Chapter 31: The Unforeseen Path of the Protagonist

The aura from Mu Xianxian spread, causing everyone on the immortal boat to tremble uncontrollably.Even without direct intent, the sheer power of a Transcendent Tribulation Realm cultivator was simply beyond their capacity to bear.

Perceiving their reactions, Mu Xianxian suppressed her anger and reined in her formidable aura.

Ignoring the trembling multitude, she walked directly to Qin Yangjun.

An immense surge of spiritual energy coursed directly into Qin Yangjun’s body, and he instantly felt a profound warmth suffuse his entire being.

The debilitating weakness inflicted by the Great Weakening Water Art vanished in an instant.

Beside them, Mo Feiyu’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

‘To directly infuse true essence for recovery—it was clear Mu Xianxian regarded her younger brother more highly than he had anticipated. Consequently, the greater the likelihood of her wrath erupting.’

‘If she were to lay blame, Qingluan Mountain’s centuries-old foundation would likely be obliterated.’

Mu Xianxian, too, cast a profound glance at Mo Feiyu, yet she did not immediately pass judgment.

Instead, she turned to Qin Yangjun and inquired:

“Little Jun, what exactly happened here? Why are you in such a state?”

“Uh… I.”

Qin Yangjun felt as though his throat had seized up.

‘How was he to explain this? Tell the truth? Don’t be ridiculous. If his sister ever learned of his cooperation with the Myriad Dharma Heavenly Sect, he would surely be confined to a dark room for several years. By then, the protagonist’s strength would be immeasurable, and he wouldn’t stand a chance against her. He might as well prepare his lantern and await his demise by ‘lighting the sky lantern’ (TL Note: A gruesome ancient execution method where a person is burned alive, often by being soaked in oil and set alight, or by using their fat as fuel for a lamp. Here it’s a metaphor for being utterly doomed.).’

‘But lie… Could he, of all people, deceive Mu Xianxian? Considering this, it seemed he was doomed no matter what.’

“Sect Master, allow me to explain.”

Just as Qin Yangjun was about to resign himself to his fate, Yu Lingyue, standing nearby, unexpectedly spoke.

“Oh?”

Mu Xianxian couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

“I remember you. The Immortal-grade root bone that Little Jun left behind, who joined the Third Elder’s tutelage, yes?”

As she perceived Yu Lingyue’s aura, Mu Xianxian’s brow suddenly furrowed.

The next moment, she lifted a fingertip, and a blood-red aura erupted directly from Yu Lingyue’s body.

Yu Lingyue was horrified to discover that her spiritual energy was uncontrollably dissipating.

A phantasm of a beast formed behind Yu Lingyue, roaring towards Mu Xianxian.

“Scarlet Glutton’s True Essence…”

Mu Xianxian murmured softly.

As a Grand Cultivator of the Transcendent Tribulation Realm, she naturally possessed such keen insight.

The tale of the Scarlet Glutton was no secret among the Four Great Sects.

With a casual wave of her hand, the phantasm behind Yu Lingyue instantly dispersed, and that immense spiritual energy returned to Yu Lingyue’s body.

Yu Lingyue couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat; she felt as though her very essence was being controlled by the person before her.

This sensation was utterly terrifying.

At that moment, Mu Xianxian’s gaze shifted to the collapsed mountain peak nearby.

“It appears the Second Elder was rather short-sighted. You must have endured a great deal. Speak… tell me what transpired.”

As the protagonist, Yu Lingyue’s mental fortitude was naturally beyond that of ordinary individuals.

She quickly composed herself and began to explain the full scope of events from her perspective:

“All of this is thanks to Senior Brother…”

After a considerable pause, Yu Lingyue finished her explanation.

Qin Yangjun, however, was utterly dumbfounded.

‘So that idiot Ah Ling delivered the wrong item.

He had asked her to give it to Hua Yaoyao, but she delivered it to Yu Lingyue instead.

