Chapter 1928 - Swapping Identities

After Ye Linghan departed, Liu Wuxie remained beneath the tree, submerged in thought. He could not decipher what the Heavenly Dao Book was attempting to convey, but he knew an event was approaching. Nothing else mattered to him until he understood the meaning behind its warning.

As Liu Wuxie sank deeper into contemplation, the Heavenly Dao Book rustled again, its warnings becoming increasingly frequent.

"Deciphering the Heavenly Dao Book's warning must take priority over everything else," Liu Wuxie murmured.

He did not regard the Eastern Emperor Pavilion, Celestial Moon Dao Hall, Stormcloud Sect, Shen Clan, or Zhu Clan as genuine threats. None possessed enough power to command his attention.

Ever since consuming several Primal Chaos Shards, Blackie's combat strength had become comparable to that of the Divine Immortal Realm. Blackie alone could sweep through every enemy Liu Wuxie currently faced.

Time passed slowly, and Ye Linghan successfully delivered all six messages.

"Mentor Liu, did you summon me?" Xiang Rulong asked, peering respectfully into the courtyard.

"Come inside," Liu Wuxie said. He turned and returned to the stone stool, while Xiang Rulong entered and stood obediently beside him.

"Mentor, do you have an assignment for me?" Xiang Rulong asked quietly. The competition had ended only yesterday, so Liu Wuxie would not have summoned him without a reason.

"I need you to handle something, but it will be extremely dangerous. If you succeed, however, the experience will help you grow," Liu Wuxie said, gesturing for Xiang Rulong to sit. He displayed none of a mentor's usual airs, especially since they were close in age. Their bond had long since grown beyond that of mentor and student, making them friends as well.

"Tell me what you need. Even if you order me to cross mountains of blades or seas of fire, I won't refuse," Xiang Rulong declared, rising with a solemn expression. Without Liu Wuxie, he knew he would still be nothing more than an ordinary student.

Even his uncle's protection could not have changed his mediocre destiny. Liu Wuxie had transformed his future and guided him onto the proper path of cultivation. Xiang Rulong owed him his life for that alone. Forget one request, he would not frown even if Liu Wuxie gave him a hundred.

"From this moment onward, you are Liu Wuxie. Leave for Moon Reverence City immediately, and someone will meet you there," Liu Wuxie instructed. He said nothing more, as Xiang Rulong would receive further instructions upon his arrival.

According to Liu Wuxie's calculations, the Thousand Hands Yama and his allies would inevitably move against him within the next few days. In truth, he hardly needed to calculate anything to understand their intentions.

They knew killing Liu Wuxie would prove difficult while he remained inside the Azure Flame Dao Hall. Even so, they could unite their forces and storm the Dao Hall directly, and Gongye Zhang alone could never stop them all.

For that reason, Liu Wuxie intended to eliminate them in one fell swoop before their alliance could solidify. This was not ruthlessness, but the law of the cultivation world. Falling even a single step behind meant losing the initiative and being forced onto the defensive.

"I understand!" Xiang Rulong agreed without hesitation.

Liu Wuxie began altering Xiang Rulong's appearance. He had selected Xiang Rulong because their builds closely resembled one another.

In less than fifteen minutes, Xiang Rulong underwent a complete transformation and became indistinguishable from Liu Wuxie.

"You only need to preserve this disguise for five days. After that, your task is over. Mentor Ye will accompany you to Moon Reverence City after she returns. Whatever she asks, answer vaguely. Most importantly, don't expose yourself," Liu Wuxie warned solemnly. He had deliberately sent Ye Linghan away so she would not discover this plan.

Xiang Rulong failed to understand the purpose behind these arrangements, but he nodded nonetheless.

"What should I do if Mentor Ye asks something personal?" Xiang Rulong asked. His concern was reasonable. Ye Linghan's feelings for Liu Wuxie were no secret, and a tricky question could create an awkward situation.

