62: Chapter 62 Sometimes forgetting isn't necessarily a bad thing!

This gathering was originally to discuss how to deal with the Demon Sect's eastern campaign. But when it comes down to it, the main force will be the Northern Li court. What we need to handle are the high-level experts within the Demon Sect!

Baili Dongjun sighed inwardly, regretting having invited Su Rui.

This man's strength was too profound; even he couldn't see through it.

Under such circumstances, his stance was not something they could influence.

——

In the carriage back to the martial hall, Su Rui leaned back with his eyes closed, looking relaxed and at ease.

Sikong Qianluo fiddled with the shaft of her spear in her hands. After staring at Su Rui's face for a while, she suddenly spoke up and asked:

"Teacher, are you really not going to get involved in the Demon Sect matter?"

Su Rui opened his eyes and glanced at her.

"Hmm, that's a matter for the Northern Li court. It has nothing to do with me.

As long as the Demon Sect doesn't provoke me, I can't be bothered."

"But what if the Demon Sect really wins?"

Sikong Qianluo frowned.

"Wins?"

Su Rui looked at her, caught between laughter and tears.

"Northern Li is a nation, and not a weak one.

Although the Jianghu is valued here, the court is still the strongest.

If the court isn't worried about such matters, why should we, mere Jianghu people, fret over them?"

He closed his eyes again and continued:

"It's enough to just protect our own territory."

"But if you were to take action, you could definitely resolve everything!"

Sikong Qianluo still didn't understand.

She always felt that as long as her teacher took action, all troubles could be easily solved.

Just like nearly a hundred years ago, during the last Demon Sect eastern campaign, wasn't it a single Master who, with just his sword and robe, single-handedly held them back?

"Forget it. I'm just an idle man of the Earth Realm. Such grand matters should be left for those lofty experts of the Heaven Realm to worry about."

Su Rui waved his hand.

"Don't disturb me. Just call me when we reach the martial hall."

"Oh..." Sikong Qianluo pouted and replied.

Outside the martial hall, a crowd had gathered as usual.

As soon as Su Rui's carriage arrived, the crowd immediately grew restless.

"The Hall Master is back!"

"Don't push! What's the use of shoving forward? Is your Aptitude even sufficient?"

"Senior Hall Master! I am seventeen this year and have already entered the Vajra Mortal Realm! My grandfather says I have exceptional Aptitude and will surely achieve the Carefree Heaven Realm in the future!"

"Hall Master, please look at me! Although my current Realm is low, my Aptitude is definitely not lacking!"

A crowd of people swarmed forward.

Su Rui got off the carriage, swept his gaze over the crowd, frowned slightly, and then walked straight into the martial hall.

"What? The Hall Master glanced at us and just left? Could it be that none of us have sufficient Aptitude?"

Recently, there had been fantastical rumors circulating, saying this Hall Master possessed a Wisdom Eye that could tell at a glance who was a Genius.

Those he accepted into his martial hall were all top-tier individuals.

Out of so many people, did he not find a single one worthy?

Just as everyone was whispering among themselves, the crowd suddenly parted, making way.

The Underworld Marquis and Yue Ji arrived side by side, heading straight for the martial hall's entrance.

"Knock."

The Underworld Marquis spoke.

Yue Ji nodded, raised her hand, and knocked on the door knocker.

The door opened. It was Sikong Qianluo. Seeing the two, she was momentarily stunned.

"What are you two doing here?"

"Little girl, we have important business and request an audience with your teacher."

"My teacher said he doesn't see outsiders."

Sikong Qianluo shook her head decisively.

"We truly have urgent business. Could you at least go in and ask?"

Yue Ji's tone was gentle, her smile soft.

Sikong Qianluo hesitated for a moment. "Then wait a moment."

With that, she closed the door.

A short while later, the main gate opened, ushering the two inside.

Before the door had even fully closed, another group of three arrived together.

Wanwan, Shi Feixuan, and Xu Weixiong appeared together.

"You three also wish to see my teacher?"

