410: Chapter 410 Liu Ruyan

Inside the secret chamber of the Immortal Cave at Mingxuan Peak.

Ji Xuanming sat cross-legged with his eyes tightly shut, yet he could not enter a meditative state no matter what he tried.

The images flashing repeatedly in his mind were like poison-tipped needles, stabbing into his heart one by one.

Outside the main hall that day, Ling Hao had pressed his hand down, forcing Ji Xuanming to his knees; the muffled thud of his knees hitting the stone tiles still echoed in his ears.

And today, before Starfall Cold Jade Peak, Shi Yunyu's words, "You are the weakest," spoken as calmly as if she were commenting on the weather, had been more hurtful than any insult.

He opened his eyes abruptly.

He slammed a palm onto the jade table beside him with a "bang," and the hard cold jade shattered instantly. Shards flew everywhere, some grazing the back of his hand and drawing blood, but he was completely oblivious to it.

"Ling Hao!"

He gritted his teeth, squeezing the two words out from between them, carrying an almost tangible killing intent. His eyes were bloodshot and his face twisted; where was the dignity of a Mahayana Supreme now?

Just then, his chest suddenly felt hot.

Ji Xuanming was stunned, his killing intent receding slightly. He reached into his robe and took out an ancient jade pendant.

The pendant was about the size of a palm, murky yellow in color, with worn edges as if it had been rubbed countless times. In the center, obscure patterns were carved; their exact shape was indistinguishable, though they vaguely resembled a hand gripping a cauldron ear.

This was something he had found in a secret chamber when he had accompanied Shi Yunyu to wipe out the Niding Alliance's White Rock State branch.

At this moment, the jade pendant was emitting a hazy, blood-colored glow.

The light was extremely faint yet very striking, like the dark red refracted by congealed blood under a lamp. The pendant vibrated slightly, emitting a very soft humming sound as if something in the distance was calling to it. That vibrating force faintly pointed toward the east.

Ji Xuanming's pupils constricted slightly.

This is… someone is using a secret technique to trigger the jade pendant?

He stared at the slightly hot pendant in his hand, a flash of shock, suspicion, and a trace of… secret anticipation in his eyes.

It had been hundreds of years.

This jade pendant had never shown any abnormal activity.

He raised his head and looked toward the east—that was the direction of the Ten Thousand Miasma Demon Forest, outside the White Rock Holy Land.

He stood up, tucked the jade pendant into his robe, and left the Immortal Cave silently.

...

Outside the White Rock Giant City, deep in the dense forest.

The moonlight was hazy, like a thin veil draped over the treetops. The forest was silent; even the chirping of insects had vanished. Only the night wind occasionally brushed past the treetops, causing a rustling sound.

A figure descended from the sky, landing in a clearing in the forest.

Ji Xuanming scanned his surroundings vigilantly. The jade pendant's guidance disappeared here; the blood-colored light had faded, leaving only a lingering warmth in his palm.

"Since you lured me here, why not show yourself?"

His voice was low, sounding exceptionally clear in the silent forest.

A figure suddenly appeared on a blue stone in front of him.

She wore a fiery red long dress with a high slit reaching to the root of her thigh; her fair, smooth leg was particularly striking in the moonlight.

The woman sat sideways on the stone, one hand supporting her chin, the other waving a round fan, her posture lazy. The fan half-covered her face, revealing only a pair of peach-blossom eyes that brimmed with charm as they shifted.

"Oh my—"

She lowered the round fan, revealing a face of extreme allure. Her brows and eyes were filled with spring, her lips a deep crimson, and a hint of a smile played on the corners of her lips:

"I was wondering who it was; it turns out to be the newly promoted Supreme Mingxuan~"

Her voice was bone-deep charming, like wine soaked in honey, making one's bones go soft just listening to it.

Ji Xuanming's gaze fell upon her, and he found he couldn't look away.

The fiery red dress wrapped around her curvaceous body, the neckline cut extremely low to reveal an expanse of snow-white skin. As she waved her round fan lightly, a fragrant breeze mixed with the scent of cosmetic powder and an indescribable sweetness drifted into his nose.

Ji Xuanming suddenly felt his vision blur—

The surrounding forest vanished, and the moonlight disappeared.