"Act aloof and mysterious," Liu Wuxie replied. That demeanor matched his usual nature, for he had never been a man of many words. Under normal circumstances, Ye Linghan would not press him about personal matters either.

Liu Wuxie continued to explain several additional details, and Xiang Rulong nodded repeatedly as he listened.

"I may disappear for some time. If Mentor Ye discovers the truth and tries to find me, stop her at all costs. I will return to the Azure Flame Dao Hall within a year," Liu Wuxie said after finishing his instructions.

"Mentor Liu, you intend to leave?" Xiang Rulong asked anxiously.

With Liu Wuxie gone, who would guide them in the future?

"Every gathering must eventually end, and our paths will cross again. Your cultivation is already moving in the right direction. At your current pace, reaching the Divine Immortal Realm is only a matter of time," Liu Wuxie said, patting Xiang Rulong's shoulder.

Their friendship had strengthened over the past six months, and Liu Wuxie would still require their assistance during his future campaign across the celestial realm.

"I always knew you would leave eventually. Eastern Emperor City could never contain someone with your talent. I'm more concerned about whether Mentor Ye can accept it," Xiang Rulong replied. As a grown man, he quickly overcame his disappointment. He was more worried about Ye Linghan, for Liu Wuxie's abrupt departure would deeply hurt her.

"Give her this letter," Liu Wuxie said, retrieving a letter from inside his robe. He had prepared it the previous night.

Xiang Rulong carefully tucked the letter into his pocket just as footsteps approached from a distance. Ye Linghan had completed her task and was returning.

"Follow every instruction and depart for Moon Reverence City immediately. Someone will secretly protect both of you. Travel along the main road whenever possible so others can clearly see that you've left the Azure Flame Dao Hall," Liu Wuxie said before vanishing. Xiang Rulong knew he had left the courtyard using Flash.

The two had exchanged clothing beforehand. Xiang Rulong imitated Liu Wuxie and took his place beneath the large tree. He even cleared his throat several times, adjusting his voice until it sounded almost identical to Liu Wuxie's.

"Wuxie, everything has been arranged. Hall Master Gongye said your letter arrived at exactly the right time," Ye Linghan said as she entered the courtyard and poured tea for him.

"Linghan, we're leaving for Moon Reverence City immediately," Xiang Rulong said, turning and avoiding eye contact with her.

"Right now?" Ye Linghan asked, visibly confused. She could not understand why Liu Wuxie was suddenly in such a hurry.

"We can't afford to wait. The Celestial Moon Dao Hall's hall master may target Big Brother Chen, so we need to return immediately," Xiang Rulong replied as he headed toward the entrance.

Ye Linghan had no choice but to follow "Liu Wuxie." She frowned, watching Xiang Rulong's silhouette, unable to explain why something about the man felt different.

She soon shook her head and dismissed the suspicion. Who would dare impersonate Liu Wuxie inside the Azure Flame Dao Hall unless they had grown tired of living?

Not long after the pair departed, Liu Wuxie emerged from the courtyard's depths and silently watched them disappear into the distance.

"Linghan, forgive me. The path I walk isn't suited for you. Until my vengeance is fulfilled, I dare not speak of romance. If I remain alive after one year, I'll return to see you," Liu Wuxie said, pain flickering across his face. The letter entrusted to Xiang Rulong explained everything clearly, and he believed Ye Linghan would understand after reading it.

Liu Wuxie then vanished from the courtyard without leaving a trace. Eastern Emperor City was ultimately too small for him. If he wished to grow stronger, he needed to journey toward the Celestial Weave Domain, the heart of the celestial realm.

News that Liu Wuxie and Ye Linghan had left the Azure Flame Dao Hall soon spread like wildfire. Many mentors tried to stop them along the way, warning that leaving now was far too dangerous. Xiang Rulong could only explain that he feared for Chen Ping's safety and remained determined to check on his brother.

After hearing that explanation, the mentors could no longer stop "Liu Wuxie." If something happened to Chen Ping because they delayed him, would that not make them the sinners?

