Chương 159: Chapter 48: The Incurable Hehuan Powder

"Heh," a voice rasped, cutting through the stagnant air of the Trial Realm.

"You've finally arrived, Junior Sister. With your presence, our trinity is complete." Li Zhupu descended like a falling petal, her robes fluttering as she touched the parched earth. She offered a graceful, measured bow to the two men awaiting her.

"My greetings to Senior Brother Yang and Daoist Zi," she said, her voice carrying a hint of genuine relief. Zi Luanxing nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips, though his eyes remained sharp and calculating. He turned his gaze toward his companion.

"Cousin, now that we are all here, is it not time? We should reveal the map and seek out that ancient secret realm before the window of opportunity slams shut." Yang Dawei's expression was grim, the weight of leadership pressing heavily upon his brow.

"Indeed. Exploring such a primordial site is an unpredictable endeavor. We have but a single month within this Trial Realm, and time is a resource we cannot afford to squander." He paused, his voice dropping an octave, turning cold.

"Once the secret realm is plundered, we still have the Mu Jade Sword to contend with. We move immediately." Few in the outside world knew the truth: Yang Dawei and Zi Luanxing shared a blood bond as cousins. In the cutthroat world of cultivation, such secrets were more valuable than spirit stones.

"However," Yang Dawei added, his hand hovering over his storage bag, "I must make one thing absolutely clear. Before we step a foot further, we shall all swear a Heart-Demon Oath. No betrayals. No backstabbing. We stand or fall together." In a world where siblings would slit each other's throats for a Tier-4 pill, blood was often thinner than water. The Heart-Demon Oath was the only shackle strong enough to bind their ambitions. Li Zhupu and Zi Luanxing exchanged a knowing look and nodded.

The air grew heavy as the three cultivators invoked the forbidden vow, the spiritual resonance of the oath etching itself into their very souls.

"The map," Yang Dawei commanded, his breath hitching slightly. Simultaneously, the three reached into their storage bags. In the center of their circle, three jagged fragments of azure jade appeared, hovering in their palms. As the pieces drew near, a hum of ancient power vibrated through the air. Clack! The fragments leaped from their hands, drawn together by an invisible, magnetic force.

A blinding flash of cerulean light erupted, and when it faded, a single, complete jade slip floated before them, covered in intricate, pulsing runes that seemed to breathe with the rhythm of a bygone era.... The One-Line Gorge was a scar upon the earth, a narrow chasm barely fifty feet wide, flanked by towering cliffs that seemed to lean inward as if trying to crush any who dared enter.

The rock faces were slick with a strange, bioluminescent moss—oily to the touch and emitting a cloying, sickly-sweet fragrance that clung to the back of the throat. Beyond this claustrophobic pass lay the exit of the Trial Realm. The rules were absolute: those bearing the Mu Jade Sword could not use the Trial Stones to teleport. They were forced to run the gauntlet, reaching the Great Gate at the end of the month. This novel is published on a different platform.

Support the original author by finding the official source. High atop the twin peaks of the gorge, two figures stood like statues, overlooking the killing ground below. On the left stood Wei Qubing, the scion of the Three Thousand Dao Sect. His robes were embroidered with a chaotic tapestry of beasts and celestial bodies, and he wore a permanent, effortless smile that never quite reached his eyes. Opposite him, shrouded in shadows on the western peak, was Yin Wuyu, the Young Sect Master of the Supreme Demon Sect.

He was a pillar of dark intent, his black robes swallowing the light, his gaze filled with a tyrannical arrogance that demanded submission from the very wind. The Three Thousand Dao Sect and the Supreme Demon Sect were the titans of Huizhou, second only to the Mu Family. One stood for the righteous path, the other for the demonic, and their history was written in centuries of blood.

"Wei Qubing," Yin Wuyu's voice boomed, cutting through the howling gale of the high altitudes.

"There is a shadow of doubt in my mind. Perhaps you can enlighten me?" Wei Qubing adjusted his sleeves, his demeanor as calm as a mountain lake.

"Ask, Daoist Yin. I am listening."

"We were scattered randomly upon entry," Yin Wuyu said, his eyes narrowing into slits.

"The Trial Stones only provide guidance in the final three days. And yet, here you are, weeks early. How?" Wei Qubing chuckled, a sound like wind chimes.

"Master Sanye of your Supreme Demon Sect is truly a marvel. To spend centuries mastering restrictions and arrays just to find a shortcut through the Trial Realm's spatial laws... it is commendable." He looked directly at his rival.

"You already suspected we had a mole, Yin Wuyu. Why play these games?" Yin Wuyu's face went unnervingly still.

"The Three Thousand Dao Sect plays a long game. To have a spy buried deep enough to witness Master Sanye's secret arts... impressive. There are fewer than ten people who knew of that method."

"Do not fret," Wei Qubing said smoothly.

"That individual has already departed. You will not find them in your sect again."

"Hmph. It saves me the trouble of a messy execution," Yin Wuyu replied. He stood tall, his battle intent erupting like a volcano, shaking the very foundation of the cliff.

"Since we are both here, let us settle the terms. This gorge shall be the boundary. You take one side, I take the other. We harvest the Mu Jade Swords from the rabble as they arrive." Wei Qubing rose, his aura expanding to meet the demonic pressure.

"And once the 'rabble' is cleared, you and I shall have our final reckoning. Let the world finally know which sect produces the true sovereign of this generation."

"You know me too well, Wei Qubing."

"The man who wishes to kill you always knows you best." Their laughter merged—one airy and light, the other guttural and fierce—echoing through the gorge like the roar of a dragon and a tiger clashing in the clouds.... Deep within a secluded cavern, hidden by jagged rocks and thick overgrowth, a haunting sound drifted through the shadows. It was the low, rhythmic moaning of a woman, a sound that rose and fell with a desperate, feverish intensity.

Half an hour passed before a final, piercing cry shattered the silence, followed by a heavy, suffocating stillness, broken only by the sound of ragged breathing. At the cave's entrance, Reyn sat cross-legged, his back to the interior. Only when the sounds finally ceased did his rigid shoulders begin to relax. He exhaled a long, shaky breath, his fingers trembling slightly against his knees. He circulated his cultivation base, forcing the icy Qi through his meridians to quell the fire burning in his lower abdomen.

It took several minutes of intense focus to regain his composure. A bitter smile touched his lips. He had stumbled upon the three disciples of the Yin-Yang Joy Sect as they were cornering Ling You'er. He had acted without hesitation, slaughtering the three predators and rescuing the girl. But the victory felt hollow. After searching their storage bags, Reyn had discovered a terrifying truth. The Hehuan Powder used by the Yin-Yang Joy Sect was a masterpiece of depravity. There was no antidote.

No pill, no spell, no infusion could break its hold. The victim simply had to endure the madness for a full day until the medicinal essence burned itself out.