331: Chapter 331 A Shocking Secret, Zhu Yin's Sneak Attack

Seeing Chu Sheng enter the arena, a glimmer of seriousness appeared in Princess Zhu Xue's eyes.

She did not rush to attack, but instead circled Chu Sheng, as if examining an interesting artifact.

"You Human Race, you are quite interesting. With Daocheng Realm cultivation, daring to accept my challenge on Dragon Palace territory, you have quite some nerve."

Chu Sheng smiled. "Princess, you flatter me. This Junior simply didn't want to spoil everyone's mood."

Princess Zhu Xue said nothing more; her figure flickered, and she instantly appeared before Chu Sheng.

Her fist, wrapped in a layer of pale golden gale-force wind, struck directly toward Chu Sheng's face.

Chu Sheng dodged to the side and simultaneously threw a backhanded elbow strike toward Princess Zhu Xue's ribs.

Princess Zhu Xue did not dodge, instead taking the elbow strike head-on with her shoulder armor, her body swaying only slightly.

Her eyes lit up.

"Not bad, the strength is decent."

With that, she accelerated her offensive.

Her strikes were fast, each blow aimed directly at vital points, yet they carried no killing intent; it was more like she was testing Chu Sheng's depth.

Chu Sheng fought while retreating, occasionally counterattacking, keeping his strength at just the right level.

The two exchanged over twenty blows, leaving only the dull thuds of clashing fists and feet and the whistling sound of robes cutting through the air in the great hall.

Princess Zhu Xue became more spirited as she fought, her offensive growing fiercer, as if she had encountered a rare and interesting opponent.

Chu Sheng could feel that she had not used her full strength, but he could not reveal his own cards either.

He intentionally left an opening and was forced back several steps by a punch from Princess Zhu Xue, then cupped his hands. "Princess, your cultivation is profound; this Junior admits defeat."

Princess Zhu Xue's fist stopped in mid-air, her brows furrowing slightly.

She stared at Chu Sheng, as if trying to discern something.

"Were you doing that on purpose?" Her voice carried a hint of suspicion.

Chu Sheng said, "I wouldn't dare. Princess, your Physical Body strength is far superior to this Junior's; continuing the fight would only result in a loss."

Princess Zhu Xue watched him for a moment and did not press further, only saying, "I will remember you."

When she said this, her tone was neither cold nor warm, but Chu Sheng could feel that her gaze was more focused than before.

He said nothing more and retreated back into the crowd.

Jiuer glanced at him but did not ask any questions.

Chu Sheng lowered his voice and said, "I'm going to check on the situation with your big brother; you stay here and provide support."

He was mainly worried that Wan Qiba might make a mistake along the way, and if discovered, both he and Jiuer would be finished.

This feeling of leaving his life in someone else's hands was not Chu Sheng's style.

Furthermore, he always felt that his brother-in-law was not entirely honest, as if he were hiding something from them.

Jiuer nodded slightly.

Chu Sheng did not alert anyone, using the cover of the crowd to quietly slip out of the great hall.

After leaving the hall, he followed the corridor of the side hall, heading in the direction they had agreed upon beforehand.

He activated the stealth movement technique of the Taixu True Scripture to its full extent, his figure becoming elusive, as if blending into the water.

The layout of the Dragon Palace was far more complex than Chu Sheng had imagined, but Wan Qiba seemed to know it like the back of his hand, avoiding all patrolling guards along the way.

Chu Sheng did not follow too closely, keeping a safe distance behind while using the shadows of stone pillars and corridors to conceal his presence.

After walking for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, a water curtain appeared ahead.

It was the barrier surrounding the Heavenly Pool, where seawater was held up by an invisible force, forming a translucent screen that glowed with a pale blue light in the darkness.

Wan Qiba stopped before the barrier, took a jade talisman from his sleeve, and pressed it gently against the barrier.

The barrier rippled slightly, opening a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through.

Wan Qiba slipped inside, and the gap immediately closed, returning to its original state.

Chu Sheng, hidden in the shadows, watched the barrier and did not rush to follow.

He waited for a moment, and after confirming there was nothing unusual, he quietly approached the barrier.

What exactly was his brother-in-law up to?

The Way of Void and Reality of the Taixu True Scripture came into play at this moment.

His figure transformed into a faint, ethereal shadow, like a reflection in the water, and slowly merged into the barrier.

