NOVEL NEXT Chapter 47: But You Are Different from Them
“The Li Family from Tianyuan City?”
The head of the Chen family’s face grew tense as he turned to ask in a heavy voice, “Are you certain?”
The Li Family from Tianyuan City—those five words carried a weight too significant to ignore.
Within a radius of hundreds of miles dominated by the Profound Sun Sect, the Li Family from Tianyuan City stood as a power second only to the sect itself, with numerous rumored experts at the Life and Death Realm within the family.
What’s more, Tianyuan City was even more prosperous than Luoye City, with the Li Family ruling it single-handedly.
Unlike Luoye City, where several families constantly restrained one another, Tianyuan City was entirely under Li Family control.
If avoidable, it was best not to provoke the Li Family at all.
“Yes,” Guardian Jiang confirmed, nodding. “Just yesterday, the eldest Young Master of the Li Family visited the Qin family residence. According to the servants, it seems a marriage alliance has already been arranged between the two families.”
“The Eldest Young Master of the Li Family? Not the second Young Master?” the Chen family head inquired once more.
“Yes, it was indeed the eldest Young Master.”
“A masterstroke by Qin Tianhai!” The Chen family head’s eyes narrowed, gleaming with a chilling light.
He wasn’t foolish; he quickly saw the strategy at play.
The Li Family’s eldest young master, known for his impressive talent, had reportedly already joined the Profound Sun Sect.
And now, Qin Tianhai is marrying his daughter to him.
Wasn’t it obvious that Qin Tianhai was hoping to align himself with two great powers in one move?
“No wonder he dared to cripple my son’s abilities and even detain him. Turns out, he found himself two powerful backers!”
Guardian Jiang’s expression was peculiar as he pondered aloud, “From what I’ve heard, it wasn’t Qin Tianhai who crippled our young master’s cultivation. It was actually a steward from the Li Family, and the person who seriously injured Guardian Han was the eldest Young Master of the Li Family himself.”
“What?” The Chen family head turned sharply, his entire body exuding murderous intent that almost felt tangible.
“The Li Family has gone too far! Do they truly believe that my Chen family is easy to bully?”
“Family Head, at this very moment, a golden opportunity has presented itself,” Guardian Jiang remarked at just the right time.
“What kind of opportunity?” the Chen family head asked.
Guardian Jiang didn’t beat around the bush, quickly explaining, “Early this morning, I found out that the eldest Young Master of the Li Family and Qin Xueyi have left the city.”
“After searching outside the city for half a day, I spoke to a local who claimed to have seen a streak of light heading southwest!”
“Oh?” The Chen family head’s eyebrows lifted, and a smirk emerged in his eyes.
Leaving the city at a time like this—did they truly think the Chen family would take this lying down and wouldn’t dare to act?
The only thing giving him pause was the source of Guardian Jiang’s information; it was gathered from a common villager, meaning there was a possibility of mistaken identity.
The streak of light might not have been Li Xun and Qin Xueyi at all, and sending people to chase them could result in pursuing the wrong targets.
But even so…
Even if there was just a one percent chance, it was worth the gamble.
“Guardian Jiang, take two other Guardians with you and head southwest to see if you can track them down. If you find any trace of them, remember to be thorough.”
“Yes, sir!” With that, Guardian Jiang turned and left.
After Guardian Jiang departed, the Chen family head turned his gaze to a few other attendants in the hall. “You all gather some men and watch the area within a hundred miles of Luoye City. If you see Li Xun and Qin Xueyi returning, report to me immediately!”
“Yes, sir!” The attendants bowed and quickly departed.
<+>
“You’re a bit different than you were yesterday.”
High above, several thousand miles away from Luoye City, Qin Xueyi cast a glance at Li Xun, her gaze sparkling.
“Am I?” Li Xun chuckled lightly. “Can you tell what’s different, Miss Qin?”
“You’ve grown stronger!” Qin Xueyi replied earnestly.
“The world of cultivation is about fighting against the heavens for survival. Only by becoming stronger can one have a chance to live,” Li Xun said in an even tone.
“But you’re different from them…” Qin Xueyi stopped short of finishing her thought.
She gave Li Xun a long look, then glanced out the window and said, “Young Master Li, we’ve arrived. Let’s descend.”
“Alright.” Li Xun nodded.
Shortly afterward, the two of them disembarked from the spirit vessel and arrived at a vast, open plain.
The vegetation here was sparse, and the surroundings were mostly barren, making it hard to believe that this desolate place could hide the fortune of a sage.
Following her memories from her past life, Qin Xueyi stepped forward, moving to a small hill, where she began to form a series of seals with her hands.
One after another, symbols burst from her palms, radiant and suspended in the air, linking together in an indescribable formation.
Humm!
As the final symbol settled, the void shattered, and a rift about three feet high appeared before Qin Xueyi, wide enough for several people to pass through side by side.
Through the opening, one could just make out the scene beyond.
It was a bleak, blood-red landscape where everything had withered.
Towering trees stood dead and bare, desolate and lifeless, casting a feeling of immense desolation.
“Young Master Li, we can enter now,” Qin Xueyi called and stepped forward, entering the rift.
Upon entering this blood-red realm, they were hit by an intense wave of spiritual energy.
Though this place had fallen into complete silence, the richness of its spiritual energy was incomparable to that of the outside world.
Qin Xueyi’s gaze swept the area, and when she spotted a palace atop a nearby peak that was still intact, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Despite many events veering from her original memories, fortunately, no one had yet set foot in this sacred opportunity.
“You seem very familiar with this place,” Li Xun’s voice drifted from behind Qin Xueyi.
This comment made Qin Xueyi’s heart skip, and her body grew tense.
She quickly replied, “How could I be? This is my first time here too. I only heard a description of it when I learned of this opportunity.”
“Oh, really?” Li Xun stepped forward, standing next to her with a faint, amused look in his eyes, gazing at her without blinking.
Under Li Xun’s steady gaze, Qin Xueyi finally conceded, turning away to walk toward the distant peak.
She said as she walked, “The gateway outside will remain open until we exit. To avoid attracting anyone else’s attention, we should hurry and find this opportunity.”
“Agreed.” Li Xun followed half a step behind her.
Soon, they reached the base of the mountain.
It wasn’t tall, only about a thousand meters, with a single path leading up—a stairway of white jade.
On either side of the stairs, thick vines twisted like ancient dragons, intertwining and climbing everywhere.
However, these vines had lost their original luster and were all an ashen, deathly gray.
Without much hesitation, Qin Xueyi approached the steps and ascended directly.
Seeing this, a contemplative look flickered in Li Xun’s eyes.
Generally, upon entering an unfamiliar secret realm, anyone would first try to assess whether there were any hidden dangers before rushing to seek treasures.
But now, Qin Xueyi seemed completely unaware of such risks as she climbed the white jade stairs.
If there was any deadly trap on those stairs, Qin Xueyi might not survive.
‘So, is it fearlessness born of ignorance, or did she already know what to expect here?’