Please, Young Master, Slay the Demon!
Chapter 444 - 23 Did I Come at the Wrong Time? [Thanks to the Alliance Hierarch Reward from "A Yi·Ever"]_1

Chapter 444: Chapter 23 Did I Come at the Wrong Time? [Thanks to the Alliance Hierarch Reward from "A Yi·Ever"]_1

The Law-enforcement Elder had given Chu Liang a detailed account of the origin of the Secret Realm.

In Ancient Times, there was a remarkable individual who made a thorough study of the Dao of Talisman and traveled across the Nine States and Four Seas, opening the gate to Rune Avenue, establishing the Talisman Immortal Sect to pass down to future generations. He was known as the "First Talisman Heavenly Master".

In the later Talisman Immortal Sect, attaining the title of "Talisman Heavenly Master" required not only control of the sect, but, more importantly, mastering all the talismans in the world, to become the Daoist Master of Runes.

But it was incredibly difficult.

Just as becoming a Talisman Master is a thousand times harder than becoming a cultivator, mastering Rune Avenue is a hundred times more difficult than mastering other avenues.

Because it does not only require an outstanding understanding but also outstanding wisdom. Only a once-in-a-thousand-year genius can do it.

In other words, you need a sharp mind.

Therefore, even after thousands of years of heritage in the Talisman Immortal Sect, only six "Talisman Heavenly Masters" emerged.

Though few in number, by virtue of the powerful abilities of the Talisman Masters, the Talisman Immortal Sect has always been among the top in the Nine States, comparable to today’s Nine Heavens Immortal Sect, during its existence.

However, precisely because of the scarcity of Talisman Masters, the loss of even one was tremendous. During the Chaos of the Demon God three thousand years ago, the Talisman Immortal Sect was on the brink of extinction.

The surviving disciples were few and far between. After barely maintaining for several generations, the heritage of the Talisman Immortal Sect was completely cut off, and it disappeared from the world.

Not long ago, thunderstorm suddenly erupted at the old site of the Talisman Immortal Sect, accompanied by the sounds of mountains collapsing and earth cracking, yet the world remained tranquil beyond the mountains.

This immediately attracted the attention of several Immortal Sects.

In the end, the Secret Realm was jointly discovered by the Six Clans Immortal Sects. In accordance with the customs of the Nine States, it was to be collectively developed by the six sects.

In fact, several smaller Immortal Sects also discovered the mysteries here, but because they didn’t have enough influence, they were all kicked out of the competition by the six sects. Since these six sects were also among the Nine Heavens, they couldn’t push each other out.

The first Elder who entered explored for a while and confirmed that this was once a Secret Realm used by the Talisman Immortal Sect to choose the First Talisman Heavenly Master’s successor. The six sects then agreed to each send a disciple to undergo the trial of inheritance.

This has led to this time’s exploration of the Secret Realm.

In the Immortal Cultivation World, it would be considered an unanticipated joint trial.

But for Chu Liang, this was a first-time experience... Is this world indeed constructed entirely of runes?

After he killed the Double-wing Flying Tiger, he felt the dissipating Origin of Life was nothing more than an incredibly delicate and complex Rune Array...

"’Huan Glyph’, ’Wind Rune’, ’Evil Rune’..." Chu Liang was carefully experiencing the Power of the runes contained within.

In the Law Protection Hall of Shu Mountain, he could disassemble each Talisman completely, but the aura left behind after the collapse of this beast left him clueless.

It was too complicated.

A Rune Array capable of evolving beasts like this might take him a year to draw even if he followed the blueprint.

After hesitating for a moment, he lifted his hand to draw a rune in the air, drawing out a Fire Rune.

Whoosh--

In an instant, a ball of fierce flames ignited out of thin air!

He then revealed a satisfied look. As expected, the power of the avenue was not forbidden here but could only be communicated with heaven and earth through runes.

Everything here is created through runes, and all divine skills have to be performed through runes.

What an ambitious move.

So far, he’s been through a few Secret Realms, but he’s never encountered one that could completely change the rules of the avenue’s operation.

It gives an indication of the depth of the First Talisman Heavenly Master’s cultivation.

...

After understanding the nature of this place, he prepared to leave. But when he reached the Main Gate, he found that the tightly closed door of the Main Hall could not be pushed open, even with all his Dragon Blood strength.

Both the front and back gates were the same.

What’s the matter?

Since this Secret Realm was for inheritance, it naturally wouldn’t imprison disciples. Therefore, this sealed door was likely to be a sort of test.

Chu Liang stepped back a few steps, and began to ponder.