The interior of the barrier was even darker than the outside, with seawater surging overhead, emitting a low, rumbling sound.

Just as Chu Sheng steadied himself, he heard voices coming from ahead.

It was Wan Qiba and Zhu Yin.

The two were keeping their voices very low, but in the quiet water corridor, their words still clearly reached Chu Sheng's ears.

"Zhu Yin, I have already done so many things for you! Your brother is just too capable; can you blame me for that?"

Wan Qiba's voice carried clear anger, as if he were suppressing something.

"Who told you to stay at the Peak of Daocheng Realm and fail to achieve a Breakthrough to the Divine Ability Realm? Your brother Zhu Qing is already at the Middle Stage of Profound Mastery; the opportunity was given to you, you just couldn't grasp it."

Zhu Yin's tone remained effeminate and slow, like a snake flicking its tongue.

"Do you still want to become the Master of the Heavenly Fox or not?"

Zhu Yin's voice carried a trace of mockery. "When you plotted to harm the entire clan back then, I didn't see you hesitating like this."

Chu Sheng's heart tightened abruptly.

Plotting to harm the entire clan? Wan Qiba?

He held his breath and continued to listen.

Wan Qiba was silent for a long time, as if composing himself.

His voice rang out again, a few degrees lower than before. "Let's not speak of past events anymore."

"Fine."

Zhu Yin's voice returned to that lazy tone. "You brought them here, wasn't it to settle things once and for all? Now that you've lured them into the trap, it's about time."

"Will they... die?" Wan Qiba's voice carried a hint of hoarseness.

"They don't have to die."

Zhu Yin said, "Your sister is a Nine-Tailed Fox in the Divine Ability Realm; her value alive is greater than dead. As for that Human Race... crippling his cultivation and keeping him in the Dragon Palace as a servant wouldn't be a waste."

Wan Qiba was silent for a moment, then spoke, his voice much firmer than before. "Let's proceed with the plan. As long as I can become the Master of the Heavenly Fox, I don't care about those people..."

He did not finish his sentence.

Zhu Yin suddenly raised his hand, interrupting him.

"You are using that thing here? Are you crazy?"

His voice carried a hint of coldness. "If we burn together here, there is no benefit at all. Do this for now: go light the lamp and wait for my signal."

His voice dropped even lower; Chu Sheng could only vaguely hear a few words: "...Wait until I splash the dirty water onto Zhu Qing... then you..."

Chu Sheng's pupils contracted sharply.

Zhu Yin intended to harm the Old Dragon at the birthday banquet and then frame Zhu Qing for the crime.

This plan was even more vicious than he had imagined.

Wan Qiba nodded, said nothing more, and turned to walk in the other direction of the water corridor.

Zhu Yin stood in place, watching his back disappear into the shadows, a faint, elusive smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.

A layer of cold sweat had already broken out on Chu Sheng's back.

He now had only one thought: he must return immediately to tell Jiuer.

Her brother had long since betrayed the Fox Race.

From the moment she fled from Qingqiu, a larger trap had been waiting for her.

Chu Sheng slowly backed away, preparing to return along the same path through the barrier.

Just at that moment, a voice came from behind him, carrying an effeminate, spine-tingling smile.

"You've been listening for so long; was it good?"

Chu Sheng's body froze abruptly.

He slowly turned around and saw Zhu Yin standing three steps behind him, arms crossed, with that uncomfortable smile on his face.

His gaze fell on Chu Sheng, as if examining prey that had fallen into a trap.

"Human Race, your stealth technique is not bad. But this is the Heavenly Pool; every drop of water under your feet is my eyes and ears."

Chu Sheng did not speak, but his hand was already pressed against the hilt of his sword.

Zhu Yin did not rush to attack, but tilted his head, as if thinking about something.

"You are a guest of the Fox Race; I do not want to see blood at my father's birthday banquet. However, since you have heard things you shouldn't have, I cannot let you leave easily."

In the distance, the banquet at the Heavenly Pool was still continuing, the sounds of strings and flutes drifting over faintly, like a dream that would never end.

"Don't be in a rush," Zhu Yin said. "I have plenty of time to play with you."

He raised his hand, and the seawater on both sides of the water corridor began to surge, as if stirred by an invisible hand.

Chu Sheng knew that this battle was unavoidable.