Chapter 429 - 396: The Guess Came True

Chapter 429: Chapter 396: The Guess Came True

As he spoke, the man waved his hand, and a section of wood about three feet long floated before him.

The wood was crimson. As wisps of crimson flame flickered across its surface, countless natural inscriptions flashed with light.

Even from a great distance, Chu Mu felt as if he could sense an indescribable, scorching heat.

Then, with a wave of his sleeve, the man sent the Fusang Wood shooting out. In the blink of an eye, it was floating before Chu Mu.

Chu Mu’s gaze burned with equal intensity. Fusang Wood—a legendary Spirit Wood said to grow upon the Great Sun itself.

Although it was classified as a Spirit Wood, its unique growing environment gave it the properties of Supreme Yang and Firmness.

He had only ever seen brief mentions of such a legendary Spiritual Material in ancient texts.

From what he understood, Fusang was a type of wood that grew on the Great Sun. It took a thousand years to become a sapling and ten thousand years to mature into a full tree.

And this piece of Fusang Wood before him...

Chu Mu’s heart couldn’t help but pound violently. The heat in his eyes mirrored the Supreme Yang and Firmness of the wood before him, burning with an almost equal intensity!

’Ten Thousand Years’ Fusang Wood, possessing the properties of Supreme Yang and Firmness... It’s a nearly perfect match for my Cultivation!’

’Combined with the Fiery Sun Fire Essence, these two rare Spiritual Objects alone would be enough to refine a Lifebound Treasure of terrifying Divine Power, even without any other Spiritual Materials!’

But just as quickly, that burning desire vanished without a trace.

’The greater the temptation and the greater the reward, the greater the difficulty of the transaction would naturally be.’

’If it were some ordinary matter, why would this Nascent Soul True Demon have sought me out?’

’Break an Array, refine a Pill...’

Chu Mu forcefully suppressed the urge to take the Fusang Wood and bowed to the man. "Please speak plainly, Senior."

"Young Friend Chu, your Artifact Refining Skill is extraordinary. I imagine you have a profound understanding of the Array Prohibition Dao as well, yes?" the man asked.

"This junior’s aptitude is poor," Chu Mu said methodically. "As for Arrays, I only have a superficial understanding and haven’t dared to delve too deeply."

"There’s no need to be so humble, Young Friend. Your talent and comprehension are truly rare in this world."

The man chuckled, completely ignoring Chu Mu’s subtle refusal. He tossed out a Jade Scroll and continued,

"Can you break this Array?"

Helpless, Chu Mu took the Jade Scroll. But the moment his Divine Sense entered it, his calm expression changed abruptly.

He slowly lowered the Jade Scroll, his heart sinking to the depths.

He glanced at the man and woman standing behind the demon, a frigid coldness gathering deep within his eyes.

’My guess... was right!’

The Jade Scroll recorded an Earth Fire Sealing Demon Array!

He didn’t look closely at the Array’s Grade, its operating principles, or its structure.

But... the recorded image of the Grand Array alone made it perfectly clear which Array he was supposed to break...

’A Spatial Rift, a sea of fire sealing demons...’

The Grand Array in this Jade Scroll was unmistakably the one from the East Lake Secret Realm, the sea of fire sealing away the demons!

Holding the Jade Scroll, Chu Mu was suddenly overcome with a sense of powerlessness.

The dead world behind that Spatial Rift, the boundless, churning True Demon Qi... Although he had no proof, it was highly likely that beyond the Spatial Rift lay the legendary Demon Realm.

That boundless sea of fire was clearly the Grand Array sealing the Spatial Rift.

’And now, a True Demon... wants me to break this Array?’

’Once this Array is broken... the consequences would be...’

Chu Mu didn’t dare to imagine.

Then, Chu Mu froze for a moment.

’If I remember correctly,’ he thought, ’the East Lake Secret Realm vanished many years ago. Besides, it restricted a Cultivator’s Cultivation—no one above the Qi Cultivation Realm could possibly enter.’