The Breath Concealment Art, originally prepared for Hua Yaoyao, had thus, quite naturally, fallen into Yu Lingyue’s hands.

Because of this single mistake, every subsequent development began to deviate from Qin Yangjun’s expectations and completely strayed from the original plot.

Moreover, Yu Lingyue’s narration was so vivid and compelling that Qin Yangjun almost believed he truly was a righteous paragon, hating evil like fire and possessing exceptional wisdom.’

To put Yu Lingyue’s perspective simply:

‘He discovered a demonic spy and began planning early on, then had Yu Lingyue cooperate to lure out the demonic cultivators and uncover their purpose for infiltrating the sect, culminating in a complete sweep of all demonic forces.’

‘This, compared to his original plan, was not merely different, but entirely unrelated.

This was a path Qin Yangjun had never even conceived.’

Yu Lingyue also explained how she had broken through to the Mid-Foundation Establishment stage and the origin of her beast phantasm abilities.

It was because after falling into the abyss, she had discovered a colossal skeleton.

The blood-poison permeating the chasm emanated from this very skeleton.

At the center of the skeleton lay a spherical energy cluster.

Drawn by its allure, she touched it and directly absorbed the energy cluster.

Consequently, she broke through, even achieving a Heavenly Vein Foundation Establishment.

Even after her cultivation soared to the Mid-Foundation Establishment stage, the energy within her remained unexhausted.

She had obtained the beast phantasm ability immediately after her breakthrough.

‘So, he was the one who inadvertently propelled the protagonist to such power?’

‘In the novel, Yu Lingyue only broke through after returning from the Ancient Spirit Ruins and enduring a demonic beast invasion.’

‘Now, she had not only broken through ahead of schedule but had also absorbed a supreme spiritual item like the Scarlet Glutton’s True Essence.

In the future, her potential would only be higher, and her strength would be greater, not weaker, than described in the book.’

Faintly, Qin Yangjun already sensed that the fate of ‘lighting the sky lantern’ was already beckoning to him.

At this thought, Qin Yangjun’s heart let out a mournful sigh.

‘Woe is me! Heaven seeks my demise!’

But since matters had reached this point, what had happened could not be reversed.

Though vexed, life still had to go on.

Moreover, according to Yu Lingyue’s account, all his previous doubts were now explained.

‘The tremors at the cave entrance weren’t from some immortal beast; they were from Yu Lingyue breaking through.’

‘Cheng Lieqing had been puzzled by the incorrect size of the remains.

It turned out that what was placed on the altar was not the Scarlet Glutton that had died in battle at all.’

‘It was likely a child of the Scarlet Glutton, or something similar.

When it was sealed, that little Scarlet Glutton must have still been alive, for if it were merely a skeleton, why would so many chains have been needed to seal it?’

These numerous coincidences had unexpectedly revealed a truth not mentioned in the original novel.

This, too, was something Qin Yangjun had never anticipated.

After listening to Yu Lingyue’s version of the explanation, the new disciples’ gazes towards Qin Yangjun grew increasingly reverent; some even felt a pang of guilt for having previously misunderstood him.

Hua Yaoyao was among them, and a hint of bitterness welled up within her.

Why had her Senior Brother chosen Yu Lingyue to cooperate with, rather than herself?

‘She was clearly stronger than Yu Lingyue, and this plan had been revealed only to Yu Lingyue, not to her. Could it be that Yu Lingyue was more trustworthy than she?’

‘Or was it that Senior Brother… liked this woman?’

Recalling their past interactions, Hua Yaoyao found the possibility alarmingly high.

At this thought, a sharp pang pierced Hua Yaoyao’s heart.

‘They had only known each other for a short time, while she had known Senior Brother for far longer. She was here first, so why?’

Pondering this, Hua Yaoyao glared resentfully at Yu Lingyue.

Just then, she caught Yu Lingyue secretly glancing at Qin Yangjun’s profile.

Hua Yaoyao’s feminine intuition was instantly ignited.

‘She has feelings for Senior Brother too?!’

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