Chapter 342
The wooden Daoist stroked his beard and chuckled, "After observing for the past ten days, I’ve gained some understanding of the formation in the lake... I wonder if any fellow cultivators would like to join me in exploring this Changji Lake?"
Silence...
The shore of Changji Lake was enveloped in an eerie stillness.
The smile on the wooden Daoist's face gradually froze...
...
At that moment, Senior Sister Zhang and Xiao Yuying arrived with a small group of about ten people. The lowest cultivation level among them was Mu Qingyan, while the others were at least at the Foundation Establishment stage—after all, danger was inevitable in a secret realm, and higher cultivation was always preferable unless circumstances dictated otherwise.
Compared to the scattered cultivators around, the group from Jiushan Sect stood out.
Senior Sister Zhang deliberately positioned Xiao Yuying at the forefront, indicating that this operation was led by her.
Xiao Yuying took the lead without hesitation and immediately spotted the wooden Daoist.
She paused for a moment, then exclaimed, "You’re still alive?"
"…"
The wooden Daoist clearly recognized her but instead of answering, he retorted, "You actually have friends?"
"…"
Xiao Yuying felt a bit guilty discussing this topic with others, but facing the wooden Daoist, her expression radiated confidence. "I don’t have friends, but at least I’m not a burden to mine!"
"Defamation!"
"Who doesn’t know that exploring a secret realm with you, wooden Daoist, is like courting death?"
"…"
"You go into the secret realm alone and come back alone; ten people enter, and still, you return alone..." Xiao Yuying laughed oddly, while the wooden Daoist pursed his lips, seemingly unable to refute her.
Nearby, some cultivators recognized Xiao Yuying and couldn’t help but curse under their breath.
The wooden Daoist was a burden to his companions.
Xiao Yuying was even worse—she didn’t drag others down, but she always made their efforts futile.
In this secret realm, having these two troublemakers around...
What merit did they have to be here!
"You’ve heard that this is the secret realm of the Tianhe Venerable, right?" The wooden Daoist changed the subject.
Mu Qingyan, standing behind Xiao Yuying, furrowed her delicate brows, her expression shifting.
Xiao Yuying nodded, showing no unusual reaction.
The wooden Daoist glanced at her and smiled, "I must remind you, this Changji Lake is a bit peculiar..."
Xiao Yuying smiled but remained silent, merely casting a glance at Senior Sister Zhang.
With a wave of her hand, Senior Sister Zhang directed her ten or so disciples to split into several teams.
Some began digging at the lakeshore.
Others collected water from the lake.
A few activated their "Dongxu Spirit Eyes," seemingly observing the situation in the water.
Two others took out recording talismans, appearing to document everyone’s actions.
Each had their own tasks, yet it seemed as if they had been organized in advance, exuding a sense of practiced coordination.
Senior Sister Zhang also activated her "Dongxu Spirit Eyes," vigilantly scanning the surroundings, primarily focusing on the lake...
After collecting soil and water, Xiao Yuying waved her hand, and a white jade boat flew out from her bracelet, gracefully landing on the lake.
The Jiushan Sect members didn’t engage with others, simply boarding the boat in turn, without a single command being issued.
The wooden Daoist watched in astonishment...
Wait, they’re all newcomers.
How are they so skilled? It’s like they’re coming home...
...
This white jade boat was a treasure of Xiao Yuying’s, possessing abilities to break illusions and provide defense, perfectly suited for the environment of Changji Lake.
On the boat, it could also prevent others from spying.
Mu Qingyan wore a heavy expression, as if grappling with something she couldn’t comprehend.
After a while, she looked at Senior Sister Zhang and opened her mouth.
Senior Sister Zhang met her gaze, her eyes filled with inquiry.
But Mu Qingyan fell silent, instead producing a communication talisman, which she eventually passed to Senior Sister Zhang.
Senior Sister Zhang raised an eyebrow and took the talisman.
...
In the Jiushan Realm, Zheng Fa and others were gathered in the main hall.
The Fengshen List floated before them, with Senior Sister Zhang’s projection standing in the air, speaking to them.
"Mu Qingyan... mentioned something strange about the Tianhe treasures... It seems someone is deliberately leaking information?"
Zheng Fa frowned upon hearing this.
"Did she clarify anything?"
"Not really, but her expression was very certain. She even used a communication talisman on the boat, which shows a level of caution that doesn’t seem like mere talk."