’If they could, the Nascent Soul Great Powers from the Longevity Sect would have descended on the East Lake Secret Realm when it first appeared. What chance would I have had to seek opportunities inside?’

He looked at the man, his expression full of doubt.

"It seems you already know the secrets of the Secret Realm, Young Friend, so this old man won’t waste time explaining."

"The Spatial Rift within the Secret Realm, which connects to the Demon Realm, was sealed by an Ancient Immortal Dao Sect with a Sealing Demon Array."

"This old man has already prepared the Array-Breaking Tools. I just need you, Young Friend, to enter the Secret Realm and break this Array."

"Rest assured, Young Friend. That Immortal Dao Sect perished long ago. The Array has been unmaintained for ages and has been corroded by Demonic Qi year after year. Its Mighty Power is greatly diminished, and its Array Prohibitions are incomplete. Breaking it will not be difficult..."

Chu Mu asked tentatively, "This junior recalls that only those at the Qi Cultivation Realm can enter this Secret Realm, correct? Furthermore, the East Lake Secret Realm mysteriously vanished long before the chaos in Great Chu even began..."

"This old man has already found traces of the Secret Realm’s existence. You need not worry about that."

"As for the restriction..."

The middle-aged man pondered for a moment, then flicked his hand. Following the Fusang Wood and the first Jade Scroll, yet another Jade Scroll appeared, floating before Chu Mu.

"Take a look at this Pill Recipe."

Chu Mu took the Jade Scroll and examined it for a moment. The gloom in his heart grew even thicker.

"Well?" the man asked.

Chu Mu did his best to suppress the anxiety in his heart and nodded. "If that’s the case, there shouldn’t be a problem."

"Excellent!" The man nodded. "For this matter, Young Friend, you must also make a Dao Heart Oath."

Chu Mu remained silent. Without making any pointless excuses, he raised his hand and made the Dao Heart Oath.

The oath originated from one’s true heart and was bound by it.

For someone with no hope of advancing on the Immortal Path, such an oath held little binding power.

But for one who pursued the Immortal Path, the oath was an inescapable shackle.

To violate the oath was to go against one’s own heart.

And with a flawed heart, the Immortal Path... was hopeless!

Seeing the oath made, the man’s smile grew even brighter. He even offered a word of comfort, "You need not worry, Young Friend. This old man was once on the path of the Immortals. Though I have now fallen into the Demon Dao, I haven’t stooped so low as to become a running dog for the demons."

After speaking, without waiting for Chu Mu’s response, the man turned to the man and woman standing behind him.

"You two, take Li’Er and follow Young Friend Chu for the time being."

"I’ll have to trouble you to look after this junior of mine for a while, Young Friend Chu."

"This junior... understands."

Chu Mu replied again, his tone deferential.

A wise man knows when to yield. Facing such a powerful being, he had no grounds to refuse.

"This old man still needs to confirm the Secret Realm’s location, which will likely take some more time. Once everything is set, I will inform you, Young Friend."

With those parting words, the man’s gray-and-white robes flickered, and he vanished from the deserted island.

Chu Mu’s gaze swept past the seemingly simple-minded youth and settled on the man and woman from Qili Village.

The chill hidden deep within his dark gaze grew even more intense.

After only a few breaths, Chu Mu withdrew his gaze, his expression growing calm once more. With a wave of his hand, a Flying Boat appeared. "Fellow Daoists, if you please," he said.

"We’ll be troubling you, Fellow Daoist."

The man remained silent, while the woman forced a smile. She called out to the simple-minded-looking youth, and the three of them boarded the Flying Boat.

Chu Mu leaped onto the deck of the Flying Boat. Inside the cabin, the three sat upright and silent.

Chu Mu did not enter the cabin, instead standing at the bow. With a mere thought, the Flying Boat departed from the deserted island and flew toward Chixia.

...