Chapter 82 Cooperation.
Chapter 82
At the bottom of the pool, mysterious patterns, as if imbued with life, slowly rose and condensed in the air. Soon, a miniature version of the secret realm unfolded before their eyes. The patterns were exquisitely detailed, depicting winding mountains and rivers, forests and lakes, and the vicissitudes of ancient city ruins. Even every hidden corner was clearly discernible, as if the entire secret realm had been compressed into a small pool. And the blue bead, suspended on the stone platform, radiated a soft and profound light, as if imbued with endless power and mysterious mysteries, clearly the core of this secret realm.
Without waiting for Qing Yan's response, in fact there was no need for him to answer, Bu Xingjin also saw the scene clearly in front of him, and thought to himself that this bead might be the key artifact to control the secret realm.
"This seems to be the full picture of the secret realm...that bead..." Bu Xingjin muttered to himself.
"It should be the core of the secret realm," Qing Yan said, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He hadn't expected the core of the secret realm to be placed there without any protection. As for the stone statue from earlier, in his opinion, it wasn't much of a protective measure at all.
At this moment, the crystal water droplets suddenly froze in mid-air.
"Thank you both for clearing the way. I thank you." A cold female voice seemed to echo faintly from the void. Liu Liyue took light lotus steps, stepping out from the folds of space. Her white silk skirt fluttered, untouched by the wind. The red mark between her eyebrows shone as bright as blood jade, gleaming with brilliance.
It was the mysterious figure that was finally caught in the vortex when the dragon ginseng grass was teleporting.
Qing Yan's eyes suddenly turned cold, sharp as a cold star. He raised the long sword in his hand slightly, and the blade flashed with a cold light. He looked at Liu Liyue with full vigilance: "Miss Liu, you followed us all the way here, what exactly is going on?"
Bu Xingjin also clenched the Blood River Knife in his hand, a faint blood-red halo emanating from the blade. He snorted coldly and said, "Liu Liyue, the core of this secret realm has been discovered by us. If you dare to get your hands on it, it won't be that easy."
Liu Liyue's lips curled slightly, revealing a cold smile. Her voice flowed like an icy spring, "Don't be so nervous, both of you. I mean no harm. I am indeed determined to obtain the core of this secret realm, but I also know that it would be extremely difficult for me to obtain it easily on my own. How about you and I work together to explore the mysteries of this secret realm?"
Qing Yan's expression was calm, but his eyes seemed to be able to see through people's hearts. He said in a deep voice, "Cooperation? Miss Liu, you suddenly showed up and said these words. How can we trust you?"
Liu Liyue smiled softly, tapping her fingertips lightly. A faint, elegant moonlight lingered on them, silently proclaiming her sincerity. Her gaze flickered between Qing Yan and Bu Xingjin. Her voice remained cold, yet it carried an undeniable firmness. "If I had truly harbored ill intentions, I wouldn't have shown myself and would have directly snatched it away."
"Do you know that legend?" Liu Liyue did not continue to prove herself, but instead asked a seemingly irrelevant question.
"Legend?" Bu Xingjin pondered for a moment, and a thought flashed through his mind: "Are you talking about the fragments of the Heavenly Dao?"
"That's right." Liu Liyue nodded slightly.
"Isn't that a legend? Could it be..." Bu Xingjin suddenly realized.
"Yes, this legend is true." Liu Liyue pointed to the core of the secret realm with her bare hands. "It can lead us to find the fragments of the Heavenly Dao."
"Since you know everything, why don't you go find it by yourself?" Bu Xingjin was full of doubts. It sounded like such a precious thing, why did she insist on dragging them along?
"The dangers hidden within this are beyond my ability to handle alone. Only if the three of us join forces can we find a glimmer of hope."
Liu Liyue's words were like a stone dropped into a calm lake, instantly causing ripples. Qing Yan and Bu Xingjin exchanged glances, each with a flicker of suspicion and caution.
