Chapter 10: A Dragonfly Roams Heaven and Earth, Originally Free from Worldly Harm

Chen Heng's eyebrows lifted slightly.

Unlike Yuan Xing, who was clad in luxurious robes and a fine crown.

Chen Ying's attire was plain and simple; he wore an overly simplistic white cloth robe, his hair bound with a green hairpin, yet the left side of his face, whether scarred or otherwise, was mostly concealed by a black jade mask, revealing only his eyes.

"My predecessor had no biological brothers; could this be someone from the Chen clan? No, even if it were someone from the Chen clan, it would never cause such a throbbing in my bloodline. Just what is this Chen Ying's origin?"

"Young Master, please come."

Chen Ying stepped aside to gesture.

Although the half of his face exposed beneath the black jade mask was also clear and handsome, to insist that his features bore any resemblance to Chen Heng's would be sheer fabrication.

"It seems I have no choice but to comply."

Seeing that refusal was truly impossible, Chen Heng simply spoke no more; Chen Ying, observing this, offered an apologetic smile, wrapped his own True Qi around Chen Heng, and flew straight up into the high skies.

"Moving so fast again, are you going to curry favor with the Master once more? You shameless wretch!"

Yuan Xing snorted coldly and hurriedly rode a cloud to chase after them.

When a palace of azure blue appeared amidst the clouds, the True Qi escape light slowly descended, landing within one of the temple halls.

Inside the great hall, seats for guests and hosts had long been arranged; upon seeing Chen Heng enter, everyone's expressions varied.

On the Black Crane Jade Platform, Ai Xiao Jian wore an indifferent mask of detachment, as if the matter concerned him not, yet the five fingers occasionally clenched tight beneath his sleeves suggested he was not as calm as his face appeared.

"The Sect Master, Yan Yan Feichen, Gu Jun, Source Relief High Monk, and this woman... all the Gao Gong cultivators of the Xuanzhen Sect are present; what could they be discussing with her?"

Chen Heng swept a glance around without revealing his thoughts and bowed in greeting to each of them in turn.

Yan Yan Feichen still wore that same expression of disgust and sinister malice; even in this place, he did not bother to conceal it in the slightest.

Gu Jun, however, nodded slightly.

As for Source Relief High Monk, no one knew what folly had seized him; not only did he enthusiastically gesture greetings toward him, but he also eagerly trotted over to Chen Heng's side and prostrated himself with a ingratiating smile toward that beautiful woman.

"Refiner, how is it? Is this disciple of our sect destined to be the Son of Yin?"

Pendants of jade hung down, colorful sleeves emitted fragrance.

The beautiful woman's body seemed to possess a subtle scent like orchid and musk; resting her elbows on the Brother Yuan, she propped her charming jade-like face in her hands, ignoring Source Relief High Monk entirely, and merely gazed infatuatedly at Chen Heng, her eyes swirling with spring waves.

"..."

After Chen Heng reluctantly bowed to her, his heart suddenly sank.

He was far too familiar with such a gaze.

When Yan Zhen was still alive, the way she looked at his predecessor was exactly this kind of look, nearly obsessed.

Yet this woman's gaze was even more fanatical and greedy, as if he were a delicious delicacy, wishing only to swallow him whole in one bite, consume him until nothing remained, and then savor the aftertaste in detail.

"Having struggled so hard to be reborn, must I now experience my predecessor's fate all over again?"

Chen Heng silently clenched his fists tight:

"I risked my life and barely managed to achieve Fetal Breathing, yet before great cultivators, I am still nothing more than a plaything, like a pearl or jade, to be casually fondled and evaluated...

If this appearance does not benefit the path of cultivation but instead adds countless obstacles, it would be better to destroy it outright!"

At this moment.

Yuan Xing and Chen Ying had already quietly retreated behind the beautiful woman.

As if perceiving Chen Heng's desperate state of mind, Chen Ying raised his head with interest, his eyes flashing slightly.

"Truly interesting; Chen Heng, is it? No wonder, no wonder my bloodline reacted just now."

The half of his face beneath the black jade mask slowly curved into a wicked smile, utterly different from the demeanor he had shown moments before:

"Such a decisive and ruthless nature; if you are also Chen Yushu's son, then everything makes sense. After all, our entire family is famously consistent in this trait across the Nine Provinces and Four Seas..."

In this great hall, where apart from Source Relief High Monk's clamor, there seemed to be not a single sound.

