64: sneak into the back mountain

"Where is he?"

Su Mengyao chased him all the way out of Yunluo City, but she couldn't find Shen Lian's figure.

Looking at the Broken Sword in her hand and recalling the sword technique she used just now to sever Han Feng's palm, a trace of doubt appeared in her eyes.

"Why was the sword move that person taught me able to break through Han Feng's Sword Qi blockade and even achieve a cross-realm counter-kill?"

In an instant, she seemed to comprehend something, and the image of the Sword Art she had just performed became increasingly clear in her mind.

"'Qi enters the dantian sea, Form and Intention Six Meridians, stillness without end, movement like thunder shock.'"

Su Mengyao silently recited the incantation, slowly closed her eyes, and felt the Spiritual Qi in her meridians gradually converging towards the wrist holding the Broken Sword... "Misplaced Sword: Bone Excavation!"

Suddenly, the Broken Sword in her hand rapidly circulated between her wrist and palm, emitting dazzling and brilliant Sword Light.

Opening her eyes again, she stepped forward.

Her body was like a swimming Dragon, swift as a soaring swan, and the move was executed.

Boom—

The Broken Sword left a silver Sword Mark in the air.

Behind Su Mengyao, the rock where the Sword Mark passed was instantly split into two.

"Hmm? My cultivation level actually increased..."

At the same time, she was surprised to find that her cultivation, originally at Qi Gathering First Level, had unknowingly advanced to Qi Gathering Second Level.

"Who exactly was that person?"

"Just this one move, Misplaced Sword: Bone Excavation, is no weaker than any move in the Chess Sword Pavilion's Nine Heavens Flowing Cloud Sword."

"And why did he pass such a fierce sword technique to me?"

Feeling the change in her own Dao Heart, Su Mengyao became even more curious about Shen Lian's identity... In the evening, Su Mengyao returned to the Chess Sword Pavilion.

Just as she entered the Mountain Gate, she ran into Lu Qingyi.

"Senior Sister, you're back?"

After seeing Su Mengyao return safe and sound, a trace of doubt couldn't help but surface on Lu Qingyi's face.

Su Mengyao: "What's wrong? Judging by your expression, you look disappointed, as if you wished I wouldn't return?"

Lu Qingyi smiled faintly: "How could Senior Sister think that? Hearing that Senior Sister went to Yunluo City on an errand today, I was worried about Junior Sister's safety."

Su Mengyao wondered: "I just went to Yunluo City to transport some Grain Rations for the Sect, how could there be danger?"

Lu Qingyi replied: "Doesn't Senior Sister know? Recently, many Evil Cultivators have appeared around Yunluo City, harming people and taking lives.

They even captured many female Cultivators to use as Cauldrons to practice the wicked technique of Yin Harvesting and Yang Supplementation to improve their cultivation.

Senior Sister's cultivation is low, and I was afraid something might happen to you, which is why I waited for Senior Sister outside the Mountain Gate."

"Then I really must thank you." Su Mengyao immediately saw through her disguise, "Since Junior Sister cares about me so much, why didn't you personally come down the mountain to find me?

If I really ran into an Evil Cultivator and met with misfortune, wouldn't you have waited for nothing?"

Hearing this, Lu Qingyi's face turned slightly pale.

Su Mengyao couldn't be bothered to continue arguing with this Green Tea Bitch, so she gave her a roll of her eyes and strode toward the Back Mountain.

"Oh, Senior Sister!"

Just as she passed Lu Qingyi, Lu Qingyi called out to her again.

"What else is it?"

"Did you see Junior Brother Han?"

Hearing Lu Qingyi mention Han Feng, a smile appeared at the corner of Su Mengyao's mouth. She turned and replied, "You arranged for Han Feng to humiliate me when I went to Yunluo City to collect Grain Rations today, didn't you?"

Lu Qingyi wanted to argue, but Su Mengyao said, "Don't try to deny it. Your excuses might fool others, but they won't fool me.

But I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. Your Junior Brother Han is probably suffering immensely right now. You should figure out how to comfort him."

Lu Qingyi was stunned: "What do you mean by that?"

"You'll understand once you see Han Feng."

Dropping the sentence, Su Mengyao quickly walked toward the Back Mountain direction without looking back.

"Su Mengyao!"

Looking at Lu Qingyi's departing figure, Lu Qingyi's eyes were filled with ruthlessness.

"I absolutely won't give you any chance to turn things around!"

...In the distance, Shen Lian gently shook his Folding Fan, quietly gazing at the majestic Giant Sword Mountain Gate of the Chess Sword Pavilion.

"The Chess Sword Pavilion was established by the Sword Emperor ten thousand years ago. Besides Nangong Li, a Cultivator at the Primordial Fivefold, there are still three Immortal Realm Grand Elders secretly protecting it."