"A fragment of the Heavenly Dao?" Qing Yan frowned, pondering for a moment before returning his gaze to the suspended blue bead. The bead glowed softly, as if responding to their conversation. He whispered, "What is the connection between this secret realm core and the fragment of the Heavenly Dao?"
Liu Liyue smiled softly, the red line between her eyebrows gleaming mysteriously in the dim light. "The core of this secret realm is actually the key to the fragment of the Heavenly Dao." Her voice was cold, but every word was firm. "Only with its help can we find the trace of the fragment of the Heavenly Dao."
Bu Xingjin's brows knitted together, staring at Liu Liyue with distrust: "Why should we trust you? And why do you insist on cooperating with us?"
Liu Liyue's eyes were as calm as water as she spoke slowly, "It's simply because I need your help. This secret realm hides countless unknown dangers, and it's truly difficult for me to handle them alone."
Qing Yan nodded slightly. He could truly sense the sincerity in Liu Liyue's words, but he still remained wary. "Then how should we cooperate?"
Liu Liyue gently extended her jade hand, her fingertips lightly tapping the miniature version of the secret realm. A ray of moonlight flashed across the scene. "This fragment of the Heavenly Dao should be here. Within the secret realm, there are three paths leading to this area. Only when people are on all three paths at the same time will the special area where the fragment of the Heavenly Dao is located be revealed. The three of us will split up and explore one path each."
Bu Xingjin snorted coldly and said, "How can you ensure that we won't plot against each other?"
Liu Liyue smiled. "If you two truly had ulterior motives, you wouldn't have let me near the core of this secret realm. I firmly believe that you both understand that within this secret realm lie not only fragments of the Heavenly Dao, but also countless treasures and opportunities. If we could work together, our rewards would surely be even greater."
Qing Yan was silent for a long time, and finally nodded in agreement: "Okay, we will cooperate. However, if I find that you have done anything wrong, I will not show any mercy."
Liu Liyue chuckled softly, "Don't worry, I won't let you two down."
After the three reached an agreement, Liu Liyue flashed and took the secret realm core in her hand, then immediately controlled the secret realm to transform. In the blink of an eye, the place where the three people were standing had changed its appearance.
As a result, those who saw the light of Qing Yan's combined sword and hurried here naturally did not know that they had already reached the edge of the secret realm.
Not far away, the mountains rise into the clouds.
Three paths appeared clearly before her. Liu Liyue tapped one of them with her jade finger. "I'll take the middle path. You two can choose the remaining paths."
Bu Xingjin chose the left path without hesitation, while Qing Yan chose the right. After the three of them had finished their preparations, they resolutely moved forward in their chosen directions.
Bu Xingjin slowly advanced along the left-hand path, his steps heavy in the dense jungle, as if dragged by some invisible force. Ancient trees towered all around, their branches overlapping in layers, nearly obscuring the sky. Sunlight filtered through sparse gaps, casting scattered, dappled shadows. The scent of damp earth permeated the air, and occasionally, the distant chirping of birds echoed. But in this enigmatic and mysterious place, the birdsong, far from adding to its vitality, only served to make it seem even more eerie.
He gripped the Blood River Knife tightly, its blade gleaming faintly in the scattered sunlight. Bu Xingjin's brows were stern, his gaze like a torch, scanning the surroundings vigilantly, as if ready to engage any lurking danger at any moment.
"What kind of dangers are there on this road?" Bu Xingjin thought to himself, and his steps became more and more cautious in the jungle. Every step he took seemed to be a careful test, as if this seemingly quiet jungle could bring about a deadly crisis at any time.
About half an hour later, Bu Xingjin suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed on a patch of bushes ahead, like a hawk. Something seemed to be swaying gently there. He held his breath and slowly approached, raising the Blood River Knife in his hand, ready to strike.
"Who's there?" Bu Xingjin lowered his voice and shouted, his voice standing out in the quiet jungle. A slight noise came from the bushes, and then a figure slowly emerged.
