117: Chapter 117 The Netherworld Mountains: The Battle for the True Inheritance

The night was deep, as thick as ink that would not dissolve.

Chen Ran sat cross-legged on the bed.

Calculating the time, the disturbance at the execution grounds should have subsided by now, and Jin Tianli and the others should be waiting outside the city.

He slowly opened his eyes and raised his right hand, a floating light appearing in his palm.

[Painted Skin] activated!

With a single thought.

The stream of light in his hand instantly covered his face.

There were no blinding lights or shadows, only the tooth-aching sound of bones grinding.

Crack, crack, crack...

Chen Ran's originally handsome face began to twist and reorganize.

His cheekbones rose, his jawline narrowed, and his eye sockets slightly recessed.

In just a few breaths, he had completely transformed into the appearance of Que Wuhua.

Not only his appearance, but even his physique, temperament, and even that deep-seated coldness and arrogance were identical.

As the Painted Skin Fusion completed, a massive flood of memories poured into his mind.

Many fragmented memories surfaced in his consciousness.

A few moments later.

Chen Ran slowly lowered his hand.

The innate Divine Ability of the Painted Skin Butterfly was truly extraordinary.

Even from a corpse, he could actually glimpse thirty percent of its memories.

Chen Ran closed his eyes, quickly sorting through this information.

The Demon Sound Sect was located in the Nether Mountain Range, three hundred miles north of the capital.

The Sect's strength was formidable and its foundation deep.

But at this moment, it was in a strange power vacuum.

“So that's how it is...”

Chen Ran opened his eyes, a flash of realization crossing them.

The Demon Sound Sect Master, that legendary Upper Three Ranks expert, had been seriously injured in a fierce battle with a rival Sect six months ago.

He was currently in the Forbidden Ground in death-seclusion, his life or death unknown.

Before the Sect Master entered seclusion, he left behind a decree: several True Disciples within the Sect would jointly manage Sect affairs and begin the 'Young Sect Master' assessment.

Whoever could stand out in this assessment would become the Young Lord of the Demon Sound Sect, acting with the authority of the Sect Master.

Que Wuhua was precisely one of the strongest contenders.

His infiltration of the capital this time, attempting to assassinate court officials and disrupt capital activities, was all to take the lead in the assessment.

Unfortunately, he encountered Chen Ran.

“True Disciple Competition, Acting Sect Master...”

“These demonic cultists are truly a bunch of lunatics; the assessment actually prioritizes demonic deeds. They really don't know how the word 'death' is written.”

Chen Ran rubbed his chin, whispering to himself.

He stood up, changed into a set of white robes, pushed open the door, and disappeared into the night.

...

Outside the capital, before the mountain range.

This place was shrouded in dark clouds year-round, never seeing the light of day.

The mountain wind howled, whistling through the bare tree trunks like the wailing of ghosts and the howling of wolves.

The Yin Qi was heavy, making one's skin crawl.

At the foot of the mountain, in a hidden dense forest.

A dozen steeds snorted uneasily, their hooves irritably pawing at the dirt.

Jin Tianli stood beside a black carriage, his brow furrowed, looking toward the capital from time to time.

The surrounding Demon Sound Sect Disciples were also holding their breath, not daring to make a sound.

“Elder, the Young Lord, he...” a Disciple couldn't help but speak up.

“Shut up!” Jin Tianli shouted in a low voice, interrupting him.

He was equally anxious.

According to the news from the execution grounds, Que Wuhua had already been beheaded.

Furthermore, some had seen that the person who performed the execution actually looked exactly like Que Wuhua.

Although he had personally witnessed the terrifying strength Que Wuhua displayed in the ruined temple last night, he couldn't help but feel some trepidation when the man failed to appear.

Just then, a faint sound of footsteps came from outside the forest.

Everyone's hearts tightened, and they all gripped their weapons.

Jin Tianli turned his head sharply, his gaze piercing toward the source of the sound like lightning.

In the darkness, a figure in white robes slowly walked out.

His pace was neither fast nor slow, as if he were taking a stroll in his own back garden.

Moonlight pierced through the clouds, spilling onto that pale and handsome face.

It was indeed Que Wuhua.

“Young Lord!”

The stone hanging in Jin Tianli's heart finally dropped. He hurriedly went to meet him, bowing in greeting.

