Chapter 75: Two Old Foxes

Meng Qi lightly raised his eyebrows and followed the other’s gaze to look behind him. Near the edge of the passageway, where the firelight dimmed, a figure suddenly emerged. The person wore a silk headpiece and scholar’s robe, with a thin face and white hair—none other than Master Xianyin, Duan Xiangfei.

His appearance didn’t seem abrupt or sudden; rather, it gave Meng Qi the feeling that he had completely overlooked that spot before, as though a previously imperceptible mist had suddenly vanished.

Bang! A transparent and crystalline jade wall dropped from above the passageway, separating Meng Qi and Duan Xiangfei.

“I always felt someone was tailing me, but I had no clue who. Who would’ve thought it was Master Xianyin? Hope you’ve been well,” Meng Qi exclaimed in realization.

Duan Xiangfei stood with hands clasped behind his back, exuding a calm and leisurely aura. Despite having fallen into the passageway trap, he remained composed and smiled as he spoke, “Matters concerning my son’s life made me uneasy, so I followed ‘Monkey’ here. I never expected you to be an impostor.”

“Imposition doesn’t mean incompetence,” Meng Qi replied without panic, sighing, “So, you were the one who killed Han Shi? I don’t quite understand why you needed to eliminate them.”

“It’s simple,” a refined voice came from the passageway entrance. Cui Xu, dressed in plain white robes with a wooden hairpin, had already appeared there unnoticed—this was precisely why Duan hadn’t hastily retreated from the passage.

Cui Xu held a sword, his expression stern and his gaze calm:

“Because he is the current Palace Master of the Snow Palace.”

Meng Qi clapped his hands joyfully, “No wonder! No wonder! Master Xianyin, your ‘Shape-Shifting Art’ is truly marvelous! I never sensed you trailing me the entire way.”

“Just a minor skill, unworthy of your laughter,” Duan admitted without denial. “I killed Han Shi because Old Ghost Cui was nearby. If he captured them and learned what you knew, he would have confirmed my identity.”

Turning toward Cui Xu, he asked, “Cui, when did you start suspecting me?”

Cui Xu, unhurried in attacking, replied coldly, “During the investigation into Mingcheng’s disappearance, all clues pointed toward the Snow Palace. Yet you showed little interest, conducting a hasty investigation before leaving under the pretext of strained father-son relations. Others might believe it, but not me. At the time, I thought unless you could confirm the Snow Palace wasn’t involved, you wouldn’t act so hastily. But how could you be so sure?”

“Then recalling how Mingcheng secretly colluded with the Snow Palace regarding the treasure map, and how he disguised himself as a spoiled noble to hide his martial prowess, I began to suspect. Still uncertain, I used the fake Monkey to gradually draw you out.”

Duan Xiangfei smiled bitterly, “Exactly. Only the Snow Palace’s true master could confirm they weren’t involved. I thought maybe Mingcheng couldn’t endure the torture and told you the secret.”

“Mingcheng was a real man. If you weren’t the Snow Palace Master, he would have made a fine match for your daughter,” Cui Xu rarely praised anyone.

“At the time, I somewhat suspected you had abducted Mingcheng, but fearing exposure, I had no choice but to retreat and investigate through Monkey. Alas, I didn’t expect you to be the mastermind behind the Twelve Divine Beasts. I simply miscalculated and lost fairly.”

“You’re also cunning. If Monkey hadn’t been exposed too early and posed less of a threat, you might have succeeded,” Cui Xu nodded slightly, complimenting Duan.

Duan Xiangfei chuckled, “How could I match your foresight? Even when I sent Luo Qing to challenge you, I couldn’t divert your attention.”

“So that was your doing. No wonder the timing was perfect. If not for Master Zhen Ding posing a certain threat to a Grandmaster, I might not have escaped easily. Relying solely on my elder brother probably wouldn’t have stopped you,” Cui Xu glanced at Meng Qi.

Duan feigned sudden realization, “Ah, I see! And the Rabbit kidnapping You Hongbo made it even harder for me to suspect you were the Twelve Divine Beasts. But when I left, Luo Qing had lost the initiative, yet shouldn’t have been severely injured, right?”

“I intervened later, so Luo Qing sent a message delaying the duel for seven days,” Cui Xu said it like an everyday matter.

Duan snorted, “Luo Qing just opened his Spirit Treasury. How could he rival you? You must have opened another Treasury—either Vitality or Energy.”

“Indeed, the Vitality Treasury. Brother Duan, you’ve always claimed to have opened both the Vitality and Energy Treasuries. Now it seems you lied. Your ‘Shape-Shifting Art’ must already be perfected,” Cui Xu nodded slightly.

Duan smiled, “With the Shape-Shifting Art, the Spirit Treasury becomes relatively simple. I’ve opened the Spirit and Energy Treasuries.”

“You’re surprisingly honest,” Cui Xu remained expressionless.

Duan chuckled, “Either you die or I do. What difference does honesty make?”

“You have no chance here. This passageway is rigged with countless crossbows, each shooting bolts with seventy or eighty percent of my sword’s power. Originally, my elder brother even staged a lost escort incident to conceal three hundred Thunder Bombs from the Thunder Clan here. Unfortunately, we had to use that to lure the unsuspecting Hongbo into confronting Luo Qing, so we had to abandon the plan to avoid suspicion. Still, with me here, the effect is the same,” Cui Xu explained the trap calmly.

