Chapter Forty-Two: An Unexpected Gain

Turning to Chen Jiu’s side, after Yan Chixia unleashed a beam of golden light, Chen Jiu felt his vision blur and his head spin. When his senses returned, he was astonished to discover he was no longer in the same place, but had been transported to an unfamiliar realm.

This land was broad and open, the night wind carried a fragrant aroma that filled his nose. Bathed in the brilliant moonlight overhead, Chen Jiu could vaguely make out a vast sea of flowers. Yet as soon as he entertained the thought of fleeing, he found himself helpless—his body was still immobilized by the spell, unable to move.

Suddenly, the sounds of combat echoed from the horizon. Thunder rumbled relentlessly, and a mass of dark clouds rushed above Chen Jiu’s head. From within those clouds, a sword light flashed, seeming potent enough to split the heavens and earth, carving a massive rift through the cloud. Sword energy crackled like threads, sweeping across the flower fields. Chen Jiu’s hair whipped wildly in the wind; he struggled to open his eyes. The sword energy was terrifyingly strong.

Yan Chixia’s long sword transformed into a streak of sword light; with a few flickers, he appeared before Chen Jiu. Soon after, the withered-wood elder and the red-browed old man arrived in quick succession.

The withered-wood elder’s gaze was icy. He barked, “Yan Chixia, you were an outsider. Now that you insist on aiding this red-browed old man, do you realize what consequences await you?”

Yan Chixia frowned slightly, his sword-like brows furrowing. “You were once a respected figure in the Daoist sects, standing shoulder to shoulder with the great Daoists. Who would have thought you’d fall so far, consorting with demons and coveting such a thing? Do you feel no shame?”

The withered-wood elder shot a sidelong glance at the calm-faced red-browed elder, anger rising in his heart. Yan Chixia had dredged up his past misdeeds!

“Enough nonsense! The Yunmeng Bamboo Script is coveted by a powerful figure of the demon clan. You two had better know your place.” The elder realized he had little hope in a two-against-one fight, so he invoked the authority of his backer.

At this, the red-browed elder, who had been silent, retorted, “The demon clan? Ha! What a joke. Look around the imperial lands of Great Jin—what demon dares to stir up trouble openly now?”

As long as the Bureau of Civil Tranquility exists, no demon will ever have a day to rise in the lands of Great Jin. They’ll only lurk in shadows, or make minor moves behind the scenes. Unless they’re fools, they would never challenge the Bureau’s strength.

The truly threatening primordial demons had long since left Great Jin, seeking new fortunes elsewhere...

Take the Tu Mountain fox clan, for example—they now thrive north of Great Jin, having become a thriving fox demon kingdom.

The withered-wood elder was silent for a moment, then sneered, “Heh, I won't waste any more words with you!”

His eyes narrowed; in his hand, the dust whisk erupted in a cascade of black mist, swiftly engulfing the red-browed elder.

Yan Chixia reacted with a frown. “Could this be his renowned technique, the ‘Withered Wood Formation’?”

But he didn’t linger on the thought. After glancing at Chen Jiu, he soared into the mass of black mist above, engaging the withered-wood elder in combat.

Chen Jiu watched, startled. If three “Jade Elixir Realm” cultivators fought here, the entire Jingyang County might be thrown into chaos.

After all, when immortals clash, mortals suffer.

In the eyes of ordinary folk, anyone who wielded spells was an immortal...

Moments later, the black mist thickened, spreading outward as if to consume the sky. The moon was shrouded by dark clouds, plunging the land into darkness.

Within the swirling clouds, Yan Chixia and the red-browed elder fought fiercely, hacking at the towering withered woods that continuously emerged. These woods clung like dogskin plasters—no matter how many were slain, new ones sprang up instantly.

“We must find the withered wood elder’s true form among these woods!” the red-browed elder shouted.

Yan Chixia’s sword swept wide, slashing dozens of black-tinged withered woods in an instant. Despite his strength, even he was beginning to tire.

“No use—in this black mist, the withered wood elder holds the advantage.” The woods multiplied and shifted formation, the mist confounding their senses. It would be exceedingly difficult to find the elder’s true body quickly.

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At that moment, the black mist in the sky churned ever more violently, like boiling water. Chen Jiu felt uneasy—he wished Yan Chixia would finish the fight swiftly.

He was still immobilized, and the Breath Concealing Talisman on him had long lost its effect; after the earlier skirmish, his presence might already be exposed.

“Those two ‘Suspended Eyes’ could leap out at any time!”

He needed to know how the battle within the clouds was progressing, to be ready for anything.

His heart stirred; suddenly, the celestial eye appeared on his forehead.

Under his “Spirit Sight,” Chen Jiu’s vision turned golden.

Without the celestial eye, his natural sight would be powerless against the black clouds. But now, with this divine ability, he could see unhindered.

Within the darkness, Yan Chixia and the red-browed elder attacked the endlessly appearing withered woods, but fatigue was setting in. The woods shifted and flickered, dizzying to behold.

Yet to Chen Jiu’s eyes, among the many shifting woods, one stood out starkly!

