https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-419-Minor-Achievement-of-the-Heaven-Phoenix-s-Immortal-True-Form/12554626/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-421-Leading-the-Enemy-into-a-Trap/12554628/
Chapter 420: Shen Yi, Rubbing Salt in the Wound (Two-in-One)
Chapter 420: Shen Yi, Rubbing Salt in the Wound (Two-in-One)
"Quiet, everyone."
With a gentle reminder, Tang Yuan and Li Qingfeng, whose minds were clearly unsettled, immediately fell silent.
This was because the request came from Nie Jun.
The usually unrestrained Elder Brother Nie had been acting out of character for the past dozen or so days.
Not only had he confined himself to the courtyard, but he had also summoned their fellow sect members and forbidden the rest from leaving.
Even his ever-present wine gourd had been absent for many days, causing Li Qingfeng to stammer, "Brother... now that everything has been resolved, I want to go back to Wutong Mountain to take a look."
"..."
Nie Jun sat with his legs crossed, his eyes half-closed, and did not respond.
He was doing something he used to detest—being indecisive.
Ever since he found out that his master had completely given up on this group of disciples, he had unknowingly become the only one who could take care of these junior brothers and sisters.
The freedom and carefree days of seeking revenge were suddenly shackled by invisible chains.
Now, he dared not take any action that might provoke that old dog.
"Sigh."
Tong Xinquan quietly sighed. Judging from his senior brother's reaction, this matter was far from over.
The pressure seemed even greater than before.
If Shen Yi and the master could reach a consensus, the situation might improve.
But these two seemed destined to never trust each other. One believed that the master was not of the same mind and would never hand over what he wanted to protect.
The other did not trust Shen Yi to follow her way of doing things. This independent young man who did not take orders would certainly not be included in her plans.
"We are all fellow sect members, no need to hide anything. What did she say to you?"
Thinking of this, Tong Xinquan slowly stood up.
Nie Jun finally opened his eyes and glanced at him, saying indifferently, "Before I figure things out, everyone should just stay quietly here."
As the strongest among their fellow sect members, he had been striving to break through the perfect stage of the Nascent Soul realm. His so-called 'figuring things out' meant breaking through to the next realm.
Without reaching that level, he would be unable to save anything.
Just then, everyone looked towards the courtyard entrance.
A familiar figure strolled in nonchalantly, standing at the doorway, and calmly asked, "I plan to go out for a while. Who wants to come with me?"
Li Qingfeng was the first to jump up. "Where are we going? I'll come!"
He had been cooped up for too long.
Tang Yuan dared not speak, but his eyes were full of anticipation.
Nie Jun seemed to have expected this and his face changed slightly.
As expected, the next moment, he heard those familiar three words.
"Thousand Demon Cave."
Shen Yi stood with his hands behind his back, his voice calm as if he were talking about an insignificant teahouse instead of the dangerous place occupied by a Return Void realm demon.
Tong Xinquan looked at his senior brother with a strange expression.
He wondered if his senior brother's earlier statement, "everyone," included Shen Yi.
Before the words had finished echoing.
Jiang Qiuluan had already gotten up and stood beside Shen Yi.
Ling Xi hesitated for a moment, then followed suit, walking towards her junior sister. Although she found Shen Yi extremely reliable, after experiencing many events, she still could not forget how ruthless he had been when he took action. She felt both respect and fear towards him, and having Jiang Qiuluan by her side helped ease her mind.
Nie Jun fell silent. "..."
The next moment, Tong Xinquan slowly started walking.
"Whoa, we're going too."
Li Qingfeng hesitated for a moment, then dragged Tang Yuan along as he rushed over. With so many of their sect members going, he couldn't just sit back and watch his senior brothers and sisters follow Shen Yi on some adventure without him.
"Uh..."
Miao Qinghui and Yu Chaoan hesitated, their eyes darting between Nie Jun and Shen Yi.
"If you want to go, then go."
Nie Jun slowly stood up, picked up his sword, and walked towards Shen Yi.
He really wanted to know just how far this young man could go in the current situation.
"..."
Shen Yi looked at the group, not quite understanding why they were all wearing such solemn expressions.
He just wanted to explore the remaining treasure sites and bring along a few knowledgeable people to help him identify some items.
Since a battle with the old dog was inevitable, he naturally wanted to improve his strength as much as possible before the fight.
As Shen Yi turned and walked out of the Martial Temple.
A large group of people had gathered behind him.
Xu Qing'er and her aunt, a group of newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivators, and even the old ancestor of the Martial Temple were eager to join the expedition.
"You can't go, Da Qian needs you."
Zhu Que patted Wu Dao'an on the shoulder and pointed to the offering table inside the main hall. "Be a good boy, and you can sit however you like now."
"Hey! Zhu Que, you..." Wu Dao'an opened his mouth to retort, but before he could finish, he saw Zhu Que floating towards Shen Yi without a backward glance.
