Volume Five: Emerging Brilliance Chapter Eight: Schemes and Intrigues

The Celestial Guide almost spat blood in anger at Li Chengzhu’s words. A place as grand as the Heaven-Covering, Earth-Bearing Array—a playground of the gods—yet this man truly did not know his own worth.

If not for those two pieces he had given him before, Qiufeng would never have cheated to bring him into the formation.

Thinking of those two items, Qiufeng couldn’t help but touch his ring again, feeling a warm glow in his heart. With those two pieces, what was a hundred years of solitude?

Yuanmu waved his hand impatiently beside them. “Enough, enough. Since you’ve brought us here, whether we stick our heads out or hide them, it’s a death sentence either way. Might as well go along with you.”

“Damn it,” Li Chengzhu spat. “I only found out that Yuan Sen needs the Munizhu to forge the Infant Renewal Elixir to restore his Nascent Soul, so I brought you here. Do you think the Munizhu is easy to find?”

“Is the Munizhu really here?” Yuanmu trembled, eyes wide as he stared at Li Chengzhu.

The Munizhu was an indispensable ingredient in forging both the Infant Renewal Elixir and the Body Renewal Elixir, crucial for reconstructing the Nascent Soul and the physical body. Yet, it was a legendary item that many had only heard of but never seen. It was said to reside in the Madao Forest in the far north of the Immortal Realm, a private domain of an Immortal Lord, far beyond the reach of ordinary seekers.

Hearing Li Chengzhu’s words, Yuanmu’s excitement surged. If they truly found the Munizhu, their third brother’s hope of restoring his Nascent Soul would greatly increase. Recalling his brother’s constant sighs and helplessness, Yuanmu couldn’t help but sigh himself.

Li, the big boss, flicked his white cloak and glanced sideways at Yuanmu. “I heard it, that’s all I heard.”

“As long as there’s hope, that’s enough,” Yuanmu stammered, his eyes bloodshot. His third brother was a deep wound in his heart.

Li Chengzhu did not lie this time. Among the eight Nascent Souls within the Blood-Soaked Ring, one had once carelessly mentioned this matter, which Li had memorized. However, that was mere hearsay, no solid proof.

Qiufeng, burdened with a heavy responsibility, glanced at the two and said, “I won’t accompany you.”

“Understood, Honorable Celestial Guide,” Li Chengzhu said sarcastically, then held out his hand. “The Blood-Soaked Ring.”

“Oh,” Qiufeng was momentarily stunned, then remembered the Blood-Soaked Ring, a token from the Illusion Sword Sect, was still in his pocket. He hurriedly took it out and handed it over.

Li, the big boss, took it and slipped the fiery red ring onto his finger, casting a sidelong glance at Qiufeng. He thought this guy was quite trustworthy—though he wondered what expression Qiufeng would wear if he discovered the dirty tricks he had pulled. By his calculation, Qiufeng was probably about to find out soon. He bowed politely. “Brother Qiu, take care. Yuanmu and I will search for the Munizhu first. If fate allows, we might also come to Yuxian Lake to find you.”

Li Chengzhu recalled the surging spiritual energy beside Yuxian Lake. Cultivating there for one year was equivalent to ten years in the Immortal Realm. Secretly, he resolved that if he got the chance, a century later he would definitely claim the title of Celestial Guide and bring his whole family here to cultivate.

The Immortal Emperor surely never imagined that in the Immortal Realm, someone would dare to flout all rules by cheating with the Blood-Soaked Ring, using it to sneak into the Heaven-Covering, Earth-Bearing Array through the Celestial Guide.

If not for enticing Qiufeng with benefits, and if Qiufeng had no inclinations toward him, even with the Blood-Soaked Ring, it would have been impossible to enter the great formation.

Timing, terrain, and human harmony—missing any one of these would doom the plan.

One could only say Li Chengzhu’s luck was truly extraordinary.

“Take care,” Qiufeng smiled rarely at Li Chengzhu, then looked at Yuanmu. “You too.”

“Don’t worry.” Yuanmu patted his chest with a confident thump. “I’m at least a late-stage immortal. I doubt anything here can hurt me. Once we find the Munizhu, we’ll come for you. Tsk, Yuxian Lake... last time I barely stopped to catch my breath because of the battlefield. This time, I’ll cultivate to my heart’s content.” With hope rekindled, even Yuanmu was more generous.

“Let’s go.” Li Chengzhu grabbed Yuanmu’s sleeve and dragged him flying away.

Qiufeng watched their retreating backs, flipped his hand, and took two purple jade figurines out of the ring.

On the figurines, Gu Linglong’s delicate, noble appearance smiled faintly, shyly.