His heart skipped.

“No! This ‘Withered Wood Formation’ is extraordinary—we should retreat!” the red-browed elder decided.

Yan Chixia nodded in agreement, preparing to forcibly break through the clouds.

Just then, a shout rang out:

“Brother Yan, straight ahead, fifteen paces—the weakest withered wood!”

Yan Chixia started, then without hesitation, slashed forward with his sword.

At that moment, the withered wood fifteen paces away from Yan Chixia suddenly shuddered, revealing the withered-wood elder’s panicked form.

Yan Chixia rejoiced inwardly.

In a flash of sword light, the elder’s true body was struck hard, nearly cleaved in two.

Immediately, the dark clouds contracted violently, soon ejecting the red-browed elder and Yan Chixia.

With the formation broken, the red-browed elder clapped his hands and laughed. “Well! Who’d have thought your formation would be undone by a mere greenhorn!”

Yan Chixia smiled gratefully at Chen Jiu.

Chen Jiu nodded in return, having already withdrawn his celestial eye.

The withered-wood elder, wounded by Yan Chixia’s sword energy, blood at his lips and aura flagging, glared fiercely at Chen Jiu. “Ruined my plans, damn priest—just wait!”

With a flash of cold light in his eyes, verdant light burst forth from him. Countless green leaves enveloped his body, carrying him away toward the horizon.

He fled...

Yan Chixia chuckled as the elder retreated in defeat, then descended before Chen Jiu.

“Thank you, young brother.” With a sweep of his sleeve, he lifted the immobilizing spell.

Chen Jiu regained his freedom, his mind stirring.

The withered-wood elder was gone, but the red-browed elder remained...

Yan Chixia wouldn’t seize the bamboo script from him, but the red-browed elder—who could say?

Noticing Chen Jiu’s wariness, the red-browed elder raised his eyebrows and laughed, “What now? Afraid I’ll snatch your bamboo script?”

Chen Jiu quickly shook his head. “I mean no such thing, and in any case, the bamboo script does not belong to me.”

It was An Huayuan’s; if he wanted it, let him negotiate, but don’t threaten me.

Yan Chixia deliberated, then said, “Though it belongs to that family, possession may not be a blessing.”

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The red-browed elder agreed. “Indeed, if the three of us hadn’t come today, others would have. The secrets behind the Yunmeng Bamboo Script are enough to drive most cultivators mad...”

He sighed softly; clearly, he too was among the obsessed.

“So, such a thing is best kept by me.” He pressed his fingers together, pointing at Chen Jiu.

Chen Jiu’s heart raced, but he did not resist.

Resistance would be futile—the elder was determined, and bore no malice. There was no need to provoke a “Jade Elixir Realm” cultivator.

Moments later, the bamboo script floated from Chen Jiu’s arms, drifting into the red-browed elder’s hand.

Yan Chixia, observing Chen Jiu’s lack of resistance, felt a pang of admiration. “You could see through the withered wood formation—clearly you have some skill. I underestimated you.”

The red-browed elder nodded in praise. “Indeed, without this youth, we might have made fools of ourselves.”

In truth, had they used their full strength, they could have broken the formation.

But to avoid drawing too much attention, neither was reckless.

After all, this was Jingyang County.

If cultivators from the Second Heaven of Immortals fought openly, the Bureau of Civil Tranquility wouldn’t sit idly by.

Then Yan Chixia untied a bloodstained pouch from his waist and handed it to Chen Jiu.

Chen Jiu’s expression shifted; he hurriedly accepted and asked, “What is this?”

Yan Chixia patted his sword on his back. “This used to hold severed heads when I killed, called the ‘Sword Bag.’ It is filled with sharp sword energy, controllable by incantation, needing no spell. It’s excellent for self-defense.”

Chen Jiu’s heart leapt!

A bag for severed heads?!

Judging by its bloodstained, battered appearance, the number of heads it had held was unimaginable!

Clearly, Yan Chixia had a blood-soaked past.

Still, the thought of acquiring another treasure delighted him, and he bowed, “Thank you, Brother Yan.”

He should have addressed him as an elder, but Chen Jiu wished to draw closer with such a figure, so he called him “Brother.”

Not to be outdone, the red-browed elder pondered for a moment. “Since Yan Chixia has gifted you a treasure, I’ll give you a spell scroll!”

With a sweep of his sleeve, a blue-covered book appeared before Chen Jiu.

On it was written, “Universe Within the Sleeve.”

“This ‘Universe Within the Sleeve’ is a storage spell; you can store items in your sleeve... Practice it well, youth. Farewell!”

After stowing the bamboo script, the red-browed elder stamped his foot and soared into the sky, vanishing from sight.

Yan Chixia clasped his fist toward Chen Jiu. “Until we meet again!”

Then, riding a streak of sword light, he departed gracefully.

Only Chen Jiu remained.

He suppressed his excitement and tucked the book into his arms.

Soon after, more than a dozen beams of light shot toward him from afar, awe-inspiring in their momentum.

Chen Jiu’s heart stirred.

It must be the Bureau of Civil Tranquility...

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