Sikong Qianluo looked surprised. What was going on today?

Before her words had fully faded, another three arrived.

Ximen Chuixue, Ji Wuming, and Xing Hun.

The surrounding crowd watched, dumbfounded.

Almost all the experts who had emerged victorious from the recent grand melee were here.

Only three were still absent.

What was this about?

Could it be they all intended to become this Hall Master's disciples?

If that were truly the case, then their own Aptitude really was mediocre.

The figures before them all appeared extraordinary and exceptional.

Far surpassing the onlookers like themselves.

After all, many had been defeated by these very individuals during the grand competition battles.

"Come in, come in, quickly!"

Sikong Qianluo seemed somewhat flustered.

After everyone had entered, the martial hall's gate slammed shut with a bang.

Disappointing many who had wanted to watch and see if they successfully became disciples.

Inside the hall, Su Rui looked at Yue Ji and the Underworld Marquis kneeling before him.

"This is a fragment of the Immortal's Manual!" The Underworld Marquis took out a small leather-bound booklet from a worn pouch at his waist.

It wasn't thick, only about a dozen pages.

Immortal's Manual?

Su Rui casually beckoned it over and flipped through a few pages.

The script on it seemed to be some kind of ancient writing.

"What exactly is your purpose?"

Su Rui placed the booklet on the stone table and asked.

Just then, several more people walked in. Seeing the two kneeling, they were momentarily taken aback but said nothing, merely standing to the side and watching quietly.

"Senior, your power is profound and unfathomable. Years ago, my family met with disaster, but the events of that night remain impossible for me to recall. I beg you to lend your aid!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the newcomers all showed expressions of surprise.

They had thought these two were here to become disciples, not to ask Su Rui for help.

"Such matters might be more suited to the Buddhist sects."

Su Rui lightly tapped the stone table, speaking with a hint of doubt.

When it came to Cultivation Techniques of the spiritual level, the Buddhist sects were more renowned.

"Senior speaks truly. I once visited Great Master Wangyou of the Cold Water Temple, but the Great Master did not agree to help."

"That one was also unwilling to act?"

Su Rui pointed at the book on the table.

"This was obtained by chance," the Underworld Marquis explained.

"You must understand that sometimes, forgetting isn't necessarily a bad thing."

Su Rui looked at the two, his mind already made up.

Their fate in the original storyline could be summed up in one word—tragic.

Refined into medicinal Puppets, losing their self-awareness, becoming mere Puppets.

The Underworld Marquis became a guard, while Yue Ji became a plaything and enforcer.

And all this was precisely the result of their stubborn pursuit of the truth and revenge.

Su Rui tapped the tabletop, pondering how to respond.

In the courtyard, only the sound of his fingertip tapping the wooden table could be heard.

The Underworld Marquis and Yue Ji waited nervously for a response.

From Su Rui's earlier reply, the two had sensed a clue.

He hadn't said he was incapable, only asked why they hadn't sought out the Buddhist sects.

"Come find me again after one of you has stepped into the Carefree Heaven Realm."

Su Rui thought for a moment, then waved his hand. The Immortal's Manual fragment floated back into the Underworld Marquis's hand.

The two were stunned. The onlookers also looked puzzled.

"Senior, do you mean... my enemy has already reached the Carefree Heaven Realm?"

The Underworld Marquis asked, his eyes wide.

"Not necessarily. It's just that with your current strength, I'm afraid you'd be walking to your doom."

Su Rui shook his head gently.

Upon hearing this, everyone felt surprised.

Especially Ximen Chuixue and the others.

Judging by his tone, Su Rui didn't seem as cold and unfeeling as the rumors suggested.

A strange light flashed in Wanwan's eyes, as if her interest was piqued.

Xu Weixiong also showed a look of surprise, staring intently at Su Rui.

The Underworld Marquis, however, grew excited.

"Senior knows the truth of what happened back then? Please, tell me! As long as I can avenge this great wrong, I am willing to pledge my life in your service!"

Su Rui let out a soft sigh.

