This matter ultimately went unresolved.

Faced with Jian Chou’s final question, Fu Chaosheng used only a single “yes” to decide the Kun’s fate. For the foreseeable future, this poor hairpin would likely have no chance to “turn over” again.

Zuoliu, forcibly determined to have “seen wrong,” dared not speak in the face of these two powerful figures.

Honestly, though he felt he hadn’t seen wrong, seeing the stance of Senior Sister Jian Chou and this Fu Chaosheng, if he dared to contradict them without sense, he’d probably get beaten up before nightfall.

Cough.

Well, truth was a small matter, but life was important.

So after hesitating for a while, he finally wisely shut his mouth.

But seeing his expression, Jian Chou knew he had indeed only shut his mouth and hadn’t truly believed he was wrong in his heart, leaving her feeling helpless.

What could she do?

Surely she couldn’t wash Zuoliu’s memory?

Impossible. She could only hope this “Brother Kun” would be more reliable in the days to come.

Forcibly suppressing that vague worry, Jian Chou only said: “Let’s all go in and look at the lodgings. As the Sect Master said, Xinghai has all kinds of people now, so we must be careful in daily life.”

“Yes.”

Both Zuoliu and Fang Xiaoxie agreed, then obediently went in to look at the lodgings as Jian Chou suggested.

Cultivators weren’t that particular about places – having a meditation cushion to sit on was enough, so they didn’t spend much thought on lodging, each casually choosing a room and settling on it.

From east to west, in order: Fang Xiaoxie, Zuoliu, Fu Chaosheng, Jian Chou.

Among them, Jian Chou’s courtyard was at the very edge, with a door beside it that led directly to Suixian City’s main street.

She roughly looked around the room, set up various spirit-gathering and defensive arrays she commonly used, then walked out and casually went through the back door to have a look.

Behind the door was an alley, and beyond the alley was the street.

This was originally the place most similar to an isolated human island in Shijiu Zhou, and in Jian Chou’s view, this layout was quite similar to the capital of Great Xia.

Standing in the alley, only a few feet of skylight shone down from above.

She felt somewhat dazed for a moment, until she raised her head to see the sky overhead, then suddenly came back to her senses: this place wasn’t Great Xia after all, nor the capital, much less the former Xie Marquis Manor.

The capital of Great Xia wouldn’t have such gray, perpetually gloomy skies that could never clear the haze.

With an inexplicable laugh, Jian Chou was about to turn back.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, scattered sounds came from the other end of the alley: “The street is just behind here. This place isn’t very far from where other sects are staying, so it’s quite a suitable location. If anything happens later, we can also look out for each other…”

The voice was very familiar – it was Wang Que.

Jian Chou’s steps immediately stopped.

On that end, Wang Que was talking with Wu Duan when his voice suddenly stopped. Standing at that end of the alley, he immediately saw Jian Chou standing on this side, somewhat surprised.

But looking up at the neighboring area, he suddenly understood.

“Fellow Daoist Jian Chou.”

He smiled and walked over, the pallor on his face hadn’t faded, but his complexion was much better.

“I didn’t expect to see you here. It seems Yashan also chose this place?”

It had to be said that famous sects and great schools had some common thinking in their actions.

Yashan and Kunwu had almost simultaneously chosen locations close to other sects – first for convenience of movement and communication, second to be prepared to respond quickly if anything happened.

But there weren’t many such suitable places, so the two sects naturally ended up coincidentally close.

Jian Chou was actually somewhat surprised too. She glanced at Wang Que, then at Wu Duan, smiling: “Indeed, it’s here. It seems Kunwu has also settled in well.”

“Yes, now we’re just waiting for Master and Junior Brother Xie to arrive.”

Wang Que showed no concern about what had happened earlier at the teleportation array plaza, maintaining his graceful gentleman’s demeanor, smiling as usual when speaking with Jian Chou.

Such a person was truly difficult to develop any dislike for.

Jian Chou felt somewhat conflicted.

She actually hadn’t thought of how to respond when a cold snort suddenly sounded beside her ear: “Of course, just him and Master!”

It was Wu Duan.

