Chapter 75: The Beloved One Who Always Gets Beaten
Page 1
“What?!! Peak Nascent Soul?!!” Yu Dao Yi’s face was filled with disbelief.
“Although I came here rather hastily, I did look up some information beforehand and heard a few things at the Lin Manor,” Song Tianhan replied, unsurprised at his reaction.
“Lin Manor?” Yu Dao Yi frowned.
“Sigh, I reckon the Lin Manor is nearly finished now,” Song Tianhan said, his tone tinged with regret.
“How so?” Yu Dao Yi asked urgently.
The pillar of light isolated those inside from the outside world, making it impossible to learn anything immediately.
“They failed at the last moment, everything was wasted. This secret realm was originally discovered by them, and they wanted to monopolize it, break away from the Lin Clan. But because of how things turned out, everyone knows about it now. They’re trying to explain themselves to the main clan, but this could easily be seen as rebellion, which might doom the Lin family of Qingshan Town forever.”
“It’s thanks to this chaos that my people were able to gather a lot of information about this secret realm. Bai Li Mo’s cultivation, at the very least, is at Nascent Soul, maybe even approaching the Divine Refinement stage. Think about it—where around here is there anyone both skilled in formations and possessing such high cultivation?”
“Now, even though I managed to enter, I haven’t been of much use. We can only hope that once the inheritance is formally activated, this black pillar of light will disappear.”
“You all shouldn’t wander around anymore. Just stay close to me. The back mountain is crawling with all sorts of people now. There are bound to be those who want the inheritance and send people to target you younger ones early.”
Yu Dao Yi heaved a deep sigh after hearing this. He glanced at the last Blood-red Fruit on his back. If, when the inheritance finally opens, the pillar of light still doesn’t dissipate, he’d have to seek out Lin He. That fellow definitely knows more, but partnering with him is like bargaining with a tiger.
Day Four.
As time passed, most people on the back mountain besides Yu Dao Yi and his group grew increasingly anxious. The shrinking of the black pillar, the restriction on Qi Refining cultivation for entering the secret realm—it all meant a large number would be barred from entry. Those inside would eventually be forced out by the shrinking pillar, and so far, those who left the light were doomed to die.
The Duan siblings found their family here the day before, so they bid farewell to Yu Dao Yi’s group and rejoined their own clan, but like everyone else, they had no way to leave this place.
“This pillar is truly odd,” Song Tianhan sighed beside them.
“What’s wrong, Father?” Song Qiuling asked.
“This formation is powerful. When I first entered the black pillar, I didn’t really feel it, but now, after just a few days, my cultivation has been greatly suppressed.”
As Eleven Brother said, anyone above the Qi Refining stage here will find their cultivation greatly suppressed. Whether this suppression increases over time, or even whether Foundation Establishment cultivators will be forced down to Qi Refining, is unknown. If so, maybe they could enter the inheritance realm.
“Bad news, Father, Dao Yi,” Song Cheng approached from afar, limping, his face bruised and swollen.
Yu Dao Yi couldn’t help but lament the decline of morals—how a good youth could become a cripple overnight.
He mourned for Song Cheng, feeling nothing in his heart, and nearly burst out laughing.
Page 2
“Dao Yi, you may very well die soon,” Song Cheng said, his swollen face calm and slow.
??????
Ha, smiling on the outside—maybe later he could ask Uncle Song if he recommends turning the crippled youth into a paralyzed one.
“Speak properly,” Song Tianhan said coolly.
Song Cheng seemed to recall something, and suddenly envisioned a peaceful land with winged people flying about, shuddering at the thought.
“Well, after my relentless efforts, enduring strange looks, bearing ridicule and scorn, even…” Song Cheng felt the need to highlight his dedication to intelligence gathering, hoping to secure his position in the group and avoid being beaten every other day.
Yes, none of them really saw Song Cheng as human. Just yesterday, he’d endured a fierce beating and lay ignored all night, only to be sent out to gather information under the excuse that a wounded soul would evoke more sympathy and yield better news.
