Chapter 67: Good Looks Are Necessary for Deception

Although Ruan Xing knew deep down that it was ninety-nine percent impossible for this Evil Cultivator to keep his promise, she just wanted to say a few more words to stall him and watch him look flustered and helpless.

Since he wanted to save his life, it was impossible for him to make a move on Ruan Xing at the exit; his formations and talismans might not be able to kill with a single blow, and if he used his Evil Cultivator spiritual power, other cultivators might mistake him for being in league with those black mists and attack him in a group. By then, even if he opened the Secret Realm, he wasn't confident he could escape with all those low-level cultivators gathered outside.

Ruan Xing took the snow-white sphere from her Storage Bag and tossed it to Wang Zhi. Wang Zhi caught it cautiously and brought it together with the ink-black sphere in his hand; the two seemed to have a magnetic attraction to each other, spontaneously hovering and spinning in Wang Zhi's hand.

She didn't see Wang Zhi chant any incantations or form any hand seals, yet that ripple-like Light Gate began to stir.

"The teleportation gate is open!"

"Get out quickly! There are too many Yin Ghosts, I can't hold them off anymore!"

Wang Zhi and Ruan Xing were very close to the Light Gate; he put away the two black and white spheres, then grabbed Ruan Xing by the shoulder and passed through the Light Gate together.

It was chaotic outside the gate as well, with many Xuanbing Sect disciples guarding the entrance. Seeing people come out, they hurriedly asked, "What happened inside? Why did the Teleportation Array suddenly fail!"

Wang Zhi did not answer, instead passing through the crowd and summoning his Flying Sword directly.

Fortunately, many people had come out, and while still shaken, they began to chatter about the situation inside.

"It's Yin Ghosts! Such a huge swarm of Yin Ghosts!"

"Isn't this Secret Realm touted as the safest Secret Realm for the Qi Refining stage! How could there be so many Yin Ghosts!"

"I've never heard of Hanshan Xianjun slaughtering cities or destroying sects while he was alive. These Yin Ghosts couldn't have been put in by you Xuanbing Sect people, could they?"

Ruan Xing couldn't hear the rest of the words; the messy, noisy sounds grew more and more distant. She was tucked under Wang Zhi's arm, being carried away from the Secret Realm entrance by him.

Being this close, wasn't this a perfect opportunity for a sneak attack granted by the heavens? Furthermore, she hadn't fought Wang Zhi yet this time, and Wang Zhi didn't know that she already knew he was a Foundation Establishment Evil Cultivator.

Ruan Xing was somewhat tempted, but after thinking for a moment, she gave up. She wasn't even sure if she could break through a Foundation Establishment Evil Cultivator's protective spiritual power, let alone severely injure the opponent.

She was more curious to see why this guy was taking her with him while he fled. To silence her? Could she get some new information before he silenced her?

After flying a long distance, Wang Zhi finally found a desolate place to stop. As if in retaliation, he threw her onto the ground. Ruan Xing sat on the ground in a daze, and the Hanshan Snow Marrow was also tossed in front of her.

Ruan Xing picked up the Hanshan Snow Marrow, feeling a bit bewildered, "You gave it back to me? Didn't you grab me and bring me here to kill me?"

"Killing you would be letting you off too easily." Wang Zhi laughed eerily, "I originally intended to leave you at Black Water Lake as a scapegoat, but I didn't expect you to pull off something so big without a sound. The Hanshan Ink Marrow suppresses the thousands of Yin Ghosts in Black Water Lake, and the Hanshan Snow Marrow maintains the spiritual essence of Hanshan Peak. If I only took the Hanshan Ink Marrow, there would at most be some annoying Yin Ghosts in the Secret Realm, but you taking the Hanshan Snow Marrow caused the entire Secret Realm to collapse. Tell me, once the Xuanbing Sect finds out about this, will they be more hostile toward me, or toward you?"

"Is that so." Ruan Xing drew out her tone and said 'oh', "But they don't know it was me who took the Snow Marrow, right?"

"There is a hidden Image Projection Array where the mechanism is moved under Black Water Lake. Do you think that just because you didn't go, the image left behind isn't you? Just wait for the Xuanbing Sect's endless pursuit!" Wang Zhi sneered.

"Are you stupid?" Ruan Xing retorted speechlessly, "The Secret Realm has collapsed, the Snow Marrow and Ink Marrow have been taken, and the teleportation gate won't even open. Who is going to go look at an Image Projection Array?"

Wang Zhi: Hm?

Wang Zhi suddenly froze.

That was his original plan. After discovering Ruan Xing was nowhere to be found, he had transformed into Ruan Xing's appearance to move the mechanism, but now...

Wang Zhi fell into deep thought.

"Besides, even if they find me, I will implicate you. You are an Evil Cultivator, after all; catching you is a much greater merit than catching me."

Wang Zhi froze again, "You, how do you know I am an Evil Cultivator? What flaw did I show?"

The Foundation Establishment Evil Cultivator, who had encountered Waterloo multiple times today, was now doubting his life. He was always the one scamming others; why was he always being scammed by others today?

