Chapter 116: Previous Context

The newcomer appeared to be around thirty years old, tall of stature, with a stern countenance, wearing a long cap and resting a hand on his sword.

He wore a deep robe of coarse dark purple, paired with flowing-cloud flying shoes; his cap and robes were exceedingly elegant and luxurious, while his skin faintly shimmered with a golden-fire luster that, under the bright sun, emitted a blinding fiery radiance.

On the mountain plank road outside the cave wall.

Yan Yan Feichen cast a sidelong glance at Chen Heng.

One of this man's eyes was deep purple, while the other retained the normal distinct black-and-white coloration, giving him a somewhat eerie appearance; to those seeing him for the first time, it might even evoke a sense of shock.

However, Chen Heng knew that Yan Yan Feichen's condition resulted from a failed attempt to cultivate a certain Spiritual Eye Technique; an error occurred during the circulation and refinement of his merit and practice, allowing malicious qi to rush into his pupils and alter the color of his eye's radiance, rather than being any heaven-bestowed extraordinary phenomenon.

"You are different from before."

After lowering his eyelids and sizing Chen Heng up and down for a few moments, he spoke indifferently:

"In the past, whenever you looked at me, your expression screamed of a desire to flay my skin and devour my flesh, without even bothering to conceal your thoughts. Were it not for Zhen'er's doting on you, given my nature, how could you possibly have survived until now?"

Yan Yan Feichen gazed deeply at Chen Heng for a moment:

"But now things have changed? It seems your cultivation has borne fruit, and even your disposition is vastly different from usual?"

"I wonder what instruction Elder Yan has come to offer today?"

Chen Heng remained composed and said, "The day for the expedition to the Earth Abyss approaches; surely, with your esteemed status, you would not come here merely to indulge in verbal sparring?"

"You already know my intentions in your heart, so why ask what you already know?"

Yan Yan Feichen snorted coldly, his purple eye fixed intently on Chen Heng for quite some time before he spoke:

"Though I do not know what fortuitous encounter you obtained, allowing you to achieve Fetal Breathing and then Qi Refining within mere months, transforming so completely as to seem like a different person entirely, if you wish to contend with me, you, Chen Heng, likely lack the stature for it! You may not be able to endure a prolonged struggle!"

"I hear that old ghost Gu Jun holds you in high regard? That alone would be tolerable, but even that Refiner Xie of the Celestial Shen Fu actually intends to take you as a disciple? Congratulations, it seems; after Zhen'er's death, you have truly soared to great heights."

"I am too lazy to dwell on various matters of the past."

Yan Yan Feichen said indifferently:

"Speak plainly; what will it take for you to resolve this grudge? Talisman money, talisman treasures, or Daoist arts and divine abilities? Though I do not fear you, I have no desire to create another enemy."

"In any case, Zhen'er is already dead and cannot be brought back to life."

He spoke without expression:

"There is no need to ruin a living person's cultivation for the sake of a dead one; do you not agree?"

After hearing these words, Chen Heng raised his eyebrows, finding the situation somewhat amusing.

Although he was not the original soul, having only obtained this body after a fortunate rebirth into a second life,

the original soul had been brutally tormented by this father and daughter for many years, finding release and peace only after breathing his last and dying.

Whether it was being forcibly abducted to Xiao Ganshan, having his widowed mother killed with a fake golden core, or being treated like a caged bird, imprisoned and kept in captivity...

All these humiliations and shames.

How could Yan Yan Feichen possibly hope to resolve them, as if mere wealth promised in a few words could settle the account?

And regardless of the various entanglements between the original soul and him,

simply considering Chen Heng's own experience in this world—enduring biting hardship in the water prison nearly to the point of death solely due to Yan Yan Feichen's displaced anger—

this filth had already taken root.

Seeing Chen Heng remain silent for so long, Yan Yan Feichen's face displayed even greater impatience, assuming Chen Heng was holding out for a higher price.

"Although you were abducted to Xiao Ganshan, your food, clothing, shelter, and transportation were never lacking these past few years; riches and glory were within easy reach, far surpassing even those wealthy official families in the mortal world!"

He glanced toward Chen Heng's cave dwelling, noting its extreme simplicity and lack of other belongings.

Unable to suppress a scoff, he mocked:

"It is you who pretended to be lofty and rejected those mortal riches, so you cannot blame others! Zhen'er loved you dearly; trivial treasures of gold and jade were never of any concern to her!"

"'There is no need to ruin a living person's cultivation for the sake of a dead one'... Elder Yan's words are indeed correct."

Chen Heng said indifferently:

"But why did such reasoning not exist in your heart before? In truth, I should probably thank you."

Yan Yan Feichen frowned momentarily.

