The crystalline wall of the lake glows dimly, casting clouds-like light and shadows across a small chamber beneath the island as the waves ripple through.

The murderous night has passed, and dawn arises.

Today is sunny.

Tap, tap, tap...

The three descended the steps and arrived at the chamber.

"Here it is," Su Yao said, "the thing you're looking for is here.

This room is only known to the heads of the Su and Sun families.

My second brother feared he might die in battle, so he told me this secret just in case.

If not for that, I wouldn't be able to bring you here."

Song Yan glanced at some book boxes piled on the distant bookshelf and asked curiously, "Why hide it so secretly?"

He understood the principle of gaining perspective from elevation, but the ancestral insights kept secret, not allowing the Elders to view, seemed out of character for Nanwu Sword Sect.

Su Yao said, "It's not secret keeping, but a rule set by the ancestors. If the Nine Palaces haven't reached perfection, one should not enter this room. They say it... will harm cultivation."

Song Yan said oddly, "Then... you bringing me here, is it to harm my cultivation?"

Su Yao gritted her teeth and said, "Exactly."

Song Yan raised his hand to pat his forehead and said, "Then why did you tell me?"

Su Yao vehemently said, "Because I know you, as a devilish man, are arrogant enough that even though I told you, you would definitely look, definitely ruin your cultivation."

If Song Yan were of lower realm and weaker power, facing Miss Su Seven's unreserved malice, he would be cautious, he would act. But now, he only felt that Miss Su Seven's resistance was like a small pet throwing a tantrum in a cage.

He watched as Miss Su Seven's almond-shaped eyes narrowed like knives, cold and murderous. It reminded him of her exposing her Profound Root Talent to be chosen as the master of Shadow Puppet Peak, back when they were at South Bamboo Peak...

He raised his hand and gently lifted Miss Su Seven's chin, saying, "Actually, it's not bad."

Su Yao's eyes remained cold, but there was a hint of doubt in their depths.

Song Yan didn't play any games and said, "Had you hidden and kept silent, and if I discovered it, it would be worse.

If you feigned submission cautiously, you would obviously have changed, like a snake.

The way you are now, maliciously telling me about this room's origins and issues, suits your temperament.

A devil like me not only wouldn't be angered by someone like you but would like you more.

You could use this disguise to turn your real nature into a mask, win my trust, then suffer indignities while secretly growing stronger, and ultimately seize the chance to kill me.

Remember, Nanwu Sword Sect was destroyed by the Puppet Sect, and I am the Puppet Sect Leader. If you don't do everything you can and fail to kill me, what face do you have to meet your ancestors underground?"

Su Yao knew she was far from being his match, and having already fallen to this man, even as he lifted her chin, she could only use all her willpower to glare at him fiercely, then she spoke, "Shameless!"

Her eyes now shimmered with life where once they were "loveless and full of resolve to die," as if before drowning, she reached out and grasped a straw named hatred.

As long as this straw stayed afloat, she would not seek death anymore.

Suddenly, Song Yan looked toward the girl Yuzhuang behind her and said, "Yuzhuang, why aren't you cursing?"

Cao Yuzhuang suddenly asked, "Are you still Song Yan?"

Song Yan asked curiously, "What do you mean?"

Cao Yuzhuang said, "Brother Song, though talented, could never possess such power. He couldn't kill Red Granny and the ancient general in an instant, not even a hundred or a thousand Song Yans could defeat them.

You're... possessed since Cold Pool Valley, right?

You're... not Fox Granny, are you?

I've heard the Crimson Palace demons can possess."

Song Yan looked at her oddly.

And Cao Yuzhuang glanced back at him coldly.

After a while, Song Yan flicked Yuzhuang's forehead and said, "Would Fox Granny have done that with you in the flying palanquin?"

Cao Yuzhuang paused, then in a complex tone said, "Are you still Song Yan?"

Song Yan said, "I have always been."

Su Yao said, "So you were already possessed back at South Bamboo Peak? Who exactly are you?"

Song Yan said, "Your master."

He casually teased the two girls.

Not sure of the effect, but after his antics, the two no longer seemed inclined to seek death.

Living is better than anything.

Perhaps after becoming stronger and standing taller, when you look back at those life-or-death matters, you'll feel relieved.

...

Song Yan paced over to the bookshelf, casually taking out a volume and holding it in his palm.

The book's cover was ancient, and on top was a note from later generations saying "Su Changsheng," and the pages surprisingly emitted a faint scent of blood.

He furrowed his brows, opened it, and saw on the page, crudely written, a line of frenzied large characters: Divine Soul has first united with the heavens and earth, it's done, it's done, old man succeeded!!!

He tilted his head and asked, "Who is Su Changsheng?"

Su Yao responded coldly, "Five hundred years ago, my Su Family's ancestor, exceptionally talented, Late stage Of Crimson Palace, Nine Palaces completed."

Song Yan asked, "Did he break through the Purple Mansion?"

Su Yao said, "He went mad."

Song Yan squinted, continuing to flip through the book's pages, inside which recorded various cultivation techniques and insights.

He quickly picked up other volumes, flipping through them until he stopped at one.

This one was left by the first Sect Leader of Nanwu Sword Sect a thousand years ago—Yu Luo Mountain, and a passage was written on the first page: I once heard the founding patriarch's secret words, the mysteries of Purple Mansion are hidden in fourteen characters: Profound Heart suffers through cultivation, Divine Soul first unites with heaven and earth.

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