Chapter 198: Exposed Flaw

To Wang Ping, the more people who wanted to kill Kunyun, the better it was for him. Yet, at the same time, it brought a profound weight to his mind.

'So this is the life tribulation?'

At the Tribulation Transcending Third Layer, surviving the life tribulation and achieving Qi Refining Entering the Dao meant not only dealing with opponents in the same Realm but also withstanding the pressure of a Corpse Dissolution Immortal.

'It’s just climbing the ladder, yet aside from defeating competitors, you still have to face suppression from those above you. The path upward in the Immortal Gate is far too narrow.'

What terrified Wang Ping even more was that the true body of this so-called Corpse Dissolution Immortal didn't look human at all. It was a far cry from Great Cultivator Mingyou, whom he had seen before. Did "corpse dissolution" literally mean breaking down the human body like a corpse, leaving behind only a form made of qi? No wonder it wasn't considered orthodox.

'Fortunately, I have the Ever-Suppressing Six Harmonies Cauldron.'

'If I weren't observing through this Heavenly Work Spiritual Treasure, but looking with my naked eyes or touching it with my spiritual sense, I'd probably explode from a single glance!'

This was a gap in the very level of existence.

At this thought, Wang Ping hurriedly reconnected with the Ever-Suppressing Six Harmonies Cauldron. He cast his gaze down upon the Imperial Ancestral Temple within the palace, intending to take a closer look at that Corpse Dissolution Immortal.

Soon, the familiar darkness surfaced.

Yet this time, Wang Ping only saw an impenetrable mass of darkness concealing heavenly secrets. A faint white light flickered, but there was no longer any hint of the miraculous.

'A profound concealment art.'

'And while the Ever-Suppressing Six Harmonies Cauldron filtered out the risk of looking directly at a Corpse Dissolution Immortal, it also prevented me from gaining any benefits from it.'

A Corpse Dissolution Immortal shed its physical form to draw closer to the heaven and earth qi it belonged to. Therefore, gazing directly upon its true body actually offered tremendous fortune. Various hidden insights derived from heaven and earth qi wouldn't require any effort to comprehend; they would take the initiative to chase after the observer.

Risk and opportunity coexisted.

Of course, in the vast majority of cases, a lower-level cultivator looking straight at a Corpse Dissolution Immortal would meet only one outcome: sudden death. Extremely few could actually seize that opportunity.

Even if they did grasp it, they would descend into madness.

"Hss..."

The next second, Wang Ping drew a sharp breath. "This knowledge, this information about Corpse Dissolution Immortals... why was I just thinking about it? Where did I learn this?"

A chill instantly crawled up his spine.

The knowledge was hunting him!

He hadn't deliberately sought to understand it. He had merely looked at Dashun Taizu, a Corpse Dissolution Immortal, and the related knowledge had chased its way right into his sea of consciousness!

And this was with the Ever-Suppressing Six Harmonies Cauldron shielding him from the influence of heaven and earth qi. Otherwise, he would have dropped dead long ago!

'Moreover, this kind of knowledge isn't something that can be resolved by dying once. Unless I cut away all the related information, even if I resurrect using the Taiping Sutra, I'll still die as long as I remember it... And even if I sever the knowledge, it will just chase me down again!'

This was true terror.

In a sense, a single Corpse Dissolution Immortal could bypass the current resurrection abilities of the Taiping Sutra, killing him repeatedly until he was utterly annihilated!

At that thought, Wang Ping hastily pulled his gaze away.

'Corpse Dissolution Immortal, Qi Refining practitioner... this level has completely exceeded my understanding. I can't look anymore, or it'll only harm my cultivation.'

'I'll check on the Old Emperor in the distance instead.'

Wang Ping shifted his gaze, immediately looking toward the Old Emperor, who had left the Imperial Ancestral Temple and returned to Ninghui Hall. The old man's face was flushed completely red.

"Immortality, a thousand years..."

The more the Old Emperor thought about it, the more excited he became. He wished he could hand out the Deity-Ordaining Talismanic Edict right away, but reason ultimately suppressed his urge.

"I must finish the Grand Ancestor's task first."

He knew how to weigh priorities. Only by serving the Grand Ancestor well and keeping him pleased could he sit securely on the throne as the Son of Heaven.

Thinking this, the Old Emperor hurried over to a bronze mirror in Ninghui Hall. Gathering his dharma power, he slowly channeled it into the surface. Before long, the bronze mirror glimmered, reflecting a figure. Wang Ping saw it clearly—it was the inner sect disciple, Xuanyin!