Chen Heng's face was heavy and contemplative, his expression stiff and cold.

After a long while, the beautiful woman barely managed to withdraw the infatuation from her eyes, reluctant to let go.

"What a pity; although the Young Master shines bright as the sun and moon, his destiny is not that of the Son of Yin..."

The beautiful woman shook her head.

She seemed both delighted and regretful, yet this delight ultimately outweighed the regret by far.

"What?!"

The first to speak was not Source Relief High Monk, but Ai Xiao Jian, who had been masking his indifference.

"What kind of joke are you playing! Didn't you say it yourself? The Son of Yin possesses beautiful features! They are all beings of concentrated spiritual beauty!"

Ai Xiao Jian lost his composure, rising from the Black Crane Jade Platform and violently knocking over a silver tray held by a maid nearby, spilling wine and spiritual food all over the floor:

"If a figure like him, who appears only once every five hundred years in the Southern Region, does not count as the Son of Yin, then who does? Jun Yao or Chen Yuanshu Chen Yuanshu Zhenjun?! Could they possibly surpass this youth? Absurd! Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!"

"Little Xiao Jian, calm yourself first."

The beautiful woman took out a cone-shaped magical artifact and sighed:

"This is the artifact I was instructed to use before coming to the Southern Region; if the Son of Yin were within half a li of it, this jade cone would naturally emit a bright light, but now..."

Ai Xiao Jian coldly scanned the jade cone, which remained completely motionless.

He suddenly flicked his sleeve, closed his eyes indifferently, and sat down.

"This... this..."

Source Relief High Monk was at a loss, sweat raining down like drops: "Refiner, could there be a mistake? Test again? Try testing another one?"

"Alas, Young Master, although you have missed a heavenly opportunity of great magnitude, it may not necessarily be a misfortune; my niece has cultivated the Dao since childhood and knows nothing of human joy and pleasure; how could she compare to me, who knows how to care for you warmly?"

The beautiful woman still ignored him, merely gazing at Chen Heng with tender affection, radiating a hundred charms:

"Would you like to become one of my curtain guests, just like these brothers? Rest assured, as long as you wear this 'De Heng Ring,' Sister will treat you with great love; no matter what things you desire, Sister can find them for you."

She took out a small bracelet and shook it, her voice cloyingly sweet:

"Do you like cultivating the Dao? Do you wish to enter the Shangyu Ai Clan to cultivate, or do you wish to join the Huzhao Sect? As long as you agree, whether it is superior Qi Refining methods or fundamental Dao classics that lead directly to the Primordial Spirit and Return to Void, all of these will be yours."

Chen Heng had not yet had time to speak.

A voice suddenly transmitted into his mind.

"Do not agree; once you put on the 'Deheng Ring,' you will never again control your own life or death, and you will have no secrets before her!

Come, do not let your eyes reveal anything unusual; repeat after me, and I will teach you how to refuse without angering her..."

The voice in his mind was none other than Chen Ying's.

Chen Heng dared not hesitate; disregarding any thought as to why Chen Ying could transmit voices freely before a crowd of Dongxuan Refiners, he hastily repeated word for word the words Chen Ying taught him.

After speaking, following Chen Ying's instructions, he feigned terror and prostrated himself on the ground; at this, although the beautiful woman was somewhat displeased, she strangely did not speak again.

The strangeness of her attitude caused even Ai Xiao Jian to glance sideways.

"Fortunately, fortunately."

Chen Heng breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing Yan Yan Feichen nearby looking as though a heavy burden had been lifted, his gaze shifted, and suddenly an idea arose in his heart:

"Sect Master, this disciple has a request!"

Ai Xiao Jian looked at him impatiently, about to dismiss him, but saw that although Chen Heng was bowing to him, his eyes were fixed in Yan Yan Feichen's direction.

He pondered briefly and guessed what matter Chen Heng wished to request.

"Speak."

Ai Xiao Jian suddenly became interested: "What is it you seek?"

"Since this disciple ascended the mountain, having devoted myself wholeheartedly to the Dao, I have not returned to my hometown for three years; recently, my clan brother was brutally murdered by the Bai Bai Sanren Xu Peng Qian, causing this disciple to weep day and night, my heart filled with unease, feeling unable to face his parents; therefore, I wish to request the Sect Master's gracious permission..."

Chen Heng lowered his head:

"I earnestly beg the Sect Master to permit me to descend the mountain, so that I may bury my clan brother's corpse in our family tomb."