Chapter 322: Changes in the Secret Realm, the Qing Emperor of the Eight Clans
Chi Lingyuan sat cross-legged by the pond, her vibrant red hair swaying gently, her eyes closed in meditation, a faint rosy glow surrounding her voluptuous body, a truly beautiful and stunning sight.
“Hu—”
After a moment of meditation, Chi Lingyuan opened her eyes again, stretched languidly with a satisfied smile, her ample bosom almost spilling out of her clothes, its alluring curves clearly outlined.
“Truly comfortable~”
Feeling the faint, warm current flowing through her body, a wonderful sweetness, like being nourished, made her body feel soft and tingly.
She turned to Lin Tianlu and smiled gently: “Thanks to your guidance, sir, my cultivation has improved quite a bit~”
Her voice was incredibly seductive and alluring, yet without any pretense, making one feel a gentle warmth.
Lin Tianlu smiled gently: “It’s the result of your diligent cultivation over thousands of years, Miss Chi, I only offered some minor pointers. Even without my guidance, with your talent, you would probably have broken through on your own eventually.”
“You’re too kind, sir, that bottleneck has been troubling me for a while.”
Chi Lingyuan smiled, gathering her hair, and reached out towards the pond.
A water-colored guqin emerged from the water and landed steadily in her palm.
She placed the guqin on her lap, her slender fingers brushing the strings, droplets of water shimmering like flowing light. Her golden eyes narrowed slightly, and she smiled: “Miss Youluo said I was weak and shouldn’t exert myself too much two days ago. Now that my strength has recovered, I can finally have a proper exchange of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting with you, sir.”
Even a layman could tell that the guqin in her arms was extraordinary. The strings seemed to shimmer with a watery luster, the ancient body of the instrument imbued with a warm current, its carvings exquisite. But upon closer inspection, one could see many old marks on its body, indicating its age.
Lin Tianlu asked in surprise: “Do you often play this guqin, Miss Chi?”
“I practice martial arts day and night. When I get tired, I need something to relax and unwind.”
Chi Lingyuan chuckled and plucked a string: “And there were people playing music in my dreams, how could I be content just sitting there and listening to them for four thousand years? Naturally, I had to learn and practice, I can’t be inferior.”
Lin Tianlu couldn’t help but chuckle: “So, the poetry, calligraphy, chess, and painting, it’s all because…”
“I’m not a loser!”
Chi Lingyuan pouted playfully, a cute and charming expression on her face.
But she quickly lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling, and murmured softly: “But after playing for so long, I’ve truly come to enjoy it. Whenever I’m tired or lost in thought, I’ll sit alone on the mountaintop and play a few tunes, and my heart feels lighter and more peaceful… or perhaps, I’m expressing my feelings for someone.”
Lin Tianlu was slightly stunned.
As he remained silent, Yun Yue, who was curled up on his shoulder, gently patted him twice with her paw, as if reminding him of something.
He suddenly came back to his senses and solemnly took out his jade flute from his embrace: “Let’s play a tune together, Miss.”
Chi Lingyuan nodded softly, giving Yun Yue a grateful look.
—Dong!
Just then, a muffled sound, like a drumbeat, suddenly echoed!
Lin Tianlu and Chi Lingyuan’s expressions changed, and they quickly put away their instruments and stood up.
“What happened?”
“I-I don’t know.”
Chi Lingyuan’s face was filled with confusion and surprise as she looked around.
She had set up formations all over the mountain. Even a large group of Savage Realm demons and ghosts wouldn’t be able to break through the barrier, let alone cause such a strange tremor.
Lin Tianlu’s eyes suddenly narrowed, and he looked towards the area behind the pond.
Ripples were spreading across the previously calm surface of the pond, a blurry and indistinct phantom-like image faintly appearing!
“Miss Chi, is there something wrong with the seal of the eight clans’ secret realm?! Or is it about to be sealed?”
“Secret realm?”
Chi Lingyuan’s expression changed slightly, and she immediately appeared by the pond.
Seeing the ripples at the entrance of the secret realm, a look of shock appeared in her eyes.
“—No!”
This wasn’t a sign of the secret realm closing, but rather…
…the secret realm opening!
“Miss Chi, what’s happening to the secret realm?” Lin Tianlu stood by the pond and shouted: “Is there a problem with the seal? Is there anything I can help with?”
