Chapter 282: Ningyuan's Secret Chamber

Angry Squid:

From the moment Shen Yurou called out the name "I Am Invincible," Li Fan's attention shifted to Su Xiaomei. He hadn't expected to encounter "I Am Invincible," who had once participated in the Debate Forum, under such circumstances. Naturally, Li Fan was intrigued.

He had disappeared ever since leaving a message about a method to defeat Senior Brother Zhang. He hadn't reappeared, even when Zhang Qianmo was defeated by Zhong Shentong. Li Fan had originally thought he had perished, yet, unexpectedly, he was alive and well.

"Why didn't he challenge Senior Brother Zhang later?" Li Fan checked the battle records of the Debate Forum, feeling somewhat perplexed. He didn't seem like someone who would make empty boasts. What's more, Li Fan opened the previous battle records between "I Am Invincible" Shuofeng and Zhang Qianmo. In those battles, Shuofeng had indeed used flying swords, but they were a set of eighty-one Golden Light Mother-and-Son Swords. This was vastly different from the wooden sword he was now using.

"Was he holding back his strength, or...?"

"Did he restart his cultivation?"

Having cultivated the Sealing Sea Divine Sword and mastered the Twenty-Eight Cloud Cluster Swords divine ability, Li Fan could barely be said to possess some understanding of sword arts. By repeatedly comparing Shuofeng's battles against both Zhang Qianmo and Su Xiaomei, Li Fan concluded that the power of this wooden sword was far superior to that of the previous set of Golden Light Mother-and-Son Swords.

"This wooden sword seems to be a wondrous artifact of heaven and earth?"

"And its grade..."

Without seeing the wooden sword unleash its full power, Li Fan couldn't make a hasty judgment. However, it could certainly be affirmed that it surpassed the realm of ordinary wondrous items.

"An earthly wonder?" Li Fan's heart stirred slightly.

Fortunately, Su Xiaomei was also quite curious about this wooden sword, launching a continuous barrage of questions on Li Fan's behalf.

"Uncle, your wooden sword was quite powerful just now! Can I borrow it for a look?"

"Is it a magic treasure, like the armor on your body?"

"It's too sly that you wear armor during a fight."

"I hit it with all my might, but couldn't break the armor! You're really bullying people!"

Shuofeng also had a slight headache with this mischievous child. He gently pulled Su Xiaomei, who was almost clinging to him, away and replied, "This is my Foundation Establishment wondrous item: a sword. It cannot be revealed to others outside of battle."

"As for this Golden Light Treasure Armor on me..." Shuofeng patted his clothes, a hint of helplessness on his face. "It was custom-made for me by my mother, Immortal Venerable Feixue. Let alone your Foundation Establishment cultivation, even the Nascent Soul expert Shen Yurou just now might not be able to break its defense."

Su Xiaomei's eyes widened at his words. She reached out her small hand and repeatedly stroked Shuofeng's blue clothes, her eyes filled with envy. Then she shook her head again, saying, "If you wear this, who would normally want to fight you? How boring!"

Shuofeng sighed, "My mother's command is truly hard to disobey. Along the way, only cultivators like you, little sister, who don't know my background, would fight me. Someone like Shen Yurou, for example, wouldn't attack even if I provoked her with words."

Su Xiaomei couldn't help but ask, "What's with your cultivation technique? Why is it so strange? You can't even attack first? How boring!"

Shuofeng gave her a look that said "you wouldn't understand," smiling but not answering. Su Xiaomei pestered him for a while longer. Seeing that Shuofeng still had no intention of answering, she could only pout and give up.

"You've been asking me questions all this time," Shuofeng asked with a smile, "Now it's my turn. Whose family are you from?"

"None of your business!" Su Xiaomei rolled her eyes at him and snorted coldly.

Shuofeng was speechless. Zhang Haobo, standing nearby, also remained silent, acting as if it had nothing to do with him.

Shuofeng could only ask again, "Then let me guess. You're definitely not natives of Jiushan Province. Your arrival this time must be for the Chaoyuan Sect ruins, right?"

Su Xiaomei snorted again, but this time it was an unspoken acknowledgment.

"Coincidentally, my destination is also there," Shuofeng asked. "How about we travel together? It's on the way."

Su Xiaomei looked up at Shuofeng. "Let's go then!" she said. She then flew ahead, leading the way.

Shuofeng smiled and secretly shook his head. Then he followed unhurriedly.

And so, the party traveling to the Chaoyuan Sect ruins grew from two to three. There were many squabbles along the way. Occasionally, Xiaomei and Shuofeng would even spar again.

Jiushan Province was vast. There was still some time before they would reach their destination.

While Shuofeng and his companions were still on their journey, after several months, Li Fan felt an inner urge, signaling that he could once again enter the Immortal Fallen Realm.

"Blessed Celestial Venerable Xuanhuang!"

The ritual activated, and Li Fan once again appeared outside Ningyuan City. This time, Li Fan still chose the same pretext as before: convincing Senior Brother Zhang to secretly infiltrate the city, after which they would split up and gather information separately. Li Fan's goal was clear this time. He conveniently borrowed some silver from a wealthy merchant in the city and began to inquire about "Mr. Bai."

It is said that money makes the world go round. What Li Fan found strange was that despite spending a significant amount of money, he couldn't obtain any useful information about "Mr. Bai." It was as if such a person didn't exist in the city at all.

Li Fan had no choice but to change his approach and began to inquire about any exceptionally handsome young men in the city. Under the residents' curious gazes, Li Fan gathered three suitable candidates. The first two were ruled out by Li Fan after some investigation and meeting them in person. They were just ordinary mortals, merely a bit better looking.

Only the last one remained. Li Fan arrived at the target's doorstep. It was a secluded and dilapidated small courtyard. According to the residents, the courtyard's owner was a young man who appeared somewhat sickly. This young man was not a local; instead, he had arrived in Ningyuan City two years ago with a wave of disaster-stricken refugees. After buying this courtyard with the last of his remaining silver, he settled down. On a daily basis, the young man was reclusive and rarely showed himself. It was said he had excellent handwriting and earned a living by teaching in wealthy households in the city. Yet he possessed a handsome appearance, and everyone who had seen him praised his dignified looks.

Information about the young man flashed through his mind. Not sensing any living aura inside, Li Fan flashed into the courtyard. His divine sense swept through, revealing nothing unusual. However, Li Fan knew that Mr. Bai's home contained a stone statue made of Immortal-Slaying Stone, which could block divine sense perception.

Not letting the matter rest, Li Fan pushed open each door one by one and entered to examine carefully. Upon reaching a room on the west side of the small courtyard, which appeared to be a storage room, Li Fan's footsteps paused slightly. Throwing aside the clutter on the ground, Li Fan lifted a thin stone slab. It starkly revealed a dark, gloomy hole underneath.

"Immortal-Slaying Stone slab..."

"This is the place!"

A faint smile appeared on Li Fan's lips as he leaped and flew into the secret chamber below. After he landed, a faint smell of blood assailed his nostrils.