At last, Song Cheng’s tireless efforts won him the “most beaten team pet” title, snatching it from Yu Dao Yi.
“Save the nonsense, skip to the result,” Yu Dao Yi interrupted coldly.
“…There are many people in the back mountain now, all sorts, so trouble is inevitable. I found out that people have already started fighting—many cultivators have been assassinated, especially among the Qi Refining ranks,” Song Cheng explained slowly.
Yu Dao Yi frowned. Right now, Qi Refining was the only way into the inheritance realm. Clearly, someone was trying to eliminate obstacles ahead of time.
“Do you know who’s behind it?” Song Tianhan asked coldly, knowing this meant his own daughter could be a target.
As for his son… What? Did you say I have a son? Where? What’s his name again?
“I don’t know who the real killer is, but the rumors point to Chen Yi from the Chen family of Mount Song and Shao Ping from the Shao family of Mount Heng. Both are geniuses of their clans, about our age, but already at the ninth level of Qi Refining. As soon as they heard of Bai Li Mo’s secret realm, they rushed here,” Song Cheng said, holding his swollen face.
“In my daily social encounters—er, I’ve heard of these two. Neither are considered decent people, and they’re always watched over by their elders. From any angle, they’re highly suspicious.” Yu Dao Yi wanted to add something but nearly let slip his own dissolute ways.
“In addition, Yan Yan from the Yan Sect of Mount Hua, Xuan Xin from the Mirror Sect of Tian Xuan, and Bai Yiyue from the Bai family of Huai Mountain Town—all have gathered here. Each is a famous young figure in their region, drawn by the prospect of Bai Li Mo’s inheritance.”
Song Tianhan’s heart sank at this. This was no longer a matter between towns. The Song family had no way to compete among these powers. Their only concern now was safety.
All well-known youths—Yu Dao Yi had heard of most of them. For example, he’d long coveted—no, been interested in—Bai Yiyue, reputedly a stunning girl skilled in illusions. It was said even the weak-willed, upon seeing her once, would pine for her day and night.
He sighed deeply. Frankly, if it were just assassinations, Yu Dao Yi believed Eleven Brother could handle it. What mattered now was understanding Bai Li Mo’s true intentions.
Page 3
On the fifth day, Song Cheng was still left to roam outside. A white-clad woman with her face covered suddenly caught Yu Dao Yi’s attention.
She wore a veil, a bamboo hat, and held a long sword. Her figure and face were hidden beneath a loose white cloak.
“What’s wrong?” Yu Yunfan, who hadn’t spoken for a while, asked, seeing Yu Dao Yi’s puzzled look.
“She looks familiar,” Yu Dao Yi tilted his head, perplexed.
“Brother, please pay attention. Now is not the time to flirt,” Yu Yunfan said coolly.
“…Little brother, you’ve gone astray. That word shouldn’t come from your mouth.”
Do you even know what flirting means! It’s about two lonely souls warming each other!
“You taught me.”
“…Is this how you see your brother?”
“Just be careful what you say. If a fight breaks out, I might not have time to save you.”
“??? I’m so cute, so innocent. Who would attack me just like that? You think everyone’s like that violent girl?”
Yu Yunfan sighed deeply as he watched the person before him, then stepped back a bit.
Yu Dao Yi was left alone, bewildered. He pointed behind him, turned to look, and saw a tall, beautiful woman charging toward him, her presence stormy, her legs white and strong as she kicked him, grabbing him for a perfect aerial spin.
His talent for courting disaster had not diminished at all.
“Who are you calling a violent girl!” Song Qiuling, furious, kicked him twice more.
??? Damn! Why does this always happen to me!
“Brother, I think you really need to face yourself,” Yu Yunfan said flatly from the side.
??? Don’t push me, you brat!
Struggling to his feet, Yu Dao Yi looked into the distance, only to find the veiled woman had vanished. Yet his instincts told him he knew her very well.