Chapter 544

Chapter 544: Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, Truly Terrifying

After Yan Changkong left, Feng Wuji’s expression gradually turned grave.

He toyed with his wine cup, swirling it gently.

Since Yan Changkong created the Dutian Dao Xuanjing, it meant the scripture Feng Wuji possessed also contained a fatal flaw—one that Yan Changkong would exploit to harvest him after its cultivation was perfected.

He faced two paths.

First, strike a deal with Ye Xu, asking him to fix this lethal flaw or even completely deconstruct the Dutian Dao Xuanjing to outmaneuver its creator.

Second, exhausted his efforts unraveling the flaw himself, relying solely on his own intellect to mend it.

"Since we are Daoist friends," Feng Wuji chuckled darkly, "why not face me honestly in a contest? Or else all your scheming would be wasted, wouldn’t it?"

He exited the tavern and reunited with Huang Zimo and the others.

"What is his true aim?" Huang Zimo’s silver teeth clenched, hints of tears welling in her eyes. She’d lost Feng Wuji once before; she couldn’t bear a second loss.

"This is men’s business."

Feng Wuji said lightly, a rare hint of tenderness flickering across his face. "Don’t fret over me. If I truly prove no match for him, the Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion could still lend a hand."

"Ah!"

Huang Zimo’s phoenix eyes lit up.

Ye Xu was omniscient—surely he could help Feng Wuji defeat Yan Changkong.

"Su Mu, why are you here?" Feng Wuji asked.

Su Mu sighed. "The Master sent me. He ordered me to unleash the Celestial Lord’s divine power if Yan Changkong attacked you… and execute Yan Changkong on the spot."

"So why didn’t you strike?" Huang Zimo asked, exasperated.

If Su Mu had invoked the Celestial Lord’s sword energy, Yan Changkong would surely have died.

"Uh…" Su Mu grimaced awkwardly. "Yan Changkong never attacked Mad Daoist. He practically gifted him a treasure. How could I possibly strike?"

"No matter."

Feng Wuji chuckled. "Since you wield a Celestial Lord’s divine power, delay your return awhile. I’ve learned of an ancient tomb within Penglai Immortal Domain—the resting place of a first-generation Yazi."

Su Mu’s eyes ignited with fervor.

Before entering Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, he’d been an archaeological expert, no less skilled than Feng Wuji.

"Makes sense."

Su Mu nodded instantly. Armed with the Celestial Lord’s divine power, they could survive any threat short of a full Celestial Lord.

Moreover, his mission provided perfect justification; Yue Lingxi couldn’t reproach him.

"That tomb lies near Penglai Immortal Domain’s border. Legends call it the burial place of an ancient dragon. The dragon clan hoards treasures—its tomb must overflow with riches."

"Then let’s set out," Su Mu urged, impatience ringing clear.

"Xixi."

Suddenly, Su Mu remembered. "You won’t be alone anymore. That celestial calamity star, Dugu Ming… he’s already in Canglan Immortal Domain."

His eyes rolled, and he said with a smile, "I really want to see what would happen if you two met each other?"

"Is he also an unlucky person?" Xixi asked curiously.

"More unlucky than you."

Su Mu said, "Wherever he goes, he is visited by divine punishment."

"…"

Huang Zimo and Ning Wudao’s mouths twitched.

Feng Wuji also felt a chill down his spine.

"That powerful?" Xixi admired greatly, and she also began to envision the scene of her meeting Dugu Ming.

The five of them set off flying towards the southeast.

The sea of clouds rolled, and the phoenix boat appeared indistinctly.

After a short while.

The sky suddenly turned dark, dark clouds hung low, as if ink was staining the heavens.

Whoosh!

Not long after, a heavy rain poured down from the sky.

The phoenix boat swayed unsteadily.

"Killing intent!"

Suddenly, Feng Wuji and Ning Wudao sharply sensed the killing intent.

But it was already too late.

Time seemed to stand still, rain droplets were fixed in the air, like a curtain of beads, and in each drop of water, suddenly appeared supernatural phenomena.

Those were worlds upon worlds.

In an instant.

The worlds crazily expanded, their power accumulating to the extreme, as if it were the world’s great destruction, and destructive force poured out; within a radius of a million miles, everything vanished instantly.

Clang!

But at this moment.

