Bitter Realm: A Happy Person Traveling Across China

Chapter 96 Setting Up the Stage (Please Subscribe)

Within the Glazed Immortal Realm, Su Huanzhen and Ye Jinming had already returned via spatial travel.

Seeing that the two looked rushed, Qu Shitu couldn't help but ask, "What's going on with you two?"

Su Huanzhen quickly gave Qu Shitu a brief explanation.

Not long after, Jin Baoyin and Nao, still in a frenzy, rushed in carrying the "severely injured and dying" Tan Wuyu.

Jin Baoyin shouted anxiously, "Is Su Huanzhen here? Is Su Huanzhen here?"

Su Huanzhen was shocked. "Tan Wuyu—"

Jin Baoyin sighed and explained, "We failed to catch the artifact, and on our way back we found Tan Wuyu severely injured, unconscious after being hit by the Five Cripples Technique."

Then Su Huanzhen quickly took Tan Wuyu from the two of them and, together with Ye Jinming, led him into the inner room for "emergency treatment".

Qu Shitu understood immediately and quickly invited the still-shaken Jin Baoyin and Nao Huandian to drink tea to calm their nerves, while also trying to get information out of them.

Inside the room, after Su Huanzhen helped him regulate his internal energy, Tan Wuyu slowly woke up.

He let out a long sigh, chuckled wryly, and patted his chest: "Cough—I hope my acting didn't go wrong this time?"

Ye Jinming smiled and handed over a cup of hot tea: "Very natural, Oscar-worthy. Even Brainy and Gold-Wrapped Silver were fooled by you, and the masked man believed you completely. Now, the fish has taken the bait completely."

Tan Wuyu took the tea, giving the two of them a disgruntled look, though he couldn't see it: "Next time, you can keep this kind of easy job for yourselves. Getting beaten while wearing incomplete protective gear won't kill you, but it really hurts."

Su Huanzhen smiled apologetically: "Thank you for your hard work, my friend. But otherwise, how could we have lured out that 'wolf' that was hiding so well?"

Tan Wuyu shook his head: "Speaking of this wolf, are you really sure he's the one who reached the Furnace Peak?"

Ye Jinming then explained, "The Five Crippled Techniques can only be practiced by those who are castrated or disabled, and the Universe Treasure Trove has already confirmed this. Someone who is familiar with the Forest Master's style and even schemes against everything must be someone who knows the Forest Master well. Right now, only their Hot Pot Group is a suspect."

Although Su Huanzhen was unwilling to suspect the others at the top of the furnace, things had come to this point, and he could only continue the act. "Jinming is right, although I also—sigh, now we'll see who jumps out in the end!"

Seeing that Tan Wuyu was alright for the time being, Ye Jinming moved on to the next step of the plan: "The show has begun, now it's time to deal with Master Lin and Senior Hao Kunlun."

Tan Wuyu understood and took the initiative to take on the task: "I will personally go to Senior Hao Kunlun's place."

Su Huanzhen nodded and continued, "Then Jinming and I will take care of Lord Lin's side. We must communicate with Lord Lin and stabilize the situation before the mastermind makes any further moves."

Once the agreement was reached, Su Huanzhen helped the still "weak" Tan Wuyu out of the inner room.

Seeing Tan Wuyu emerge, Jin Baoyin and Nao Huandian rushed forward with concern: "Tan Wuyu, are you alright?"

Tan Wuyu cupped his hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you both for saving my life."

Jin Baoyin waved his hand: "No need for formalities, it's my pleasure."

Su Huanzhen aptly steered the conversation to the main topic, beginning a recap: "Tan Wuyu, when were you attacked?"

After thinking for a moment, Tan Wuyu said, "It was not long after you left Crystal Lake."

Su Huanzhen was immediately puzzled, after all, the timing was too coincidental. "This—"

His mind was still reeling, but he immediately grasped the key point: "In this world, there is only one person who has mastered the five techniques for causing permanent harm!"

Su Huanzhen frowned, expressing his doubt about the madman's view: "Although I obtained the Forest Master's consent from the Window of Imprisonment before bringing Tan Wuyu into Crystal Lake, the subsequent attack was too coincidental in timing and had too many flaws."

Tan Wuyu echoed, "I also think so."

He scratched his head, still confused: "But how do you explain the Five Cripples technique? Besides him, who else could use it?"

Ye Jinming then casually interjected, dropping a bombshell: "Not necessarily. Don't forget, throughout history, any technique in Shenzhou that's considered unique has never had only one practitioner, especially given the frequent use of conspiracies and framing. And don't forget, Master Lin has an older brother still alive!"

