Chapter 133: When Tigers and Wolves Fight, the Fox and Badger Are Sure to Be Injured

Chen Chen Runzi and Chen Master Yuanji...

The Yuluo Immortal Mansion?

Even though Ai Xiao Jian was already dispirited and his heart was as still as dead water, at this moment he had no choice but to force his spirits up, stiffen his expression, and furrow his brows.

He knew that Chen Ying was the offspring of that Chen Yuanshu Chen Yuanshu Zhenjun, whose fierce reputation echoed across the Nine Provinces and Four Seas, and that Chen Chen Runzi and Chen Master Yuanji were likewise his offspring.

However, the two parties were absolutely not standing on the same side.

If one were to say that Chen Ying had already thrown himself under Yu Yu Yuchen's banner, bowing his head and sticking close, willingly driven by Yu Yu Yuchen,

then this crowd of Chen Chen Runzi and Chen Master Yuanji, due to the hatred of having their Dao blocked and being killed, deeply hated Yu Yu Yuchen to the bone; relying on possessing the Yuluo Immortal Mansion and the care of Master Master Kongkong, they repeatedly came to ruin Yu Yu Yuchen's good deeds.

The two parties had long been irreconcilable.

Especially after eight hundred years ago, when Yu Yu Yuchen and Chen Chen Xiangxian exchanged a single move.

The former had his Dragon Horn Great Killing Sword broken, losing his personal sword weapon;

the latter was even then instantly struck down, his physical body extinguished, and was hurriedly rescued by Chen Chen Runzi and the Candle Dragon Great Sage among others, never to appear in the world again, with no one knowing if he still retained his life.

They were even more like mortal enemies, unable to coexist until one died.

These discussions had always been strange tales among the various sects and clans; Ai Xiao Jian had always just listened and let them pass, never paying much attention.

Yet he had never even dreamed that he would actually get dragged into the midst of it.

For a moment.

Even the grief over Wang Shu's death was barely suppressed; he only felt terrified at heart, uneasy and trembling.

Chen Ying had always been a figure on Yu Yu Yuchen's side; when Yu Yu Yuchen was trapped within the Fan Fan Dongtian, drawing a prison on the ground, Chen Ying handled many matters on his behalf, and thus had frequent discord with Chen Chen Runzi and the others, even coming to blows and fighting with their lives at stake.

Now hearing that Chen Ying actually intended to hand Chen Heng over to Chen Chen Runzi in exchange for a favor from the Yuluo Immortal Mansion...

Ai Xiao Jian felt as though he had heard an earth-shattering great secret.

A bone-chilling cold rose from his spine, seeping into his brain spirit, making his whole person feel as if falling into an ice cave.

"You, you..."

He suddenly rose, pointing a finger at Chen Ying, his expression shifting back and forth several times, actually unable to speak.

"Chen Heng is actually also an offspring of Chen Yuanshu Chen Yuanshu Zhenjun... this is truly..."

Ai Xiao Jian finally dropped his hand dejectedly, flicked his sleeve, and said with an indescribable tone: "For so long, there was actually a great figure right beside me? Yet I remained completely unaware; how laughable."

Thinking again of his old friend from the Flower God Mansion, Xie Tan, who had actually overestimated his own strength and wanted to take Chen Heng into his sect.

Ai Xiao Jian felt even more mixed emotions swirling in his heart.

He only felt that before true great Daoist experts,

he and Xie Tan were both as tiny as mosquitoes and flies, insignificant and not worth mentioning.

Chen Ying said indifferently: "Chen Heng's talent is not obvious; that you cannot see his true background is indeed normal. Even among horses there are superior, medium, and inferior steeds, how much more so among humans?"

"Could it be that Chen Chen Xiangxian, who exchanged a move with Chen Yuanshu Chen Yuanshu Zhenjun, has fully recovered from his injuries?"

Ai Xiao Jian suddenly spoke.

Chen Ying frowned and shook his head:

"Whether this Chen Chen Xiangxian is currently dead or alive is an eternal unsolved case; I do not know either."

Ai Xiao Jian looked at Chen Ying and said: "You have always stood on Chen Yuanshu Chen Yuanshu Zhenjun's side, handling many matters for him; yet now you intend to take Chen Heng and deliver him to Chen Chen Runzi and Chen Master Yuanji to sell a favor to the Yuluo Immortal Mansion? Apart from Chen Chen Xiangxian breaking out of seclusion, I truly cannot think of any reason why you, Chen Ying, would act this way."

"Always standing on Father's side? Just that sentence is truly baseless slander; furthermore, you have guessed wrong."

Chen Ying said: "Those things I previously did for Father were merely convenient actions to facilitate requesting some benefits; my discord with Chen Chen Runzi and the others was also just a pretense.