Within the mirror, Xuanyin's expression was somewhat impatient. "From which blessed land?" he asked coldly.

"Gongshun Grotto-Heaven. Wanshou greets you, Senior Brother."

Facing Xuanyin, the Old Emperor naturally did not put on airs. He bowed respectfully. "Senior Brother is the newly appointed Furnace-Tending Disciple. Wanshou naturally ought to pay his respects."

"Gongshun Grotto-Heaven... the Dashun Imperial Family?"

Xuanyin's eyes shifted slightly upon hearing this, his expression softening a bit. Although these firewood-adding disciples in the furnace weren't worth paying attention to, the Dashun Imperial Family was an exception.

After all, their Grand Ancestor might be nothing in the eyes of Qi Refining practitioners, but to disciples like them, he was still quite intimidating.

Besides, he recently needed the Dashun Imperial Family's cooperation for a certain matter. At this thought, an amiable smile quickly appeared on Xuanyin's face. "So it is Junior Brother Wanshou. Your timing is quite good. I happen to have a task that I need your help with."

"..."

Wanshou's smile remained unchanged, but inwardly his face darkened. 'This Biyang's bastard, we've barely exchanged two words and he already wants my help?'

'Is this what you call asking for a favor?'

Even so, he hurriedly nodded. "Please speak, Senior Brother."

Xuanyin waved his hand. A streak of spiritual light shot through the bronze mirror and landed in front of the Old Emperor. It was a fluttering banner.

"This item is the magic treasure of a senior sister of mine."

"She asked me to send it into the Eight Trigrams Furnace to temper it. Find an excellent talent for me and deliver this treasure to them."

The Old Emperor nodded.

"...This is a simple matter. I'll arrange it right away and guarantee it's done as soon as possible. Speaking of which, Junior Brother has specially prepared a welcoming banquet for you, Senior Brother."

"Would Senior Brother be willing to come down and make an appearance?"

As his voice trailed off, the Old Emperor lowered his eyelids, a cold glint in his eyes.

Truthfully, he couldn't care less about Xuanyin's task. There was only one thought in his mind: finding a way to trick the other party into the Eight Trigrams Furnace.

'As long as I can trick him down here and send him into the Ever-Suppressing Six Harmonies Cauldron, it doesn't matter how high his dharma power is or how great his divine powers are. I can still ask the Treasure Cauldron to take him down. Or, I could simply feed him to the Treasure Cauldron. It would be the perfect way to show my sincerity. Hopefully, it would then grant me a few more miraculous methods for extending my lifespan...'

At the thought, the Old Emperor couldn't help but let his imagination run wild.

After all, this was the first time the Treasure Cauldron had ever responded to him, proving that his years of offerings were effective. Given enough time, he would definitely be able to truly control this treasure!

However, a moment later, Xuanyin shook his head.

"Forget about the welcoming banquet."

"I am a Furnace-Tending Disciple. My cultivation is too high; it isn't suitable for me to enter the Eight Trigrams Furnace. Furthermore, I am here on orders and have other important matters to attend to."

"Let's leave it at that."

With that, Xuanyin directly cut the connection.

What a joke. If it weren't for Senior Sister You, would a mere independent cultivator, even one from Gongshun Grotto-Heaven, be worthy of calling him a brother?

"Regardless, Senior Sister You's request is considered complete. I still need to send the news back as soon as possible so she knows my efforts in this."

At the thought, Xuanyin couldn't help but let his own imagination run wild.

After all, this was the first time Senior Sister You had asked him for a favor, proving that his years of pursuit were finally effective. Given enough time, he would definitely be able to dual cultivate with her!

Thinking of her stunningly vivid and unblemished appearance, Xuanyin couldn't suppress a stir of desire.

'When the time comes, she and I will be dao companions.'

'With this status, when Great Cultivator Mingyou passes away, I will undoubtedly get a share of his legacy. Whether I can push through to the third layer in the future depends entirely on this!'

...

The Ever-Suppressing Six Harmonies Cauldron.

With a thought, Wang Ping utilized the profound powers of the treasure cauldron, instantly shifting everything out of the Six Desires Heavenly Demon Flag right under the Old Emperor's nose.

Of course, under the cauldron's influence, it was done entirely unnoticed.

As for the Six Desires Heavenly Demon Flag itself, Wang Ping didn't dare move it carelessly.

