22: Chen Xian? He's not even as good as a country bumpkin!

Inside, there was more than just so-called official history; there were also many unofficial accounts.

Official history wasn't worth reading, as it was mostly full of high-sounding words. It didn't even dare to mention that the founder of the Da Gan Dynasty was once a Named Disciple of the Joyous Union Sect.

He mainly focused on the unofficial histories.

He wanted to analyze the true cause of the Joyous Union Sect's downfall from between the lines.

Standing by the historical materials of the Joyous Union Sect, Chen Xian began to skim through them rapidly.

Meanwhile.

In the City Lord's Manor of Jubei City.

The lights were brightly lit.

It lasted until the moment Liu Ruyan slowly opened her eyes.

The maid beside her cried out in surprise, "She's awake! Lord Liu is awake!"

Outside the door, a group of people hurried in.

Leading the way was naturally Wu Jun.

He knelt excitedly by Liu Ruyan's side and said affectionately, "Ruyan, you're finally awake!"

"Do you know how worried I was about you?"

With this voice, Liu Ruyan's thoughts gradually returned to reality.

Looking at the people in the room, she subconsciously asked, "Why am I here?"

"Ahem, you don't know? It was Lord Wu who rescued you."

Wu Jun coughed, perhaps out of a guilty conscience, or perhaps fearing Liu Ruyan would see through his act.

He immediately asked, "Ruyan, how do you feel?"

"What exactly happened inside that Secret Realm in the Beast Forest?"

Liu Ruyan was originally wondering how Wu Jun had come to save her, but hearing this topic, her attention was instantly diverted.

She forced herself to sit up in bed and said weakly, "It's... it's Demonic Cultivators!"

"What? Demonic Cultivators!"

The people in the room were instantly shocked upon hearing this!

Demonic Cultivators!

This was a taboo not only in their North Continent but for everyone in the Cultivation World!

"Ruyan, are you sure they were Demonic Cultivators?"

Wu Jun also realized the gravity of the situation and asked seriously.

Although he enjoyed playing the hero saving the beauty to win her heart, he also knew that compared to his own future and fate, a beauty had to take a backseat.

With Demonic Cultivators appearing while he was stationed in Jubei City, he could not afford to be careless!

Liu Ruyan said righteously, "I'm certain they were Demonic Cultivators. They are trying to stir up conflict between us and the Southern Continent, hoping to start a great war!"

"In the Secret Realm, they successively slaughtered Cultivators from both our side and the Southern Continent. The enemy is powerful, at least at the Golden Core Stage!"

Everyone looked at each other in shock.

Over the years, the North Continent and the Southern Continent had maintained a fragile peace.

Especially since the great war a thousand years ago had nearly exhausted all their resources and manpower.

Even after a thousand years, it was difficult for the Origin Qi of the two continents to recover.

A Golden Core Stage Cultivator would be enough to sweep through the entirety of Jubei City.

Even Wu Jun was only at the fourth level of the Golden Core Stage.

If Demonic Cultivators appeared in large numbers and with such high-quality strength...

They felt the situation was even more dire now.

At this moment, one of them whispered, "Lord Wu, this is similar to what that Disciple who returned from the Yaochi Immortal Palace said!"

Wu Jun's expression was grim.

"Report to the Imperial Court immediately and request reinforcements. If there are Demonic Cultivators, the situation will be even worse."

"Yes!"

Wu Jun no longer had time for Liu Ruyan and hurried off to write his memorial.

He had to personally report this matter to the Emperor!

As for Liu Ruyan, when she heard the words 'Yaochi Immortal Palace', Zi Yun's figure suddenly came to mind. Could the survivor be her?

Then, what about Chen Xian?

Liu Ruyan's heart began to grow uneasy.

At the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

Chen Xian was still inside researching information.

The Woman in Black Dress, however, sat outside, looking through all the information regarding Chen Xian, her brow slightly furrowed.

When it came to the human heart, she wouldn't say she could manipulate it perfectly...

But she had eighty or ninety percent confidence.

Yet looking at everything about Chen Xian since childhood—even just a few days ago, he was a show-off, a profligate, a playboy, and trash.

But the man she saw before her now was actually like this.

If she didn't have the Ability to Read People and know that this man's face wasn't a disguise, she would truly doubt if he was that Chen Xian!

Why was he completely different from how he had acted for twenty years?

Could it be that this fellow was hiding his brilliance?

The more Li Yu thought about it, the more likely it seemed!

Hiding his brilliance for twenty years, only to reveal his true face after his father died?

Tsk!

This person's scheming and shrewdness seemed even deeper than she had imagined.

Just then, an old man walked over cautiously.

"Eldest Young Miss, a message has come from above."

Li Yu yawned.

"Tell me, what is it now? It's not trying to urge me to go back, is it?"

"Ahem, no. It's that the one above has found a marriage match for the Eldest Young Miss, and hopes that you can..."

"I can't!"

Before the old man could finish, he was interrupted by Li Yu!

"But..."

"There are no 'buts'. Send word back that I already have someone in my heart, and I will marry no one else in this life!"

The old man looked bewildered.

He had been carefully protecting the Eldest Young Miss by her side.

When had he ever seen her have someone in her heart?

How did they contact each other?

How did they usually meet?

"Forgive this old servant for being nosy, but may I ask the Eldest Young Miss, who is this person?"

"After all, you are of noble birth. If it's some country bumpkin, those above will certainly not agree!"

Li Yu pointed toward the Wanbao Vault with a smile.

"Right there, inside!"

"The Heir of the Marquis of Jubei, Chen Xian. This status should be fine, right?"

Hiss!

The old man's heart skipped a beat.

Damn, with Chen Xian's reputation, he's actually worse than a country bumpkin!

Seeing him standing still, Li Yu said with a cold face, "Aren't you going to report back? If anything happens, I'll take the responsibility!"

"Yes!"

...Several hours passed.

Chen Xian still didn't know he had been set up by someone without even knowing it.

He yawned and finally saw a line of words in an anonymous notebook.

"To break the hehuan pill, one only needs spirit ginseng grass!"

spirit ginseng grass?

Chen Xian's hands trembled with excitement.

Although he didn't know if it was true, he had at least found a glimmer of hope.

During this time spent researching information...

He had seen the grand history of the Joyous Union Sect and inferred some things from between the lines.

But his ultimate goal was still to find out how to break the hehuan pill.

Now it seemed he finally had hope.

Chen Xian looked closely again and committed it to memory.

Only then did he slowly walk out.

But as soon as he stepped out, he saw the Woman in Black Dress coming to meet him.

"How was your reading?"

Chen Xian grew wary.

He felt that this woman's smile was a bit sinister for some reason.

"Since when has the service at your Wanbao Vault been so attentive? You're even waiting outside personally for a customer?"

Li Yu said with a smile, "I was just afraid you'd get lost!"

Chen Xian: "..."

Do you think I'll believe your nonsense?

He looked at her.

"What exactly do you want?"