, he hurriedly said: "This object actually has little value; it is similar to a communication jade slip, recording legendary stories, only more vivid and real. One simply needs to immerse their divine soul into it."

Hearing this, Shen Yi pondered for a moment.

He tossed a scroll to the Golden Body Dharma Image.

Lady Qinghua also hesitated not at all and immersed her divine soul into it.

After waiting about dozens of breaths, seeing no anomaly, she even nodded toward him.

Shen Yi then took another scroll.

He imitated the action and immersed his divine soul.

Boom!

In an instant, a humming sound suddenly rang in his mind!

Shen Yi instinctively frowned.

Then he looked at the sea of clouds before him, and a voice like a great bronze bell rang in his ears.

"Records of my sect's True Person Yanyun venturing south to Yang to subdue demons."

When the deep voice faded, the sea of clouds instantly churned and rolled open.

There, a young man in a green robe slightly cupped his hands toward the sky.

He then withdrew his gaze and looked forward.

The next moment, Shen Yi's pupils suddenly contracted, and even his breathing became somewhat stagnant.

There, before the young man,

lay an endless chasm, like a ten-thousand-zhang abyss; on the steep edge of the abyss, two huge, bright white full moons flickered.

Shen Yi was stunned for an instant.

Only then did he realize those were a pair of eyes; as he stared directly at that terrifying creature, a chilling coldness crept up his neck.

That oppressive pressure, so dense it seemed almost solid, clearly separated by a scroll, yet felt as if he were there in person, so real it made breathing difficult.

"What exactly is this thing?"

Shen Yi steadied his mind, then suddenly noticed the young man made a move.

(End of this chapter)