Ate, ate it?!

Jian Chou could hardly believe her ears: You said you had it covered, piece of cake, and now you’re telling me you ate it?!

“…”

An eerie silence.

Jian Chou looked at the little bookworm, which was still lying on that tattered, hole-riddled book page, trembling and shaking as if it had done something terribly wrong, wishing it could bury its head completely.

After a long while, Jian Chou finally managed to suppress her twitching mouth corners.

But still…

She couldn’t help but feel the urge to faint.

She spoke faintly: “Could I make you vomit it back up…”

This was just a joke.

But the little bookworm, upon hearing this, shrieked in fright, its voice trembling: “No way! Spitting out something I’ve eaten would be so disgusting!”

The pink-white light around its body had already turned into an extremely discordant pink color. A thin little leg stretched out pointing at Jian Chou, probably…

An accusatory expression?

Anyway, with something this small, Jian Chou really couldn’t tell which part was the “face” and which was the “body.”

Cough.

She made a fist and coughed into it, looking back to confirm no one had entered yet, then said: “Don’t worry, don’t worry. I naturally wouldn’t make you vomit up what you’ve eaten. It’s just that I’m in a hurry now. Do you perhaps remember what was written in that book?”

Although the book was gone, the little bookworm must have read it when eating it.

Something with intelligence, and specifically Shangren Buyu’s spirit beast at that.

Jian Chou thought it should have some memory.

But unexpectedly…

After she spoke, the little bookworm nearly collapsed in fright.

It said mournfully: “I don’t remember…”

“Don’t remember?”

Jian Chou was surprised again.

The little bookworm became embarrassed and angry. Seeing Jian Chou’s disbelieving expression, it jumped up and down in rage, shouting loudly: “If I don’t remember, I don’t remember! What’s so surprising about that? Although this lord loves learning, I’m still a bookworm after all!”

“That year when this lord opened this book, I was planning to review what master taught me, but, but…”

As it spoke, it began to mumble.

Jian Chou stood in front of the cave.

Xiao Diao stood on Jian Chou’s shoulder.

The bone jade curled up in Xiao Diao’s arms.

Three species, six eyes, staring straight at the little bookworm that was looking around guiltily.

The little bookworm got annoyed and huffed: “This lord just wants to eat whenever I see books, always can’t control myself…”

Sigh.

It was precisely because of this that despite following Shangren Buyu for so many years, it had never learned to recognize many characters, much less read many articles. It really wanted to read books though…

The more it thought about it, the more depressed it became, and it began to look at Jian Chou with displeasure.

“Look, look, look, what are you looking at? What’s so great about it? At least this lord has a heart that loves learning!”

“…So you just can’t control that mouth that loves eating?”

Jian Chou paused, then very naturally continued with this sentence.

“…”

The little bookworm suddenly felt grateful: thank goodness it was a faceless little beetle, otherwise hearing Jian Chou’s words, it would definitely have turned green with embarrassment!

But in the next moment, it became angry again: “Are you mocking this lord?!”

“No, no, no, Jian Chou had no such intention…”

Jian Chou quickly shook her head.

The little bookworm gritted its teeth: “Then what do you mean?!”

What did she mean…

She just found it amusing.

A bookworm that loved books and reading, with a heart seeking knowledge, yet unable to suppress its impulse to eat books. One was what it loved and desired, the other was its nature and instinct.

Read books?

Eat books?

Jian Chou pondered for a while, then actually smiled, her face peaceful, her eyes holding gentle glimmers of soft light, quite carefree: “Nothing much. If you want to eat, then eat. After eating your fill, then read books. That’s perfect.”

“…Huh?”

This was somewhat unexpected.

This wasn’t what the little bookworm had expected.

Want to eat, so eat, and after eating full, then read books?

“But… after I eat my fill, there are no more books to read.”

The little bookworm couldn’t help but scratch its head.

Jian Chou smiled: “Books are on books, books are in the world. You eat the books, but the books of the world don’t exist only on books.”

The little bookworm stared at her dumbly, feeling foolish. It felt like this sentence only had six instances of the word “book,” but why did it sound so convoluted?

Seeing that it didn’t quite understand, Jian Chou didn’t explain further.

She had already wasted quite some time here. Although the little bookworm hadn’t pointed out the complete path, the first part was very clear:

Kun position left sixteen, west thirty-six steps, circle around Dui position.

“Are you leaving?”

Although it didn’t understand, the little bookworm could see that Jian Chou intended to leave and couldn’t help asking.

