Translator: CinderTL
West City.
Qi Liang gazed at the stone tablet before him, his eyes flickering with thought. Beside him, Jiang Qinqin tilted her head, murmuring, "Dragon and elephant bear the cauldron, within which the sun and moon are hidden... What does this mean?"
"Who knows?" Qi Liang shook his head. "Perhaps we'll understand when we see it."
The inscription was cryptic and deliberately obscure, making it difficult to decipher.
"Tell your people to gather in West City," Qi Liang said, his tone growing serious. "It's only the second day, and we've already lost several members. If this continues, we might end up with nothing."
He hadn't anticipated the secret realm being so dangerous. Five people had gone missing in just one night. With his already limited manpower and the realm's unknown duration, every member was now invaluable.
"Mm."
Jiang Qinqin retrieved her mother stone to send a message. After a moment, her expression froze. "A Junior Sister saw people from Crimson Dragon Mountain heading toward South City."
"South City..." Qi Liang closed his eyes in thought. He had received similar reports earlier—his own scouts had spotted members of the Zuoqiu Clan of Huai Lake also moving toward South City. What could be there that was drawing everyone in that direction?
"Should we go?" Jiang Qinqin asked.
"No," Qi Liang replied without hesitation.
The secret realm had only just opened and wouldn't close anytime soon. Even if there were treasures, there was no need to rush. Let them fight among themselves like dogs while he conserved his strength, waiting for the opportune moment to strike like a mantis stalking its prey.
With his own forces combined with Jiang Qinqin's, they numbered around a hundred—not as many as Xu Sanyan's, but sufficient for their purposes.
"Ask Fang Xiang where he is and have him join us," Qi Liang instructed. "With the three of us working together, our chances of success will be much higher."
"Understood."
Lin Fan trailed behind Zuoqiu Yi, secretly sniffing his palm. The faint trace of her fragrance lingered, leaving him utterly captivated.
He resolved not to wash his hand for the rest of the month!
Just then, Lin Fan felt the child stone in his chest warm. He pulled it out to check the message:
["Upon reaching the southern city, avoid approaching the chinese crabapple tree and do not look directly at the ghostly figures beneath it."]
Lin Fan frowned. Ghosts?
Despite his years of cultivation, he had never encountered a ghost. Even in the World of Immortal Cultivation, such entities were rare. While some practiced the Ghost Refining Art, his current cultivation level was far too low to even glimpse such beings.
The Ghost Refining Art involved the mysteries of reincarnation and required an exceptionally high cultivation level to master. At the very least, one needed to reach the Soul Refining Realm and gain a preliminary understanding of the divine soul's secrets before even attempting it.
"What's wrong?" Zuoqiu Yi, with her complete lack of personal boundaries, leaned over to peek at the stone.
"Huh, you guys are going to the chinese crabapple tree too?" Zuoqiu Yi noticed the inscription on the child stone.
"Yeah, the holy son said there might be a treasure there," Lin Fan replied, not bothering to hide the truth. He knew Zuoqiu Yi posed no threat to the holy son; comparing her to them would be an insult to the latter.
"You're going there too?" Lin Fan realized, a flicker of secret joy in his heart. This meant they wouldn't have to part ways after all.
"Yes," Zuoqiu Yi nodded, then pulled out her child stone. "There's a ghost! I need to tell Eldest Sister about this."
Meanwhile, Zuoqiu Hui frowned deeply as she read the message from her eldest sister, debating whether to inform Xu Sanyan.
Zuoqiu Xin seemed to sense her Third Sister's dilemma and subtly shook her head, signaling her to keep it a secret.
Zuoqiu Hui ignored her completely. With Fourth Sister's brain, don't expect any good ideas from her. All she knows is how to eat until she's full.
"Holy Son, I have something to tell you," Zuoqiu Hui finally decided.
Such petty schemes were pointless. If discovered, they would only breed resentment. It was better to be direct and perhaps earn some favor.
