Yang Cheng was soaked in blood, almost unrecognizable.
Barely clinging to life, he looked at Xu Zimo with a hoarse voice and desperate eyes. “I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything! Just give me a quick death...”
“Then start talking,” Xu Zimo nodded.
“It was Lin Feng, your brother. He ordered me to assassinate you. I was just following orders,” Yang Cheng answered.
“Why would he want to kill me?” Xu Zimo asked. “It’s not like I’m in his way.”
“I don’t know. I wouldn’t dare ask. He’s ruthless. I’m always on edge when I’m around him,” Yang Cheng replied.
“And the last time outside the sect, was that you guys too? The ones who almost killed me?” Xu Zimo asked again.
“No. I had nothing to do with that. I don’t think it was him either,” Yang Cheng answered.
Xu Zimo nodded slightly. As soon as he finished speaking, hellfire suddenly erupted and burned Yang Cheng to ashes.
Leaving the True Fate World, Xu Zimo returned to his courtyard.
It was already the afternoon, and the events of the tournament were probably still spreading around Grand Heaven Mountain.
He planned to leave the sect tomorrow. Since arriving in this world, he hadn’t really had a chance to explore.
After the Nine Heavens Gathering, he intended to search for the God-Demon Battlefield.
The rest of the day, Xu Zimo focused on trying to break through the fifth strange meridian and practicing a new meridian-based technique.
Time passed quickly while cultivating.
By the time Xu Zimo opened his eyes again, it was dawn. The morning sun lit up the world.
He stepped out of his room and saw Jiang Changsheng already waiting in the pavilion.
“Senior Brother, are we heading down the mountain today?” Jiang Changsheng asked.
“Yes. You’re coming with me,” Xu Zimo replied with a nod.
“Alright, I need to buy some rare herbs anyway,” Jiang Changsheng agreed.
Because Lin Beisheng was worried about Xu Zimo’s safety, he arranged for him to travel with Lin Feng.
They agreed to meet at the sect gate.
When Xu Zimo and Jiang Changsheng arrived, Lin Feng was already there.
Along with him were a young man and a young woman.
As Xu Zimo approached, the young man cupped his hands and smiled. “Junior Brother Lin, I’m Yelu Liang.”
“Murong Yan’er,” the woman said coldly.
“Little brother,” Lin Feng added with a smile, “Senior Brother Yelu Liang is the direct disciple of our third elder. Miss Murong is from Divine Heaven Mountain. I invited her to come along with us.”
Xu Zimo nodded without much enthusiasm.
“Let’s get moving. This trip down the mountain should take about three days. The people from the main sect are arriving soon, so we all need to be ready. The Nine Heavens Gathering is no joke,” Lin Feng reminded them.
Jiang Changsheng shook his head and said, “There’s not much to prepare. My young master is unmatched, both in looks and strength. He’s the top pick for the Nine Heavens Gathering. If he claims the top spot, who would dare challenge that?”
Murong Yan’er didn’t say anything, but Yelu Liang chuckled coldly and muttered, “A dog takes after its master. Where does this confidence even come from?”
“Did you just hear a dog barking, Senior Brother?” Jiang Changsheng turned to Xu Zimo and asked.
“I did,” Xu Zimo nodded.
He added, “But when a dog misbehaves, it’s also the owner’s fault for not training it.”
“Who are you calling a dog?” Yelu Liang’s expression darkened as he stared at Jiang Changsheng.
“We didn’t say it was you. Don’t take it personally. But if the shoe fits, well… that’s just awkward,” Jiang Changsheng said with a grin.
Yelu Liang’s face turned green with anger.
Lin Feng stayed calm and said, “Enough arguing. Little brother, you were nearly killed the last time you left the sect. Even though we’re with you now, be careful.”
Hearing the veiled threat, Xu Zimo smiled and said, “Then I hope that person shows up again. I’m looking forward to it.”
…
Beyond the gates of Grand Heaven Mountain was the main gate of the Nine Heavens Imperial Sect.
At the base of the mountain, long jade stone steps extended downward, surrounded by white mist that made the whole place look surreal.
Green trees and clear waters lined the path, with the occasional bird flying overhead.
The gate to Nine Heavens Imperial Sect was guarded in rotation by members of the nine peaks.
Today it was Divine Heaven Mountain’s turn.
Although Nine Heavens Imperial Sect had declined and was now considered one of the weaker imperial-level sects, its former glory still showed in places, like this grand mountain gate.
The pure white gate towered dozens of meters high, with carvings etched on both sides.
The white mist wrapped around it, giving it a heavenly feel.
A protective sect barrier surrounded the area, nearly invisible, but it shielded the entire sect.
The formation had been passed down from the height of the sect’s power thousands of years ago.
As Xu Zimo and the others passed through the gate, the disciples on duty greeted only Murong Yan’er, the senior sister from Divine Heaven Mountain.
The rest were simply checked for their identity tokens, without any further courtesy.
It was a clear sign of how strained relationships were between the nine mountains.
…
The Southern Region was vast. Nine Heavens Imperial Sect sat on its eastern edge.
To the north were the Beast Mountains, to the west was the World Sovereign Empyrean Sect.
The boundless Ninelands River flowed slowly past the sect’s land.
The territory ruled by Nine Heavens Imperial Sect wasn’t very large.
Within its lands, only four cities were under its direct control.
The closest of them was Bright Flame City to the west.
Bright Flame City was also the largest and most prosperous of the four.
Nine Heavens Imperial Sect was built atop Nine Heavens Mountain. To reach the city, they had to descend the mountain.
It was midsummer, and the sun blazed like a fireball in the sky, baking the earth below.
The trees along the mountain path drooped wearily in the heat.
The group remained mostly quiet as they traveled.
Only Lin Feng and Murong Yan’er whispered to each other, and Xu Zimo could tell they liked each other.
The descent wasn’t too steep or rough, but the heat caused sweat to drip from everyone’s foreheads.
At midday, they stopped under a large tree with dense foliage.
Lin Feng suggested, “Yan’er and I will go find some fruit to quench our thirst. You all stay here and rest.”
Xu Zimo nodded without objection.
He watched as Lin Feng and Murong Yan’er walked farther and farther away, eventually disappearing into the forest.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded nearby.