Futile Devices Scans

Chen Yixin and Wenren Li were never tired of such intimacy, but tomorrow would be their Dao-bonding ceremony, so they could not—and should not—continue lingering in this underground altar.

The two of them embraced like this for a while before Wenren Li began helping Chen Yixin dress. Just as he intended to dress himself, Chen Yixin snatched the clothes away.

“A-Li helps me, I’ll help A-Li.” Chen Yixin had no intention of leaving things halfway done. He had come down today specifically to change Wenren Li’s clothes—now that he was awake, it still had to be done by him.

After dressing Wenren Li, Chen Yixin pressed down on his shoulders to stop him from moving. Taking out a comb from his storage space, he carefully combed and tied up Wenren Li’s hair. Only after he was satisfied did he allow him to stand.

Having finished with Wenren Li, Chen Yixin turned back and gave a light bow toward the silver broken wood.

Although there was no soul within the broken wood, it still bore the name of Wenren Li’s mother. What they had done, though born of affection, had perhaps gone a little too far—but he did not regret it.

Wenren Li naturally understood the meaning behind Chen Yixin’s bow. He stepped forward and helped him up.

“This is not my mother’s remains. It should be something A-Rong left behind for me when he protected me descending to the Lower Realm.” That would mean he likely did not have any tree-spirit mother or ghost-king father at all…

He had not yet completed his investigation of the broken wood, but this much, he could already confirm.

Chen Yixin looked at Wenren Li in surprise. After a brief moment of thought, he gave a slight nod but did not press further.

Hand in hand, they returned to the main hall of the palace. Wu Fei, Nan Ke, and the others had long been waiting, and outside the palace, cultivators had gathered densely in Flame City, even livelier than before at Xiguang Plain.

The wedding invitations from the Li Kui Demon Palace had only been sent to the other nine Demon Lords of the Southern Domain, as well as some rogue cultivators who had ties with Wenren Li. However, Chen Yixin had detained some righteous-path disciples, forced them to write those letters, and then released news of the Son of Heaven’s whereabouts.

At this moment, Flame City was filled with cultivators of the immortal path. Under the pretext of redeeming their disciples, many major sect figures who had not appeared previously were now present. Moreover, judging by Chen Yixin’s exorbitant demands in the letters, they had all made preparations in their storage spaces.

“Other than the Jade Cauldron Sect, all the notable immortal sects have appeared in Flame City,” Nan Ke reported with a slight bow to Chen Yixin and Wenren Li. This was something Chen Yixin had specifically instructed them to monitor closely.

“Could it be that they’ve given up on Jing Zhihua?” Wu Fei asked in confusion. The Jade Cauldron Sect had yet to appear in Flame City, which easily gave rise to such speculation.

Because Chen Yixin did not act according to conventional logic, and they were unwilling to pay such a heavy price—had they really abandoned the Son of Heaven?

The reasoning was possible, yet it still felt somewhat unreasonable. In such a situation, no sect would likely give up so easily.

Without waiting to analyze further, Chen Yixin shook his head. “No, they wouldn’t.”

After a moment of thought, he continued, “Given Yun Zhenzi’s style, he has likely awakened my master… that is, awakened Yun Yazi. They’re probably planning to fish in troubled waters, taking advantage of the chaos to snatch people away…”

Wu Fei and Nan Ke both nodded, agreeing with Chen Yixin’s assessment. The Jade Cauldron Sect must have other plans.

“Demon Consort, rest assured—everything has been carried out according to your instructions,” Wu Fei added immediately. At this point, he truly began to admire Chen Yixin’s ability to scheme and read people’s hearts. This was going to be a spectacle none of them would forget.

Chen Yixin raised his brows slightly at this. He caught Wenren Li’s hand, hiding it within his sleeve as he lightly squeezed and rubbed it, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his lips. “Then we’ll just wait and see.”

Even when his cultivation had not yet recovered, he had already planned to spend his remaining ten years taking revenge—let alone now, when he had fully recovered. Chen Yixin was not someone who would tolerate being schemed against or betrayed. Those people would have to learn what it meant to pay the price.

Wenren Li turned his head slightly, his gaze softening as it rested on Chen Yixin. “A-Rong, don’t forget—tomorrow is our Dao-bonding ceremony.”

Those people deserved retaliation, but tomorrow’s priority was still their Dao-bonding ceremony.

