459: Chapter 459 Deciphering the Truth

On the immortal ferry, the two of them turned into two streaks of light, racing straight toward the aft deck.

Just as they were about to leap down and leave the boat,

they felt as if they had hit an invisible barrier, forcefully blocked in place; no matter how they struggled, it was in vain.

"We can't leave?"

Fairy Hanyan was slightly surprised, her gaze scanning the surroundings.

She saw that the immortal ferry was surrounded by layers of drifting clouds, slowly moving along, with no signs of anything unusual.

Xu Muchen did not hesitate for a moment, immediately taking out several brilliant Talismans from his storage ring. Activating them with spiritual power from his fingertips, the Talismans turned into streaks of light and crashed into the drifting clouds. However, the expected explosion did not occur; the moment the Talismans touched the clouds, they quietly vanished, without even causing a ripple.

The two took turns trying, but whether it was offensive Talismans, Array-breaking treasures, or the Escape techniques Xu Muchen personally cast, all were blocked by the layer of clouds, unable to advance even a step.

"What's going on? Is it possible one can only board this place but not leave?"

Xu Muchen shook his head, his expression solemn. "That makes no sense. Ten thousand years ago, many predecessors brought out countless Magic Treasures and Cultivation Techniques from this immortal ferry, which shows an exit must exist. There must be some secret here that we don't know yet."

After speaking, he leaned down to carefully observe the patterns on the deck, lightly tapping the planks with two fingers, trying to find some clues.

At that moment, an elderly voice suddenly sounded behind them:

"Junior Brother, have you discovered anything?"

"Not yet, but I suspect..."

Before he could finish, Xu Muchen suddenly turned around to look at the White-robed old man behind him. Beside him, Fairy Hanyan's spiritual power instantly tensed—she had no idea how this person had approached them just now. This old man's strength must be unfathomable.

Xu Muchen composed himself and cupped his hands. "Senior, please stop teasing me..."

Lu Mo smiled kindly and said slowly, "Junior Brother, there's no need for such trouble. That great demon from before has already been suppressed and killed by Revered Master."

Killed?

How was that possible? Xu Muchen was deeply shocked. Although he was full of disbelief, a rough scan of the surroundings revealed that there truly were no more spiritual power fluctuations.

On the deck, Chen Xuan's figure suddenly appeared without causing a single ripple. It was as if he had just stepped out of an ordinary courtyard, rather than having just gone through a life-and-death battle with a Tribulation Transcendence Demon Venerable.

Heavenly Venerable Mogong's gaze immediately swept over Chen Xuan. Seeing him unharmed and even more composed than before, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes, and he asked in a low voice:

"Peak Master Chen, where is that great demon?"

Chen Xuan looked up, his expression indifferent. "Naturally, it has been slain."

These few words were like a clap of thunder exploding on the deck.

Xu Muchen, who had just been brought back, shook all over and instinctively stopped in his tracks. That was a genuine Demon Venerable. After witnessing the battle between Divine Puppet Heavenly Venerable and Black Tortoise Demon Venerable, Xu Muchen could only describe a fight between Tribulation Transcendence Stage Cultivators as a battle between gods.

But now...

This young Man in White Robes before him actually said he had killed the opponent?

Most importantly, he didn't look like he was lying at all. He silently repeated the name "Dao Seeking Sect" in his heart.

Heavenly Venerable Mogong was also deeply shaken. Although he knew Chen Xuan had hidden cards, he never expected him to be able to kill a Tribulation Transcendence Stage Demon Venerable. One must know that even he would have to fight to the death against Sea-Overturning Dragon Venerable and might not even come out on top.

And this person actually...

After a moment, Heavenly Venerable Mogong composed himself and solemnly cupped his hands to Chen Xuan. "I was negligent before. Fellow Daoist, you must be that Sect Master Chen."

A mere Peak Revered Master could kill a Tribulation Transcendence Realm Demon Venerable? Who in the Nine Provinces Continent would believe such a thing?

This person must be the Sect Revered Master of the Dao Seeking Sect!

...

On the other side!

With Yun Xuanxuan's help, Dongfang Li, Fang Yusheng, and the others finally escaped that dangerous place in Heavenly Demon Mountain. Although they were still in the Monster Beast Continent, with the cover of the Bronze Bird, returning to the Nine Provinces Continent was no longer a problem.