He was a man in a black robe, his face stern and his eyes like the deep waters of a cold pond, revealing a hint of coldness. His appearance sent a chill through Bu Xingjin's heart, and the Blood River Knife in his hand trembled slightly, emitting a strong murderous aura.
"Who are you?" Bu Xingjin asked coldly, his eyes sharp as he stared at the man in front of him, not missing a single move he made.
The man's lips curled slightly, revealing a cold arc. "Me? I am one of the guardians of this secret realm." His voice was low, as if it came from the Nine Netherworlds. "You uninvited guests who have rashly intruded here are truly ignorant of your own dangers."
Bu Xingjin's heart sank, and he immediately mobilized all his spiritual power, and the Blood River Knife in his hand shone brightly: "You want to stop us?" His tone was cold and hard, revealing an unquestionable determination.
The man smiled lightly: "Stop you? No, I just want to teach you a lesson." Before he finished speaking, his figure flashed and turned into a black shadow, rushing towards Bu Xingjin like a ghost.
Bu Xingjin was shocked and hurriedly swung his Blood River Knife. A blood-red blade light slashed at the man like lightning. However, the man was extremely fast. As soon as the blade light came out, he had already flashed behind Bu Xingjin.
"Be careful!" The man's voice rang in Bu Xingjin's ears, and then, a powerful force surged from behind. Bu Xingjin's heart trembled, and he rushed forward, narrowly avoiding the attack.
After landing, he turned around quickly, his eyes fixed on the man: "Who are you?" He asked again, with a bit of doubt in his tone. He really didn't understand why this man attacked and then warned him.
The man smiled even more: "It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is that if you embark on this road, you have to pass this test." After saying that, his figure turned into a black shadow again and pounced towards him.
This time, Bu Xingjin was prepared. He swung the Blood River Knife again, its crimson blade gleaming like a streak of light, slicing through the man. At the same time, his spiritual energy surged, and his form transformed into a red shadow, charging forward to meet the attack.
"Boom!" Two figures collided in mid-air, a deafening roar like thunder. A violent shockwave of force spread out in a circular pattern, tearing down surrounding trees, unable to withstand the impact. A deep gully was also carved into the ground.
Bu Xingjin was so shocked that he took several steps back. He finally managed to steady himself, his eyes still alert as he looked at the man. The man's body swayed slightly in the air, a cold smile on his face. "Not bad, you have some skills." There was even a hint of admiration in his tone.
Bu Xingjin took a deep breath, adjusting his breathing rhythm. The spiritual energy in his body slowly flowed through his meridians, repairing the damage caused by the collision. His eyes were as sharp as steel, fixed on the black-robed man in front of him, and he secretly pondered a countermeasure.
"This guy's speed and strength are both extraordinary. Fighting him head-on is definitely not a good idea." Bu Xingjin thought to himself, the Blood River Knife in his hand trembled slightly, and the blood-colored halo on the blade became stronger, as if resonating with his fighting spirit.
The black-robed man seemed to see through Bu Xingjin's thoughts. The smile on his face widened, and his voice was low and cold: "What? Are you scared? If you retreat now, perhaps I can spare your life."
Bu Xingjin sneered, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes: "Afraid? The word 'afraid' has never appeared in my Bu Xingjin's dictionary."
Before he finished speaking, Bu Xingjin vanished from the spot, transforming into a blood-red afterimage, dashing towards the black-robed man like an arrow. His speed was so extreme that he closed in on the man almost instantly, the Blood River Knife in his hand, wrapped in a sharp blade, piercing the man's throat.
A flash of surprise crossed the black-robed man's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He shifted his body to evade the fatal blow, and at the same time, his right hand formed into a claw, swiftly grabbing at Bu Xingjin's chest.
Bu Xingjin had been prepared for this. He turned in mid-air to avoid the attack, and swung the Blood River Knife in his hand. A blood-red blade light slashed towards the man's waist.
