—She was lying.

This thought emerged with absolute clarity in Fu Chaosheng’s mind. But strangely, he wasn’t angry at all. In fact, he felt a sincere joy slowly coloring his expression.

Old friend.

These two words, spoken from her mouth, also carried a wonderful power.

The smile hanging at Fu Chaosheng’s lips naturally deepened somewhat as he said: “I saw the message Fellow Daoist Jian Chou left at the first level and wanted to catch up quickly. But unexpectedly, I encountered several people halfway and was delayed for some time. When I arrived at the seventh level just now, the outside had already become a chaotic battle, and I didn’t see you. So I came down to investigate, and unexpectedly had good luck to truly encounter you.”

Perhaps because he was born of heaven and earth yet defied heaven to become what he was, he carried a faint demonic aura while possessing natural affinity.

That special yet contradictory temperament couldn’t be concealed by a simple shell.

Jian Chou noticed his smile and didn’t ignore the details in his words: “Delayed for some time? Fellow Daoist Lihan’s cultivation is exceptional, how could…”

Of course it was Zhong Lanling he encountered.

Fu Chaosheng recalled this, his gaze becoming slightly more profound: “The person who fought with me had quite a few strange and mysterious aspects. He’s precisely that person of mysterious origin who suddenly appeared among the Ghost King clan and squeezed out my position. Fellow Daoist Jian Chou should have heard his name—Zhong Lanling.”

“Zhong Lanling?”

Jian Chou was immediately somewhat surprised.

If the person before her were the real Lihan saying someone had strange aspects, she might not think deeply about it. But the one before her was the great demon Fu Chaosheng, yet he actually felt someone in this mere Tripod Contest was strange?

Zhong Lanling.

She immediately recalled that qin-carrying man she’d encountered when first entering the eighteen levels of hell, on the first level’s Ice Peak—disheveled and down-and-out.

“I’ve not only heard of this person but also encountered him when in the first level Ice Prison. But at that time he was confronting a red-dressed female cultivator not on the Tripod Contest roster. Strangely, though I’d never met him, he actually saved me once…”

And he’d said something very odd about “waiting a moment,” as if he had something to tell her.

But at that time, newly entered into the Tripod Contest, she wouldn’t trust a stranger.

So when she got the chance, she directly slipped away.

Jian Chou’s brow furrowed slightly: “The strangeness Fellow Daoist Lihan mentioned—is it good or bad?”

“Good or bad is unclear for now.”

But most likely bad.

Fu Chaosheng possessed nearly all memories of the ephemeral clan and had never seen natural laws of heaven and earth give birth to such a thing, so “Zhong Lanling” wasn’t naturally formed.

But these words, including where the strangeness lay, he wouldn’t speak plainly at this moment.

With people in the Tripod Contest, heaven knew how many eyes were watching.

Fu Chaosheng only glanced at that spring on the ground, seeming casual as he said: “This person’s strangeness is actually quite obvious, especially under Fellow Daoist Jian Chou’s discerning eyes. If you didn’t notice before, perhaps it was the critical moment, and you didn’t have time in the haste. This person is safe and sound, just falling behind. When we go out, he should arrive soon.”

First, Jian Chou didn’t have any particularly discerning eyes.

But him saying this was merely referring to her specifically. Zhong Lanling’s strangeness might not be visible to others, but she would definitely be able to see it.

Second, Zhong Lanling should arrive soon.

Both cosmic eyes were in Fu Chaosheng’s hands, and he possessed terrifying cultivation. This statement seemed like guessing and inference, but coming from him, it was certainty.

Jian Chou heard these implied meanings and glanced at him with extreme subtlety, but didn’t probe deeper.

She just surveyed this space and said: “I’ve been trapped here for a long time, looking for a way back up. How did Fellow Daoist Lihan enter?”

“I entered that Black Wind Cave and naturally arrived here.”

Fu Chaosheng turned and stood beside the spring, his glass-blue eyes turning slightly, his gaze extremely profound, as if he could see something else through this spring.

“The battle situation outside is good.”

“Because your marten is fighting fiercely with the Kui Ox, everyone is blocked above the pit. Though there’s chaotic fighting, your companions are all safe and sound.”

“With that stern official Zhang Tang there, plus Chen Tingyan full of magical artifacts, and that little girl called Gu Ling isn’t ordinary either.”

From that brief glance outside the pit earlier, he already knew the situation, his tone relaxed.

“People from both Chan and esoteric sects have also been drawn over. But the most troublesome is just that Sima Languan, who happens to be fighting with a red-dressed female cultivator.”

