When the two hurried to the place where the Venerables were, they heard news that was neither clearly good nor bad: the Venerables had long since left this place and had gone into the Secret Realm to investigate the situation.
The Venerables weren’t deaf or blind. Seeing the various bizarre situations in the Secret Realm, how could they not know that something unexpected had happened?
Staying here was useless; it was better to head out immediately and resolve the issue.
But, if the Venerables had already left a long time ago, why was there not the slightest movement from within the Secret Realm?
“What is that?”
The Saint’s gaze pierced through the void, landing on the black shadow that had heavily enveloped the Secret Realm.
Even she could feel a trace of oppressive sensation from this mass of shadow.
Without a doubt, behind this shadow lurked an existence not inferior to her own.
At this moment, her role and that of the Valley Master of Wanhua had reversed.
Previously, she had been the one restraining the Valley Master, preventing her from breaking away.
Now, it was about to become the Valley Master preventing her from breaking away.
“A secret.”
“I can guess even if you don’t say. Was it the incident from decades ago? What exactly did you find in that place……”
“We found her. Do you believe it?” The Valley Master extended a finger, pointing at Hua Jian within the water mirror.
The expression of the Yaochi Sect Leader immediately calmed. After pondering for a few seconds, she let out a soft snort.
She naturally didn’t want to believe it, but at this moment, she had to consider the truthfulness of this information.
Wanhuagu never gave excuses that sounded obviously fake. That was also why they were so difficult to deal with.
If there was more truth than falsehood in that sentence just now……
“That was a place utterly polluted by demons!”
“A flawless white lotus can also grow from mud. I believe we can guide her onto the Right Path.”
Hearing such a statement from Wanhuagu’s mouth, the Yaochi Sect Leader was momentarily so angry she didn’t know what to say.
Isn’t leading people astray exactly what your Wanhuagu is best at?
Could Hua Jian possibly become a good person after falling into your hands?!
“Don’t rush to refute me. I know there are still Saints watching this place, but I am not without bargaining chips either. At this critical juncture, I don’t think you would start a new Great War over this one little girl.”
The Valley Master of Wanhua slightly raised her hand, signaling the Yaochi Sect Leader not to get so agitated. If the Saints don’t intervene, just let the juniors below solve the problem.
“You Right Path folks have gathered so many Venerables here. What, are you worried they can’t handle this?”
That statement hit the nail right on the head. The Yaochi Sect Leader was worried the Venerables couldn’t resolve the current situation.
That mass of shadow enveloping the Secret Realm possessed power not inferior to a Saint.
If the Venerables faced it, they would absolutely not have a good outcome.
“Haha, rest assured, I can guarantee you, not a single life will be lost in this Ascension Gathering. Those little ones in the Secret Realm, I will send every single one of them out to you, not one missing.”
“You have such a good heart?”
“After all, I need to take Hua Jian away while those juniors are busy rescuing that little dragon.”
“You……”
…
Though she had managed to evade pursuit using an almost shameless method, Hua Jian’s suspicion of Xia Hui couldn’t possibly disappear just because this one probe failed.
For the rest of the day, Hua Jian glared fiercely at Xia Hui, trying to find the fox tail this little thing was exposing.
But the results were quite meager. Xia Hui acted as if nothing was wrong, treating her exactly the same as before.
She completely acted the part of Hua Jian’s loyal and good subordinate.
The problem was really big. If someone else were suspected by Hua Jian like this, if they were truly innocent, wouldn’t they act wronged or even sulk?
If they weren’t innocent, wouldn’t their current behavior be more restrained, to avoid giving Hua Jian more leverage?
But Xia Hui was completely not like that. She even seemed a bit… ‘I’m not even acting anymore.’
“The stuff she just rubbed on her face is also from Wanhuagu, right? I knew as soon as I smelled it.”
Hua Jian withdrew her gaze from observing Xia Hui and asked Linglong.
Hadn’t she pinched Xia Hui’s cheek hard earlier, turning the little face red?
After dodging the matter, Xia Hui took out a fragrant box from her Storage Pouch and patted it on her face, saying it was a good thing to protect her skin.
But Hua Jian knew from the smell—this thing was definitely related to Wanhuagu.
No other place, not even products from Lingcaifeng, would have this cloyingly sweet Flower Fragrance.
“Ah?” Linglong, who had been staring blankly at the sky, snapped out of it, her wandering soul finally returning to her head. “What were you thinking about? If being with me is so boring, then hurry back to your own Forbidden Land.”
