Chapter 63
Just as Xie Wen's last tear was about to fall onto the jade pendant, a dark shadow swept past, and the Spirit Transformation Pendant disappeared before their eyes.
At the same time, Chu Xianyue broke free of the spiritual net that was binding him and lunged towards Xie Wen, but he was still a step too slow. Xie Wen was also swept away by the faceless man who appeared out of nowhere. He disappeared from the spot in an instant.
Pei Xuan was familiar with the faceless man's techniques. The faceless man was using the Earth Escape Technique that Pei Xuan had previously practiced, and this faceless man's Earth Escape Technique was of a higher level than Pei Xuan's, reaching a level that Pei Xuan could not possibly attain. Suddenly, a dense cold sweat broke out on his back. His Earth Escape Technique had been taught to him by Xuan Xi. However, the forbidden technique that Xuan Xi knew had been taught to him by another mysterious person.
At the same time, it was that mysterious person who sent Kunlun Ruins to infiltrate the Tianyan Sword Sect. He was the one who gave the Ten Directions Cauldron to Pei Xuan and asked Pei Xuan to place it under the Little Mirror Lake.
The only person in the dynasty who colluded with Kunlun Ruins without authorization was Crown Prince Jin Anxu.
However, now that Jin Anxu is dead, Pei Xuan no longer believes that such a good-for-nothing as Jin Anxu could have crafted a magical artifact like the Ten Directions Cauldron, mastered a high-level technique like the Earth Escape Technique, or manipulated the entire Kunlun Ruins at his disposal.
The truth can only be that there is someone else behind Jin Anxu. Not only did they manipulate him and guide Kunlun Ruins to attack the Sword Sect, but they have also personally orchestrated everything that is happening today.
The person behind Jin Anxu? Thinking of this, a figure appeared in Pei Xuan's mind. Always silently standing behind Jin Anxu, always appearing as a gentle and refined young master. But sometimes, those gentle eyes seemed to hold something unsettling.
Now Pei Xuan finally understood why he acted so awkwardly. It was the jarring feeling of a cunning, shrewd old fox trying to portray himself as a gentle, refined gentleman. No matter how much one tries to hide it, what's in their eyes can't be concealed. Unfortunately, it was too late for Pei Xuan to realize this.
The scene is now in complete chaos.
Chu Xianyue lunged forward to snatch the man, but was entangled by countless high-level cultivators who surged forward, making it difficult to break free. In the blink of an eye, Xie Wen completely disappeared from Chu Xianyue's sight. An undisguised ferocity emanated from his eyes and hands, which trembled slightly as Xie Wen vanished.
Yun Yan, however, was still unable to process such a massive amount of information. The successive events had an increasingly profound impact on him. First, Shen Lizhi unleashed a powerful burst of spiritual energy. Before Yun Yan could even ask her anything, Shen Lizhi took a sword for Xie Wen and died. Then, after Shen Lizhi's death, her body transformed into a jade pendant?
Before Yun Yan could react, Senior Sister Xie Wen and the jade pendant had both vanished from the spot.
Chu Xianyue lost control due to Xie Wen's disappearance and went on a rampage, brutally killing the cultivators who stood in their way.
The faceless mask is the symbol of the Wuxiang Temple, and the person who just took Xie Wen away was the sect leader of the Wuxiang Temple. This also confirms that these people are indeed from the Wuxiang Temple.
Is he the sect leader of Wuxiang Temple, or Jin Huaran, the seventh prince of the dynasty?
So he already knew that Shen Lizhi was a Spirit Transformation Pendant, and not a member of the Feather Clan?
That day, Shen Lizhi infiltrated the dynasty to find Xie Wen, unaware that the dynasty had already fallen under Jin Huaran's control. How could Shen Lizhi escape his grasp? Perhaps it was at that moment that Jin Huaran discovered her true form was merely a Spirit Transformation Pendant.
However, once the Spirit Pendant is awakened, it is difficult for it to revert to its original form. If it is killed in human form, it will simply be awakened again and revert to human form once more. This cycle repeats endlessly.
Long ago, there were many who coveted the Spirit Transformation Pendant, killing it time and time again. Yet, like an immortal being, it would repeatedly rise from the dead. Even after enduring countless deaths and despair, it would still transform into human form.
Few people know that the Spirit Transformation Pendant, this divine artifact, can only transform into its original form and unleash its full power once again when the wearer voluntarily dies.
Jin Huaran clearly knew this, so he took advantage of Xie Wen and Shen Lizhi's relationship.
