Chapter 24: Scheming

Countless dazzling auroras swayed and soared, flashing brilliantly, as if the entire sky had been instantly drawn into the boundless depths of space—no east or west, no above or below.

Within this splendor, the azure-black escape light twisted and shifted relentlessly, yet could not break free. Suddenly, a colossal hand, wrought from pure magical power and spanning over sixty feet, seized downward with a speed surpassing lightning, leaving no room to evade.

Escape was impossible.

Resigned, the azure-black light abruptly withdrew its radiance and hurled itself fiercely against the descending hand.

A thunderous crash erupted, like the collapse of several mountain ranges at once. The azure-black light shuddered, on the verge of dissolution, while the magic hand remained unscathed, its five fingers splaying open to grasp once more.

Bang!

Bang!!

Bang!!!

Stones flew in every direction, the earth was pounded into deep depressions, clouds of dust rising thickly.

No longer daring to resist head-on, the azure-black light darted and leaped desperately, narrowly dodging the grasping hand at the very last moment each time.

“Hmph! Let’s see how long you can keep running.”

Yin Gonghao’s earlier amusement faded; his expression sharpened.

With a subtle surge of power, the magic hand instantly swelled to hundreds of feet in size, a dark mass blotting out the sky. It descended like the palm of a primordial titan from the clouds.

Thunder and storm gathered, filling the air with countless howling roars.

The azure-black light, now like a lone boat atop raging waves, seemed certain to be overturned. But suddenly, from within, a speck of golden light shot forth, meeting the giant hand head-on.

That glimmer, no larger than a bean, hung suspended in midair, radiating an awe-inspiring force as though it alone could stabilize the four seasons and the myriad phenomena of the world—lofty and imposing.

“What’s this?”

Yin Gonghao’s brow furrowed as if recalling something, yet the enormous hand did not slow, but instead fell even faster.

Soundlessly, the golden light and the magic hand collided—and both vanished without a trace.

“…So this is the one with such courage, daring to spy on me. With such backing, no wonder—no wonder at all.”

With his attack thwarted, Yin Gonghao lost interest in continuing. He swept his sleeve, gathering in the myriad flashing auroras, and ceased to bar the escape light’s departure.

“Speak, son of Yushu. What brings you to seek me out?”

Beneath him, the azure-black light revealed a tall, slender figure.

He wore a simple white robe, his hair bound with a green hairpin, and a mask of black jade covered the left side of his face—his bearing elegant and debonair.

This was none other than Chen Ying, who had once met Chen Heng atop Little Gan Mountain.

“The elder’s killing intent is truly overwhelming. I only came to watch the excitement, and you nearly killed me—so ruthless, so ruthless indeed.”

Chen Ying sighed lightly. “But tell me, how did you know I am Yushu’s son?”

He laughed. “Can I not be a disciple of one of the great sects? The Jade Celestial Sect, the Crimson Radiance Sect, or perhaps… the Reliance Sect?”

“Don’t bandy words with me,” Yin Gonghao retorted. “With the Inborn Demon Sect’s Ninefold Ghostly Escape and the protection of Yushu’s fighting tally, if you’re not his son, then you must be Yushu’s father!”

Chen Ying could not help but laugh.

“If you have something to say, speak. For days now, I’ve sensed someone tailing me. I tried divining their identity, but the heavens were concealed from me. It must have been you. Clearly, Yushu favors you—he gave you a protective tally and a treasure to obscure the heavens… Such wealth, it’s enough to make me want to kill and rob you myself!”

“Elder, your powers are vast. For all my efforts, I couldn’t catch up to you these past days. I’m ashamed.”

“Oh? Then how did you know I would stop here today?”

“Today? That was pure chance,” Chen Ying said with some amusement. “I was actually on my way to visit a brother, only to unexpectedly encounter you along the way. What are the odds?”

“Your brother? Also Yushu’s son?” Yin Gonghao’s eyes gleamed.

“Yes. I meant to warn him—be wary of Yushu. Don’t be like the others: proud for a time, but destined to end as mere mortals, chasing mirages and empty dreams.”

Chen Ying glanced in the direction of Mount Yang, then withdrew his gaze indifferently.

“But since I’ve run into you, Elder, I have more pressing business. He’ll have to fend for himself.”

