Chapter 44: Zhao Xuhe at a Dead End

Skeleton Mountain, White Bone Cave, outside the market city.

遁光 (Dunguang) lights vanished amidst the mountain forests, revealing three figures. Among them were Wu Zhichong and Duanmu Yuan, the very two who had previously attacked the market city only to flee in disgrace.

The third person was a white-haired old man.

"Elder Ouyang..."

Wu Zhichong spoke cautiously, fearing that this Qi Refinement Great Perfection elder might do something irrational; the path ahead was a dragon's den and a tiger's lair.

"Rest assured, I know the weight of this matter."

Ouyang Feng's expression was grim. Although his eyes were filled with bone-deep hatred as he looked toward the market city, his tone remained calm and devoid of any fluctuation.

"That devil is a Ninth-Grade Array Master. He has laid both internal and external arrays upon this market city, which is not something an ordinary person can break. It is no wonder he has been able to live so freely until now, even earning the fearsome reputation of the 'Blood-Clad Pavilion Master.' However, he is not a true Qi Refinement Great Perfection; in the end, it is nothing more than a castle in the air."

"But Elder Ouyang, the Taixiao Mirror has also fallen into that man's hands."

Wu Zhichong quickly played along, then lowered his voice: "The Taixiao Mirror is mysterious and unpredictable. If that devil can manipulate it, he might not be inferior to a Qi Refinement Great Perfection..."

"I have naturally taken that into consideration."

Ouyang Feng let out a cold laugh. "The Taixiao Mirror is, after all, a spiritual treasure of our Divine Martial Sect. How could a mere devil use it just because he possesses it? If he dares to use it, even better!"

"I have already invited Master Yang Yezi, the one who originally refined the Taixiao Mirror. He was also infuriated by the mirror falling into the devil's hands and has promised to come to Skeleton Mountain to reclaim the spiritual treasure and restore order. With him present, if that devil dares to use the Taixiao Mirror to fight me, he will be seeking his own death."

Though Ouyang Feng was furious, he had not lost his reason.

Moreover, with the precedent of Ouyang Haoze, he could not simply charge into the arrays again. After much thought, it would be better to lure Lyu Yang out of the formation.

"When does this person usually leave the market city?"

"Uh..."

Facing Ouyang Feng's inquiry, Wu Zhichong and Duanmu Yuan looked at each other, rendered speechless.

Seeing this, Ouyang Feng's brow furrowed in dissatisfaction. "Have you not been staking out the outskirts of the market for a long time? How can you not even know such a small detail?"

"Reporting to the Elder, this person has not left the market city once thus far."

"...Not once?"

Ouyang Feng was stunned. "Could it be that you failed to spread the news of the Wugui Secret Realm? Does he not know that Skeleton Mountain is currently teeming with opportunities?"

The two men looked aggrieved. "We spread it long ago."

"Then it must be that the reinforcements from the Primordial Saint Demon Sect have not arrived yet, and the demonic path is currently weak, so he dares not leave?"

"In fact, the reinforcements from the Demon Sect arrived three months ago and are operating extensively within Skeleton Mountain. This person, however, has not left from beginning to end."

"Ah?"

After hearing the report, Ouyang Feng finally showed a look of bewilderment.

***

"I will not be going out."

Inside the Blood-Clad Pavilion, Lyu Yang and Fairy Feixia sat facing each other. While declining Fairy Feixia's invitation, he pushed a cup of spiritual tea toward her.

"Junior Brother is truly..."

Fairy Feixia looked at Lyu Yang, her beautiful face suddenly drifting into a trance.

Once upon a time, she had been utterly disappointed by this junior brother's perceived cowardice, only to find that he had been playing a calculated game, building the formidable reputation of the Blood-Clad Pavilion Master step by step.

One must understand that any cultivator is fighting against heaven for their destiny; one slow step can lead to the end of one's lifespan.

Even if there is the so-called reincarnation, one might not possess immortal fate in the next life, nor might one even be oneself, making it difficult to rely upon.

