From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 62 Clearing the clouds and revealing the sun

The night wind felt like a sharp blade slicing across my cheek, and the patterns on the talisman sent chills down my spine. Following Xuanfeng's instructions, I affixed the talisman to the outside of Wen Chen's usual cultivation cave. The talisman transformed into a wisp of black smoke, silently merging into the restriction.

“Next, all you need to do is wait,” Xuanfeng’s voice rang in my ears, “and once he enters the cave, the truth will come out.”

I nodded, but a huge rock weighed on my heart, making it hard to breathe. I kept telling myself that all of this was for the truth, to find out if Wen Chen had lied to me.

Time ticked by, and my anxiety grew with each passing second. Finally, a familiar figure came into view—it was Wen Chen! He looked exhausted, clearly having just finished a fierce battle. He staggered towards the cave, completely unaware of the approaching danger.

I held my breath, my palms sweating. Just as Wen Chen was about to step into the cave, I suddenly heard a faint sound. I turned around abruptly and saw Xuan Feng hiding in the shadows, forming a strange hand seal. And his target wasn't Wen Chen, but... me?

I was instantly struck dumb, a chill running from the soles of my feet to the top of my head. Could this all be Xuan Feng's conspiracy? Was his real purpose not to help me see the truth, but to use me against Wen Chen?

"What are you doing?!" I shouted angrily, my voice filled with anger and fear.

Seeing that I had seen through his intentions, Xuanfeng no longer concealed himself. He withdrew his hand seals and revealed a sinister smile.

“It seems you’ve already figured it out,” he said slowly, “but it’s too late.”

"Why did you do this?" I asked through gritted teeth. "Who are you?"

Xuanfeng laughed loudly, his laughter filled with arrogance and triumph. "Who am I? Hahaha, I am the demon you all speak of, Xuanfeng!"

My heart sank to the bottom. So, he was the evil cultivator Xuanfeng, feared throughout the entire cultivation world! I had been deceived by his sweet words and used by him!

"Do you really think you can control me?" I suppressed my fear and anger and stared at him coldly.

The smile on Xuanfeng's face gradually disappeared, replaced by a sinister killing intent.

"Since you're no longer of any use, then die!" he said, forming another hand seal, and a black light shot towards me.

My instinct was to dodge, but I found myself as if my body was bound, unable to move. Was I going to die here like this?

"Stop!" Just at this critical moment, a familiar voice rang in my ears. Immediately afterward, a golden light flashed, shattering the black light in front of me.

I looked up and saw...

I looked up and saw Wen Chen, dressed in white, descending before me like a god. He exuded a sharp sword aura and firmly protected me behind him.

"Wen Chen!" I cried tears of joy. He's alright, he's really alright!

Wen Chen didn't turn around, but simply said, "Don't be afraid, I'm here." Those three simple words gave me immense courage and strength.

Upon seeing Wen Chen appear, Xuan Feng's expression turned extremely grim. "How could you..." he stared wide-eyed in disbelief, "How could you be completely unharmed from my Soul Devouring Curse?!"

Wen Chen didn't answer his question, but coldly retorted, "With your paltry skills, you think you can hurt her?"

"You..." Xuan Feng was furious, but helpless. He knew that he was no match for Wen Chen on his own.

"Today is your death day!" Wen Chen drew his longsword, the blade emitting a dazzling golden light that illuminated the entire night sky.

"You want to kill me? Not so easy!" Xuanfeng roared, gathering his spiritual power once more to launch an attack on us.

A great battle was about to break out. Wen Chen's swordsmanship was extremely fierce, with each move aimed directly at Xuan Feng's vital points; Xuan Feng's attacks were insidious and vicious, each move carrying a deadly killing intent.

Although my spiritual power is weak, I still want to do my part for Wen Chen. I took out the protective magic treasure my master gave me, and poured my spiritual power into it. Instantly, a golden light screen enveloped Wen Chen and me, blocking the attack from the Xuanfeng.

