442 - Made-Up Martial Arts, Have You Really Mastered Them, Disciple?

Chapter 442: My Name is Tian Zi, It’s Time to Trick the Enchantress Witch The youth in the purple robe paused again towards the end of his speech, scratching his head, a look of frustration on his face, finally expressing his irritation, "In any case, all you need to know is, I am very knowledgeable about this world. Very knowledgeable, indeed. After all, I am of... of a certain status." Li Xuan's smile was radiant, "I naturally know who you are. Since I mentioned it, you only understand the superficiality of this world without knowing what is missing. I certainly have my reasons for saying this." The youth in the purple robe looked utterly astonished, "You know about me?" "Naturally!" Li Xuan nodded. "Then tell me, who am I?" The youth in the purple robe became intrigued. Li Xuan raised his hand, pointing upwards at the sky, then downwards at the ground, finally pointing at the youth in the purple robe, smiling without saying a word. The youth in the purple robe was bewildered. "What do you mean by this?" Li Xuan sighed, "You, young friend, are truly dull-witted, unable to comprehend even this." The youth in the purple robe scratched his head, feeling restless, "You keep pointing everywhere, how is anyone supposed to know what you mean? Can't you just say it outright?" Li Xuan chuckled softly, "I've already spoken plainly, but alas, you are too dull. Think about it on your own." The youth in the purple robe gave Li Xuan a suspicious glance, lost deep in thought. "Why do all powerful people have this habit? They never speak candidly, always liking to wrap matters up in layers!" He couldn’t help but think of Tai-Cang. Li Xuan drank his tea, maintaining an air of mystery, looking as though he had already seen through everything. In truth, while Li Xuan knew much about the origins of the youth in the purple robe, understanding he wasn’t a creature of this world, nor did he belong to any living being, he couldn’t grasp his specific identity. Even though he had attained Heaven and Earth Realm cultivation and cultivated the Heavenly Dao Eye, he was still limited in his understanding and couldn’t fully perceive what the youth in the purple robe was. Of course, this was also because the person sealing the youth in the purple robe's identity was far too powerful. Even with Li Xuan’s current strength and the use of the Heavenly Dao Eye, he couldn’t completely see through the veil concealing his essence. However, Li Xuan understood clearly that the youth in the purple robe must have some connection with the owner of Tai-Cang's book. Inside the small stone hut, Li Xuan and the youth in the purple robe chatted casually, their conversation topics extending from the world to the ancient times, and then beyond the world. The youth in the purple robe evidently knew much about the secrets of the world, but each time he reached a key point, he would hurriedly close his mouth, refusing to say more. Li Xuan, unconcerned, maintained the demeanor of someone who had already seen through everything, rendering the youth's words irrelevant. "I suppose I should be going. Who knows when I’ll come back to chat with you, young friend." Li Xuan stood up and said. The youth in the purple robe looked conflicted, wanting to say something but hesitated. "Young friend, no need to see me off." Li Xuan waved his hand, and turned to leave with casual elegance. "Uh... senior, when will you visit again?" The youth in the purple robe spoke, struggling with his words. "Whether I visit or not, what difference does it make? I only came because I saw a young friend like you trapped here, passing the time in conversation. Since there aren't any significant topics left, naturally, it ends here." Li Xuan chuckled happily, "After all, we are not too acquainted." The youth in the purple robe scratched his head, saying, "Next time you come, let's talk about deeper matters. By the way, my name is Tian Zi." Li Xuan's face revealed a smile, "Tian Zi? Alright, I’ll remember that." With a single step, he vanished in an instant. Although he didn't learn many world secrets from Tian Zi, he did gather some useful information. Like his name. For instance, the notion that there is more than one world, and this world where he resides is supposedly the strongest. Of course, whether this holds true remains to be tested. After all, being confined within the Tai-Cang realm, Tian Zi would naturally speak favorably of it. "The Netherworld Abyss—could it be another world?" Li Xuan mused internally. He thought of the foreign enemies in the Heavenly Abyss, who were perhaps beings from another realm trying to invade Tai-Cang. If seen this way, maybe Tai-Cang isn’t the strongest after all? Or perhaps it once was, but some incident led to its decline? The precise secrets of the worlds need further investigation. "The Enchantress Witch, another formidable adversary from another world?" Li Xuan pondered. Xu Yan had already reached the pinnacle of the Divine Appearance Realm and was preparing to break through to the Void Shattering Realm. Now he was likely on his way to the trap set by the Enchantress Witch. "I hope the treasures the Enchantress Witch brings forth will be of some use." Li Xuan was filled with anticipation. Upon returning to Qinghua Realm, Li Xuan couldn’t help but sigh; Fang Hao and Su Lingxiu were currently in a period of accumulating