149: sneak attack

Above the deathly silent, ink-colored surface of the Ruoshui River, ripples stirred in the Void Realm, and Lin Chen's figure quietly coalesced.

Then, he took a step forward and stood steadily on the shore.

His white robes fluttered, pristine and untainted; the swirling snow had no effect on him whatsoever.

Almost the instant he stepped onto the other shore, the Void Realm ahead rippled, and the figure of the Ferryman in a straw raincoat and bamboo hat appeared silently, bowing in an incredibly respectful manner:

"Junior Ziyun welcomes Senior! I was unaware of Senior's arrival and failed to greet you from afar. I hope Senior will forgive me!"

The Ferryman's voice carried a hint of uncontrollable trembling.

He had sensed it the moment Lin Chen forcibly crossed the river, causing the Ruoshui Origin to vibrate!

To cross this river by one's own power, one's cultivation must be at least at the True Immortal Realm!

Such an existence could wipe him out with a flick of a finger; why would they suddenly appear here?

While filled with shock and uncertainty, he also harbored doubts.

"Why didn't the Secret Realm's rules repel him?"

"Could it be... his bone age is actually less than three thousand?"

"A True Immortal under three thousand years old? This... how is this possible?!"

"When did the Qinggu Heaven Domain produce such a Heaven-Defying figure?"

This thought sent waves of shock through his heart, making his entire body go cold.

Lin Chen's gaze indifferently swept over the Ferryman, a subtle glint of Chaos flashing in his eyes as the Eye of Insight was activated.

Information about this person instantly appeared before him.

[Name: Ziyun]

[Cultivation: Peak Earth Immortal]

[Identity: Fairy Li Meng's personal maidservant, Ruoshui Ferryman]

[Background: Unwaveringly loyal to Fairy Li Meng... Since the Fairy's fall, she voluntarily became an Incarnation of the Ferryman... Utilizing the Secret Realm's Origin to enter deep sleep and using secret techniques to extend her Lifespan, awakening once every ten thousand years... Commanding the Crossing Calamity Immortal Boat to guide eligible Prodigies across the river, seeking a fated person for the Fairy... Now the Secret Realm's Origin is exhausted, and Li Meng's remnant soul is about to dissipate; this is the final opening of the Ruoshui Secret Realm...]

"So it's the maidservant by Fairy Li Meng's side..."

Lin Chen understood, but then a hint of gravity crossed his eyes: "The Divine Soul is about to dissipate? That is a bit tricky."

His thoughts racing, he immediately communicated with the System: "System, is there a way to save Fairy Li Meng?"

[Ding! After the Disciple completes the Ruoshui Secret Realm trial mission, the Host will receive a soul nurturing immortal marrow pill. This pill can nourish, stabilize, and repair a damaged immortal soul, having a miraculous effect on remnant souls, and can save Fairy Li Meng.]

Lin Chen had only asked casually and hadn't held much hope.

But he hadn't expected the System to be so helpful this time.

"Then I am relieved."

Lin Chen felt much more confident. He glanced at the Ferryman Ziyun and smiled, "An Immortal Treasure that conceals one's aura? Interesting."

Lin Chen was referring to the straw raincoat and bamboo hat on the Ferryman.

"...Senior is mocking me; it's just an ordinary Immortal Treasure."

Ziyun had no intention of removing the raincoat or hat.

"As Fairy Li Meng's maidservant, you've guarded the Ruoshui Secret Realm for over twenty million years; it truly hasn't been easy!"

Lin Chen suddenly sighed with emotion.

Ziyun was greatly shocked!

How... how did he know her identity?

After a long while, she forcibly suppressed her shock and, maintaining a respectful posture, tentatively asked: "Senior... what were you saying just now? This Junior is dull-witted and is merely a Ferryman here."

Lin Chen's gaze seemed to see through everything: "Ziyun, there is no need to hide before This Immortal! With a single thought, all laws become clear! With a single glance, Karma is clarified! This Immortal already knows your Origin."

