Chapter 427: Each with Their Own Agenda

Chapter 427: Scheming Hearts

The Celestial Stele was, in fact, made of stone.

Its peak was jagged and slanted, as if a fragment had broken off, and the whole was composed of diamond-shaped stones.

Its face was covered in densely carved characters.

At a glance, Zhen Suren couldn’t immediately grasp its entirety.

However, he could tell that much of it was the so-called medical classic.

Looking further down, it listed several sections, completely unlike the text above.

Three sections belonged together, titled 'HeavenMending Art.'

The remaining two sections each had a title—one was called: "Life and Death Tribulation."

The final section was marked with two words: "Last Testament."

These last two sections were distinctly different from the HeavenMending Art and the medical classic content.

Clearly, they had been inscribed by later generations.

The depth of the carvings, the strokes, and the handwriting were all markedly different from the earlier content.

Skimming quickly, Zhen Suren barely managed to read a few lines of the "Life and Death Tribulation," only to find its content profound and difficult to comprehend—even more complex than the medical classic.

His eyes chased the characters, but after just a few lines, visions swarmed his mind.

He quickly steadied himself with an internal surge of energy, not daring to read further.

Yet when his gaze fell upon the "Last Testament," he discovered that its opening lines were a historical account.

"The Xuan Emperor decreed, harnessing the Celestial Stele’s power, to forge an elixir of immortality."

"His ministers dissuaded him, claiming its completion would invite divine wrath."

"The Emperor raged, and bloodshed filled the palace."

"Later, the Hidden Physician was appointed as the Sage, charged with crafting the divine elixir in the Armory."

"Terrified, the Sage fled across the sea with the Celestial Stele before the elixir could be completed..."

"This is..."

Zhen Suren’s pupils contracted slightly:

"The Celestial Stele truly is connected to immortality...

"And the Dragonwood Island line is indeed the descendants of the Hidden Physician Sect from those days.

"They refused to refine the elixir of immortality for the Xuan Emperor, which is why they fled with the Celestial Stele.

"Yet... they likely never anticipated this.

"They refused to craft the elixir of immortality for the Xuan Emperor.

"But their descendants are also chasing immortality."

"The body-swapping art, stealing human bodies...

"All for this very purpose!

"And compared to the Xuan Emperor, their methods are far more gruesome."

As these thoughts crossed his mind, he couldn’t help but sigh softly.

He had naturally heard of the Veiled Physicians Sect’s legends before, even more than Gai Huatuo knew.

Each of them was an unrivaled medical virtuoso.

Yet who would have thought that the heirs of the sect’s Sage would not only stray from the right path but now even squander the skills passed down by their ancestors?

Otherwise, why would the Island Master need to seek help from outside the island?

Obsessing over this so-called immortality—could it be that they’re putting the cart before the horse?

Zhen Suren’s mind raced until his gaze finally settled on Shi Cheng.

Beneath his calm expression, a trace of helplessness lingered.

"How did you end up sprawled here after all this wandering...

"But perhaps it’s for the best. Once the Longmu Island Master finishes imparting his neigong, I’ll save you.

"I’ll take the Celestial Stele, you’ll take the internal energy—we’ll be in and out like shadows.

"That Chief Escort Su thinks he’s clever, but he’s just the ideal decoy to keep the people of Longmu Island occupied outside.

"By the time we’re done, we’ll leave old Su scraping the barrel—not even a speck of dust!"

The thought nearly made him chuckle darkly.

But then, for some reason, his mood darkened again.

Just as he was lost in thought, he saw the Island Master heave with effort to lift the radiant Celestial Stele from the sedan chair.

Though his strength was immense, his panting came from his ailing body.

Yet the Celestial Stele might as well have been a feather in his hands.

Casually placing it before him, he exhaled deeply, gently stroked the stone surface of the stele, then tapped it with a fingertip.

A low, throbbing hum!

A faint, eerie luminescence rose from the Celestial Stele, instantly enveloping the surroundings.

Zhen Suren felt his heart lurched, his qi and blood roiled unbidden.

Even more startling, the circulation of his neigong accelerated slightly beyond its usual pace.

In such a state, if one were to cultivate inner techniques...

Would the results yield double the progress?

As his schemes unfolded, he heard the Longmu Island Master sigh:

"The HeavenMending Art... the HeavenMending Art...

