What appeared before Ding Huan was a volcano ravine that seemed not yet completely extinguished.
The focus, however, was that Ding Huan saw a man pinned against a cliff by a long sword through his chest.
The man’s head drooped, and his long hair was also scattered down.
As Ding Huan’s divine will settled on this man, he immediately tensed up. Is this guy still not dead?
Some faint breath was detected by Ding Huan; this was actually a living person.
Ding Huan’s divine will landed on that sword, the hilt engraved with two small ancient characters: "Fei Yan."
How familiar, Ding Huan racked his brain over these two characters.
Soon he remembered the origin of the Fei Yan Sword; it was the possession of Immortal Luo Xuan from the Hua Xia myths. This sword was bifurcated, both blades forged from Sun Fire Essence.
No wonder this sword came to this place, where the volcano resided.
This sword must be the Immortal Sword talked about in the legends of Hidden Sword Mountain; hence, it’s evident that the swords nurtured in Hidden Sword Mountain all have a fire attribute.
The sword he had acquired previously also had a fire attribute.
Wasn’t it said that this Immortal Sword was taken by the number one expert, Ji Xinting? Isn’t it still hidden deep within Hidden Sword Mountain?
Ji Xinting?
Ding Huan’s gaze fell on the fellow impaled by the long sword. Could this guy be Ji Xinting?
Impressive, Ji Xinting, the top expert of Triple Heaven Star Land, actually got nailed to death by the Immortal Sword Fei Yan while searching for it in Hidden Sword Mountain.
No, that’s not right; he’s not dead yet, but without anyone to save him, death was only a matter of time.
Ding Huan carefully retreated, preparing to leave this place.
The Immortal Sword was fine, but if even Ji Xinting could be nailed to death by it, it was better to keep a distance.
He was quite self-aware, such a precious item was not something he could enjoy; at least, he was not qualified to do so now.
This place was his land of fortune, which allowed him to perceive the Great Universe Technique that could call down thunder, but it was also a dangerous place.
As for saving people, Ding Huan never considered it.
Ji Xinting, such a top expert, was about to fall here, and if he went to save him, was he complaining about not dying fast enough?
Just as Ding Huan was retreating, he suddenly heard a weak voice:
"Please lend a hand to save me, I, Ji Xinting, will repay you with my life..."
Ding Huan’s step paused; this guy even knew of his arrival and was able to send a message?
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Dangerous, Ding Huan took a few more steps back and then began to calculate whether he could save this man.
The strength of Ji Xinting was too formidable; he simply could not deduce any piece of information.
However, Ding Huan had his methods; he calculated for himself what would happen if he saved Ji Xinting.
Soon Ding Huan’s complexion changed; after he saved Ji Xinting, he no longer had any vision of the future, not even a blurred one.
This son of a bitch was really cunning; he must have killed him. Only by killing him could he prevent his own future from being deduced.
"Senior Ji, I’ve just obtained a magical treasure that wards off poison. Below us is a volcano, and I fear I may not make it back up if I go down to save you.
This time I plan to join the Yanyue Sect and gain their cultivation techniques. If I die like this, I’d be somewhat unwilling. I’ll go out and find someone to save you..."
Ding Huan said, his voice filled with panic and unease.
"Clatter!" A ring fell to the ground.
"Inside are all the things you need; take it. What is the Yanyue Sect worth anyway? You just help me pull out the sword..." Ji Xinting’s voice came again.
Ding Huan looked at the distance of the ring from where he was; it was at least a hundred meters away.
The ring was aptly caught between two pieces of Fire Rock.
Not to mention that in others’ eyes, he had not achieved Foundation Establishment. Even if he had, it would be almost impossible to wind the ring with divine will.
Ding Huan’s divine will detected the subtle prohibitions, and he was a hundred percent certain that not even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator could wind this ring away.
To get the ring, he had to jump down.
Not only had Ding Huan achieved Foundation Establishment, but he had also forged his own cosmic Tao Foundation.
At this moment, his divine will was so strong that even a real True Pill Cultivator was no better. Even a True Pill Cultivator’s divine will in resisting poison and solidity was not as good as his.
How could he not take something that appeared before him, unless he were a fool?
This was what you, Ji Xinting, sought on your own; it’s got nothing to do with me now.
Ding Huan’s divine will unhesitatingly wound around the ring, stretching to its maximum strength, and the ring was as if grabbed by an invisible hand, then flew out of the crevice between the rocks and landed in Ding Huan’s hand.
Even as he took the ring, Ding Huan’s divine will kept a vigilant eye on Ji Xinting.
He distinctly felt that at the moment he took the ring, Ji Xinting’s body trembled slightly.
"This ring is a gift to you; afterwards, the sword is yours as well.
I am gravely injured and unlikely to make it out. I’ll just stay here and go into seclusion for a hundred years. If you ever get the chance to visit the Desolate God Sect, bring a message to them for me..."
Ji Xinting’s words were not yet finished when Ding Huan’s body swayed, and the next moment Ding Huan appeared hundreds of meters away, his voice following:
"Alright, Senior Ji, I will bring your message if I get the chance. As for this sword, my current capabilities are temporarily…"
Ding Huan’s voice abruptly ceased; he was shocked to find the place where he had just been standing collapsed without warning.
In other words, if he had not left, whether he went down to pull out the sword and take the ring or not, he would have been pulled into the gorge beside Ji Xinting.
These old timers indeed were cunning and malicious.
Ding Huan dared not stay here for another moment, performing Extreme Shadow Jutsu to vanish in a trail of smoke, leaving behind an extremely incensed Ji Xinting.
The journey here took a long time, but Ding Huan only needed half a day to leave Hidden Sword Mountain.
