Chapter 157: You Guys Carry On, I Took the Wrong Path

Chapter 157: Please Continue, I Took the Wrong Path

Heaven and Earth Cave.

A youthful voice rang out.

"That sun in the sky has mutated once more—I wonder if this is... a good omen, or a bad one."

A seductive female voice chuckled: "This at least involves the struggles of the Great Venerables; we should not trouble ourselves with such useless matters. We ought to think instead: have we worked hard these years? Have we opened another divine aperture?"

"Youqing Venerable remains as amusing as ever," an aged voice sounded. "Let us not speak of such things again."

These three were precisely the three Yin Gods of the Eastern Lands, also the organizers of the Eastern Lands Genius Battle.

Of course, in reality, the Eastern Lands Genius Battle was entirely hosted by Ye Qiong Venerable.

The other two never interfered, and what they were communicating now was merely an incarnation.

Their true bodies had long since entered slumber and seclusion, cultivating divine apertures.

"In another half month, the Eastern Lands Genius Battle will conclude, and the gates of Wangyue Continent will soon open. I wonder... on Wangyue Continent, can we secure a place for ourselves?" the seductive female voice said, her tone carrying an inexplicable sorrow.

"The Mara Clan... are truly powerful," the aged voice lamented. "Without borrowing the strength of other Yin Gods, we cannot contend with the Mara Clan."

The youthful voice then spoke: "Seek help from other Yin Gods? That would be handing Wangyue Continent over to them—absolutely unacceptable!"

"But the Mara Clan has a Heaven-Stepping Two-Step powerhouse!" the aged voice said again.

At the mention of Heaven-Stepping Two-Step, the other Yin Gods on the scene fell into silence.

They were all at Heaven-Stepping One-Step, with only a scattered few divine apertures opened.

Facing a Heaven-Stepping Two-Step Yin God, they were no match at all.

At this moment, the seductive female voice said: "I heard that some time ago, a Blood-Robed Sword God destroyed the Bright Palace. The battle remnants cast out from the Void Realm are no ordinary things. This indicates that within the Void Realm, a battle at the Heaven-Stepping Two-Step level once occurred. Is this Blood-Robed Sword God at Heaven-Stepping Two-Step?"

"No, his body bears no divinity; he is not a Yin God."

"Could it be that he also possesses a powerful Yin God artifact?" the female voice grew greedy.

"Why do I not have a Yin God artifact!" the aged voice complained.

Below Heaven-Stepping Two-Step, a Yin God's own divine spiritual power is insufficient even for opening divine apertures—how could they waste it on condensing a Yin God artifact?

"If only the Blood-Robed Sword God would die on Wangyue Continent, that would be wonderful," the seductive female voice laughed. "Then I could pick up that Yin God artifact."

"You really are daydreaming—would the Mara Clan give up a Yin God artifact?"

"Ye Qiong, sending the Blood-Robed Sword God into Wangyue Continent—what a deep scheme."

"This Venerable did not scheme against him; he himself wished to enter Wangyue Continent. This Venerable merely fulfilled his small wish. As for dying on Wangyue Continent, that is not my fault," the youthful voice said with great righteousness.

...

Undercurrents surged in the Eastern Lands.

The small Great Shang was also unsettled at this time.

The sect master of Divine Light Sect, Kumu Zhenjun, had been fraught with anxiety these past few days.

With Mukong dead in Divine Light Sect, Red Sword Sect would have even more reason to attack Divine Light Sect.

That Supreme Elder of Red Sword Sect, though his severe injuries had not healed, was after all a Purple Mansion.

Purple Mansion and Divine Infant are fundamentally different levels of existence.

Just as Yin God and Purple Mansion are also different levels.

The sect's grand formation had already been activated, awaiting the arrival of Red Sword Sect's Supreme Elder for battle.

Just then, a terrifying aura swept across the sky.

Kumu Zhenjun's expression changed slightly: "Purple Mansion?"

The elders and stewards of Divine Light Sect also turned solemn.

"They really came!"

"It's over, Divine Light Sect is finished!"

"No, it's not just one—it's two Purple Mansions!" Kumu Zhenjun sensed two powerful auras, and his heart fell into utter despair.

One Purple Mansion could easily annihilate Divine Light Sect, let alone two.

That old undying Purple Mansion of Red Sword Sect even found someone to help?

Too shameless!

"Sect Master, let's fight them to the death!" a Golden Core elder said indignantly.

"Swear to defend the sect!"

Within the sect, all hearts were as one.

At this moment, outside the sect, Mei Shan and Xu Yeli looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Did we come to the wrong place?"

"Probably not."

"Why does it feel like they see us as a great enemy?"

The two were puzzled.

Finally, they spoke.

"Mei Shan of the Blood-Robed Alliance specially comes to visit the sect master of Divine Light Sect!"