Su Huanzhen followed up, saying, "This matter must be thoroughly investigated. But before the facts are clear, I urge you two seniors not to draw any conclusions prematurely."

.

Tan Wuyu turned to Jin Baoyin and said, "Senior, I have a favor to ask. Could you please take me to Kunlun Mountain to request an audience with Senior Kunlun?"

Jin Baoyin was puzzled by Tan Wuyu's words: "You're injured like this, why are you still going to Kunlun Mountain?"

However, Tan Wuyu insisted: "This matter is of utmost importance, and I must go. Besides, with Su Huanzhen's golden elixir to prolong my life, I can hold on for a while."

Upon hearing this, Su Huanzhen began to act, feigning concern as he said, "Alas, my friend, you must take the Golden Elixir on time."

Qu Shitu, who was standing to the side, had already prepared a large bag of pills and stuffed it into Tan Wuyu's hand: "Take more with you, I will come to Kunlun Mountain to see you anytime."

Tan Wuyu solemnly said to Su Huanzhen and Ye Jinming, "I'm leaving this place in your care."

The two nodded slightly, watching as Jin Baoyin and Nao Huandian, along with Tan Wuyu, vanished in a flash of light.

Ye Jinming's lips curled slightly. This massive net targeting the "werewolf" behind the scenes had been quietly cast. It remained to be seen whether that werewolf could withstand it.

Then Su Huanzhen and Ye Jinming hurried along the road, preparing to go to the Window of Imprisonment.

On the way, however, they encountered Tai Cixin and Bu Nanji.

Su Huanzhen was somewhat puzzled: "They are two cultivators from the Six Extremes Heavenly Bridge."

Bu Nanji bowed to Su Huanzhen and said, "Su Huanzhen, thank you for your help before. The main reason I came here today is that the Xuanyuan Chronicle has been opened, which is of great importance and I need to talk to you about it."

However, Su Huanzhen had other important matters to attend to and couldn't leave: "I'm truly sorry, but I have urgent business to attend to right now, so please—"

Tai Cixin interrupted directly, "The Legend of Xuanyuan has a great impact; I implore Su Huanzhen to do us a favor!"

Su Huanzhen was immediately somewhat embarrassed: "This—"

Seeing this, Ye Jinming shook his head speechlessly. As expected of the Bitter Realm, problems kept arising.

There are always all sorts of unexpected factors that can alter the course of events.

However, it's fortunate that I'm here, so I can handle any emergencies at any time.

Then he said, "Su Huanzhen, it seems you're busy for the time being, so I'll take my leave first!"

After thinking for a moment, Su Huanzhen said, "Alright, Jinming, then I'll leave it to you."

Then Ye Jinming flashed away, turning into light and disappearing.

Su Huanzhen then led the two clueless cultivators back to the Glazed Immortal Realm.

The window of confinement, a solitary lamp flickers, casting long shadows.

Huangfu Xiaochan sat alone in the dimly lit prison cell. A cold, chilly wind blew through his thin clothes, but it was nothing compared to the chill in his heart.

The injustices of the past few days, the suspicions of his close friend, the manipulation by his elder brother, the old grudges of the plague and sword, and the sudden serious injury of Duan Yan Xi Feng —

A myriad of emotions, like countless venomous snakes, gnawed at his already fragile mind, weakened by his severe injuries.

The tea that had been laced with a colorless, odorless, and strangely poisonous substance beforehand was like the last straw, silently eroding his sanity.

He tried to calm himself and clear his mind, but the grotesque laughter of the Blade Plague and the cold gaze of the Sword Patient uncontrollably flashed before his eyes—

And, fragments of bloody memories of his family's destruction and his own disability when he was young.

The flames of madness and hatred spread and rose like wildfire in the depths of that consciousness catalyzed by the poison.

The string of reason has been stretched to its limit, emitting a mournful cry of unbearable strain, ready to snap at any moment.

With a single sound, it broke completely.

"The plague of knives—it's you—kill, kill!"

He muttered unconsciously, his knuckles turning white from the effort, his body trembling slightly, his eyes sometimes vacant, sometimes filled with violent bloodshot veins.

Just as he was about to be completely consumed by his inner demons and the deadly poison, sinking into boundless madness and murderous intent, a deliberately soft, soothing voice called from outside the window: "Master Lin—"

Who's calling me? That voice...it sounds familiar...

