The three of them entered the palace. After channeling his spiritual breath to investigate, Han Wenxuan said, “There are a few good spiritual treasures here. Let’s split up and act quickly. I suspect this is the core palace of the Xuanyun Secret Realm.”
Xiao Chen looked around; it indeed closely resembled the core palace described in the book. This was simply… yet in the book, there were still quite a few plot points before reaching the core palace, including Xie Yuanjia’s encounter with the demonic saintess. Since it had been bypassed entirely, his plan to earn a personal favor from Xie Yuanjia was completely down the drain.
Afterward, the three began searching for treasures. The palace wasn’t as massive as they had imagined; there were plenty of treasures, but most of them were better suited for demonic beast cultivation.
Half an hour later, the three regrouped:
Xie Yuanjia had obtained a tier-5 spiritual treasure, the Universe Seal, which could borrow the power of heaven and earth to temporarily suppress high-level cultivators.
Xiao Chen was more pragmatic, harvesting a spatial ring completely packed with top-grade spirit stones, along with any other valuable treasures he happened to run into.
Han Wenxuan had acquired a tier-5 spiritual treasure, the Spirit-Summoning Banner, capable of summoning evil spirits to act as generals.
Xiao Chen inwardly ranted that no wonder Xie Yuanjia only reached the peak of the late Core Formation stage after experiencing a secret realm in the book; there weren’t even any truly good items inside the core palace, and combined, they weren’t as practical as the demonic cores of those two flame pythons.
Han Wenxuan looked at the two of them. “Other cultivators will probably arrive shortly, and running into them will only be troublesome. Let’s leave quickly.”
Xie Yuanjia and Xiao Chen nodded.
Just as the three of them flew out of the palace, they heard Li Yu’s cry for help: “Young Master Han, save us!”
“Hand over the items you found inside the palace, or else these people die right here,” a cultivator who had captured Li Yu and the others said coldly.
It turned out that while Xiao Chen and the others were exploring, another wave of Xuantian Sect disciples had discovered the anomaly here and happened to run across Li Yu’s group, capturing them on the spot.
It’s the Xuantian Sect again. What kind of ill-fated karma is this? Xiao Chen’s gaze darkened.
“Use them to trade for the treasures we obtained? Do fellow Daoists really think we’d make that trade? Their lives aren’t worth that much,” Xie Yuanjia said with a curved smile.
Li Yu raged, “Xie Yuanjia! You…”
Xie Yuanjia cut him off. “I still remember when we encountered the beasts earlier, how you guys forced Han Wenxuan to abandon me. Fellow Daoists of the Xuantian Sect, if you kill these few people, maybe I’ll be in a good enough mood to hand the treasures over to you.”
“Stop wasting breath, trade the treasures for their lives.”
Xie Yuanjia stretched lazily. “What do their lives have to do with me? I’ve tossed and turned all night and I’m tired, so I won’t keep you company any longer.” With that, he flew away on his sword.
The lead man looked at the cultivator beside him, who gave a slight nod and led five other cultivators in pursuit.
Xiao Chen watched the direction Xie Yuanjia had left in. Those Xuantian Sect disciples probably wouldn’t be coming back; the enmity with the Xuantian Sect was destined to be forged. The only option now was to make a swift and decisive move, completely wiping out the Xuantian Sect disciples here before any other factions could rush over.
With that thought, he looked at Han Wenxuan, who shared the exact same intention. Moving with tacit coordination, a dozen Xuantian Sect disciples were killed or injured in the blink of an eye, including the cultivators guarding Li Yu and the others.
The leader was instantly infuriated: “Leave none alive.”
However, before they could even move, the dozen cultivators were completely obliterated into nothingness before they even had time to scream. Xie Yuanjia flashed to Xiao Chen’s side.
The leader’s expression turned to one of shock, Nascent Soul cultivation! A small team from the tiny Taiyuan Sect actually had two cultivators at the Nascent Soul level! Making a prompt decision, he fled on his sword.
“Want to escape? It’s too late.” Han Wenxuan’s gaze turned grim as he swept his hand to cast a killing array. The leader frantically formed an array to defend himself, but it was completely useless. Amidst a miserable shriek, he dissolved into pure nothingness.
Having resolved the Xuantian Sect disciples, Xiao Chen cast an array with his fingertips over the corpses on the ground, instantly reducing all of them to nothingness to prevent any trouble down the road.
After leaving the place of right and wrong, Han Wenxuan gave a stern warning: “No one is ever to mention today’s events to anyone else.”
