Chapter 392: You Absolutely Must Not Come In!

Inside the Eight Trigrams Furnace, a towering secret realm hovered high above. The moment Wang Ping fled inside, it immediately began sinking toward the earth.

"He wants to escape into the furnace!"

Jing Lang's eyes flashed. With the secret realm hovering up high, rushing it only meant taking a few hits from the Heaven's Will Profound Blade. But if it sank deeper into the furnace...

Going in after it would mean tanking several more strikes on the round trip.

"Strike!"

The five Qi Refining practitioners exchanged a glance. Ultimately, Jing Lang and Faji—Qi Refining practitioners serving under the two True Persons—took the lead, and they all charged into the furnace together.

"Clang! Clang!"

In an instant, the Heaven's Will Profound Blade came howling down. The blade light was several times stronger than when it had slashed at Wang Ping, making the five Qi Refining practitioners' eyes twitch.

Fortunately, only the Heaven's Will Profound Blade struck. With the five of them joining forces, holding out for a time was no issue. To avoid provoking the blade further, however, they didn't dare fight back. Sticking strictly to defense, they quickly intercepted the secret realm where Wang Ping was hiding and surrounded it.

"Don't come in."

From within the secret realm, Wang Ping's eerie voice drifted out, laced with chilling killing intent. "Did you really think I was bluffing when I said I laid down an inescapable net?"

"I really do have an ambush waiting!"

"Whoever dares to enter, I will trigger it and heavily injure at least one of you. When you have to face the Heaven's Will Profound Blade in that state, we'll see who can protect themselves."

Hearing this, the group exchanged blank looks.

Was it real or fake?

Honestly speaking, they didn't believe it. But these things were hard to say. When dealing with demonic path cultivators of water qi, everyone always preferred to assume the worst rather than take chances.

But were they really going to be intimidated just like that?

Five Qi Refining practitioners frightened off by a few words from a Corpse Dissolution Immortal, too scared to enter a secret realm? Did they have no shame left? What if he was just playing the empty fort strategy?

Meanwhile, much further away.

Kunyun's figure quietly appeared. Beneath his feet lay the empty Gongshun Grotto-Heaven. He appeared impassive, but he was actually hesitantly studying the distance.

To be honest, he had noticed the moment Wang Ping appeared at the Immortal Gate, and he had even planned to lend Wang Ping a hand. But when he saw the True Monarch confiscate the Profound One Calamity-Crossing Ring, he forcefully suppressed the urge to intervene. Although he preferred straightforward approaches, he was by no means stupid.

'The True Monarch couldn't possibly have abandoned Wang Ping.'

'While his becoming a Corpse Dissolution Immortal is a little hard to understand, as long as Wang Ping makes it back from the Brahma Nation alive, he theoretically should have passed the True Monarch's test.'

'Taking ten thousand steps back, even if he truly wanted to abandon Wang Ping, directly taking away his Spiritual Treasure and ignoring him isn't the True Monarch's style.'

It would be too much of a waste of talent.

No matter what, he should offer superficial encouragement and comfort, while secretly sending him out to work like a beast of burden until he dropped dead. That would be the correct approach.

Thinking up to this point, Kunyun grew even more hesitant. Turning his gaze, he noticed bright lights emerging in the surrounding Cosmos, watching from afar just as he was.

Mingyou and Tianxing.

'Master...'

Kunyun blinked. He didn't know Mingyou well, but he understood his own master, Tianxing, perfectly.

Perhaps because of his status as a Dao Child of the immortal realm, growing up privileged with everything going his way, Tianxing was actually quite kindhearted compared to other Qi Refining practitioners.

'If it were Master, seeing Wang Ping in such a wretched state, he might not fiercely protect him, but stepping in to intercept one Qi Refining practitioner to ease his pressure is entirely possible.'

But Tianxing didn't do that.

The only possible reason behind this was Mingyou. What could Mingyou have said to Tianxing to make him choose to hold back? Had they sensed danger?

Thinking of this, Kunyun glanced toward Wang Ping again, and his heart suddenly stirred.