Yet, meeting him again, Lyu Yang was just as he had always been.

Indifferent, tranquil, as if all things in the world held no weight in his heart.

Such a rare temperament among cultivators brought a phrase to Fairy Feixia's mind: *Water benefits all things without competing, therefore nothing can compete with it.*

But in a lifetime of living, if you do not compete, how can you seek the Dao?

In the next life?

Thinking of this, Fairy Feixia could not help but sigh. "...I am ashamed. I fear I will never reach such a sublime state of mind as Junior Brother in this lifetime."

"Senior Sister overpraises me."

Lyu Yang smiled faintly. "Did I not say before we came? This time, we shall not discuss worldly matters, but only the Dao. I shall teach Senior Sister array formations, and Senior Sister shall teach me talisman arts."

"I shall, of course, teach you everything I know."

Fairy Feixia pursed her red lips, her delicate hand lifting her veil to reveal a peerless, breathtaking countenance. Beneath her thin, sunset-colored robes, her figure was striking, her silhouette as graceful as the moon. Even her voice unconsciously became soft and coquettish. "Speaking of which, I have yet to thank Junior Brother for his previous life-saving grace..."

***

The next day, when the sun was high in the sky.

Inside the market city, a disheveled young man was pacing in his cave dwelling, his face full of struggle. It was Lyu Yang's old acquaintance, Zhao Xuhe.

"How can this be? How can this be?"

At this moment, Zhao Xuhe's urgency had reached a breaking point. "The news of the Wugui Secret Realm is known to everyone now. If I don't act, I'll lose my chance!"

At this thought, Zhao Xuhe's aura suddenly erupted. He was no longer at the sixth level of Qi Refinement as when he first arrived at the market, but had broken through to the late stage of the seventh level. It was precisely because he had broken through a bottleneck that had plagued him for years that he had the idea to venture into the secret realm to gamble for opportunity.

But having the thought did not mean having the strength.

Without the opportunities from Panlong Island, he could only practice the Yin-Yang Great Joy Chant of Butian Peak. His true qi was merely fifth-grade, and his divine abilities and magical treasures were inferior in every way.

Under these circumstances, competing for opportunities was suicide.

After much deliberation, Zhao Xuhe finally gritted his teeth, took out a long-sealed jade slip, infused it with magic power, and contacted a person he had not seen for a long time.

The jade slip glowed, and after a long while, a voice emerged. "Who is it?"

The voice carried a hint of laziness and a touch of dryness, yet it made Zhao Xuhe feel an intense nostalgia. He couldn't help but whisper, "Feixia... it's me, Xuhe."

That was right, he had a history with Fairy Feixia.

However, "history" was merely an exaggeration for being former acquaintances; after he was chosen as the son-in-law by the Master of Butian Peak, he had severed contact to avoid suspicion.

He thought their paths would never cross again, but unexpectedly, he had to come to her for help now.

Zhao Xuhe clenched his teeth and whispered, "Feixia, I want to ask a favor of you. My path to the Dao is currently hopeless, and I plan to leave the market city to make one final gamble."

He knew that Fairy Feixia most admired those who burned their bridges to seek the Dao. Therefore, only by saying this could he move her.

"But I currently have no contribution points and am unable to purchase magical treasures or divine abilities. In this state, even if I have the heart to burn my bridges, I fear it will be a futile death."

"So... so... for the sake of our past connection, please lend me a little..."

As he spoke, Zhao Xuhe couldn't help but recall the bits and pieces of his past with Fairy Feixia, and a trace of indescribable hope rose in his heart.

However, in the next second, a bucket of cold water was poured over him.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what you are talking about."

The soft, warm voice instantly turned icy and indifferent. "Also, please do not contact me again in the future."

"I am currently discussing the Dao with Junior Brother Lyu, and I do not wish for him to misunderstand."

*Crack!*

In the next second, the jade slip shattered.

Zhao Xuhe stood frozen in place, unable to recover for a long time. Only after a long while did his face begin to contort, and a roar erupted from his throat

"NO—!!!"