It had made him lose his confidence.

Ruan Xing suggested sincerely, "How about this, I'll ask you a few questions first. After you answer them, I'll tell you where your flaw was, how about that?"

Wang Zhi thought for a few seconds and agreed, "Fine, but be quick. We've been chatting for so long, the high-level cultivators of the Xuanbing Sect might have already arrived and discovered the cause of the Secret Realm's collapse."

Ruan Xing thought for a moment and asked, "You said earlier that the Hanshan Snow Marrow and Hanshan Ink Marrow could be used to refine Spirit Tools, so why didn't the Xuanbing Sect take them to refine them themselves? Leaving them at Hanshan Peak to maintain the Cold Mountain Secret Realm doesn't seem to have any benefits for them. After all, the Cold Mountain Secret Realm is now only suitable for low-level Qi Refining cultivators. And, having such important items protected by only a Foundation Establishment demon snake and an Image Projection Array seems too careless."

Wang Zhi shook his head and organized his words, "I only know a rough idea about the questions you asked. First, the Ink Marrow is formed from turbid Qi and has accompanied thousands of Yin Ghosts for many years, so it is already covered in Yin energy. Even if refined, it can only be used to refine Demon Artifacts. If they used it, it would only affect their own Dao foundation and give birth to inner demons. As for the Snow Marrow, I don't know. And I've heard that the Snow Marrow cannot be touched easily... Why were you fine when you took it out? I don't understand either. Perhaps you can enlighten me on this question?"

Wang Zhi stared at her with an inquisitive gaze. Ruan Xing smiled without a word, so he had to continue.

"That demon snake and the Image Projection Array were not left behind to protect the Snow Marrow and Ink Marrow. Ordinary Qi Refining cultivators can't even enter the interior of Hanshan Peak. If I didn't have a Dharma Artifact related to the Ink Marrow, I wouldn't have been able to deceive the Teleportation Array and enter the Secret Realm with Foundation Establishment cultivation, let alone bring you directly into the interior of Hanshan Peak. I already said the Snow Marrow cannot be touched at all. That mechanism and the Image Projection Array were both for fishing. Only Evil Cultivators and Demon Cultivators would be interested in the Ink Marrow. Once their image is recorded by the Image Projection Array, they can never hide their identity and live a peaceful life again."

Ruan Xing looked at him with interest, "So you are that fish that got caught?"

"Hmph, I had a channel of information early on and knew there was an Image Projection Array there, otherwise I wouldn't have thought about tricking a scapegoat into going. I've answered all the questions you asked, can you tell me where the flaw was now?"

"Of course." Ruan Xing smiled slightly, recreating the scene, "Because you don't look like a good person."

This sounded no different from playing him for a fool. Before Wang Zhi could get angry, Ruan Xing said with heartbreaking regret, "Next time you should change into a better-looking face. Don't you know that the better-looking someone is, the easier it is to gain others' trust?"

Wang Zhi was shocked to his core. What Ruan Xing said made him forget everything he wanted to say just now. He said insecurely, "Is... is that so?"

Ruan Xing said decisively, "That's right, that's exactly how it is."

Damn it, as expected, this guy's face was also fake.

Ruan Xing was just testing him casually, but Wang Zhi had already been scammed by Ruan Xing so many times that he was numb, and he didn't think in that direction, so he admitted it without even struggling.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, you are being so evasive, is it because you are on a wanted list, or because your true identity is so noble and upright that you dare not let people know?"

Wang Zhi's face darkened, "You called the wrong person, my name is Zhao An."

"Ah right, sorry, I forgot what you were called this time." Ruan Xing scratched her head embarrassedly, "In that case, let's each go our own way to save our lives. Fellow Daoist, rest assured, if I get caught, I will definitely implicate you."

Wang Zhi glared at her fiercely, summoned his Flying Sword, and left.

And Ruan Xing watched the direction Wang Zhi left in, using her intent to press the button to end the Simulation in her mind.

The direction he left in didn't look like he was fleeing; instead, he was heading back to the entrance of the Secret Realm...

But it might also just be to guard against Ruan Xing.

Having just experienced the surging Spiritual Power in her broad Meridians, returning to the starting point all of a sudden actually made Ruan Xing feel a sense of emptiness.

How could someone who has driven a convertible supercar tolerate a tractor? Ruan Xing directly performed a Text Simulation according to the route just now. After she chose her cultivation realm, she reached Qi Refining Layer Nine.

It's just that... the modified Spirit Bone and Meridians were not brought back together.

Ruan Xing frowned. It seems she has to go to the top of Hanshan Peak in person.

Anyway, she had to go to the peak to modify her Spirit Bone and Meridians, so she wouldn't waste points on the Snow Marrow. Besides, such unique items are probably hard to get for free through the Simulator. Ruan Xing started a Real-scene Simulation; this time she decided to go see the downstream of the underground river.

Perhaps that is where the Ink Marrow is located.

