Chapter 66: Du Xian Sect 24 Part 1

【Would the Host like to use the Pain Shield skill?】 The System asked somewhat worriedly.

“I’ll just get a little scrape; there’s no need.” Xun Ji leaned against the dungeon wall, lost in thought. “Can this skill be used on others?”

【It cannot be used on the Protagonist; it can only be used by the Host on themselves.】 The System analyzed rationally. 【The Protagonist only got his palm pierced; a few Pills will fix that right up.】

Xun Ji tried to cover it up. “I didn’t say it was for him.”

When the Emotion Vein Seal unlocking progress reached 30% and 40%, the System had given him two Scratch Cards respectively. Although the Immortal Alliance Conference was a plot-killing danger point and the plot had already changed, Xun Ji still prepared ahead just in case.

The two Scratch Cards were two skills: Pain Shield and Pain Sensitivity.

The second skill was utterly useless; Xun Ji despised it—who would want to amplify their own pain for no reason? But the first skill was quite handy; he had nearly used it.

Yes, nearly.

Just moments ago at the Immortal Alliance Conference, Lu Yun Ting had suddenly attacked. His right hand gripped the Zhenliu Sword and thrust straight toward Xun Ji’s heart. In his shock, Xun Ji hadn’t reacted in time. As the blade was about to pierce his heart, a hand suddenly blocked his chest and gripped the sharp sword edge tightly.

The blade pierced that palm, tore through his robe, and stopped just at his chest, leaving a shallow blood mark.

It was Lu Yun Ting’s left hand.

In that critical moment, Lu Yun Ting had gripped his own thrusting sword.

Xun Ji hadn’t had time to speak to him before he was dragged to the dungeon. He could only watch from afar as Lu Yun Ting’s blood-drenched palm hung down, dripping a string of blood beads. On the System Panel, the Emotion Vein Restriction unlocking progress rose from the previous 50% to 60%, and Xun Ji received two more Scratch Cards. This time, he used them without hesitation—after all, he was now a prisoner; what if he drew an escape skill?

“Senior Brother, you’d better stop thinking about escaping. These days, Du Xian Sect is full of people and watchful eyes. Just stay obediently in this dungeon for a month.” Yulan Zhenren paced in front of him, speaking earnestly. “Once things are settled on our end, I’ll find a scapegoat for you and let you fake your death to escape.”

“Fake my death to escape?” Xun Ji raised an eyebrow. “Does Junior Brother truly intend to protect me completely?”

“Of course.” Yulan Zhenren said solemnly. “The situation at Passing Immortal Bridge is already untenable. If it continues like this, no amount of treasures can suppress the turmoil. The only plan now is to pursue a dual strategy to stabilize Passing Immortal Bridge and protect the Cultivation World!”

Xun Ji understood his meaning. “One strategy on me, and one on Lu Yun Ting?”

“Exactly.” Yulan Zhenren said. “Our talents are limited. Though we’ve been striving with all our might, we fear we won’t catch up in time for Passing Immortal Bridge’s crisis. But Senior Brother bears Dragon Blood. As long as your cultivation recovers, reaching Soul Transformation Peak again and attempting Tribulation Transcendence will be just around the corner.”

“If Passing Immortal Bridge can welcome another person to cross and Ascend Immortal, the ascension blessings will nourish the Cultivation World in return at that time, stabilizing the situation. We can also advance further by borrowing Senior Brother’s momentum.”

“I advise you not to count on me,” Xun Ji waved his hand. “My cultivation has plummeted now; you must have noticed that long ago. Besides, that damn Merit Dao has been exposed by Tian Yan Sect. Where am I supposed to cultivate?”

Yulan Zhenren smiled instead. “Has Senior Brother forgotten about the Treasure Pearl County incident?”

Xun Ji frowned slightly. “What did you do?”

“Nothing much—just a little *guidance to have those commoners build a golden body for Senior Brother and worship it daily from now on.” Yulan Zhenren said. “Senior Brother’s grace toward Treasure Pearl County was a true life-saving merit, far beyond those minor favors of the past. The cultivation boost is immeasurable. It’s just that the golden body isn’t complete yet, so Senior Brother hasn’t sensed it clearly.”

The old guy had actually done something like this behind his back. It seemed this old man truly wanted to protect him and make him a savior.

Wait… Xun Ji suddenly remembered something and quickly flipped through the original text in his mind.

【Host, in the original text… it doesn’t explicitly describe Jiyang Zhenren’s death!】 The System, which had reviewed the original text with him, exclaimed in shock. 【Could it be that Jiyang Zhenren was saved by Yulan Zhenren in the original too?】

“Probably.” Xun Ji pondered. “I was prejudiced earlier. Seeing the Protagonist defeat Jiyang Zhenren at the Immortal Alliance Conference, piercing his heart with one sword and breaking through on the spot, I thought Jiyang Zhenren was dead for sure. In reality, with Dragon Blood, as long as there was breath left, he wouldn’t die so easily.”

Yulan Zhenren was selfish, but his selfishness was for Du Xian Sect. As Du Xian Sect’s First Generation Elder and the one closest to the path of Ascend Immortal, it was only natural for Yulan Zhenren to protect Jiyang Zhenren.

“Thank you, Junior Brother, for planning on my behalf.” Xun Ji smiled politely. “As for the other strategy, what does Junior Brother plan?”

The turmoil at Passing Immortal Bridge boiled down to the Emotion Vein Restriction in Lu Yun Ting’s body—they both knew that clearly.