Chapter 479: Chapter 479: Complete Descent into Darkness!

"Can’t you think of a foolproof plan!"

Cheng Mingyue pouted and said, feeling quite dissatisfied with the outcome she saw.

"You really get into it."

Li Rui shook his head, "But reality isn’t a cartoon. When the train comes, it’s not like you can just rant to the audience and a miracle happens to achieve a perfect ending."

"But I think that Liang also has reasons to be angry."

"Of course he does. If you’re among those being sacrificed, even if I know it’s a rational choice, I’d surely be furious," Li Rui said.

"Ahem."

Guan Gui coughed dryly without expression.

Li Rui laughed, "Don’t worry, Brother Gui, you would feel the same."

"What happens next? Mr. Cen, what happened then?" Cheng Mingyue asked.

As if hearing her words, the surrounding scene shifted again, finally settling in a ruined place.

Even in the Illusion Realm, the sunlight was good here. Beside the ruins was a burial ground with many graves, some marked by headstones, others unmarked.

The haggard-looking Liang was kneeling silently before a wordless wooden tombstone, without saying a word.

Between him and the small grave was a severed head.

"It’s Brother Hee!"

Cheng Mingyue covered her mouth, shocked at how things had turned out like this.

Li Rui and Guan Gui both stayed silent, without speaking.

At that moment, several figures appeared a hundred meters behind Liang, led by the young Cen Lanjing, all emanating intense murderous aura, their expressions furious.

"Liang! You! You killed Brother Hee!"

"You madman, today we must cleanse the sect!"

Cen Lanjing raised his hand to stop the reprimand from his comrades, "Liang, why did you do it?"

Liang stood up and slowly turned around. Unexpectedly, he was smiling.

Though his weary appearance made the smile seem a bit resigned, his eyes were genuinely sincere.

"Senior Brother Cen, I killed Brother Hee to avenge the people of Creek Village."

"Nonsense!" 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Someone shouted angrily, "You did it for that woman!"

Liang didn’t refute, "Naturally, most of it was for her."

Cen Lanjing said solemnly, "Do you think the decision was made by Brother Hee alone? We all agreed. Do you want to take revenge on all of us?"

Liang shook his head, "Don’t misunderstand, Senior Brother Cen, I don’t hate Brother Hee, nor do I hate you. It’s just, for the sake of that girl, I owe her an explanation."

"I don’t blame anyone. Brother Hee was right; the heavens have always been like this. The fault is not with the people of the world, but with the things above."

Cen Lanjing frowned, "Liang, what are you talking about?"

"I want a world where no one has to make such choices anymore."

"Senior Brother Cen, don’t waste words with him. We must capture him today and deal with him according to the academy!"

"Go!"

The figures on both sides blurred like ink and all scenes vanished.

The elderly Cen Lanjing reappeared.

"Liang was the youngest among us, yet always the most talented. We severely injured him, but couldn’t detain him."

The three of them looked at each other. Among the records of Jingyang Academy, there was no mention of this part. After all, the academy’s involvement with the Secret Realm storyline was minimal, so the impact was not significant.

Li Rui asked, "Mr. Cen, why did you show us this?"

Cen Lanjing said, "Liang’s surname is Zuo; he is Zuo Liang. Later, perhaps thinking he found a solution, he changed his name."

"Zuo Qiutian!"

"....."

Li Rui muttered, "Indeed, the first time I met him, he said he wanted to change the Heavenly Dao. But Mr. Cen, how can he be sure that what he does truly achieves his goal?"

Cen Lanjing shook his head, "Only he knows that. Master Bo Yuan mentioned, Shenxiao Palace is somewhat connected to the Upper Realm, isn’t it?"

Li Rui didn’t expect the old scholar to know even this, as he hadn’t mentioned it beforehand.

"The Master isn’t sure what kind of result opening the heavens will bring."

"Zuo Qiutian must have discovered something to be so obsessed now."

Cen Lanjing said, "From what I understand, he wouldn’t do anything based on pure assumptions. If he’s made up his mind, it means he really found a possible method."

"However, regarding matters of the Upper Realm, even in our academy, there’s limited understanding. I find it hard to fathom where he learned it, perhaps in Fengdu."

Li Rui nodded, "Zuo Qiutian indeed has a close relationship with Fengdu, but... I don’t think it’s necessarily a friendly one."

He recalled his first Secret Realm at Demon Wind Temple, where Sun Qian, who failed to contest the Nether Emperor, hid to mend his Divine Soul with Zuo Qiutian’s help.

Yet, that man defected from Fengdu due to his failure, and if Zuo Qiutian allied with him, it should be against Fengdu.

Perhaps now, with a common goal, they barely consider each other allies, but at least before, they shouldn’t be familiar.

Considering this, he thought of his unknown biological parents, rumored as the God of Thousand Faces in the chaotic lands.

As the unprecedented 99-level Secret Realm agent, maybe he indeed knows secret details unknown even to world NPCs?

Thinking about it that way, it seems somewhat plausible.

However, Li Rui didn’t speak it aloud directly, as it was merely groundless speculation. He said instead, "Thank you, Mr. Cen, for guiding us. Knowing the past of Zuo Qiutian may be beneficial in dealing with him in the future."

Cen Lanjing said, "That indeed is my purpose. Young man, Zuo Qiutian is enigmatic, extraordinarily intelligent, yet quite arrogant and stubborn, offering opportunities for cunning strategies."

"After you reach the academy, find Yuan Qing. As long as you present Master Bo Yuan’s token, he’ll certainly help you, without needing to mention me."

"Yes, thank you, sir."

Cen Lanjing smiled and nodded, slowly disappearing from the Illusion Realm decisively.

Li Rui and the others saw the scene before them again, now entirely different from before.

The academy’s high walls and gates were still the same, no longer dilapidated and decayed, with a gatekeeper at the entrance.

They stepped forward, explained their purpose, and handed over Master Bo Yuan’s token. Soon after, the gates opened, and a refined middle-aged man, holding Master Bo Yuan’s Jade Pendant, came alone to greet them.

"I am Yuan Qing. Are you here at Master Bo Yuan’s request? Please come inside for a talk."

This man, a disciple of Cen Lanjing and now the Sacrificial Chief of the academy, showed no airs in his speech and manner, seemingly without any extraordinary traits.

Li Rui, however, didn’t underestimate him, as Jingyang Academy was established to guard Ghost Cry Ridge, preventing Evil Qi demons from descending the mountain and focused on dedicated research, unlike those pursuing fame and profit.

He exchanged some pleasantries with Yuan Qing, then spoke about the circumstances outside and their true purpose for being here.

"Earth Thunder?"

Yuan Qing frowned, "Hmm, this thing is indeed not easy to find."