24 Secret Learned 1/∞
Spirit stones
shimmering and flashing, adorned the cliff, reaching heights of tens of thousands of meters.
Here, spiritual energy soared to the heavens, far surpassing spirit stone deposits, and was several times richer in energy than the Seven Great Sects' Myriad Mountain Protection Spirit Gathering Formation.
Liu Ping advanced step by step from the cliff's edge to the center of these spirit stones, then performed a secret technique.
—Earth Escape!
But after a breath, nothing happened.
"Hah, I'm not even in the Divine Reflection Realm and I attempted Earth Escape?" He mocked himself, retracting the secret technique and standing still.
After a moment, lines of small characters appeared in the void:
[You retrieved 1983 spirit stones]
[You retrieved 3729 spirit stones]
[You retrieved 7165 spirit stones]
"..."
Liu Ping's body slowly sank downward, completely submerged in the sea of spirit stones, disappearing from sight.
After a quarter of an hour.
In the depths, on the 39th level, a figure cloaked in spirit stones materialized.
He extended his hand backward: "Retrieve."
All the spirit stones vanished instantly as if they had never been there.
"Let's get to business, this seems to be the earthquake location..."
Discerning the direction, and advancing towards a wall, contemplating his next move.
Originally, this level was designated for high-stage cultivators to stay, but given Hong Tao and Zhao Chanyi's being here, it was reasonable to assume that they are at least a Rejuvenation realm cultivation base.
Liu Ping placed his hand on the wall, activating the formation slowly.
A stream of spirit light began to follow the predetermined path, uniting in the Void, and then suddenly illuminating the wall.
With a resounding rumble, the wall parted, revealing the scene inside.
All that was visible was emptiness, save for an Image Transmission Formation.
As the name implied, an Image Transmission Formation was used for transmitting images.
Liu Ping inspected it, finding no issues, and then inserted several spirit stones into various slots.
With a flash of spirit light, the entire formation activated instantly.
A serene and refined female figure then appeared in the formation.
Although her current location is unknown, she projected her form through the formation to meet with Liu Ping.
"Fellow Daoist Liu, it's nice to see you" the woman said with a smile.
"Fairy Maiden Zhao" Liu Ping replied somewhat awkwardly, bowing respectfully.
It was obvious that one needed at least a Rejuvenation Stage cultivation base to reach this level. Even for discretion, Liu Ping wouldn't have come here so soon. What was Zhao Chanyi searching for?
"I've helped some people before" Zhao Chanyi explained "but I never expected that shortly after you woke up, you would quickly make it to the underground 39th level. That was quite a pleasant surprise. So, I finally found you."
"Eh?" Liu Ping was puzzled.
With a smile, Zhao Chanyi continued, "You probably don't recognize me, because... I've mastered a highly elusive quiet evil technique, which allowed me to change my appearance completely, assuming the form of a Human Race body."
She then wiped her face with her hand, and her features changed immediately, her entire body transforming.
...slender and graceful, akin to a peony.
However, her head now sported the ears of a Monster Race.
Liu Ping's heart skipped a beat as he looked at those ears.
'Could it be?'
"Fairy Maiden Zhao, Thank you for helping me to retrieve the item on the surface. Thanks to you, I acquired a status to shield myself. But about these ears— who are you?" Liu Ping asked, puzzled.
"Do you not remember? You once sent a large group of experts to the Monster Race Imperial Court to rescue me. In return, I pledged to protect and support you" Zhao Chanyi explained.
"I've never done such a thing. Who are you?" Liu Ping questioned, still perplexed.
Zhao Chanyi smiled and recounted "During the decisive battle between Human Race and Demons, when the Hidden Assassin Guild, the Evil Valley Cultivators, and the Northern Sacred Cult were fully mobilized, my subordinates joined forces with me. We followed the order of the Demon Lord to rush to the battlefield and rescue the Gua Saint. However, after the event, the Demon Lord never appeared again."
Liu Ping listened calmly, remaining silent for a while.
Zhao Chanyi continued, "Every time the Demon Lord appears, he always wears a mask, and his true identity and intentions are unknown."
She locked eyes with Liu Ping and spoke softly, "I was the only one who, in the past, insisted on maintaining the alliance and was willing to take action. The Demon Lord told me his true identity."
Liu Ping shook his head and said, "And here I thought you were about to tell me something important. I'm not interested in the tales of the past, goodbye."
He turned around and began walking away.
Zhao Chanyi quickened her pace, urgently saying, "Wait. The Gua Saint once had a disciple long ago. He is related to me and the Demon Lord. Unfortunately, the Gua Saint used a Heavenly Mystery before their death, and because of that everyone remembers them differently."
Liu Ping didn't look back, continuing to move forward.
As Zhao Chanyi watched his retreating figure, her eyes gradually reddened. In a soft voice, she said, "Demon Lord, please cultivate the Nine Serenities Technique. The Nine Serenities Technique makes it easy to manipulate the soul. Once the soul is manipulated, one can awaken from the illusion and realize that it's all a dream."
As soon as she finished speaking, lines of burning text suddenly appeared before Liu Ping's eyes:
[You have learned a secret.]
[After the soul is manipulated, self-awareness will awaken, and you will no longer play the role assigned to you in the world's narrative.]
[This information has been added to your Archive.]
[Congratulations, you have successfully discovered a method to evade soul enslavement through secret inquiry.]
[Role points have increased by two points.]
[Current Role point is 2/10.]
[Please keep up the good work.]
[When you reach ten actor's compensation points, you will gain a new mysterious Class Ability.]
Finally, Liu Ping came to a halt.
After pondering for a moment in the same spot, Liu Ping shook his head with a wry smile. "How many times did it take for you to shake off their control and gain freedom?"
There was a hint of grievance on Zhao Chanyi's face, and gradually, half of a tail emerged from her back.
"A half... tail..." Liu Ping glanced at it lightly. "A cat has nine lives, but you've lost all of them. Now, you're left with only half a life. Is it worth it? I remember that you have the means to leave this world and ascend to the Highest Heavens."
"The Highest Heavens is also heading towards apocalypse and destruction. Calamity and destruction are spreading through the infinite worlds, Instead of going out to try your luck, it is better to fight on your home court-this is what you said, I personally verified it, and it is true." Zhao Chanyi said.
"Alright, thank you for your secret. I need to do something, so I'll take my leave" Liu Ping said.
Seeing Liu Ping about to leave, Zhao Chanyi hastily shouted, "Devil King, what should I do now?"
Without turning back, Liu Ping replied, "Don't call me Devil King. It's not safe right now. If you keep shouting like that, what if the monsters come to kill me? Besides, I'm just a shopkeeper now."
"What do you need me to do? I can definitely assist you" Zhao Chanyi offered.
"It's not that I look down on you, but your most important job is to hide" Liu Ping explained.
"Hide?" Zhao Chanyi was taken aback.
"The whole world has turned into a play. This is unheard of. I have to handle it personally. Having too many burdens will affect my performance" Liu Ping elaborated.
Finally, he walked away.
After several breaths...
He turned back and said to Zhao Chanyi, "I will take the spirit stones from this formation."
"Alright" Zhao Chanyi replied.
Satisfied, Liu Ping nodded, then squatted to retrieve the spirit stones from the formation. As soon as he did, the formation extinguished immediately. Zhao Chanyi's phantom dispersed, returning to nothingness.
Liu Ping cautiously gathered the spirit stones, stood up, and sighed. "You only have half a life left, and you still come out in the open? Since I woke up, I will take care of this.... play..."
With that, he exited the secret room.