Whether it is Father or the Yuluo Immortal Mansion, neither are good people. When tigers and wolves fight, the fox and badger are sure to be injured!

If I do not change my mind and simply choose one side to follow, then if that side falls, how could I possibly end up with a good outcome afterward?

Only by swaying in all directions and finding favor on both left and right can I, amidst these step-by-step deadly dangers, seek a sliver of a chance at life and achieve my, Chen Ying's alone, supreme Great Dao!"

Ai Xiao Jian was stunned by his words, his pupils constricting.

And after speaking.

After a long silence, Chen Ying finally spoke again softly, clapping his hands with a melancholy air:

"However, that previous mindset of currying favor with both sides can no longer be maintained; now, I can only consistently stand on Father's side and make a clean break with the Yuluo Immortal Mansion."

"What do you mean by this?" Ai Xiao Jian asked.

"Before leaving Nanchan Province, Father summoned me into the 'Rongcheng Rongcheng Duming Fan Fan Dongtian in Water' and let me witness some secrets. With such divine power and might, once I endure the final layer of the Pure Yang Lei Zhi Jie and pass this fated calamity of heaven and earth, what does the Yuluo Immortal Mansion amount to? Even if Chen Chen Xiangxian has fully recovered from his injuries, so what!

Within the entire Bapailiu Sect, how many people can block Father's path of the Dao? Even establishing a sect and founding a school, calling oneself supreme and master, is absolutely no difficult matter!

Having seen it with my own eyes, why should I still remain unclear with the Yuluo Immortal Mansion? I should have abandoned the dark and turned to the light long ago!"

Chen Ying smiled: "Originally I still wanted to send Chen Heng to Chen Chen Runzi as well, conveniently adding him as a bonus to the final favor sold to the Yuluo Immortal Mansion, so we could part on good terms. Pity that Chen Heng actually went to the Earth Abyss; in that case, it is truly that the Heavenly Dao has its own decree, and it cannot be blamed on me, Chen Ying!"

After finishing speaking, the scene fell into complete silence, Ai Xiao Jian's face shifting between gloom and brightness unpredictably.

After a while.

A bitter smile finally rose on his lips; he sighed and said:

"You have actually spoken all these words aloud? It seems if I do not accompany you to the Xiantianmo Sect, I fear today will not end well..."

Chen Ying smiled with amusement:

"Brother Ai, you are a smart man with high aspirations; ever since breaking out of your clan back then, you would rather die than return to the Ai clan; even though the Ai clan spoke up to save your life, you viewed it as a lifelong humiliation and even went to Shangyu to cause a huge disturbance. But now Wang Shu has died miserably, and you similarly cannot return to the Yu Yuchen Sect...

On the path of cultivation: Dharma, companions, land, and wealth; lacking any one is impossible.

Could it be that you are truly willing to waste your years in such poor soil as the Southern Region, ultimately ending up with a mediocre and useless life?

Come with me to the Xiantianmo Sect; there are superior Dao scriptures, top-grade Xuanzhu Xuanzhu Fudi and Fan Fan Dongtian, and elixirs and spiritual opportunities are lacking in nothing! The Xiantianmo Sect is moreover the crown of the Modaoliu Sect, not inferior to the Yu Yuchen Sect.

I can swear an oath: as long as you sign a Dharma contract, I will request the supplementary volume of the 'Langhuan Secret Manual' from Father and allow you to cultivate it together."

"... What? Truly the 'Langhuan Secret Manual'?!"

Even though Ai Xiao Jian had been indecisive, at this moment he hesitated fiercely, his eyes flashing with light.

The whole world knows that Chen Chen Yushu, merely by what he displays openly, possesses no fewer than three rare treasures of the age.

The first is the inheritance of the "Classic of Rearing Men" left behind by Daoist Master Kongkong.

The second is the "Banner of Ten Thousand Divine Honors Bowing to the Sanskrit Title," which he stole from Wan Fu Shen Wang of the Chi Jing Tao Rong in Xu Huang Tian.

And the third is precisely the "Langhuan Secret Manual" that Chen Ying just mentioned.

This book is divided into a primary and a secondary volume; it is hailed as possessing boundless Miao Fa, capable of exhausting all supreme principles of the Great Dao between heaven and earth and the universe, evolving limitless cycles of birth, destruction, union, and transformation.

Above, it can draw in the sun, moon, stars, wind, clouds, thunder, and rain; below, it can command mountains, seas, lakes, flying creatures, diving beasts, moving animals, and growing plants—truly a celestial treasure scripture where both form and spirit achieve wonder, penetrating the Mystic and attaining the Dao!