"Success lies in the HeavenMending Art, and so does failure.

"Trapping oneself in a self-made prison—fate is hard to change.

"Am I truly the master of the Celestial Stele... or is the stele my master?

"Today, I gamble everything on this one chance...

"Can it truly grant me one last glimmer of hope?

"Two hundred swift years...

"Yet the past still haunts me..."

Muttering thus, he spoke no more, sitting cross-legged, his posture was mountain-steady.

His gaze flashed like lightning as his mystic art circulated. The motionless 'Shi Cheng' lying on the stone bed was levitated by his sheer energy.

Floating through the air, he came to rest above the Island Master, their Baihui pressure points aligned.

Their heads faced each other as the Island Master spread his hands. 'Shi Cheng's' hands naturally mirrored the motion—one palm facing upward, the other downward.

Their fingers locked together, and a torrent of energy burst upward.

"Ugh!"

A guttural groan escaped 'Shi Cheng's' lips as his face contorted in agony. Boundless inner force seared through his veins, not following its natural pathways but ravaging his meridians, accelerating his blood flow until his heart thundered in his chest.

Earlier, 'Zhen Suren' had been stunned by the Island Master's words, sensing something was wrong.

Now, seeing this, the truth dawned on him.

Success lies in the HeavenMending Art, and so does failure!

There must be a deep connection between the HeavenMending Art and the Celestial Stele.

Was the Island Master truly transferring the entire HeavenMending Art to Shi Cheng?

Or... did he have an ulterior motive?

What was that lifeline he craved?

His mind raced, yet he held back, wary of intervening now.

Whatever the Island Master intended, this was a pivotal moment.

Interfering now would spell disaster—both to the Island Master and to Shi Cheng.

The Island Master's death was inconsequential, but Shi Cheng must not perish.

Thus, 'Zhen Suren' could only brace himself and bide his time.

The Lord of Longmu Island's inner force was unfathomably powerful.

A full incense stick's time had passed, yet there was no sign of his qi waning in the slightest.

Only his once-swollen and vigorous body, as if a valve had been released, was visibly deflating at a rapid pace.

Meanwhile, 'Shi Cheng,' suspended above the Island Master's head, shook violently, limb by limb.

The deafening drumbeat of his heart never ceased, its booming echoes shaking everything around them.

As the internal energy continued to transfer, the rhythmic pounding of his heart even lifted every mote of dust in the cavern, sending them swirling into the air.

But just then, 'Zhen Suren' suddenly realized—Shi Cheng had opened his eyes at some point.

"You old bastard! This isn’t an energy transfer, is it?"

Shi Cheng spoke, his voice rasping and unnatural—this was nothing like Shi Cheng’s voice at all!

It was unmistakably the voice of the Lanternbearing Elder!

The Island Master’s expression also contorted in shock:

"How is it you!?

"You truly did inherit that traitor’s legacy and broke my heart-confounding poison!

"I was blind, to have trusted you!?"

His qi immediately shifted, seeking to repel him.

Yet the Lanternbearing Elder, Meng Feifan, tightened his grip on the Island Master’s hands, keeping their crown points locked together. His face twisted into a manic rictus:

"Traitor?

"Wasn’t that traitor also your own creation?

"Though I never expected—the Grand Physician spent his entire life trying to uncover all your secrets.

"Yet who would’ve thought you intended to exhaust your Heaven-Mending Art to temper my channels!

"Instead of bequeathing its power?

"It seems even the Grand Physician failed to see through your true aim!

"But no matter… how could I possibly refuse such a kind offer?

"You want to shake me off?

"That’s nothing but delusion!

"Today, I’ll take both the channel tempering you offer—and this entire Heaven-Mending Art as well!!"

"Bastard!!!"

The Lord of Longmu Island bellowed in rage, yet at this moment, he could no longer dislodge Meng Feifan.

Their qi was now locked.

At first, the upper hand had belonged entirely to the Lord of Longmu Island.

But now, control was now evenly divided, each holding half.

The Lord of Longmu Island indeed wanted to withdraw his profound art, but Meng Feifan was unwilling.

He insisted on stealing the Heaven-Mending Art from the Lord of Longmu Island.

Having already mastered the first three layers of the Heaven-Mending Art's internal techniques, he barely held on as these energies merged with his own and circulated according to the method.

