Chapter 74: Su Lan Qian: Who are you?
Bai Yumo suddenly perked up, nodding at Luo Chen. “Thanks for the effort. Have you managed to find out their identities?”
“Yeah, one guy’s from the Refining God Sect, the other from the Spirit Sealing Sect. They’re here because of the Divine Monarch’s inheritance — trying to team up to snatch the Thousand Array Sect’s legacy.”
Luo Chen’s tone sharpened, and his expression darkened with a fierce scowl. “And, Bai junior brother, you guessed right — Ye Tang is one of them. That hypocrite with a face like an angel and a heart like a beast — shame on the Heavenly Sword Sect’s nurture.”
Thanks to the intel from the two men in black, Ye Tang’s guilt was utterly confirmed. If earlier Bai Feng still might have faced sect punishment, now… he might even get a commendation.
“Forget that unlucky b*stard.” Bai Feng waved dismissively, more curious about the Divine Monarch than Ye Tang who had kicked the bucket. “Go ahead and tell me about that Divine Monarch inheritance. I get the feeling its aura is somehow related to the Demon Path.”
Luo Chen nodded solemnly. “Yeah, although it’s called the Divine Monarch, in fact, it’s a demon organization from Central Continent — very mysterious. I don’t know much.”
“And how did a Central Continent demon group end up tossing their inheritance around in the Northern Region?”
Bai Feng couldn’t hold back a snort of disbelief.
At this moment, Bai Yumo asked, “Any other survivors captured?”
Unlike Bai Feng, she cared most about the guy in black who got away. Anyone bold enough to fight Bai Feng directly was no ordinary foe — he had to be dealt with seriously.
“All we know is, one is from the Refining God Sect, another a disciple of the smaller Feihe Sect, and a third one is tucked away pretty well — only called Old You,” Luo Chen shook his head. “But from the other two, we can guess a little. Anyone exploring the secret realm wasn’t just a nobody — though, we don’t have proof yet.”
Bai Feng’s expression twisted into something strange. “So, only Ye Tang exposed his identity?”
“That’s what puzzles me too,” Luo Chen admitted. “Ye Tang didn’t hide at all. But according to one of them, Ye Tang got a tiered inheritance — and they’re all soldier-level fighters, so maybe he has some secret tricks up his sleeve. Also, he’s too famous; even if he tried to hide, it’s easy to spot.”
“d*mn, their inheritance plans are so detailed.”
Bai Feng muttered softly. Still, during the fight, Ye Tang’s weapon was definitely more formidable than the others.
“I have a guess,” Luo Chen suddenly said seriously, eyeing everyone. “When I was in the place where they received their inheritance, I found a few mummies. Very likely, Ye Tang did all that.”
Huh? That sounds kind of familiar. The weapon that turned someone into a mummy — does it have spider legs?
“You mean, Ye Tang might be planning to wipe out everyone inside the secret realm?”
“No, probably just aiming for the Spirit Sealing Sect,” Luo Chen shook his head. “I asked around — Su Lan Qian and Yu Yao are hiding in a cave, and the senior brother of the Spirit Sealing Sect is looking for her. Ye Tang could threaten the sect with her; then he would take out the Spirit Sealing Sect, pretend to be a hero, ‘rescue’ Yu Yao and others.”
“So even if the Spirit Sealing Sect broadcasts that Ye Tang and the sect colluded to harm the Heavenly Sword Sect, it would backfire. They could even spin it as him defeating the sect’s schemes — saving the disciples from their clutches. After all, one is always fighting against the Heavenly Sword Sect, and the other’s a former senior brother — everyone would naturally believe who’s better.”
“And why show his face openly? Maybe because he’s too well known — hiding wouldn’t work. Plus, if he erased his identity, the Spirit Sealing Sect might ignore him; he might have even planned this to protect his reputation. Before, he was pretty popular among ordinary disciples — even if news spread that Ye Tang was colluding, folks would just see it as a joke.”
“When one person from the Spirit Sealing Sect died, there’s no evidence either. And if Ye Tang turned them all into mummies, everyone would just think it was Demon Path infiltrators, not him — the former Senior Brother who’s as pure as jade.”
Luo Chen chuckled and shook his head. “But hey, that’s just my guess. Maybe I’m overthinking. Only Ye Tang himself knows what’s really going on.”
Bai Feng stroked his chin thoughtfully — maybe Luo Chen’s theory was pretty close to the mark.
