29: Xiao Chen's instigation

The Ancient Immortal Continent has existed for untold eons; no one knows how it was first born.

Throughout the vast stretches of time, countless great experts and innumerable ways of Cultivate have appeared on the Ancient Immortal Continent.

Some of them refined and opened up Small Worlds within this continent, gathering the power of heaven and earth.

After experiencing the vicissitudes of time, those great experts have long since passed away, but the Small Worlds remained, merging with heaven and earth to evolve into various Secret Realms.

Within them, the power of heaven and earth is dense, and Legacies are numerous, but they are also extremely dangerous.

The Fallen Dragon Grotto is one of them.

Rumor has it that this was opened by a supreme expert of the Imperial Lineage to train the young descendants of the Imperial Dynasty, and it has continued to this day.

Space fluctuated, and Qin Tian's figure emerged, falling from mid-air.

Right beneath him, a Two-headed Giant Crocodile happened to open its massive maw and lunged at him.

「Disorderly Gold Splint · Silk-like Threads」

Profound Gold Threads densely covered the area, blood splattered everywhere, and the giant crocodile was instantly sliced into pieces... Qin Tian landed on a huge rock and steadied himself.

Looking out, the surroundings were an endless marsh with no boundaries.

“How did I get teleported here? This is quite unlucky!”

Bitter Marsh.

The most easily identifiable place in the Fallen Dragon Grotto, covered in mud and swamps, it can isolate a Cultivator's Divine Thought; Yao Beasts hide inside, making them hard to detect and liable to attack at any time.

Moreover, this mud is no ordinary substance; once one falls in, they will be pulled down by a force of ten thousand catties. Those in the Dao Entry Realm simply cannot escape and will be completely swallowed.

It can be said that the Bitter Marsh is one of the most dangerous places in the Fallen Dragon Grotto!

「Senior Brother, I'm in the Wuhua Forest. Where were you teleported to?」

「I'm at the Rocky Beach. Senior Brother, where are you?」

「Senior Brother, I'm near the Insect Nest. Tell me your location quickly, I'll come find you!」

The sound transmission jade vibrated as the transmissions from Su Ningying, Han Qing, and Bai Xiyin arrived simultaneously.

「I'm in the Bitter Marsh. Don't come over; wait for me to get out and find you.」

The three women in different locations were all stunned at the same time.

Bitter Marsh?

Isn't that tens of thousands of miles away from where they were?

“No way, I'm so far from Senior Brother. What if they get to him first?”

“I must find Senior Brother as quickly as possible!”

The three women thought the same thing and rushed toward the Bitter Marsh at full speed.

「See you at the meeting place.」

Qin Tian sent a transmission to You Ruoli, then waved his hand, and a flying boat far surpassing the Dao Entry Realm appeared out of thin air.

On the bottom of the flying boat were dozens of Spirit-Ascending Tool Talismans, making it very easy to drive.

Qin Tian leaped onto it, moving across the Bitter Marsh as if on level ground... Hundred Beast Valley.

Xiao Chen killed a Dao Entry Realm Wolf-bodied Yao Beast with a single sword strike, clean and efficient, without any wasted movement.

Behind him, the heaven swallowing seed manifested, devouring every last bit of the Yao Beast's flesh and blood.

“This place really suits me!”

“Revered Master, I think it won't be long before I can devour enough power to attempt a Breakthrough to the Grotto-Heaven Realm.”

“The Realm of these Yao Beasts is too low. If you want a perfect Breakthrough, you still need enough dao seeds.” A low voice came from the heaven swallowing seed, “It would be best if you could devour that Qin Tian's dao seed!”

“Don't worry, Revered Master, I have my own arrangements.”

“After three months of secluded meditation, I have completely mastered the Soul-Swallowing Technique nurtured by the heaven swallowing seed. When the time comes, as long as I successfully devour a wisp of his Divine Soul, I can completely control him!”

“At that time, let alone the dao seed, every Opportunity on him will be mine!”

“And Su Ningying, Han Qing, Bai Xiyin, and Yu Qianxun—these four women are not only peerless beauties, but the dao seeds in their bodies are also extraordinary!”

“I, Xiao Chen, will definitely take complete control of them and make them my slaves!”

“Very good. This is how the strong should be; the weak only deserve to be exploited. You already have the bearing of a strong person!” Laughter came from the heaven swallowing seed.

“Only those in the Dao Entry Realm can enter this Fallen Dragon Grotto; this is your excellent chance. The more dao seeds you devour, the more beneficial it will be for your future Cultivate!”

“Don't worry, Revered Master, I won't miss a single delicious morsel...”

Xiao Chen's eyes flashed with the confidence of having everything under control!

“Junior Brother Xiao!”

Not far away, a sword light sped toward him.

“Heh, the fool is here.” The corners of Xiao Chen's mouth curled up.