Jian Chou took the opportunity to say: “There are pursuers behind, I dare not linger long. If I pass through here again on my return journey, I’ll visit you again.”

The little bookworm immediately showed disappointed and reluctant expressions.

It mumbled, hesitating for a moment before speaking: “Although I don’t understand what you mean, it sounds very impressive. Master said that people who speak like this are called… called great scholars! One must be respectful when meeting great scholars. Although this lord cannot point you the way, I know who in this Ten Thousand Beasts Maze Array knows the path.”

Ten Thousand Beasts Maze Array?

Upon hearing this name, certain things Jian Chou had been speculating about in her mind finally settled completely.

A faint chill was drawn in through her mouth, lingering long in her chest, difficult to dispel.

The little bookworm didn’t notice Jian Chou’s abnormality, scratching its head as it gave directions: “Just… just follow what I said before, after circling Dui position, keep going east. There’s a falcon’s cave. It knows the way. Just say I told you to find it. It still owes this lord a favor.”

Go east?

A falcon?

Jian Chou made a mental note, not having expected to actually have a “light at the end of the tunnel” moment thanks to the little bookworm.

“Thank you very much.”

Raising both hands slightly in a bow, Jian Chou expressed her thanks and bid farewell, then turned toward the Kun position on the right.

Xiao Diao crouched on Jian Chou’s shoulder, unable to resist constantly looking back.

The little bookworm still stood in the crack of the worn book, its grain-sized body fitting snugly.

It just watched eagerly outside, gazing at the backs of Jian Chou, one marten, and one bone jade.

Until Jian Chou entered the Kun position and her figure was blocked by the high walls, only then did the little bookworm feel a strange sense of loss: People in the Hidden Realm came and went, not knowing when master would come to take them away…

Outside the wall, in the plaza.

“Ding!”

A clean, crisp sound.

Three dark blue thin blades simultaneously struck Xie Buchen’s Human Emperor Sword and suddenly shattered, actually freezing the sword’s surface like shattered ice.

Thus, the mysterious black long sword in Xie Buchen’s hand became like a frozen river.

His left hand holding the sword was already covered with a thick layer of white frost, and his entire face could no longer find half a trace of blood color, pale as paper.

Only his gaze remained cold and indifferent.

Could he not feel pain?!

Song Lin, who had just launched three attacks, was already on the verge of fury.

At this moment in the plaza, only Song Lin and Xie Buchen were still fighting.

Without Xiao Jin’s face for disguise, having already thrown the beast hide vest on the ground, Song Lin’s face was resolute and cold. Bare-chested, he was already half-covered in blood, with a narrow wound across his chest that seemed to have nearly cost him his life.

He had underestimated his opponent, ultimately still underestimated him!

At first thinking this person was severely wounded and dying, he hadn’t used his strongest attacks, instead giving Xie Buchen a chance to catch his breath and wound him with a sword strike.

Unable to utilize his original advantages, what was there to talk about regarding killing?!

Frustrating!

Song Lin was absolutely frustrated to death!

After painstakingly infiltrating the Central Domain group, he hadn’t gathered any useful information, and had even been used as a weapon by that woman Jian Chou, becoming the blade she borrowed!

Now that Yashan’s Jian Chou had boldly entered inside, who knew if the secrets of the “Nine Curves River Map” were already in her hands!

Anxious, yet unable to achieve a quick victory.

Xie Buchen was in front, Jian Chou was inside the walls, and there was also…

At that moment, Song Lin’s eyelid suddenly twitched, and an ominous premonition arose.

Looking toward the eight passages on the high mountain, two figures appeared one after another—

Medicine Woman Lu Xiangleng and Xia Houshe!

This was bad…

Song Lin’s heart turned cold, and he immediately made a decision: he couldn’t delay any longer. He couldn’t kill Xie Buchen quickly, and if these Central Domain people surrounded him, it would be he who suffered in the end.

Without further hesitation, he violently whipped his own shoulder, actually drawing out a dark, heavy nine-section whip from his shoulder.

“Whoosh!”

With a flick of his hand, the nine-section whip immediately cut through the void.

“Crack!”

A violent sound, almost forming a residual image, instantly whipped toward Xie Buchen!

The tremendous force, carrying the unique viciousness of a long whip, fell upon the long sword.

Xie Buchen was already nearly exhausted. Looking at the nine-section whip, his gaze actually became somewhat dazed.

“Bang!”

He barely managed to raise his sword to block.

All the ice on the sword shattered, actually leaving crack after crack on the mysterious black Human Emperor Sword.

