416: Chapter 416 Reunion

"As for the Sea-Overturning Dragon Venerable and the Heaven-Shaking Monkey Venerable, I have not yet paid them a visit."

Purple Sandalwood lowered her head and answered truthfully, her tone respectful and not daring to show the slightest negligence.

Desolate Night Wolf Venerable narrowed his eyes, his entire body shrouded in heavy Evil Qi.

He fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "Has the Human Race become so powerful now that we need to plan every step so carefully and act with such caution?"

"The Human Race's Luck is currently at its peak, experts are emerging one after another, and many of their methods are unpredictable and treacherous."

"Only by planning so cautiously and ensuring every link is interconnected can we be foolproof and leave no flaws," Purple Sandalwood replied softly.

Pausing, she summoned her courage and continued in a low voice, "I take the liberty to say—wasn't it because you underestimated the Human Race back then, thinking they were easily defeated, that you became careless and ultimately suffered such a defeat, leaving you trapped here?"

"Defeat?"

Upon hearing these two words, the aura around Desolate Night Wolf Venerable suddenly stagnated, a cold light flared in his eyes, and he shouted sternly:

"Are you saying that I lost?!"

A majestic and incomparable pressure swept out with a bang, a wild wind rose, and waves of air surged.

Purple Sandalwood felt as if an invisible mountain had crashed down on her. Her bones seemed to creak, and her shoulders trembled uncontrollably, nearly forcing her to her knees on the spot.

But at that moment, the seven fox tails behind her suddenly swayed gently, and with a faint shimmer of spiritual light, that terrifying pressure instantly lightened like melting snow.

Purple Sandalwood's eyes brightened, and her temperament shifted abruptly. From her previous cautious maidservant appearance, she instantly became calm and composed, as if she were a different person.

Only then did the Nine-Tailed Fox Venerable chuckle, her voice extremely charming and elegant, "What, does the Wolf Venerable actually think that battle back then counts as a victory?"

She looked up, her gaze sweeping lightly over the Wolf Venerable, and continued, "Or do the Sea-Overturning Dragon Venerable and the Heaven-Shaking Monkey Venerable share your view, thinking that back then was just a momentary slip-up rather than a true defeat at the hands of the Human Race?"

Desolate Night Wolf Venerable's face darkened. Having been poked in a sore spot, anger surged in his heart, yet he had no way to refute her.

He snorted coldly, his tone still stubborn, "It was merely a moment of carelessness, falling for the Human Race's schemes and being blindsided by their trickery. In terms of true strength, whom have I ever feared? Such a small matter cannot be called a defeat."

With this stubborn remark, he gave himself a way out, unwilling to dwell on the topic any longer.

After a moment of silence, the Wolf Venerable finally relented and said deeply, "I agree to what you mentioned earlier. If we must plan, then we shall plan; it's only a matter of enduring for half a month. When the time comes and we strike again, we will surely make the Human Race pay the price!"

...

On the other side!

Chen Xuan led Gu Yunshen and the other two in a rapid dash, finally arriving smoothly at the ruins of the Yuquan Void Palace.

Dongfang Li looked up at the remains of the Sect before her and couldn't help but sigh, "I didn't expect this Secret Realm to be an ancient battlefield between the Human Race and the Yao Race."

Chen Xuan's Clone had already been waiting there. Upon seeing the original body, it gradually dissipated into a cloud of blue smoke and merged back into him.

"Let's go, this way!"

"I've also gathered a lot of information about the guixu immortal ferry boat. To board this boat, the key lies in the words 'Immortal Ferrying'."

While leading the group into the underground passage, Chen Xuan concisely recounted the information he had obtained from A-Qi.

Not only was there a Yao Venerable stationed here, but there were also eight Mahayana Stage Yao, making the danger far beyond expectations.

Gu Yunshen said in a low voice, "As for the Yao Venerable, we just need to avoid a direct confrontation. We aren't the only power that has come to this Secret Realm, so there's no need to worry too much."

"The priority right now is still to find a way to board that guixu immortal ferry boat as soon as possible."