Zheng Fa fell silent for a moment; they had long known that Mu Qingyan harbored secrets.
Now, her warning held considerable credibility.
"Sister, should you come back for now?"
Senior Sister Zhang shook her head and replied, "Without concrete evidence, it’s better not to act rashly. If I return now, it would only raise suspicion. The Tianhe secret realm has appeared before; I’ve heard of others obtaining treasures and legacies..."
Zheng Fa grimaced, realizing that Senior Sister Zhang had a point.
"Then please be careful..."
Zheng Fa couldn’t help but remind her again.
Watching Senior Sister Zhang’s expression turn blank, as if her mind had already drifted away, Zheng Fa glanced at Uncle Pang and the others...
They all frowned in contemplation.
"The Tianhe ruins..." Zheng Fa pondered for a long time before speaking again, "If someone is deliberately luring people into the Tianhe ruins, it can’t be just a few factions."
Zheng Fa didn’t finish his sentence, but the elder nodded.
The history of the Tianhe Venerable was somewhat of a secret in the Xuanwei Realm, but the higher-ups in the Jiushan Realm were generally aware.
"The Demon Sect—those demon ancestors must have a grudge against the Tianhe Venerable..."
"The Five Sects of Xuanwei, and even the Tianhe Sect itself, also have enmities..."
Hearing this, Zheng Fa couldn’t help but smile wryly.
The Tianhe Venerable left behind nothing but enemies...
"From now on, we must be cautious when encountering the Tianhe Venerable’s ruins."
Zheng Fa sighed.
...
A hundred meters away from Changji Lake, two indistinct figures hovered in the air, gazing toward the lake, watching as Xiao Yuying’s boat entered the waters.
These two didn’t seem to be hiding their forms intentionally, yet neither Senior Sister Zhang nor Xiao Yuying could see them.
"Daozi, what exactly is in that ruin?" one asked.
"I’ve told you countless times, I’m no longer Daozi," came the reply. "The information that’s been leaked is quite clear: the treasures and legacies left by the Tianhe Venerable are what I personally selected, worth quite a lot of spirit stones."
"Then... why?"
The first person stuttered, seemingly not quite understanding.
"Since the beginning of this era, we’ve been setting up these secret realms. Even the restrictions and formations are in the style of the Tianhe Venerable... Each secret realm is as real as it gets, and the treasures are genuine..."
The first person fell silent, seemingly shocked by the Xuanwei Five Sects’ decades-long deception...
The voice continued, laced with amusement, "We’re looking for someone..."
"…Looking for someone? Who?"
The second person seemed unable to articulate, simply stating, "I don’t know who, but the Xuanwei Five Sects and the major Demon Sects are all doing the same thing."
"This is something I only learned from my elders after becoming a God Transformation cultivator... My purpose in coming out this time is twofold: for the Great Freedom Demon Sect, and also for this matter."
The first person fell completely silent.
The implications of this conversation were truly chilling.
The Xuanwei Five Sects and the major Demon Sects were searching together, and had been for an entire era... He didn’t dare to ask why, nor did he want to know.
They watched as Xiao Yuying’s white jade boat glided steadily yet inexorably through Changji Lake. The one who had spoken earlier asked again, "Dao... Chengkong, did you inform them when you set up this secret realm?"
He pointed at the Jiushan Sect members skillfully breaking various restrictions and formations.
"…"
Observing the Jiushan Sect disciples’ overly proficient actions, the Longkong Venerable fell into silence, clearly perplexed.
(End of this chapter)
---
Chapter 310: Unhindered, Tianhe Sword Marks
"Are they the ones we’re looking for?" Seeing that Chengkong Venerable remained silent, the previous speaker inquired.
He pointed at Senior Sister Zhang and the others.
Chengkong Venerable didn’t respond, remaining quiet, seemingly uncertain. Finally, he spoke, "When that person appears, I will know..."
The two figures followed the white jade boat with their gazes, realizing that the people on the boat were not merely prepared but rather well-trained:
Senior Sister Zhang led a few disciples, using the Dongxu Spirit Eyes to guide the boat’s direction.
If they encountered any restrictions, a simple gesture was all it took; her disciples would immediately execute their spells or use their talismans.
If one method failed, another would quickly be tried, resulting in five or six different solutions to the restrictions in an instant.
Their cooperation was seamless, and they used very little time, making it seem as if the boat had never paused, facing no obstacles in the formations.
The boat broke through five or six relatively weaker restrictions and entered a large formation.
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