Lu Xueqi and the other two remained silent, not uttering a word.
After all...
This matter was simply too unbelievable.
It nearly shattered their worldview.
The Buddhist, Daoist, and demonic paths all stem from the same origin?!
If this got out, whether people believed it or not, the entire world would plunge into chaos.
Zhang Xiaofan opened his mouth as if to speak, but hesitated.
He wanted to say something.
But...
In the end, he held back.
Because he had promised certain people.
He wouldn't reveal it, even on his deathbed.
Not even to... his Seventh Senior Brother, who treated him so well.
He couldn't just blurt it out casually.
That was the kind of person Zhang Xiaofan was.
Once he committed to something, he wouldn't betray it, no matter what.
Ji Changfeng noticed Zhang Xiaofan's hesitation but didn't dwell on it. After all, he had already resolved the issue with Zhang Xiaofan practicing the Great Brahma Prajna...
It was nothing to worry about.
Ji Changfeng turned his gaze back to the wall before him.
He had already committed the first volume of the Heavenly Book to memory.
Now, it was time to leave.
Whoosh—
Without hesitation, Ji Changfeng drew his Mo Xue Divine Sword.
In an instant, a dazzling sword light flashed.
The wall inscribed with the first volume of the Heavenly Book was shattered into dust by the sword light.
Boom—
The wall collapsed with a rumble.
Ji Changfeng sheathed his Mo Xue Divine Sword and turned to leave without a second thought.
When the deed is done, brush off your robes and depart, concealing your merits and fame.
"Let's go check the other side," Ji Changfeng said softly.
Lu Xueqi nodded.
Qi Hao and Zhang Xiaofan followed suit.
They had no objections to Ji Changfeng destroying the first volume of the Heavenly Book. It was a demonic sect's artifact...
Destroying it couldn't be wrong!
The group of four retraced their steps.
They returned to the fork marked with "Heaven and Earth are ruthless, treating all things as straw dogs."
The other path didn't hold much either.
Aside from an Infatuation Bell, there was only a harmful curse that could ruin both others and oneself—the Infatuation Curse!
Oh, right, and a corpse.
The Black-Hearted Elder from eight hundred years ago.
As Ji Changfeng and the others proceeded through the passage, they soon spotted two massive stone statues ahead, with a desiccated corpse seated cross-legged beneath them...
"Someone's there?!" Qi Hao jumped in fright.
From a distance, he had mistaken it for a living person.
But upon closer inspection...
It was a dead body.
"Don't be afraid. This is likely the Black-Hearted Elder from eight hundred years ago," Ji Changfeng said, shaking his head lightly.
He stepped past the corpse.
And headed straight into the inner chamber.
Whoosh—
The group entered the chamber.
To their surprise, it housed quite a few treasures!
But unfortunately, these treasures were of mediocre quality. After centuries of erosion by time, they had lost all their spiritual essence, reduced to worthless scrap metal.
"There's a box here?" Lu Xueqi's eyes scanned the room, immediately spotting a small black box on a shelf.
"Be careful—it might be poisoned," Ji Changfeng warned.
He waved his hand, using an object-manipulation technique to lift the box from the shelf. Then, from a safe distance, he unleashed a strand of sword intent to open it...
Whoosh!
In the next moment, a thick plume of black smoke billowed out.
It was clearly a deadly toxin.
Lu Xueqi and the others quickly covered their noses and mouths, retreating.
Whoosh—
Ji Changfeng casually flicked his sleeve.
Instantly, a gentle breeze swept through.
It dispersed the poisonous smoke in the chamber without a trace.
Looking inside, the small box contained a delicate bell with an open mouth. It shimmered with faint spiritual light, and faint inscriptions were etched on its inner surface—
The golden bell rings clear, yet devours blood in error; a lifetime ensnared by infatuation's plea.
Ting-ling-ling~
The small bell in the box swayed gently, emitting a crisp chime.
It seemed to sense the people around it?!
At that moment, a crimson glow suddenly flickered from Zhang Xiaofan's fire stick, as if...
Responding to the Infatuation Bell's call.
Sigh. Ji Changfeng noticed it all and let out a soft sigh, murmuring to himself: "Among the eighty thousand words in the world, only the word 'love' wounds the deepest!"
His words struck like thunder.
Qi Hao and the others trembled.
Lu Xueqi gazed at Ji Changfeng with tender affection. She slowly approached him, her silky hair carrying a faint, refreshing fragrance, as if silently assuring him...
I'll stay by your side.
Qi Hao asked dazedly, "Junior Brother Ji, this small bell..."
Ji Changfeng explained, "It should be the treasure of Madam Golden Bell from eight hundred years ago—the Infatuation Bell!"
Lu Xueqi stared longingly at the small bell in the box. For some inexplicable reason—perhaps a woman's intuition—she felt drawn to this treasure.
After all...
In this world, there was no shortage of infatuated souls.
Even in the demonic sects, it was the same.
Infatuation brings suffering to the infatuated.
Infatuation is always confessed to the heartless.
Ji Changfeng picked up the Infatuation Bell, ignoring Lu Xueqi's yearning gaze. He casually hung the small bell at his waist, then...
He removed the Six Harmonies Mirror that was also hanging there.
"Xueqi, the Infatuation Bell has some sinister qualities—you'd better not take it. Use the Six Harmonies Mirror for protection instead."
Ji Changfeng said gently.
Lu Xueqi was momentarily stunned.
She withdrew her hand without hesitation and shook her head. "No, the Six Harmonies Mirror was bestowed upon you by Sect Leader Shizun. How can you just give it to me?"
"With my current cultivation, do you think I still need the Six Harmonies Mirror?" Ji Changfeng smiled, shaking his head.
"As for Sect Leader Shibo? Don't worry, I'll explain it to him."
Lu Xueqi still refused.
She simply wouldn't accept it.
Seeing this, Ji Changfeng chuckled softly. "You really don't want it? It'll end up in your hands eventually anyway."
Lu Xueqi tilted her head, as if asking... Why do you say that?
Ji Changfeng grinned. "In a while, I'll go to Uncle Shuiyue to propose marriage. Consider the Six Harmonies Mirror as the betrothal gift—you'll have to take it whether you want to or not!!"
"Ah?!"
Lu Xueqi's heart fluttered with shyness at his words.
Nearby, Qi Hao and Zhang Xiaofan exchanged glances, then silently turned away, leaning against each other...
"Do you want it or not?" Ji Changfeng asked again.
This time, Lu Xueqi hesitated only briefly.
Then, with her head lowered and cheeks flushed, she quickly snatched the Six Harmonies Mirror and hung it prominently at her waist.
Ji Changfeng nodded in satisfaction.
The Six Harmonies Mirror was essentially useless to him now. After all...
It was said to reflect all attacks, but that was just talk. Once one reached the mid-to-late stages of Upper Purity, it became obsolete.
Of course, it was perfect for Lu Xueqi.
It would serve her well for quite some time.
"Junior Brother Ji, look—there's something here?!" Qi Hao's voice suddenly rang out.
Ji Changfeng turned to look.
Lu Xueqi lightly patted her cheeks, ensuring her face wasn't too red, before following along.
There, Qi Hao and Zhang Xiaofan were huddled together.
On the wall before them was a small button, roughly the same size as the Infatuation Bell they had just acquired.
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