These two old foxes! Meng Qi couldn’t help but curl his lips. So he had become their pawn in testing each other!

“Hmph, whether you’re cunning or far-sighted, I only know one thing—I won’t be easily defeated!” he clenched his fists inwardly.

As Duan was about to speak, Meng Qi suddenly asked, “Master Xianyin, confirm whether the one lying here is Duan Mingcheng.”

Cui Xu, Duan Xiangfei, and You Tongguang all looked puzzled, not understanding why he cared.

“He is my son,” Duan slowly nodded after a moment of surprise.

Meng Qi grinned, revealing a row of white teeth, “My mission is complete. Master Xianyin, where’s my reward?”

This time, the three exchanged bewildered glances, now turning into stares reserved for an idiot. At a time like this, he still thought about missions? He should focus on surviving first!

Inside the ice chamber, cold air surged again, forming words:

“Found Duan Mingcheng.”

“Main mission completed. Reward: 150 Virtue Points.”

“Currently in combat, unable to return. Can choose to return anytime within half an hour after exiting combat.”

Meng Qi slightly hesitated, expecting an immediate return, but this was as anticipated—he had considered similar situations before.

This was fine too. At least after the battle, he could return immediately, without worrying about severe injuries or near-death states!

With these thoughts, his fighting spirit surged, and he tightened his grip on the blade even more firmly.

“Do you really think I’d prepare a reward, Master Xianyin?” Duan chuckled.

Meng Qi’s grin widened, “Actually, I no longer desire any previous rewards. I only want your ‘Shape-Shifting Art.’ I bet Master Cui trapped you here precisely for that.”

Cui Xu slightly startled, then resumed his calmness, “Brother Duan, recite the ‘Shape-Shifting Art’ and the secrets regarding the boundary between mortals and gods. Don’t try tricks—you know well enough that my understanding of the Spirit Treasury makes it easy to discern truth from falsehood. If you cooperate, your son lives. Otherwise, both die.”

“I don’t understand why you insist on this,” Duan hesitated.

Cui Xu’s gaze passed over Duan and Meng Qi toward the coffin in the ice chamber, softening slightly, “The deeper my cultivation, the more I believe in the boundary between mortals and gods, hinging on the Spirit Treasury. Obtaining the ‘Shape-Shifting Art’ and deepening the cultivation of the Third Eye will allow breaking this boundary, ascending to immortality, commanding wind and rain, reviving the dead.”

“Sigh, you truly are devoted,” Duan sighed.

Cui Xu withdrew his gaze, “You can refuse, but the treasure map is in my hands. Eventually, I’ll obtain it anyway.”

“Still haven’t gone to the treasure site, huh? I was planning to capture your nephew as a hostage,” Duan shook his head, “You’re indeed cautious.”

“He merely hid, giving you hope, allowing you to boldly enter,” Cui Xu rarely smiled.

Duan glanced at his son, bitterly smiling, “Sigh, growing old makes one reluctant to part with family. Listen well then: ‘Close eyes, clarify mind, focus on the Third Eye’…”

Not only Cui Xu, but Meng Qi and You Tongguang also listened intently.

The Shape-Shifting Art focused on cultivating the Third Eye, its entire text spanning five chapters and over a thousand characters. As Duan recited, nearing completion…

“There exists a round entity, born from chaos…”

Before his words ended, Duan suddenly lunged forward like a wisp of blue smoke, rushing straight at Cui Xu, palms turning green, figure ethereal.

Though his swordsmanship was formidable, the Shape-Shifting Art was his true foundation!

Thus, losing five fingers on his right hand hadn’t diminished his strength!

Precisely at the climax of the Shape-Shifting Art’s core passage, Meng Qi, You Tongguang, and Cui Xu were all so engrossed that they momentarily froze.

Yet Cui Xu was no ordinary figure. His Third Eye refined, his spirit formidable. He quickly recovered, stomping his foot.

Instantly, holes appeared on both sides of the passageway, and countless crossbows shot forth like thunder, arrows raining down, unavoidable from any direction.

Duan’s figure twisted like a shadow, strangely evading many bolts amidst the hail of arrows. Unfortunately, the crossbows were too numerous and dense. He was repeatedly pierced, blood gushing out.

Though separated from Duan, Cui Xu’s stomp activated all mechanisms, so the crossbows rained from both sides at Meng Qi as well.

At this moment, Meng Qi didn’t rely on his Divine Steps but curled into a ball, arms protecting vital spots like his occipital region.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Crossbow bolts struck Meng Qi, piercing through despite golden light, turning him into a porcupine.

Eventually, the barrage ceased.

Duan was hit by seven or eight bolts, blood staining his scholar’s robe, severely injured, clashing fiercely with Cui Xu.

Meng Qi slowly rose, his back and sides bristling with crossbows, blood flowing, dyeing the arrows and his white robe red. His face slightly golden, he resembled a hellish demon rather than a monk.

His injuries were grave. Without the Golden Bell Shield’s damage reduction, he would’ve died long ago. Even so, the shield was on the verge of breaking.

“Break!” He roared, charging fiercely at the ice wall ahead.

Though the Golden Bell Shield was nearly shattered, Meng Qi still had internal strength left, his power from the shield intact. With a loud crash, the ice wall cracked.

As the ice shattered, You Tongguang calmly struck with both palms, aiming to kill Meng Qi while he was severely injured and off-balance.

At that moment, he saw something in Meng Qi’s hand—a black tube!