“A true disciple of the Inborn Demon Sect coming to seek out an elder of the Reliance Sect—what business could that be?”

“The Abyss,” Chen Ying replied with a carefree smile. “The Corpse-Transcending Immortal!”

Yin Gonghao’s face changed drastically and he tried to leave at once, but Chen Ying caught his sleeve.

“Relax, I’m not mad enough to covet that immortal—not within my reach. But… does he not still have disciples?”

Lowering his voice, Chen Ying sent a message directly into Yin Gonghao’s mind.

Yin Gonghao’s face shifted rapidly from red to white. At last, meeting Chen Ying’s half-smiling gaze, he steeled himself and agreed through gritted teeth.

“Very well, then. I’ll return to the Reliance Sect and make preparations. Chen Zhenren, you should come with me. As two of the Six Demonic Sects, we mustn’t become estranged.”

“Nothing would please me more!” Chen Ying laughed heartily.

With a gesture, Yin Gonghao summoned a delicate octagonal white jade tower. Side by side, he and Chen Ying entered, but as the tower pierced through the void, Yin Gonghao remembered Xiao Yu and split off a wisp of his clear energy, sending it down below.

“Please.”

The white jade tower vanished, traversing countless miles in an instant.

The wisp of clear energy, yet to touch the ground, transformed into another likeness of Yin Gonghao, exuding the same fierce demonic aura.

“What a useless wretch!” he said, arching his long brows in dissatisfaction.

…

Below, the scene was one of utter wretchedness.

Half of Xiao Yu’s body had been bitten away, her abdomen torn open, intestines exposed, yet she still clung to life, struggling fiercely.

This woman, her arms stripped to bone, blood and flesh in tatters, clung tightly to a walking corpse. Ignoring the stench, worse than a cesspit, she bit down on the corpse’s neck and would not let go.

“Yet her will is impressive,” Yin Gonghao observed. With a sweep of his hand, a surge of magic exploded every walking corpse below, their flesh reduced to pulp.

He pointed at Xiao Yu, and a stream of primal energy poured into her. Instantly, her organs and skin regenerated. Within moments, her cheeks bloomed with health; not only were her wounds healed, but she seemed even more robust.

“Master, have mercy! Teach me the Way of Immortals!”

Without hesitation, Xiao Yu prostrated herself.

Having witnessed the immense power unleashed between Yin Gonghao and Chen Ying—enough to upend mountains and rivers—and such miraculous feats, even in her madness, she recognized the old man’s supernatural ability.

“Do not call me master yet. You failed to slay all the walking corpses; the trial is incomplete. You cannot yet be my disciple,” Yin Gonghao said, shaking his head. “But I’ll give you another chance.”

“Thank you, Zhenren! Thank you, Zhenren!” Xiao Yu kowtowed fervently, bruising her forehead.

Seeing this, Yin Gonghao smiled with satisfaction. “Is there anyone you care for most?”

…

The image of Chen Heng surfaced in Xiao Yu’s mind.

She wanted to deny it, but Yin Gonghao’s gaze left no room for evasion.

“Yes. His name is Chen Heng,” she answered, lowering her head.

“Good. Then go kill him. Will you do it?”

“…I will!” Xiao Yu’s nails dug deep into her palms. After a long pause, she suddenly laughed sweetly. “If by following you I can learn the Way, I would gladly carve him up a thousand times over!”

“Excellent.” Yin Gonghao nodded. “I will teach you for one month. If you kill him, you may become my disciple. If not, I will break your limbs and turn you into a beast, making your life worse than death. Do you accept?”

“I understand. I will obey your every command.”

“Good! Good!” Yin Gonghao’s face finally revealed true delight. “Good child, tell me your real name.”

“Zhou Chu Yu.”

Obediently, Xiao Yu crawled before Yin Gonghao, raising her face in flattery.

“Reporting to Zhenren, my given name is Zhou Chu Yu.”

Yin Gonghao frowned at first, then burst into hearty laughter—so gleeful his voice shook the mountains and split the clouds above.

…

Meanwhile, on Mount Yang.

At this moment, within the True Law Domain, Chen Heng was oblivious to all that had transpired outside.

Seated in meditation, he suddenly moved, forming a hand seal. Currents of energy rose around him.

“It’s done!” Chen Heng opened his eyes, joy shining on his face.