Dongfang Li looked around, "Where are Qing Yan and the others?"

Chen Xuan pointed to the large gate in the square, "Inside the gate are many Legacy Magic Treasures of the Yuquan Void Palace. They've gone to seek their opportunities."

"The younger generation should be tempered in dangerous environments. With opportunities before them, it's only right to let them compete for them."

After Shen Cang finished speaking, he cupped his hands toward A-Qi, "My thanks once again, Fellow Daoist."

A-Qi stared straight at Chen Xuan, then sighed, "Your goal is indeed the guixu immortal ferry boat after all."

Chen Xuan nodded slightly, "It's just as fate allows."

Dongfang Li crossed her arms and began to analyze, "According to ancient texts, 'Du' means to cross; 'Xian' refers to the realm of transcending the mundane. The most literal meaning of 'Duxian' is 'crossing the Immortal Tribulation and ascending to the Immortal Realm'."

"Could it be that this boat is an item of the Immortal Realm, and only those who can withstand the baptism of the Immortal Tribulation and have a stable Dao foundation can gain its recognition?"

"What does 'Immortal Tribulation' mean?" Pavilion Master Shen interjected.

"If one must become an immortal to board this boat, well, in the last ten thousand years, I've never heard of anyone successfully attaining immortality."

Gu Yunshen's expression was grave as his gaze swept over A-Qi, "Perhaps that isn't the only answer. Daoism also speaks of ferrying others and ferrying oneself, and 'Xian' could also refer to an 'Immortal Heart'."

"This place is an ancient battlefield where countless Cultivators are buried, filled with overwhelming resentment. The guixu immortal ferry boat appearing here might not be 'ferrying' the Cultivators' own Immortal Tribulations, but rather the fallen Immortal Souls of this place? 'Immortal Ferrying' might mean guiding these Immortal Souls out of the sea of suffering to rest in the Guixu Realm."

A-Qi: "???"

"Then how do you plan to ferry them?"

Chen Xuan said calmly, "It couldn't possibly be killing that Yao Venerable and then granting transcendence to all the Sand-Devouring Rats in this Withered Soul Desert, could it?"

"That would be too unrealistic."

Pavilion Master Shen slowly closed his eyes, Spiritual Qi circulating slightly around him as his fingers moved in constant calculation, seemingly deducing the world's Qi mechanics.

"Based on my observation of the Qi here, the words 'Immortal Ferrying' seem more like a qualification."

"It ferries not ordinary Cultivators, nor remnant souls, but potential immortals with a Dao foundation."

He spoke slowly, his tone steady, "This boat chooses people perhaps based on whether their Dao Heart is pure, their bone structure and Aptitude, or... whether they carry some kind of heavenly destiny and Karma."

It really is a case of three heads being better than one.

After the three discussed for a while, Dongfang Li looked at Peak Master Chen, "I wonder what Peak Master Chen's opinion is?"

The other two also turned their gazes toward him.

What does it have to do with me? It's not like I'm the one who wants to board the boat.

I just want to tag along and see what happens.

Chen Xuan pondered for a moment and reminded her, "Miss Dongfang, you should first replenish the spiritual power of that Bronze Bird. Once the Disciples come out, all our subsequent actions must involve concealing our auras."

Dongfang Li could only give a soft "Mhm."

Her eyes were still fixed on Chen Xuan, wanting to hear his thoughts on the words 'Immortal Ferrying'.

Chen Xuan felt a bit helpless, "I mostly agree with Pavilion Master Shen's view. It's just that we have no clue when the guixu immortal ferry boat will appear, so we can only take it one step at a time."

"However, we could try our Luck at the other three cities later."

"In that case, we can use this place as a base and head out to gather information beforehand, so we don't miss the guixu immortal ferry boat."

Gu Yunshen's suggestion immediately received the approval of Dongfang Li and the other.

After some discussion, Chen Xuan and Dongfang Li would head to Yellow Sand Fortress, while Gu Yunshen would take Pavilion Master Shen to Black Wind Valley to try their Luck.