He stood in a brightly lit hall with red silk hanging high and the sounds of music playing. Several enchanting women gathered around him, their fragrant shoulders half-exposed, laughing and smiling as they held wine cups to his lips.

"Supreme~ have a drink~"

"Come on, come on~"

He wanted to push them away, but he couldn't lift his arms. The scent of wine mixed with the perfume made his head swim, and he only wanted to get drunk and let go.

Suddenly—he bit the tip of his tongue hard!

A sharp pain surged, and the illusion receded like a receding tide.

Ji Xuanming broke out in a cold sweat, subconsciously taking a step back. He circulated his spiritual power frantically and looked at the woman vigilantly.

She was still sitting sideways on the blue stone, waving her round fan lightly, a smile on her lips as if nothing had happened.

Ji Xuanming let out a sigh of relief, his back soaked with cold sweat.

A wave of regret surged in his heart. He had thought that after his Mahayana Breakthrough, there would be no rivals in White Rock State other than Lady Shi Ji and Supreme Moonshadow. When the jade pendant acted up, he had come, relying on his high skills and boldness. He hadn't expected to run into such a tough opponent right after leaving the Holy Land.

Her Dao of Illusion must have already reached Major Achievement!

"Who are you?"

Ji Xuanming asked in a low voice, "Why is the jade pendant leading the way to you?"

Liu Ruyan giggled, covering her face with the round fan:

"The jade pendant was originally an item of my Niding Alliance, but you obtained it."

Ji Xuanming's pupils constricted sharply.

"Niding Alliance! Hasn't it already been completely wiped out by our White Rock Holy Land?"

"You overestimate yourselves too much."

Liu Ruyan lowered the round fan, her smile carrying a hint of disdain.

"My Niding Alliance has a long history, with layouts spanning thousands and tens of thousands of years. If it were so easily collapsed, it wouldn't be the Niding Alliance."

Although she still had contact with the White Rock State branch, the Central State headquarters had long since realized that something had happened to the White Rock State branch, but they had been unable to spare the manpower.

What Liu Ruyan found strange was that the headquarters seemed to have an inexplicable fear of White Rock State, though the reason remained unknown.

She guessed it was probably due to fear of the three great Yao Race clans in the Ten Thousand Miasma Demon Forest?

After the branch was destroyed, the headquarters sent her.

She didn't have much power behind her, so naturally, she was the one sent for such an unrewarding task; no one would care if she died.

Liu Ruyan examined Ji Xuanming, the smile on her lips deepening: "Mahayana Stage… that's a pretty good asset."

"Help me break the Seal of the rock cauldron." She said straightforwardly.

Ji Xuanming's expression darkened:

"I am a Grand Elder of the White Rock Holy Land and naturally must protect White Rock State—"

"You have been to the Ten Thousand Miasma Demon Forest, haven't you?"

Liu Ruyan interrupted him, her voice light and airy, yet it made Ji Xuanming's expression change drastically.

He opened his mouth, wanting to deny it.

Liu Ruyan didn't give him the chance, a meaningful arc curling at the corner of her lips:

"Back then, my Niding Alliance obtained the 'White Rock Cauldron Control Art' and split it into two. Later, the branch went all out to enter the Ten Thousand Miasma Demon Forest, trying to break the Seal, but unfortunately, they encountered the protection of the three great Yao Race Old Ancestors and fell short of success. That half of the 'White Rock Cauldron Control Art' was lost in the Demon Forest at that time."

"Later, you destroyed our White Rock State branch and brought back the other half from the branch. Now, the half from the Demon Forest is with you, and the half from the branch is with Lady Shi Ji."

Liu Ruyan took an object from her sleeve—a lustrous Jade Slip.

"Don't think about denying it. My Niding Alliance did something to the Cultivation Technique Jade Slip; this one can track its location."

She held the Jade Slip between her fingers and shook it lightly, smiling brightly.

Ji Xuanming's face turned livid.

Liu Ruyan tilted her head to look at him:

"Lady Shi Ji doesn't know you have this half, right? And you claim to be for White Rock State… it's laughable."

Ji Xuanming stared at Liu Ruyan.

"Speak, what do you want to do?"

PS: This is not the female lead.