Almost everyone within the scope of Nanyang Sect was curious about the Thousand Demon Cave. It was a mysterious place that they could only explore by risking their lives.
Within it lay various heavenly treasures and opportunities that had caused countless factions to rise to prominence.
As she had guessed, that little rascal was counting on the fact that she wouldn't be able to bear abandoning all hope of leaving the Nanyang Sect. That was why he was so boldly leading this large group to provoke the old dog.
Forcing her to follow.
That damn Shen, he even wants to provoke Zhang Laifu?!
Could it be that he thinks death isn't coming fast enough?!
Gritting her teeth, she ultimately rode the clouds to follow them.
...
Deep within the Thousand Demon Cave, the old dog lay on a meditation mat below the statue of the sect's ancestor, its eyes having remained open for days without rest.
It needed to sense the moment when the Spirit Emperor broke free of his seal, so it could strike and kill him.
That terrifyingly powerful phoenix demon was not something an ordinary disciple of the Nanyang Sect could subdue; it had to be slaughtered while still young.
However, just like the outside cultivators, the demons and devils also dared not breach the sect's grand formation.
On this point, this true and proper disciple of the Nanyang Sect had reached a consensus with the group of beasts.
Just then, Zhang Laifu suddenly pricked up his ears, looking towards the outside of the main hall.
The next moment, his cloudy eyes turned bloodshot, and his expression became fierce. "How dare you?!"
Such a diverse array of auras, from those at the Golden Core stage to Nascent Soul, and even Yin Soul cultivators.
They had blatantly entered the inner sect of the Nanyang Sect without any disguise!
Without presenting an offering or informing the sect's ancestor, this group of mortals had turned this sacred place of immortals into their backyard!
"Do you think my minions' claws aren't sharp enough?"
The old dog whirled around and strode towards the entrance of the main hall, the iron chains around its neck dragging noisily on the ground.
It had sensed that familiar aura.
It was that youth who had eaten one of its claws and, relying on the Nanyang Sect's robe, barely survived. Instead of fleeing, he had dared to plunder the Spirit Plant Garden.
Perhaps his previous strike had caused him to completely lose his reverence, as he was now brazenly returning with an even larger group.
He must be killed!
Zhang Laifu stepped out of the front hall, taking half a step forward.
In that instant, his eyes caught sight of the iron chains on the ground.
He knew not where the Reclusive Immortal of Wutong Mountain was, nor the location of the spirit tablet...
Such a grandiose invasion.
It meant that all the demons and devils he had nurtured had perished, including that phoenix demon. Had they been defeated as well?
Was it the doing of the Reclusive Immortal of Wutong Mountain, or had another Reclusive Immortal emerged in the world?
"Luring the tiger away from the mountain, luring the tiger away from the mountain."
The old dog paced back and forth, forcibly suppressing the killing intent in its heart.
It was no longer the young spirit dog it once was. After so many years of stagnation, its body had become increasingly frail.
It could no longer easily crush those cultivators of the same realm.
"Vile thieves!"
Zhang Laifu calmed his breathing. He must not fall for their trick.
Over the years, he had exerted so much effort, gathering countless vengeful souls under his command and raising demons to guard the sect's foundation.
All of this was to make up for the spiritual plants he had greedily devoured in the past.
But these despicable mortals always came to ruin his plans.
Perhaps this was why the sect's ancestor still refused to forgive him.
Thinking of this, Zhang Laifu returned to his meditation mat and whispered, "I promise that when the time is right, I will personally eliminate these vile thieves who dare to invade and reclaim the treasures of our sect."
After speaking, he closed his eyes once more, conserving his energy.
...
"Where are we?"
Li Qingfeng curiously examined the light curtain before him.
Those with lower cultivation levels had remained on the outskirts of the Thousand Demon Cave, and he should have stayed outside as well. It was only because he had stubbornly insisted on coming that he was here now.
After asking his question, he waited for a response but heard none.
Li Qingfeng turned, only to see Nie Jun silently staring at the light curtain, his eyes filled with reminiscence.
He suddenly realized something. "This is the Treasure Pavilion?"
Nie Jun remained silent, slowly closing his eyes.
This was the most dangerous and thrilling moment in his life, but after escaping from this place, he had never had a similar opportunity again.
And now, as he stood here once more,
Nie Jun felt his blood boiling once more.
He had finally returned to this place.
"Huh."
Nie Jun didn't step forward but looked towards the depths of the Thousand Demon Cave.
He waited for a long time, but there was still no response from within.
In the past, there were ten great demon emperors here, and he could directly charge in, gaining enlightenment in the face of danger and successfully escaping.
Now, the entire Thousand Demon Cave was empty.
Yet he was held back by the shackles of his mind.
Always worrying about whether his master or Shen Yi was right or wrong, he forgot which path was more suitable for himself.
He was a sword cultivator who proved his way through slaughter.
He had originally intended to take another look at the Pavilion of Hidden Laws, hoping to untangle the knot in his heart. But now, he realized there was no need.
