Chapter 95: Disguise

Due to certain historical issues left over from his past interactions with a certain dragon, Divine Venerable Wushan remained extremely cautious.

Just as he finished searching this small pocket realm twice, from top to bottom and left to right without sparing a single inch of turf, he discovered that this year happened to be the Suitian Sword Sect’s turn to host the Five Sects Conference. Looking at these young calves, Divine Venerable Wushan’s thoughts could not help but drift. Actually, back then… No, there was really nothing worth remembering about those days.

With a wave of Divine Venerable Wushan’s hand, the restriction at the entrance instantly dissolved. He had been in secluded cultivation for many years, yet his progress was extremely limited. Once cultivation reached a height like his, making further breakthroughs required nothing less than a grand opportunity.

But if only to save face, this time he had to break through to the Tribulation Transcendence stage before that old scoundrel of a dragon.

So, who exactly was this blindfolded child? With that dragon’s temperament, could he really have changed so much in a mere five hundred years? Would he willingly protect a child who had only just begun to cultivate?

Divine Venerable Wushan knew the pocket realm he had refined very well. For the realm to automatically surround someone, that person had to possess the unmistakable aura of the divine dragon. Had the outside world really become so… absurd?! If even Chengwei had become like this, wouldn’t Jun Zhaoying of the neighboring Hehe Sect be even more… No, best not to think about it.

“There is no point in overthinking. Once I test him, the truth will be revealed.”

Wen Xu had no idea that his master’s old friend had emerged from seclusion and was already on his way. He was still running for his life. It could not be helped. After Bian Chunzhou’s actions broke the Water Dungeon Formation, a terrifying, scalding heat had poured down from the heavens. Even though they were cultivators, they could not dodge it in time, and all of them now suffered from varying degrees of burns.

However, these were minor injuries, not even as severe as the bleeding from their seven facial orifices caused by the initial shockwave of the explosion.

By the time they finally stumbled, disheveled and exhausted, to a relatively safe spot, Bian Chunzhou was wheezing like a broken bellows. “No, I can’t go on! Not a single drop of spiritual energy left, seriously!”

Chen Zui leaned on his steel saber, sweat dripping continuously from the tip of his nose. The raindrops in that rain zone earlier had been completely scalding. A normal person would have been burned to death long ago. For the first time, he looked at Bian Chunzhou in a completely new light. “What on earth did you do? That was incredible.”

Wen Xu was naturally curious as well, but now was not the time for a chat. “The wind has shifted again. We need to leave immediately.”

Bian Chunzhou: …

Just like that, they moved through three or four different locations before finally finding a place where they could catch their breath.

“So tired. The last time I was this tired… was the last time!” Although Bian Chunzhou was exhausted, it did not stop him from spouting nonsense that sounded superficially logical.

Because of their astonishing display earlier, the trio had drawn the attention of countless cultivators. If Bian Chunzhou had known they were being “broadcast live,” he certainly would not have babbled so freely. The problem was, he had no idea, so he kept chattering away. “This is so unfair. When is the Sect Master coming to bail us out? If he doesn’t rescue us soon, I’m going to turn into a cooked meat dumpling!”

Chen Zui voiced what everyone was thinking: “And whose fault do you think that is?”

Bian Chunzhou flatly refused to admit it. “Definitely not mine. Look, I’m a meat dumpling, you’re a peanut-and-nut dumpling, and Wen Xuxu is… an authentic black sesame dumpling!”

Hehe, Wen Xuxu was meditating, so he shouldn’t be able to hear him.

“Just admit it, you’re hungry.” Chen Zui tossed a Fasting Pill over. “Did you really drain that much energy?”

Bian Chunzhou caught the Fasting Pill with a look of slight disdain and swallowed four of them in one go. “Massive. I didn’t expect that superheated water ball to be so powerful either. It really is still a bit hard to control.” Once they returned to the sect, he would have to refine it further. If he could compress it, the power would probably double.

“So, how exactly did you do it?”

In fact, this was a question that not only Chen Zui but everyone outside the realm wanted to know. Hearing this friend ask so cooperatively, everyone showed looks of anticipation, and some even pulled out Shadow Retention Stones.

“Stop breathing, you’re making too much noise for me to hear the answer.”

“You’re no better. Why is your heart beating so loudly!”

“Ah, this is so frustrating! Why is he still talking nonsense? Only today did I realize there could be so much gibberish in the world!”

…

But in reality, Bian Chunzhou felt he was merely laying the groundwork. After all, with Chen Zui’s intelligence, it would probably be quite difficult for him to grasp the concept of a superheated explosion. So, he had started by explaining some basic natural science, like atmospheric pressure.

As soon as Chen Zui heard he had to learn something, he waved his hand. “Never mind then. Just fight me when we get back, and I’ll figure it out.”

Hey, don’t do that! How can you just give up halfway?! Take those words back right now!

Chen Zui was clearly not in tune with the feelings of the cultivators outside. After speaking, he sat down to recover his spiritual energy. After all, rather than waiting for the Sect Master to rescue them, finding a way out themselves was far more reliable.

Wen Xu had recovered most of his spiritual energy. As his focus returned, he heard Bian Chunzhou complaining to him, “You have no idea how awful he was just now. He was the one who insisted on knowing, but in the end… Hmph! He’s getting less and less patient with me. Does he have another dog on the side?”

Wen Xu: “Probably not. You’re… overestimating him a bit.” Given Chen Zui’s singular focus on his saber, he had absolutely no time for such distractions.

