The No.1 Undercover in the Immortal World-Chapter 745 - 253: I Have Both the Hidden Dragon and the Young Phoenix, We Can Be at Ease
The atmosphere atop the mountain changed, and of course, Lin Yun was aware of it.
From the beginning of his battle with Liu Ji, Lin Yun wasn’t completely focused. His main intention was just to buy time for the Snow Maiden to protect her at the last minute.
Feeling the Snow Maiden’s aura suddenly weaken, akin to death, Lin Yun was alarmed. He could no longer afford to tease Liu Ji and Zhang Biyu; he had to go up the mountain.
But faster than he was Zhang Biyu.
She had started to act the moment the Snow Maiden’s aura changed, though Wu Xin didn’t notice it right away.
Because another Zhang Biyu remained at the original spot.
If Wu Xin hadn’t gradually sensed that something was off with Zhang Biyu, he would have been completely fooled.
Zhang Biyu’s body was still here, but her Divine Soul was already on the mountain.
This Soul Projection Technique was the ultimate secret technique of the White Lotus Sect.
In this world, she was the only one capable of projecting her Divine Soul over such a distance while retaining a certain combat power.
Seeing that the Snow Maiden’s aura had faded away, Zhang Biyu was overjoyed and tried to possess the Snow Maiden’s body.
Since she and the Snow Maiden were blood relatives, it would be much easier for her to take over the Snow Maiden’s body.
But just as she was about to enter, a shimmering azure light barrier blocked her from the outside.
The unremarkable woman she had been watching earlier looked back at her now.
"Do you think I don’t exist?"
A light remark, and Zhang Biyu felt as if struck by lightning.
She had accounted for everything except for the presence of an actual god here.
This didn’t make sense!
When she had first seen Qian Qian, Zhang Biyu didn’t pay much attention—such was the passive effect of a Divine Spirit. When it desired your gaze, you couldn’t ignore its majesty.
When it didn’t want to be seen, even if before your eyes, you would not perceive it.
Qian Qian could not directly oppose Liu Ji and Zhang Biyu, but protecting the Snow Maiden was not an issue.
She had seen Zhang Biyu’s Divine Soul coming, which made her respect Lin Yun even more.
Truly, was Lin Yun, to have anticipated this?
In terms of wisdom and strategic planning, Qian Qian conceded to him.
If Qian Qian were the one watching down the mountain, this woman might have succeeded.
"Are you truly a god? Since you are a god, why stop me from attaining enlightenment? Why not turn a blind eye, and after I attain enlightenment, I will surely repay you generously!"
Zhang Biyu knew she was no match for a deity, but she couldn’t demean herself by groveling. She could only bring out conditions to negotiate with her.
Qian Qian couldn’t help but show a playful smirk and asked, "Is your form of enlightenment the one where you use Soul Projection to forcefully seize another’s body? How can you attain enlightenment when the Soul and body are unmatched?"
As Qian Qian spoke, she noticed something unusual. If Zhang Biyu’s Divine Soul really entered the Snow Maiden’s body, they would actually fit together perfectly.
Under her divine gaze, everything was in plain sight, and she expressed her surprise: "I hadn’t expected you two to be blood relatives. So if you take over her body, you might indeed have a chance at enlightenment. But don’t mortals say that even a tiger would not eat its offspring? She’s your daughter. Do you still wish to take her body?"
Qian Qian was like a curious child, her questions piercing straight to Zhang Biyu’s soul.
Zhang Biyu sneered: "A tiger not eating its offspring? You’re right. But human cruelty surpasses wolves and tigers. Do you know that since the day I was born, I was chosen by my father to be a vessel for godly spirits?
Since birth, I was prepared for the cultivation of secret techniques, placed in icy rivers during winter and under the scorching sun in summer. Before me, several young girls died this way, but only I survived.
Yet the training that followed was even more brutal. I would have preferred to have died early rather than enduring a hundred years of torturous cultivation."
The Zhang Family’s Heart Lock was a divine skill discovered to counter Heart Demons, inspired by suffering.
Suffering can crush one’s will but also temper it.
When a person’s will is strong enough, they can withstand Heart Demons.
If it were just about withstanding Heart Demons, the Zhang Family had other methods. But to deceive a Heart Demon, they needed more severe measures.
Zhang Biyu’s childhood was spent in agony, enduring extreme pain to cultivate secret techniques.
Once the secret technique was mastered, she went to deliver vegetables to the Grand Shaman, who prided himself on penetrating people’s hearts, having no secrets from him. Little did he know he was already a part of someone else’s scheme.
While the Zhang Family plotted for the return of the Divine Spirits, they forgot Zhang Biyu was also a person. She harbored hatred in her heart, concealed by the Heart Lock technique.
Nobody cared for her feelings, thinking her numb from prolonged mistreatment.
To the Zhang Family, all they needed was a qualified warrior.
No one knew her hatred for the Zhang Family, for the Snow Maiden, even exceeded her hatred for the Grand Shaman.
As Zhang Biyu recalled her past, the pain in her heart twisted her expression, but she struggled to suppress it. She knew there was no good in picking a fight with a god.
She also never thought to appeal to a deity’s pity with her own tragic story.
Long ago, she had learned that placing hopes on the pity of others was the most foolish act.
Yet she told Qian Qian her tragic past.
"Have you heard of the torture of climbing a mountain of knives? I began climbing such a mountain every day at five, suffering the agony of a thousand cuts; at six, I was put into a boiling cauldron. Unfortunately, I am only here as a soul now, or I would show you how tender my flesh is, regrown layer by layer from the cuts. And there’s more..."