“Th-This is impossible…”
Chi Lingyuan took a few steps back as if she hadn’t heard him, a look of disbelief on her face: “The eight clans inside the secret realm should have already perished, it should be an empty tomb. But why… is the secret realm being opened from the inside?!”
“What?”
Lin Tianlu naturally heard her murmur, his eyes widening slightly.
—The eight clans’ secret realm was being opened from the inside?!
As he was stunned and bewildered, the ripples at the entrance of the secret realm became even clearer, and another loud boom echoed, even shaking Immortal Phoenix Mountain.
Crack!
A crack appeared in the ripples, spreading like a spiderweb, scattering debris.
Chi Lingyuan’s eyes widened, momentarily at a loss for words, watching as the crack rapidly expanded to several zhang wide.
But Lin Tianlu’s expression suddenly darkened, and he held his breath, focusing his mind, sensing a pungent and turbid aura emanating from the crack, seemingly a mix of blood and an ancient and indescribable scent.
Were there still living people inside this secret realm, or—
Crack!
The crack suddenly shattered completely, turning into a dark and boundless circular passage.
And to Lin Tianlu and Chi Lingyuan’s shock, a female figure was already standing in front of the passage!
“There are actually still living people inside the secret realm?!” Lin Tianlu was shocked and bewildered.
“How… how could it be…”
Chi Lingyuan blinked repeatedly in disbelief, covering her mouth and murmuring: “Fu Qingning, have you been alive all this time?”
Looking at the young girl before her, still as youthful and beautiful as four thousand years ago, she reached out with a dazed expression: “Could it be that you—”
“Sister Lingyuan, you kept your promise and guarded the secret realm for us for four thousand years, I’m eternally grateful.”
The young girl, named Fu Qingning, showed a pure and sweet smile, her lively eyes seemingly filled with gratitude and affection.
Hearing the familiar, delicate voice and seeing the pure smile, identical to the one in her memories, Chi Lingyuan was momentarily dazed, as if she had returned to four thousand years ago, when they would chat intimately, admire flowers and the moon, and marvel at the wonders of the world.
Back then, the young girl had enjoyed her youth freely, with occasional worries and bitterness, but also joy and excitement. Every time, Chi Lingyuan would listen to her sweet and innocent voice with a smile as she recounted her experiences and daily life. Even when the eight clans’ secret realm was about to be sealed, knowing that their end was near, the young girl still had a strong and bright smile on her face, not shedding a single tear.
Even now—
Fu Qingning was still the same.
She was still that sweet and adorable child from four thousand years ago.
Chi Lingyuan’s lips trembled slightly, her heart filled with mixed emotions, but a joyful smile appeared on her face as she was about to embrace her.
—Clang!
A crisp sound made Chi Lingyuan freeze, the memories that had just surfaced scattering, a dazed look appearing on her face.
A thin blade was stopped right between her eyebrows, barely a hair’s breadth away from piercing her skull.
But it wasn’t that the sword had stopped on its own, but that it was being held firmly in someone’s hand, unable to advance an inch, cracks even appearing on its blade.
“Oh?”
Fu Qingning raised an eyebrow, the innocent smile still on her face: “I didn’t expect there to be another expert here, truly unexpected.”
Lin Tianlu crushed the blade expressionlessly, supporting the dazed Chi Lingyuan and quickly retreating to the edge of the pond.
“Why… did you suddenly attack?”
This sword strike had undoubtedly been launched by this girl!
If he hadn’t been slightly uneasy and on guard, Chi Lingyuan might have been killed instantly!
“—Naturally, to take Sister Lingyuan’s life.”
Fu Qingning said this shocking thing with a sweet smile: “After four thousand years, this ancient Chihuang’s cultivation must be extraordinary. It’s better to strike first and eliminate her early on, saving us a lot of trouble.”
Lin Tianlu’s expression darkened: “What grudge do you have against Miss Chi? Weren’t you close friends in the past? Why would you—”
“Shh—”
But Fu Qingning playfully put a finger to her lips and sighed softly: “There’s no need to say such childish things. Those words were just made up to deceive this phoenix. If you repeat them again, I’ll be embarrassed.”
“…”
Lin Tianlu was stunned, his heart filled with shock.
So this girl… had been pretending with Chi Lingyuan all along?!
“I can tell from your expression, Sister Lingyuan actually believed those words and even told you about them?”