"Had I not feared Elder Yan's displaced anger, I would not have hastily descended the mountain to evade your intimidation immediately after achieving Fetal Breathing."

Chen Heng smiled:

"And had I not descended the mountain, I would not have killed Daoist Yang Shan, obtained his talisman treasure, nor traveled to Daojun Fu Yu Lake to participate in the Master Huaiwu Cave trial, where, by a twist of fate, I uncovered the secret plot of that vicious, wrathful Yin-Sheng Demon.

Furthermore, thanks to this heaven-defying luck, I gained the care of Refiner Xie Tan of the Celestial Shen Fu."

"Such interlocking causes and effects are indeed interesting."

Chen Heng said:

"Thinking it through carefully, Elder Yan has truly made indispensable contributions and aided me greatly."

Upon hearing this, Yan Yan Feichen's face instantly turned extremely ugly, yet since they were currently within the Xuanzhen Sect, where he faced certain constraints, he could not easily lose his temper.

In fact, were it not for his discord with Ai Xiao Jian, the master of the Xuanzhen Sect, who repeatedly sought to embarrass him and seize upon his weaknesses,

Chen Heng would not have survived until now.

As early as when Yan Zhen died, he had immediately intended to execute Chen Heng and all the other attendants designated for the expedition to accompany her in death.

It was only after Ai Xiao Jian sent someone to reprimand him based on sect rules that he changed the punishment to confinement in the water prison.

And after Chen Heng descended the mountain, Yan Yan Feichen repeatedly entertained thoughts of exterminating him completely.

Lanliang City and Xiao Ganshan were not far apart; otherwise, years ago, Yan Zhen would not have merely stumbled upon the original soul, who was also out enjoying spring, during a single casual outing.

Given Yan Yan Feichen's flight speed, it would take at most a few hours to sever Chen Heng's head and return at leisure.

But Ai Xiao Jian happened to watch him extremely closely, like a vigilant jackal, summoning Yan Yan Feichen every few days to report and assigning him trivial miscellaneous tasks that left him no room to divide his attention.

Consequently, not only was Yan Yan Feichen unable to leave the sect gates, but the entire Yan family was also tethered and entangled, unable to move freely.

And Yan Yan Feichen knew clearly:

Ai Xiao Jian acted in this manner not because he held Chen Heng in high regard or intended to show him special favor.

It was merely an intentional attempt to seek displeasure for himself!

If not for the fact that Ai Xiao Jian still, to some extent, cherished a fraction of their friendship from years past.

Yan Yan Feichen knew clearly that his strength was currently insufficient, so he too was deliberately avoiding confrontation.

Between them, they had already clashed once long ago...

"There is no need for you to vainly wield the advantage of sharp tongues; cultivation does not rely on such glibness, and this Venerable One has no intention of wasting further spirit arguing with you here."

Yan Yan Feichen extended a single finger and stated indifferently:

"You have now reached the Qi Refining realm, but after Foundation Establishment, you will still require a Purple Mansion Dao Scripture to open that inner-outer mansion and continue your cultivation."

"I can provide you with a mid-to-high grade Mansion-Opening True Method for you to cultivate the Dao, probe the mysteries, and comprehend the path to immortality."

Yan Yan Feichen spoke with profound implication:

"As for the collection of Dao scriptures kept in the elders' chambers of the sect, there is no need for this Venerable One to describe their wretched state to you. Our Sect Master's mind is entirely not on the vast sect gates; he only dreams of returning to the Yu Yuchen Sect and cares nothing for the cultivation prospects of disciples like you."

"How about it? A mid-to-high grade Mansion-Opening True Method is certainly considered profound; even within the Flower God Mansion, such things are not common!"

He stared at Chen Heng and spoke:

"If you take this Dao scripture, we shall consider our grievances settled from this moment forward. What say you?"

"How did Elder Yan come to possess this Dao scripture?" Chen Heng asked.

"I have my own ways of fate! What concern is it of yours!"

Yan Yan Feichen stated in a cold voice:

"Will you agree or not?!"

Chen Heng raised his sleeve, merely smiling without speaking.

Yan Yan Feichen suddenly flew into a rage; the golden-fire hue on his person surged violently, his interior resembling a rock pool about to erupt; he opened his mouth as if wishing to say something.

At that moment, a clear and resonant whistling sound came suddenly from the cloudy sky, approaching from afar.

Upon hearing this sound, Yan Yan Feichen's expression changed slightly, and his murderous qi instantly retracted.

He looked deeply at Chen Heng for a moment, said nothing, then transformed his body into a rainbow light and instantly shot deep into the cloudy heavens, seemingly unwilling to meet face-to-face with the owner of that whistling sound.