"Xu Yeli of the Blood-Robed Alliance specially comes to visit the sect master of Divine Light Sect!"

The voices rolled forth, piercing the mountain-protecting grand formation, directly entering the ears of all Divine Light Sect disciples and elders.

These elders and disciples looked at each other in confusion.

"Blood-Robed Alliance—what is that?"

"What's going on? Isn't it Red Sword Sect?"

Kumu Zhenjun was baffled, and Xuanchong Elder was also perplexed.

The elders flew to the sect's main gate and looked outside.

A look of astonishment appeared in Kumu Zhenjun's eyes.

Because the two old men before him had auras as deep as the sea.

Especially the one in front—he did not seem like an ordinary Purple Mansion.

Such a powerful figure—what business did he have at Divine Light Sect?

"You are the Sovereign of the Divine Radiance Sect?" Meishan glanced at Withered Wood True Lord, his attitude remarkably cordial toward a Divine Infant.

After all, this was an elder of the Blood-Robe Sword God.

"I am Withered Wood, Sovereign of the Divine Radiance Sect. May I ask who you two are?" Withered Wood True Lord felt puzzled.

"Our Blood-Robe Alliance's leader has a gift for you," Meishan said.

A purple-gold gourd appeared in his hand.

Before the sect's protective grand formation, the gourd seemed unimpeded, directly entering the Divine Radiance Sect and landing in Withered Wood True Lord's hands.

"The Purple-Gold Gourd?" Staring at the familiar gourd, Withered Wood True Lord's eyes showed shock.

This was the lost supreme treasure of his Wood Clan!

A thousand years had passed since he last saw the clan's treasure!

And now, it had appeared!

Xuan Chong stared at the Purple-Gold Gourd, his eyes fixed on it as well.

The rest of the sect were bewildered, not understanding why the Sovereign and Elder Xuan Chong reacted so strongly.

Withered Wood True Lord's heart surged with emotion, holding the supreme treasure, past scenes flooding his mind.

He gazed at the treasure, yet a flicker of doubt crossed his face.

The Purple-Gold Gourd was listed as a reward on the Eastern Lands Prodigy Ranking.

How did it come to be here?

Suddenly, he thought of Qi Yuan and Kang Fulu.

He had only revealed matters of his identity and the treasure to these two.

Now that the treasure had returned, it must be connected to them!

Who was it?

Withered Wood True Lord first ruled out Kang Fulu.

After all, Kang Fulu was his son-in-law; he knew his capabilities well.

Only Qi Yuan, the disciple of Ruan Yixi, truly eluded his understanding.

Many thoughts raced through his mind.

Could it be that Qi Yuan, that pretty face, had caught the eye of the Blood-Robe Alliance's leader?

He had to admit, Withered Wood True Lord found it possible.

Though Qi Yuan was frivolous, his looks were outstanding; unofficially, he was ranked tenth among the Ten Beauties of Great Shang.

If not for his overly striking personality, he might have been first.

It was quite plausible that he had been taken as a dao companion by some senior.

Qi Yuan had sacrificed greatly for him—Withered Wood True Lord felt moved.

Were these the two subordinates Jiang Lingsu had mentioned?

If so, it was easy to explain.

Withered Wood True Lord asked, "May I ask, senior, is the Blood-Robe Alliance's leader male or female?"

"Naturally, male."

Withered Wood True Lord's expression stiffened, his gratitude beyond measure.

Qi Yuan's sacrifice... was truly immense.

"The leader also said that you are his elder, and he has received much care from you. There is another gift for you," Meishan said.

Withered Wood True Lord was stunned.

Elder?

Care?

Had his earlier thoughts been wrong?

Did he know the Blood-Robe Alliance's leader?

Could it be...

As for the gift, he didn't dwell on it.

Then, Meishan spoke with a smile in his eyes: "Look, sir, who is this?"

Xu Yeli pushed forward, and a figure tumbled into the Divine Radiance Sect.

"Purple Mansion!"

"Is this a Purple Mansion?"

The figure's aura was withered, bound by Immortal Binding Ropes, but any Divine Infant who looked upon it could tell—that was a Purple Mansion!

A Purple Mansion, bound by a magical artifact, thrown before them like a dead dog—how could they not be shocked!

After all, in their lives, this was the first time they had seen a Purple Mansion so close.

Elder Xuan Chong's eyes fell on the Purple Mansion's face, his heart jolting, endless emotions surging.

"Hong Lian... that old scoundrel!"

The man before him was none other than Hong Lian, the old scoundrel!

The one who had forced the Saint Empress to death, destroyed the Wood Clan, and slaughtered his entire family and clan!

That face—how could he ever forget it?

Night after night, in his dreams, he always saw that arrogant face!

Withered Wood True Lord's excitement was no less than Xuan Chong's.

He stared intently at Hong Lian, his heart shaken, both exhilarated and puzzled.

