Chapter 475

The valley floor was draped in brocade cloths, trees adorned with hues of sunset, thousands of flickering flames arranged in orderly clusters across the hills and woods, spreading out in one continuous expanse, illuminating the entire valley with brilliant clarity.

It was clearly deep night, the moon faint, stars sparse.

Yet as Tan Su descended from his cloud, he felt as if his feet had stepped into a pool of radiant light—everywhere vivid, dazzling to the eyes, piercing straight into his lungs and heart.

At the valley’s center, a hundred layers of colorful silk gauze overlapped and encircled, shimmering and elusive, forming a circle nearly a mile in diameter, as if tightly bound into a single mass.

From within the silken curtains, delicate feminine cries echoed constantly, like young orioles singing sweetly, petals just beginning to bloom, stirring the heart with burning desire, making one yearn to leap in and join.

In truth, the musicians and courtesans near the gauze curtains indeed thought exactly that.

Men and women alike had flushed skin and accelerated blood flow, yet they knew the power of the woman inside the curtain and dared not intrude, fearing they would spoil her mood.

But the bodyguards and soldiers had no such restraint—they had long since made the sky their blanket and the earth their mat, indulging wildly.

Many of them, seeing Tan Su approach, immediately ceased their actions and knelt to bow before him with utmost reverence; several beautiful women who had long been familiar with Tan Su boldly stepped forward and asked him to teach them the true essence of union.

Seeing Tan Su shake his head in silence, they dared not press further, bowing lightly, preparing to report to Xiao Lingji within the gauze curtain.

But before they could move, as if sensing Tan Su’s arrival, a sudden low rumble echoed through the air, shaking the trees, reverberating endlessly through the valley.

When they opened their eyes again, the hundred sheets of colorful gauze surged like waterfalls, then transformed into a single light, fluttering scarf, lifted by a slender, luminous white hand.

“Brother, weren’t you just gaining insight from observing the Su Jue Stele Forest, planning to return there to cultivate the ‘Shou Leng Yan Samadhi Immovable Subduing Lord Power’?”

“Why have you come to see your little sister today? Has your cultivation already reached completion?”

A soft, graceful female voice sounded gently; though spoken casually, it carried an indescribable allure, causing all living beings present to blush, their eyes reddening, breathing unevenly.

Tan Su’s expression remained calm; he merely raised his gaze.

Where he looked, footsteps rang out, jade pendants tinkling, then a young woman’s figure appeared before his eyes, several powerful demonic cultivators and medicinal slaves standing respectfully behind her, their eyes dull and clouded, as if their minds were dimmed.

The woman was around twenty, in the full bloom of youth.

She wore a deep blue palace robe, cut as if from clouds and mist, its long skirt trailing on the ground; her hair was coiled into a flying-immortal bun, adorned with a single golden hairpin, ink-black as dyed silk, her eyes bright as ripples, radiant and captivating.

At first glance, her demeanor was dignified and composed, like a white lotus or jade lotus root atop a mountain peak—ethereal, lofty, worthy of distant admiration but not intimate touch.

Yet upon closer inspection, one could not help but sense a thousand subtle charms subtly emerging from her brows and eyes.

Her enchanting beauty was innate, beyond the reach of brush or pen, stirring the heart.

“It seems your journey to Hong Jing Tian has truly benefited you. I should congratulate you. As for me…”

Tan Su saw a clear, luminous glow in her eyes, fine and warm, like mist or vapor, and nodded slightly, unable to refrain from praising her.

The woman who had spoken was none other than Xiao Lingji, the true disciple of Zhui Huan Palace.

As she conversed with Tan Su, the several robust medicinal slaves standing behind Xiao Lingji suddenly exuded pure primordial energy from their crown points, then collapsed, their tendons, bones, and internal organs instantly dissolving, leaving only thin, fragile skins, ready to tear in the wind.

Tan Su paid no mind to this sight; after a pause, he spoke calmly:

“As for me, I fear I have lost the chance to claim the blessings of the Su Jue Stele Forest.