Mere dozens of breaths later, a beam of clear light descended from above, like a rushing waterfall sweeping down from the sky, possessing a truly magnificent momentum.

Focusing his gaze, he saw a Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi, exquisitely carved like jade, with a single red mark between his eyebrows, standing with an air of premature age on a green rock boulder not far away, hands clasped behind his back, his brows drawn together in displeasure.

The Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi looked coldly in the direction where Yan Yan Feichen had departed for a long while, then lowered his eyelids, sneered once, and said:

"A cowardly sort! If not for the Sect Master cherishing old sentiments, how would you be allowed to act so arrogantly here!"

He then turned his gaze to Chen Heng, called out with an air of arrogance:

"So you are that Daoist protected by Refiner Xie Dao Lian of the Flower God Mansion; what is your name, Chen Heng?"

"Indeed, this disciple is he."

This Daoist youth was utterly unfamiliar; Chen Heng could not gauge his true strength or numbers, so he merely cupped his hands in salute and addressed him as 'disciple'.

"The Sect Master saw that Yan Yan Feichen had come to seek you and feared he might act desperately in his desperation, so he dispatched me to protect you."

The Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi looked Chen Heng up and down several times, nodded, and said:

"It is good that you are unharmed; the Sect Master wishes to see you. Come, I shall lead you into the hall to pay respects."

See me?

Chen Heng felt a surge of surprise in his heart.

This Daoist youth had appeared suddenly, frightened Yan Yan Feichen away, and now claimed to be acting on Ai Xiao Jian's behalf to lead him into the hall for audience; though Chen Heng could not distinguish truth from falsehood, he could not refuse at this moment.

After a brief moment of contemplation, before Chen Heng could even speak, the Daoist youth produced a large copper seal, shook it once, and said:

"Knowing you might not believe me, I specifically retrieved this seal from the Sect Master's study; how is that? Is it genuine now?"

This large copper seal was the private seal of the Xuanzhen Sect Master; not merely a token of authority, it was also a Yi Xiao Jian Shang Pin talismanic artifact; once activated, smashing a small mountain peak would be no difficult task.

Chen Heng's previous incarnation had seen this seal several times, so the memory was quite deep; upon a single glance, his doubts vanished.

"I trouble Your Honor to make this special trip."

He said, cupping his hands.

"Let us go! Let us go!"

The Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi hopped giggling down from the large green rock, walked to Chen Heng's side, rolled up his sleeves, stood on tiptoe, and slapped Chen Heng's shoulder with a single palm.

Without any visible movement, Chen Heng only felt a blur before his eyes; instantly, the earth turned and the heavens hung upside down, his vision obscured; when he opened his eyes again, the scenery before him had changed drastically.

At some unknown point, he found himself standing inside a Yizuodadian.

Surrounding him were several pillars carved from thousand-year-old Purple Profound Wood; a few steps away stood a dragon-headed great censer requiring three people to embrace, from whose dragon mouth Xu Xu exhaled fragrant mist; agate covered the ground, and strange flowers flew through the air.

Standing in the hall and looking upward, there was a row of jade steps ten zhang high directly ahead; the top of the steps was covered by curtains, obscuring the detailed objects within, with only a rumbling thunderous sound transmitting outward.

After delivering Chen Heng to Cidian, the Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi vanished without a trace, leaving him alone there.

Chen Heng did not move about much, merely waiting patiently.

After a little less than half an hour, the thunderous sound within the curtains finally slowed to a stop, and Ai Xiao Jian's voice transmitted from within:

"Chen Heng? You have waited long; do not take offense."

"This disciple would not dare."

Chen Heng replied.

"I heard that fool Xie Tan took a fancy to you and intends to take you under his wing? Congratulations... Although Xie Tan possesses low intelligence and incomplete Dao nature, he is at least a Dongxuan Refiner."

"If you can cultivate under his tutelage, it would be more suitable for you than remaining here."

Without waiting for Chen Heng to reply, Ai Xiao Jian continued speaking on his own:

"Since this fool did not plead with me to exempt you from the Earth Abyss Talisman Decree you previously received, clearly he wished to save my face; since he offered a peach, I must return a plum. Someone come—"

With this shout.

A beautiful female attendant lifted the curtain, holding a square jade tray, and gracefully walked down from the jade steps.

"The Earth Abyss is perilous; do not venture too deep and lose your life, or I will find it difficult to explain matters to that fool Xie Tan."

"I grant you three Lei Fu talismans of Wu Chunlie for self-protection, and further gift you one hu of Da Zao Yuan Zhu for practicing Qi and cultivation."

Chen Heng paused slightly in surprise, then expressed his thanks and accepted them.