Chen Yixin lightly scratched Wenren Li’s palm, his tone softening a little. “I won’t. I remember.”

He had always been clear about what mattered most.

Wu Fei and Nan Ke exchanged a glance before withdrawing from the main hall. However, this day would not grant Chen Yixin and Wenren Li much peace. Before long, Ping Cheng, a protector of the demonic palace and its steward, came to request an audience.

“Reporting to the Demon Lord and Consort, the Sect Master of the Heaven’s Secret Sect requests an audience.”

Though the Heaven’s Secret Sect belonged to the righteous path, its status was comparable to that of the Li Kui Demon Palace within the demonic path of the Southern Domain—somewhat special and transcendent. Even the demonic path would not easily offend the Heaven’s Secret Sect. Moreover, Wenren Li had been acquainted with several previous sect masters, so relations between the Li Kui Demon Palace and the Heaven’s Secret Sect had always been good.

“Invite him in.” Wenren Li raised his hand, instructing Ping Cheng to bring the guest. He then softly gave Chen Yixin a brief introduction to the current Sect Master of the Heaven’s Secret Sect.

“He’s about a hundred years older than A-Rong and is considered the youngest sect master in the history of the Heaven’s Secret Sect.”

The Heaven’s Secret Sect differed from other sects that cultivated step by step. Their methods were extremely profound; without insight or affinity with the Dao, it was difficult to achieve success. Thus, most sect masters throughout history were late bloomers.

By the time they became sect masters, they were usually already white-haired elders, so in the cultivation world, they were often called the “Heaven’s Secret Elders”. But such a title did not quite suit the current sect master.

Though over two hundred years old, he appeared like a refined young scholar from the mortal world.

“I met him once when he was a boy attendant beside the previous sect master. This is only the second time.”

Wenren Li had lived for so long that nearly all powerful cultivators in Taixuan were his juniors. This sect master of the Heaven’s Secret Sect was no exception. As he finished speaking, Ping Cheng had already led the sect master, Han Zichuan, inside.

“Zichuan greets the Demon Lord and Consort,” Han Zichuan naturally did not forget Wenren Li, whom he had met once before. Paying respects as a junior was not strange. However, when his gaze fell upon Chen Yixin, his usually cold expression carried a hint of a smile.

“It’s you…” Chen Yixin remained seated, but he did not ignore the smile that clearly suggested familiarity.

“In the North Sea Secret Realm, Zichuan once had a brief encounter with the Demon Consort.”

At that time, Han Zichuan had acted under the identity of a rogue cultivator. Chen Yixin had gone to the North Sea Secret Realm because the soul-nourishing item on his person had been exhausted, and he was seeking a sea demon soul capable of nurturing the soul. The two had cooperated then.

However, at that time, Chen Yixin’s mind had been entirely occupied with sending his A-Hua to reincarnate, and he had paid little attention to the rogue cultivator he worked with. He had never expected that the rogue cultivator, whose cultivation had only been at the Foundation Establishment stage back then, would now be the current Sect Master of the Heaven’s Secret Sect.

With his current cultivation at the early Golden Core stage, Chen Yixin still could not see through Han Zichuan’s level. Either he possessed some kind of hidden treasure, or he had suppressed his cultivation at the time. But based on what Wenren Li had told him about Han Zichuan’s age, it was impossible for him to have reached Soul Transformation; at most, he would be a Nascent Soul True Lord.

Han Zichuan looked over and, seeing Chen Yixin merely nod, chose not to pursue the matter further. Chen Yixin had not cared back then, and he cared even less now.

“You’ve come for Jing Zhihua?” Wenren Li did not like the way Han Zichuan looked at Chen Yixin, nor did he like the smile directed at him. There was nothing to reminisce about between them, so he went straight to the point, directly stating Han Zichuan’s purpose.

Han Zichuan’s expression remained unaffected by Wenren Li’s attitude. Raising both hands, he presented a gift box. “Zichuan has come to deliver a congratulatory gift from my late master. This was something he prepared for you in advance.”

In other words, the former Sect Master of the Heaven’s Secret Sect had already foreseen that Wenren Li would have such a destined relationship a hundred years later.

Wenren Li nodded and did not refuse. Ping Cheng stepped forward to accept the gift on his behalf.

