Chapter Forty: The Situation Has Changed

“Jue’er!”
On the high stands, an elderly man in blue robes stood up uneasily as he watched Sen Fengjue defeated under the blade of the black-clad youth.
“Brother Sen Feng, there’s no need to worry. Huan Chi is always measured in his actions—he won’t take Sen Fengjue’s life.”
A black-robed elder also rose, stopping Sen Fenghan’s urge to rush down from the stands.
“He’s yours?” Sen Fenghan turned to look at the black-robed man, a hint of coldness in his gaze.
The black-robed man smiled and nodded. “Indeed, he is my disciple.”
“He’d better be fine, or else…” Sen Fenghan snorted coldly, clearly dissatisfied, though inwardly surprised: When did this old monster take on a disciple?
“Given Sen Fengjue’s severe injuries and inability to continue, Huan Chi is the victor!”
The referee of the seventh sector announced loudly, and the crowd erupted into enthusiastic applause and cheers.
That match of Sen Fengjue’s had been the longest in the seventh round, so as soon as it ended, the eighth round began without delay.
On the Gathering Heroes Platform, the battles in the ten sectors were as fierce as ever, with many dazzling duels between powerful cultivators. Yet Ye Zihan’s mind was no longer on the platform; his thoughts followed that black-clad figure as it leapt from the stage.
“Teachers, what now?” Seeing the black-clad youth leave the ring and head outside, Ye Zihan inquired silently.
“Wait a moment,” Hong Yan replied. The youth’s immediate departure struck her as odd, and she sensed that the youth’s aura was fluctuating violently and was extremely unstable, which deepened her misgivings.
“The Seventh Elder is coming down,” Lan Yu also sensed the change in the youth’s aura, but she was more meticulous than Hong Yan and noticed the Fifth Elder’s movements on the stands.
“Zihan, follow him and observe,” instructed Hong Yan.
Ye Zihan nodded, whispered to Yan Chen that he was going to relieve himself, and, without waiting for a reply, trailed after the black-clad youth.
The youth walked swiftly, and soon left the Gathering Heroes Square, heading into a nearby alley.
Ye Zihan followed in secret, his sharp eyes noticing that the youth’s steps gradually lost their steadiness, and by the end he was even swaying on his feet.
Reaching the mouth of the alley, Ye Zihan peered inside. The alley was deserted and open, with no obstacles to hide behind. He hesitated to follow further.
Ye Zihan intended to wait until the youth had passed through before following, but, unexpectedly, the youth stopped in the middle of the alley and sat down heavily.
Ye Zihan quickly drew back lest he be discovered, but the youth merely sat there, gasping for breath, looking utterly spent.
Sensing the youth’s chaotic aura, Ye Zihan was perplexed: just moments ago on the stage, the youth had seemed completely at ease—how had he become so exhausted the moment he stepped off?
“Huan Chi, I warned you long ago—unless absolutely necessary, do not recklessly use spatial skills. Now you lack source energy, your limbs are weak, your breath labored, isn’t it so?”
Suddenly, an aged voice rang out from within the alley.
Ye Zihan was even more astonished, eager to peek out and see what was happening, but just then Lan Yu’s voice scolded in his mind: “Don’t move, Zihan! The Fifth Elder’s cultivation is extremely high. We can only conceal your aura—if you stick your head out and he sees you, we’re done for!”
Startled, Ye Zihan’s heart raced. Thankfully, Lan Yu’s warning came in time; otherwise, the consequences would have been dire.

Three hundred years ago, the Fifth Elder was already a Seven-Star powerhouse. Judging by his aura now, he seems close to breaking into the Eight Trigrams realm,” Hong Yan said in a low voice. Had she been at her peak, a Seven-Star expert would not worry her in the least, but in her current soul-state, defeating the Fifth Elder would be no easy task.
“Take this pill and circulate your source energy to absorb it. Otherwise, you won’t recover your peak by tomorrow. Moon-grade skills are not for you to wield in your current condition.”
The Fifth Elder’s voice came again from within the alley.
Then came the sound of swallowing—presumably Huan Chi was taking the pill as instructed.
The Fifth Elder paced back and forth before Huan Chi, hands behind his back, musing, “This Five Elements Gathering is the first step in our Illusory God Hall’s conquest of the Three Realms. We must not allow any mistakes. Though the four sects and five families of the Mortal Realm are strong, unless they unite, none can stand against us. If we act covertly, we can break them down one by one without difficulty.”
“Among the nine great powers of the Mortal Realm, the weakest is the Ye family—a declining clan with few talents left. We’ll start with them to pave our way forward!”
“Doesn’t the Ye family have a Ye Zixue? That girl who reached the Two Forms realm at ten—her talent can’t be inferior to mine, can it?” Huan Chi asked.
“That little girl’s talent is indeed extraordinary, but she’s not yet a threat. As long as we eliminate the three heads of the Ye family, the rest are of no consequence.”
The Seventh Elder paused, then added, “But as the saying goes, to eradicate weeds, one must pull out the roots. To prevent future troubles, Ye Zixue cannot be allowed to live. You’ll deal with her—make sure she’s killed!”
His voice was cold as ice, devoid of all emotion, as if the extermination of a family left him unmoved.
Ye Zihan was shaken to the core by these words. Though the Ye family had treated him with indifference, he still bore their name and blood. Now that someone sought to destroy his entire clan, how could he remain indifferent?
What’s more, his most cherished sister was still within the family—and according to the Seventh Elder, Ye Zixue was a primary target for assassination!
That girl, renowned as a genius, who still cared for him with such tenderness, who made him understand the power of blood ties—Ye Zihan had sworn as a child to protect her well.
Now, with someone plotting against Ye Zixue, how could he not be enraged? Bloodshot veins rose in his eyes.
“Who’s there!”
Ye Zihan’s fury made his body tremble, causing a scraping sound against the wall, which the keen-eared Seventh Elder instantly detected.
Having been discovered, Ye Zihan did not hesitate. He strode out boldly, crimson eyes fixed on the Seventh Elder, determined to see for himself what sort of creature dared threaten his sister.
Hong Yan and Lan Yu did not stop him from the shadows. They understood Ye Zihan’s pain and could empathize with his feelings. Besides, sooner or later they would have to confront the Illusory God Hall; facing just the Seventh Elder now, they still had a chance.
“Who are you?” The Seventh Elder frowned as Ye Zihan stormed out. If the youth had overheard his words, he could not be allowed to leave alive.
“A cultivator,” Ye Zihan answered coldly, his tone brimming with hostility.
“Oh?” Amused by such a perfunctory answer, the Seventh Elder scrutinized Ye Zihan. After a moment, as if sensing something, he said, “There seem to be two familiar auras on you?”
Ye Zihan’s heart lurched. Under the elder’s sharp, penetrating gaze, he felt as if his secrets were laid bare. Only then did he realize: within him dwelled his two teachers, and in his reckless outburst, he had exposed himself!
“This aura…” The Seventh Elder’s face clouded as if he struggled to recall something.
“Huan Kun, do you still remember me?”
Just then, Hong Yan’s voice rang out. Two ethereal figures emerged slowly from Ye Zihan’s body, coming to rest at his sides.
“Hong Yan?! Lan Yu?!”