"The leader said this man is at your disposal.

We must return to the Blood-Robe Alliance to report.

To avoid any mishap, sir, you might as well behead Hong Lian publicly," Meishan suggested.

A public beheading meant a decapitation ceremony. After all, with such a blood feud, killing him easily would hardly satisfy the hatred.

In the Canglan Realm, decapitation ceremonies were often held.

Withered Wood True Lord looked at Meishan and Xu Yeli, bowing solemnly: "Thank you both, and thank the Blood-Robe Alliance's leader!"

He did not know who the Blood-Robe Alliance's leader was, but it was certainly deeply connected to Qi Yuan, perhaps even...

He turned to Hong Lian, hatred blazing in his eyes.

He wished he could devour his flesh and swallow his bones.

Half an hour later.

The decapitation ceremony began.

Lord Witheredwood’s expression was solemn.

Hong Lian lay like a dead dog, his eyes filled with terror.

“Kill me, and the Water Fairy Isle will go to war with the Emerald Cloud Isle!” he struggled, unwilling to die.

Even more unwilling to die at the hands of a weakling Divine Infant.

In the Divine Radiance Sect, many elders and disciples watched this scene, their faces struck with awe.

After all, in their entire lives, they had never seen a Zifu cultivator.

The first time they saw one, it was to witness his beheading—how extraordinary.

Lord Witheredwood held his longsword, waiting to sever the head in one stroke, avenging his clan.

At that moment, a terrifying aura swept through once more.

“Killing my disciple—Divine Radiance Sect, what audacity!”

“It seems that too long out of the world has made the name of Zifu worthless?”

“Today, the Divine Radiance Sect shall know no peace!”

A Zifu grandmaster in a brown robe appeared outside the Divine Radiance Sect, his face twisted with rage.

He looked at Lord Witheredwood, his gaze faltering.

For he saw a bound Zifu.

That Zifu’s aura was vast and deep—a mid-stage Zifu cultivator.

How could such a powerful cultivator be bound here?

He was bewildered.

And then, a fervent voice rang out.

“The auspicious hour has come! Sacrifice! Kill!”

With that voice, the longsword in Lord Witheredwood’s hand blazed with light.

Shiiing!

With a single stroke, Hong Lian’s noble head fell to the ground, rolling in the dust.

His soul, too, was bound by the immortal rope, slowly fading into nothing.

Only then did the others turn their gaze to the old man in brown.

The old man stood in the void, his mind blank.

What had he just witnessed?

A mid-stage Zifu grandmaster beheaded by the Divine Radiance Sect?

Had he come to the wrong place, or was he still dreaming?

“Carry on… I took the wrong path…” The matter was too bizarre; better to leave at once.

But then, a gentle voice came from behind: “Fellow Daoist, please stay.”

The brown-robed old man’s body stiffened.

Zifu… late stage!

…

Half a month slipped by in a flash.

“Hmm, the progress on the Golden Core path is gratifying. The solar true fire I’ve accumulated… is it enough to swallow a star now?”

Qi Yuan mused.

After thinking it over, he decided to stockpile more.

After all, devouring a star was not like devouring a planet.

The two were fundamentally different.

Moreover, if he remembered correctly, every star around him was larger than he was.

He had swallowed over a dozen planets, but compared to those stars, the gap was still immense.

“If I gather a bit more solar true fire and swallow a star in one go, I should be able to defeat the Venerable Ye Qiong, right?”

Qi Yuan pondered.

“Until I devour a new star, I need to keep a low profile.”

Qi Yuan felt he was still too weak.

“Ah, why is my Golden Core in another world? If it were here, I’d dare to charge straight at the Yang God!”

Of course, Qi Yuan was just talking.

Without knowing how strong the Yang God was, he wouldn’t recklessly rush in.

“Alliance Leader!” the Cloud Court Lord called from outside the hall.

Qi Yuan’s eyes lit up at the voice: “Has the Eastern Land Prodigy Battle ended?”

“Yes, it’s over. The Moon-Gazing Continent has opened.” The Cloud Court Lord entered the hall.

Qi Yuan was delighted: “Let’s go. I want to go to the Moon-Gazing Continent.”

Hearing this, the Cloud Court Lord’s face grew solemn: “The situation on the Moon-Gazing Continent is unclear. Apart from those three venerables, no one likely knows what’s happening inside.

If the Alliance Leader enters rashly, there may be danger. Why not select some juniors to go in and scout first?”

At present, the only Yin God foundation in the Emerald Cloud Isle was the Blood-Robed Sword God.

If something happened to the Blood-Robed Sword God, when the great calamity came, they Zifu cultivators would have no hope of survival.

“What you say makes sense,” Qi Yuan nodded. “If the Venerable Ye Qiong ambushes me, I’d lose big.”