"That's unnecessary. But you must think clearly. If you insist on knowing, it may bring about a fatal disaster."

The Underworld Marquis looked at Yue Ji beside him.

"Yue Ji can enter the martial hall to cultivate."

"..."

Everyone was momentarily speechless.

The Underworld Marquis's meaning was clear to all.

This journey was extremely perilous. He didn't want Yue Ji to accompany him into danger.

But was the martial hall a place one could just enter so easily?

If it were that simple, what did that make all those people waiting bitterly outside?

"I am willing to help you!"

Yue Ji immediately spoke up, her gaze fixed firmly on the Underworld Marquis.

Su Rui watched, feeling rather exasperated.

"Alright. Your enemy is actually your Master, Old Man Tianquan!"

Su Rui pointed a finger at the Underworld Marquis's forehead.

It wasn't to transfer power, but to unlock memories sealed by drugs.

He might not know the Heart Demon technique, but the Sacred Heart Art contained plenty of techniques related to the spiritual level. This minor operation was effortless for him.

A moment later, the Underworld Marquis's eyes grew dazed. It took him a good while before he suddenly regained clarity.

The image of the tragic massacre at the Wangyi Tower from his youth surfaced in his mind.

The perpetrator was none other than his current benefactor and teacher.

"Leave now, quickly!"

Su Rui waved his hand, signaling for them to leave.

"Thank you, Senior!"

The Underworld Marquis respectfully presented the Immortal's Manual fragment and quickly left with Yue Ji.

Seeing Yue Ji and the Underworld Marquis leave together, the crowd outside gradually dispersed.

"Even they weren't chosen?"

Some who hadn't been selected by Su Rui felt a slight sense of consolation.

If even experts of that level weren't acceptable, it meant the Hall Master's standards were simply too high. It might not be that their Aptitude was poor, just that the threshold was too lofty.

After the two had gone far, Su Rui turned his gaze to the remaining six.

"What are your purposes?"

"I am Xing Hun. I heard that your martial hall accepts disciples regardless of past affiliations. I have come specifically to join!"

Xing Hun took a step forward and declared clearly.

"You wish to join the martial hall?"

Su Rui frowned slightly.

"Did Donghuang Taiyi send you?"

Xing Hun's expression changed. Having his identity exposed with a single sentence, he looked somewhat startled.

The other five showed looks of confusion, clearly unaware of who 'Donghuang Taiyi' was.

"I have no connection whatsoever with the Yin-Yang School, nor have I ever met Donghuang Taiyi.

As for the Azure Dragon's Seven Mansions you speak of—that is a secret of the old royal families of the seven kingdoms. Don't come bothering me about it!"

Xing Hun's eyes widened, his expression growing increasingly strange.

How did he know about the Azure Dragon's Seven Mansions?

That was an extremely hidden Legacy clue!

Although Great Qin had unified the six kingdoms, those who knew of it were exceedingly few.

Xing Hun's face shifted through several expressions, but he did not speak again.

Su Rui couldn't be bothered with him either.

"Next!"

...

The remaining five looked at each other. Finally, Ji Wuming stepped forward.

"I think... I was once defeated by your disciple. He is stronger than me, so naturally, you are even stronger!"

Ji Wuming's tone carried a hint of bewilderment.

The others all showed looks of surprise.

This had just happened recently, and he was using 'think'?

"Have you lost your memory?"

Su Rui looked at his vacant eyes and asked, a bit strangely.

"Hmm, my head isn't very clear."

Ji Wuming seemed somewhat embarrassed. But compared to his previous cold, murderous aura, he now appeared rather simple and endearing.

"Fine. Try striking with your sword!"

Su Rui straightened his posture and said.

Ji Wuming didn't hesitate. He drew his sword and thrust.

*Ding!*

Su Rui lightly flicked the sword's tip, sending a numbing shock through Ji Wuming's five fingers. The iron sword clattered to the ground.

He stared blankly at his own hand, looking utterly confused.

"Maybe... I didn't wash my hands after eating meat last night. My hand slipped."

He analyzed seriously.