Chapter 141.2

The Elder Taishang took half a step back in surprise, leaning against the stone wall, his gaze astonished. “It’s you.”

Years ago, Xu Binglailai brought Shen Suwei in from outside. His outstanding talent had been widely recognized in the sect. He was much like Xu Binglailai in his single-minded pursuit of advancement, ignoring all else. The Elder Taishang had attempted to recruit him, but whatever persuasive words Xu Binglailai had used, Shen Suwei remained unmoved, devoted solely to being the sect master’s sword.

Seeing Shen Suwei now, the Elder Taishang understood that he represented Xu Binglailai’s will—an opposing faction.

Only disciples from the Palace of Arts could open the pathway to the array with a secret order. Shen Suwei, a disciple under the sect master, appearing here without reason was suspicious, unless he had followed Yun Chu or the Elder Taishang himself.

The Elder Taishang’s question to Yun Chu had been casual, without suspicion, as Yun Chu might bring his junior brother Yun Lan for the array setup. He hadn’t expected to lure out Shen Suwei.

Now tense, the Elder Taishang recalled Shen Suwei’s mission to the demon realm, where he’d killed Fu Shao. He’d worried Fu Shao might reveal something inappropriate.

It now seemed that the traitor had indeed revealed details about the array before dying.

Shen Suwei said, “The Elder Taishang claimed illness and took leave but now appears in the Palace of Arts. What business brings you here?”

Even the Elder Taishang faltered briefly under Shen Suwei’s challenging tone. “I am the Elder Taishang. Whether I’m inspecting the array or recuperating, it’s not for a disciple to question! You’re from the Sword Gate, yet here you are in the Palace of Arts. What is your purpose? Did Xu Binglailai send you to spy on me?”

“No,” Shen Suwei replied, raising his eyes and exuding killing intent. “I’d heard from Fu Shao about an array under the sect that could influence the Heavenly Tribulation. My curiosity brought me here.”

As Shen Suwei’s killing intent surged, the Elder Taishang’s pupils contracted. His brow shot forth a coral-red short sword, thin as a cicada’s wing but razor-sharp, darting like a venomous insect toward Shen Suwei’s face.

Though appearing still, Shen Suwei subtly deflected it with his scabbard. Spiritual energy vibrated with a hum, signaling the swift exchange.

Yun Chu was stunned, utterly unprepared for them to start fighting here. He wanted to intervene but found himself oppressed by the razor-sharp sword energy, unable to breathe.

The Elder Taishang frowned, observing Shen Suwei. From start to finish, he hadn’t drawn his sword, yet he’d been slightly injured by the Light Red Sword. Gripping his wrist tightly, blood trickled from his fingers, looking slightly disheveled. It seemed he hadn’t come to fight but to concede.

Had he misinterpreted the situation?

Otherwise, given Shen Suwei’s cultivation, if Xu Binglailai had ordered him to kill, he’d have drawn his sword and fought.

The Light Red Sword embedded itself in the Elder Taishang’s brow, forming a dark red sword mark. He looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”

Shen Suwei lowered his gaze without speaking. He withdrew his hand, his healed wrist, leaving only a red sword scar.

The Elder looked over the conversation between the two of them again, carefully pondering it and sensing an underlying meaning.

He changed his expression, “Seeing you so restless and unlike your usual self, is it because you’re about to advance in rank? You’re already at the late stage of the Nascent Soul. If you can survive the tribulation, you’ll be the first of our inner disciples to reach the Half-Step Divine Transformation. Congratulations.”

Shen Suwei did not deny it and said softly, “I haven’t told Master about the underground grand formation yet.”

“Oh.” The elder couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. He never expected this to be a test of allegiance.

It was probably because Shen Suwei had heard from Fu Shao about the power of the formation and was tempted by the prospect of overcoming the tribulation. Shen Suwei and Xu Binglai had such a deep master-disciple bond, and yet it seemed they could not withstand the temptation of ascending to immortality.

But then, Shen Suwei’s expression darkened, looking pained. A few thin red threads spread from the sword wound up his arm. Anyone wounded by the light red sword would have the Lotus Seed Heart-binding curse placed on them.

It was his own fault. He could have drawn his sword, but he chose to catch the blade with his bare hand.

However, what happened next was quite shocking. Shen Suwei raised his eyes, his gaze unfocused, and within his inner chamber, a dark gray demonic aura suddenly manifested. Thin black threads seeped into his limbs, and it looked as though he was about to enter a nightmare state!

The Elder was stunned, never expecting that a simple accidental injury would cause Shen Suwei to enter a nightmare immediately!

There could only be one reason: Shen Suwei’s hand was the one holding the sword. The previous sword strike had inadvertently severed his meridians, affecting his ability to wield a sword in the future. Shen Suwei was already obsessed with the Great Dao, and anyone who dared to hinder his path would drive him onto a crooked road.

