Chapter 164: The Duel Begins – Fengyun Yi and Gong Rumei

After two days of rest, the fourth round of the Illusion Realm officially began. Disciples from the Four Great Sects gathered at the foot of the island’s guardian mountain on Yinghui Island.

This Illusion Realm would determine whether they could continue to participate in the Immortal Sect Grand Competition. Both the Venerable Elders and the disciples from each sect took it extremely seriously.

At the base of the guardian mountain, the Venerable Elders were still discussing who would cast the Wind Core Flower for this round, while the disciples waited outside.

The sects were lined up from left to right as follows: Azure Profound Sect, Returning Immortal Sect, Clear Thought Sect, and Crimson Sky Sect.

Clear Thought Sect was eerily quiet this time—no usual taunts, no contemptuous glances, nothing. It was as if they were a group of corpses.

As Lian Mu flew in and passed by the Clear Thought Sect on her way to join the Returning Immortal Sect’s ranks, Shen Wuxie caught a glimpse of her and was immediately startled.

“Lian Mu… who beat you up?” Shen Wuxie asked.

Lian Mu’s face was covered in a thick layer of black ointment, making her features nearly unrecognizable. Her hands were wrapped in bandages, and a chunk of her hair had been singed off. It wasn’t tied up, just loosely held back with a single hair tie.

She ignored Shen Wuxie and walked straight into the formation.

Everyone turned to look at her. Ji Mingyue was also taken aback. “What… happened to you?”

It had only been two days—how had she ended up like this?

Lian Mu’s expression didn’t change. “Nothing. The sea wind’s too strong, so I put on some ointment to block it.”

Ji Mingyue gave her a look. “You really think you can fool me? I can tell what kind of medicine that is just by the smell.”

Nearby, Guan Huailin had just finished taking roll. When he turned around and saw her, his eyes widened. “Junior Sister, you’re hurt?”

Lian Mu smiled faintly. “I’m fine.”

They misunderstood—she really wasn’t badly hurt.

She had just spent the past two days inside the Thousand Mechanisms Pagoda, sparring with the Red Fire Green Phoenix. She’d taken a few minor injuries, nothing serious.

Xuan Che had taught her a new technique, and she’d practiced it with Red Fire Green Phoenix all night long. They’d even gotten pretty chummy.

“We didn’t see you for two days. Don’t tell me you snuck out again?” Xu Xianxing whispered.

“Don’t talk nonsense. I’ve been in my room the whole time,” Lian Mu replied.

Ji Mingyue had her suspicions. Maybe Lian Mu had been refining pills in her room and accidentally blew up the furnace.

To keep Lian Mu’s alchemy skills a secret, Ji Mingyue cleared her throat. “Alright, as long as you’re okay. Stop asking questions, everyone. Stand straight—Venerable Elder is coming.”

Lian Mu shot her a look of appreciation and nodded. Ji Mingyue really knew how to read the room.

But the first Venerable Elder to arrive wasn’t from the Returning Immortal Sect—it was from the Clear Thought Sect.

The elder they sent was Ji Xiuyuan, an alchemy cultivator. His first glance was toward the Returning Immortal Sect, and he softly called, “Xiao Yun.”

Wen Yun’s face immediately darkened. “…”

Ji Xiuyuan swept his gaze over the Returning Immortal Sect’s core team and nodded politely. “All of you are outstanding talents. This trial will determine the path ahead. I hope you’ll take it seriously.”

His words carried a pointed tone, as if they were directed solely at the Returning Immortal Sect.

Wen Yun’s expression turned cold. “Venerable Elder Ji, perhaps you should worry about your own sect. You’re in no position to lecture us.”

Ji Xiuyuan paused for a moment, then said nothing more. He turned and walked toward the Clear Thought Sect’s area.

Lian Mu blinked in confusion. “Huh?”

Ji Mingyue tugged her sleeve and whispered, “That’s my uncle. Wen Yun’s father. They don’t get along.”

Lian Mu glanced at Wen Yun. Sure enough, his face had soured the moment Ji Xiuyuan appeared.

Bai Li Que patted Wen Yun on the shoulder. “Your father came all the way from White Tiger West just to keep an eye on you. He’s worried. After all, this Illusion Realm…”

“I won’t drag you down,” Wen Yun said, eyes lowered.

Xu Xianxing tried to comfort him. “It’s okay. Even if you don’t make it out, it’s not the end of the world. Everyone has their own burdens. You’ve got us.”

From the Crimson Sky Sect’s ranks, Changsun Li chuckled and looked over. “Looks like Returning Immortal Sect’s luck has run out. Wen Yun, I don’t believe you’ll make it out of the Heart Realm Trial before the duel ends. Just wait to be disqualified from the next round.”

But his words didn’t bring much joy to the others. Wen Yun was currently the strongest chief disciple in the Returning Immortal Sect, ranked first on the Red Lotus List. If he lost his qualification for the next round, it would be a golden opportunity for the other sects.

But the Heart Realm Trial wasn’t just Wen Yun’s challenge—they all had to go through it. No one could guarantee they’d make it out in time.

Rather than worrying about Wen Yun’s qualification, they were more concerned about their own.

Wen Yun didn’t hesitate to fire back. “Even if I don’t make it out, our sect still has Lian Mu. Don’t forget—you already lost to her.”

At the mention of Lian Mu, everyone couldn’t help but recall her performance in the White Tiger West Illusion Realm. She had indeed defeated Changsun Li.

Now, everyone shared the same question: Could someone like Lian Mu really be trapped by the Sorrow and Joy Heart Realm?

She always seemed indifferent to everything, never showing fear or hesitation toward anyone.

