novelraw Chapter 36 : Haven’t We Met Before?
Chapter 36 : Haven’t We Met Before?
Chapter 36: Haven’t We Met Before?
Under the route toward the Martial Lecture Plaza.
Beneath the faint blue glow along the rock walls.
A vast number of shattered limbs were scattered across the enormous passage.
Among the broken remains were not only humans.
There were also puppets whose bodies had partially turned to stone, people parasitized by the secret realm’s roots, and giant moths whose wings bore eerie smiling infant faces.
Some of these were naturally born aberrations of the secret realm.
Others were fellow travelers whose minds had been thrown into chaos after being parasitized by strange plants.
You Yiming gripped the throat of a rogue cultivator with one hand and lifted him high into the air.
His expression was cold.
Ignoring the other party’s frantic pleas for mercy, he tightened his grip mercilessly.
“Kaba—”
The rogue cultivator stiffened, his body going limp, collapsing like mud.
You Yiming mechanically took away the spirit pouch and tossed the corpse aside like trash.
This was not the first time he had done such a thing.
Ever since the group had agreed to move forward together.
Whenever they encountered cultivators injured by the secret realm’s plant roots, without exception, he killed them one by one and took their spirit pouches.
…Even if those cultivators were fully capable of resisting the roots on their own.
There were many monsters in the secret realm.
And many treasures as well.
True cultivation resources like Primordial Flesh, various magical artifacts, and large quantities of rare herbs and minerals.
The Nine Heavens Secret Realm was the dojo of an ancient powerhouse.
What lay within were naturally that powerhouse’s relics.
Although magical artifacts and minerals had lost much of their spiritual essence due to age, they were still far superior to those found outside.
Originally, the rogue cultivators had intended to cling to him and pick up some scraps.
After all, aside from them, there were also people from Taiyi Talisman Palace, Grand White Sword Sect, and Pure Yang Palace here… as for the imperial palace, forget it, most of them were ordinary mortals.
If they fought alone, they could never compete with these Twelve Orthodox Paths.
However—
What they had not expected was that You Yiming’s demeanor here was completely different from his benevolent image outside.
He had become vicious and ruthless.
He constantly used the rogue cultivators to scout ahead and search dangerous chambers. Once they were no longer useful, he would decisively kill them.
As if… as if they were merely pigs he had raised.
Yet You Yiming’s Fourth Realm strength was simply beyond their ability to resist.
For a time, the rogue cultivators fell completely silent, staying far away from him.
“Manor Master You.”
Wang Yichen turned back to glance at Lü Muxue.
The young lady was surrounded by disciples of Taiyi Talisman Palace. Her delicate face flickered between emotions, her skirt flowing like fire, white silk stockings clinging to her skin, her legs long and straight.
“Isn’t this level of bloodlust… somewhat inappropriate?”
“Young Master Wang.”
You Yiming shook his head, his expression heavy with sorrow and compassion.
“It is not that I am bloodthirsty, but that I have no choice. You all saw earlier—these secret realm plants can parasitize and disturb the mind… if they are not eliminated in time, once they burst out of the body, everyone will suffer.”
“These fellow Daoists are living people.”
His voice was clearer than usual, carrying a deliberate steadiness. “The danger of parasitism cannot be ignored—that is true. But if you or I were merely injured by the roots, would we be willing to be cut down by a single sword, just ‘to be safe’?”
Wang Yichen lowered his eyes and sighed.
“I, Wang Yichen, have lived my life upright. My sword has never slain the innocent… isn’t that right, Junior Sister Muxue?”
Lü Muxue, irritated by the disappearance of her aunt, ignored him completely.
Wang Yichen: “……”
You Yiming sneered.
“If that is the case, then if there is karma, I alone shall bear it. I only wish for all of you to leave this realm safely… as for their belongings, I will temporarily safeguard them and return them in full after we leave.”
Wang Yichen’s gaze turned colder. “What a shameless old thief.”
“Young Master Wang is gifted and comes from a great sect. You do not understand the hardship of cultivation for those of us at the bottom. Instead of talking about romance here, you might as well strike a few more enemies.”
“Wh—what romance! Don’t talk nonsense! Junior Sister Muxue and I have a normal relationship!”
Wang Yichen was both shocked and delighted.
Finally, someone had said it out loud! How bitter!
He hurriedly turned to look at Lü Muxue, hoping to find even the slightest hint of shyness on her face.
But he failed.
Lü Muxue’s pretty face showed only anxiety and irritation. “Are you done talking? If so, let’s continue.”
A trace of pain flashed through Wang Yichen’s heart. He grew anxious, barely able to hold back.
He gazed at Lü Muxue with deep feeling.