By the time Jian Qi approached, his expression changed, revealing the innocent and naive look that only a new Disciple would have.

“Senior Brother Jian!”

Xiao Chen stepped forward, panting, “You're finally here. There are so many Yao Beasts here; if you hadn't come, I really wouldn't have known what to do.”

Jian Qi smiled, “Don't worry, Junior Brother. Revered Master told me to take care of you, so I will naturally keep you safe.”

“Senior Brother Jian, being with you is truly reassuring.”

“Unfortunately, Senior Sister Han from Divine Firmament Peak doesn't appreciate it. When you went to invite her, she actually ignored you. She really doesn't know what's good for her!”

At the mention of Han Qing, Jian Qi's face changed, and anger flashed in his eyes.

“Don't talk nonsense, Junior Brother. Junior Sister Han is pure by nature; she definitely didn't do it on purpose.”

Xiao Chen realized, “Actually, I think so too. Just now, Senior Sister Han didn't show any dislike toward you. I think she must have you in her heart, Senior Brother Jian.”

“After all, you are so outstanding, Senior Brother, and just like Senior Sister Han, you are devoted to the Dao of the sword with extraordinary talent. You two are a match made in heaven.”

Jian Qi was stunned, “Junior Brother, do you really think so?”

Xiao Chen shook his head, “I'm not the only one who thinks so; many brothers and sisters at Ancient Sword Peak think the same.”

“They all say that Senior Sister Han being at Divine Firmament Peak is a complete waste. Only by coming to Ancient Sword Peak and staying by your side, Senior Brother Jian, would she find her best home.”

Hearing this, Jian Qi looked delighted, and the more he looked at Xiao Chen, the more he liked him.

“Haha, Junior Brother, it's better not to talk nonsense about such things.”

Xiao Chen nodded, his expression turning sorrowful, “You're right, Senior Brother. After all, that Senior Brother Qin is at Divine Firmament Peak. I heard that Junior Sister Han seems to have some dirt on her held by Senior Brother Qin, so she has no choice but to stay by his side...”

“What did you say!!!”

Jian Qi's face instantly changed.

“Don't get excited, Senior Brother. This is just what I heard, and I don't know if it's true.” Xiao Chen hurriedly waved his hands, “Just pretend you never heard it.”

Jian Qi's eyes gradually turned cold.

“No wonder. Clearly, Junior Sister Han and I are such a good match, yet she never pays attention to me. We've clearly sparred before, yet she pretends not to know me. It turns out she's being threatened by Qin Tian!”

Xiao Chen spoke at the right moment, “I think it's very likely that Senior Sister Han is afraid you'll be retaliated against by Senior Brother Qin, so she intentionally pretends not to know you to distance herself from you.”

“As for her feelings for you, she can only hide them in her heart, catching a glimpse of your heroic posture in secret to soothe her lovesickness.”

Jian Qi was taken aback, “In secret... hidden... Junior Sister Han often comes to the Sword Tomb. Could it be to see me?”

“No, it must be!”

“Junior Sister Han! You do have me in your heart!!”

A fanatical look gradually appeared in Jian Qi's eyes.

“Haha, this kid is truly stupid, so easily bewitched.”

Xiao Chen sneered in his heart, “Revered Master, you don't know that the Yao Beast I just devoured had a Bloodline Divine Ability that can influence a person's state of mind.”

“I'm merely infinitely magnifying the obsession and desire for Han Qing in his heart.”

With that thought, Xiao Chen continued.

“Senior Brother Jian, you and Senior Sister Han are mutually in love. All you lack now is an Opportunity!”

“An Opportunity?” Jian Qi was stunned.

“Exactly, and being in the Fallen Dragon Grotto right now is a god-given Opportunity!”

“Senior Brother Qin and Senior Sister Han are definitely separated now. As long as you find Senior Sister Han and pour your heart out, she will definitely accept you...”

“When the time comes to seal the deal, you and Senior Sister Han can kill Qin Tian here in the Fallen Dragon Grotto. That way, no one will be able to stop you from being together...”

“Kill... Qin Tian...?”

“But... he is Senior Martial Uncle Yun's Disciple...”

“What does that matter? In the Fallen Dragon Grotto, even experts who can Reflect the Nine Heavens cannot extend their Divine Thought inside. Who would know what happened?”

“By then, only the heavens, the earth, you, and I will know. As for Senior Sister Han, she will already be your woman, so why would she side with an outsider?”

“This is a god-given Opportunity. If you miss it, you'll lose Senior Sister Han forever...”

“Senior Brother Jian, do you really want Senior Sister Han to be controlled by Qin Tian forever?”

Jian Qi's breathing became rapid, his eyes filled with obsession and fanaticism for Han Qing.

“Junior Brother is right, this is the only chance...!”

...