Only today did I realize Yun Jie’s sword strike upon me was even more severe than I thought—it didn’t merely damage my dharma body, it disrupted my meditative stability and corrupted my insights.

I believed that after attaining the Ucchuṣma Vajra Crown King Form, I had fully healed my wounds and even advanced further by turning Yun Jie’s strike into cultivation fuel.

But only my physical dharma body was truly mended; a faint sword wound still lingered in the hidden depths of my brow’s lotus platform, so subtle I hadn’t noticed it immediately.

The sense of progress I thought I’d gained while observing the Su Jue Stele Forest was merely an illusion caused by the sword wound; had I not been awakened in time by sudden enlightenment, I might have been tricked by Yun Jie into straying from the path…”

Here, Tan Su gave a strange smile and shook his head with emotion:

“Such a technique—I see Yun Jie has already mastered the ‘All Illusory Views’ sword technique. How remarkable that Miaosheng Huayan Temple has such a disciple to inherit its dharma lineage!”

When Tan Su finished speaking, Xiao Lingji fell silent for a moment, her expression rare with emotion, a faint frown forming.

She and Tan Su were from the same world, having known each other since childhood.

Orphaned young, both sold by their families into a mundane martial sect, they secretly pledged themselves as brother and sister, struggling together to survive.

The hardships along the way need not be recounted.

Even after each later entered the Great Heaven cultivation, their bond remained as strong as ever.

Liangguang Tian, Miaosheng Huayan Temple’s dharma heir—Yun Jie—

Xiao Lingji had heard Tan Su mention this name more than once.

Within Liangguang Tian, her adopted brother had always regarded Yun Jie as his greatest rival!

Half a year ago, just before Tan Su came to Hong Jing Tian at Xiao Lingji’s invitation, he had faced Yun Jie—and been wounded by his sword.

Yet Tan Su had ultimately turned the situation to his advantage, using Yun Jie’s killing strike as cultivation fuel to attain the Ucchuṣma Vajra Crown King Form, gaining the upper hand.

At the time,

when Xiao Lingji heard Tan Su recount this, she had marveled at his profound virtue and wisdom.

Yet now, seeing Tan Su return from the Su Jue Stele Forest, she heard these words.

Thus…

After a moment’s hesitation, Xiao Lingji sighed and said:

“Brother, my sect possesses a divine treasure called Five Cloud Nocturnal Light Cloud-Lang Water Frost—it can revive the dead, restore flesh to bone, carry the spirit to heaven, and decide life and death. After I ascended to true disciple status, the elders of my sect, out of grace, granted me one pill of this frost to reward my cultivation merit.

If you need this treasure, come with me to Wuxiang Tian. You’ve always said victory and defeat are common in warfare; Yun Jie merely bested you by one move. You must not let this crush your spirit.”

Tan Su heard Xiao Lingji’s earnest tone; though he felt some pity, her sincerity was unmistakable.

He seemed to recall something, and for once, a faint smile appeared on his face, his heart easing.

Zhui Huan Palace was a powerful demonic sect within Wuxiang Tian, famed throughout the Yang World heavens for its dual-cultivation and essence-siphoning arts; most cultivators feared it, terrified of becoming its medicinal slaves and being drained to dust.

But Da Sui Temple was no pure, solemn land either.

Due to its heretical and cruel dharma lineage, Da Sui Temple had been hunted and attacked for years by several orthodox Zen monasteries of Liangguang Tian.

Otherwise, Yun Jie, from Miaosheng Huayan Temple, would never have harbored murderous intent toward Tan Su, seeking to send him to annihilation.

Though Yun Jie’s combative nature played a role, Da Sui Temple’s unusual origins were equally crucial.

“Along my journey, I’ve witnessed much deceit and treachery, but this situation is truly rare. That pill of frost was granted by your sect’s elders—I cannot shamelessly accept it. I deeply appreciate your kindness.”