“You misunderstand.” Linglong quickly explained. She didn’t find being with Hua Jian boring; rather, she felt the environment in the Secret Realm seemed to be becoming strange.
“I feel the Spirit Energy between heaven and earth is slowly disappearing, as if being absorbed by something.”
Hua Jian really hadn’t noticed this detail. She focused for a moment, then scratched her head. It didn’t seem like there was any change.
Just as she was doubting whether Linglong’s senses were wrong, an anomaly suddenly occurred on the towering light pillar that had been motionless all along.
The shadow coiled around the light pillar seemed to be struck hard by something, dissipating from the top of the pillar.
Immediately, a strange Spatial Tremor began to spread outward from the light pillar as its center.
The tremor swept past Hua Jian, causing the Token at her waist to violently shudder.
Just as Hua Jian thought the Token would shatter, the plaque suddenly fell silent again.
“That tremor seemed to want to activate the spatial array formation on the Tokens we carry, but the activation failed for some unknown reason…”
Linglong immediately understood what had just happened.
Looking at the shadow gathering again above the light pillar, her expression gradually turned grim.
Now it could be confirmed—there really was a major problem in the Secret Realm.
Hua Jian immediately turned her gaze to Xia Hui. If her suspicions were correct, what was happening now was absolutely connected to Xia Hui!
Perhaps Xia Hui was the one behind all this!
Feeling Hua Jian’s gaze, Xia Hui, who was holding a mirror and rubbing her face, looked up.
She gave Hua Jian a very sunny smile and silently mouthed the words: “Do you need any help, Miss Hua Jian?”
This smile was too sunny, practically no different from revealing her identity. What good person could remain so calm when encountering something like this?
Unless… she was the one who caused it.
Hua Jian was not someone who liked to suffer in silence.
She immediately rolled up her sleeves, rushed to Xia Hui’s side, and pressed down on Xia Hui’s shoulder. “Stop pretending. What is that thing exactly?”
Xia Hui, pinned down by Hua Jian, glanced upward slightly, as if fabricating a lie in her heart.
After two seconds, Xia Hui opened her mouth. “I think everyone will be fine.”
Not denying the connection to this matter, but saying everyone will be fine?
“Then explain it clearly to me!” Hua Jian was not a child so easily satisfied. She wouldn’t give up until she got a proper ‘because’ and ‘therefore’.
Xia Hui rested her head on Hua Jian’s shoulder, sneakily glanced at Linglong, then tilted her head slightly and whispered in Hua Jian’s ear, “I can, but Miss Hua Jian can’t tell anyone else.”
Before Hua Jian could even bargain, she heard Xia Hui mutter to herself again.
“Ah, forget it, forget it. Even if Miss Hua Jian promises me, she’ll end up telling Miss Linglong anyway. Once Miss Linglong knows, then everyone will know.”
Hey, why are you complaining now? And what do you mean I’ll definitely tell Linglong? Making it sound like I’m Linglong’s appendage.
Linglong and I are just the most ordinary of friends, okay?!
“We want Miss Hua Jian to become a great, great, great hero! Imagine, when everyone is caught in a life-and-death crisis, Miss Hua Jian steps forward, saving everyone from peril. That would definitely make Miss Hua Jian the brightest star in the entire Ascension Gathering!”
“No, no, a star isn’t enough to describe Miss Hua Jian’s greatness. You should be the sun, the one and only great sun!”
Xia Hui spread her arms, using an incredibly vivid performance to make Hua Jian understand she wasn’t lying.
It’s just that this plan sounded particularly bizarre to Hua Jian.
Why should I be the one to become that great hero? What does me becoming a great hero have to do with Wanhuagu?
And judging by the current performance, Xia Hui had definitely been swapped out. So what about the original Xia Hui?
“What have you done to Xia Hui?”
“She has been safely escorted out of the Secret Realm. Don’t worry, we would never lay a hand on those close to you, Miss Hua Jian.” Xia Hui answered with a smile.
So the swap happened inside the Secret Realm?
“Are those invading Magic Path cultivators also part of the plan?”
“Correct. However, they are not aware of the current plan. These people are a gift for you, Miss Hua Jian, so you can become a hero by stepping over their corpses.”
Hua Jian gave Xia Hui a deep look. With things said to this extent, she actually believed most of it.
