Chapter 42: Secret Communication! Outlandish Rumors! ’Destined Protagonist’!

The area surrounding the Jade Pure Sect was largely tranquil. Cultivators and ordinary mortals seldom interacted, allowing the latter to continue their mundane lives and cultivators to... well, cultivate.

The Jade Pure Sect frequently posted missions, tasking its disciples with purging rogue evil cultivators in exchange for sect contributions.

Doing so not only made it easier for them to attract new disciples every year but also greatly boosted their righteous reputation and fame.

In a dense forest near the sect, a lone wooden hut stood hidden among tall trees and lush plant life.

A streak of black light cut through the blue sky, blurring before touching down beside the building.

Though the figure concealed their aura, it was obvious they were a cultivator.

Clad in a long black robe and a silver mask painted with a whirlpool pattern, this person clearly intended to keep their identity secret.

Yet, the sinister atmosphere surrounding them made one thing certain: they were a demonic cultivator!

Pushing the door open, the masked figure pressed on a series of wooden slabs along the wall, each strike following a precise rhythm.

A sharp click echoed as a mechanism activated, revealing a hidden compartment.

They reached inside and pulled out a blood-red orb, then touched it with their divine sense.

The red surface instantly deepened in hue. The orb flickered several times, as though establishing a connection with a distant entity.

A few seconds later, an excited voice crackled from the other side.

"Master, you’ve finally contacted me! Where have you been? I thought something happened to you."

The masked cultivator did not rush to respond, leaving the atmosphere tense and eerie.

It was only after a long silence that they finally spoke, their voice hoarse and unrecognizable.

"I’ve heard we’ve recently launched an attack on the righteous faction. Send me all relevant information, as well as our future plans," the masked figure commanded, their tone unreadable.

The excitement in the other party’s voice instantly vanished.

"Yes, Master! I don’t know the exact purpose behind the raid, but recently..."

Soon, the voice became the only sound echoing through the hut.

--

"Peak Master Chen!"

"Greetings, Peak Master Chen!"

Several enthusiastic voices reached Chen Xuan’s ears.

As he wandered through the streets of Jade Pure Sect, disciples and Elders alike paused to greet him.

Their eyes brimmed with admiration and gratitude.

News of what had transpired during the Disciple Competition had long since spread.

Everyone knew that the originally low-key Peak Master Chen, previously known only for his good looks, was actually a formidable expert.

Not only had he fended off a dozen Late Stage Core Formation cultivators alone, but even a Nascent Soul expert perished at his hands.

The story of how he had concealed his strength for nearly a century, only to expose it to save his loved ones, had become a hot topic among the younger disciples.

At the same time, strange rumors began circulating...

"Have you heard? My Senior Brother said that the invasion happened because the Holy Maiden of the demonic cult fell in love with Peak Master Chen!"

"Really? No wonder those two women were targeted! Peak Master Chen’s charm is truly terrifying!"

The disciples tried to keep their voices down, but how could they possibly hide their gossip from a Nascent Soul cultivator?

Chen Xuan suddenly felt the urge to teach these troublemakers a lesson, letting them understand never to disrespect their superiors!

Fortunately, he restrained himself.

Forcing a neutral expression, he clasped his hands and continued his journey.

Shortly after, he arrived at Battle Peak. Unlike when visiting Tang Yuechen, he didn’t soar into the sky and enter the area recklessly.

Instead, he landed at the entrance, presented his identity card, and requested a formal meeting.

--

"I didn’t expect a celebrity like Junior Brother Chen to one day visit my humble abode."

In a quiet pavilion, a middle-aged man stood opposite Chen Xuan and offered a greeting.

"Your reputation has already spread. To be honest, even I feel nervous facing you now. I’m practically awestruck."

Hearing these words, Chen Xuan rolled his eyes.

He had never expected that Lan Lanyue would be so shameless.

’Could there be something wrong with the Feng Shui of Jade Pure Sect?’ he wondered silently, though his gaze never left Lan Lanyue.

Chen Xuan noticed that the man’s aura was fluctuating, while a battle scar ran horizontally across his torso.

He raised his eyebrows, feigning surprise.

"There are rumors that Senior Brother Lan was gravely wounded during the invasion. Some claim even you are at death’s door. Now, it seems that those are just rumors after all."

Lan Lanyue chuckled and stroked his beard before eventually shaking his head.

"Not entirely. There’s some truth to it. One of the enemies was forced to self-detonate their Nascent Soul, and I was caught in the aftermath. Thankfully, the rich resources of the Battle Peak allowed me to recuperate quickly."

"On the other hand..."

Lan Lanyue’s eyes grew bloodshot.

He fell silent, leading Chen Xuan toward a nearby room.

He didn’t knock, simply pushing the door and stepping inside.

Chen Xuan followed.

It was an infirmary. The smell of bitter medicinal herbs and pills filled the air, while a figure lay silently atop a soft white bed.

The figure was tightly wrapped up in bandages, making it resemble a dumpling.

Even so, Chen Xuan recognized the patient immediately. He was the real reason for his visit.

It was Xiao Huo, the troublemaker who had a grudge against his disciple, and the man Chen Xuan suspected to be the ’Destined Protagonist’.

...Though his current state was far removed from how a ’Destined Protagonist’ should look.

Lan Lanyue saw Chen Xuan pause and misinterpreted his silence. Believing that he was unaware of the details, he took the initiative to explain.

"Junior Brother, this kid is incredibly unlucky," he sighed, "No one expected Situ Yang to be a spy of the demonic cult. Those people are truly deranged."

"Who could have expected that they’d willingly sacrifice a precious Sword Spirit Body and a Nascent Soul seedling just to target our geniuses?"

Chen Xuan nodded. He had already learned what had happened, knowing that Xiao Huo had suffered terribly at Situ Yang’s hands, barely clinging to his life.

He couldn’t help but feel a lingering doubt.

’Is this the result of my interference?’ he thought.

’If I hadn’t stopped the Elder, Huo Ling’er wouldn’t have awakened her Vision. The Elder could have easily separated her from Mu Chen before dealing with Situ Yang.’

’Xiao Huo would not have suffered like this. Perhaps he would have been the one to save the day and win everyone’s adoration.’

Of course, these were only guesses.

He couldn’t even confirm whether Xiao Huo was a ’Destined Protagonist’, let alone determine something like this.

Or rather, he had been unable to until now.

Thanks to the latest rewards from the System, Chen Xuan finally had a way to be certain.

Nodding to Lan Lanyue, he focused his gaze on the bandaged Xiao Huo. An inexplicable rune flashed deep within his pupils.