He’d been wondering why Su Lan Qian was right under the Spirit Sealing Sect’s nose without a single person noticing — turns out, Ye Tang had deliberately kept her hidden.
“Oh well, everyone’s dead now,” Bai Feng sighed. “Not much point speculating. Let’s just report this back to the sect when we return. No need to get too involved.”
He stretched lazily. After all this fuss, all he wanted now was to go back and rest.
Such a big deal involving Central Continent’s Demon Path? Let the elders of the Heavenly Sword Sect worry about it.
……
Last day in the Secret Realm.
Most of the Heavenly Sword Sect’s disciples were rushing toward the rendezvous point, waiting to exit.
Although the most valuable inheritance, the Thousand Array Sect’s legacy, was safely stored in Bai Feng’s storage bag, plenty of other treasures remained. Naturally, everyone kept exploring with gusto.
Lin Yan also went out on a trip, and came back with plenty — alchemy formulas, alchemy furnaces, and ingredients for refining pills, all collected into his pouch.
Though the Thousand Array Sect wasn’t famous for alchemy, it was a major sect’s heritage, so the quality was definitely there.
“Bai, I heard your eyes got hurt. I’ve made some Bright Eyes Pills to heal your eyes.”
Lin Yan took out a small bottle from his storage, set it on the table, and pushed it over.
“Thanks,” Bai Feng said, taking the pill. His eyes were almost fully healed, only a little blurry when he looked far away — but it was a kind gesture, so he wouldn’t refuse.
After accepting the pill, an idea suddenly struck him.
“By the way, Lin brother, can you recommend a few fire control techniques?”
“Of course. Why do you ask? Are you trying to learn to control fire for alchemy?”
Bai Feng shook his head, sighing. “It’s just that formations are really expensive, especially when buying processed materials — they cost several times more than raw ones. I thought maybe if I learned fire control tricks, I could buy raw materials, process them myself, and save a bit.”
“You, Bai Family’s Young Master, are quite thrifty,” Lin Yan teased with a laugh. “But coincidentally, I just got a complete set of fire control techniques — I’ll give them to you.”
“Thanks a lot.”
Before Bai Feng could thank him, Lin Yan pulled out a small jar and handed it over. “You probably still lack some Spirit Fire, right? I got this in the secret realm — I don’t need it, so it’s yours.”
Bai Feng: “…Eh?”
d*mn, isn’t this Gas Luck Child overdoing it?
“Lin, that’s… too generous,” Bai Feng hurriedly waved. It’s like that cat, from happy to retreating as more cat food is offered — it’s a bit much. He even wondered if Lin Yan had some hidden motive.
“Relax, take it. Honestly, I also need a favor from you,” Lin Yan’s expression turned serious.
“What’s up?”
“I obtained a new alchemy furnace in the secret realm but can’t operate it with my current strength,” Lin Yan explained. “So I want you to help me build a formation for it.” He placed the furnace on the ground with a slight tremor. “Specifically, one that controls the fire’s power, gathers spiritual energy, and…”
Bai Feng nodded, recording his requirements. “Got it. No problem. Give me a few days, I’ll come up with a design.”
“Thanks a lot, Bai.”
……
The last day in the secret realm went silently. Soon, Bai Feng and the other disciples exited.
But unlike the others from the Heavenly Sword Sect, the Spirit Sealing Sect looked pretty battered — most of them with injuries all over.
No guessing needed — it was definitely the Heavenly Sword Sect’s doing. Who told them to target us right from the start?
Just as they prepared to leave, Spirit Sealing Sect’s senior brother, Yu Ping An, suddenly approached.
“Senior Sister Su Lan Qian, long time no see,” he said straight-faced, standing about two meters in front of her. “I’ve been worried in the secret realm, but seeing you safe and sound now, I can finally relax.”
Su Lan Qian raised an eyebrow. “Who are you… exactly?”
Yu Ping An’s smile faltered, slightly strained, but he stubbornly said, “It’s understandable if you don’t remember me. I was just a regular disciple before. Thanks to your guidance, I managed to make it to be the senior brother of Spirit Sealing Sect.”
“Oh.”
Su Lan Qian was barely interested. When she and her master visited the Spirit Sealing Sect, those old fogeys often tasked disciples to challenge her in formation battles — and she would take the opportunity to bully those “genius” disciples. Crazy how naive she was back then.
Feeling it might be a little rude, she added casually, “If there’s nothing else, please leave. I’m heading back to the Heavenly Sword Sect.”
