Heaven’s Shadow

Chapter 197: The Blood Crystal Rebirth

That night, the final result was that nothing significant happened. Lu Chen and Bai Lian parted ways in the dark mountain forest, each taking a different path.

When the beautiful girl disappeared like a ghost into the forest, Lu Chen, with Ah Tu, returned to his wooden house on Feiyan Platform.

Late at night, the clouds cleared, and the moonlight gently fell on the window sill, illuminating Lu Chen and Ah Tu. Ah Tu looked up at the crescent moon, while Lu Chen gazed at Ah Tu.

After a moment, Lu Chen gently patted Ah Tu’s back. Ah Tu turned its head and looked at him.

Lu Chen’s brows slightly furrowed, and after a while, he suddenly said, “You can’t stay on Kunlun Mountain any longer.”

Ah Tu’s single eye glimmered slightly.

Lu Chen’s hand lightly caressed Ah Tu’s body. Its fur was soft and smooth, like black silk, but underneath that smoothness were bulging muscles, flowing blood, and the strong beating of its heart.

There was a strange power slowly gathering within the black dog, which would eventually burst forth on some future day.

“I didn’t expect you to turn out like this,” Lu Chen said softly while patting Ah Tu, “I only wanted to save you at the time, but there was no other way.”

“Bai Lian thinks that what you have is the Blood Devouring Secret Technique, but it’s not like that at all. What I used was the Demonic Sect’s ‘Rebirth Formation’ along with the blood crystal fragments formed from evil magic. I only intended to extend your life.”

“I didn’t expect that you could absorb the blood crystal fragments and activate all your bloodline potential. This outcome is almost identical to the Blood Devouring Secret Technique, so she mistook it.”

Lu Chen smiled and said, “Ah Tu, I think your father, whom you’ve never met, must have been an incredibly powerful demon beast to give you such a resilient bloodline.”

Ah Tu leaned forward. Whether it understood Lu Chen’s words was uncertain, but it remained silent throughout.

Lu Chen didn’t mind. He looked out the window at the high moon in the sky and, after a moment, said softly, “You can only stay for another ten days or so. When the full moon night comes, you won’t be able to endure it any longer.”

“Before that, you must leave the mountain.”

**Chapter 198: The Secret Scheme**

“Oh, where are you going?” Lu Chen asked Yi Xin.

Yi Xin shook her head and replied, “Master didn’t say. He only mentioned that it’s a place I’ve never been to. I’m very curious too, but whenever I ask Master, he just smiles and doesn’t say anything.”

Lu Chen lowered his head, contemplating for a moment, then his gaze gradually softened, and he smiled self-deprecatingly. He thought to himself that after being in the shadows for so long, he seemed to have become somewhat peculiar. Perhaps Dongfang Tao simply wanted to broaden Yi Xin’s horizons, but he found himself thinking there might be something more to it.

“Maybe my heart has turned dark…” Lu Chen muttered softly. Yi Xin, not hearing clearly, asked curiously, “Lu Dage, what did you say?”

Lu Chen shook his head and smiled. “Nothing. By the way, Kunlun Mountain is so vast that there might be many wondrous places we’ve never heard of. Take the four unique peaks in the clouds, floating in the sky. It’s rare in the world. If one could go up and see them, it would be a great fortune.”

Yi Xin laughed. “Lu Dage, you’re right. But I think going to the peaks in the clouds is unlikely. Our sect has a rule that only Nascent Soul cultivators can step on the four unique peaks of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. I’m still far from that.”

Lu Chen’s mind suddenly stirred. He asked Yi Xin, “By the way, I heard there are exceptions.”

Yi Xin was startled. “Lu Dage, you mean…”

Lu Chen glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, lowered his voice, and said, “It’s about the disciples of the True Monarch Bai Chen. True Monarch Bai Chen has three disciples. The eldest disciple, who is our sect leader Xian Yue, is a Nascent Soul cultivator. The other two are Zuo Xian, who is said to be a Golden Core cultivator, and Bai Lian, who is on a similar level to us. But I heard that the two disciples who are not at the Nascent Soul stage can often practice on the Winter Peak in the clouds.”

Yi Xin was taken aback and became a bit anxious. She grabbed Lu Chen’s hand and said seriously, “Hey, Lu Dage, you can’t say such things! That’s the True Monarch, a Transcendent God! You can’t just speak recklessly!”

Lu Chen looked at her and suddenly smiled, nodding. “Hmm, I understand. Don’t worry.”

Yi Xin sighed in relief, but she soon seemed lost in thought, finally saying slowly, “Hmm… I guess it’s because of the True Monarch’s influence.”

Lu Chen cleared his throat and said seriously, “Yi Xin, I hear what you’re implying. You mean that although Kunlun Sect has strict rules, they mostly apply to Nascent Soul cultivators, and they’re not as effective against Transcendent Gods.”

“Hey!” Yi Xin jumped up in shock, her face turning pale. She stammered, “Lu Dage, you can’t say such things! I didn’t mean…”

Lu Chen laughed heartily, but his laughter suddenly stopped halfway. He clutched his chest, showing a pained expression.

Yi Xin was startled and hurriedly supported him. “Lu Dage, are you alright?” Before she finished speaking, she suddenly trembled, as if she had thought of something. Her face turned pale with fright, and she exclaimed, “Oh no, could it be… could it be that you spoke ill of True Monarch Bai Chen, and he sensed it and has punished you?”

Lu Chen rolled his eyes, took a deep breath, and after the pain subsided and he stood firm, he tapped Yi Xin’s head with irritation and said, “Nonsense. Do you think Transcendent Gods are divine beings? So many people know about them, and countless people call their names every day. If they had to investigate everything, they’d have no time for anything else.”

Yi Xin was stunned. “You have a point.”