power, and soon they would experience significant growth in their strength. Once the Qinghua Grand Formation is complete, Fang Hao can utilize it to make a significant breakthrough, and his future path of cultivation will be much smoother. Su Lingxiu will experience the same, as the completion of the Divine Furnace will allow her to quickly elevate her Dan Medical Alchemy Martial Path. "Your apprentice Meng Chong, comprehending the third layer of the Great Sun and Stars Immortal Physique; you break through to the third layer yourself." The Great Dao Golden Book opened, a surge of golden light emerged. Li Xuan was overjoyed, thinking how rare it was for Meng Chong to finally understand the third layer. "The Physical Body Martial Path has also reached the Heaven and Earth Realm, my strength is amplified." Li Xuan was in good spirits. "This girl Su Lingxiu should also spend some time contemplating the Heaven and Earth Realm techniques, understanding them early so my Dan Medical Martial Path can break through." Li Xuan muttered internally, needing to make time to guide her, so she doesn't obsess over the Divine Furnace all day without investing effort into Heaven and Earth technique wisdom. ... Wide-Umbra Realm (廣幽境), a place with a vast view, melded with a sense of depth, hence its name derived. "Enchantress Witch, have you grown impatient? It's time for me to fool you, isn't it?" Xu Yan finally entered the Wide-Umbra Realm. On his way, dealing with the outcasts of Sky Shadow Earth Slayer, a substantial delay occurred. But now, as he’s about to break through to the Void Shattering Realm, it was time to collect treasures from the Enchantress Witch. By now, surely, the Enchantress Witch must be getting anxious. Thankfully, he made sure to visit the Heavenly Abyss of each realm, using it to relay the information that he's constantly searching for the Treasure Hall's location, dangling a carrot to keep the Enchantress Witch's patience tethered. "Each Heavenly Abyss (巫魔天窟) is connected, the Enchantress Witch must be a formidable force within." Now, Xu Yan could start piecing together some related information. "Wide-Umbra Realm has a smaller population and fewer Heavenly Abysses, hence the warriors here are usually at leisure." As Xu Yan walked through Wide-Umbra, heading to the concealed Heavenly Abyss. "Within Wide-Umbra Realm lie several uncharted places, seldom visited by warriors, and have never encountered invasions from Heavenly Abyss enemies. This particular hidden Heavenly Abyss clearly has restrictions, preventing breaches into Wide-Umbra." Xu Yan glanced at the treasure map, lost in thought. "In this Heavenly Abyss, beside the Enchantress Witch, will other strong beings assist her?" The amount of power a Heavenly Abyss can hold is limited, meaning the Enchantress Witch's choice of allies is likewise limited. And if this Heavenly Abyss's upper limit is relatively high, that ensures others besides the Enchantress Witch are lurking. "However, it doesn't matter, with my current strength, I am not who I used to be." Xu Yan wasn't worried at all. Moreover, with the small wooden sword given by his master, it would be enough to handle any unexpected ambush. "This is the place." Finally, Xu Yan arrived at the location from the treasure map. The Small Heavenly Dao Eye revealed astonishing discoveries. "No wonder no one found this Heavenly Abyss; it was concealed so deeply, and covered by the Earth Spirit instead of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, making it impossible to detect even for an Immortal Heavenly Venerable!" Xu Yan decided not to rush in, instead, he created some movement; appearing to find a method to enter after much effort, thus masking his ability to see through illusions, preventing alertness from the Enchantress Witch. ... Inside the hidden underground Heavenly Abyss, scorching heat spread throughout, with flames flickering around, yet the center was surprisingly cool, devoid of any heat. In the middle, a pool housed a one-foot-long, thumb-thick jade bamboo, with only a single leaf at the top. The jade bamboo was transparent and flawless, appearing to contain intricate patterns within, encapsulating profound truths, with a dao rhyme surrounding it. Besides the jade bamboo, several Seven-Mystical Divine Flowers (七妙神花) and other unknown treasures grew around the pool. A stunningly beautiful, enchantingly captivating woman stood among them, donning a pink long dress, every gesture exuding irresistible seductive power. "Xu Yan, you little bastard, why haven't you come yet?" **New Terms:** 1. **Tian Zi (天紫)**: The youth's name, directly translated means "Sky Purple." Retains mystical connotations fitting his enigmatic nature. 2. **Wide-Umbra Realm (廣幽境)**: Refers to a mysterious realm, capturing its vastness and depth. 3. **Seven-Mystical Divine Flowers (七妙神花)**: A rare treasure with divine attributes, leveraging its mystical and divine significance. 