“Calculating the combat power of the Kui Ox and your marten, victory should be decided soon.”

“I’ve already come down this Black Wind Cave first, so I’m afraid people will follow shortly. This place is safe—we might as well wait here.”

As Fu Chaosheng spoke, he actually sat cross-legged directly beside that spring, facing precisely toward the Black Wind Cave.

Seeing this, Jian Chou was extremely puzzled: “We’re just going to wait here?”

What about the way out?

“When coming down, I already investigated. One can enter but not exit—it can only lead to the next level, with no way out.”

Fu Chaosheng looked up at her, smiling.

“Or does Fellow Daoist Jian Chou not trust my judgment?”

Not trust?

Jian Chou’s gaze swept toward the Black Wind Cave and she also laughed: “I indeed don’t believe this space can only be entered but not exited. The path to the next level is this spring before us. But there must also be a path to the upper level—only Fellow Daoist Lihan doesn’t want to tell me.”

So direct.

Fu Chaosheng gently placed both hands on his knees, strange light flashing in his eyes as he said: “So, Fellow Daoist Jian Chou, what can you do to me?”

“…”

What an infuriating statement!

Hearing this, Jian Chou’s eyelids twitched. She squinted at him, actually feeling that at this moment, this person was full of rampant demonic aura from head to toe!

What can you do to me…

What a statement—what can you do to me!

Big shot, petty mind.

He might well be holding a grudge because she hadn’t told the truth earlier.

Jian Chou almost laughed in anger.

She had already investigated all directions and truly found no way out. She simply lifted the hem of her robe and sat directly across from Fu Chaosheng.

“I indeed can’t do anything to you, but no matter how long you stare at that cave entrance, you won’t see anything. Knowing you came, it left long ago.”

It?

At that moment, Fu Chaosheng’s pupils finally contracted.

The two people, or rather one person and one demon, finally made eye contact.

For a moment, there was actually a sense of facing off with equal determination.

Probing.

Yet without malice.

Fu Chaosheng’s gaze was profound yet obscure; Jian Chou’s gaze was frank and peaceful.

Walking the righteous path directly, nothing cannot be spoken to others.

She actually didn’t value the Nine-Headed Bird that much, despite it having helped her and even enabled her to enter Jade Nirvana. Because she still remembered something Fudao Shanren occasionally muttered:

Our Yashan is a prestigious great sect.

Kunwu naturally claimed to be a first-rate “prestigious orthodox sect.”

It seemed all disciples under that school were decent.

But among them was precisely Xie Buchen. “Killing his wife to prove the Dao” without rhyme or reason—Xie Buchen’s brain wasn’t waterlogged either. Aside from that orthodox leader Master Hengxu, Jian Chou couldn’t think of a second “instigator.”

Prestigious orthodox sect.

Prestigious great sect.

One word’s difference, a thousand li apart.

Jian Chou inexplicably began to smile.

Fu Chaosheng watched her without speaking, just suddenly somewhat confused.

He couldn’t quite understand her smile either.

He recalled that day floating on the river when he said he was born hearing Jian Chou’s dao, “she who gave birth to me is an old friend,” yet that dead fish had disliked his words…

So were human thoughts truly different from those of non-human beings?

On the wide dark blue sleeves, several skulls were embroidered. But at this moment, a three-inch-long small fish pattern slowly emerged.

Perhaps sensing Fu Chaosheng’s inner thoughts, this fish actually showed him its pale fish eyes—

An undisguised eye roll.

Simultaneously, a voice thin as mosquito buzz transmitted into Fu Chaosheng’s consciousness.

“Nine-Head was my old friend.”

“Its remnant soul still exists, yet it avoids meeting, surely for good reason. Regarding reincarnation matters, I know little. If you wish to investigate for the ephemeral clan, you must ask her.”

The weathered voice was no different from before.

But the next sentence contained several parts obvious mockery, even schadenfreude—

“You are a great demon—where is your spirit? If others can kill, how can she not?”

“Kill and then question—wouldn’t that be clean and efficient…”

Listening, Fu Chaosheng slightly closed his eyes.

He seemed to restrain himself briefly, but ultimately couldn’t hold back. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly as his pale, almost transparent finger reached out and flicked the small fish pattern above with a “snap”!

The world immediately became peaceful.

Fu Chaosheng finally felt his ears were no longer buzzing with endless chatter.

This action came abruptly.

Jian Chou couldn’t help but look toward his sleeve, but saw no insects, only a small fish with its tail raised. She felt somewhat strange: “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just dusting off.”

Fu Chaosheng shook his head, smiled, and smoothly changed the subject.