After taking a careful look around, he found that the walls were not regular ones. Each wall had a fold in the middle.

Eight walls?

This immediately reminded him of the pattern of the eight diagrams.

"Wait a moment..." An idea suddenly flashed in Chu Liang’s mind, and he carefully recalled.

"The location where the beast appeared just now was..." He pointed to the side, "there, the Wind Rune... Xun?"

"So the ’Life Gate’ is..."

His gaze shifted to another direction, where a solid wall stood.

Chu Liang hesitated slightly, his gaze then turned resolute, he moved closer, attempted to push the wall, but it remained solid. After a moment of thought, he picked up the Mountain Rune and gave it a slight push.

Whoosh—

In an instant, brilliant light flickered, his figure seemed to be swallowed up by the wall. With a shimmer, he was already outside the Main Hall.

The sound of wind and thunder immediately filled his ears.

Outside was a vast mountain peak, seemingly boundlessly high, nearly reaching the sky. The entire sky was covered by gloomy clouds, and heavy rain was pouring down. The mountain peak was surrounded by dark floodwaters.

It seemed like an entire kingdom underwater.

At the edge of the mountain peak, a figure stood with its back to Chu Liang, looking into the distance.

Someone came out even faster than him?

Chu Liang looked at the figure’s back, identifying him as Ye Yongxing from the Tianshu Pavilion.

Sensing someone behind him, Ye Yongxing turned his head. His eyes were initially a bit flustered, but after seeing Chu Liang, he paused: "Eh?"

Having received assistance from Tianshu Pavilion several times before, Chu Liang gave him a small smile and a nod. Since Monk Pu Shan had mentioned that Ye Yongxing was somewhat introverted, Chu Liang didn’t take the initiative to greet him, afraid it might bother him.

Yet Ye Yongxing stared at Chu Liang with a puzzled look for quite a while.

Chu Liang felt a bit uncomfortable being scrutinized like this. Wasn’t he said to be someone who dreads seeing people?... So what does this staring at me mean?

Am I not a person?

Just as he was about to ask, he heard Ye Yongxing taking the initiative to ask: "Your name is Chu Liang?"

"Yes, it’s me..." Chu Liang replied.

"Strange." Ye Yongxing muttered to himself.

"Brother Ye, you..." Chu Liang smiled awkwardly, "What’s the matter?"

"My apologies." Ye Yongxing realized he was being somewhat impolite and hurriedly said: "I feel something different about you, Brother Chu, hence the distraction."

"Huh?" His words instantly alarmed Chu Liang.

Didn’t they say this guy had social anxiety? How come I’m the one feeling fearful now?

Noticing Chu Liang’s weird expression, Ye Yongxing seemed to realize his words were somewhat odd. He hesitated for a moment before asking: "Have you ever heard of ’Seeing the Underworld’?"

"Seeing the Underworld?" Chu Liang responded. "I’ve heard a little about it."

It’s an extremely powerful and profound Immortal Law, usually only those proficient in divination can cultivate it. It can reveal a person’s death omen, roughly foreseeing the manner and time of their death, giving some powerful beings the possibility of reversing destiny.

"During her pregnancy with me, my mother cultivated ’Seeing the Underworld’. I... was affected and was born with the eyes of the Underworld." Ye Yongxing slowly explained.

"Eyes of the Underworld?"

"When I look at people, I see their death..." Ye Yongxing said, "Even though it’s not as accurate as ’Seeing the Underworld’, it’s... very vivid."

Is that even possible?

With his explanation, Chu Liang understood what he meant by ’dreading seeing people’.

Since Ye Yongxing’s birth, every person he saw carried a terrifying visage of death. No wonder he dared not look at people.

"But what’s strange is..." Ye Yongxing continued, "I can’t see yours."

"Huh?" His words surprised Chu Liang.

But Chu Liang quickly figured it must be some existence residing within him that was concealing his destiny. For instance, the mysterious White Pagoda...

While they were having this conversation, Monk Pu Shan approached from another direction.

As soon as Monk Pu Shan escaped, he saw Chu Liang and Ye Yongxing conversing outside without any difficulties. He was slightly surprised, it seemed Ye Yongxing wasn’t as introverted as rumored. He seemed to be getting along well with Chu Liang who he’d just met. So, he assumed he could get along with him too.

So, he approached cheerfully and greeted them, "You’ve both made it out!"

He saw Ye Yongxing glanced at him, suddenly showing a peculiar expression in his eyes, then quickly lowering his head and half-turning away, seeming unwilling to look at him again.

"..." Monk Pu Shan paused mid-step.

Oh, is it that he’s not introverted around him, just around me?

Did I come at a bad time?