Upon seeing their faces clearly, the Seventh Elder was shocked, crying out, “You’re still alive?”
“We’ve died once already, but by fortune, our souls remain. As long as the Illusory God Hall persists, we cannot rest in peace,” Hong Yan stared intently at the Seventh Elder, his gaze turning misty.
“Seventh Elder, it’s been three centuries. Have you been well?” Lan Yu’s melodious voice rang out, tinged with an icy chill.
“Thank you for your concern, Lady Lan Yu. I’ve fared well these years.” Realizing that Hong Yan and Lan Yu existed only in soul-form, the Seventh Elder was instantly at ease, a subtle, almost imperceptible smile flickering in his eyes.
Had these two been at their peak, he would stand no chance, but now, he was far more composed.
“How has the Illusory God Hall fared these years?” Hong Yan sighed deeply, asking the question.
Seeing an old acquaintance, even under such circumstances, brought a touch of melancholy.
“With the combined efforts of the elders, the Hall has developed smoothly,” the Seventh Elder replied with a sinister smile. “But it’s a pity we lack successors for the water and fire lineages.”
The black-clad youth looked on, puzzled—wasn’t the Hall’s only successor the Lord of the Purple Lightning Hall? Where had these two come from?
Over three centuries, the nine elders of the Illusory God Hall had erased all trace of Hong Yan and Lan Yu from the records.
“Why are you both in this state?” the Seventh Elder asked with feigned concern.
“It’s a long story, but I’m more interested in why the Illusory God Hall, which always kept out of worldly affairs, is now participating in mortal tournaments?” Lan Yu replied lightly, even as she quietly spread her aura for miles around, having silently agreed with Hong Yan to ensure the Seventh Elder could not escape. If he did, not only they but also Zihan would be at risk. The nine elders, each harboring their own sinister motives, would never let news of their survival reach the Lord of Purple Lightning, and might even resort to unspeakable deeds.
Those old wretches had coveted the original “Illusory God Codex” for ages. If they learned Hong Yan and Lan Yu were alive, they’d be worried—but also secretly delighted, for it meant the original Codex still existed in the world.
The Seventh Elder’s mind raced, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes at last. “In answer to Lady Lan Yu, the Hall has remained as before, but with the loss of you two, our strength has diminished. In recent years, powers from the Mortal Realm, Beast Domain, and Demon Prison have all pressured us, even trying to overthrow the Hall.”
At these words, Hong Yan’s brows creased, his tone turning harsh. “Hmph! It must be those factions again. Back then, they coveted the original Illusory God Codex when they visited the Hall. They’re still not satisfied—how persistent!”
He wore a look of fury, though it was merely an act for the Seventh Elder.
Both sides understood each other’s intent; both sought to outwit the other. Hong Yan and Lan Yu had resolved that, no matter the cost, the Seventh Elder must not escape—even if it meant killing him. The secret of Zihan cultivating the Codex could never be allowed to leak, or endless calamity would follow.
“Lord Hong Yan is absolutely right. Our participation in the Five Elements Gathering is meant to demonstrate the Hall’s true strength and deter those restless fools!” The Seventh Elder wore a mask of deference, which both puzzled and secretly alarmed the black-clad youth—what status must these two hold, to command such respect from the Elder?
Lan Yu and Hong Yan laughed coldly to themselves: the Elder’s words now were a far cry from his earlier speech—who could believe such lies?
Exchanging a glance, they both understood; their auras surged forth, and two tricolored beams shot violently at the Seventh Elder!
But the Elder was swift; the moment their power flared, he sensed danger, his figure darting back more than ten yards, a savage look twisting his features. He sneered, “With the fire and water successors gone, the Illusory God Hall has no need for your return. Today, I’ll send you on your way!”