As Chen Heng reached out to take the items from the jade tray, the beautiful female attendant's hand, smooth as congealed fat, could not help but twitch, yet Chen Heng moved so swiftly that she barely missed her chance.

She glared at Chen Heng with eyes brimming with allure, twisted her waist, and deliberately let out a coquettish moan.

"A horse galloping past the window—it seems this girl has also reached the age of yearning for youthful love... Chen Heng, shall I bestow her upon you?"

From within the curtained canopy, Ai Xiao Jian chuckled softly and said:

"Rest assured, this girl is still pure; I brought her from the Yu Yuchen Sect to this Southern Region. Her constitution is special; if you can obtain her Yin essence, your cultivation will surely advance another level."

"Sect Master, please do not joke; how would this disciple dare to be so presumptuous?"

Chen Heng bowed respectfully and replied.

"What presumptuousness is this?"

Ai Xiao Jian burst into loud laughter.

After urging him several more times and seeing that Chen Heng persistently declined, Ai Xiao Jian finally dropped the subject.

Afterwards, he inquired about the reason Yan Yan Feichen had come to see him; Chen Heng did not hesitate and told the truth. Upon hearing that Chen Heng had rejected that method of opening the Yuan Yuan Fuzhen Fa, Ai Xiao Jian chuckled softly from within the curtains, seeming quite satisfied.

"Since Xie Tan has allowed you to enter his sect, there is no need for you to trouble your mind over various Daoist scriptures."

He said:

"I will not detain you longer; in the Earth Abyss, do not seek quick success and instant gain. Only by preserving your life can you have a future."

With that, the conversation ended.

The beautiful female attendant then escorted Chen Heng out of the hall.

Not long after Chen Heng departed,

a flash of clear light appeared, and the Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi materialized out of thin air.

"Sect Master, this beauty trap has failed; you have finally made a miscalculation!"

He sat down boldly on the ground, clapping his hands and laughing cheerfully:

"That Yan Yan Feichen grows ever more arrogant; in my opinion, we might as well eliminate him right after the Dao Lineage Examination, what do you say?"

"Do you think there is no one backing Yan Yan Feichen? Otherwise, how would he dare to oppose me?"

Behind the curtains, after a long while,

a sigh was finally heard:

"Furthermore, although this person is fierce and stubborn, he did once save my life. I have made a vow: unless he harbors a true intent to kill, I will not tear off the mask of civility."

The Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi rolled his eyes and said nothing.

"Regarding the matter I asked you to investigate, have you received any news?"

Ai Xiao Jian asked.

"The Dao Lineage Examination? Although that Tangting Sima Tangting Sima Lingzhen once appeared at Daojun Fu Yu Lake, there has been no word of him since."

The Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi shook his head: "Sect Master, he is clearly the Patrol Daoist responsible for this Dao Lineage Examination, yet he delays coming to our sect; what could be his intention?"

"Does the Sect Master still have any connections at the Yu Yuchen Sect's Upper Sect?"

The Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi ventured cautiously: "Why not have someone from our own sect step forward? It would surely be better than me spinning around like a headless fly?"

From behind the curtains came only a cold sneer, followed by silence.

The Wusheng Wusheng Tongzi waited for quite some time without receiving a response, realizing he had once again touched a sore spot.

Helplessly, he patted his buttocks, gave a bitter smile, cupped his hands, and took his leave.

"Our sect? What face do I still have there now?! Now we can only rely on Xiao Xiao Shixiong Wang Shu; this senior brother is the one most likely to achieve Elixir Achieves First Grade under our master's tutelage. If he forms his Golden Core..."

Behind the curtains,

after a very long time,

Ai Xiao Jian, resting on the Black Crane Cloud Couch, finally let out a sigh, his emotions complex.

If Wang Shu achieves Elixir Achieves First Grade, then naturally he would be able to return openly to the Yu Yuchen Sect! No one could stop him!

But if something untoward happens to Wang Shu...

Thinking of how he had been unable to reach Wang Shu with messages for the past few months, Ai Xiao Jian's gaze darkened slightly.

Although it is common for cultivators comprehending Xue Xuan Gong to remain silent for several months or even years, Ai Xiao Jian still felt uneasy in his heart.

"Surely I cannot agree to that Chen Ying's request and go with him to the Xiantianmo Sect?"

Amidst curling fragrant mist, the scenery became hazy.

He raised his head and slowly sighed again, his expression momentarily extremely complex.

Several days later,

after watching Chen Heng and the others board the "Luo Xian Lead Boat" destined for the Earth Abyss,

Yan Ping withdrew his gaze and said to the crowd beside him:

"If I do not kill him today, my hatred will never be quelled! Are the things I ordered you all to prepare ready?"