Ding Huan had not dared to touch Ji Xinting’s ring; instead, he threw it into the Star House and then quickly headed back to the Crystal District.
He had been out for half a year already and had no idea if there were any problems in the Crystal District.
...
Purple Mist Valley.
Because the Sect Master had been gravely injured and not recovered, Sect affairs had been neglected, and the various elders were all looking for a way out.
Once considered prosperous, the Purple Mist Valley now had the appearance of the sun setting behind the western hills.
Those who knew the inside story were even less willing to have anything to do with Purple Mist Valley.
In most people’s eyes, Purple Mist Valley would sooner or later be dominated by the Nine Sounds Sect.
That’s why there had been few Sect Disciples visiting Purple Mist Valley lately.
Guan Pou stood outside Purple Mist Valley and was also shocked by this desolate scene.
The status of Purple Mist Valley in the Taoist Realm was certainly not comparable to that of Yanyue Sect, but that was only in terms of status and power, not the momentum of the Sect.
In terms of Sect location choices, Purple Mist Valley was considered top-notch throughout the Taoist Realm.
Even if Purple Mist Valley fell into decline, it shouldn’t look as it did now.
"May I ask what brings you here, Daoist friend?" Jia Sha approached to ask.
In fact, Jia Sha was an elder of Purple Mist Valley, and it was impossible for him to greet visitors at the Sect’s gates under normal circumstances.
But with the recent upheaval in Purple Mist Valley, he didn’t dare to leave the disciples outside just in case they offended someone or missed some important message; as the Sect’s steward of vigilance, that would be a serious lapse.
The message was undoubtedly about Liu Yinzhu; he had kept in contact with Elder Liu and knew that she had been entrusted by the Sect Master to find an important person.
As a loyal supporter of the Sect Master, he even knew who Liu Yinzhu was trying to find.
"I am Guan Pou from Yanyue Sect..."
Before Guan Pou could finish speaking, Jia Sha, with surprise and delight, said,
"So it’s Fairy Huan. You must be here to find Elder Liu, am I right? Elder Liu is not here; I will take Fairy Huan to Purple Bamboo Peak first..."
Guan Pou was known to him.
The reason Elder Liu Yinzhu had left was actually to find Ding Huan, and it was Guan Pou who initially found Ding Huan and brought him to the Taoist Realm.
Guan Pou hurriedly interjected, "I won’t go to Purple Bamboo Peak. May I ask, Senior, do you know where Elder Liu has gone?"
Guan Pou came here, obviously not to seek out Elder Liu Yinzhu, but to find Ding Huan.
The reason for finding Ding Huan was because on their journey together, it seemed that nothing could stump him.
Neither the Cold Ghost nor Swallowing Foot Corpse could hold on to Ding Huan; he even safely led them through.
Elder Qu wanted to plot against Ding Huan, now nothing but dust and bones.
The Lost Swamp was so terrifying, yet Ding Huan led them out.
Deacon Qiong wanted to kill Ding Huan, but didn’t even catch a glimpse of his back.
...
She knew that relying on herself, she would definitely not be able to find Ding Huan.
She had wanted to ask Elder Gu for help, but Elder Gu was out on Sect business and had not returned for several months.
After much deliberation, she felt there was only one person who could help her find Ding Huan—Elder Liu.
In Yanyue Sect, she didn’t know many elders, and among the few she did, aside from Elder Gu, most of them were not able to help her.
Even with Elder Gu, she did not dare to tell her troubles lightly.
Elder Liu knew her, and on the way to the Taoist Realm, she had also taken a liking to Ding Huan.
More than once, she saw Elder Liu intentionally looking for Ding Huan to chat, and she even once caught sight of Elder Liu coming out of Ding Huan’s tent.
Furthermore, when Elder Qu Yueshan died, Elder Liu must have guessed it was Ding Huan’s doing.
When Elder Gu mentioned that Elder Qu died from the poison of Swallowing Foot Corpse, she added another possibility—the Illusion Poison of the Cold Ghost.
It was obvious that Elder Liu was inclined towards Ding Huan.
Hearing what Guan Pou said, Jia Sha hesitated.
As a confidant of the Sect Master, he knew what Ding Huan meant to Purple Mist Valley.
Guan Pou seeking Elder Liu was very likely also to find Ding Huan.
After all, according to what Elder Liu said, her acquaintance with Guan Pou was only made on the road, with little connection between them.
"Senior, Ding Huan and I are friends, and I have some matters in which I hope he can assist. However, since arriving at Yanyue Sect, I have not left and lost contact with Ding Huan..."
Guan Pou was clear about the other party’s knowledge of her purpose in seeking Elder Liu, considering she had little contact with the Elder.
"You can rest assured, if I have any malicious intent, may thunder strike my Dao heart and backlash lead me to death."
Worried that the other party might not fully believe her, Guan Pou made another oath.
She understood the other’s hesitation, as after all, the Dual Soul Sect had been to Yanyue Sect inquiring about Ding Huan.
Seeing that Guan Pou said so, and thinking of Ding Huan and Guan Pou’s friendship, Jia Sha finally said,
"Ding Huan is in West Wind City; Elder Liu has been waiting there."
In fact, Jia Sha really didn’t know that the Dual Soul Sect had gone to the Yanyue Sect in search of Ding Huan’s whereabouts. If he had known, even if Guan Pou made an oath, he would not have told her where Ding Huan was.
"Thank you, Senior." Guan Pou bowed excitedly in gratitude, then brought out a spaceship and quickly sped away.
As long as there was a location, she would be able to find him.
Though the Taoist Realm was vast and boundless, how far could Ding Huan go?
He was bound to appear on her map.