“This spring before us is the passage to the next level, but covered by formations. When I just arrived, I saw Fellow Daoist Jian Chou beside it, seemingly knowing how to activate it?”

“It’s qimen bagua.”

On this point, Jian Chou didn’t conceal anything.

She raised her finger and lightly touched the water surface. In this fist-sized spring, a small whirlpool actually appeared.

In a blink, some lines and dim small points appeared on the whirlpool’s surface.

Fu Chaosheng saw it was indeed a qimen bagua formation.

He immediately frowned: based on his understanding of the extreme region, whether artifact refinement, pill refinement, or formations, they were relatively far behind Shijiu Zhou. Such formations, especially intricate ones, shouldn’t appear in this place…

What he could think of, Jian Chou naturally could too.

Only they couldn’t voice this. Only people from outside, or rather from Shijiu Zhou, knew what level the extreme region’s qimen formations were at.

Speaking it would expose them.

Jian Chou’s finger slowly left the whirlpool, and the water surface returned to its original appearance, no longer showing any trace of the formation.

“This formation needs to be broken to open the passage to the next level. I already have some ideas. But while we wait here, we don’t know if the next to appear will be enemy or friend. If we open the formation first, it would be like making wedding clothes for others.”

So she had never acted.

“Fellow Daoist Jian Chou’s thoughtful consideration makes perfect sense.”

Fu Chaosheng’s eyes flickered slightly as his consciousness sensed the outside situation: someone was already approaching that cave entrance and would probably come down soon…

Suddenly, an idea popped into his mind.

Fu Chaosheng found it quite interesting, so he smiled and said to Jian Chou: “Now that I and my old friend wait here with nothing to do, it’s quite boring. To prepare for the worst, why not make a bet—guess whether the next to appear here will be enemy or friend?”

Jian Chou felt there was something hidden in these words.

Fu Chaosheng naturally knew whether those coming down were enemies or friends, but having her guess was pure luck-based guessing, completely meaningless.

Her gaze turned, and she smiled: “Having me guess enemy or friend—what’s interesting about that? I actually think…”

Her voice paused as Jian Chou looked at Fu Chaosheng with deeper meaning in her eyes.

“No one above knows it’s a rocky cave below, much less that you and I are here, waiting like hunters for prey.”

“Right time, right place, right people.”

“With you here, with me here. Even if Sima Languan comes down, caught off guard by attack, he might well perish here, not to mention we both have trump cards.”

The calm words carried breathtaking implications!

Fu Chaosheng almost instantly sensed this and even vaguely guessed what Jian Chou would say next—

“How about Fellow Daoist Lihan guess enemy or friend instead.”

“You guess, I act.”

“If Fellow Daoist Lihan guesses the newcomer is a friend, I’ll do nothing; if Fellow Daoist Lihan guesses the newcomer is an enemy, I’ll strike without even looking!”

“What does my old friend think?”

Jian Chou finished speaking with a slight smile, looking directly at Fu Chaosheng.

Fu Chaosheng sat cross-legged, his pale, almost transparent fingers resting on his knees. The moment he heard her words, they trembled somewhat involuntarily.

He looked up, returning her gaze. After a long while, he asked with a half-smile: “Fellow Daoist Jian Chou, aren’t you afraid I’ll guess wrong?”

Like that Zhang Tang.

He remembered killing him when serving as “National Advisor” on the Human Isolated Island.

This person made him very much want to guess wrong once.

However, Jian Chou clearly wasn’t worried.

She turned her hand and directly grasped the Six Meridians Spirit-Dividing Mirror in her palm, saying with perfect composure: “Fellow Daoist Lihan is naturally gifted and won’t guess wrong. Even if you do guess wrong, it’s just killing one person wrongly—no matter.”

No matter.

Fu Chaosheng lowered his eyes and couldn’t help but chuckle softly, rarely pleased: “Since my old friend trusts me so much and doesn’t mind, then I’ll also guess casually. Old friend, be careful—I guess—”

“The newcomer is an enemy.”

“Buzz!”

Almost the instant his words fell, ripples immediately spread through the rocky cave’s void!

Without hesitation, Jian Chou didn’t even look to see who would appear within, immediately striking out with her mirror!

Six Meridians Spirit-Dividing Mirror!

A phantom golden light, swift as lightning, directly swept past Fu Chaosheng’s neck and shot toward the center of those ripples!

At this moment, all the spectators in the extreme region were dumbfounded—

She really didn’t look to see who was coming!

She attacked directly!

What if it was a companion?

Damn, reacting so fast, aren’t you afraid of friendly fire?!