4. **Enchantress Witch (媚巫)**: A powerful female adversary from another world, retaining her enigmatic allure and sinister intent. These translations are chosen to maintain thematic and symbolic consistencies, enhancing comprehension while preserving the narrative's mystical essence. The Enchantress Witch gritted her teeth, growing somewhat impatient. She had spent considerable effort vengefully plotting to ensure Xu Yan learned the consequences of crossing her, the Enchantress Witch. To lure Xu Yan into her trap, she meticulously placed some treasures here. The Seven-Mystical Divine Flowers and other treasures were one thing, but the jade bamboo in the pool was truly a heavenly treasure. Not just Immortal Heavenly Venerables, even those above them would covet its sight. It was a treasure that aids in comprehending the Laws of Heaven and Earth. The intricate patterns within the jade bamboo seemed to embed it with the essence of these laws. The hollow within the jade bamboo seemed like a miniature version of Heaven and Earth, where the patterns functioned as its underlying principles. Such uniqueness made the jade bamboo incredibly precious. "Enchantress Witch, just how much do you despise that brat? Even bringing out this bamboo!" A voice sounded. A burly man, with hair and beard appearing like flames burning, emerged. "While this bamboo is precious, it’s of no use to us. It's merely a descendant of a certain treasured bamboo known through countless generations." The Enchantress Witch dismissed. Then, clenching her teeth, she said, "Without offering sufficiently valuable treasures, that scoundrel might not risk coming in!" "Very well, Enchantress Witch, just don't go back on your promise." The man nodded. "Rest assured, Flame Demon (炎魔), as long as you help me capture this brat, I guarantee I won't break my promise." The Enchantress Witch assured seriously. "Heh, to capture this brat, you even promised that, truly despise him, huh? Rest assured, with my intervention, he won't be escaping once he's in." Flame Demon laughed heartily. His figure turned into a fiery blaze, dispersing into the entirety of the Heavenly Abyss. "Xu Yan, child, treasures aren't that easy to obtain. Once you're in, let's see how you escape from my clutches." The Enchantress Witch gritted her teeth. Aside from her hatred for Xu Yan, she harbored even greater resentment for Li Xuan. After all, Xu Yan was his disciple, crafted by that scoundrel! "With your disciple in my grasp, let’s see what you can do!" The Enchantress Witch's gaze turned icy. Boom! Suddenly, sounds echoed from outside the Heavenly Abyss. "Enchantress Witch, the brat has appeared." Flame Demon's voice came through. "Finally, he's here." The Enchantress Witch let out a sigh of relief, fearing Xu Yan might not come. "Fallen Witch, it’s your turn to come in and confuse Xu Yan." The Enchantress Witch's figure disappeared, hidden away. Moments later, the figure of the Fallen Witch (墯巫) entered the Heavenly Abyss, hiding not far from the pool. His camouflage, however, was deliberately flawed. Should Xu Yan get close, he would inevitably discover him. "Heh, what a boy. If he can resist my Fallen Witch's evil eye, he mustn't be allowed to grow." The Fallen Witch sneered inwardly. Within the Heavenly Abyss, with the Enchantress Witch and Flame Demon lurking, as well as himself, if Xu Yan entered, there’d be no hope of escape. For Xu Yan's capture, he knew well the Enchantress Witch paid some price, bringing a decent treasure in. Boom! Outside the Heavenly Abyss, sounds kept resounding as Xu Yan searched for an entry path. Yet, after a long while, the noise ceased. The Enchantress Witch's figure appeared, looking towards the Fallen Witch, "Does the map you gave him not show the way in?" The Fallen Witch's lips twitched, "I feared it being too obvious, so..." This made the Enchantress Witch anxious; what if Xu Yan couldn’t find his way in? Thankfully, an hour later, more noises followed, Xu Yan hadn’t given up. "Xu Yan, you little scoundrel, you’d better find the way in." The Enchantress Witch's heart fluttered anxiously, fearful that Xu Yan might suddenly give up. Alas, after a while, the sounds died down again. "Flame Demon, create some disturbances to lead Xu Yan in." The Enchantress Witch, frazzled, instructed. "Alright, seems like the Fallen Witch's work is indeed unreliable!" Flame Demon shook his head in resignation. The Fallen Witch's face turned embarrassed, inwardly cursing, how could this seemingly clever Xu Yan not find a simple way in? Whoosh! A fiery breath burst through the entrance, seemingly triggered by Xu Yan's ceaseless probing, as if his efforts finally activated the Heavenly Abyss' aura. "Interesting, I thought it was just the Fallen Witch, but there’s another, blocking the abyss?" "Using flames to seal it completely, trying to trap me with no escape?" Xu Yan noticed the disturbance created by Flame Demon. "Such strength, hardly surpassing the Immortal Realm, hopes to trap me this way?" Xu Yan pondered, while far-off woods morphed into long swords, flying over, stacking to form a short sword tucked into his sleeve. "As long as I trap you even momentarily, that'll suffice." Xu Yan devised a plan, an array disk appeared in his hand, enough to bewilder the Fallen Witch momentarily. And this brief moment was enough for him to trap the Enchantress Witch and snatch the treasures. Feigning satisfaction with his noisy insights, Xu Yan finally found the method, his face erupting in delight yet cautiously entering the Heavenly Abyss. **New Terms:** 1. **Flame Demon (炎魔):** A fierce male character whose aura and appearance embody fiery attributes. 2. **Fallen Witch (墯巫):** A character identified by a sinister and eerie presence, employing deceptive abilities. These terms are crafted to highlight the mystical and adversarial nature of the characters within the vividly magical setting.