"A mere trick!" Xuanfeng sneered, increasing his spiritual power output once again in an attempt to break through my defense.

Just then, Elder Mo and Abbess Huixin arrived.

"You wicked creature, cease your arrogance!" Elder Mo roared, waving his whisk, and a golden light shot straight towards Xuanfeng.

At the same time, Abbess Huixin also made her move, her Buddhist beads transforming into golden swords that shot towards Xuanfeng.

Xuanfeng was attacked from both sides and immediately found himself in a fierce battle.

I seized the opportunity to say to Wen Chen, "Wen Chen, Elder Mo and the nun have already laid a trap. If we just hold him off for a moment, we can capture him!"

Wen Chen nodded, his swordplay undiminished, becoming even more ferocious.

The three of us joined forces and engaged in a fierce battle with Xuanfeng. Although Xuanfeng was powerful, he was ultimately outnumbered and gradually began to lose ground.

"Ah—" Xuan Feng let out a roar of unwilling anger, and was finally pierced through the heart by Wen Chen's sword, falling into a pool of blood.

As I watched this scene unfold, a mix of emotions welled up inside me. I had initially thought that killing Xuanfeng would reveal the truth. However, when I saw Wen Chen's cold gaze, I suddenly realized that things weren't so simple.

“Wen Chen…” I wanted to explain, but when the words reached my lips, I didn’t know what to say.

Wen Chen didn't speak, but just looked at me quietly, his eyes filled with complex and unreadable emotions.

Just then, Elder Mo walked over, holding a letter in his hand, and handed it to me.

"Child," Elder Mo said earnestly, "some things, what you see isn't necessarily true, and what you hear isn't necessarily false. Read this letter carefully..."

I took the letter, opened it, and my face turned deathly pale. The handwriting on the letter was all too familiar—it was… Su Yao's handwriting!

The letter, written by Su Yao to a mysterious person, detailed how she sowed discord between me and Wen Chen, and how she used Xuan Feng to deal with me...

I stared at the letter in my hand in disbelief, my mind blank. How could this be? How could this letter be written by Su Yao?

I suddenly looked up at Su Yao, only to see her staring at me with a panicked expression, her eyes darting around, unable to meet my gaze.

"Su Yao, this letter..." I asked in a trembling voice, "What exactly is this letter about?"

Su Yao opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but when she saw the letter in my hand, her face turned deathly pale. Her lips moved, but she couldn't say anything...

Su Yao's silence struck me like a heavy hammer blow. I stared at her in disbelief—this friend I'd spent every day with could have schemed against me so viciously! My mind was a jumbled mess, a jumble of emotions—anger, sadness, disappointment…

Elder Mo gently patted my shoulder, pulling me back from my dejected mood. He looked at me kindly and said, "Child, this letter is not Su Yao's handwriting."

"What?" I looked up in disbelief. "This is clearly..."

Elder Mo shook his head and pointed to a tiny mark on the envelope, saying, "Take a closer look. This is not letter paper from the Heavenly Evolution Sect, but from an organization called the 'Shadow Pavilion'."

“Shadow Pavilion?” I thought hard, but I had no recollection of the name.

“The Shadow Pavilion is a mysterious evil cultivation organization,” Master Huixin explained from the side. “They act in secret and are used to all sorts of conspiracies and tricks to achieve their goals. This letter must have been forged by them, with the purpose of sowing discord between you and Immortal Venerable Wenchen.”

I suddenly realized that this was all a conspiracy by the Shadow Pavilion! They deliberately forged Su Yao's handwriting to make me mistakenly believe that Su Yao was the mastermind, thereby sowing discord between me and Wen Chen!

But why would they do this? Wen Chen and I are complete strangers to them, so why would they go to such lengths to frame us?

My heart was filled with doubts, but at this moment, what I wanted to know more was whether Wen Chen... was still willing to believe me?

I looked up at Wen Chen, only to find him standing not far away, watching me with a complicated expression, his emotions unreadable. My heart sank. Could it be... that he really misunderstood me?