Xie Buchen couldn’t withstand that force, unable to control his body, and had no choice but to fly backward.

“Friend Xie!”

Lu Xiangleng and the others had successively emerged. Before they could finish counting their numbers, they discovered the difficult battle in the plaza.

They didn’t recognize the person fighting Xie Buchen, but they were very clear in their hearts: besides the Central Domain cultivators themselves, only the Demonic Path’s Shanyin Sect remained!

Enemy, not friend. Who to help was almost no choice at all.

Though several people hesitated, they quickly flew down from the mountain peak, crossed the Yunmeng Great Marsh path, and headed toward the plaza!

Song Lin was furious in his heart, grinding his teeth fiercely, and cursed: “Grandpa isn’t playing with you anymore!”

Before finishing his words, he turned around and headed straight for the high wall!

“Bang!”

Before he even arrived, a palm immediately struck out.

Surging palm force gathered into a seal symbol, striking from afar onto the hexagonal groove.

At that moment, the other three people in the plaza were all stunned.

“Buzz…”

The opening sound they had heard once before.

The illusory door appeared again!

It opened!

It opened!

Song Lin also had a “key”!

This was truly another “completely unexpected” development!

While everyone was stunned, there was no time to stop him.

They saw Song Lin quickly throw himself into the door and disappear, after which the door rapidly closed and shrank…

Shanyin Sect Protector Yang Lie and ordinary disciple Feng Qi were both somewhat dumbfounded.

Seeing Song Lin disappear, a chill rose from their feet: This was bad! The Young Sect Master had gone in, but what about them?

“Wait, Young Sect Master—”

The voice suddenly stopped abruptly.

“Whoosh!” A residual shadow, quick as a line, swept past the two people, bringing up a gust of wind!

“Who’s there!”

Yang Lie was greatly shocked. Turning his head, he only managed to see that residual shadow disappear into the closing door…

Gone.

The door to the maze array closed again.

Also gone.

Kunwu’s Xie Buchen, who had been standing wounded in the rear just moments ago.

Yang Lie was somewhat dumbfounded. Feng Qi’s brain couldn’t process what had happened: “This, this, what do we do now?”

Lu Xiangleng was also slightly stunned, then furrowed her brow tightly.

Xia Houshe’s gaze was dark, standing ethereally in the air, looking toward the four corners of the maze array, his voice carrying indescribable complexity: “Friend Jian Chou has disappeared. This Friend Xie from Kunwu seems to have quite a few ‘trump cards’ left…”

“Ring ring ring…”

“Hmm?”

After bidding farewell to the little bookworm and coming from the Kun position, Jian Chou followed the little bookworm’s earlier recitation of going west sixty steps, just past the Dui position, preparing to head east to find the “falcon” it had mentioned.

Unexpectedly, after taking just two steps, the bell hanging at her waist actually rang.

Jian Chou immediately stopped.

Her robes swept down onto the wild grass between the floor cracks, becoming stained with quite a bit of grass sap from walking through, looking somewhat dirty.

The bell that Kunwu’s Master Hengxu had given them before departure hung at her waist, small and ancient bronze-colored, with ancient patterns carved on its surface, delicate and exquisite.

At this moment, deep azure light was floating on the bell’s surface, and as if attracted by something, it gently drifted upward toward Jian Chou’s right side.

The Immovable Bell could withstand one strike from a peak Golden Core cultivator and help locate companions when separated.

This was…

Her pupils suddenly contracted.

Jian Chou looked toward the direction the Immovable Bell indicated, suddenly recalling her thoughts when Master Hengxu had given the bell: it could indicate direction, so it could help Xie Buchen find her location in the Hidden Realm and then kill her?

Jian Chou didn’t understand Master Hengxu well.

Logically, old monsters who could be friends with Fudao Shanren should be decent, but she truly had no good feelings toward Master Hengxu.

What good could someone who would take Xie Buchen as a disciple be?

Having suspicions about Master Hengxu’s gift was entirely normal for Jian Chou.

Moreover…

This was also a factually possible scenario.

Now the Immovable Bell was glowing and indicating direction—had someone from the Central Domain entered?

Who was it?

Friend?

Enemy?

It wasn’t clear for the moment.

But still…

Having this Immovable Bell in hand made her uneasy.

Jian Chou reached out and grabbed the Immovable Bell, just about to hide or dispose of it when suddenly a cold, sinister aura attacked from behind!

Sharp as a needle point, cold as a frost blade!

This feeling came extremely treacherously and precipitously, with tremendous momentum.