Dressed in white robes, arms crossed, the White Bone Dragon Sword was within this embrace, faintly revealing a somewhat ancient and fierce sword hilt, adding to his sharpness as a sword cultivator.

But all this couldn’t compare to the sarcasm hidden in his words just now.

Wu Duan had always disliked Xie Buchen.

This point, Jian Chou had always been very clear about, and Wang Que, being Wu Duan’s junior brother, how could he not understand?

But these words…

Wang Que felt somewhat helpless, frowning with a sigh: “Senior Brother Wu…”

Wu Duan glanced at him and stopped talking.

Compared to the relatively peaceful sect relationships among Yashan disciples, the several true disciples of Kunwu’s Hengxu Zhenren truly had a spark-flying feeling among them.

Jian Chou wasn’t seeing this kind of scene for the first time.

She acted as if she hadn’t heard, smiling as she asked: “Speaking of which, when I parted with Fellow Daoist Xie at Chanzong, he was already at Nascent Soul Peak cultivation. I was wondering why he still hadn’t broken through. Now that he’s still at Kunwu, and Hengxu Zhenren is also at Kunwu, could it be he’s preparing to break through and pass the Heart-Questioning Dao Tribulation?”

Now who didn’t know that Jian Chou and Xie Buchen’s relationship was terribly bad?

Clearly the type who could smile and deal falsely with each other, then turn around wanting to kill the other.

Wang Que wasn’t unaware of this matter. Even if he knew something, given his cautious and upright nature and character, he couldn’t possibly say anything in front of Jian Chou.

So he only smiled in response: “Wang doesn’t know much about this.”

Oh, don’t know?

How could Jian Chou not see through Wang Que’s thoughts? She didn’t mind this obvious “don’t want to tell you” deflection, her smile not changing as she directly turned to look at Wu Duan.

“Fellow Daoist Wang Que doesn’t know, does Fellow Daoist Wu Duan know?”

Wu Duan was extremely cooperative, not even bothering to think, directly saying: “Fellow Daoist Jian Chou is prescient. Junior Brother Xie is indeed going to pass the Heart-Questioning Dao Tribulation. I heard he encountered some trouble, so Master had no choice but to stay behind to resolve it.”

“…”

Wang Que suddenly had nothing to say, that instant feeling became extremely indescribable!

Jian Chou couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Wu Duan didn’t feel guilty at all, obviously not thinking there was anything unspeakable about such matters, or perhaps he had never liked this junior brother who received special treatment everywhere in the sect.

So what if he was the Dao Child who could save Kunwu from catastrophe? Dislike was still dislike.

Wang Que was the type who could consider Kunwu’s greater situation, able to endure, yield, and take the overall view into account. Wu Duan considered himself a qualified Kunwu disciple too, but sometimes he felt he was more “independent.”

If one day he had to fight and die for Kunwu’s survival, he wouldn’t even furrow his brow.

But this didn’t mean he had to wholeheartedly approve of Kunwu’s every decision and every fellow disciple.

Jian Chou knew Wu Duan had once had some friendship with Qu Zhengfeng, and though the two had fought fiercely near Western Sea’s Dameng Reef, she had also heard Qu Zhengfeng comment afterward that Wu Duan was one of the few people in Kunwu worth befriending.

Thinking about it now, those words were truly accurate.

She smiled slightly, but her thoughts drifted somewhat, saying thoughtfully: “I heard Fellow Daoist Xie is a Heaven-Favored Dao Child, whose cultivation advancement doesn’t require tribulation crossing. Moreover, his mental state is firm – even the Heart-Questioning Dao Tribulation shouldn’t concern him. Yet now even Hengxu Zhenren is held up by this matter. This Fellow Daoist Xie of your sect is truly curious…”

What exactly had he encountered that could make this “Dao Child” and the Realm-Bearing cultivation level Hengxu Zhenren stay at Kunwu on such an important day?

Not only Jian Chou, but actually all of Xinghai was speculating.

It’s just that some people’s speculations were reliable and had already been personally confirmed by Kunwu cultivators, while others’ guesses were completely off-base and truly unconvincing.

Of course, those who understood this matter best were none other than Hengxu Zhenren and Xie Buchen himself, who were still at Kunwu.