Fu Qingning chuckled softly, covering her mouth, her eyes filled with mockery and amusement: “Did she really think that our eight clans’ secret realm would become a prison and tomb, completely sealed after four thousand years?”
Chi Lingyuan snapped out of her daze, her eyes flickering, and she gritted her teeth, saying in a deep voice: “How could it be fake? You clearly—”
“Four thousand years, do you know how long that is, Sister Lingyuan?”
Fu Qingning tilted her head and sneered: “You have no connection to us, how would you know what happened in our secret realm? The world changes, and even a pure heart can become ruthless and bloodthirsty… In the end, you phoenixes don’t understand human nature, you’re just ‘immortals’ looking down on the mortal world.”
Chi Lingyuan’s face turned even paler, and she said hoarsely: “So, your eight clans have been lying dormant for four thousand years, waiting for this opportunity to reappear in the world?”
“—Wrong.”
But Fu Qingning waved her hand, chuckling mockingly: “You still don’t understand?”
“What… what do you mean?”
“There are no more eight clans, only us.”
Fu Qingning spread her arms and chuckled, as Chi Lingyuan looked on in shock: “This secret realm is indeed a tomb for those fools, but we have survived, and now, after four thousand years, we have reappeared.”
“You—”
Chi Lingyuan’s eyes widened, completely speechless.
“Alright, let’s end this brief reunion.” Fu Qingning shook her head and chuckled softly, putting her hands behind her back and tapping the void with her foot, as if stepping on invisible stairs, slowly walking out of the crack in the secret realm.
“After four thousand years of silence and dormancy, I’ve almost forgotten the scenery of this world. Now, I naturally have to… give this world a proper greeting.”
Hum!
Just then, a ray of red light suddenly erupted!
It seemed to tear through the clouds and mist, enveloping the entire Immortal Phoenix Mountain, the surrounding scenery rapidly changing.
Lin Tianlu’s expression changed slightly as he saw Chi Lingyuan calmly forming hand seals, seemingly casting a spell to cover the area with another realm.
In an instant, the surroundings transformed into a misty landscape with towering mountains, and everyone was standing on thick iron chains.
“Oh?”
Fu Qingning chuckled with interest: “You barely survived, Sister Lingyuan, are you seeking death now?”
“I don’t know what happened inside the secret realm, or how you deceived me back then.”
Chi Lingyuan took a deep breath, her expression gradually calming down: “But you won’t be able to leave this mountain, not even a single step, let alone escape from this realm I control.”
“Pfft—”
Fu Qingning chuckled softly, her laughter growing louder as she clutched her stomach, wiping the tears from her eyes: “Chi Lingyuan, you’re so foolish. Although your cultivation is extraordinary, we weren’t sleeping during those four thousand years in the secret realm. We know your strength very well.
For example, this technique of yours, this cage, is nothing to me.”
As she spoke, she casually pointed her finger.
Several figures, men and women dressed in fine clothes, seemingly of high status, emerged from the void beside her.
But what surprised Lin Tianlu and Chi Lingyuan was…
These people’s faces were lifeless, their eyes empty and vacant, like controlled corpses!
“These are all Savage Realm cultivators. Although they might not be able to defeat you alone, they can stall you for a long time.”
Fu Qingning glanced sideways with a mischievous and strange smile: “Let me see how capable the man you trust so much is, Sister Lingyuan.”
Chi Lingyuan’s expression darkened, and she was about to speak when the puppets suddenly moved, charging towards her with a fierce and powerful aura, the surrounding clouds and mist churning!
“Ugh!”
In an instant, Chi Lingyuan was pushed back by several streaks of light, crashing into a distant cliff.
Lin Tianlu was about to go and rescue her when he glanced sideways and saw Fu Qingning appearing behind him like a phantom, landing lightly on the iron chain, blocking his path.
“You still have the time to be concerned about Chi Lingyuan’s safety, Master Lin?”
Fu Qingning waved her sleeve and smiled faintly: “Compared to her, your situation might be more precarious.”
Lin Tianlu frowned slightly, a faint light flickering in his eyes, immortal mist swirling around him, and the magnificent and brilliant scene of the scroll quickly reflected the woman before him.
“…You people of the ancient eight clans are truly insane.”
After a moment, he couldn’t help but show a look of shock, saying in a deep voice: “Or rather, you’re the only one who’s truly insane and delusional.”