"Bang!" The blade's light collided with the man's protective spiritual energy, making a dull sound. The black-robed man was thrown back several steps, his face pale. It was obvious that this blow had caused him considerable pain.
Bu Xingjin was not willing to give the man a chance to breathe. He approached again, and the Blood River Knife in his hand was like a torrential rain. He slashed at the man frantically one after another. Each knife was accompanied by a sharp blade light, as if he wanted to tear the man into pieces.
The black-robed man was forced to retreat, his expression growing increasingly grim. He hadn't expected Bu Xingjin to be so powerful, far exceeding his expectations. He gritted his teeth, a fierce look flashing in his eyes, and quickly formed seals with his hands, muttering something.
"Buzz!" A black light curtain suddenly appeared in front of the man, blocking all of Bu Xingjin's blades. Runes flickered on the light curtain, revealing an eerie aura that seemed to devour everything in the world.
Bu Xingjin's heart trembled, and he quickly stopped attacking, watching the black light curtain in front of him with vigilance. He could clearly sense the terrifying power contained in this light curtain, and if he attacked rashly, he would probably be hit back.
"What the hell is this... thing?" Bu Xingjin muttered in a low voice, the Blood River Knife in his hand trembling slightly, as if warning him not to act rashly.
The black-robed man saw Bu Xingjin stop and a sinister smile appeared on his lips: "This is the guardian power of the secret realm. You outsiders are simply unable to resist it."
Bu Xingjin pondered inwardly, realizing that the light curtain before him was no ordinary defense; it must contain some powerful force. He frowned slightly, his gaze slowly scanning the light curtain, trying to find a flaw.
"Can I pass if I defeat you?" Bu Xingjin asked again, hoping to find a clue from the other party's words.
The black-robed man smiled softly, his voice low and cold: "Yes, defeat me and you can pass through me."
Bu Xingjin's heart sank. He took a deep breath and readjusted his breathing rhythm. The spiritual power in his body slowly flowed through his meridians, ready to meet the subsequent attack.
"In that case, I have no choice but to give it a try." Bu Xingjin said coldly, and the Blood River Knife in his hand suddenly burst out with a dazzling blood-red light, as if to ignite the surrounding air.
He squatted slightly, then suddenly leaped up, the Blood River Knife in his hand wrapped in a blood-red blade light, like a blood-red lightning streaking across the sky, slashing towards the black light curtain. In this attack, he used all his strength.
"Boom!" The blood-red blade light collided with the black light curtain with a resounding roar, as if the sky were collapsing and the earth was splitting apart. The deafening sound was so deafening that it hurt people's eardrums. The violent shockwave spread out in a circular pattern, uprooting the surrounding trees and creating a shocking gully in the ground.
Bu Xingjin was thrown back several steps, then, after stabilizing himself, stared warily at the black-robed man. The black light curtain trembled slightly under the impact of the blade's light, but it didn't break. The runes on it flickered more and more frequently, as if greedily absorbing the force of the impact.
A flash of surprise crossed the black-robed man's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "Yes, your strength is indeed not weak. However, this light curtain is definitely not something you can break."
Bu Xingjin's heart sank, realizing he might have underestimated the opponent's strength. He frowned again, scanning the light screen carefully, trying to find the hidden flaw.
"What exactly is this light curtain?" Bu Xingjin murmured in a low voice, his eyes fixed on the runes on the light curtain. Those runes seemed to be silently telling some ancient and mysterious story.
"This is the protective power of the secret realm, and it is the restriction left by the owner of the secret realm." The voice of the man in black robe echoed in the air.
Bu Xingjin was startled, realizing that what the other party said might be true. His brows furrowed, his eyes still scanning the light screen, unwilling to give up searching for any possible flaws.
Bu Xingjin and the black-robed man were locked in a stalemate, and for a moment, the atmosphere in the forest seemed almost tangible. Beads of sweat streamed down Bu Xingjin's forehead, but his gaze remained resolute. The Blood River Knife hummed in his hand, as if he were pondering a solution with the man.