"Excluding these top-tier forces, the Chess Sword Pavilion also has twelve Void Refining Realm Cultivators, seven Tribulation Crossing Realm Cultivators, and Vice Sect Master Lord Youyang is at Primordial Triple.

Such battle strength in my previous life wouldn't even warrant a glance. Yet now, trash is in power, and the weak among the weak are entering the halls of power. It is truly lamentable.

Forget it. I'll find the crouching dragon marrow first. As for that bitch, I must choose a way for her to die in utter despair..."

The moment he thought of Nangong Li being so close, the rage in Shen Lian's heart began to burn uncontrollably.

But he knew that confronting her head-on right now would be the most foolish way.

Shen Lian is arrogant, but that doesn't mean he's brainless. If he were truly a pure brute, he wouldn't have been able to reach the Number One Boss spot for ninety-nine consecutive lives while enduring the double betrayal of the Heavenly Dao and the System.

The most urgent task right now is to retrieve and refine the crouching dragon marrow so that his own strength can rapidly increase.

"Hmm? The Chess Sword Pavilion's Back Mountain isn't strictly guarded. I'll follow the clues given by the Heavenly Dao and see what grand gift awaits."

"Hmph, if this grand gift doesn't satisfy me, you absolutely won't be able to bear the consequences of deceiving Shen Lian. Su Mengyao will bear the burden of the recipient."

Thinking this, Shen Lian put away his Folding Fan and stepped toward the Back Mountain... After Su Mengyao handed the Storage Pouch containing the Grain Rations to the Disciple guarding the Storeroom, she immediately returned to the Back Mountain.

However, just as she stepped onto the Back Mountain Stairs, Chen Wuji found her again.

"Girl, I've waited for you all day. You're finally back."

Seeing Su Mengyao, Chen Wuji immediately approached her.

"Senior, what do you need me for?"

"Girl, are you really not going to consider it? Inheriting this old man's Mantle will benefit you endlessly for this life."

Hearing this, Su Mengyao smiled lightly and shook her head: "Senior, Junior has already made it very clear.

Junior appreciates your kind intentions, but Junior truly does not wish to get involved in this chaotic World."

"You are only a few years old, yet your Dao Heart is so unstable? The path of cultivation is moving backward instead of forward. This World is full of filth. Do you think you can find peace just because you want to?"

"Senior, you should look for other suitable Disciples. Furthermore, I already have a Master's Legacy. If I were to take another master, wouldn't that be unorthodox?"

"You are merely a Utility Disciple. How could you learn the profound Sword Art of the Chess Sword Pavilion? Even if you have a master, they probably aren't a great expert.

As long as you are willing to take me as your master, I can ensure you become the Chief Disciple among your peers in the Sect within three years!"

Facing Chen Wuji's repeated Gu temptations, Su Mengyao still politely refused: "Senior, please stop pressuring me. Junior truly doesn't have that intention."

After speaking, she walked around Chen Wuji and proceeded alone toward the Wooden House.

"Girl, are you really not going to reconsider?"

"No, I won't reconsider. Thank you again, Senior, for helping me earlier today."

After Su Mengyao bowed to Chen Wuji, she left without looking back.

She didn't have a good first impression of Chen Wuji; his face was clearly filled with schemes, which made her very uncomfortable.

As soon as Su Mengyao left, a trace of Hostility immediately appeared on Chen Wuji's face.

"Refuse to learn? Hehe, is that up to you? How could the prey this old man has set his eyes on easily escape?"

As soon as his voice fell, Chen Wuji transformed into black smoke and vanished within the Empty Valley.

Less than three breaths after Chen Wuji left, Shen Lian leisurely stepped into the Back Mountain of the Chess Sword Pavilion.

"Hmm? An aura of Malevolence."

"I'll observe first using the Eye of the Great Dao."

Sharply sensing that the surrounding atmosphere was off, Shen Lian walked directly to the edge of the mountain path cliff. His pupils flashed with golden Dao Light as he looked toward the distant Empty Valley shrouded in thick fog.

With this glance, Shen Lian saw that the entire Empty Valley was piled high with Corpses and Rotten Flesh—sinister, strange, and abnormally terrifying.

"I didn't expect that within the dignified Chess Sword Pavilion, there would be such a Wicked and Ominous Place, practicing the sword using living people.

The so-called Number One Sect in the Southern Region is nothing more than a place that harbors filth and corruption. Truly seeking fame by deceit, hmph."

Retracting the Eye of the Heavenly Dao, Shen Lian let out a light snort and turned to walk toward the depths of the dense forest.

"First, I'll find that gift, then inquire about the whereabouts of the crouching dragon marrow, and finally, send Nangong Li, that bitch, to Hell."