Chapter 123: A Different World

Chapter 123: Chapter 123: A Different World

"Fellow Daoist Nangong, this is Purple Cloud Valley’s territory. Please leave at once!"

In an uninhabited courtyard, Nangong Ye had just collected himself when Xie Xichen’s voice came from outside.

"Brother Xie, why is this?"

Recognizing Xie Xichen’s voice, Nangong Ye couldn’t help but ask. Although the Three Immortal Sects were competitors, it wasn’t so hostile that they would drive someone away on sight. What’s more, he had even spoken with the man for a while before entering Fire Dragon Valley.

"If you linger here, Yu Haoyong will certainly come looking for trouble. Won’t my Purple Cloud Valley disciples suffer an undeserved catastrophe then? However, I have already sent word to the Qingxu Hall disciples. You need not worry, Fellow Daoist Nangong."

Xie Xichen was quite calm. Thanks to their trade in Spiritual Cuisine, Purple Cloud Valley now had a certain advantage in the central region. But if Nangong Ye insisted on staying, a fight would almost certainly break out here.

He wasn’t afraid of the two of them fighting, but ’what about the other junior brothers and sisters?’

’Besides, this place isn’t far from Junior Brother Liu’s residence. If something happened to that Second Grade Spirit Chef because of the ensuing chaos, things would get ugly.’

"I’ve caused you trouble, Brother Xie."

Nangong Ye glanced at the red-glowing Cyan Eagle Blood Mark on his hand and recalled the scene of Yu Haenze’s death. In the end, he said nothing more. Ultimately, this was a matter between him and the Black Feather Dynasty. It was completely inappropriate to drag Purple Cloud Valley into it.

"Follow me. Wait for the people from Qingxu Hall to arrive before you leave. The Black Feather Dynasty won’t come looking for trouble here in the short term."

Xie Xichen glanced at the Cyan Eagle Blood Mark on Nangong Ye’s arm, then turned and left. Nangong Ye had yet to step into the Meridian Passage Realm; he stood no chance against Yu Haoyong. Xie Xichen didn’t want to sacrifice Purple Cloud Valley disciples for an outsider, but he also didn’t want Qingxu Hall to think that Purple Cloud Valley was afraid of the Black Feather Dynasty.

It was a difficult balance to strike.

"Thank you."

Nangong Ye nodded. He hadn’t paid attention to any news from the outer region since he went into seclusion, but he didn’t need to guess to know that the members of his Nangong Family were likely already gone.

’Even if a few survived and were forced to transfer to the central region, they probably wouldn’t last long.’

Outside the gathering area where Purple Cloud Valley was based, two figures blocked the exit. The Loose Cultivators and Thunder Mountain disciples who had been teleported here filed past slowly, casting curious glances at the two Princes from the Black Feather Dynasty.

Only the disciples of Qingxu Hall remained inside the gathering area, silently observing the two Princes. Xie Xichen stood on a distant rooftop, gazing quietly into the distance. From his vantage point, he could clearly see Yu Haoyong sitting on a cliff face even further away, watching them.

"The Second Prince, Yu Haoxi, is dead too?"

In the courtyard below Xie Xichen, Nangong Ye listened to the news shared by a Qingxu Hall disciple and glanced helplessly at the searing Cyan Eagle Blood Mark on his hand. The Black Feather Dynasty cultivators were nearby. The moment he left Purple Cloud Valley’s territory, a bloody battle would erupt.

"He is. But the fact that they’re still watching this place means someone else has a way to remove the Cyan Eagle Blood Mark."

Xie Xichen answered the question in silence. If there was someone to draw away the pressure, Nangong Ye would have a high chance of escaping in the chaos. But now, six Meridian Passage Realm Guards had subtly surrounded the area.

They wouldn’t trespass into the territory occupied by Purple Cloud Valley, nor would they stop other cultivators from leaving. They wouldn’t even block the Qingxu Hall disciples. It was clear they were targeting Nangong Ye alone.

However, the Qingxu Hall disciples who had been teleported back had integrity; not one of them chose to abandon Nangong Ye and leave on their own.