'This guy... he couldn't be running a scam to screw people over, could he?'

It really felt like it!

Even though, from his perspective, Wang Ping was facing certain death, he held an informational advantage no one else grasped.

And that was that the True Monarch had not abandoned him.

In fact, it was quite the opposite. The True Monarch seemed to be actively cooperating with Wang Ping. The more Kunyun thought about it, the more it seemed like the True Monarch and Wang Ping were setting a trap together.

'Regardless, I'd better stay out of this.'

A bad premonition crept into Kunyun's mind. He had deliberately played dumb earlier, watching as Wang Ping was hunted down. Wang Ping wouldn't hold a grudge, right?

...

"A pity Kunyun didn't come in."

Inside the secret realm, Wang Ping's eyes gleamed brightly, though he sighed inwardly. If Kunyun had also made a move, he could have used this chance to open his good brother's eyes.

And vent some of his frustration while he was at it.

Unfortunately, that one from Biyang's seemed to have noticed something. Although he showed up in the distance, he refused to approach. It seemed Wang Ping would just have to find another opportunity next time.

Gathering his thoughts, Wang Ping quickly adjusted his expression and resumed shouting at Jing Lang and the other four Qi Refining practitioners outside with a tone of hollow bravado. "You absolutely must not come in! If you do, I'll snap and you'll all die! Don't blame me for not warning you!"

"...Hmph!" Jing Lang sneered.

What a joke. Did he think they would stop just because he told them to?

Honestly, if Wang Ping had said nothing and kept the secret realm dead silent, they probably would have still been suspicious. But by speaking up like this, Wang Ping had only exposed his own fear.

Threatening them with death? Forget about him just being a Corpse Dissolution Immortal; even if he managed to become a Qi Refining practitioner, it was still impossible for him to kill all five of them. It was complete nonsense.

"Strike!"

The moment Jing Lang's voice fell, he was the first to charge in. With someone taking the lead, the remaining four naturally followed close behind, storming right into the secret realm.

Almost at the exact same moment.

"Rumble!"

Deep within the secret realm, eight distinct auras abruptly surged upward, each displaying its own phenomenon. They instantly converged into one and smashed down toward the five Qi Refining practitioners!

Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!

In an instant, the figures of four of the Qi Refining practitioners shattered. Whether they were clone puppets or substitute talismans, not a single one of them had actually entered the secret realm with their true body.

Only one Qi Refining practitioner had entered with his true body.

The heavenly yang water Qi Refining practitioner, Tian Han.

"Huh?"

In that split second, this Qi Refining practitioner was nearly scared out of his wits, thinking it really was an inescapable net with a full eight Qi Refining practitioners lying in ambush for him.

However, a second later, Tian Han seemed to sense something. After carefully feeling out the situation for a moment, his terrified expression quickly smoothed out, and he even burst into laughter. "Corpse Dissolution Immortals? An ambush of eight Corpse Dissolution Immortals? Hahaha, truly birds of a feather! You really think you can kill me with just this?"

With that said, he immediately swept his sleeve.

Right after, a surging heavenly river cascaded down, connecting heaven and earth with no end in sight. Surprisingly, he neither retreated nor dodged, but forcibly met the combined strike of the eight Corpse Dissolution Immortals head-on!

Then, he calmly took a step forward.

All the chilling intent and profound killing forces were dissolved by the heavenly river. Washed completely clean by the rushing water, they transformed into a sky full of autumn dew that pelted down onto the ground drop by drop.

Heavenly yang water manifested as autumn dew in the sky; it could drain away killing intent, wash away scorching heat, and make the celestial phenomena clear and bright. Tian Han had used exactly this profound property, completely unafraid of the eight Corpse Dissolution Immortals' siege. He broke through it with ease, yet he didn't take the opportunity to escape. Instead, he stood exactly where he was, his face full of arrogance.

For a moment, the expressions of the eight Corpse Dissolution Immortals who had struck all changed.