Seeing Xiao Lingji still wished to persuade him, Tan Su waved his hand, speaking with finality:

“My Ucchuṣma Vajra Crown King Form is no mere ornament—my physical body is already fully healed. Yun Jie may have slightly disrupted my meditation, temporarily clouding my vision, but if I rely on external aids to compensate, I would descend to a lower level.

I came here today not to complain to you or seek favors, but because I felt something strange—a question I cannot resolve.”

Xiao Lingji, puzzled, asked: “What is your doubt, brother?”

Xiao Lingji and Tan Su had agreed to meet in Hong Jing Tian because she loved the robust blood-qi of demonic cultivators and wished to gather superior demonic medicinal slaves to cultivate Zhui Huan Palace’s supreme technique.

He, meanwhile, had been instructed by his master in Da Sui Temple that the Thunder Sound Treasure Staff Buddha had once left behind a merit stele forest here called “Su Jue”; observing it could enhance wisdom.

Though much of the Su Jue Stele Forest had been destroyed by calamities,

the remaining steles still lay buried deep within Mo Wu Land, left only for those with karmic affinity, per the Thunder Sound Treasure Staff Buddha’s later decree.

Now Tan Su had suddenly appeared here and spoken these words.

Xiao Lingji naturally assumed her brother had been misled by Yun Jie’s “All Illusory Views,” unable to further comprehend the Su Jue Stele Forest, and thus intended to return to his sect to quickly remove the sword wound.

“All Illusory Views” is a compilation of afflictive obstructions; if struck by this technique, one sees mountains not as mountains, water not as water, destroying meditative stability.

Beyond that, she suspected Tan Su also hinted he wished her help.

After all, the frost on her person was no ordinary thing…

Tan Su’s robe stirred as he turned to Xiao Lingji, speaking solemnly:

“Because of Yun Jie’s sword, remaining in the Su Jue Stele Forest is useless to me. But since I’ve seen through his technique, it must be due to my cultivation growth—I’ve made slight progress in my past-life awareness. Misfortune and fortune are intertwined.

When I used my past-life awareness to glimpse your future, I saw a forest of knives ablaze, stone horses sweating blood. If you remain in Hong Jing Tian, you will face great hardship.”

“Hardship? Here, in Mo Wu Land?” Xiao Lingji’s expression turned grim.

“Precisely.”

Tan Su frowned:

“Think carefully—have you recently offended any great power in Mo Wu Land?”

…

…

The night wind blew softly, mournfully; even the brilliant lanterns added a touch of evening chill.

After Tan Su’s words, the scene fell utterly silent; the guards and musicians around them longed to cover their ears and bow their heads, daring not utter a word.

Xiao Lingji frowned for a long while, recalling every action she’d taken since arriving in Mo Wu Land, then finally shook her head lightly.

She said:

“Brother, though I’ve gathered many medicinal slaves for cultivation, I mostly targeted powerful hermits with no great backing. The demonic kingdoms and Qiao Mountain Sect’s great ones naturally ignore them. And if I must be specific…”

Xiao Lingji recalled something and gave a cold smile, continuing:

“The only one in Mo Wu Land with a deep, lasting grudge against me—and who knows my identity—is the Blood River Sect’s true disciple, Lu Rong!

He has tried to assassinate me several times, but because you and I have always been close, supporting each other, he found it too difficult to succeed and withdrew. You know this well.”

Tan Su said nothing in response, his face thoughtful.

Blood River Sect’s true disciple—Lu Rong.

He had personally experienced this man’s abilities; no wonder he was hailed as a genius among the Eight Sects and Six Clans!

Yet Tan Su, too, was no unknown from the Great Heaven, and with Xiao Lingji beside him, they were two against one.

Even if Lu Rong was formidable, he could hardly stand against both.

“When Lu Rong fought Ruan Youchong of Sha Yu Tian Palace, though he won, he was severely wounded. You happened to pass by then, and secretly desired to seize his primordial yang for cultivation. But Lu Rong had prepared for this; sensing danger, he fled.