Whether Shen Suwei lived or died had nothing to do with him. If he wanted to kill him, he could use someone else’s hands. But directly leading a disciple into a nightmare and obstructing his path was a cause-and-effect situation, creating a major consequence that would affect the ascension.

The elder’s expression changed drastically. He quickly moved his lips, forming hand seals and drawing a talisman, dripping a drop of his own blood onto it. He then molded the talisman into a pill and coaxed, “Quick, take this. The heart-binding curse will dissolve, and it won’t affect you at all.”

Shen Suwei took the pill, thinking to himself, The Lotus Seed Heart-binding curse indeed has an antidote.

“You see?” The Elder, seeing Shen Suwei gradually suppressing the demonic aura, forced a loving expression, “I never intended to hurt you. You were the one who provoked me. Do you think I don’t know what you’re trying to do?”

“Yun Chu, tell Elder Yi to set up the formation; I’ll take your senior brother up there.”
Yun Chu watched helplessly as the two returned to the ground.

*
Meanwhile, Xu Qianyu had fallen to the bottom and was no longer feeling uncomfortable.
At the very bottom was a vast, silver-mirrored shallow pool, filled with abundant spiritual energy, illuminating the surroundings brightly. This should be the core of the formation the Spiritual Energy Whirlpool.

The Spiritual Energy Whirlpool was a place where spiritual energy gathered on the continent. The four great sects built their foundations in such auspicious locations.

Mist curled up like smoke, gently entering the lungs, refreshing her heart and mind. Even the demon vine hanging in the pool spread its leaves, blooming small white flowers like a dead tree coming back to life.

Xu Qianyu kneeled at the center of the pool, thinking to herself that this demon truly had the favor of the heavens. Otherwise, like the demonic creature earlier, it would have been devoured to the point of leaving no trace.

She reached her hand into the pool, and the mist dispersed. Ripples spread out from her fingertips. Beneath the water, she faintly saw the reflection of a tree with lush branches and leaves, seemingly frozen beneath a milky-white ice surface. She could only see the outline but could not touch the real shape.

Where she could reach, a translucent bead hung inside, which was a key. She took the key out and replaced it with a mustard-seed-sized golden bead. She wasn’t sure if this would affect the formation and prevent it from causing harm in the future.

Above her head, sword energy fell. Xu Qianyu stopped her exploration of the formation’s core and quickly stood up.

She initially thought that since the formation was as large as the entire Penglai, the core should be connected to other areas underground. She could take this opportunity to escape to another space, avoiding the Elder.

She searched all around and soon found the outline of a hidden door on a stone wall.

Just as she was about to push it, the door suddenly opened inward with a creaking sound!

Xu Qianyu pressed herself against the door, hearing two people walk in, their voices tinged with the smell of alcohol as they passed by and entered the space.

Xu Qianyu’s blood froze in her veins, feeling an overwhelming fear of being exposed.

If it weren’t for Yun Chu’s genuinely surprised expression earlier, she would almost think he had intentionally set her up.

Such a small place, and now three people had gathered here. She had no place to hide.

Yun Lan helped Elder Yi, staggering as they entered. “Master, why drink so much?”

Elder Yi said, “Every year at the banquet, this is just the usual formality.”

“If Master has a headache, you can rest. Leave it to the disciples.”

Elder Yi lifted the silver cup on the wooden stump and took a few sips. “The Elder is about to ascend, so he still needs me to personally take action, then he can rest easy.”

Yun Lan was dressed in a new dao robe and wore a headpiece. Elder Yi also wore the Bagua robes, looking as formal as Yun Chu, as if preparing for some kind of ceremony.

Elder Yi’s back was to Xu Qianyu, but Yun Lan immediately saw her. He froze for a moment, then looked upwards.

Yun Lan’s talent was “mind-reading,” so whenever Yun Chu didn’t speak, he could read his senior brother’s thoughts, which often caused him to be scolded by Yun Chu. Because of this, when they were in the same space, the brothers could communicate without words, as if they had a tacit understanding.

At this moment, Yun Lan had already heard from Yun Chu about what had happened, and his gaze at Xu Qianyu was filled with helplessness.

Just then, Elder Yi noticed an unfamiliar presence and crushed his silver cup in his hand. “Who?”
Xu Qianyu, seeing the look from Yun Lan, quickly jumped into the formation’s core. Elder Yi controlled the formation and feared backlash, so he usually kept his distance from the core.

Therefore, the core was a relatively safe place.

Elder Yi turned around and saw the outline of a young girl sitting in the mist.

Yun Lan said, “It’s Miss Lu You.”

“Lu You?” Elder Yi looked suspicious.