I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 228 A Love Tribulation
"Why do they seem to know nothing about the existence of Zhou You and Fang Yong?"

Chen Ming observed the reactions of everyone present, feeling puzzled. He tentatively asked, "Lord Hong, these two demons from the Nine Nether Sect probably came for the demonic sword that was suppressed on the third level. What's the state of that demonic sword now?"

Hong Yuze shook his head and said with a gloomy expression, "I'm afraid the chances of survival are slim. I sent people to look for Lord Ruan, but they couldn't find him anywhere. Lord Ruan and his wife have both disappeared without a trace. When we asked the servants in the mansion, they knew nothing about their whereabouts."

"Now, we can only wait for Lord Zhong to emerge from seclusion before we can enter the third level and check whether that demonic sword is still there."

No way?
Chen Ming was taken aback.

Could it be that Luo Zhouwu had an accident inside?
Or perhaps he didn't trust the people in the Six Doors and simply didn't tell them...

That doesn't make sense either. He can't take out that demonic sword; it has to be suppressed in that secret realm. No matter what, he can only cooperate with the local Six Doors...

So, something must have happened to him.

Chen Ming guessed that the demonic sword had likely regained some of its power after being handled by three people, and that the heavily injured Luo Zhouwu was killed by the demonic sword.

"If that's really the case, doesn't that mean that no one else knows what happened in the secret realm?"

He was secretly delighted; perhaps he could continue to wear the disguise of Gu Xianyu.

Hong Yuze said, “Many people died in the prison. Those thieves released all the prisoners and suddenly broke out of the prison, which alarmed everyone. Otherwise, no one would have known that their target was the prison… In the end, most of the prisoners were brought back, but a few still escaped, including a first-rank official.”

Chen Ming quickly asked, "Were all the people in the prison dead back then?"

Hong Yuze said, "No, a few people were lucky enough to survive. Among them were several of your subordinates. They said that you were also in prison at the time, and it was you who decisively took action and killed all those third-rank prisoners. Otherwise, I'm afraid we wouldn't have been able to control them."

Chen Ming was quite relieved to hear that several of his subordinates had escaped unharmed.

Suddenly someone asked, "Speaking of which, how did Lord Gu leave the prison? And how did these two demons from the Nine Nether Sect get out of there? Nobody saw you leave the prison gates."

Everyone else looked at him, clearly having the same question in their minds.

That's hard to explain.

In a flash, Chen Ming decided to tell the truth, "Actually, I was taken hostage by those thieves and brought into the third level with them..."

Zhu Wanlin sneered, "This is interesting. These demonic cultists kill without blinking an eye, yet they're sparing your life?"

Chen Ming said, "To my shame, I was able to save my life entirely thanks to Madam Ruan. It was she who pleaded with that villain..."

His words were seven parts false and three parts true.

When he mentioned that Madam Ruan referred to the two thieves as her senior brothers, the people present did not show any particular surprise.

When Zhou Yilan swaggered into the prison with a bodyguard, many people saw it and naturally deduced that she was the mole.

"...That's how it happened."

In Chen Ming's account, he only managed to survive until the end by feigning death, and the entire battle process was slightly altered. Luo Zhouwu took on his role, displaying great prowess and killing Ruan Caixiong.

As for him, he naturally waited until the very end. Only after Madam Ruan used the "Inch-to-Inch Demon Sword" to cleave through space and allow his two senior brothers to escape did he seize the opportunity to follow behind those two demonic cultists and escape to safety.

And taking advantage of the fact that these two demonic sect members were seriously injured, they killed them.

Hong Yuze was deeply moved. "I never imagined that so many things would happen on that third floor. This experience was truly thrilling."

He did not doubt Chen Ming's words.

Many of the details of the battle could not have been fabricated. Gu Xianyu was only a third-rank expert. If he hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes, how could he have fabricated such a detailed battle between first-rank experts?

Someone asked urgently, "Does Lord Gu mean that the demonic sword wasn't stolen by those demons? And it's still inside the third level?"

Chen Ming shook his head and said, "I don't know either. When I left, only Senior Luo was inside. Logically speaking, he should have been able to leave as long as he got the key from Ruan Caixiong. Why hasn't he shown up yet?"

Hong Yuze also realized something was wrong and hurriedly said, "Quickly, send someone to invite Miss Su. See if she can contact her martial uncle."

Soon, someone took the order and left.

A moment later, a person brought Su Zhining over.

When Chen Ming saw her, a strange feeling welled up inside him; it seemed as if something had changed about her. They had just met that morning.

Although a lot happened in between, and it felt like a long time had passed, only half a day had actually gone by.

If I had to describe it, it was as if she had become more down-to-earth, with a touch of sadness in her eyes and brows, unlike her previous aloofness, as if nothing in the world could move her.

Just then, Hong Yuze asked, "Miss Su was also ambushed by that scoundrel. Are you feeling better now?"