As for the primary volume of the "Langhuan Secret Manual," apart from Chen Chen Yushu himself, only the Divine House Shu Hua Dao Jun of the Zhongtian Dou Shu Sect has ever perused it.

Because of this, he gained some slight insight and created a great divine power of Creation's Clarity and Turbidity, transmitting it to Chen Chen Yushu, allowing him to forge a illustrious reputation at the Dan Yuan Assembly.

Even if what Chen Ying promised was not the primary volume of the "Langhuan Secret Manual," but merely the secondary one,

it was still enough to make Ai Xiao Jian's heart race and spirit soar, nearly beyond his self-control.

Seeing his expression move,

Ai Xiao Jian smiled again and said:

"Apart from the secondary volume of the 'Langhuan Secret Manual,' if you establish merit while handling affairs in the future, I can authorize the transmission of various techniques to you for your study, such as the Capture of the Five Emperor Great Demons of Xiantian Mo Zong, the Fire Prefecture Internal Casting Six Ding Method, the Chou Bo Life-Devouring Art, and the Subduing Blade Method.

Furthermore, my father's learning spans heaven and humanity; he masters the arts of the hundred schools, including the Mi Fa of the Zhongtian Dou Shu Sect, Yin Jing Jiao, Xuehe Sect, Lei Ting Fu, Yu Long Dao, and the twenty-four Southern Sea tribes of demon cultivators...

Ai Xiao Jian! If you do not come to pledge yourself to me, then to whom else can you pledge yourself?!"

This shout erupted suddenly like thunder and lightning!

It shook people so violently that their eardrums stung intensely, and their internal organs trembled along with it!

Ai Xiao Jian was also startled, his mind reeling.

After a long while, he gritted his teeth and spoke:

"Please tell me the true inner details, Brother Chen, and do not deceive me; has Xiao Xiao Shixiong Wang Shu truly died? How could he have died so easily?"

If it were possible,

he truly did not wish to abandon Xue Xuan Sect and throw himself into the demonic path...

Although there is internal strife among the Eight Sects of the Xue Xuan Gate, and Yiyuchen Sect causes more trouble than the others, it ultimately does not involve the roots and remains within a controllable scope.

But the Modaoliu Sect are different.

Though they appear restrained on the surface, according to what Ai Xiao Jian has usually heard, in private they are nearly without any taboos.

Even setting that aside,

in the final analysis, he still did not wish to get entangled in the struggle between Chen Chen Yushu and the Yuluo Immortal Prefecture.

Just as Chen Ying had said—

When tigers and wolves fight, foxes and badgers are sure to be injured!

Every step is filled with killing intent!

If some unforeseen disaster occurs then, let alone attaining the Dao, one might fear that even one's primordial spirit would turn to ash, unable to reincarnate.

Chen Ying clearly understood his misgivings; he merely chuckled softly and said with a calm expression:

"After being defeated by Zhu Ping of Shenyu Sect and losing the 'Heavenly Roaming Mud,' Wang Shu went to An Yin Bo in Nan Chan Zhou, where the dragon and tiger energies converged, and achieved Elixir Achieves Fourth Grade; after he formed his elixir, Gu Zhao's disciple and He He Lizi drew their swords to act, and with calculated intent against unpreparedness, used Sword Qi Thunder Sound to defeat Wang Shu, striking him seven times with their swords, before finally beheading him with a single stroke."

He He Lizi...

Sword Qi Thunder Sound?

Ai Xiao Jian frowned in confusion for a moment.

Due to his own gloomy and aggressive temperament, apart from his own sect, he had no connections whatsoever within Yiyuchen Sect.

Afterwards, after being imprisoned for three years in the Famine Bitter Realm and expelled to this poor land of the Southern Region,

even fellow disciples who used to exchange a few words with him upon meeting now avoided him as if he were a plague, leaving absolutely no one to stoke this cold stove.

As for the name He He Lizi, Ai Xiao Jian found it extremely unfamiliar.

And regarding "Sword Qi Thunder Sound," this fifth realm of Sword Dao cultivation, even though Ai Xiao Jian held himself in high regard and possessed excellent Sword Dao talent, having once been praised by elders within the sect in days past,

he had still not cultivated to this realm...

Nowadays, he himself was only at the fourth realm of the Sword Dao—Body and Sword as One—barely able to employ Sword Flight.

Even this achievement was only gained through bitter hardship and painstaking effort over many years in the Southern Region.

Therefore, upon suddenly hearing that this stranger named He He Lizi had actually cultivated to the realm of Sword Qi Thunder Sound, and furthermore relied on it to slay Wang Shu outright!

Ai Xiao Jian could only remain silent.