Kunwu, the back mountain.

In mid-spring, the weather had been warm for quite some time. The mountain’s desolate atmosphere had long since completely dissipated, and all eleven peaks of Kunwu were in a verdant green.

A mountain path behind the main peak led all the way to the deep valley behind.

In the deep valley was a pine forest.

A clear stream flew down from the mountain, crashing into a deep, secluded pool below, splashing up noisy sounds. A simple thatched hut was built beside the pool, directly facing the largest black stone in the center of the secluded pool.

At this moment, Hengxu stood in front of the thatched hut, while Xie Buchen sat cross-legged on that huge black stone in the center.

The skylight was bright, but became dim upon reaching this place. Birds chirped and chattered, but all sound vanished near the pool.

Between heaven and earth, it seemed everything had disappeared.

But whether it was Hengxu or Xie Buchen, both could clearly feel that there was an aura, some kind of existence, circling above this deep valley and secluded pool, seemingly waiting for an appropriate moment to descend.

Wind blew, and Xie Buchen’s robes hanging on the stone gently fluttered, but his body seemed to have grown together with the black stone beneath him, not moving a inch.

His hands rested on his knees, forming a seal of pure heart and few desires.

After spiritual energy completed one full circulation in his body, he finally slowly opened his eyes, looking toward Hengxu Zhenren who had been standing quietly by the pool for a long time.

Between intelligent people, excessive communication was often unnecessary.

Hengxu had always been intelligent.

Xie Buchen was no exception.

With just this look, Hengxu Zhenren knew he was ready. At this moment, he flicked the whisk in his hand and frowned slightly as he looked at the sky overhead.

“Success or failure, all depends on today…”

He had never imagined he would have a day of worrying about a disciple’s dao tribulation.

Clearly this was the Dao Child he had chosen, carrying Kunwu’s hopes, a genius who could save Kunwu from a hundred years of calamity, but throughout these eighty-plus years of cultivation, the path had been truly full of setbacks.

Now finally reaching Nascent Soul Peak, yet still troubled by heart demons.

Was this the tribulation-crosser who, according to the Zhou Tian Star Array’s divination, would one day replace him?

The faint skylight reflected in Hengxu Zhenren’s eyes, mixing into an inscrutable expression. After a long time, he lowered his head, his words seemingly carrying some regretful lament.

“Originally sending you to the snowy region was only for the Nine Doubts Cauldron.”

“But with all calculations, I didn’t expect that Yashan girl would also go, and by strange coincidence fall into the Sumeru Mustard Seed with you. Making wedding clothes for others, fulfilling her opportunities aside, the long days together deepened your already significant heart demons…”

“Time? Fate?”

Time, fate?

If others heard Hengxu Zhenren’s words, they would probably be moved by all he had planned for Kunwu, by the seemingly extremely genuine regret and lament in these words. But falling into Xie Buchen’s ears, they cast heavy, uncertain shadows.

Hengxu Zhenren, who thought thrice before acting and calculated three steps ahead with each move – had he really not calculated this?

Not calculating the Sumeru Mustard Seed matter was understandable, but with his understanding of Fudao Shanren and Yashan, how could he not know Jian Chou would definitely also go to the snowy region?

He questioned himself – between him and Hengxu, there wasn’t much master-disciple affection.

From the beginning, Hengxu accepted him as a disciple because of his talent, because of the Kunwu great calamity divined by the Zhou Tian Star Array. He needed such a person to resolve this legendary catastrophe that would occur within a hundred years.

All the careful cultivation and regard, ultimately came down to the word “benefit.”

If not for this great calamity’s heavenly secret, Xie Buchen believed Hengxu would never have accepted him as a disciple, even though his talent indeed far exceeded ordinary people.

Simply because he didn’t need a disciple more thorough and appropriate than himself.

So when in the Sumeru Mustard Seed, whenever he looked at Jian Chou, he would always think about that question he had been pondering: could Hengxu be trusted?

But he had never thought of a definite answer.

Until he escaped using the Puppet Avatar Technique and returned to Kunwu to see Hengxu again.