Jian Chou had her back to that direction. Almost instantly she felt its presence, but despite her rich combat experience and quick reactions, she couldn’t turn around completely in time. She could only sweep back with a leg, a desperate kick!

As the saying goes, every inch longer is every inch stronger—the same applied to legs.

“Bang!”

Striking later but arriving first, just barely catching up!

Jian Chou’s long leg swept out, blocking that attack in front of her. The fierce, cold force pierced into her leg like a steel blade, immediately spraying blood mist into the air.

Her facial expression remained coldly solemn, not even furrowing her brow.

Her straight long leg continued its momentum, its force not weakening by half, thunderously smashing toward the void three feet in front of her!

“Boom!”

The void shattered.

Jian Chou’s kick actually smashed a human figure out of the transparent void!

Bare-chested with sinewy muscles.

A wound on his chest, with sweat and blood flowing down together.

If not Song Lin, then who?

His face showed some pain, one raised arm with bulging muscles, looking full of explosive power.

It could be said that when deciding to ambush Jian Chou, this “weak” woman, Song Lin had never expected he would be so simply and brutally kicked back!

Jian Chou’s kick, by sheer coincidence, struck his upper arm.

Muscles trembling, even his bones felt like they would instantly fall apart.

Hard!

Tough!

Fierce!

This leg was simply like being forged from refined iron through ten thousand beatings!

The ambush he had thought would never fail was instantly broken this way. Song Lin could hardly believe his luck: This was truly cursed! Was he really this unlucky?!

Meeting Xie Buchen was one thing—that was due to his underestimation; but what was the meaning of encountering another Jian Chou?

After entering the door, Song Lin had immediately used Shanyin Sect secret techniques to become invisible, which cultivators of lower realm than him couldn’t see through.

His luck was extremely good, actually landing not far from the Dui position.

Originally still pondering the way out, who would have thought that after wandering around for a while, Jian Chou would deliver herself to his door!

Xie Buchen was Kunwu’s rising star, and Jian Chou was also Yashan’s foremost of the new generation!

Killing her would also bring fame and fortune!

So Song Lin didn’t hesitate to adopt the shameless method of ambush.

He just hadn’t expected…

Even the ambush failed!

He couldn’t withstand the strange force of this kick, crashing heavily backward.

Jian Chou’s kick was pure instinct.

She hadn’t expected to actually smash a person out of the empty void. Taking a closer look, it was an unfamiliar face, yet somehow carried an indescribable familiarity.

The feeling of those two from Shanyin Sect.

A face she’d never seen…

“So it’s Young Sect Master Song.”

Jian Chou reached out to pat the restless Xiao Diao, signaling it to behave, saying this with a seemingly amused expression while gripping the Ghost Axe tightly in her left hand.

Heaven was truly treating her well now.

Meeting Xie Buchen, he was injured and hadn’t healed; meeting Song Lin, he was originally uninjured, but after fighting with her, he too was wounded.

If she didn’t perform well, she’d be letting down the fortune Heaven had bestowed upon her!

Slightly squinting, Jian Chou looked Song Lin up and down.

He had crashed into the stone wall, knocking down quite a few stone fragments. Fortunately, he reacted quickly, flipping over to land, looking somewhat disheveled.

Jian Chou pondered: “Impersonating Friend Xiao Jin for so long, even eating those watermelons, you must not be hungry now, having eaten your fill… People in this world have many ways to die. I wonder which kind Young Sect Master Song prefers?”

“…”

Song Lin looked at her warily, feeling a chill rise from his back.

Whether Xie Buchen or Jian Chou, their abilities far exceeded his imagination. Now with Jian Chou speaking like this, he truly had no confidence.

But still…

“Friend Jian Chou, why must you have such heavy killing intent?”

Song Lin’s eyes darted about, pressing against the bleeding wound on his chest, frowning slightly but smiling: “As they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Friend Jian Chou is at odds with that Kunwu’s Xie Buchen, and coincidentally, I’m also wounded by his sword, making us irreconcilable enemies. The Hidden Realm is dangerous. Why don’t we travel together and join hands? Are we still afraid we can’t kill that Xie Buchen?”

Jian Chou’s eyebrows immediately raised slightly, as if very interested.

People of the Demonic Path acted extremely and were purely profit-driven.

As long as there was benefit, never mind righteous and evil—even if the other party had just killed one’s entire family, cooperation was possible.

Song Lin didn’t think his actions were wrong. He even believed that given the intensity of the fight between Jian Chou and Xie Buchen, it couldn’t be described as mere “deep hatred”—it had to be “blood feud”!