“Muxue… between you and me… you should understand my feelings… ever since our first meeting three years ago…”
Lü Muxue looked over blankly. “What are you talking about? Didn’t we only meet for the first time a few days ago on the painted boat?”
“Wh—”
Wang Yichen was struck as if by lightning, frozen on the spot.
“Speaking of which, I didn’t expect Taiyi Talisman Palace to have disciples like you who are actually decent with a sword. I suppose your talisman cultivation must be terrible? After all, our sect focuses on talismans—you should put more effort into that.”
Lü Muxue advised earnestly.
The female disciples beside her hesitated to speak. Seeing Wang Yichen’s expression turn extremely unpleasant, they all fell silent as if they had seen nothing.
“Pfft—”
Behind them, slowly walking forward under the protection of guards, the noble consort could not help but laugh.
“Consort Ning… don’t be like this…”
The Emperor of Yan Kingdom advised seriously, his face full of indulgence.
“My apologies, Your Majesty, it’s just… pfft—”
As she spoke, they happened to pass by the stunned Wang Yichen.
Wang Yichen’s face flushed red. His fists clenched tightly, trembling slightly.
He lowered his head and walked forward in silence.
At this moment—
No one noticed that within Consort Ning’s sleeve, a gentle breeze flicked out a finger-length plant root, landing on the tip of Wang Yichen’s ear.
Ordinarily, such a foreign object could never affect a Fourth Realm cultivator like him.
But at this moment, his Dao Heart was in turmoil, his desires nearly out of control. He did not even notice as the root took hold, burrowing in through his ear…
…
…
Ahead on the main path of the secret realm.
Before a massive bronze gate.
The gate was engraved with strange inscriptions, grand and imposing, stretching all the way to the rock ceiling.
You Yuan shrank her shoulders, hesitantly looking at Fang Chang standing before the gate.
The man stood there in distress, seemingly unsure what to do.
“Maybe… I should go back with Martial Aunt Zhang and the others?”
she said.
Dai Bojun spoke earnestly, “You’re only in the Second Realm—it’s too dangerous for you to go… just look at me. Wherever Brother Fang tells me to go, I go. I know Brother Fang would never harm me.”
Following you two Qi Absorption cultivators doesn’t seem much safer either.
You Yuan looked troubled.
Seeing Dai Bojun’s face—so beautiful it could sink fish and shame flowers, with a soft and delicate figure—she couldn’t help but say:
“Miss Dai, I’m actually not familiar with your Brother Fang. This clearly looks like a place hiding great treasures. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to come here, right?”
Dai Bojun said angrily, “I am a man!”
“Ah?”
You Yuan was incredulous. “How can you look so delicate and beautiful? You’re even more feminine than I am!”
Dai Bojun felt a bit embarrassed and scratched his head. “There was… a small accident during cultivation.”
You Yuan sized him up and silently took a step back.
She preferred more masculine men.
“Brother Dai, Miss You, please come over here.”
Fang Chang suddenly spoke.
“Coming right away!” Dai Bojun stepped forward enthusiastically.
You Yuan looked at him with disdain but still walked over slowly.
She saw that in the keyhole of the bronze gate was inserted an ancient key, entirely gilded and extraordinary.
But that was all.
Fang Chang looked helplessly at the door with the key inserted, yet did nothing.
“You’re not opening it?” You Yuan asked.
You think I don’t want to?
Fang Chang felt extremely frustrated. The Nine Heavens Secret Key was correct, and the Nine Heavens Secret Realm was also correct.
But—
He simply couldn’t turn the lock.
He knew the reason. Precisely because of that, he had specifically called Dai Bojun over.
Fang Chang sighed. “Brother Dai, please give it a twist.”
“Oh! Leave it to me!”
Dai Bojun trusted him completely. Grasping the key handle with both hands, he turned it easily.
“Rumble—”
At once, the bronze gate responded.
The massive doors shifted, slowly opening with a heavy grinding sound.
“……”
I hate luck.
At the same time, the entire secret realm began to shake violently, like a dragon turning beneath the earth!
The ground slowly split open, light gushing out from the cracks.
Not only nearby—even in the distance, rumbling sounds echoed. Cracks appeared on the walls, and fine stone debris began to float in the air.
You Yuan cried out in panic, “What’s happening?!”
Fang Chang walked calmly into the bronze gate. His voice drifted out:
“The Nine Heavens Secret Realm is the dojo of an ancient powerhouse. The bronze gate is its final defense. If it is opened by someone other than its owner, it means an illegal intrusion—the entire dojo will enter a self-destruction process.”
“What!?”
“What are you afraid of? If it doesn’t self-destruct, it’d be hard for us to leave anyway.”