Day broke. The shadow had not returned to the stronghold. Yan Zhao and the Little Fox had also left without saying goodbye, never to return.
Lei Shuang felt there was no point staying in the stronghold and said she was going into the mountains to hunt birds and catch fish.
During the morning meal, the main tent was cold and cheerless.
Ah Ling served the food in front of Feng Jin, glanced at the spot where Yan Zhao used to sit, and felt the atmosphere in the room had become gloomy with one person missing.
Feng Jin ate her meal in silence.
When she finished and set down her chopsticks, she noticed that the food in Ah Ling’s bowl beside her hadn’t been touched at all.
Feng Jin frowned: “Why aren’t you eating?”
Ah Ling’s expression was complicated.
She seemed to have something to say but didn’t know how to start.
Feng Jin put down her bowl and chopsticks and sat up slightly straighter: “If you have something to say, just say it.”
Ah Ling glanced at her quickly, then lowered her gaze again, her mood dejected: “I was wondering, how much longer will you stay in the stronghold?”
Feng Jin was puzzled: “Why would you think such a thing?”
Ah Ling answered her: “I don’t know, but I also understand that the people who’ve come to the stronghold in the past few days are all very unusual. I keep feeling like something is about to happen.”
“If something really happened to Fuyun Sect, would you just sit back and do nothing?”
Feng Jin was silent.
For once, Ah Ling didn’t throw a tantrum and argue with Feng Jin. She picked up the wine pot on the table, poured a cup of wine, and gently pushed it in front of Feng Jin.
“I used to always think you just happened to be passing through this place.”
Ah Ling carefully pondered her words. “But in the past two days, having seen more people, I’ve reconsidered. Maybe, two years ago, from the very beginning, you agreed to stay because this place is very close to Fuyun Sect.”
Feng Jin was somewhat surprised, not expecting Ah Ling to have such a perceptive and sensitive side.
Ah Ling gathered her courage and voiced the question tangled in her heart: “Can you tell me? What is your connection to Fuyun Sect? And what kind of place is Fog Devil Ravine?”
Feng Jin rubbed the rim of the wine cup, pondered for a moment, and sighed helplessly.
“The Taixu has the Nine Heavens, divided into the Three Realms of Humans, Gods, and Devils. The Divine Realm is called the Upper Three Heavens, Devils and Demons stand together in the Lower Three Heavens, and the Mortal Realm lies between.”
“The Three Realms of Humans, Gods, and Devils are separated, with no passage between them. Only a few who have attained the Dao can break through the void and roam the Nine Heavens. Fog Devil Ravine is the entrance leading to the Devil Realm.”
“Among the Three Realms, only humans are the weakest.”
“Whether Immortal Cultivators or Devil Cultivators, all who have aptitude and encounter opportunities, who absorb the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth, pass through Lightning Tribulation, and extend their lifespan, do so in the hope of one day casting off their mortal flesh, either to prove their Dao and ascend to the Immortal Palace, or to temper their bodies with Profound Devil Arts, transcending the Five Elements.”
Feng Jin lifted the wine cup and drained it in one gulp.
“I was once a Devil Cultivator.”
Ah Ling was astonished.
Feng Jin took out her bonded Magic Treasure, the Profound Frost Bow personally forged by Immortal Venerable Yuanqing, and placed it on the table.
“I was young and hot-headed, making too many enemies. Chased by numerous foes and cornered, I was saved by someone. That person was Fuyun Sect’s Immortal Venerable Yuanqing.”
“After Immortal Venerable Yuanqing learned of my identity, instead of eliminating the Devil and defending the Dao, she healed my wounds and gifted me a Magical Artifact for protection.”
“But not long after that, an upheaval occurred within Fuyun Sect. Due to a delay in my message delivery, Immortal Venerable Yuanqing perished. I was also injured in that battle, my cultivation plummeting to the Body Tempering Realm, with no hope of further breakthroughs in this life.”
“I wandered outside for many years, never settling down. Somehow, I returned to the place where I first met Immortal Venerable Yuanqing. Originally, I was just revisiting old haunts and reminiscing about old friends. I never expected to meet you all.”
After finishing, Feng Jin turned her head to look out the window.