Truthfully, the eight of them had only just become Corpse Dissolution Immortals and were feeling rather pleased with themselves. They had assumed that even if they couldn't kill a Qi Refining practitioner by joining forces, they could at least leave him exhausted from dealing with them.

But the moment Tian Han made his move, he dealt them a harsh reality check. Their combined attack couldn't even soil the hem of his clothes. What was the point of even fighting?

Only Wang Ping maintained his calm at this moment.

'Empty bravado.'

Being a practitioner of water qi himself, others might not be able to see the trick, but how could he fail to understand? It wasn't that Tian Han didn't want to run away, but rather that he couldn't. If he fled, the profound property of his technique would be broken!

'Heavenly yang water is the manifest imagery of water qi. Just as heavenly Yin Fire is called "Hollow within Li" in fire qi, this is called "Full within Kan" in water qi. It holds strong and upright virtue; it easily advances but finds it hard to retreat. While it can drain away killing intent, it cannot back down. If it retreats, it damages its own imagery.'

'That's why he isn't running.'

'As for his arrogant expression, he likely did that on purpose too, to prevent anyone from seeing through his bluff. His schemes and depth are lacking, but he does have some petty cleverness...'

Wang Ping didn't care in the slightest.

Regarding this trap to kill them, under his instructions, Xianfu hadn't told the eight attacking Corpse Dissolution Immortals a thing. It was all in the pursuit of absolute realism.

Sure enough, when their strike missed, the eight Corpse Dissolution Immortals were not only exposed, but their morale plummeted because they had failed to achieve anything. Anyone with eyes could see this shift; there was not the slightest trace of disguise. This instantly gave Tian Han and the other four Qi Refining practitioners a heavy dose of reassurance.

"You're out of tricks!"

Jing Lang laughed on the spot. "Eight Corpse Dissolution Immortals. I get it now, they're the eight inner sect disciples from the Immortal-Brahma Sword Battle that day, right? This is your inescapable net?"

"Truly naive."

After speaking, he looked straight into the secret realm. "Xianfu, you're in the secret realm too, aren't you? I remember these eight leaving with you that day."

"Leave immediately, or don't blame me for showing no mercy."

Jing Lang undoubtedly found Xianfu to be a massive eyesore. But unfortunately, since this involved the True Person's will, he couldn't possibly disobey, so he merely gave a verbal warning.

Inside the secret realm, Xianfu looked sideways at Wang Ping and sent a sound transmission, "Is this going to be a problem? Five Qi Refining practitioners is more than we imagined. Don't end up failing to steal a chicken and losing the bait rice."

"Relax, at worst I'll just blow up another Spiritual Treasure!"

Wang Ping gritted his teeth. This bowl of half-cooked rice was already served; even if he shattered his teeth today, he was going to force it down. Otherwise, wouldn't raising his credibility have been for nothing?

"Then I'm pulling out."

Hearing this, Xianfu nodded. He then decisively withdrew from the secret realm, signaling the eight Corpse Dissolution Immortals to leave as well. One by one, streaks of spiritual light flew out in retreat.

Seeing this, Wang Ping hurriedly adjusted his emotions and let out a shrill, desolate roar.

"Are you going to abandon me too?!"

"Senior Brother Xianfu, for the sake of us joining forces in the Eight Trigrams Furnace that day, give your brother a hand!"

"Bastard!"

Fury, despair, madness.

Tian Han, who was already inside the secret realm, charged straight for its center and became locked in combat with Wang Ping. Seeing this scene, Jing Lang and the others felt completely at ease.

It was in the bag! Completely in the bag!

The so-called ambush was nothing more than eight Corpse Dissolution Immortals. And thinking about it, it made sense. Why would any Qi Refining practitioner be willing to help a Corpse Dissolution Immortal who had been abandoned by the True Monarch?

Didn't they see Kunyun and Mingyou, who had made a move in the Eight Trigrams Furnace before, and Tianxing, who had helped him in the Gongshun Grotto-Heaven, all watching coldly from the sidelines?

Betrayed and deserted by everyone!

The outcome was set!