Su Zhining said, "Thank you for your concern, Lord Hong. I'm much better. May I ask what brings you here, sir?"

"Miss Su, do you have a way to contact Luo Zhouwu of your alliance?"

"I can't get in touch with him."

"This is troublesome. Your martial uncle is probably trapped in the secret realm that suppresses the demonic sword." "What?"

Su Zhining was somewhat surprised, "What exactly happened?"

Hong Yuze said, "Gu Xianyu, tell Miss Su about your encounter with Luo Zhouwu in the secret realm."

So Chen Ming could only recount the events again, this time more briefly, only saying that he encountered Luo Zhouwu in the secret realm, and that he was the only one left in the secret realm with the Demon Sword.

After hearing this, Su Zhining's expression changed slightly. "Has Uncle Luo ever touched that demonic sword?"

"I did touch it, for about four or five breaths."

"This is terrible. My uncle's heart has probably been corrupted by the demonic sword, and his condition is critical. I must inform my master immediately."

A hint of anxiety flashed in Su Zhining's eyes. "Lord Hong, do not open that secret realm before my sect members arrive. Otherwise, it may provoke my martial uncle."

Hong Yuze also knew the seriousness of the matter and solemnly said, "Don't worry, I will definitely report to Lord Zhong truthfully."

Now, only Lord Zhong can open that secret realm.

After finishing her sentence, Su Zhining hurriedly left.

Upon hearing this, Chen Ming understood that at least until Su Zhining's master, Yuan Zhixing, arrived, his identity was still safe.

Perfect timing, I'll take this time to get everything sorted out.

So he apologized to Hong Yuze and left under some pretext.

Hong Yuze naturally agreed, and no one mentioned the other natal item again.

He performed such a great service that he saved everyone present, so naturally no one would be so ungrateful.

Only Zhu Wanlin watched his departing figure with a gloomy gaze.

……

As soon as Chen Ming stepped out of Ze Shi Tang, he saw Su Zhining leaning against a pillar in the corridor, her face pale. Startled, he quickly stepped forward and asked, "Miss Su, are you alright?"

Su Zhining clutched her chest with one hand, closed her eyes in pain, and two lines of clear tears slid down her cheeks.

Chen Ming was stunned. What... what's going on?
She actually shed tears?
I am not wrong, right?
"Am I okay?"

Su Zhining had recovered. She lowered her head, her voice somewhat dejected, and walked forward after shaking off his hand.

It would be strange if nothing happened!
Chen Ming knew that she must have encountered a serious problem. For someone as aloof and detached as her, an unstable emotional state meant that her Dao heart was unstable and that she was in serious trouble in her cultivation.

He watched her leave, feeling very worried, but he didn't know how to help her.

"This most outstanding successor of the Heavenly Dao Alliance has probably fallen into a love tribulation."

Suddenly, a woman dressed in the robes of a third-rank military governor walked out. She was the only woman in the "Ze Shi Tang" earlier, named Lin Qiong.

He bowed and said, "Lord Lin."

"No need for formalities. I suppose we'll be on the same level soon," Lin Qiong said with a smile, her attitude towards him very friendly.

Chen Ming asked, "What did Lord Lin mean when he said that Miss Su has fallen into a love tribulation?"

Lin Qiong gave him a strange look. "It seems that Lord Gu and Miss Su are old acquaintances. The Heavenly Heart Technique of the Heavenly Dao Alliance is extremely famous. It is one of the most powerful martial arts in the world. However, it is not easy to master."

"Before reaching the fourth rank, one must maintain a pure and flawless heart. After reaching the fourth rank, one must go through the mortal world, experience the mortal realm, and encounter various tribulations. Among them, the most difficult is the tribulation of love. Countless exceptionally talented disciples of the Heavenly Dao Alliance have perished because of this."

"Fall?"

Upon hearing this word, Chen Ming's eyelids twitched. "Could it be that there's an insurmountable love tribulation, or even a life-threatening danger?"

Lin Qiong said, "Since it is a tribulation of love, most of them die for love. Many of them killed the person who caused them to fall into the tribulation of love in order to strengthen their Dao heart, and ultimately died because their Dao heart was broken. Some died because they saw their beloved in danger and risked their lives to save them. Others trapped themselves in the Heavenly Dao Alliance to sit in death seclusion in order to get rid of the tribulation of love."

She spoke in great detail, and finally sighed, "I wonder what will become of this Miss Su."

Chen Ming asked, "Isn't there anyone who can see through this love tribulation and reach a higher level?"

"Perhaps there is, perhaps not. Only those within the Heavenly Alliance will know. Alright, I must set off to deliver the message." Lin Qiong bowed and departed first.

Chen Ming couldn't help but sigh. How did he fall into this love trap?
It was fine this morning.

"Could it be because she was ambushed by Fang Lue? Has her inner demons been stirred up again?"

This is really troublesome.

(End of this chapter)