Just then, a slight rustling sound came from the bushes not far away. The black-robed man's eyes froze, and he glanced over there warily, secretly gathering strength in his hands to prevent any unexpected changes. Bu Xingjin also felt doubtful, but he didn't dare to be distracted and stared at the light screen and the man in front of him.
A small, snow-white creature emerged from the bushes. Its body was small, its eyes like clear black gemstones, and its pointed ears perked up as it curiously surveyed the two men facing each other. The creature's appearance eased the tension slightly, but the black-robed man's expression changed. "Why is it here?"
Bu Xingjin keenly caught a fleeting glint in the creature's eyes, a glint of intelligence. The creature slowly approached the black light curtain, extending its tiny paw to gently touch the shimmering runes. The black-robed man, seeing this, wanted to drive it away, but seemed wary of disrupting the light curtain's balance, so he could only glare.
Miraculously, with the beast's touch, the rune's glow gradually dimmed, and the light curtain began to tremble slightly. Bu Xingjin's eyes lit up, hope welling in his heart. The Blood River Knife in his hand glowed inward, ready to strike. The black-robed man was shocked by this and quickly formed hand seals to stabilize the light curtain, muttering something to himself, a vein bulging on his forehead.
The little beast remained calm. It opened its mouth and released a soft white light, which entwined itself with the runes like a thread, as if undoing some kind of restraint. With a soft "crack," a tiny crack appeared on the light screen. The black-robed man's expression changed drastically, and he roared, "What are you doing?"
Bu Xingjin wouldn't let this opportunity slip by. He leaped up, his Blood River Blade swirling with spiritual energy, transforming into a streak of blood-red light as he fiercely slashed at the crack. With a loud bang, the light curtain shattered. The powerful impact sent the black-robed man flying, knocking him down after crashing through several trees.
Bu Xingjin steadied his body and looked at the little beast, his eyes full of gratitude: "Thank you for your help, little guy." The little beast tilted its head to look at him, called softly, turned around and ran into the depths of the jungle, and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Bu Xingjin took a deep breath and continued along the path. The fog grew thicker the further he went, and his visibility was limited to a few feet. He moved forward cautiously, relying on his keen senses.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, they saw a faint flicker of light ahead. Bu Xingjin's heart surged with joy, and he quickened his pace. As he approached, he saw a vast expanse of open ground. In the center stood an ancient stone platform. On this platform, suspended a crystal emitting a strange glow. The light seemed to blend in with the surroundings, exuding an unfathomable aura.
"What kind of test is this?" Bu Xingjin muttered to himself, slowly approaching the stone platform. But before he could touch the crystal, the ground suddenly trembled violently, and stone pillars burst from the earth, trapping him in the center. Then, runes on the stone pillars surged, and light intertwined, forming a new restriction.
Bu Xingjin tried to chop with his sword, but found his spiritual energy was extinguished, rapidly devoured by the restriction. Frantic, he looked around, searching for a way to break the barrier. Suddenly, he noticed a pattern in the runes on the stone pillar, as if they were subtly connected to the runes he had seen on the black screen.
He calmed down, carefully recalling the changes in the runes when the little beast broke through the light curtain. He tried to mobilize the spiritual power in his body and tap the key runes on the stone pillar. Once, twice... Finally, after he accurately touched a series of runes, the stone pillar's light gradually dimmed and slowly sank into the ground.
Bu Xingjin breathed a sigh of relief, stepped onto the stone platform, and reached out to grasp the crystal. The moment he grasped it, the crystal shone brightly, enveloping him. He felt the scene before him rapidly shift, as if he were immersed in a vast galaxy, and countless streams of information flooded into his mind.
Meanwhile, Qing Yan, on the other side, continued along the right path, encountering numerous bizarre and dangerous situations along the way. Relying on his profound cultivation and calm mind, he swept through like fallen leaves on the autumnal equinox, sweeping away the dead and decaying trees. Passing through a deep canyon, a strange purple mist filled the valley floor, seemingly alive, constantly distorting and shifting.