In truth, Lian Mu herself was curious about what kind of trial the Sorrow and Joy Heart Realm would present to her. If she had to guess, maybe it would give her endless money and the finest sword under heaven?

At that moment, the Venerable Elders of the Crimson Sky Sect and the Returning Immortal Sect approached. Mei Chengyu of the Crimson Sky Sect walked straight toward her the moment she saw her. “Little friend Lian Mu—”

Before she could finish, Murong Yi stepped in to block her path.

“Venerable Mei, at a time like this, I suggest you keep your distance from disciples of our sect,” Murong Yi said coolly. “Lian Mu is in delicate health. If anything were to happen, I’m afraid it would be hard for you to explain.”

Everyone: “…”

Lian Mu, delicate? What kind of sword cultivator gets called “delicate”?

Mei Chengyu paused, then turned to look at Lian Mu, who blinked in confusion, unsure of her intentions.

But since Venerable Murong had already stepped in to block her, it was clear that whatever Mei Chengyu wanted, it wasn’t anything good.

Lian Mu quietly took a few steps back. Mei Chengyu just smiled lightly. “I only wanted to ask how she’s feeling today. Last time she drank my wine—most people would be out cold for four or five days.”

Murong Yi replied, “She’s fine. Venerable Mei, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t seek her out again.”

Though Mei Chengyu was a respected sword cultivator of the Crimson Sky Sect, seeing her rebuffed like this prompted Elder Cheng Ling, an alchemy cultivator from the same sect, to speak up. “Murong, your Returning Immortal Sect is being overly cautious. Chengyu just wanted to get to know her. You should be glad a powerful sword cultivator is taking an interest.”

Then Cheng Ling added with a smirk, “After all, Lian Mu’s a promising seedling. But following someone like you, she won’t be learning anything useful.”

Returning Immortal Sect’s team: “?”

Xu Xianxing, ever the blunt one, immediately stepped forward. “What gives you the right to insult our Venerable Elder?”

“Hah, I bet you kids don’t even know,” Cheng Ling said. “Your Venerable Murong is one of the most crippled cultivators out there. He can’t even hold a sword anymore—always waving that fan around and still calls himself a sword cultivator.”

“I don’t know about what Venerable Elder has or hasn’t done,” Lian Mu said, “but I do know that people who meddle too much tend to get ambushed in the middle of the night and beaten with a sack over their heads.”

Her open disrespect toward a Venerable Elder of the Crimson Sky Sect left everyone stunned.

Mei Chengyu raised a hand. “Enough. Let’s not let a small matter sour relations between our two sects. Cheng Ling, let’s go back.”

Lian Mu said calmly, “Since when have the Returning Immortal Sect and Crimson Sky Sect ever had good relations?”

Everyone: “…”

We’re not even pretending to be polite anymore?

She’d made her stance crystal clear in front of everyone. Mei Chengyu had no choice but to drop it and return to the Crimson Sky Sect’s side.

As soon as she left, Murong Yi turned to Lian Mu. “Stay away from her. And in general, don’t get too close to Venerable Elders from other sects. Be careful—they might try to lure you away.”

Lian Mu said, “Venerable Elder, your hands…”

She had heard from Master Feng that when Venerable Murong was young, he’d participated in the Immortal Sect Grand Competition and had both his hands crushed by a demonic beast. It had taken great effort to piece them back together. At first glance, they looked unscarred, but apparently, he couldn’t even hold a sword anymore.

Murong Yi said, “It’s nothing. Don’t worry about me. Just focus on the competition. No matter what anyone says, don’t let it shake you.”

Lian Mu replied softly, “…Yes, I understand.”

Not long after, the Venerable Elder from Azure Profound Sect arrived. With everyone present, the drawing of lots to determine entry order began.

Wen Yun was sent up to draw. On stage, he exchanged a subtle glance with Changsun Li, and with extraordinary luck, drew the final slot to enter the Illusion Realm.

The Venerable Elder responsible for offering the Wind Core Flower this time was Shang Liu of the Azure Profound Sect. He held a blooming ice-blue flower in his palm, then condensed it into a seed and placed it into the mouth of the golden toad beside the Armillary Sphere.

Before entering the Illusion Realm, Ji Mingyue handed Lian Mu a handful of pills in front of everyone. “Keep these safe. You’ll need them.”

Lian Mu nodded in understanding. “Mm.”

Clear Thought Sect was first to enter the Illusion Realm. As they passed by the Returning Immortal Sect’s team, Lian Mu clearly felt several gazes fixed on the pouch at her waist where she had stored the pills.

Looking up, she locked eyes with Gong Rumei of the Clear Thought Sect. She grinned and greeted him cheerfully, “What’s wrong? Is Chief Gong suddenly itching to fight me?”

Gong Rumei made no effort to hide the way he eyed her spatial pouch, then gave a cold snort and strode off.

“I’ve got a bad feeling he’s got his eye on you,” Xu Xianxing whispered. “The Gong family’s all about fairness. He probably thinks you only placed well because you used pills, and that it’s unfair to everyone else.”

Lian Mu said, “It’s not a feeling. It’s a fact. He’s just waiting to teach me a lesson in the Illusion Realm.”

“Then you…”

Lian Mu smiled meaningfully. “I actually hope he does come looking for me.”

She hadn’t revealed her true physical condition to anyone. They didn’t even know she had rebuilt her Spiritual Root. Let them misunderstand—it only made it easier to slip through the cracks.

“How about we make a bet?” Lian Mu said. “Who do you think I’ll run into first—Fengyun Yi or Gong Rumei? Loser treats the winner to two months of meals.”

Several voices chimed in at once, “It’s definitely Gong Rumei.”

Lian Mu smiled faintly and said, “My guess is Fengyun Yi.”