The other Disciples also knelt on one knee, shouting in unison.

“Welcome back, Young Lord!”

Chen Ran's gaze calmly swept over everyone. Without a word, he walked straight to the carriage.

He lifted the curtain and sat inside.

“Let's go.”

His voice was cold, devoid of any emotional fluctuations.

Jin Tianli flipped onto his horse and waved his hand.

“Depart!”

The convoy slowly started, driving toward the depths of the Nether Mountain Range.

...

...

At night.

Inside the carriage, Chen Ran leaned against the cushions, closing his eyes to rest.

The wheels crushed over the gravel road, making a monotonous creaking sound.

Jin Tianli rode his horse beside the carriage window. After hesitating for a moment, he couldn't help but speak up to remind him.

“Young Lord, the True Disciple Competition is about to begin soon.”

“Our last night raid on the capital was a failed mission, I'm afraid...”

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was already clear.

The assessment criteria for the Demon Sound Sect Master's successor had always valued results.

Que Wuhua's last operation failed, and he had even gotten himself caught; this had long since spread throughout the Sect.

Returning empty-handed this time, those other True Disciples on the opposing side would definitely not let go of this opportunity to kick him while he was down.

Returning this time, the most dangerous place would likely be the interior of the Sect itself.

Chen Ran still kept his eyes closed, speaking faintly:

“Don't worry about it.”

Jin Tianli was slightly taken aback.

He turned to glance at the calm profile inside the carriage window, an indescribable sense of strangeness welling up in his heart.

He felt that after the Young Lord returned this time, something was not quite right.

The previous Que Wuhua, although also arrogant, had a perverse personality and was moody.

Encountering such a setback, he would have long since flown into a rage, or even killed someone to vent his anger.

But now, he was as calm as a pool of stagnant water.

That unfathomable feeling even caused Jin Tianli to feel a hint of palpitations.

“Could it be that he broke through after a setback, and his state of mind has also achieved a Breakthrough?”

Jin Tianli speculated secretly.

Thinking of the Perfection-level Demon Sound True Art Que Wuhua had displayed in the ruined temple, the doubts in his heart dissipated a bit more.

People of the demonic Sects were inherently fickle in temperament.

As long as his strength was great enough, what did it matter if his personality changed?

The convoy traveled on the rugged mountain road for more than an hour.

Finally, a towering black mountain peak appeared in their line of sight.

Halfway up the peak, a continuous complex of buildings was faintly visible, like a giant beast crouching in the darkness.

That was where the Demon Sound Sect was located.

“Whoa—”

Jin Tianli pulled the reins, and the convoy stopped before the mountain gate.

At the mountain gate stood two rows of gate-keeping Disciples dressed in black.

Seeing the convoy approach, the leading Disciple took a step forward and reached out to block the way.

“Halt!”

The man sneered, his gaze sweeping over the accompanying people and the carriage, his eyes full of mockery.

“So it's Elder Jin who has returned.”

Jin Tianli's face darkened.

“Presumptuous! The Young Lord has returned to the Sect, why have you not quickly cleared the way!”

The man remained unmoved, instead crossing his arms and saying sarcastically:

“Elder Jin, you must be getting senile, aren't you?”

“The Sect is currently preparing for the Sect Leader successor assessment. Senior Brother Li Feng has ordered that during the assessment period, idle personnel are strictly forbidden from approaching the main peak.”

He deliberately emphasized the words 'idle personnel'.

Jin Tianli was furious.

“You bastard, what kind of thing are you to dare block the way?!”

He suddenly drew the long saber at his waist, and his Fifth Rank Aura erupted, transforming into a sharp spike that stabbed fiercely toward the man.

The Disciple's expression changed slightly, but relying on the fact that he had Li Feng's backing, he still stubbornly held his ground.

“Elder Jin, I am following the orders of Senior Brother Li Feng!”

Suddenly, a hearty laugh came from the distance.

“Elder Jin, why the need for such a great temper?”

A middle-aged man with a mustache walked over, waving his sleeve to block and isolate that Aura.

“Que Wuhua failed his mission and even lost his life in the capital; this has already spread throughout the Sect. If you have any foresight, you should know that seeking refuge with True Disciple Li is the correct path.”

“Why follow a dead man?”

...