They spread rumors in the Immortal Capital and the Dynasty that Shen Lizhi was a member of the Feather Clan, and imprisoned her on the Sun and Moon Platform, preparing to have her blood tested in front of everyone. Later, on the Sun and Moon Platform, they manipulated Shen Lizhi to give Xie Wen ambiguous answers, making Xie Wen suspect that Shen Lizhi was a member of the Feather Clan. Then, they took Shen Lizhi's place and dripped blood into the Blood Nether Cauldron in front of everyone in the Immortal Capital and the Dynasty.
The Blood-Dark Cauldron lit up, pushing Xie Wen into the center of public criticism and the turbulent vortex. He then led the people of Immortal Capital to attack the Sword Sect, demanding the handover and execution of Xie Wen.
He was adept at understanding people's hearts, and he was certain that Xie Wen would not hide away and live on alone at this critical moment. Sure enough, even though Chu Xianyue vowed never to hand over Xie Wen, Xie Wen still appeared on his own.
The next step was to have Shen Lizhi willingly take the blow for Xie Wen.
In this way, Hualingpei can be considered to have died voluntarily.
It may seem like a lot of work, but in reality, not a single step can be wrong.
He has an extraordinary ability to manipulate people's hearts and minds, and can play everyone with ease.
Xie Wen, in particular, was the one who was used the most by him from beginning to end.
She was carried by the faceless man, and the world spun around her. She barely felt anything until a few minutes later, when Xie Wen instinctively felt the world settle down. She opened her eyes in a daze.
The scene before him was strikingly familiar: the antique-style room, and the faint strains of music drifting from outside the window. This was the banquet hall in Jianshui City, the place where Xie Wen and Jin Huaran first met.
Xie Wen was under his control, her whole body limp and powerless on the ground. He placed her by the bedside, and Xie Wen leaned against the headboard, staring at him without blinking.
Those were eyes as still and stagnant as a pool of water, yet they seemed to pierce through his faceless mask, fixing their gaze on his ugly true face.
Did he bring Xie Wen here to no longer pretend? Or did he already know that Xie Wen had recognized him?
In the few seconds Xie Wen looked at him, she suddenly understood many strange moments from the past. She stared at him coldly, opened her mouth, and began to speak from their first encounter, "From the very beginning, you were using me. Our first meeting was also planned by you. You deliberately let a wisp of evil energy pass by my window, and I followed the evil energy to your room. That's how we met."
The swindler my master and I encountered downstairs the next day was also someone you arranged? His account happened to contain information about you and your mother. Did you intend to make us feel pity for you later? So that you could conveniently take away the evil spirit, or rather, your mother? Then, at Huangqi Palace, you and the people of Kunlun Ruins colluded, guiding Pei Xuan of Kunlun Ruins to assassinate me. This deepened the conflict between our Sword Sect and Kunlun Ruins, urging Kunlun Ruins to quickly attack the Tianyan Sword Sect.”
"Thus, Kunlun Ruins and Tianyan Sword Sect both suffered heavy losses. The Dynasty was also severely weakened due to its support of Kunlun Ruins, and was at its most vulnerable. You were certain that I would storm the Dynasty to avenge my sister. However, I did not disappoint you. I turned the Dynasty upside down, and everyone was in a state of fear. It was the perfect time to take advantage of the situation. You seized control of the Emperor and Empress, and thus the entire palace and the Dynasty. The blame for the Crown Prince's murder was pinned on me, and you cleared yourself of all suspicion. No one suspected you."
"Later, it was Shen Lizhi who came to save me, but she was controlled by you. It was you who made me go to the Sun and Moon Platform for a blood test, it was you who turned me into a vixen that everyone despised and hated, it was you who killed my sister, it was you who killed Shen Lizhi, it was all your fault."
Xie Wen used all her strength to recount Jin Huaran's crimes. Her voice was weak and soft as she watched him quietly as she recounted each and every one of his deeds. Even though her voice was faint, it struck a chord deep within people's hearts.
Finally, she called his name, "Jin Huaran. Oh no, Master of Wuxiang Temple. Is there anything you want to say to me?"
The tall man before them casually removed his faceless mask, revealing a handsome face with fair skin, gentle eyebrows and eyes, and slightly upturned corners. At first glance, he appeared to be the face of a compassionate bodhisattva. But upon closer inspection, however, his compassionate eyes were laced with a dark poison, and his slight smile concealed a deep sorrow.
Jin Huaran looked down at Xie Wen, lifted her chin with one hand, and said, "Ah Wen, I knew I couldn't hide it from you for long."
The next moment, his gaze turned cold. "So what if I used you? You should be glad that I don't want to kill you now."
Xie Wen said coldly, "You don't want to kill me now because I still have value to you."