I took a deep breath, mustered my courage, walked up to Wen Chen, and whispered, "Wen Chen, I'm sorry, I..."

"You don't need to explain," Wen Chen interrupted me coldly, his tone tinged with distance. "The facts are right in front of you, what else do you have to say?"

My heart felt like it was being pierced by needles, the pain unbearable. I knew it was all my own fault; I had trusted others too easily, which allowed the Shadow Pavilion to manipulate me and hurt Wen Chen.

"But..." I bit my lip, trying to control my emotions, "I...I really didn't..."

"That's enough," Wen Chen turned around and stopped looking at me. "I'm tired and I don't want to hear your explanation anymore."

After saying that, he left without looking back.

I stood there, stunned, watching Wen Chen's retreating figure, tears finally welling up and streaming down my face. I wanted to chase after him, to explain everything, but my legs felt like lead, so heavy I couldn't take a single step…

"Wen Chen..." I weakly reached out, wanting to grab him, but found that he was getting further and further away from me...

After Wen Chen left, my world felt like it had collapsed. I wandered aimlessly through the secret realm, letting tears blur my vision. I don't know how much time passed, but then a pair of warm hands gently grasped my shoulders.

"Yao'er," it was Wen Chen's voice, tinged with heartache and self-reproach, "It's my fault, I shouldn't have disbelieved you."

I suddenly looked up, and through my teary eyes, I saw Wen Chen looking at me tenderly. The guilt and love in his eyes brought all the grievances in my heart to the surface. I threw myself into his arms and cried loudly, releasing all the grievances and fears I had felt over the past few days.

Wen Chen held me tightly, stroking my hair again and again, and softly comforted me, "Yao'er, don't be afraid, I'm here, I've always been here."

His embrace was so warm, his voice so reassuring, and I gradually calmed down, finding a long-lost sense of security in his arms.

"Wen Chen, I'm sorry. I was too stupid to fall into someone else's trap." I looked up at him with teary eyes.

Wen Chen gently wiped away my tears with her fingertips and said softly, "Silly girl, this isn't your fault. I know you've always been sincere to me, and I believe you."

“But that letter…” I asked somewhat nervously.

“I have investigated thoroughly,” Wen Chen said, a cold glint in his eyes. “That letter was indeed forged by the Shadow Pavilion, with the aim of sowing discord among us. Su Yao was just confused for a moment and was used by someone. I have already sent her back to the sect and made her reflect on her actions.”

"So that's how it is..." I suddenly realized, and a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders.

"Yao'er," Wen Chen cupped my face, looking earnestly into my eyes, "After what happened, I understand even more how deep my feelings for you are. I will never doubt you again, and I will never let you get hurt again, okay?"

I nodded, touched, and held his hand tightly, my heart filled with happiness and sweetness. Having weathered this storm, our relationship has grown even stronger, and we cherish each other even more.

Elder Mo and Abbess Huixin walked over, both with gratified smiles on their faces.

"Child, I am very pleased that you have overcome your inner demons," Elder Mo said kindly. "You have passed the test and can leave the secret realm now."

I nodded, my heart filled with gratitude. This test of inner demons allowed me to see my own heart clearly and understand the unwavering nature of Wen Chen's love for me. At the same time, I also realized that the path of cultivation is full of challenges and temptations, and only by maintaining one's original aspirations can one go further.

After leaving the Demon Realm, my cultivation level improved significantly, and I broke through to the late Golden Core stage. I know that all of this was inseparable from Wen Chen's companionship and support.

"Wen Chen, where are we going next?" I turned to look at Wen Chen beside me, my eyes filled with anticipation.

"I've heard that an ancient ruin has appeared in the southern border region, containing many treasures and secret manuals. Let's go take a look." A hint of excitement flashed in Wen Chen's eyes.

I nodded excitedly, my heart filled with longing for the unknown. However, when we finally found the entrance to the ancient ruins after overcoming numerous difficulties, we were blocked by a powerful barrier.

“This barrier…” Wen Chen said with a solemn expression, “is probably not simple.”