"He He Lizi is a disciple raised with great care by Gu Zhao; hidden and kept secret for so many years out of fear that he would be harmed, so it is normal that you do not know of him. This person is a true hero; at the Cave-Mystic Realm, he cultivated the fifth realm of the Sword Dao—Sword Qi Thunder Sound; compared to the disciples of the Zhong Yi Sword Sect, he is not inferior in the slightest!"

Chen Ying first offered a word of praise, then a meaningful smile appeared on his face:

"However, although your Yiyuchen Sect engages in internal strife, you truly adhere to propriety and do not damage the roots.

Did they have to wait until Wang Shu formed his elixir before He He Lizi was willing to kill him with a flying sword?

What a pity; if only Wang Shu had formed a superior-grade Jin Dan, he would not have suffered this calamity; one can only blame him for his inferior skill."

Ai Xiao Jian's face instantly flushed red, shame and rage mingling, leaving him speechless.

A Jin Dan facing a Cave-Mystic, even one who had cultivated Sword Qi Thunder Sound, yet still ended in defeat and death.

If this matter were spread abroad, the great reputation Wang Shu had accumulated in life would become nothing more than a stepping stone beneath He He Lizi's feet.

Ai Xiao Jian calculated in his heart for a while, and after a long pause, he could not help but feel despair.

Wang Shu was dead...

And He He Lizi had acted openly and squarely, waiting until he had condensed his Jin Dan before drawing his sword to strike, slaying him without disrupting Wang Shu's timing for forming his elixir.

A Cave-Mystic killing a Jin Dan!

With such Sword Dao talent as this—

even without any concealment or disguise, there would be people in the sect who would favor He He Lizi's Bai Bai Qiancheng, placing their bets early and pleading on his behalf.

Even if sect rules demanded punishment.

With mediation from all parties, it would certainly not lead to death, nor ruin one's Dao path.

This grudge, I fear, will be difficult to avenge...

"Gu Zhao! And He He Lizi!"

Ai Xiao Jian shouted loudly, furious as a madman: "First harming my master, then killing my elder brother! Even if one poured out the waters of the four seas, this hatred could not be washed away; I will never let these two thieves go!"

Seeing Ai Xiao Jian's eyes nearly dripping blood with a ferocious expression, Chen Ying quickly spoke gentle words to comfort him, though in his heart, he too found Wang Shu's situation absurd.

Under great fame, the reality is hard to match.

One does not know whether Wang Shu's great reputation in life was created by colluding with others to build momentum merely for self-preservation within the sect;

or whether he made one wrong step during Golden Core formation, leading to wrong steps thereafter, ultimately ending in an irretrievable downfall...

After all, his master, True Person Lady Yue, suddenly underwent weapon-liberation, leaving behind not even a single word or phrase.

Lacking guidance from elders, some secret critical points and Qi circulation terminology regarding Golden Core formation were likely only half-understood.

As for Golden Core Grade, seven parts depend on human effort, three parts on heavenly fate.

It can be described as vague and unpredictable, perilous indeed, a life-and-death critical pass...

A faint smile appeared on Chen Ying's face as he calmly stated: "Among the Bapailiu Sect, only true disciples count as the foundation of a sect and must not be harmed. It is a pity Wang Shu did not obtain this protective layer and thus fell."

"Brother Ai, since you cannot return to the Yu Yuchen Sect and are unwilling to go back to the Ai clan, if you wish to avenge your sect master someday, you have no choice but to borrow my power."

These words were indeed the truth, yet Ai Xiao Jian still harbored reservations, his mind heavy with thoughts, speaking only of trivial matters to avoid the main topic.

After the two chatted idly about various sects' secrets and trifles.

Chen Ying lost patience, set down his teacup, clasped his hands, and prepared to take his leave.

"Brother Chen, this matter truly involves significant consequences; please allow me a few more days to consider it."

Ai Xiao Jian quickly stood to see him off, speaking with head bowed; only after Chen Ying nodded slightly did he feel relieved, yet he began to feel anxious about gains and losses again.

"Since I have nothing else to do, why don't I personally go to the Earth Abyss once to bring Chen Heng out?"

Seeing Chen Ying's indifferent expression, Ai Xiao Jian realized that his own indecisiveness had already displeased this True Person of the demonic path, making him feel he had lost face.

Just as he was thinking of how to make amends, a sudden flash of inspiration struck his mind, and he spoke:

"Since Brother Chen wishes to sell one final favor to the people of the Yuluo Immortal Mansion, lacking the person Chen Heng would make it somewhat imperfect; I wonder what your honorable opinion is?"

Hearing this, Chen Ying stopped, placed his hands behind his back, and slightly raised his eyebrows.