She recalled that night when the moonlight was clear, Ren Qingyue holding a sword to her throat, saying she was Immortal Venerable Yuanqing’s head disciple.
The sword in her hand was indeed the one Immortal Venerable Yuanqing had given.
Ah Ling lowered her head, remaining silent.
Before she asked, she thought Feng Jin wouldn’t say, and she could still hold onto some hope.
But she hadn’t expected that Feng Jin not only spoke, but held nothing back.
The truth of the matter wasn’t so hard for her to accept; it was just a faint trace of sorrow lingering in her heart.
These words shattered her last shred of wishful thinking.
She and Feng Jin were indeed from two different worlds.
After Feng Jin finished her story, Ah Ling cleared the bowls and chopsticks from the table.
As she turned away, her steps halted.
“You are also my Benefactor who saved my life.”
With that, Ah Ling left with the dishes.
The moment she was gone, Lei Shuang appeared out of nowhere in the room, shaking her head and tutting: “My, my, what a delicate atmosphere. Did I come at a bad time?”
Feng Jin glared at her: “Why didn’t you just die out there?”
“Don’t be so heartless.” Lei Shuang draped herself over the table, grinning cheekily. “I was afraid I couldn’t persuade you before, but I didn’t expect you to hold Immortal Venerable Yuanqing’s kindness in such high regard. There’s an opportunity to repay that debt right now. Are you in or not?”
Feng Jin frowned, not answering.
Lei Shuang pulled something from her robe and placed it in front of Feng Jin: “Take a look at this first.”
Feng Jin glanced at the Jade Slip on the table. After a moment of hesitation, she reached for it.
The Jade Slip recorded a short segment of footage.
In a dense forest, a long rainbow flashed. The void shimmered, swirling into a portal.
Some Cultivators tried to force their way in, but were repelled by a powerful force of law.
Feng Jin was puzzled: “What is this?”
Lei Shuang answered her: “There are rumors going around that the Xuanhuang Secret Realm has appeared, but I don’t know if it’s true.”
The Xuanhuang Secret Realm.
These words struck like thunder.
Two nights ago, when Black Sky Tyrant had captured Yan Zhao, he had also interrogated Feng Jin, demanding she hand over the Key to the Xuanhuang Secret Realm.
Lei Shuang fiddled with the Jade Slip, playing with it in her hand, meanwhile saying: “Do you still have the Key to the Xuanhuang Secret Realm?”
Three hundred years ago, when she was the Tianqing Arrow Devil under the Devil Lord, the reason she was hunted day and night was precisely because of this Xuanhuang Secret Realm.
Later, the Xuanhuang Secret Realm was sealed by someone, and she was injured and went into seclusion. Fewer people knew her true identity, and things gradually calmed down.
Facing Lei Shuang’s expectant gaze, Feng Jin could only sigh helplessly.
She shook her head and answered: “It’s no longer with me. I gave it to someone else.”
Lei Shuang was stunned: “Who?”
Feng Jin cleared her throat: “Immortal Venerable Yuanqing.”
·
Yan Zhao hugged the Little Fox close and went back to sleep.
The Little Fox was angry, but could do nothing about her. As it fumed, it grew sleepy, so it curled up into a ball in Yan Zhao’s arms, rested its head on her arm, and comfortably fell asleep.
Waking again at noon, Yan Zhao was fully rested and no longer sleepy, but her stomach was hungry.
She opened the Map once more and studied it carefully.
On the map, a small flag was drawn near Turtle Back Mountain, indicating an Immortal Market there.
An Immortal Market, as the name suggests, was a place where Immortal Cultivators bought, sold, and traded.
Yan Zhao thought: Since I’m here, I might as well go take a look. Maybe I can find something to eat.
The Little Fox was still sleeping, so Yan Zhao didn’t disturb it. She picked it up and tucked it in her robes, then headed straight for the Immortal Market.
The Immortal Market wasn’t large, but it resembled a bustling small town, with many pavilions and towers built. Many Rogue Cultivators flew back and forth on their swords within the market.
Yan Zhao passed the large stone at the entrance and saw a few words written on it: Wuyou Immortal Market.
The moment she stepped through the market gate, numerous gazes were cast her way.