The Cloud Court Lord smiled: “Shall I make arrangements now?”

“Why arrange for others? Can’t I do it myself?” As Qi Yuan spoke, his features shifted dramatically, and his blood-red robe changed into a dark one. “I was originally a Yuan Dan cultivator. Before, I only pretended to be a Zifu in front of you. Now I’ve returned to my true form.

As a mere Yuan Dan, if I enter, no one should pay me any mind, right?”

The Cloud Court Lord fell silent, unsure what to say.

…

At the entrance to the Moon-Gazing Continent.

Prodigies gathered.

The top nineteen of the Prodigy Ranking were all assembled here.

Gu Xiaoyao, clad in dark robes, had achieved the Heavenly Dao Foundation and rightfully claimed first place in this Prodigy Ranking.

The Great Wisdom True Lord stood still, eyes closed, dozing off.

Jiang Ya was also among the crowd, her expression calm.

Xu Tongchen’s eyes now blazed with sharpness.

The Bright Palace fell, and he no longer concealed his abilities. The solar true fire incinerated everything, propelling him into the top twenty.

“And the last one—when will he arrive? I’m curious to see which prodigy dares to sneak through the back door,” spoke the woman from the Water Immortal Isle, her voice laced with a hint of mockery.

She ranked third on the Eastern Land Prodigy List, her water techniques far surpassing ordinary cultivators. Those ranked twentieth to thirtieth on the list were no match for her in a single encounter.

The assembled prodigies cast wary glances at Ling Jiao, their eyes filled with caution.

Ling Jiao had reason to be proud.

First, her talent was extraordinary.

Second, she hailed from the Water Cloud Palace, which possessed a Yin Spirit artifact.

Third, her mother was the most cherished youngest daughter of a Yin Spirit from the Northern Lands.

She was a true female prodigy born with a silver spoon.

“Apologies, apologies—I’m a bit late,” a voice suddenly rang out.

The crowd turned to see a “bulky” figure.

The man wore layer upon layer of Dharma robes; a rough count revealed dozens.

Each robe appeared exceedingly precious.

On his head sat a dragon crown, obscuring his face and rendering it unidentifiable.

Most absurdly, he carried a turtle shell on both his back and chest.

In his hands, he clutched bundles and bags.

“I’m a bit late—please, have some steamed buns and soy milk on me.”

This “bulky” person was, of course, Qi Yuan.

Entering the Moon-Gazing Continent this time, he had made extensive preparations, donning numerous defensive Dharma robes and plastering himself with dense talismans inside.

Before devouring a second star, Qi Yuan resolved to turn over a new leaf and keep a low profile.

First, he would disguise his identity to avoid being recognized by the Venerable Ye Qiong.

That was why he arrived later than the others.

Of course, it wasn’t truly late, as the entrance to the Moon-Gazing Continent had yet to fully open.

The buns and soy milk floated from his hands toward the assembled prodigies.

The other nineteen prodigies exchanged glances before catching the buns and soy milk.

Only Ling Jiao snorted coldly, waving her hand to knock the soy milk and buns to the ground.

Qi Yuan looked at Ling Jiao, his face full of self-reproach: “Alas, I thought everyone, like me, preferred sweet soy milk, so I bought the sweet kind.

I didn’t realize you liked salty—I should have bought you salty instead.”

Ling Jiao stared at Qi Yuan, disdain evident in her eyes: “I thought someone had sneaked in through the back door, but it’s just a coward hiding his face, afraid to show his true form.”

Doubt stirred in her heart.

Wasn’t it the Blood-Robed Sword God?

This man before her lacked any aura of a powerhouse—he couldn’t be the Blood-Robed Sword God.

Who was he, then?

She needed to find out who had replaced the Blood-Robed Sword God in entering the Moon-Gazing Continent.

This was a task her mother had entrusted to her.

That was why she deliberately provoked Qi Yuan.

The other prodigies present also watched Qi Yuan with curiosity.

Only Xu Tongchen wore a strange expression, avoiding Qi Yuan’s gaze.

“How am I hiding my face? I’ve just put on a few extra layers of clothes.

Aren’t you wearing clothes too? How can you say I’m not showing my true form?

Pot calling the kettle black, isn’t it?

How about this: you take off one piece of clothing, and I’ll take off one too—then we’ll both reveal our true forms?” Qi Yuan said earnestly.

Ling Jiao’s expression shifted slightly at his words.

How many clothes was she wearing?

This man was wearing dozens!

Shameless!

The other prodigies watched the scene with amusement.

Just then, the Great Wisdom True Lord, munching on a bun, spoke up: “I think this brother has a point—let’s all strip together.”

“Hmph!” Ling Jiao snorted coldly and said no more.

In her heart, she had marked Qi Yuan.

Her earlier provocation had been at her mother’s behest.

Now, a real grudge had been formed!

(End of chapter)