If Jiang Zuo remembered correctly, this place was very dangerous.
He didn’t know if the danger was caused by this Secret Realm, but after the danger here had taken form in his previous life, not even Jiu Xi had dared to venture into its deepest parts.
However, that thing didn’t dare to come out, either. If it came out, it couldn’t defeat Jiu Xi.
So it could only cower inside.
The first time it met Jiang Zuo, it didn’t recognize him at all.
It was even especially arrogant. Back then, many Sects had already been wiped out, and Jiu Xi was practically the strongest being in existence.
If the strongest couldn’t do anything about it, what chance did anyone else have?
Unfortunately, the outcome was tragic for it.
And in his previous life, this place was called the Cursed Land.
Jiang Zuo highly suspected that the Secret Realm was related to curses, because he had a Cursed Stone on him, and that stone had come from a Secret Realm.
Jiang Zuo briefly explained this to Jian Shisan.
Jian Shisan was surprised. "You’re saying this place is very likely related to curses?"
Jiang Zuo nodded. "Curses are nothing to you, and not a huge problem for me, but for Su Qi and the others, they’re fatal."
Most people know very little about curses. Furthermore, curses don’t follow any rules. They are like languages—there can be millions upon millions of different kinds.
It’s impossible to guard against them all.
For example, if Su Qi was hit with a curse that made her unable to have children, that would be a truly vile predicament.
Su Qi would definitely cry her eyes out.
————
Just as Jiang Zuo and his companion were about to arrive, Su Qi’s group was already there.
The Sword Cultivation Lineage had already received them and even gotten them settled in.
Only then did they learn that the Secret Realm had surfaced. They had also double-checked; it was indeed at the location recorded by the Holy Land.
But that wasn’t important for now.
What was important was that the Candidacy Saintess had just sent another video, and it seemed to be a very important one.
Qin Qianning’s resurrection plan, the Lord of the Immortal Spirit Mansion’s fury, and Qin Tian’s final words.
At this point, Su Qi asked, "So, should we help him kill that being from the Abyss?"
Jingyue said, "It depends on the situation. If we can kill it, we will. If we can’t, we won’t. What we need to be concerned about right now is whether that Candidacy Saintess is on Liyuan Island.
And if so, did something happen to Liyuan Island?"
Qing Lian immediately said, "Senior Sister, according to the latest news, half of Liyuan Island has sunk."
Jingyue froze, then looked at Su Qi.
Su Qi said with disgust, "It has nothing to do with my husband."
Jingyue said, "No, what I mean is, you weren’t there this time, so how did it sink? You’ve always been present wherever trouble has struck before."
Su Qi: "..., My Misfortune Coin isn’t that ridiculous."
Jingyue didn’t banter with Su Qi any longer and asked, "Does anyone know what happened?"
Qing Lian replied, "The official explanation is that a volcano erupted."
Everyone: "..."
’We’re all cultivators. Is it right to fob us off with an excuse like that?’
Jingyue said, "It’s highly likely something happened with the Abyss. I just don’t know what. I’ll make a call and ask."
Soon, Jingyue put down her phone.
Su Qi asked curiously, "Done?"
Jingyue shook her head.
Su Qi was curious. "So the call didn’t go through?"
With a dark expression, Jingyue shook her head again.
"Then what happened?" Su Qi was getting a little anxious.
Jingyue looked especially distressed. "My phone... ran out of credit..."
Su Qi: "..."
Qing Lian: "..., Holy Sister, you can borrow mine."
Jingyue then used Qing Lian’s phone to make the call, but unfortunately, it didn’t connect.
’The person on the other end is probably busy.’
"Looks like I’ll have to ask again later. But that Candidacy Saintess really knows how to stir up trouble. How long has it been, and she’s already triggered more information," Jingyue said, tossing the phone back to Qing Lian. Then she added, "Top up my phone with ten thousand in credit. I haven’t made many long-distance calls recently, how did I use it all up?"
Su Qi stared blankly at Jingyue. ’T-Ten thousand in phone credit?’
’That’s enough to cover her family’s expenses for several months.’
’Cultivators are so rich.’
Because she almost exclusively used her phone to contact Jiang Zuo, she didn’t use much credit, so her bill was never high.
However, she never envied anyone. All of that was superficial; only her husband was real and tangible.
Others couldn’t have what she had, even if they were envious.
Though no one had ever been envious of her, that made her even happier.
Thinking about it made her miss her husband again. ’If only I could see him now.’
At that moment, Jiang Zuo was already in the sky above the Sword Cultivation Lineage, but he didn’t descend.
He said to Jian Shisan, "I can’t move around with Su Qi and the others, so after we meet, I’ll have to go back into Concealment. We’ll just say you sent me back."
Jian Shisan nodded. "I don’t have a problem with that, but are you sure you’ll be alright?"
Jiang Zuo said calmly, "I’ll be fine. The worst that can happen is I get my legs broken. I’ll just be bedridden for a year or so afterward. I won’t actually die."
Jian Shisan: "..."
Since Jiang Zuo had put it that way, what more could he say? He then brought Jiang Zuo to the courtyard where Su Qi and the others were staying.
No one was aware of Jian Shisan and Jiang Zuo’s arrival.
The Arrays couldn’t block Jiang Zuo, and none of the publicly known experts here were a match for Jian Shisan. So, it was impossible for them to be discovered.
"Should I stay?" Jian Shisan asked.
Jiang Zuo shook his head. "No need. I’ll just say you sent me over with a flash of sword light. After all, our appearance on Liyuan Island is bound to be discovered.
If we don’t handle it well, Su Qi and the others might find out prematurely."
Jian Shisan said, "Will a third person need to show up? It’s not a big deal for me, but if my junior sister asks me, I can’t lie to her."
"We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. It’s not a big problem." With that, Jiang Zuo went to knock on the door.
Jian Shisan retreated as well.
KNOCK KNOCK
Jiang Zuo knocked a few times.
The door was then opened, and Jiang Zuo saw a little girl. Right, it was the youngest Candidacy Saintess, Xiaoxiao.
Jiang Zuo said to Xiaoxiao, "Have your Senior Sister Jiu Xi come and open the door again."
After saying that, Jiang Zuo casually closed the door.
Xiaoxiao was still dazed. ’I’ve definitely seen this person before.’ But what he said also left her stunned for a moment.
Xiaoxiao then returned to where the others were gathered. Su Qi asked, "What is it? Is someone from the Sword Cultivation Lineage looking for us?"
Xiaoxiao shook her head. She didn’t know what to say.
KNOCK KNOCK~~
Just then, the door was knocked on again.
Xueyu said, "I’ll go see. Xiaoxiao is still young and doesn’t know much. It wouldn’t be good to trouble others."
Xueyu then opened the door. When she saw Jiang Zuo with a smile on his face, she was taken aback for a moment.
And Jiang Zuo’s smile instantly vanished.
Jiang Zuo: "..."
"Can you have your Senior Sister Jiu Xi come and open the door?" After speaking, Jiang Zuo reached out and closed the door again.
After the door was closed, Xueyu thought in surprise: ’So this person can actually smile.’
Seeing Xueyu return, Jingyue also asked, "What was it?"
KNOCK KNOCK~
At that moment, the knocking sounded again.
Yiruo got up. ’It must be my turn,’ she thought.
However, Xueyu grabbed Yiruo and said to Su Qi, "Senior Sister, you go open the door. Maybe you’ll understand."
Jingyue commented casually, "Her husband is here?"
Xueyu: "..."
Xiaoxiao: "..."
Su Qi, however, rolled her eyes and went to open the door.