Chapter 54: Those Who Are Soft-Hearted Can Save No One
Not long after leaving Luo Qiaoqiao, Chen Yin stopped, a thoughtful expression on his face as he looked back at the restaurant.
…Xiang’er had deliberately sent him away, clearly to take her next step.
And if he guessed correctly, it had something to do with the demonic path.
Luo Qiaoqiao and Shen Shuanglian hadn’t yet brought him any news about Changli Palace, so he might as well focus all his attention on the demonic path for now.
He found a secluded corner, put on his mask, and vanished into the bustling streets.
A moment later, inside a hidden antique shop in Fragrance City…
The shop was quiet, with only an old man wearing reading glasses sitting behind the counter.
The old man’s eyes and ears seemed weak. Despite the constant flow of people outside, he remained unresponsive, as if fast asleep.
The door creaked open, and a gentle voice asked, “Old man, do you have any treasures in your shop?”
The old man didn’t seem to hear. The voice repeated the question.
Finally, the old man opened his cloudy eyes, glanced at the visitor, and said in a hoarse voice, “Nothing of interest here. Please come back another time.”
“Can I take a look around?”
“…As you wish.”
Chen Yin, his face hidden behind the mask, nodded slightly and began to wander aimlessly through the shop.
Although the antique shop looked small, it was surprisingly deep. A narrow corridor led to the back of the shop, lined with shelves on both sides.
Chen Yin pretended to browse casually, weaving between the shelves. After a while, he stopped in front of a hidden shelf.
A jade sculpture sat on the shelf.
Chen Yin gently turned it, and a narrow passage appeared behind it. He glanced at the old man at the counter, then stepped into the passage.
The old man didn’t seem to notice, still dozing off.
The passage was long and narrow, similar to the demonic branch altar in Flowing Cloud City, leading deep underground.
Chen Yin descended the long staircase at a leisurely pace and stopped before a large hall at the end of the passage.
…This one is more impressive than the demonic branch altar in Flowing Cloud City. Chen Yin thought to himself.
He pushed open the hall doors and entered. The hall was empty, with only a single throne in the center and a few transmission jades and scrolls scattered on the floor.
As Chen Yin entered the hall, Luo Luo gracefully emerged from the void beside him. “Young Master, you’re here.”
“Has anyone been here?”
“No. This demonic branch altar is really deserted. There’s not even a guardian elder like in Flowing Cloud City.”
Chen Yin picked up the transmission jades and scrolls on the floor and began to examine them.
After a while, his expression changed.
“…I see.”
“Hmm?” Luo Luo tilted her head curiously, her tail swaying.
“It’s not that this branch altar is unguarded.”
Chen Yin said slowly, “It’s that they’ve all left.”
He held a scroll in his hand, on which a line of large, blood-red characters was written:
…The Nether Ritual is approaching. All elders and above are to return to the main altar immediately.
“Nether Ritual?” Luo Luo tilted her head. “What does that mean?”
“I don’t know.” Chen Yin shook his head. “Perhaps it’s some kind of demonic ceremony.”
For all elders and above to be summoned back to the main altar, it must be a major event.
“I wonder if there are any clues about the location of the demonic sect’s main altar here.”
Chen Yin continued to examine the scrolls, trying to find any leads.
At that moment, a raspy voice came from behind him. “Young man, are you lost?”
Chen Yin looked up. It was the hunched old man from the counter.
“Yes.” He glanced at the old man, then returned his attention to the scrolls, pretending to be searching aimlessly. “The demonic sect’s main altar is really well hidden. I have no idea where to find it.”
“If you can’t find it, why bother searching?”
The old man’s withered smile was tinged with malice. “Aren’t you afraid of… losing your life in the process?”
The next moment, a wave of Boundless Realm pressure surged from the old man, crashing down on Chen Yin.
But the moment it touched him, it dissipated like water meeting fire. Chen Yin continued to casually browse the scrolls, seemingly unaffected.
Hmm? The old man frowned.
What was going on? How could a mere Cloud Ascending Realm cultivator withstand his pressure?
Chen Yin’s nonchalant attitude made him even more wary.
“Who are you? How did you find this demonic branch altar?”
“Who I am is not important.” Seeing that there was nothing of value in the scrolls, Chen Yin sighed, closed them, and turned to face the old man.
“But… you are very important to me.”
The old man’s pupils constricted. A primal sense of danger made him instinctively want to flee.
But before he could even move, a pale white sword light flashed past, transforming into the translucent Eternal Light sword, hovering before the old man, blocking his escape.
“Tell me the location of the main altar, and I’ll spare your life.” Chen Yin said calmly.
“Heh, arrogant!”
The old man spat on the ground and said fiercely, “I don’t know what kind of treasure you have that allows you to act so boldly, you little Cloud Ascending Realm brat, but don’t think you can scare me!”
Chen Yin ignored his words and whispered to Luo Luo, “Cover your ears and turn around. Don’t look.”
Luo Luo obeyed, covering her ears and turning away obediently.
The next moment, a muffled scream filled the air.
It was the sound of someone enduring immense pain, their mouth covered, unable to cry out.
It was also the sound of someone’s meridians and bones being shredded by countless tiny sword energies.
After a while, Chen Yin wiped the blood from his sword and gently patted Luo Luo’s head. “It’s over.”
Luo Luo turned back, but the old man was gone. The ground was empty, except for a small crater.
“Huh? Where did he go? I thought Young Master was going to make him take us to the demonic sect’s main altar.”
“No need.” Chen Yin lowered his head and dusted off his sword. “I know where it is now.”
Luo Luo seemed to understand and stuck her tongue out.
“You’re so mean, Young Master…”
“Those who are soft-hearted can save no one.”
Chen Yin didn’t elaborate, just said seriously, “Put everything back where it was, and let’s go.”
“Where are we going? To the demonic sect’s main altar?”
“Not yet. Their Nether Ritual is still half a month away. We’ll stay in Fragrance City for the next few days and wait for news.”
“Besides,” Chen Yin smiled slightly, “I promised to read you a story tonight, remember?”
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