For the first half of the time it took an incense stick to burn, the Lord of Longmu Island had been using the Heaven-Mending Art to cleanse Meng Feifan’s meridians and refine his constitution.

He had done this precisely because he did not wish to bequeath this complete legacy of the Heaven-Mending Art.

Thus, he would rather let his profound art dissipate entirely in hopes of carving his own path for himself.

Yet, to his shock, his efforts had only allowed Meng Feifan to get a free ride.

Now, filled with shock and rage, he suddenly nodded repeatedly:

"Very well! If you want it, then I shall give you everything!!!"

With these words, he unleashed the art without reserve.

Like storm-driven tides, his inner energy surged in overwhelming layers, flooding into Meng Feifan’s crown point (Baihui).

In an instant, it coursed through his entire body!

Earlier, when the Lord of Longmu Island had tried to shake off this "leech clinging to bone," Meng Feifan’s dogged theft had only allowed him to seize a fraction.

With the three-layered internal techniques of the Heaven-Mending Art, he had barely managed to stabilize the situation.

But now, with the Lord of Longmu Island "releasing the deluge," the sudden torrent of energy left Meng Feifan’s bones trembling and his meridians burning in agony.

Unable to endure, he let out a blood-curdling shriek!

Outside the cave, the Thirty-Two Laws kept watch.

Yet, during the Lord of Longmu Island’s transmission of power, no one was permitted to enter under any circumstances—this was an unbreakable commandment.

Controlled by the soul-dulling toxin, they lacked the capacity for independent thought.

Their only duty was to ward off outsiders.

Thus, they remained utterly indifferent to the events inside the cave.

Even the deafening cries did not make them so much as glance back.

As for Zhen Suren inside the cave, having watched the whole ordeal up to this point, he finally understood what was happening.

"Shi Cheng was replaced!?

Then why am I still waiting?"

With a single thought, he exploded into motion.

In the blink of an eye, he reached the Sky Monument.

He made a grab for it!

"What?"

In that instant, both the Lord of Longmu Island and Meng Feifan were stunned.

At this pivotal moment, who is this person now?

As their auras intertwined, it was unclear whether their minds synced as well.

Oddly, their minds aligned—the four tightly clasped hands suddenly loosened two.

Formless palm strikes arcing from a distance, splitting into upper and lower paths to intercept Zhen Suren from both above and below.

Zhen Suren twisted mid-air, his movements as agile as a soaring dragon, darting effortlessly through the two streams of palm force.

Then, he flipped in the air and alighted smoothly, landing atop the Celestial Stele.

"Why bother with me?

"Once I take the Celestial Stele, I’ll leave at once!

"You two can keep at your deathmatch.

"Sounds ideal, no?"

His quip earned him two more palm blasts.

At this point, Zhen Suren wasted no more time. Though Lord of Longmu Island had spent the time it takes an incense stick to burn dispersing his power to cleanse Meng Feifan’s meridians,

even so, their pooled internal energy was formidable.

Dodging forever meant certain failure.

Might as well probe their limits—if he could kill them both here, all the better.

If not, he could simply seize the Celestial Stele and escape.

Immediately, he channeled his energy through his meridians, freezing moisture into ice. Countless shimmering ice crystals formed around him, transforming into glinting needles.

With a sweep of his hands,

a silver flash erupted as the ice needles scattered wildly.

The moment they clashed with the two streams of palm force, the needles sliced through the stacked force, closing in on the two men.

But just then, a bone-shaking hum exploded.

From both above and below, an explosive surge of inner force erupted, halting the ice needles just three inches from their bodies, leaving them trembling in mid-air!

Then, the needles came ricocheting back.

Thousands of ice needles merged into a howling ice dragon, counterattacking Zhen Suren.

With a light tap of his foot, Zhen Suren leaped upward, riding the needles like stepping stones as they struck the cave wall behind him.

The impact shook the cavern walls, leaving countless tiny holes in its surface.

Even Zhen Suren felt his pupils contract at the sight:

"What formidable internal power!"

"This is the Arcane Ice Seven Ultimates… Who exactly are you?"

Meng Feifan, witnessing this, burst out in rage:

"Among the escaped pharmaceutical slaves from our Longmu Island in the past, one was taught this skill by the Grand Physician."

"Your sneaky behavior is not the style of the Dragon King Hall."

"You... are you the disciple of that medicine slave?"