The Lord of the Remnant Forest abruptly raised his head, his cloudy, bloodshot eyes fixed on the source of the sound through the crack in the wooden window.

However, twisted by both poison and inner demons, what he saw was not the true face of the person who had come.

What he saw was a blood-soaked, grinning figure, a ruthless swordsman lunging at him; a ruthless swordsman wielding a sharp blade, his eyes cold and menacing.

In an instant, Ye Jinming, who had suddenly barged in, became the target of the Lord of the Remnant Forest's venting.

"Ah—the Plague of Knives, the Sword-Dwelling, you deserve to die!"

The Lord of the Remnant Forest let out a low, beast-like growl that was not human, his reason completely overwhelmed by madness.

He suddenly used the force of his palm to leap up. Although his injuries had not yet healed, his profound internal strength made his pounce as fast as a ghost. Carrying his life's work and boundless hatred, his powerful palm struck straight at the chest of the person coming from outside the window!

Outside the window, Ye Jinming, who had just arrived, saw the Lord of the Remnant Forest completely mad, with bloodshot eyes and a beast-like appearance. His heart sank slightly, but he immediately understood.

(But it was too late—the poison had already penetrated deep, and the inner demons had been fully awakened. Gui Liang Tianxia acted quickly, but—)

This was entirely expected.

Faced with this insane palm strike, powerful enough to split stone and imbued with the evil power of the Five Dead, Ye Jinming neither dodged nor evaded, and didn't even draw his Jinghong Sword.

He simply took a deep breath, his internal energy circulated rapidly, and pushed out with his right palm, the edge of which faintly shimmered with a purple-gold light.

"Boom—"

'

The two palms collided without any fancy moves, and a violent burst of energy exploded out like a thunderclap from a clear sky!

The sturdy wooden walls of the prison window rattled, dust fell, smoke billowed from the ground, and the entire wooden house shook violently.

Ye Jinming's body trembled slightly, and fine cracks appeared on the ground beneath his feet, but he steadily caught this crazy attack.

The Lord of the Remnant Forest was also forced back two steps by the force of the recoil.

However, this attack not only failed to bring the Lord of the Remnant Forest to his senses, but also completely unleashed his ferocity!

"God hastened my demise!"

The Lord of the Remnant Forest roared, his arms twisting and waving at an extremely bizarre angle that defied human logic, his five fingers spread wide, and a sinister and evil aura swirling in his palms—this was the first move of the Five Remnant Techniques.

As the Lord of the Remnant Forest unleashed his attacks, his hands created a series of afterimages as he enveloped Ye Jinming's vital points!

Wherever the energy passed, the air hissed and whistled.

Faced with this unpredictable, vicious, and insidious Five Deadly Techniques, Ye Jinming dared not be careless.

With a thought, a seemingly ordinary black cloak appeared in his hand—

It was the Unbreakable Protection among the five divine artifacts of the Xuanyuan Chronicles that we had retrieved from Tan Wuyu before!

With a flick of his wrist, Ye Jinming's black cloak unfurled as if it were alive, gently swirling and billowing in front of him.

"puff-

'

The divine, relentless energy, powerful enough to destroy souls and corrode bones, slammed solidly into the cloak.

However, the expected burst of energy and shattering of the cloak did not occur.

That eerie energy vanished without a trace, disappearing into the cloak like a mud ox sinking into the sea, leaving only a barely perceptible black ripple before silently disappearing as if it had never existed.

The cloak itself remained perfectly still, its luster subdued.

"Huh?" This scene, which was completely beyond his comprehension, even caused the Lord of the Desolate Forest, who was in a frenzy, to be momentarily stunned.

His invincible Five Cripples technique was actually "eaten up" by a seemingly ordinary cloak?

Now, noticing the Forest Lord's momentary lapse in concentration, Ye Jinming's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Seizing this fleeting moment, he charged forward like a ghost, instantly closing in on the Forest Lord.

He did not attack, but stared directly into the chaotic and blood-red eyes of the Lord of the Remnant Forest. He uttered a low shout, and at the same time, strange and ever-changing phantoms and flowing light suddenly appeared deep in his eyes!

"Celestial Palace Illusion!"

Aside from the Divine Tribulation that allows the primordial spirit to leave the body, the Sacred Heart Technique is a spiritual power technique that manifests instantly.

An invisible and intangible yet incredibly profound spiritual force, like mercury spilling onto the ground, instantly invaded the chaotic depths of the Lord of the Remnant Forest's mind, following Ye Jinming's gaze—