"You are Fairy Li Meng's maidservant, named Ziyun..."

Lin Chen spoke out all of Ziyun's information.

Pausing, Lin Chen looked at the incredulous Ziyun and continued: "This Immortal perceives the past and future with a single thought. Considering that Fairy Li Meng fell in battle long ago to protect the Qinggu Heaven Domain, and now her Divine Soul is about to dissipate, it is truly a pity!"

"This Immortal has come this time specifically to... grant her a fortune of Rebirth."

"A fortune of Rebirth?"

These words were like a thunderclap from the Nine Heavens, exploding in Ziyun's mind!

She snapped her head up, her voice trembling: "Senior... you... what did you say? You can save my Master?!"

"To save or not to save depends on your decision." Lin Chen's tone was indifferent, yet it carried the weight of a thousand catties.

With a "thud," Ziyun knelt directly on the ground, unhesitatingly tearing off the straw raincoat and bamboo hat that concealed her identity, revealing her true face.

It was the face of a woman, exquisitely beautiful yet marked by endless hardships and exhaustion, her eyes brimming with tears.

Her gaze was filled with desperate entreaty: "Senior! If Master can be saved through Rebirth, this servant Ziyun is willing to pay any price. Even if it means my Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, I would not hesitate to die ten thousand deaths! I beg Senior for mercy, please save my Master!"

She touched her forehead to the ground, kneeling without rising.

Millions of years of guarding and despair now turned into this humblest yet most steadfast plea.

"Senior, please tell me, what do you need this servant to do?"

"It's very simple."

Lin Chen slightly raised his hand, and Ziyun, who was kneeling on the ground, was lifted by a gentle force.

"Take This Immortal to see Fairy Li Meng. This Immortal will act personally; I have my ways to regather her soul light and continue her immortal path."

"Yes! Yes! Senior, please follow this servant!"

Shaking with excitement, Ziyun immediately rose, turned into a streak of light, and rushed toward the core of the Secret Realm where the Ice Palace stood. Her voice trembled with emotion:

"Master can be saved! Master can be saved!"

Lin Chen's expression was calm. With a single step, he easily kept up... In front of the immortal palace, hundreds of top Prodigies were undergoing Fairy Li Meng's final trial.

On the ice plain, ice sculptures stood one after another. Shi Tian, Xiao Bufan, and others were among them, their bodies flickering with immortal light as they resisted the pervasive, bone-chilling cold.

But... the people from the Taiqing Academy were not among them. It wasn't until the others had been undergoing the trial for a long time that they finally arrived late.

Seeing this scene, Zhao Qian immediately understood.

He was overjoyed.

"Truly a god-given opportunity!"

Without hesitation, a cold killing intent suddenly flashed in Zhao Qian's eyes.

A ball of immortal light was violently thrust forward, then exploded in a bizarre manner, transforming into countless hair-thin, pitch-black Soul-Devouring Ghostly Threads. Like venomous snakes, they shot toward Fairy Li Meng in mid-air like lightning!

"Pfft—!"

Fairy Li Meng was caught off guard and struck by these ghostly threads containing a vicious curse power. Her illusory figure shook violently, and she spat out a mouthful of pale golden soul blood, her aura instantly withering by more than half.

She was both shocked and furious: "Who is it?! Who dares to sneak attack This Immortal!"

"Crack... crack..."

As Fairy Li Meng was wounded, the extremely cold immortal Dao Origin maintaining the trial instantly lost control and dissipated.

The absolute Domain covering the ice plain collapsed like shattered glass. The profound ice on the Cultivators who had been frozen into sculptures shattered, and they tumbled out in a sorry state. Although their lives were not in danger, their Divine Souls were all damaged, and their strength was greatly reduced.

Everyone looked in horror at the source of the attack—Zhao Qian!

"Zhao Qian! It's you!"

"Are you crazy?! You actually dared to attack Fairy Li Meng!"

"You beast! The Fairy has blessed all living beings; how could you do such a thing!"

The awakened Prodigies were both shocked and furious, shouting their condemnations.