In an instant, the winds and clouds stirred within the sky canopy.
The thunderous roar of the Purple Cloud Divine Thunder reverberated!
Countless swords hung in the air, amidst which chains tumbled endlessly. On the massive throne, the sharpest sword revealed its true form.
The perfection of the Nascent Soul realm.
Nie Jun's aura surged, but it didn't stop there.
He opened his palm, and a stone emitting a faint glow rose into the air!
The stone ascended to the throne and moved towards the sword, eventually transforming into a gleaming gem embedded in the sword's hilt.
Almost simultaneously.
The Purple Cloud Divine Thunder Sword Palace seemed to detach itself entirely from the heavens and earth, imprinted with Nie Jun's unique aura.
Transforming the ethereal into substance.
Within the sky canopy, a massive sword palace appeared, tangible and visible!
Slap! Slap! Slap!
Li Qingfeng slapped himself hard, his eyes wide as saucers as he stared at the sky. Nie Jun's bottleneck, which had hindered him for so long, was suddenly broken after a mere trip to the Thousand Demon Cave?
Had he become a grand cultivator of the same realm as his master?!
The palace in the sky transformed into a stream of light and drilled into Nie Jun's brow.
He spread his arms to feel it for a moment.
When he opened his eyes again, his aura was restrained to the utmost extent, and the sharp aura around him had completely vanished.
Holding the Black Sword, Nie Jun bowed solemnly towards the light curtain.
It seemed like he was expressing gratitude for someone's enlightenment.
Then, he took out a talisman and infused it with his aura. The talisman's pattern of the Nanyang Sect was suddenly covered by a stream of light, erupting with an aura that soared into the sky.
This action was also a way of repaying a debt of gratitude.
The target of that old dog had finally shifted from Ye Wenxuan to him, Nie Jun.
"I'm ready," he said softly, not sure if he was speaking to the one within the light curtain or to the heavens.
Inside the Pavilion of Hidden Laws.
Shen Yi glanced up slightly, watching as the protective formations around the jade strips slowly disappeared.
Then, he looked back at Tong Xinquan in front of him: "It has nothing to do with you, so focus on your studies."
Ever since he had relied on demons to deduce martial arts, he now also had the opportunity to teach others.
"I understand," Tong Xinquan said, sitting cross-legged on the ground. Under Shen Yi's guidance, she carefully traced the "prohibitive" formation within the Silver Hooks and Iron Drawings.
Only by experiencing it personally could one understand the vast gap in formation mastery between the two.
Shen Yi was truly a grandmaster of formations.
Even Return Void-level grand formations were within his grasp, and he knew precisely how to draw each formation stroke to achieve maximum effect.
There was no need for any innate talent.
He simply used the most straightforward method, guiding her spirit with his own to slowly trace it.
"..."
As Tong Xinquan sank into thought, Shen Yi quietly glanced at the light curtain outside.
Ever since he had parted ways with Jiang Qiuluan, he hadn't experienced such a feeling in a long time. While he had spent countless years slowly deducing martial arts by relying on the lifespan of demons, all it took for this person was to untangle a knot in his heart.
It was simply ridiculous.
However... it should be enough, right?
It was just placing a talisman, after all.
The reason he had Tong Xinquan study the Silver Hooks and Iron Drawings was because he considered the existence of the old ancestor of Mount Wutong. If that person was willing to come, Shen Yi wanted to try to take down that old dog.
Of course, if she didn't come.
Then he would have to send someone out first to see if there was any aid available.
"How much do you remember?"
"About seven or eight parts. I'll keep trying," Tong Xinquan replied, her eyes filled with embarrassment as she opened them.
"..."
Shen Yi remained silent for a moment before standing up and leaving the Pavilion of Hidden Laws.
At this moment.
In the sky, Ye Wenxuan stared at the direction of the youth's departure, her eyebrows raised slightly: "Did you see that? He has us figured out, and he's so confident that he doesn't even bother to say anything. A Nascent Soul cultivator, yet he acts like the sect master himself."
Nie Jun remained noncommittal, lowering his head.
He didn't think it was like that.
Shen Yi was just lending a helping hand to him and the others; of course, he wanted it to be useful, but he had never forced anyone to do anything for him.
His true reliance was always himself.
Moreover, up to this point, Shen Yi hadn't even asked about the talisman.
His master, who was obsessed with the idea of the sect master position, seemed less important to the youth than his own ambitions.
"I have to go," Nie Jun said casually, heading in the direction Shen Yi had left.
"You!"
Ye Wenxuan was stunned again. If Shen Yi wasn't going to look for her, fine, but even this disciple of hers, who had gained so many benefits from her, didn't bother to ask her along.
In the end, it was still up to her, Ye Wenxuan, to hold back that old dog.
Forget it... they were both her sect's genius disciples now, so she would tolerate these two rebellious disciples for now.
(End of Chapter)
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