Qiufeng smiled. Trading the Rainbow Rope and the condition of bringing him into the formation for these two figurines was worth it. After all, cultivating by Yuxian Lake meant no fighting. The Rainbow Rope was optional; he still had his sixth-grade immortal artifact, the Bone-Shattering Hammer. But these two purple jade figurines—these were more than what he had ever dreamed of.

He recalled Li Chengzhu’s words on the night before he left Rainbow City: “Brother Qiu, you didn’t like the last purple jade figurine and accidentally broke it. Well, this time, I think you won’t dislike these two.”

Seeing his confident expression, Qiufeng’s original thought of kicking him away was replaced by curiosity. When Li produced those two figurines, his heart skipped a beat.

Those were Gu Linglong’s figurines—his beloved’s.

A faint smile, a graceful figure like a painting; if he could bring these into the formation, a hundred years—or even a thousand—would be no matter. The resolve he thought he had let go of slowly stirred again.

But looking at Li’s lecherous face, he had to be cautious. This man was full of schemes.

“Brother Li, what brings you here this time?” Qiufeng asked.

Li Chengzhu smiled faintly. “Simple. Take me into the Heaven-Covering, Earth-Bearing Array. Also, give me either the Rainbow Rope or the Bone-Shattering Hammer—your choice—and these two figurines are yours.”

Qiufeng wanted to smack him. To trade his wife’s figurines like that, his despicability knew no bounds. But the temptation of those figurines was overwhelming. Still, his demand was shameless. Even though those figurines were priceless to Qiufeng, Li’s appetite was enormous. Moreover, bringing him into the formation entailed great risk. If discovered, the Celestial Guide title would be revoked, and Qiufeng himself might be shattered to his very soul.

Yet Li’s performance dispelled all doubts.

Who would have thought the Blood-Soaked Ring could contain living beings?

Though Qiufeng knew the ring could store living things, no one considered hiding a living person within it. Qiufeng’s preconceived notions were shattered, and his heart wavered.

In the end, they bargained, trading the Rainbow Rope for the two figurines.

Immortal artifacts had a price; jade beauties were priceless. Qiufeng smiled.

Recalling Li’s words, the Nascent Soul stirred—was this not a knot in his heart? Without unraveling it, immortality might remain out of reach.

Qiufeng sighed lightly, about to place the figurines back into the ring, when a sudden unease crept into his eyes.

Upon closer inspection, Qiufeng was horrified to see the beauty on the figurines slowly fading.

Within moments, the purple jade figurines had become nearly indistinguishable. Qiufeng shut his eyes, clenched his fists, and glared furiously in the direction Li Chengzhu and Yuanmu had flown.

Li Chengzhu rode atop a shooting star, soaring past towering trees with a smile.

Yuanmu walked alongside him, turning to ask, puzzled, “How did you convince Qiufeng to bring us into the formation?”

“What’s to it?” Li Chengzhu raised a brow. “Qiufeng and I are like brothers. Such a small favor—how could he refuse?”

Yuanmu sneered at Li, disdainful.

Li whipped out a long whip, nearly sweeping Yuanmu’s toes. Yuanmu dodged hastily, then realized the whip was the Rainbow Rope.

Li, the big boss, beamed. “See? Not only did Qiufeng bring us into the formation, he even gave us the Rainbow Rope for protection. That’s true loyalty.”

Yuanmu cleared his throat weakly. “Are you sure he didn’t steal it from him?”

“Of course not.” Li glared fiercely. “Do you think I’d steal from him? We’ve been inside the Blood-Soaked Ring the whole time—no chance.”

“Really gave it to you?” Yuanmu’s mouth gaped like an abyss.

“Would I lie?” Li smirked. “If he hadn’t given it, I’d never have the skill to snatch it.”

“Strange, strange,” Yuanmu muttered. “When did Qiufeng become so generous?”

“Probably because he got a sixth-grade artifact and is burning money,” Li waved it off.

“Ah...” Yuanmu sighed. “If I knew he was so wasteful, I’d beg him to give me one. I’m a late-stage immortal after all, and I only have a first-grade artifact.” The artifact in Yuanmu’s hand was a hula hoop seized in the last counterattack, plus a piece of immortal armor, which only protected the Nascent Soul, not the physical body.

“Stop whining. When we get back, we’ll forge dozens more,” Li said nonchalantly.

“Keep dreaming,” Yuanmu thought. “Dozens? You think immortal artifacts are wholesale?”

Li stood on his immortal sword and glanced back with a triumphant smile.

Qiufeng, oh Qiufeng. I may not match you in strength, nor in schemes, but I suppose by now you’ve realized the purple jade figurines were tampered with. Haha, the Manizhi branch really is useful—it can erase figurines within a certain time. That was a discovery I made by chance. Blame your bad luck.

At the same moment, Qiufeng’s roar of rage finally burst forth, his handsome face twisted in fury: “Li Chengzhu, if I catch you, you’ll be a pig’s head!”