Li Yu and the others nodded. Even if Han Wenxuan hadn’t brought it up, they knew the Xuantian Sect was not to be trifled with, and naturally wouldn’t speak a word of it.
Han Wenxuan then looked at Xiao Chen and Xie Yuanjia. “Shall we exit the secret realm now?”
Xie Yuanjia thought about it. The core palace had already been explored, and there were no other treasures in this secret realm worth lingering over; besides, he wanted to hurry back and get married to Xiao Chen. “I think we can leave.”
Xiao Chen, however, countered, “Since Xuantian Sect disciples have gone missing, the Xuantian Sect will definitely investigate. If we hastily leave the secret realm halfway through, it will only arouse suspicion. I think we can go find another group of cultivators and stay with them until the very end before leaving together. That way, everything will be foolproof.”
Xiao Chen produced a piece of warm jade and handed it to Xie Yuanjia. “This is Spirit-Blending Jade; you can use it to conceal your cultivation.”
Xie Yuanjia took it and expressed his thanks. Ah-Chen is truly meticulous.
Following that, the group randomly joined another team to continue exploring, ultimately emerging from the secret realm three months later.
Over on the Xuantian Sect’s side, losing a batch of disciples was treated as a symbolic investigation done just to go through the motions; when they couldn’t find anyone, they simply assumed they had been eaten by demonic beasts.
Upon returning to the Taiyuan Sect, many cultivators had harvested substantial gains, and Sect Master Xuan Yi Daoist hosted an evening banquet to celebrate.
“All of you team leaders have worked hard on this expedition to the secret realm, and I intend to bestow rewards. I wonder what you all desire?”
Calling it a reward, it was actually a move to grant some benefits to the Nascent Soul cultivators, winning over their hearts so they would continue working for the Taiyuan Sect.
Aside from Han Wenxuan, the other four Nascent Soul cultivators all stood up and cupped their fists. “It is our honor to serve the Sect Master; we ask for no rewards.”
Xuan Yi Daoist smiled with satisfaction. “That simply won’t do. Each Nascent Soul immortal shall be rewarded with one hundred thousand spirit stones.”
“Thank you, Sect Master.”
“Take your seats.”
As the four sat back down, Han Wenxuan stood up. “Sect Master, Wenxuan wishes to request a favor.”
“Oh? Speak.”
“Wenxuan wishes to ask the Sect Master to cancel the marriage between Xie Yuanjia and Xiao Chen.”
Xie Yuanjia’s gaze turned dark and heavy.
Xiao Chen had thought Han Wenxuan was just talking idly earlier, but he hadn’t expected him to actually bring it up.
Xuan Yi Daoist had originally assumed Han Wenxuan found the reward too meager and wanted some kind of treasure; he never imagined it would be over this matter, and asked with some perplexity, “Wenxuan, the marriage between Xie Yuanjia and Xiao Chen was personally requested of me by Xie Yuanjia. What business is it of yours? Why would you ask me to cancel it?”
Han Wenxuan answered respectfully, “Sect Master, Xiao Chen possesses extraordinary natural talent and will definitely be able to take over the mantle of the Xiao family head in the future, allowing the Xiao family’s strength to surpass its past. It would truly be a pity for him to become someone’s wife.”
Xuan Yi Daoist frowned slightly. Precisely because Xiao Chen’s talent was too outstanding, he had agreed to this marriage in the first place. Xiao Chongfeng wielded far too much prestige, and the Xiao family probably barely acknowledged him as their sect master anymore; he couldn’t possibly let an even more talented Xiao Chen take charge of the Xiao family. “What Wenxuan says makes sense, but Xie Yuanjia and Xiao Chen are deeply devoted to one another; how could I possibly tear them apart by force?”
Han Wenxuan dropped to his knees. “Sect Master, while the marriage was requested by Xie Yuanjia, we do not know what Xiao Chen truly desires in his heart. Wenxuan requests that the Sect Master give Xiao Chen a choice. If he is unwilling, then this marriage should be canceled, and Xiao Chen should be granted his freedom.”
Xuan Yi Daoist’s gaze turned slightly cold, but he couldn’t afford to disrespect Han Wenxuan entirely. “Xiao Chen, what are your thoughts on this marriage? Are you willing to marry Xie Yuanjia as his wife?”