In the eyes of a Foundation Establishment Evil Cultivator, there isn't much difference between Qi Refining Layer Eight and Layer Nine, so Ruan Xing appeared beside Black Water Lake again, acting as brother and sister with Wang Zhi.

After Wang Zhi lured the demon snake away, Ruan Xing applied a Water Avoidance Talisman and jumped into the river, swimming downstream along the water flow.

This is certainly much faster than climbing to the peak.

However, the further downstream she went, the blacker the water became, to the point where there wasn't even a meter of visibility, and Ruan Xing could only adjust her direction according to her intuition.

"What are you doing?"

A crisp child's voice suddenly rang out by her ear, startling Ruan Xing; she stopped to look around, but everything was pitch black, and she could see nothing, which made her hair stand on end and her back feel cold.

"Who are you?" Ruan Xing asked, summoning her courage.

For some reason, she felt this voice was somewhat familiar.

"Hee hee, you don't know who I am?"

The child's playful laughter echoed underwater, somewhat grating, "I am Mother's good baby."

"I am Sister's little troublemaker."

"I am Father's debt collector."

The voice drifted from left to right, but the more it spoke, the more familiar it sounded to Ruan Xing, who pondered for a long time.

... Finally, she realized it was her own voice; to be precise, it was the voice of this body.

"... Hee hee... I am you, I am Ruan Xing."

A greenish face emitting a fluorescent glow suddenly appeared before Ruan Xing, and it grinned eerily, "My body, are you using it happily?"

Ruan Xing did not know how to answer at this moment; her mind felt like a blank slate, and this eerie atmosphere made her feel incomparable terror.

And loneliness.

In the pitch-black water, she was all alone, and a massive panic washed over her; Ruan Xing even closed her eyes, not daring to look at the eerie smile on that familiar face.

No, no, she was not alone.

Ruan Xing trembled her lips and whispered, "Sword, come... Sword, come..."

"Hahaha, what did you see?"

"Are you afraid?"

"Fear, I smell fear!"

"She believed it, she believed it! Hahaha—no!"

Various sharp sounds ringing in her ears made her want to cover them, and a scream that cut off abruptly woke her up.

Ruan Xing opened her eyes; there was no Ruan Xing in front of her.

There was only Sword, his face very close to hers, his pure white hair floating onto her face due to the water current, tickling her.

Ruan Xing felt a lingering fear; just now, something seemed to have caused a hallucination that affected her, leaving her standing there like a fool.

If that thing hadn't intended to kill her, she might have just stood there in a daze until her points ran out...

This was truly terrifying!

Ruan Xing trembled with anger at the thought of this possibility; making her waste so many points was simply unforgivable! She couldn't help but say angrily, "You are dead!"

She turned her head and asked Sword through their mental link what had just happened.

Sword sent her a bunch of messy, unintelligible information.

Well, it was normal not to understand Sword; it was all because she was a rather poor master and didn't have the money to buy Sword a better graphics card.

Ruan Xing struggled to piece together the fragments and finally understood Sword's general meaning.

The Yin energy nearby had suddenly become very heavy, she hadn't moved, then she called him, and he had eaten the Yin energy.

Ruan Xing suddenly understood something; she might have just been attacked by a Yin Ghost.

It was only because of the suppression of the Ink Marrow that the Yin Ghost couldn't exert its full strength, and since Sword was not a living creature, he was unaffected by the hallucination.

She should be very close to the Ink Marrow now.

Ruan Xing thought for a moment, right... Sword needed Puppet essence and Yin energy to upgrade, and wasn't this place full of vast amounts of Yin energy?

Enough for Sword to eat his fill.

Even if Sword couldn't finish it, she still had the Ten Thousand Soul Banner; because of the constraints of her moral bottom line, she hadn't used this Dharma Artifact for a long time, even though it was her first one.

Taking the Triangle Flag in her hand, Ruan Xing let out a sinister laugh, "Let's go, Sword, eat them all up!"

Because Ruan Xing herself was susceptible to hallucinations, she was extremely cautious, waving the Triangle Flag every meter she swam; she could wrong countless black waters, but she could not miss a single Yin Soul.

The two of them wreaked havoc underwater.

The black water became much clearer, and only then did Ruan Xing realize that the black before her eyes wasn't really black, but an illusion created by the shroud of thousands of Yin Ghosts.

Until she felt that over two hours had passed, she suddenly felt a shockwave ripple through the water, as if a whirlpool were spinning and sucking everything in.

Oh no, it must be that Wang Zhi triggered the mechanism and started draining the water below.

Ruan Xing struggled against this suction, stabbing her Short Sword into the rock wall; Sword's Puppet body was also fragile, and fearing he would be sucked away, Ruan Xing grabbed him, and the two of them clung to the rocks and walls underwater together.

When she was in the underground river above, she felt the water level rising very quickly.

But down here, every second felt like a year; the immense force of the draining water made her feel like she was being tossed around in a washing machine, and though she felt like she was about to vomit, she still held on, using her Spiritual Power to form a shield covering herself and Sword.

Thanks to Lou Huai for the monthly ticket~(End of chapter)