Chapter 348: Trail of Heaven Deceiving Pendant - 02

— Meanwhile - The Immortal Realm —

Deep within the Immortal Forest, where trees the size of skyscrapers towered overhead, stood a towering mountain that pierced through layers of mysterious mist. Ancient pine trees clung to its slopes, waterfalls cascaded down sheer cliffs, and dense spiritual qi filled the air. It was a place of extraordinary beauty and serenity, resembling the immortal mountains depicted in traditional Chinese art.

Today, a rare and honored guest had arrived at this immortal mountain.

At the entrance of an immortal cave, a handsome young man dressed in immaculate white robes stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the darkness within.

The man was Xiao Ye, one of the candidates for the Immortal Emperor’s throne and one of the usurpers seeking to seize the Heavenly Dao. He had come to visit the master of this abode at the invitation of the Fate Weaving Sovereign.

However, just as he approached the entrance, his steps came to a halt.

A faint scent of blood drifted out from within the cave, reaching his nostrils. The blood was rich in spiritual qi, and anyone with a discerning eye could tell that it came from blood essence.

Xiao Ye narrowed his eyes, then slowly smiled.

"Interesting..." he muttered in amusement.

Who could have injured that annoying, slippery eel? He couldn’t wait to find out.

"Fate Weaving Sovereign! I have come to pay you a visit, as invited!" Xiao Ye declared, his voice reverberating throughout the mountain and into the cave.

But the only answer he received was silence... and the thick smell of blood.

Xiao Ye stepped into the cave, his spiritual sense on full alert for any sign of an ambush. He and the Fate Weaving Sovereign were allies, but that didn’t mean he trusted him. Trusting the Fate Weaving Sovereign would be a very foolish thing to do.

He ventured deeper into the cave, passing through several chambers.

The first was a spacious living room. Its elegant furnishings remained untouched, with not a single chair overturned or table disturbed. The only sign of violence was a bloody trail smeared across the polished stone floor, leading deeper into the inner sanctum.

The next was a tea room. The expensive tea set and furniture remained undisturbed, just as they had in the previous chamber. Once again, the only sign of trouble was the trail of blood leading farther inside.

At last, he reached the innermost chamber, the Mirror Chamber.

Three enormous mirrors had once stood within, each representing the past, the present, and the future. Now, all three lay shattered, their frames twisted and their surfaces reduced to countless glittering shards. Blood splattered across the broken mirrors, staining the fragments crimson. Some shards remained embedded in the walls, while others littered the floor, mingling with the blood that had pooled beneath them.

Xiao Ye’s gaze swept across the destruction. Whatever had happened here, it had been anything but peaceful.

His gaze shifted toward the sleeping quarters, a side room connected to the Mirror Chamber. The trail of blood led straight to it.

He approached the side room, only to find that the curtain concealing its entrance had been drawn open. A figure staggered out from within.

It was the Fate Weaving Sovereign.

His clothes were soaked red with blood, and crimson trails streamed from his facial orifices, running from his eyes, nose, and ears. His steps were unsteady as he staggered toward the platform where the mirrors had once stood.

No, not a platform. It was merely a low seat, its surface stained with blood. It was also the only spot in the entire chamber untouched by the shattered mirror shards.

"Greetings, Lord Xiao," the Fate Weaving Sovereign said.

Xiao Ye studied the blood-soaked Fate Weaving Sovereign. To say he wasn’t curious would be a lie. The man’s abilities were mysterious, and his high cultivation ensured that he could escape from almost any predicament without suffering serious injuries, even when facing the current Immortal Emperor.

The immaculate and refined Fate Weaving Sovereign in Xiao Ye’s memory seemed to have nothing in common with the blood-soaked survivor before him. Even the golden mask the Fate Weaving Sovereign always wore to conceal his face was nowhere to be seen.

Now, only his long, unkempt hair remained. He had drawn it forward, letting the blood-soaked strands hang over his face like a curtain of crimson-stained bangs, concealing his true appearance.

Xiao Ye felt an urge to discover what kind of face lay hidden beneath that tangled hair. However, he restrained himself, lest his curiosity interfere with the bigger picture.

"What happened to you? Who injured you?" Xiao Ye asked. This was the burning question in his heart.