"That’s truly enviable."

Nangong Ye felt a bit helpless. ’I was planning to slip away while someone else drew their fire. But Purple Cloud Valley isn’t Qingxu Hall, after all. If this were Qingxu Hall’s territory, a fight would have probably broken out already.’

’Hiding here forever isn’t a solution.’ Nangong Ye stood up and started walking outside. ’As long as I can fight Yu Haoyong to a draw, this matter will be considered over within Fire Dragon Valley. The remaining scores can be settled after the trial ends.’

"You can wait a little longer. In a while, Junior Brother Yang will be selling Spiritual Cuisine. You might be able to use the commotion to your advantage."

Xie Xichen couldn’t help but offer the advice. Compared to the Black Feather Royal Family, he felt that Qingxu Hall and the Nangong Family were more trustworthy.

"This is my own business. I won’t trouble Purple Cloud Valley with it. Besides, it’s not yet certain who will win or lose!"

Nangong Ye walked slowly down the path, the Spiritual Power around his body growing chaotic—a sign of an imminent breakthrough.

Xie Xichen narrowed his eyes. ’Qingxu Hall has produced another cultivator in the Meridian Passage Realm. In future competitions, Purple Cloud Valley will no longer have an advantage at this level.’

By the time Nangong Ye walked out of the area, his aura had stabilized. The presence of a Meridian Passage Realm Beginner erupted from him. The Fourth Prince, Yu Haolin, who was guarding the path ahead, turned and left without hesitation. He had only just stepped onto the Peak Path himself; there was no need to fight to the death with Nangong Ye, who had just used the Peak Path to break through to the Meridian Passage Realm.

’If Nangong Ye managed to inflict a second Cyan Eagle Blood Mark, the Black Feather Royal Family would lose face entirely.’

"As expected of the man who killed Third Brother. It seems I won’t be able to avenge him."

The Fifth Prince, Yu Haohong, shook his head and also chose to turn and leave. Revenge was indeed the tenet of the Black Feather Royal Family, but suicide was not.

Just as the two turned, Yu Haoyong dropped down from above. Crimson battle intent blazed in his eyes as a Blood Eagle slowly materialized behind him.

Clouds of thunder appeared around Nangong Ye, and azure Thunder crackled over his entire body. Without a word of exchange, the two sides crashed into each other.

The clash of intertwined red and blue Spiritual Power lasted for half an hour. Both sides were grievously injured. Nangong Ye was taken away by the Qingxu Hall disciples, while Yu Haoyong was escorted away by the two Black Feather Dynasty Princes.

However, none of this had anything to do with Liu Chen. In the afternoon, he prepared the Spiritual Cuisine as usual and had his two senior brothers take it out to sell.

「Late at night.」

After completing his cultivation, Liu Chen donned a Black Robe and a mask, then melted into the shadows and headed for the central volcano. The female ghost he had guided in the past had told him there was another world hidden beneath the lava.

’If the cultivators from the outer region hadn’t been transferred in, I could have taken my time exploring. But now, there’s no time to waste. Who knows if someone might stumble into it by accident, turning the information I gained into a joke.’

The churning lava surged with crimson Spiritual Qi. According to Liu Chen’s observations, never mind a Body Tempering Realm cultivator, even a Meridian Passage Realm cultivator would become a permanent part of the lava in less than half an hour if they entered.

Liu Chen silently observed the most turbulent part of the lava. He took out a broken Spirit Sword, performed Blood Recognition on it, and tossed it straight in. The lava churned with crimson waves, and Liu Chen felt his connection to the Spirit Sword become hazy.

But thanks to his Meridian Passage Middle Stage cultivation, Liu Chen could still barely control the Spirit Sword.

A few breaths later, the broken Spirit Sword rose back up. Liu Chen took it in his hand and examined it. The Spirit Sword was completely unscathed; even the Spiritual Power he had coated it with was fully intact.

"The female ghost wasn’t lying. There really is another world beneath the lava."

Liu Chen narrowed his eyes, placed the broken Spirit Sword under his feet, and plunged straight down into the lava.