"Thank you for your help, Miss Xuanxuan." Dongfang Li cupped her hands to Yun Xuanxuan and thanked her sincerely.

Pavilion Master Shen and Gu Yunshen also quickly chimed in. Fang Yusheng tucked back her messy hair, her beautiful eyes filled with gratitude. "If not for you, I'm afraid we would have perished in that Demon den today."

Yun Xuanxuan waved her hand, her expression complex. "It was just something within my power."

The four of them tacitly refrained from asking about the reason for Yun Xuanxuan's Demon Venerable body. Some secrets are not easily shared, especially since she had just saved their lives.

Dongfang Li let out a soft breath, her chest's rising and falling gradually steadying. She said in a deep voice, "What exactly happened? The exit of the Secret Realm was clearly marked in the sky above the waters of Heavenly Tribulation Continent, so why were we teleported to the Heart of the Yao Race's territory?"

As soon as she said this, the other three frowned deeply.

Pavilion Master Shen mused, "Do you remember that ripple fluctuation when we came out? It seemed to be caused by a Formation."

"That's unlikely."

Gu Yunshen shook his head in disagreement. "What kind of Formation could move the entrance of such a massive Secret Realm to Heavenly Demon Mountain?"

Fang Yusheng's eyes flickered, her expression grave. "It was indeed the work of a Formation. I have a deep connection with the Cultivators of the Ten Thousand Formations Sect. If Formations were set up both inside the Secret Realm and at the exit in the Heavenly Tribulation Continent's waters simultaneously, this could be achieved. Moreover, being sent so precisely into the Heart of the Yao Race's territory was definitely no accident."

"Do you remember why those great demons in the Secret Realm only blocked the exit at first, but then let the people behind leave?"

Hearing this, Gu Yunshen and the others were struck with realization.

"But... the Heavenly Tribulation Continent's waters are part of our Human Race's territory. How could someone collude with the Yao Race?"

Fang Yusheng looked up at the sky, where clouds were churning as if hiding a boundless storm. She said softly, "No matter who did it, it looks like the Nine Provinces Continent is about to undergo a major change."

Hearing this, Dongfang Li and the others felt their hearts sink.

Those who entered the Secret Realm were all top Sect forces of the Nine Provinces Continent. Whether inside the Secret Realm or at the exit, there were Demon Venerables hunting. They were like fish in a pond, at the mercy of others. The encounters within the Secret Realm alone had severely depleted the Origin Qi of countless Sects.

"This is no small matter."

Dongfang Li's expression was solemn. "No matter what, we must first rush back to the Sect to inform Revered Master, then join forces with the other Heavenly Venerables and head to the Wansheng Dao Court to discuss a countermeasure, otherwise..."

She stopped mid-sentence, a flash of realization crossing her eyes as if she had thought of a key clue.

"What is it, Junior Sister?" Gu Yunshen quickly asked. Pavilion Master Shen and Fang Yusheng also looked at her.

"It's Great Love Immortal Venerable," Dongfang Li said word by word. "It was Great Love Immortal Venerable who publicly shared all the information about the guixu immortal ferry boat during that meeting at the Wansheng Dao Court, which led so many forces to flock into that Secret Realm."

"Great Love Immortal Venerable?"

Gu Yunshen immediately objected, his tone certain. "How could that be? Great Love Immortal Venerable has always been irreconcilable with the Yao Race. Every time the Yao Race invades in force, he is the one who leads the defense to protect the living beings of the Nine Provinces. How could he do something like inviting the wolf into the house?"

Pavilion Master Shen also nodded in agreement. "Great Love Immortal Venerable's character is obvious to all Cultivators in the Nine Provinces; he shouldn't be like that."

Fang Yusheng narrowed her eyes and spoke after a moment of thought. "Did you ever see any sign of the Wansheng Dao Court's Cultivators in the Secret Realm? Among the many heads piled up at Heavenly Demon Mountain earlier, there didn't seem to be anyone from the Wansheng Dao Court?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned.

As the initiator, the Wansheng Dao Court should have logically had the most people entering the Secret Realm, yet now, not even a trace of them had appeared.