Qing Yan flew on his sword, attempting to swiftly cross the canyon. But just as he reached the center, a group of ghostly shadows leaped out of the mist, their speed piercing the bone with coldness. Qing Yan's eyes grew cold, and he swung his sword. The sound of the sword resounded throughout the canyon, and a sharp sword energy swept out like a streak of silk, slicing most of the shadows into pieces.
But the shadows continued to emerge, and Qing Yan fought and retreated, finding a perch on a cliff. His sharp eyes revealed that the shadows feared bright light, so he channeled his spiritual energy, and the radiance of his sword shone brightly, like the blazing sun. The shadows screamed and fled in the bright light, and Qing Yan seized the opportunity to fly his sword out of the canyon.
Continuing forward, he came to a tranquil lake. The water was crystal clear, yet tinged with a chill. In the center of the lake sat a small island, a faint glow gleaming from it. Qing Yan stepped onto the surface, light as a tap of his toes, as if walking on flat ground. But just as he reached the center, a huge wave suddenly rose, and a massive aquatic beast burst out of the water. Its body was as big as a mountain, its scales gleaming with a cold light. It opened its bloody mouth and bit towards Qing Yan.
Qing Yan faced the danger fearlessly, his longsword dancing, slicing through the air in exquisite arcs. Each arc brimmed with immense spiritual power, slashing against the water beast, sending a shower of water everywhere. The beast, in pain, grew even more frantic, lashing out with a flick of its long tail, stirring up even greater waves. In a flash, Qing Yan leaped high into the air, then swooped down like a meteor, his longsword piercing the beast's head. The beast struggled for a moment before sinking to the bottom of the lake with a crashing thud.
Qing Yan stepped onto the island. The light on the island came from an ancient tree, its trunk engraved with mysterious runes. A bead emanated a blue glow from a branch, similar to the aura of the secret realm's core he had seen before, yet distinct. Qing Yan approached the trunk and touched the rune. Instantly, the rune illuminated, and a stream of information flooded into his mind.
Liu Liyue walked along the middle path, her figure light and graceful, stepping on the moonlight. Wherever she passed, moonlight shone, creating a dreamlike path. Along the way, she encountered a flock of phantom butterflies, their wings gleaming with multicolored light as they danced gracefully. However, if they caught her gaze, they would unleash mind-bending illusions.
A red line between Liu Liyue's eyebrows lit up, releasing a cool, clear power to resist the attack of the illusion. She waved her long sleeves, and streams of moonlight energy emanated like silk ribbons, entangling the phantom butterflies. But the butterflies struggled fiercely, merging together to form a gigantic phantom butterfly king, which pounced upon her.
Liu Liyue calmly formed seals with her hands and whispered a spell. A moonlight shield appeared before her. The Butterfly King collided with the shield, emitting a humming sound. Liu Liyue seized the opportunity to mobilize her spiritual energy, transforming it into several moonlight blades, slashing at the Butterfly King. Under the attack of the blades, the Butterfly King dissipated, transforming into tiny points of light.
Continuing deeper, she arrived at an ancient ruin. Its gate, tightly closed, was intricately carved with patterns, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura. Liu Liyue approached, reaching out to touch the patterns, attempting to decipher their mysteries. Suddenly, the door slowly opened, and a powerful suction drew her in.
Inside the ruins, she encountered a vast mural depicting the origins of the Heavenly Dao fragments and their inextricable connection to this secret realm. As she immersed herself in it, the ground cracked, and pillars of flame rose, sending the surrounding temperature soaring dramatically. Liu Liyue cast a spell, forming an icy shield around her to protect her from the flames. She struggled to explore, despite the flames and the ruins' mechanisms.
It was unknown how long it took, but before the flames completely disappeared, the last flame flew into Liu Liyue's brow, and a stream of information flooded into his mind.
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