Jian Chou had absolutely no reason to refuse him!

Just thinking this way, Song Lin, seeing Jian Chou’s expression, believed she was truly tempted.

Jian Chou pondered for a moment, then nodded: “What you say makes some sense, it’s quite tempting…”

Song Lin was immediately delighted.

But unexpectedly, Jian Chou’s next sentence changed tone completely. She actually looked at him and smiled, simultaneously raising the Ghost Axe high and swinging it down heavily!

“Unfortunately, I am a disciple of Yashan!”

How could I sink to your level!

Contemptuous, disdainful!

Even superior and aloof…

This was an axe strike with wild arrogance, and also an axe strike with proud spirit.

One axe, caught completely off guard, struck out, practically chopping Song Lin into complete confusion, never expecting it in a thousand or ten thousand lifetimes, unable to even find his grandmother’s house!

Damn!

Starting a fight at the slightest disagreement!

Originally thinking it was a sure thing, that Jian Chou would definitely agree, who would have thought she would actually turn on him with a giant axe.

Song Lin couldn’t parry in time. Having learned from previous experience, he simply didn’t bother to block hard and actually withdrew to flee!

Right now they hadn’t even seen a hair of the “Nine Curves River Map,” yet they were fighting to the death. It was truly unwise!

No good, he had to run!

“Bang!”

Slapping the high wall with one palm, Song Lin borrowed the force to leap up, narrowly avoiding Jian Chou’s “fatal axe strike,” but still had two tufts of hair cut off!

Song Lin broke out in cold sweat.

Looking back, he discovered that after missing with one axe, Jian Chou was actually pursuing him!

If they weren’t cooperating, then they weren’t cooperating—why was she chasing endlessly?!

Holding his breath, Song Lin’s voice was extremely cold: “Spare others when you can. Isn’t Friend Jian Chou being too excessive?!”

Too excessive?

Jian Chou laughed.

Impersonating Xiao Jin to infiltrate the Central Domain group showed Song Lin’s ill intentions. Taking pride in slaughtering cultivators from Kunwu and Yashan sects, both being in the Hidden Realm, and not knowing why he had entered this Ten Thousand Beasts Maze Array…

He was an enemy, not a friend!

First, there was no need for cooperation; second, they would inevitably turn on each other if they met again later.

Better to kill early and eliminate future troubles!

This was just her way of doing things—what was excessive about it?

If Song Lin were in her position, wouldn’t he do the same—”kill”?!

Jian Chou came riding the wind, her form swaying, like an ethereal crane from the clouds.

Her face was relaxed, wearing a casual smile, yet…

She swung another axe!

Sharp, keen, heavy!

“I am a disciple of Yashan, a famous great sect, naturally I should eliminate demons and defend the Way for the Nineteen Continents!”

Her voice was clear and lazy, forming a sharp contrast with the axe’s intimidating pressure. This contradiction made people feel even more hair-raising.

The flying axe shadow was like lightning, smashing toward Song Lin the moment her words finished!

“Bang!”

This time it nearly took off his ear!

Song Lin’s hair stood on end!

When he wanted to fight, he underestimated his opponent; when he didn’t want to fight, he encountered a battle maniac!

This trip to the Hidden Realm was simply unlucky to the extreme!

He had no time to look back even once.

But even without looking back, just hearing that lazy yet righteous voice, he could guess how sanctimonious and high-sounding Jian Chou was, shamelessly saying “eliminate demons and defend the Way”!

At least this woman had some conscience, not saying “famous righteous sect.”

Her way of doing things was more evil than the Demonic Path!

If she dared call herself “righteous,” he, Song Lin, would dare erect a memorial arch for himself tomorrow!

Eliminate demons and defend the Way?

And calling herself a disciple of Yashan?

What nonsense!

Drawing swords against Kunwu disciples and viciously fighting Xie Buchen, yet still righteously saying “eliminate demons and defend the Way”?!

Bullshit!

He’d never seen such thick skin!

Song Lin was truly amazed, but thinking of the successive battles and dangerous calculations at the Hidden Realm entrance and plaza.

Such boldness and carefulness, meticulous thinking, combined with taking unconventional approaches…

Even he, a member of the Demonic Path, couldn’t match it and had to bow in defeat!

The most vicious are women’s hearts…

Who would dare believe that among Yashan disciples, there would actually be someone who dared to so viciously scheme against Kunwu’s prodigy?

Even if they truly did evil, no one would believe it.

A disciple of Yashan?

A disciple of Yashan!