Since then, the feud between you and Lu Rong has become irreconcilable…”

Recalling the past, Tan Su shook his head inwardly.

In his view, if you’re going to do something, either don’t do it at all—or once decided, spare no means, exhaust all resources, to strike decisively!

To end up in this situation… truly a lower path.

And to end up in this state is truly a sign of falling behind...

"Only Lu Rong himself may struggle to fulfill the destiny I foresaw—'Knife Forest Ignites, Stone Horse Sweats Blood'—but if he finds allies on Mo Wu Continent, all bets are off!"

Tang Su thought for a moment and said.

Though Xiao Lingji could not imagine who Lu Rong might recruit as an ally on Mo Wu Continent, Tang Su’s seriousness made her take this seriously.

After speaking a few more words, Tang Su suddenly changed the subject and said:

"What are your plans regarding the Yuanzuo Wangzhi tree on Fish Lake Mountain?"

Xiao Lingji smiled: "I came to Mo Wu Continent merely to seek medicinal slaves, but I stumbled upon this news. You know as well as I do—Yuanzuo Wangzhi is vital to my spiritual cultivation; I cannot afford to miss it."

"From your tone, it seems you already have a plan?"

Tang Su laughed softly at this, swallowing the words he had intended to say.

Earlier, while passing by Guangyang Lake, Tang Su had casually subdued a Lin Fish.

Later, after his Destiny Perception improved and he uncovered Yun Jie’s hidden trap, he recalled Xiao Lingji’s desire to enter Fish Lake Mountain. After careful consideration, he realized he could use the Lin Fish to manipulate Yu Xiaoyu of the Yueyang Duke’s household.

But now that Xiao Lingji seemed to have her own plan, his scheme need not be mentioned.

"To be honest, I already have a foolproof plan for infiltrating Fish Lake Mountain. Don’t forget— even the demonic cultivators guarding Fish Lake Mountain are nearly in the dark about Yuanzuo Wangzhi. How then can I, an outsider, know so clearly?"

"Though I may not match your divine prowess in combat, I have my own methods. You’ll see when the time comes," Xiao Lingji said with perfect confidence.

"That’s best. To avoid complications, you should seize the Wangzhi as soon as possible."

Tang Su nodded and said:

"But after the deed is done, we must withdraw from this realm. Staying here risks fulfilling the omen."

Xiao Lingji had no objection, but at last she suddenly asked:

"If Lu Rong truly finds a powerful ally, what do you think... who might it be?"

"The Demon Kingdom? Qiao Mountain Sect? Panming Palace? No—local beings won’t aid Lu Rong. Could it be an outsider cultivator? Is the Blood River Sect sending someone else to Mo Wu Continent? That doesn’t fit either—no sect could produce a second Lu Rong, a peerless true disciple..."

Tang Su pondered a moment but could not reach a definite conclusion.

He shook his head and sighed lightly:

"If my Destiny Perception is correct, we will meet sooner or later. Let’s wait and see!"

Meanwhile, as Tang Su and Xiao Lingji deliberated, thousands of miles away, Chen Hang also received a reply.

It was delivered personally by the steward he had previously dispatched, who had raced here without pause.

"The Yongwang Palace has replied—they’ve granted me permission to enter the mountain and gather the Wangzhi."

After a moment, Chen Hang raised the letter and barked at the eager demonic cultivators watching him:

"Quickly prepare yourselves—we depart at once! I’m heading straight for Fish Lake Mountain!"

Seeing they could finally escape Guangyang Lake and avoid further scolding and beatings, the demonic cultivators were overjoyed, fearing delay, and roared their assent!

Seeing they were finally free from Guangyang Lake and no longer had to endure scolding or whippings, all the demonic cultivators rejoiced immensely, fearing even a moment’s delay, they roared their assent!

Amid the bustling commotion, Chen Hang’s gaze flickered, and he thought inwardly.

Amid the bustling commotion, Chen Hang’s gaze shifted, and he thought to himself.