His words struck a chord with Jin Huaran. He chuckled and tightened his grip on Xie Wen's chin, his breath hot against Xie Wen's forehead as he spoke, "Xie Wen, you should know that sometimes being too shrewd isn't a good thing. The more you know, the more pain you endure."
The stagnant water in Xie Wen's eyes stirred. All her suffering was caused by him; what right did he have to say these things to her! Anger pressed against her entire abdomen, making it difficult for her to breathe. Yet, she felt suffocated, unable to muster any strength.
She was breathing heavily, her initial rapid breathing gradually weakening and fading until it became extremely faint. Jin Huaran immediately supported Xie Wen's shoulders, checking her breath with his index finger. It was so faint it was almost imperceptible. A look of panic crossed his face. "What's wrong?"
Could it be that he was injured in the battle at the Sword Sect's gate? But Jin Huaran looked Xie Wen over and couldn't find where he was injured.
The breath of the person in his arms was rapidly fading. In a moment of desperation, Jin Huaran released Xie Wen from the puppet spell restraints and raised his hand to channel spiritual energy into her.
However, in the next instant, a fan suddenly slashed towards him, carrying a sharp killing intent. The edge of the fan was already extremely sharp, and in an instant, it barely grazed Jin Huaran's neck.
Fortunately, he noticed in time and tilted his head back. Even so, Xie Wen's shaking motion still grazed him, leaving a cut on his neck. Blood beads oozed from the red thread-like wound.
Jin Huaran touched his bleeding neck, then looked at Xie Wen, who was radiating murderous intent towards him. In the next instant, he used the puppet technique again, and Xie Wen slumped back down, powerless.
Even so, there was no fear of Jin Huaran in her eyes, only a deep and heavy killing intent towards him, which almost burned away Xie Wen's will.
She had only one thought: to kill him. At that moment, she only regretted that her previous move hadn't been able to decapitate Jin Huaran.
Jin Huaran wiped the blood from his neck and suddenly sneered. He grabbed Xie Wen's neck with one hand, but didn't use much force. He said, "Awen, do you hate me that much?"
Xie Wen stared at him warily. Suddenly, she noticed a doll hanging from his waist, its eyes blankly staring at her. Xie Wen felt a strange familiarity with the doll, a feeling she couldn't quite put her finger on. It sent chills down her spine.
This feeling was similar to seeing the wisp of a ghost on the surface of the Boundless Sea in the dungeon caves of the imperial palace. A chill ran down Xie Wen's spine.
Jin Huaran said to herself, "It's alright, it's alright. It doesn't matter if everyone hates me or despises me. It's enough that I like you. Awen, when I have completed my great undertaking..."
"Complete the great cause..." Jin Huaran choked up at this point. What good would completing the great cause do? What would I do after I completed it? He had already become what he was now, and there was no turning back for him.
Xie Wen didn't listen to a word Jin Huaran said. From now on, she would never believe a word he said again.
Jin Huaran lay there, head in his hands, racking his brains. His head was throbbing with pain, but he still couldn't think of anything to do after he accomplished his grand plan. It seemed his entire life had been dedicated to these plans. It seemed that once he finished, he would lose all his purpose.
Jin Huaran suddenly raised his head, seemingly exhausted. He put his faceless mask back on, concealing all emotions and expressions, stood up, and snapped his fingers at Xie Wen. Xie Wen closed her eyes and fell backward. Jin Huaran caught her and gently placed her on the bed.
He then traced her eyebrows with his hand, muttering, "She's most obedient when she's sleeping." After that, he stood up and left without looking back.
Not long after Jin Huaran left, someone hurriedly pushed open the door again. The hem of a blue robe outlined the shadow of the setting sun, and the shadow and light rippled on Xie Wen's face. The person reached out and scooped up the person on the bed, holding him in their arms.
Guided by the blood beads, Chu Xianyue was able to sense Xie Wen's location. He overcame numerous obstacles and exhausted his spiritual power before finally arriving here.
He held her in his arms, forehead to forehead, and transferred the last of his spiritual energy to Xie Wen. His hands, holding her, trembled violently, whether from worry or fear.
Only when he sensed Xie Wen's steady breathing again did his heart finally settle down. But she was still unconscious; he didn't know why.
Later, Chu Xianyue found the forehead-to-forehead method of transferring spiritual energy too slow, so he simply kissed her lips and continuously transferred spiritual energy to her.
Their breaths mingled, hot and moist. After an unknown amount of time, the person in his arms finally regained consciousness. Chu Xianyue watched her open her eyes; one second he felt joy, the next, a chill ran through him.
A fragrant scepter, in an instant, pierced his chest.
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