"Do you want this Xuanming Book too? Take it, then," Fengyun Wuji suddenly tossed the Xuanming Lower Scroll to the Great Freedom Recluse. "In return, all I ask is that you tell me how so many people know that this book is in my possession. As far as I know, there are dozens of versions of the Xuanming Book—how do you know this one is the true one?"
The Great Freedom Recluse stood dumbfounded, staring at the treasure that Fengyun Wuji casually tossed to him. He looked down at the ancient seal on the cover and didn't immediately respond. Little did he know, Fengyun Wuji realized that even if this Xuanming Book was the real one, he himself didn't have the ability to keep it safe. Something that was destined to bring harm rather than benefit had no reason to remain in his hands.
After a long pause, the Great Freedom Recluse finally returned the book, sighing deeply. "This kind of treasure is beyond someone like me. As for your question, I can tell you."
He paused, scanning Fengyun Wuji from head to toe, his eyes lighting up with curiosity. "Did you ascend just over three years ago?"
"That's right. Why does it seem like everyone knows about that?"
"This is it," the Great Freedom Recluse nodded knowingly. "In just three years, your cultivation has already surpassed that of an ordinary human expert who has practiced for a million years. The Xuanming Book really does have boundless potential! It's truly deserving of its origin as the martial arts created by the Celestial Emissary of the Dark Sky Realm."
This time, it was Fengyun Wuji's turn to be stunned. A bad feeling started to creep up his spine. He had a vague sense that something was amiss. "I've only been ascended for three years, true, but that has nothing to do with the Xuanming Book."
The Great Freedom Recluse gave him a knowing look, but Fengyun Wuji could tell his understanding was entirely different from what he intended. He wanted to explain, but didn't know how.
"I simply don't want the Xuanming Book to fall into the hands of the Dark Realm people. I'm not trying to take it for myself. You can keep it for yourself. My martial arts are limited, and while I can handle the likes of people like Fengmo, others who are stronger would easily overpower me... This book has already stirred the world's interest. Be extremely cautious. Also... the Xuanming Book is a treasure. There are few things in this world that could cause someone who has just ascended to see such a rapid growth in power."
"No, it's not... Actually, the reason I've grown so powerful in such a short time is because... all my power comes from my master's transmission of energy," Fengyun Wuji explained.
"Your master... could it be You Wu Xie?" The Great Freedom Recluse's face changed dramatically, his voice dropping coldly.
"Yes, how did you—"
"Hmph!" The Great Freedom Recluse turned away, starting to walk off. "I treated you with sincerity, and yet you deceive me with lies. The Demon Lord You Wu Xie... I saw him when I arrived. You say your strength comes from his transmission of energy? Hmph! In the ancient world, who doesn't know that once someone loses all their energy, they turn to dust? If he passed on his power to you, how could he still be alive... Take care of yourself."
With that, the Great Freedom Recluse took off, leaving with a deep sense of dissatisfaction and anger. But Fengyun Wuji barely noticed, the shock of the revelation overwhelming him. Even if the sky were to collapse and the earth shake, it would hardly compare to this feeling.
"Master is still alive?!" Fengyun Wuji muttered to himself, almost unable to believe his ears. "I saw him turn to ash with my own eyes—how could anyone have seen him alive... What's going on?!"
"Want to know what's really going on? Let me tell you..." a soft and pleasant voice chimed in. Fengyun Wuji looked up, and saw a woman in red standing high on a peak, looking down at him. She held a green porcelain cup in her slender, fair hand, sipping from it. Beside her stood a man in purple, whose appearance was just barely handsome, holding a similar cup but staring absently at the sky, seemingly lost in thought.
"Who are you?" Fengyun Wuji's instincts flared. The number of mysterious people showing up lately had become overwhelming.
"I!" The woman in red burst into laughter, her laugh so free and carefree that Fengyun Wuji was left bewildered. The purple-clad man beside her also seemed startled by the laughter, turning to glance at her, then gently patting her back with a smile.
"I'm here to kill you!" she suddenly said, her laughter fading and her face becoming icy. Without another word, she leaped down from the towering peak, turning into a streak of red light heading straight for Fengyun Wuji.
"Six Suns of the Heavenly Mountain Palm!" The woman raised her hand and struck out six palms, each one turning into a blood-red sun in the air, heading straight for Fengyun Wuji. The heat emanating from them was so intense that the surrounding temperature spiked dangerously.
"Demon Sword!" From beneath Fengyun Wuji, a massive chaotic sword burst from the earth with a deafening roar, meeting the six blood-red suns head-on.
Boom!
The ground shook as sand and stones flew. The Demon Sword's aura collided with the six suns, creating an explosive sound before vanishing into the air. Amid the dust and mist, a red shadow shot out and struck Fengyun Wuji's chest with a handprint of white and red.
Fengyun Wuji's body was sent flying backward, narrowly avoiding the surprise attack.
"Heh, you've lost." The purple-clad man suddenly appeared in Fengyun Wuji's peripheral vision. Feeling a strange sensation, Fengyun Wuji instinctively looked up, only to find that from the cliff top to his side, there were now multiple figures of the same purple-clad man, each in different poses.
"This man has terrifying speed—his afterimages haven't even dissipated yet," Fengyun Wuji thought, his caution growing.
The purple-clad man seemed to sense Fengyun Wuji's thoughts. He smiled and then turned back, gently gazing at the woman in red. He opened his arms and embraced her, gently rubbing his chin on her long hair, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.
"Hmph! I don't believe I can't kill him!" The red-dressed woman said, not resisting, but glaring coldly at Fengyun Wuji through the man's arms.
"Heh... You're being stubborn. We agreed not to use the special aura. Heh, Dong'er, if you don't use your Demon Aura, you'll never be able to hit him. This guy practices a peculiar martial art—he's immune to force. If you can't control the wind, you'll never land a blow," the man in purple revealed Fengyun Wuji's martial secrets, which shocked him deeply.
"Heh... I wasn't planning to kill him," the woman called Dong'er suddenly smiled, her face blossoming like a full tree of red flowers. "Zi Huang, you better act fast—more people are coming."
"Heh... More people? Is there anyone more numerous than the Southern Ascension Northern Dipper Sword Sect?" The man called Zi Huang took a sip of the pale green liquid in his jade cup and said casually.
As soon as he spoke, countless flags appeared from the distant horizon, followed by shadowy figures. Each one radiated immense power.
"Southern Ascension Northern Dipper, invincible under the heavens! If Zi Huang doesn't make a move, who can challenge us?" The figures, clad in qilin armor, swiftly approached, marching through the air. Leading them were four experts carrying a palanquin. Beneath the large canopy, a woman in a purple dress peeked out, looking at the man and woman below, calling out with a sweet voice, "Zi Huang, Dong'er, I'm here! Look, this time I've brought the sect's experts to assist—pretty impressive, huh..." She stuck out her tongue playfully, grinning proudly.
Zi Huang sighed, shaking his head with a resigned look at the woman. "You brought all the sect's experts here. What if the enemy invades? What will we do at Southern Ascension Northern Dipper Mountain?"
The beautiful woman leaped out of the palanquin and into Zi Huang's arms.
"Zi Yu, heh, you really came." Dong'er gently stroked the woman's long black hair, her eyes filled with affection...
"Heh... Dong'er, didn't Zi Huang already say it? It's easier to do things with a crowd. If we can solve it with a group, why do it alone? Look, I did exactly as I was told and brought the sect's experts!" Zi Yu raised her head, her adorable face leaving Fengyun Wuji awestruck.