Chapter 232

Chapter 232: The Strange Secret Chamber

“This… looks like Seventh Heavenly Layer’s account books,” Xiao Man said, flipping through pages with a frown. “But these dates are from hundreds of years ago.”

“So this is where they store old records?” You You blinked. “Who keeps account books underwater? That’s just weird!”

“Not sure…” Xiao Man shook her head, equally confused. “And why are there only a few from centuries ago? Wait—this one’s different.” She grabbed a worn volume from the corner.

You You took it and opened to the first page: Seventh Heavenly Layer Chronicles!

A logbook?

Each page detailed a single event in tidy script:

Immortal Calendar Year 6576, 1250th Year of Seventh Heavenly Layer, March:

Eighth Heavenly Emperor sought peace. Female immortal of Qi clan entered Seventh Heavenly Layer.

1250th Year, February:

Eighth Heavenly Emperor challenged me. Fought for days. Barely won!

1250th Year, January:

Eighth Heavenly Layer envoy demanded answers about Shen. Evidence provided. Banished him!

1249th Year, November:

Shen’s crimes confirmed. Executed!

1249th Year, September:

Qi clan female immortal accused Shen of forced marriage under dual cultivation pretense. Investigating!

You You scrunched her brows, sensing odd logic. Xiao Man reached over and flipped the book. “Friend You, it’s upside down.”

“…”

Oh. Right.

This world’s books opened right-to-left. After founding Zhen Yan Sect, she’d switched to left binding. Ling Qi and others had followed her habit. No wonder this felt wrong.

The records told of a female immortal wronged centuries ago. Seventh Heavenly Emperor executed the male culprit, then clashed with Eighth Heavenly Emperor. Strange.

You You flipped to the first page—denser text, more personal. A diary.

The entries painted a different Seventh Heavenly Emperor: not love-struck, but a true leader.

Before ascension, she’d built the lower realm’s greatest immortal sect. Upon reaching upper realm, she found female immortals oppressed—scarce, powerless, treated as playthings.

Disgusted, she spent millennia rescuing women, building power, honing cultivation. Became Seventh Heavenly Layer’s master. Shielded all female immortals, even new ascendants. Changed Immortal Realm’s crooked ways.

Her mission: shelter women.

You You stared at the diary’s final line:

*May women stand tall, live free, and honor Heaven’s blessings!*

“This… was her?” Xiao Man whispered, awed. Then sighed. “The current Emperor… forgot these words.”

You You glanced at Xiao Man’s crestfallen face, then back at the page. Could someone who wrote this really be love-obsessed?

Shaking her head, she scanned the chamber. Only dusty account books. Time to leave.

“Friend You!” Xiao Man pointed at the wall. “This stone’s movable! Another room inside!”

You You hurried over. Faint grooves marked a hidden door.

“It’s heavy,” Xiao Man said, pushing. “We’ll need to—”

*Crack.*

You You tapped the wall. Spiderweb cracks bloomed under her palm. The door exploded into rubble.

“Easy enough,” she said, tugging Xiao Man clear.

Xiao Man stared at debris. “…Right.”

They entered a short passage. Light glowed ahead. The next chamber mirrored the first but dripped with formations.

“So many…” Xiao Man gaped. Something shimmered at the center. “Is that… a person?”

A faint shadow hovered above a pedestal. You You pulled Xiao Man closer, expanding her Invincible Skill’s glow. “Stay inside my bubble.”

Formations parted like water. They waded through. At the center, they saw—