Without further delay, they rode the wind together. After two days, they descended into the market city. As soon as the market’s grand formation opened, the Han Family cultivators hurriedly approached and called out for their family head.
“Daoist, please take a look! This is our Tu Liu Market.” Han Shizhen ignored them, falling half a step behind Li Xizhi, smiling as he introduced the place in a soft voice, “Daoist, please follow me to the main hall for a short rest while I inquire about the whereabouts of those rogue cultivators.”
Hearing this, Li Xizhi furrowed his brows slightly and sensed something amiss. He followed Han Shizhen into the grand hall and took a seat at the side. Han Shizhen took two steps back, exited the hall and his smile quickly faded.
A burly man stepped forward with a heavy expression. Han Shizhen spoke in a low voice, “What did those men say?”
The burly man simply replied, “We searched one man’s soul. The others are beyond recognition.”
It turned out that although Han Shizhen claimed to have released them, he had long since skinned, dismembered and extracted their souls. The Demon Subduing Copper Rods had already fallen into the Han Family’s hands. But now, he regretted his actions and murmured, “If I had known Li Xizhi was this perceptive, I wouldn’t have taken that Demon Subduing Copper Rods. Now I can’t explain things properly. If any of them said something wrong, he might detest my family. I can only claim they escaped…”
Yuan Chengdun’s weapons were Foundation Establishment Realm dharma artifacts, and a pair at that. Naturally, Han Shizhen had been tempted. Now, he could only go along with his lie. After waiting outside for a moment, he stepped back inside. Putting on a smile, he said apologetically, “Daoist! It was my carelessness. Those men sold their goods and immediately scattered in all directions without staying for a moment… As for the Demon Subduing Copper Rods, it is beyond our reach.”
It seems Yuan Chengdun truly has perished. Li Xizhi sat at the head of the hall, holding his teacup, but he did not believe a word of it. He thought in his heart, Han Shizhen, you’ve established yourself in the Eastern Sea, you're no benevolent figure. Upon learning of a Foundation Establishment Realm inheritance, you must have fabricated an excuse to capture those rogue cultivators. You just wanted to keep that pair of Foundation Establishment artifacts for yourself.
Li Xizhi had no desire for those artifacts, so he didn’t bother exposing him. Instead, he casually waved his hand and asked, “Is there any news about that location?”
Han Shizhen immediately answered, “Fortunately, my men asked beforehand. We already know its location.”
“Then let us depart.” Li Xizhi rose and said softly, “In that case, I must trouble you to collect those Demon Suppressing Stones. My family had some ties with Senior Yuan Chengdun. Sending them to Mushroom Forest Plain would at least fulfill a portion of that bond.”
Having already taken the Demon Subduing Copper Rods, Han Shizhen was feeling uneasy and dared not say more. He nodded repeatedly and led the way as they rode the wind, heading toward the Qunyi Strait.
Li Xizhi pondered along the way, flying far into the Qunyi Sea. The vast ocean stretched before them, with the golden crow sun hanging high, its scorching rays blazing down. Below them, on the scattered islets, the sea tribes looked up one by one.
Han Shizhen, accompanied by a burly man, flew straight toward a location within the vast seascape. He came to a slow stop above the water without even surveying the surroundings before cupping his fists and saying, “Family Head, Daoist, this is the place!”
Han Shizhen’s expression flickered, while Li Xizhi suddenly understood, thinking to himself, So they searched their souls… Those rogue cultivators must already be dead.
Han Shizhen carefully observed Li Xizhi. Seeing his expression remain unchanged, he finally gestured and said, “Daoist… please proceed…”
The three of them split up, flying down in different directions. After searching for several days, Han Shizhen finally came to a slow stop on the ocean floor and found nothing.
He paused several times, gradually losing motivation. Li Xizhi’s matters had nothing to do with him as he was only acting out of self-interest. He had his eyes on that secret realm, which was the only reason he had been willing to assist.