Of course I’m not willing, Xiao Chen inwardly ranted. Although this Han Wenxuan wasn’t very likable, he certainly executed things splendidly if the marriage could be resolved this way, there could be nothing better. He stood up, ready to answer, when the system’s voice rang out in his ear:
[Host’s Quest: Accept the marriage and willingly wed, or drop dead on the spot.]
Xiao Chen: …
At that exact moment, Xiao Chen genuinely wanted to curse out loud. Biting the bullet against his better judgment, he replied in a cool, collected tone, “Sect Master, Xiao Chen is willing to enter this marriage.”
Xuan Yi Daoist smiled. “Wenxuan, you heard him.”
Han Wenxuan silently clenched his fists. “I heard him.”
Three rounds of drinks later, Xuan Yi Daoist departed.
Han Wenxuan walked over to Xiao Chen’s side, wanting to say something, but as his lips parted, he didn’t know how to express it. He refused to believe Xiao Chen would be willing to marry Xie Yuanjia, yet why would Xiao Chen give such an answer? Was he being coerced? No, while Zhang Liusi could frame Xiao Chen, she lacked the capability to truly coerce him by force; as for anyone else, it was even less likely. The only answer, then, was that this was precisely what Xiao Chen desired in his heart.
Pouring a cup of wine right in front of Xiao Chen, Han Wenxuan downed it in a single gulp, then turned and walked back to his seat. He had no idea what was wrong with himself; he simply felt inexplicably stifled, annoyed, and choked up inside. For the remainder of the banquet, his gaze never left Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen was equally baffled. Han Wenxuan had suddenly walked over, and he thought this guy was about to start lecturing him again, only for him to drink a cup of wine right in front of him without saying a word and walk away.
However, Xiao Chen didn’t dwell on it too much. His acquaintance with Han Wenxuan had been an accident to begin with, and they probably wouldn’t cross paths much in the future anyway. What he actually needed to worry about was Xie Yuanjia’s side. He clearly had an opportunity to break off the marriage, but because of his response, the two of them were now completely bound together. Xie Yuanjia was probably already plotting hundreds of ways to murder him in his heart, especially seeing the gloomy, overcast expression currently plastered across Xie Yuanjia’s face. Xiao Chen let out a silent sigh.
As for why Xie Yuanjia’s expression was so dark, it was because he hadn’t expected Han Wenxuan to actually bring it up. Throughout their entire journey, Han Wenxuan had constantly clung to Xiao Chen under the guise of “guidance,” though what his actual intentions were was probably something only Han Wenxuan and Xiao Chen failed to realize.
Although he was nominally banished to the Taiyuan Sect, and had been suppressing his cultivation to avoid catching the attention of his good senior martial brothers, he certainly couldn’t deal with Han Wenxuan right this second. But sooner or later, he would definitely teach this person a proper lesson anyone daring to snatch his person was truly courting death.
Early the next morning, the Sect Master’s decree arrived at the Xiao residence, delivered by the very same personal attendant who served by Xuan Yi Daoist’s side:
“Sect Master decrees: Previously, the wedding date between Xie Yuanjia and Xiao Chen was delayed due to entering the secret realm. Having learned that three days from now is an auspicious date, Sect Master orders Xie Yuanjia and Xiao Chen to be wed in marriage three days hence.”
A flicker of imperceptible joy crossed Xie Yuanjia’s eyes: So fast! Fortunately, I’ve been preparing for this beforehand.
Xiao Chen’s expression carried a trace of sorrow: So fast!
Zhang Liusi made no effort to conceal her joy. Originally, she had still worried there might be twists and turns, but now she could finally set her mind completely at ease. “Three days—although rushed, it’s still manageable. Steward, hurry up and get busy decorating the estate!”
Over at the Han estate, upon hearing servants gossiping that Xie Yuanjia and Xiao Chen were getting married in three days, Han Wenxuan immediately left the residence. Yet when he reached the gates of the Xiao estate, he hesitated. What am I doing here? Things have come to this; Xiao Chen is willfully walking the path of degradation, so what possible method do I have? With that thought, he turned around and headed back to the Han estate.
Inside the woodshed, listening to the dark-robed cultivator’s report, Xie Yuanjia’s gaze instantly turned frosty. Even at this stage, Han Wenxuan was still thinking about tangling with Ah-Chen.
Sensing Xie Yuanjia’s chilling intent, the dark-robed cultivator cupped his fists. “Young master, does this need to…”
“No need, you are dismissed.”
A glint of murderous intent flashed through Xie Yuanjia’s eyes. When the time came in the future, he would handle this person personally.