“Of course!”

Yi Xin seemed to gain confidence, sticking out her tongue and looking much more spirited. After a moment of thought, she said mysteriously, pulling Lu Chen close and whispering, “If that’s the case, it seems that the two disciples of True Monarch Bai Chen do indeed violate the sect rules.”

Lu Chen said, “I mentioned this earlier, but no one in the Kunlun Sect has spoken out.”

Yi Xin shrugged. “Lu Dage, that’s obvious. Who would dare to speak up? The True Monarch is a Transcendent God. Besides, even the current sect leader Xian Yue is his eldest disciple. Anyone who speaks out would be either foolish or out of their mind.”

Lu Chen glanced at her and said with a smile, “Oh, you’re not foolish anymore?”

“I was never foolish!” Yi Xin replied indignantly.

Lu Chen ignored her protests and continued to himself, “It seems that being a disciple of a Transcendent God is quite comfortable. They’re born stronger than others.”

“Yes,” Yi Xin said enviously. She then teased Lu Chen, “Lu Dage, besides True Monarch Bai Chen, there’s also True Monarch Tian Lan in our Kunlun Sect. He still doesn’t have any disciples. If you had the chance to become his disciple, wouldn’t that be great? At that time, you’d be able to enjoy the best of everything and go up to the peaks as you please!”

Lu Chen pondered for a moment and then nodded, saying, “You’re right. How about this? Once I become his disciple, I’ll ignore the rules and secretly take you to see the scenery on the peaks in the clouds. How does that sound?”

Yi Xin burst into laughter, her laughter like a crisp wind chime, and she pointed at Lu Chen, unable to stop laughing for a long while. After she calmed down, she continued to laugh and said to Lu Chen, “Sure, sure! I probably won’t have many chances to become a Nascent Soul cultivator in this lifetime. So, when I’m old, just wait for me to take me up there.”

Lu Chen spread his hands and said, “Why wait so long? Just wait a few years. When I achieve success and fame, I’ll take you up there to have some fun!”

“Hahaha…” Yi Xin laughed so hard that she bent over, gasping for breath. She shook her head and nodded vigorously, saying, “Okay, okay, Lu Dage, I’m counting on you!”

Lu Chen chuckled, feeling inexplicably cheerful. The day seemed bright and clear, the green mountains appeared more enchanting, and the vast sea of clouds looked magnificent. The future suddenly seemed beautiful.

He smiled as he looked into the distance. The mountain breeze fluttered their clothes as they smiled.

※※※

“True Monarch Bai Chen’s faction holds great power and dominates Kunlun Sect. They have been arrogant for a long time. Everyone, we are all Kunlun disciples. Our sect’s five thousand years of legacy depends on what? It’s not about how many talented individuals we have, not about our numbers, and certainly not about the occasional appearance of a Transcendent God!”

“The reason Kunlun Sect has lasted until today is mainly due to the various rules passed down by our ancestors. Over the past centuries, how many prestigious sects have risen and fallen in the cultivation world of Central Land? Haven’t we seen enough of that? Why is it that only our Kunlun Sect remains prosperous?”

“It’s the rules!”

“It’s only the rules!”

A thunderous voice echoed in a secret quiet room beneath the Baicao Hall. Someone was speaking passionately, while the others listened attentively, nodding in agreement or remaining silent.

There were five people in the quiet room, all Nascent Soul cultivators. Even among the top-ranking Kunlun Sect, these five were a formidable force.

The leader was naturally the two True Monarchs of Baicao Hall. The speaker was True Monarch Mingzhu, while the person seated in the main position, True Monarch Qiandeng, was smiling and nodding, seemingly unfazed by Mingzhu’s words, which were somewhat disrespectful to True Monarch Bai Chen.

Aside from them, the other three Nascent Soul cultivators had varying expressions, with their faces showing complex emotions. True Monarch Qiandeng’s gaze was sharp as he scanned everyone, then he smiled and said, “What True Monarch Mingzhu just mentioned, I’m sure everyone has felt the same recently. For instance, the peaks in the clouds, a sacred place where only Nascent Soul cultivators are allowed, have now seen Zuo Xian and Bai Lian stepping onto the Winter Peak. This is indeed inappropriate.”

A fair-skinned man sitting to his right nodded and said, “True Monarch Qiandeng is right. I also feel the same. In fact, it’s not just us. Many Nascent Soul cultivators on the Spring and Autumn Peaks are also dissatisfied, but with the current powerful faction, everyone is angry but dare not speak out.”

“Yes,” said another Nascent Soul cultivator sitting opposite Guangyang, “but there’s nothing we can do. Now that True Monarch Bai Chen controls the sect, and the sect leader is his disciple, the Bai faction is everywhere. We are helpless.”

True Monarch Qiandeng smiled and said, “Although things are as they are, there might still be a chance for change. After all, this legacy was passed down by our ancestors. As Kunlun disciples, we should uphold the rules and clear the source, which is our duty.” He then turned to the last silent Nascent Soul cultivator and smiled, asking, “What do you think, True Monarch Mu Yuan?”

The last Nascent Soul cultivator slowly raised his head. His expression was serious, and his brow was furrowed. He didn’t speak immediately, and the quiet room fell into a silence. The gazes of the other Nascent Soul cultivators soon focused on Mu Yuan.

The air was thick with tension. After a long while, Mu Yuan finally looked at True Monarch Qiandeng and said, “True Monarch Qiandeng, I have something to say upfront.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“I understand everyone’s concerns. As for my current situation, you all know it’s dire. If there’s a chance, it’s worth taking a risk. However…” He raised his brow and said in a deep voice, “I still stand by my previous statement. Unless True Monarch Tian Lan personally makes a promise, I will not participate in this matter!” (