Within Su Mu’s Purple Palace, the jade sword clanged loudly, drawn by the energy, it whooshed out of Su Mu’s Purple Palace, the jade sword vibrating, and the sound of the sword’s chant arose.

Whoosh!

Blinding sword light burst forth, the darkness was pierced by the sword light, and the heavens and earth lit up like daytime.

A majestic aura as immense as heavenly authority came from the jade sword.

In the sky, it seemed as if a god was wielding a sword.

Crack!

The sword qi pierced the heavens and earth, sweeping past, each drop of rain was cut down, each layer of destruction was destroyed, as if tearing through rotten wood, it was unmatched.

Feng Wuji, Ning Wudao, and Su Mu were all stunned.

Is this the power of the Master?

Boom!

In an instant, darkness turned to daylight. Sword Qi swept away the endless rain, piercing deep into the void as it chased the aura of the attacker.

Several breaths later, a muffled groan echoed from the distant void.

A severed arm fell from the sky.

Accompanied by drops of Dao blood, pattering down.

A streak of crimson light fled like a beam.

"Who is ambushing us?" Su Mu felt a chill run down his spine. The attacker’s strength surpassed theirs immeasurably. Had it not been for the Celestial Lord’s divine power bestowed by Ye Xu, their group would surely have died.

Anger welled within his heart.

The Heaven’s Secret Pavilion stood aloof from worldly conflicts. Who could wish them dead?

Most importantly—even if one despised the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, grievances should be settled with those responsible. They should have confronted the Pavilion directly, yet chose this cowardly ambush.

Despicable scoundrel!

The more Su Mu thought about it, the angrier he grew.

"We should return to the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."

Su Mu cowered.

The outside world was too dangerous. The Heaven’s Secret Pavilion was the only safe haven after all. It seemed he truly was suited to being a loafer.

"Let’s investigate first," said Feng Wuji and Ning Wudao simultaneously.

"That attacker lost an arm to the Master’s divine power, and he can’t gauge our limits. He wouldn’t dare linger. We’re out of danger."

Whoosh!

Before either finished speaking, they flew toward where the severed arm had fallen.

The sky hung heavy with the aura of the Great Dao. Where the Dao blood had spilled, all life withered. Rivers dried up. Mountains eroded, crumbling ceaselessly.

"This person’s power is bizarre. Even their blood is corrosive," Feng Wuji frowned, gazing at the cleanly severed arm.

The Celestial Lord’s power had crushed the Great Dao itself, stopping the arm from regenerating.

"I’m taking this for research."

Excitement lit up Feng Wuji’s face. He channeled his divine power, storing the arm in a spatial artifact. But the artifact was of low grade; traces of corruption spread across its surface from the arm’s baleful aura.

"Such a remarkable find!"

Feng Wuji grew more thrilled.

"This severed arm likely belongs to a cultivator at the Five Tribulations Dao Sovereign level."

"Feng Wuji, this power is sinister. Tread carefully," Ning Wudao cautioned, concerned.

Feng Wuji nodded.

"Seems we must postpone the trip to Ya Zi’s tomb," Su Mu murmured, the fear still fresh. "We must return immediately to the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion and report this to the Master. We need to know who has designs against us."

The attacker’s intent was clearly aimed at the Pavilion itself.

"Agreed."

Feng Wuji and Ning Wudao both accepted. Without delay, the entire group changed course and headed back to the Canglan Immortal Domain.

…

A hundred million li away.

A figure stumbled from the void, its body cracking apart. Ghastly crimson light seeped through fractures as its flesh writhed, resisting slivers of lingering sword Qi.

This body was unlike any human form: viscous, reeking of decay, the flesh putrid sludge.

Its face was a mask of advanced rot.

"Astonishing extravagance from the Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion," the being rasped, its voice a grating screech fit to torment the ears. "Spending a Celestial Lord’s divine power to shield mere underlings. Had I fled slower, it would have cost me my life."

As it spoke, its words reverberated like the wails of tormented ghosts.

The crippled figure flew unsteadily, channeling its power desperately to suppress the Celestial Lord’s sword Qi within it. On it wobbled, time blurred and uncertain, until finally arriving at an ancient palace.

The palace lay draped in dust, untouched by anyone for ages.

"Your Excellency, this servant has failed," the male knelt humbly, reporting. "Those men were shielded by the Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion’s divine power. This servant lost an arm to his sword Qi… and returned empty-handed."

"I beg for punishment, Your Excellency, for my incompetence."