For one, he suspected it had been tainted by the Heaven-Stealing Thief, so it was best to keep it at a distance for now. For another, making it vanish into thin air would arouse the Old Emperor's suspicions.

"Many thanks, Lord Treasure Cauldron."

Looking at his regained property—the Purple-Gold Bowl, the Fate-Fixing Bead, the Incense Ingot, and various seized spoils of war—Wang Ping beamed brightly.

[Don't mention it. We're practically family.]

The Treasure Cauldron Spirit had clearly been well-fed by Wang Ping, making it exceedingly agreeable at this moment. It even offered, [Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on Dashun for you.]

[I'll call you when he comes.]

"Then I'll trouble Lord Treasure Cauldron," Wang Ping said, cupping his hands. He prepared to take inventory of his items, but in the very next second, a burst of white light abruptly blossomed.

Immediately after—

"Master~~"

A sweet, coquettish call rang out, and Wang Ping met a pair of large, watery eyes filled with emotions so intense they seemed to drip.

Entering his vision was a woman clad in snowy white. Her figure was slender and pure, with a delicate waist that could be gripped in one hand, looking for all the world like a moonlit fairy ascending to the heavens.

Then, she floated right into Wang Ping's arms.

Her aloof demeanor instantly melted into a puddle of spring water. A rosy flush spread across her fair face, and her ten slender, jade-like fingers began tugging at Wang Ping's clothes.

"You!?"

Wang Ping looked stunned, but he quickly realized. "A substitute body, just like the one you had in Longxing County... No, the materials used for this are much higher grade."

The substitute in Longxing County had clearly been a crude fabrication, unable to hold much dharma power. However, the materials used for this substitute were entirely different. It almost perfectly replicated You Xuexin's physique, restoring her flawlessly inside and out. It was evident just how much painstaking effort she had poured into this.

Wait, all this just for dual cultivation?

Seeing this, Wang Ping's expression immediately turned solemn. He pinned down the eager You Xuexin on the spot and said coldly, "Stop! In broad daylight, what kind of behavior is this?"

If this had been You Xuexin's real body, that would have been one thing.

The problem was, no matter how realistic this substitute was, it was fundamentally fake. It lacked the functions of the Bliss Immortal Physique and couldn't help him refine his dharma power.

And with this, she still wanted to dual cultivate with him?

Keep dreaming!

"Wuu..."

Nestled in Wang Ping's arms but with her hands restrained, You Xuexin began to squirm restlessly. With tears in her beautiful eyes, she whimpered, "Master is pinching Xuexin too hard."

"Save that act."

Looking like an upright gentleman unmoved by temptation, Wang Ping said seriously, "Down to business. I told you to keep an eye on Kunyun's movements. How have things been recently?"

Seeing that Wang Ping was serious, You Xuexin didn't dare resist. She quickly pressed her snowy buttocks against his thigh and sat up straight, her back tracing a graceful curve before she replied in a sweet voice, "Don't worry, Master, Xuexin investigated thoroughly. However, Kunyun hasn't gone anywhere else lately."

"At least, Xuexin didn't find any trace of him appearing outside his Cave Abode."

"...He hasn't?" Wang Ping was taken aback.

No! Something was wrong!

Wang Ping stood up abruptly, his previously relaxed expression completely swept away. "It's impossible for him not to come out, especially... after you visited the Dharma Transmission Hall!"

Before this, out of anxiousness, he had actually mishandled one detail: rashly letting You Xuexin go to the Dharma Transmission Hall to check the Secret Record of Divine Abilities. For a true transmission disciple—and one who had long since chosen her divine power—to do such a thing was highly suspicious.

"Kunyun already felt something was off with you before."

"Then you went to the Dharma Transmission Hall to look at the Secret Record of Divine Abilities. Combined with the fact that you asked him for a whole pile of spells earlier... if I were him, I would definitely be suspicious!"

"And I would definitely find a way to investigate you."

You Xuexin froze at his words, then frowned. "But Master, he hasn't done anything..."

Right, he hadn't done anything.

Wang Ping's face grew increasingly dark. You Xuexin also realized it in hindsight, her delicate brows knitting together. "...Doing nothing was meant to lull me into a false sense of security?"

"It's possible... No, it's a certainty!"

Casting aside all wishful thinking, Wang Ping spoke with a grave expression. "This is no longer simple suspicion. Unless something unexpected has happened... he's already concluded that there is a problem with you!"