“Additionally, as the Demon Lord said, Zichuan has also come for the Son of Heaven.”

As he spoke, Han Zichuan bowed slightly again. Since he was asking for something, he did not carry himself arrogantly. “I would like to see the Son of Heaven.”

It was impossible that he only intended to take a look at Jing Zhihua and leave it at that. Even Wenren Li was wary of the methods of the Heaven’s Secret Sect, so it was very likely that Han Zichuan could easily discern whether Jing Zhihua was genuine or not.

If he were allowed to see him, how could tomorrow’s “performance” proceed?

Before Wenren Li could respond, Chen Yixin spoke first. “You can see him—but prepare the ransom. Come tomorrow.”

If Jing Zhihua’s false identity as the Son of Heaven was exposed, so be it—but not a single bit of the ransom Chen Yixin wanted could be reduced. Han Zichuan did not have that kind of face here.

Han Zichuan turned his head to meet Chen Yixin’s gaze. A trace of complexity appeared on his face before he nodded. “Very well. I will return tomorrow.”

His easy agreement surprised Chen Yixin slightly. Turning his head, he first glanced at Wenren Li, a hint of reassurance in his eyes, then looked back at Han Zichuan. “If you want the Son of Heaven, prepare more ransom. If the price is too low, I won’t sell.”

Chen Yixin’s rogue-like style had not changed in all these years. He spoke these words with perfect righteousness, as though it were only natural.

Han Zichuan did not respond further. With a slight nod, he followed Ping Cheng out. Upon reaching the entrance of the main hall, he paused briefly, but ultimately did not turn back.

Meanwhile, both Chen Yixin and Wenren Li watched his departing figure. Chen Yixin’s expression carried a trace of interest—he was rather looking forward to Han Zichuan paying a high price to purchase Jing Zhihua. As for Wenren Li, his face remained expressionless; even Chen Yixin could not tell what he was thinking as he looked at Han Zichuan.

“What is A-Li looking at?” Unable to figure it out, Chen Yixin simply asked.

“He is different from the previous inheritors of Heaven’s Secrets.” Wenren Li said, his brows knitting slightly, though he could not tell whether that difference was good or bad.

Chen Yixin had never met the previous Sect Masters of the Heaven’s Secret Sect, so he could not judge what Wenren Li meant. Still, he gently took Wenren Li’s hand, lifted it to his lips, and kissed it softly with a smile. “He is himself, and the past is the past. Whether he is friend or foe—we will judge that later.”

Wenren Li may have had good relations with previous inheritors of the Heaven’s Secret, but that did not mean it would remain so. The key did not lie with Wenren Li, but with Han Zichuan himself—whether he chose to be friend or enemy.

“However, we should still take advantage where we can. A-Li mustn’t go soft.”

Chen Yixin was determined to recover his losses from Jing Zhihua and would not allow an uncertain figure like Han Zichuan to interfere.

“Also, I’m not even friends with him. After that one cooperation, we never met again. If he hadn’t shown that expression that might make A-Li misunderstand me, I would’ve just treated him as a stranger.”

Yet he had smiled at him. Though it was not exactly ambiguous, it still gave the impression that Han Zichuan regarded him differently.

Looking at Wenren Li, Chen Yixin asked half-jokingly, “Is A-Li jealous?”

Making a block of wood jealous was probably difficult—but even so, he had to extinguish any unnecessary sparks before they could ignite.

Yet Wenren Li nodded with complete sincerity. “Mm. I am.”

He was not only jealous of Han Zichuan—he was also jealous of Jing Zhihua, who was imprisoned. Time that should have belonged to him with Chen Yixin had been occupied by others, and even the kindness Chen Yixin should have given him had once been given to someone irrelevant.

Chen Yixin paused slightly. He hooked his arm around Wenren Li’s neck and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. “A-Li doesn’t need to be jealous. From now on, I’ll treat A-Li ten times, a hundred times better.”

What had been wrongly given could not be taken back, but such things would never happen again.

Feeling that this was still not enough, Chen Yixin leaned in and kissed Wenren Li’s other cheek. “I will only treat A-Li ten times, a hundred times better.”

“Mm,” Wenren Li nodded very seriously. He turned his head, his lips landing precisely on Chen Yixin’s. The two paused for a moment before beginning to kiss—gentle, yet carrying a faint sense of solemnity, the kiss stretching on and on.

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