Xu Sanyan stopped walking and turned with a smile. "Oh? What is it?"
"Are you heading to the chinese crabapple tree?"
"That's right."
"Do you know there's a ghost there?"
Xu Sanyan's lips curled into a smile. "How did you find out?"
Zuoqiu Hui answered directly, "My eldest sister told me."
"Hmm, I see. Let's go then." Xu Sanyan said no more, turning to continue on his way, though he felt a strange unease.
He had just sent out the message, and it had already circled back to him through Zuoqiu Hui's lips. He refused to believe there wasn't something fishy going on.
But it didn't matter. Perhaps the child stone had fallen into the hands of outsiders.
Zuoqiu Xin watched their retreating figures with an inscrutable expression, her mind racing with speculation. Could it be... does Third Sister have feelings for the holy son of the demonic sect? Why else would she be so considerate of him at every turn?
Yet she had to admit, the holy son possessed an extraordinary presence, handsome features, and exceptional cultivation level—a match for Third Sister. The only question was whether the clan elders would approve...
Zuoqiu Xin trailed behind, mentally pairing them off like a mad matchmaker.
"Flower blossom in South City, drum tower relic," Xu Sanyan murmured softly. "Do you know where I heard that phrase?"
"Brother Shen must have told you," Zuoqiu Hui replied.
"Correct." Xu Sanyan gazed at her with admiration. The woman's demeanor was poised, her speech refined, and even when facing him, she maintained a graceful balance of approach and retreat, making her utterly captivating.
At that moment, a figure rounded the corner ahead. Upon seeing Xu Sanyan, the person's expression froze, and they immediately tensed. "You?"
Xu Sanyan stopped, greeting her with a smile. "Immortal Maiden Mo, what a coincidence."
"Quite a coincidence. Farewell."
Mo Xianxian retreated a few steps, showing no interest in further conversation, and quickly walked in the opposite direction.
"Tsk... how rude," Xu Sanyan muttered, suppressing a smile, but made no attempt to stop her.
With the treasure yet to manifest, all parties were conserving their strength, avoiding pointless conflicts.
A glint flashed in Zuoqiu Xin's eyes as she remarked pointedly, "I've heard Immortal Maiden Mo is the most beautiful woman in the cultivation world. Doesn't the holy son find himself curious about the face hidden beneath her veil?"
"Naturally, I'm curious, but only curious. How much more beautiful could she possibly be? Spring blossoms and autumn moons each have their own charm; one cannot judge them by the same standard. In my opinion, the two Immortal Maidens here are no less beautiful than her."
"The holy son's words are truly flattering," Zuoqiu Hui said, covering her mouth with a light laugh. She subtly glanced back, signaling her fourth sister to be quiet.
Even a fool could see through such clumsy attempts at provocation.
A gust of clear wind rose beneath Xu Sanyan's feet, carrying him forward. "Let's hurry on our way. Who knows when the flower of South City will bloom? We mustn't let others claim it first."
"Mm."
Zuoqiu Hui had already given up on obtaining the treasure. With Xu Sanyan present, there was no chance for her, unless all seven sisters gathered to perform their combined attack technique, which might give them a slim chance to compete.
East City
In the middle of a long street, Jingyi stood with one hand raised before his chest, calmly observing the three men before him. "The three of you are burdened by karmic debts. If these are not resolved, your lives will soon be forfeit."
Tu Wanshan gripped his great saber tightly and snorted coldly. "Hmph! Lives forfeit? You dead bald donkey! I'll show you how soon my life will be forfeit!"
"This humble monk is Jingyi, not 'bald donkey'," Jingyi corrected sternly, his expression utterly earnest.
"Layman, your encounter with me today is destined. This calamity is meant to befall you. Allow me to guide you through this tribulation."
Before the words had fully left his lips, Jingyi struck out with a single palm. A massive golden palm shadow surged forward, like an enraged vajra seeking to crush the three men.
(End of the Chapter)
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