This woman’s body was filled with countless souls, like the screams of a thousand ghosts, a surging sea of blood, the chaotic and dark killing intent burning fiercely, a scene of hell.
Since he encountered demons and ghosts, Lin Tianlu had never seen such a bizarre existence.
If this hidden power were to truly erupt, perhaps even First Elder, who had been possessed by the thousand-year-old obsession of the Moon Soul Sacred Sect, would be no match for her.
Fu Qingning smiled playfully: “It seems you have a keen eye, Master Lin, being able to see through my disguise.”
“What is your purpose?”
Lin Tianlu’s expression turned serious: “Are you truly planning to cause chaos and war in the world?”
“This demon and ghost world was created by our eight clans, what’s wrong with us destroying it ourselves?” Fu Qingning chuckled: “No more nonsense, show me your true abilities, I have no interest in such boring talk.
You were able to block one of my sword strikes just now, I wonder if you can block hundreds or even thousands of them?”
She waved her sleeve, extending her finger: “If you can’t, then you can die peacefully in this cage created by Chi Lingyuan. I would like to see that phoenix crying over your corpse.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a bright light erupted from her fingertip, and hundreds of illusory sword shadows materialized and shot out!
Lin Tianlu narrowed his gaze, his figure flickering repeatedly, dodging swiftly amidst the torrential rain of swords.
Until—
“Eh?”
Fu Qingning’s eyes widened slightly, her face stunned.
In that moment of distraction, his hand, fingers spread apart, had stopped right in front of her neck, a faint breeze rustling her hair.
Boom!
Countless sword shadows struck the distant mountain peaks, sending stones and debris flying, the howling wind making the iron chains beneath their feet sway slightly.
“—This battle is over.”
Lin Tianlu stood before her calmly: “You should surrender and explain everything.”
Fu Qingning was stunned for a moment.
Then, a look of admiration appeared on her face:
“Truly impressive! I didn’t expect such a talented individual to appear in this demon and ghost world!”
Meeting Lin Tianlu’s slightly narrowed gaze, Fu Qingning couldn’t help but chuckle: “Now it makes sense. That ancient Chihuang is usually cold and aloof, rarely interacting with outsiders. But now, she lets you hug and hold her so intimately, it proves that you possess extraordinary abilities, enough to make her willingly accept you.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“It’s simple.”
Fu Qingning tilted her head and gestured invitingly, a sweet and innocent smile on her face: “Why don’t we put aside our differences, abandon that foolish phoenix, and join forces to achieve great things, Master Lin?”
…
“It’s definitely something happening in the pond!”
Mao Ruoyu’s face was filled with anxiety as she hurriedly tried to investigate.
But as soon as she took a step, Youluo grabbed her shoulder.
“Why are you stopping—”
“Calm down.”
Youluo’s expression was serious as she waved her hand, dispelling the surrounding mist. She slowly walked forward, her fingertip glowing faintly, creating ripples on the water’s surface.
Mao Ruoyu looked at her in surprise: “This is…”
“Something’s wrong with the secret realm in this mountain.”
“C-Could it be that Miss Chi deceived us?”
“It’s probably not related to Chi Lingyuan.”
Youluo’s voice was calm and steady, and she mused: “It’s very likely that there’s a hidden danger within the secret realm, or even someone manipulating it from the inside.”
Mao Ruoyu was even more confused.
But just then, Youluo’s eyes narrowed sharply, and she grabbed the still-unresponsive Mao Ruoyu and quickly retreated.
—Clang!
Two semi-transparent blades pierced the spot where they had just been standing, their sharp edges trembling, emitting a piercing sound.
“It seems my guess was seven or eight parts correct.”
Youluo casually opened her folding fan, covering her mouth, and looked forward with a faint smile: “There’s still someone alive inside the secret realm.”
A slender young girl quickly emerged from the ripples in the water, stepping onto the shore, her hands behind her back, chuckling softly: “Guests of the secret realm, how about I entertain you?”
“So it was you.”
Youluo narrowed her eyes and sneered mockingly: “The last leader of the declining ancient eight clans, the Shaoqing Emperor, Fu Qingning.”
Fu Qingning exclaimed softly, a surprised look on her face:
“I didn’t expect anyone in this world to still recognize me.”
“Quite a few people know you.”
Youluo waved her folding fan and chuckled: “After all, you’re the one who brought about the downfall of the ancient eight clans, how could I forget?”