Qian Qian listened with hairs standing on end.
As a god high above, she struggled to empathize with many things, but Zhang Biyu’s vivid description made Qian Qian involuntarily visualize the events—pulling out nails, plucking hair, inserting needles, skinning...
Qian Qian involuntarily shuddered.
Now is the time!
Zhang Biyu’s heart was like steel. Even if she revealed her own scars layer by layer for Qian Qian, it wasn’t to gain sympathy, but rather to use this method to distract the Divine Spirit.
She could see at a glance that although Qian Qian was powerful, she seemed to be relatively naive and a god who had not suffered much.
Even if it’s a god, I dare to bluff!
Of course, everything she said was true.
Speaking falsehoods in front of a Divine Spirit is a joke.
Only the truth can move a god’s heart.
It was in the moment of Qian Qian’s distraction that Zhang Biyu made her move, transforming into a beam of spiritual light as she rushed into the body of the Snow Maiden.
Another round of body possession had begun!
By the time Qian Qian came to her senses, it was too late to stop her. But even as she watched Zhang Biyu enter the Snow Maiden’s body, she didn’t panic much, though her expression was a bit strange.
It was at this time that Wu Xin hurried over.
When she realized something was off with Zhang Biyu, she had climbed up the mountain, but Lin Yun was entangled by Liu Ji.
Liu Ji, upon discovering that Wu Xin and Lin Yun were pursuing Zhang Biyu, naturally would not let Lin Yun succeed.
Unable to stop them both, he could only hold back Lin Yun.
Wu Xin wanted to use the Heart Demon Evasion Method, but alas, no one on the mountain had succumbed to a Heart Demon.
Even as Zhang Biyu spoke of her long and torturous past, she did not yield to a Heart Demon, and while Qian Qian was moved, she was not enough to produce a Heart Demon. Wu Xin had no choice but to run up the mountain herself.
Her speed couldn’t match that of Zhang Biyu in her Divine Soul state. By the time Wu Xin arrived, Zhang Biyu had already distracted Qian Qian and entered the body of the Snow Maiden.
"This is bad,"
Seeing Zhang Biyu merge with the Snow Maiden, Wu Xin immediately felt like the situation had turned dire for her.
What a mess, again!
It was one thing for Lin Yun not to take issue with her before, but now that she was assigned to guard Zhang Biyu, having let her be possessed was not just humiliating for Wu Xin, but would also leave her without an excuse when Lin Yun sought accountability.
She was an old powerhouse, yet she was upstaged by a newly ascended warrior of the Defiant Heavenly Realm!
"Should I just flee now?"
Wu Xin was in complete dismay, clueless as to where she could possibly run.
There was nowhere on earth beyond Lin Yun’s sensory range!
Wait, no, the Desolate Ruins might be able to block the effect of the Blood Curse. Maybe I should slip away?
Qian Qian had intended to tell Wu Xin not to panic, but upon seeing she was already mumbling about fleeing, she found it somewhat amusing and decided to stay silent and watch the drama unfold.
Down the mountain, Lin Yun repelled Liu Ji’s sword with his own and spoke in a cold tone, "Do you truly intend to entangle with me until the very end? Let me tell you, no matter what Zhang Biyu intends to do, she will certainly not succeed!"
I have arranged for Wu Xin, and above that, there’s a god on guard. How could you, Zhang Biyu, possibly succeed? 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
You’re not even supposed to get close, understand?
Liu Ji’s expression barely changed. He casually said, "Planning is by men, but the outcome is in heaven’s hands. Whatever she is doing or intends to do, I do not know. I can only do my utmost to assist her."
Lin Yun: "..."
A lovelorn fool is truly remarkable.
Lin Yun was at a loss for words and decided to draw his Thunderclap Sword.
"It seems today we must fight to the death."
Although I trust Qian Qian and Wu Xin...
Wait, these two, the sleeping dragon and the rising phoenix, I don’t actually dare to trust them much. They are typical examples that seem strong but somehow make one feel weak.
It’s better to resolve Liu Ji quickly and then go up myself.
"That suits me perfectly."
Liu Ji was not afraid when he saw Lin Yun ready for battle; in fact, he felt a bit excited.
As a Sword Cultivator, being able to cross swords with someone of the same realm is a joyous thing.
He had reservations before, as Lin Yun was Fang Yu’s disciple, and Liu Ji did not want to kill him. He also felt that Lin Yun had not given his all. If they both went all out, without leveraging the realms advantage, their Sword Dao should be evenly matched.
It was precisely this kind of battle with an uncertain outcome that made him feel his blood boiling.
"Since you’re in a rush, let’s settle this with one sword stroke!"
Liu Ji was very confident in his sword strike, believing Lin Yun would be defeated by it, and if he lost, there would be no more reason to ascend the mountain.
"Agreed!"
Lin Yun didn’t want to delay any longer, as his killing intent had been provoked.
Liu Ji had supported Shenxiao Sect during the Imperial Court’s siege, and even though Shenxiao Sect would not have fallen without him, the sect should rightfully keep this loyal service in mind.
Although Lin Yun had left the Shenxiao Sect, he still considered himself a part of it.
He didn’t want to harm Liu Ji, but since Liu Ji was in the way of him saving others, he could no longer be blamed for being ruthless.
"My sword can slay gods and immortals, prepare yourself!"