Now, waiting idly, he sat down beside a reef. Suddenly, a pair of long boots appeared before him.
The boots shimmered in a deep blue hue, silver-bright, their intricate craftsmanship and ornate patterns revealing them as anything but ordinary. Han Shizhen had no time to marvel, his initial surprise instantly turned into sheer terror.
This is…! His thoughts flickered like lightning in his mind. He hurriedly looked up, meeting a pair of emerald-green eyes and was so terrified that he immediately pleaded, “This humble one greets… greets the great demonic beast, Muhai…I…”
He stammered a couple of words, but suddenly, all sorts of illusions surged before his eyes. The water and sky around him trembled violently before he plunged into a deep and overwhelming darkness.
----
Li Xizhi naturally found nothing except for a few pieces of Demon Suppressing Stone on the seabed, which he collected one by one before pausing in the depths of the ocean.
With a secret realm like this, how could a mere Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator possibly find it without a specialized method?
He settled atop a reef, closing his eyes to cast a spell to summon his Immortal Mirror. But suddenly, his scalp tingled and his entire body trembled. The core within his qihai acupoints quivered slightly, forcing him to stop.
Li Xizhi hesitated momentarily before reopening his eyes, only to meet a pair of emerald-green pupils directly.
Standing right in front of him was a middle-aged man with sharp, narrow eyes and wild, flame-colored hair. His robe shimmered in gold, resembling the glimmer of scales. He was so close, barely a fist's distance, that Li Xizhi could feel the cold radiating from him.
Those emerald-green pupils stared at Li Xizhi icily, reflecting his own gray-black eyes within them.
In his hands, he held two severed heads, their empty eyes staring blankly at the sky. Their expressions strangely carried a hint of joy. One had neatly combed hair, while the other’s beard and hair were wildly disheveled.
“It’s Han Shizhen and his retainer!” muttered Li Xizhi.
It had only been a few days since they had separated, yet both men had met a violent end. Li Xizhi’s hair stood on end as he watched the radiant energy of the opponent’s divine powers flow like liquid from his feet, spreading like lightning and enveloping him instantly.
“A Purple Mansion Realm… cultivator…” said Li Xizhi.
He was completely immobilized and could only meet the cold gaze of this Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. The man narrowed his eyes slightly, but when he spoke, his voice was clear and bright, it was utterly unfitting for his fierce appearance. “Who sent you… Si Boxiu or Tang Yuanwu?”
Li Xizhi watched as the divine energy swirling around him turned a deep azure, casting a brilliant blue glow over his face. His thoughts flickered like lightning, and he quickly answered, “Reporting to the Daoist Master! It was none of these two.”
The Purple Mansion Realm Daoist Master slowly halted, revealing a strange expression. His emerald eyes blinked slightly, their hue deepening as if he had gleaned a great deal from Li Xizhi’s body. His red hair floated in the water as he sneered inwardly, Quite the audacity!
His gaze darkened, making it impossible to discern his true thoughts. As if suddenly amused, he chuckled and asked, “Was it Sui Guan?”
Li Xizhi, however, shook his head and respectfully replied, “This junior came of his own accord. My master has been missing for over a decade, yet the sect has remained unresponsive. It was my duty to seek him out personally. I had no intention of offending you, Senior.”
The Purple Mansion Daoist Master listened to his words, his gaze gliding coldly over Li Xizhi. His golden robe shimmered as he responded, “Someone wants you dead.”
Upon seeing the severed heads in his hands, how could Li Xizhi fail to grasp the situation? Green Pine Island had been given to him to guard, it was a prime location, conveniently granting him access to the Eastern Sea. Someone in the sect must have been waiting for this very moment! As long as he died swiftly, Qingsui Peak would inevitably fall into the hands of the Yuan Family!
Clearly, those rogue cultivators came and went without issue, there must be some kind of restriction or agreement in place! Chi Zhiyun must have suppressed the information, keeping it secret, just waiting for me to walk straight into this trap!