“True, he-” Bian Chunzhou saw Wen Xu pinch his fingers and draw a straight line in the air, and he immediately fell silent. The two of them stood up warily and simultaneously shot a blast of spiritual energy toward the bushes behind them.

A moment later, the spiritual energy struck the bushes, and a figure leaped out. Bian Chunzhou focused his gaze and blurted out in shock, “It’s you-“

“You recognize me?” the newcomer asked, equally astonished. He had simply picked a random disciple from outside the Five Great Sects. How could… This was truly a terrible stroke of luck.

But it was no big deal. Worst case, he would just switch to another identity.

Bian Chunzhou thought about it. While they hadn’t formally met, they had crossed paths several times. “I don’t know you. I’ve only heard of Young Master Zhou’s stellar reputation. A late Foundation Establishment cultivator at forty-two, just a step away from the Golden Core.”

Divine Venerable Wushan was baffled. What was there to brag about being in the late Foundation Establishment stage at forty-two? This had to be sarcasm. As expected of someone connected to that dragon, Chengwei.

Indeed, the person posing as “Zhou Ji” was actually a wisp of Divine Venerable Wushan’s split soul. The divine sense of a Body Integration Stage powerhouse was incredibly formidable. Just as the divine dragon had once attached a wisp of its divine sense to Wen Xu to accompany him down the mountain, Divine Venerable Wushan had sent in only a tiny sliver of his divine sense to avoid disrupting the stability and integrity of the secret realm.

This wisp of divine sense possessed strength equivalent to the peak of Foundation Establishment, which was why he had chosen to impersonate a disciple in the late Foundation Establishment stage.

“Are you provoking me?” “Zhou Ji” demanded sharply.

Bian Chunzhou thought, Pah! You’re clearly the one hiding in the shadows, preparing to stab us in the back! Besides, how was that sarcasm? He was just repeating facts without any personal bias. “If that’s what you want to think, there’s nothing I can do. We aren’t on the same path. Please leave this place immediately.”

Anger flared on “Zhou Ji’s” face. “You three are only at the early Foundation Establishment stage. Are you really that confident you can defeat me?”

Bian Chunzhou was about to say that confidence didn’t matter until they fought, when Wen Xuxu spoke up. In fact, he drew his sword before he even spoke. “You aren’t Young Master Zhou. Who are you? Why are you posing as someone else?”

Right, who on earth was this person?

How could there be two identical Zhou Jis in the secret realm? Most importantly…

“There’s another person! Now it’s two hundred and sixty-four. Did I really not miscount?”

“You didn’t. The eliminated cultivators are all in the elimination zone set up by the secret realm. I counted back and forth three times. Two hundred and sixty-four, not one more, not one less!”

“…Let me make a wild guess. Four demon cultivators?”

“That can’t be right. The cultivator surnamed Bian just now is definitely human. The saber cultivator and sword cultivator also look more like human cultivators. Does anyone know any disciples from Yonglu Mountain? Just ask them and we’ll know.”

“Yonglu Mountain? Brother, are you out of your mind? If I knew anyone from the Five Great Sects, would I be squeezed in here watching this competition?” He would have been inside competing on the same stage as those favored children of heaven long ago.

“True. Anyway, the Suitian Sword Sect hasn’t reacted, which means… it’s probably just a special design of the secret realm this year. Let’s keep watching.”

The one who reacted the most, of course, was Father Zhou.

“Butler, what is going on? What on earth is this person’s background? Could this be Zhou Ji’s doing? Is he trying to use this to threaten and defy me?”

“Master, that is unlikely. Look, the Eldest Young Master is rushing to the scene. If it really were his doing, wouldn’t he be exposing himself by going over now?”

Father Zhou knew this as well, but… Zhou Ji, you must not disappoint me.

Zhou Ji was indeed trying his best, but some things could not be achieved by effort alone. For instance, right now, he had actually run into a male cultivator who looked exactly like him! He could even faintly sense that the other man’s cultivation was a step higher than his own.

“You…”

Divine Venerable Wushan did not even spare him a glance. Still maintaining his disguise, he summoned a sword into his hand. To be honest, as a Divine Venerable of the Suitian Sword Sect, he naturally knew some swordplay, but his skills were rather mediocre by his sect’s standards.

But it did not matter. It would be more than enough to deal with a kid who had forcibly raised his cultivation to the early Foundation Establishment stage.

He wanted to see what this kid’s deal was.

“Since you’ve recognized me, then… I won’t hold back.”

Noting the suspicious pause, Wen Xu calmed his mind and raised his sword to meet him. As their blades clashed, their intents connected. Almost instantly, Wen Xu realized that his opponent was not particularly skilled with the sword.

Yet, the man’s swordsmanship was incredibly practiced, carrying a smooth refinement born of years of repetition. He was like a zither player with little natural talent who, through sheer practice, could still produce a beautiful melody.

But if that was all, he had nothing to fear. It was the perfect opportunity to test his newly learned Jianfeng Sword Art.

As the two clashed, Chen Zui, who had long since awakened from his meditation, warily watched Zhou Ji and the group of cultivators behind him. If he could, he would have loved to charge in with his saber, but Junior Brother Bian held him back, telling him not to act rashly.

“Why?”

“Are you stupid? This is their personal competition, but we aren’t in it! We… we’re just passing by.” Besides, if Chen Zui really eliminated someone, the outside world would probably accuse Yonglu Mountain of bullying.

Everyone outside: Huh? Just passing by? Do you think we actually believe that?