Everything came together in that instant, and Xie Buchen finally remembered many details he hadn’t noticed before, or had noticed but hadn’t thought deeply about.

Thus, today came to be.

Except for himself, no second person would know—

He neither needed the Nine Doubts Cauldron nor had ever feared any heart demons.

The Nine Doubts Cauldron was prepared for tribulation crossing, but he was a Dao Child – advancing cultivation levels didn’t require tribulation crossing. Though heart demons existed, they merely existed. They could make him suffer from their contradictions but couldn’t disturb his will in the slightest.

Even if the Heart-Questioning Dao Tribulation was unlike ordinary thunder tribulations and couldn’t be avoided, he couldn’t possibly fail to pass it.

But interestingly, most cultivators in the world believed heart demons would affect cultivators, especially the Heart-Questioning Dao Tribulation. Hengxu was no exception.

So he went with the flow.

He simply told Hengxu that five hundred years of constant companionship with Jian Chou had deepened his heart demons. His Nascent Soul Peak cultivation couldn’t suppress them, and he feared he couldn’t pass the heart-questioning, specially requesting Hengxu’s help.

Kunwu still had an as-yet-unoccurred hundred-year great calamity – how could he sit by and watch him perish in dao tribulation?

As a Realm-Bearing great power and a generation’s giant of Central Domain’s Kunwu, Hengxu surely had many methods at his disposal. If he could help him safely cross this dao tribulation as hoped, thus avoiding that questioning from the Heavenly Dao…

That would be perfect.

Though he had never feared dao tribulation, much less thought he would fail the heart-questioning, during the five hundred years trapped in the Sumeru Mustard Seed with Jian Chou, a certain feeling in his heart grew stronger with his advancing cultivation.

It was as if she was hiding something, and this thing was very important to him.

It was a mysterious attraction.

But even after leaving Chanzong, he still hadn’t thought clearly about what exactly this thing was. The only thing he had was that strange premonition: if he obtained this thing, everything would change dramatically—

Including his “Dao.”

This was the fundamental reason why Xie Buchen was unwilling to face dao tribulation.

Because once passing the Heart-Questioning Dao Tribulation, he would have to declare his “Dao” to the world, to heaven and earth, to the Heavenly Dao. And from then on, this “Dao” would be the fundamental great dao of future cultivation. Even if he later cultivated thousands of other daos, he could never change it, much less erase it.

And he, not having obtained that thing, temporarily didn’t wish to declare his dao to heaven.

In other words, today’s dao tribulation – he must pass it, but would absolutely not answer any questioning from the Heavenly Dao!

The wind suddenly grew stronger.

The surface of the dark, secluded pool was ruffled by it, rippling with layer upon layer of shallow waves, making Xie Buchen’s seated reflection on the water surface become twisted and crooked, as if mixed with the water waves, difficult to distinguish.

He didn’t respond to any of Hengxu Zhenren’s words, only embracing the fundamental and maintaining unity, releasing all his cultivation, exposing his boundless ambition to heaven and earth…

“BOOM!”

That existence faintly circling above the deep valley almost instantly caught scent of this spreading aura, fiercely pouncing down toward the center of this deep pool!

Rolling thunder, like furious roars, shook all of Kunwu.

At the horizon, a massive golden vortex rapidly formed.

That dazzling brilliance could be seen clearly even from distant Mingri Xinghai!

Jian Chou had just asked Wang Que and Wu Duan about the current situation at Eastern Pole Ghost Gate and was about to return to her lodgings when she looked up and saw this golden vortex.

Familiar aura, different color.

This time, the dao tribulation vortex came from Kunwu!

Both Wang Que and Wu Duan were stunned, not knowing if it was because of the timing of this dao tribulation’s appearance or because of its unusually golden color.

Ordinary people’s dao tribulations were like dark clouds pressing down.

Jian Chou’s, because she crossed three realms with three tribulations together, was a terrifying deep purple near black.

But…

Brilliant golden clouds surrounding the small patch of dark black at the vortex’s center – what caused such a dao tribulation?

Jian Chou squinted at it, the golden light reflecting in her eyes, almost dyeing her pupils a light gold: “Fellow Daoist Xie’s dao tribulation is quite unusual.”