"Such words truly cut deep."

Zhen Suren chuckled:

"To be frank, I am merely a good Samaritan drifting through the South Sea."

"Several years ago, while sailing by chance, I found a man floating unconscious in the water."

"Being kind-hearted, I naturally couldn’t let him end up as shark bait, so I rescued him."

"In gratitude for saving his life, he spilled his secrets to me."

"Of course, putting the pieces together took several years."

"Only recently did I manage to make my way here, with the sole purpose of avenging him..."

"But now it seems killing you both may prove difficult."

"Fortunately, the Island Master’s choice to hand down his mantle coincides with the perfect opportunity to leave the island."

"Today, I may let revenge slide."

"Taking the Celestial Stele as a little interest—surely that's fair, right?"

This was utter nonsense!

Both the Island Master and Meng Feifan weren't buying it.

The so-called kind-hearted man?

Whether he truly saved anyone was dubious, but vengeance?

He had never even considered it.

His goal here was undoubtedly the Celestial Stele!

Where the hell did this troublemaker come from?

Earlier, he disguised himself as a member of the Dragon King Hall, killing people in the Sutra Vault.

He drew everyone's eyes on Longmu Island toward hunting the Dragon King Hall.

No one suspected he was hiding in the Sutra Vault, let alone that he’d be selected as a standout pick to participate in this private ceremony!

Now, with the advantage lost and both men pinned down, though he couldn’t harm them, they couldn't lift a finger to stop him from seizing the Celestial Stele!

"You damn bastard! Without the Celestial Stele, we're both dead men!"

The Lord of Longmu Island bellowed:

"Get the hell out!"

He sneered, "If I leave now, wouldn’t I be abandoning this golden opportunity that'll never come again?"

Meng Feifan gave a cold laugh:

"Since he wants to take the Celestial Stele, let him have it..."

"You don't know shit!"

The Lord of Longmu Island exploded in anger.

‘Zhen Suren,’ however, was done with their arguing. With a swift kick, he sent the Celestial Stele skyward. As it spun with a whooshing sound, he reached out and caught it, hefting it onto his shoulder:

"Later!"

With that, he turned to leave.

But the next moment, he froze mid-step.

Sweat beaded on his brow.

The Lord of Longmu Island and Meng Feifan also felt something was off, though their vision was obstructed, blocking their view of what ‘Zhen Suren’ had noticed.

Then, a voice laughed lightly:

"Brother Ye... this isn't exactly what you told me earlier."

"Pretty sure you said you were a disciple of the Grand Physician?"

"......"

‘Zhen Suren’—or rather, Ye Youchen—stared at the young man who had somehow appeared behind him, piggybacking a girl. He let out a hollow laugh:

"Chief Escort Su... do you always have to pop up out of nowhere?"

"Perhaps... there’s been some misunderstanding?"

"Mind if I explain?"

"No need."

Su Mo shook his head. "There are only two things Brother Ye needs to do now."

"...Do tell, Chief Escort Su."

"Drop that stele."

Su Mo pointed at the Celestial Stele on his shoulder.

Wordlessly, Ye Youchen dropped it like it was hot.

Then, he pasted on a tense grin:

"And then?"

"The second matter... no need for you to lift a finger."

As the words fell, a finger-strike lashed out.

Ye Youchen’s body blurred like the wind, barely dodging the strike.

"Chief Escort Su’s martial prowess is unmatched. This ‘lesson’ of yours... Ouch!"

Before he could finish his words, a large foot was already planted on his face.

He was sent flying back from the kick.

While still midair, Su Mo hit several pressure points. Upon landing, he remained in a mid-kick pose, butt in the air, and collapsed completely stiff onto the ground, his entire body rigid to the extreme.

He couldn’t even move his eyeballs.

Su Mo then floated down lightly from midair.

Glancing at Meng Feifan, who was hovering over the Lord of Longmu Island, he sighed:

"Senior Meng, this wasn’t the plan."

"...It seems Shi Cheng couldn’t hold you back after all."

Meng Feifan’s face fell. According to his calculations, Su Mo was supposed to show up way later—by then, everything would have been over.

Yet now, how’d he get here so fast?

Were the Thirty-Two Laws just standing around?

"Shi Cheng?"

Su Mo blinked in confusion. "When did he try to stop me? I never saw him..."