Inside the Eastern Emperor Pavilion, the Thousand Hands Yama had just seen off the Celestial Moon Dao Hall's hall master after finalizing their plan for the next two days when the news arrived. "Pavilion Master, Liu Wuxie has departed from the Azure Flame Dao Hall!"

"He left the Azure Flame Dao Hall?" the Thousand Hands Yama asked, looking doubtful. He wondered whether Liu Wuxie truly felt no fear of an ambush if he dared leave at such a moment.

"Who is traveling with him?" he asked.

"Ye Linghan is the only one accompanying him," the scout reported.

As "Liu Wuxie" traveled openly along the main road, news of his departure reached more than the Eastern Emperor Pavilion. The Celestial Moon Dao Hall, Shen Clan, Zhu Clan, and several other clans also received word.

"Pavilion Master!" two voices called.

Shen Guang and Zhu Chaoyang rushed into the hall.

They had hurried to the Eastern Emperor Pavilion after learning of Liu Wuxie's departure. The Celestial Moon Dao Hall's hall master and Stormcloud Sect's sect master had already returned to their respective forces with their elders and disciples. The Shen and Zhu Clans, however, were based within Eastern Emperor City and stood only a short distance from the Eastern Emperor Pavilion.

"You two received the news as well?" the Thousand Hands Yama asked, gesturing for them to sit.

Both patriarchs nodded. Liu Wuxie's sudden journey toward Moon Reverence City had disrupted their original plan, forcing them to rush over and devise a new strategy.

"Pavilion Master, this may be our best opportunity to kill Liu Wuxie. Only Ye Linghan is with him. Should we arrange an ambush?" Zhu Chaoyang asked excitedly.

Powerful as Liu Wuxie was, he was alone. One Divine Immortal, accompanied by several peak Origin Immortals, was likely more than enough to capture him alive.

"Don't rush. I suspect this may be a trap," the Thousand Hands Yama said, maintaining his customary caution.

Everything Liu Wuxie had done recently seemed woven with hidden schemes. One careless step might send them directly into another trap.

"Urgent report!" another scout shouted as he hurried into the hall.

"Go ahead," the Thousand Hands Yama said, making no effort to hide the information from Shen Guang or Zhu Chaoyang.

"Our scouts report that Xiang Zicheng recently left the Xiang Manor. He has most likely gone to protect Liu Wuxie," the scout said while kneeling.

Shen Guang and Zhu Chaoyang immediately exchanged glances upon hearing the report. Events had unfolded exactly as they suspected.

"That makes everything considerably more complicated. If the Celestial Moon Dao Hall's hall master and Stormcloud Sect's sect master were still here, the three of us could've joined forces and killed Xiang Zicheng easily," Shen Guang said with a frown.

Xiang Zicheng was not Gongye Zhang. Since recovering from the damage to his soul sea, his combat strength had soared to the point that only the Thousand Hands Yama could rival him.

"Pavilion Master, are we truly going to surrender this opportunity? If we capture Liu Wuxie and seize control of that black hole, reaching the Golden Immortal Realm will become only a matter of time," Zhu Chaoyang said, clearly hoping to persuade the Thousand Hands Yama to act.

"We cannot move hastily. The Celestial Moon Dao Hall's hall master and Stormcloud Sect's sect master will return as soon as they finish making their arrangements. We can allow Liu Wuxie to reach Moon Reverence City first," the Thousand Hands Yama said after considering the matter briefly. His words calmed the two patriarchs. They could not afford a reckless move, for one disastrous misjudgment could bury them all.

The Stormcloud Sect and Celestial Moon Dao Hall stood roughly a day's journey from Eastern Emperor City. Once their leaders completed their arrangements, they would return and join the others.

Along the main road, Xiang Rulong rarely spoke as Ye Linghan walked beside him. Whenever she asked a question, he answered with detached indifference, leaving her increasingly frustrated.