Although the Immortal Market primarily provided a trading place for Cultivators, the market actually attracted all kinds of people.
Naturally, this included some from the Devil Dao.
As soon as Yan Zhao showed her face, her outstanding appearance quickly drew many eyes.
Immortal Cultivators had restrained auras and ageless faces. Good-looking people were common, but a face as unforgettable as Yan Zhao’s was rare.
Last night, Ren Qingyue had hidden her in the water, and she was soaked through when she got out. Ren Qingyue took that opportunity to change her clothes. So now, the looks directed at her were mostly curious, guessing at her identity and origin.
To prevent mortals from accidentally wandering in, the Immortal Market had a formation set up around its perimeter. Under normal circumstances, no mortal should be able to enter.
Yan Zhao seemed to exude no Spiritual Qi fluctuations, like a mortal, but if she could find her way inside the Immortal Market, she must have a Magic Treasure to conceal her aura.
Being watched by so many people, Yan Zhao was completely unaffected. She walked alone on the streets of the Immortal Market, looking left and right.
The pavilions mostly sold Magical Artifacts, treasures, Talismans, and Medicinal Pills. There were very few things she could eat.
After a brief tour, Yan Zhao was a little disappointed.
Inwardly, she gave the Immortal Market her evaluation: It looks dazzling and impressive, but it’s only good on the surface.
Just as she was about to leave, a figure suddenly appeared before her, blocking her path.
A man in gray robes held a Wooden Box in his hands, smiling ingratiatingly at Yan Zhao: “Miss Immortal Friend, I have a top-quality Demon Core here. Would you care to take a look?”
Yan Zhao’s nose twitched as she caught a faint, subtle fragrance.
This man wasn’t lying.
“Alright.”
The man immediately opened the Wooden Box in front of Yan Zhao.
In the pavilion on the right, a man in azure robes sat by the window, a cup of tea at his side.
Across from him, a young woman of delicate features, dressed like a scholar, muttered quietly:
“It’s that scoundrel again! Last time he tricked us, yet he managed to escape. That young lady looks quite youthful, likely just starting out. She’s bound to be deceived. Should we lend a hand?”
The man picked up his teacup and took a light sip. “The only reason we got tricked last time was because you didn’t listen. Before we left, Father repeatedly warned us to have less dealings with Cultivators and not to meddle. Have you forgotten?”
The woman pouted, unhappy with his words: “Even so, you can’t paint everyone with the same brush. Some people are bad, but some are good. Look how innocent that girl is.”
The man’s gaze moved to the two people downstairs. He wasn’t very interested. Even if he wanted to teach the scoundrel a lesson, it shouldn’t be in the middle of the street.
He set down his teacup, about to rise and leave the tea house, when his expression suddenly changed.
In the next instant, the man vanished from in front of the table, appearing out of nowhere on the street downstairs.
The girl at the table was dumbfounded, utterly confused: “Who was it just now who said not to meddle?”
She paused a beat, realized what was happening, and hurriedly chased after him.
“Hey! Wait for me!”
·
When the Wooden Box opened, a strange fragrance emanated from within.
In Yan Zhao’s arms, the Little Fox’s nose twitched. Its eyes snapped open, filled with shock.
There’s something off about this scent!
A smug smile tugged at the corner of the man selling the Demon Core’s lips.
This fragrance contained a strange poison that dispersed Spiritual Qi, rendering Cultivators unable to use their Dharma Power. Even those at the Body Tempering Realm, if they caught a whiff, would fall unconscious for two hours.
Just then, a hand reached out from the side and clamped down on his wrist.
The man turned back in shock, his face drastically changing color: “It’s you?!”
This was the young master from a prominent family he had tricked not long ago.
The Azure-Robed Young Master ignored him and directly addressed Yan Zhao: “Miss, quickly hold your breath! This Demon Core is coated with poison! It’s harmful to your cultivation. You mustn’t inhale it for long!”
“You!” The gray-robed man flushed with panic and rage. “Don’t you slander me!”
Yan Zhao’s eyes blinked, taking in neither of their words.
Right in front of them, she reached out and grabbed the Demon Core from the Wooden Box.
“Gulp.”
Eaten in one bite.
Miss Yan…