This plan indeed fit her impression of Wanhuagu perfectly. They were completely using other Magic Path factions as expendable materials.
“Are Sword Hero and the others also…?”
“A Magic Path invasion always needs some inside help.”
“They didn’t attack me back then because of you?”
“The great hero-to-be cannot leave the stage early. I just gave them a warning.”
As the two spoke, Linglong had also walked over. Their conversation hadn’t been hushed, so she had heard everything clearly.
As for her current attitude, it was half anger and half confusion.
Anger that Wanhuagu would actually cause trouble at the Ascension Gathering.
Confusion as to why Wanhuagu’s target this time was to boost Hua Jian’s reputation.
What kind of connection existed between Hua Jian and Wanhuagu that could make Wanhuagu help Hua Jian so much, even willing to give ‘allies’ to Hua Jian as a welcoming gift?
Linglong completely believed Hua Jian was not a spy sent by Wanhuagu to infiltrate the Right Path.
Everything Wanhuagu was doing seemed completely meaningless in her eyes.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Saintess, please don’t make things difficult for me. I only know how things will develop, not why the higher-ups are doing this.”
Xia Hui sighed very honestly, her gaze drifting to Hua Jian.
“Miss Hua Jian, you should also stop pretending. Just tell me honestly, are you a spy sent by the higher-ups to infiltrate the Saint Sect?”
“Of course I’m not!”
“Every spy says that before they’re discovered. I only know that according to my intelligence, you ‘are not’ a spy. But after these past few days together, I’m starting to think you might be a bit like one.”
Hua Jian’s expression stiffened. She knew there were indeed many suspicious points about her, but she really wasn’t a spy.
And what would someone with her talent be doing as a spy? Wouldn’t Wanhuagu be afraid she’d just defect?
It doesn’t make sense, right?
“I’m really not. Hurry up and tell your people to stop, don’t engage in all this nonsense anymore!”
Faced with Hua Jian’s demand, Xia Hui simply shrugged, indicating there was no way to stop it now.
Their plan might be different from what Hua Jian imagined. Once it started, there was no chance to stop.
“All other Wanhuagu cultivators in the Secret Realm have already evacuated. Now, the only ones left in the entire Secret Realm are me and you. If you don’t step forward to be this hero, then perhaps everyone will die.”
Will everyone die?
Hua Jian’s grip on Xia Hui’s shoulder tightened even more, the force so great it seemed like she would crush Xia Hui’s shoulder blade.
“Didn’t you say nothing would happen?”
You just said there would be no problem, now you’re saying everyone will die. Do Wanhuagu people lie without changing their expressions?
“If Miss Hua Jian is willing to step forward and be this hero, of course everyone will be fine. If you are unwilling, then we’ll all die together.”
Xia Hui showed not a shred of the crisis feeling of having her life in Hua Jian’s hands. Instead, she seemed a bit expectant.
“Having the Saintess of Yaochi and so many Heavenly Talents accompany me on the road to the Yellow Springs… I don’t think it’s a loss at all.”
Then, as if afraid Hua Jian would misunderstand, Xia Hui quickly added.
“I’m not threatening you. Even if you don’t step forward, you won’t be in danger.”
Wanhuagu had given Hua Jian a multiple-choice question with no wrong answer.
Whether she chose or not, she wouldn’t face danger.
The only difference was: if she went to be the hero, she could save everyone in the Secret Realm. If she didn’t go, everyone in the Secret Realm would die.
“What exactly have you done to the Secret Realm? The Venerables, they…”
“Miss Hua Jian, I think it’s best you don’t think about relying on the Venerables right now. Everyone knows the Ascension Gathering has Venerables guarding it. When formulating a plan, they definitely wouldn’t forget to account for the Venerables.”
In other words, all of the Saint Sect’s reactions had been considered by Wanhuagu. The fact that Xia Hui dared to tell Hua Jian this now meant Wanhuagu wasn’t afraid of the Venerables intervening at all.
“This is the method to resolve the crisis. Whether to use it or not is entirely up to you.”
Xia Hui took out a piece of wood emitting a faint, multicolored glow from her Storage Pouch.
“Ignite this, and Miss Hua Jian will know the method.”
Handing the wood block to Hua Jian with both hands, Xia Hui took a step back with a smile.
“I will wait here. If Miss Hua Jian has any requests, you can tell me. I will do my utmost to fulfill them for you.”