Anyone powerful enough to injure this slippery eel to such an extent was worth paying attention to. If Xiao Ye could recruit such a person to support his bid for the Immortal Emperor’s throne, it would be like a tiger growing wings. On the other hand, if this person was his enemy and could not be turned into a tool, Xiao Ye would rather kill them before they became a threat.

"No one injured me. These injuries..." The Fate Weaving Sovereign calmly explained as he settled onto the bloodstained seat, attempting to recuperate. "I sustained them while peeling away and attempting to alter someone’s fate."

"Are you serious?" Xiao Ye frowned.

This man could delve into even the Immortal Emperor’s fate without suffering any injuries, provided he was willing to expend more energy. He had always treated such an undertaking as little more than a hassle. Yet this time, his attempt had provoked such a severe backlash that it had left him in this pitiful state.

If these words hadn’t come directly from the slippery eel’s own mouth, Xiao Ye would have suspected that someone was lying to him.

Without saying anything, the Fate Weaving Sovereign nodded.

"Who is it?"

This time, the Fate Weaving Sovereign chuckled. Then, looking at Xiao Ye, his eyes filled with a mixture of pity and mockery.

"Guess... What do you want me to help you with, huh?" the Fate Weaving Sovereign asked in a tone that was half mocking and half amused.

Hearing this, Xiao Ye narrowed his eyes.

"Don’t tell me..." he muttered. The only task he had wanted this slippery eel to accomplish for him was to examine the fate of his competitor, the most dangerous candidate for the Immortal Emperor’s throne.

"You suffered such a severe backlash because you tried to peer into the fate of my most dangerous competitor!?" Xiao Ye asked, seeking confirmation.

His hand, hidden inside his sleeve, clutched the contract jade. The contract prevented the Fate Weaving Sovereign from lying to him.

"Yes... I peered into this man’s fate. His fate is connected to billions of people, changing theirs every single day. I don’t know what I witnessed. Even the current Immortal Emperor has never altered the fates of so many people to such an extent. I’m certain this man will become someone powerful and influential in the future," the Fate Weaving Sovereign said with a resigned tone.

"Who is he?" Xiao Ye asked.

His eyes grew sharp. This man... his fate was so powerful that even the Fate Weaving Sovereign couldn’t peer into it without suffering a backlash. Was he even more formidable than the current Immortal Emperor?

Surely, this person must be an obstacle in his path!

The one who could prevent him from ascending to the Immortal Emperor’s throne!

Slowly, the Fate Weaving Sovereign turned toward Xiao Ye.

"His name is Wei Chen... He’s currently residing in the lower realm. A rare genius, a Heaven’s Chosen. You should beware of him," the Fate Weaving Sovereign warned.

"Hmph! I’ll wait for that bastard to ascend to the Immortal Realm, then kill him! Surely, there’s no way a mere Great Ascension Realm cultivator could fight me, an Immortal King!" Xiao Ye declared confidently.

"Hahahaha!" The Fate Weaving Sovereign burst into laughter. "True... He might not be able to fight you, but survive you? With a fate like his, I wouldn’t be so sure." His eyes gleamed with mockery, as though he were watching someone already destined to fail.

"Now... Lord Xiao... leave me. The debt has been paid. I need to recuperate," the Fate Weaving Sovereign said in a dismissive tone.

He then fell completely still, remaining seated as he focused on recovering from his injuries. Gradually, his breathing became steady and calm.

"Hmph!" Xiao Ye snorted before crushing the contract jade in his hand. The debt had been paid, and he had no time to waste mingling with this slippery eel. He needed to prepare a plan to counter this new enemy and investigate who Wei Chen really was.

After Xiao Ye left the Fate Weaving Sovereign’s immortal cave, the Fate Weaving Sovereign slowly opened his eyes.

His left hand formed a series of hand seals. A drop of blood dripped from his fingertips, transforming into a humanoid silhouette before him.

He took out a pendant bearing the same design and patterns as the Heaven-Deceiving Pendant that Chu Li had attempted to sell. However, unlike the original, its gem was blood red, and a sinister aura emanated from within it.

He handed the pendant to the blood silhouette.

"Place it on the auction list of a reputable auction house."

At his command, the blood silhouette nodded, took the pendant, and disappeared underground.