Chapter 216: The Mysterious Female Gate’s Hidden Hand

The moment Xiao Shang’s soul was annihilated, Lu Yan suddenly sensed a strange aura within his spirit—something unknown that perished alongside his true soul.

Lu Yan’s powerful Divine Soul enveloped Xiao Shang’s remains as he tried to grasp that peculiar trace of energy.

But even with a soul rivaling that of a Golden Core cultivator, Lu Yan couldn’t touch it. The aura simply vanished into the world, leaving not a single trace.

Lu Yan frowned slightly, his gaze falling on Xiao Shang’s corpse, a glimmer of doubt flashing in his eyes.

“That aura… felt oddly familiar. I’ve definitely encountered it before.”

His thoughts raced, and the moment a certain image flashed across his mind, his expression turned grave.

His consciousness sank into his body, focusing on the Mysterious Female Gate that had been suppressed by the Human Emperor Banner. Lu Yan’s gaze grew heavier than ever.

That aura—it seemed to originate from the same source as the Mysterious Female Gate.

“Was this really the work of the Mysterious Female Gate?”

Lu Yan suddenly recalled the first time he had encountered Xiao Shang, when Elder Xiao had tried to subdue him.

Though Elder Xiao had been intimidated by the name of the Taiyi Sect in the end, Lu Yan, in an attempt to protect himself, had nearly activated the Human Emperor Banner within his body—momentarily loosening its seal on the Mysterious Female Gate.

That release had been brief, and the banner had never physically left the gate, so Lu Yan hadn’t paid it much attention.

Now that he thought back, that mysterious aura might have leaked out during that moment.

With this realization, many things that had previously been unexplainable suddenly made sense.

Why had Xiao Shang’s hatred for Lu Yan grown so intense? It wasn’t just because Lu Yan’s actions had led to punishment for the Xiao family—most likely, that strange aura had subtly influenced and deepened his resentment.

And Elder Xiao and his wife’s ambush now had an explanation.

Back in the Qingwu Blessed Land, Elder Xiao had kept his fury in check, acting with restraint. Lu Yan had once been so wary of him that he almost struck preemptively.

Elder Xiao had known well that as a peak Golden Core cultivator, he still had a slim chance of reaching the Nascent Soul Realm.

Should he succeed, he would no longer be bound by Elder Wu’s decrees and could openly return to the sect.

Even in the South Sea Eye, battling demons, Elder Xiao—as a member of Qingwu Sect—had a higher chance of survival than other Golden Core cultivators.

Compared to ambushing Lu Yan, which carried enormous risk, submitting to punishment had been the safer path.

Even if he succeeded in killing Lu Yan, Elder Xiao would have had to deal with pursuit from the Taiyi Sect, Qingwu Sect, Elder Wu, and Ji Xingyao—all powerful figures from different factions.

As an elder of an orthodox sect, Elder Xiao should have known the consequences of opposing one of the top ten sects. Yet, he still chose the most reckless path.

At this point, Lu Yan reached out, drawing Xiao Shang’s storage pouch into his palm.

Elder Xiao and his wife’s pouches had been destroyed in spatial rifts, so any clues had to come from Xiao Shang.

After rummaging through the pile of spirit stones and pills, Lu Yan found a letter of introduction.

He retrieved it and saw a name written clearly on the front: Daoist Master Moyezi of Taiyi Sect.

“A Golden Core cultivator from Taiyi Sect?”

Lu Yan’s eyes gleamed as everything began to fall into place.

That aura from the Mysterious Female Gate had attached itself to Xiao Shang, transforming into a heart demon that subtly stoked his hatred toward Lu Yan.

But the aura alone couldn’t influence someone as powerful as peak-Golden Core Elder Xiao, which explained why he initially accepted punishment and went to the South Sea Eye.

However, perhaps due to Xiao Shang’s persistent urging, Elder Xiao had paid a visit to this Daoist Moyezi of the Taiyi Sect.

Through this Golden Core cultivator, Elder Xiao learned the truth: Lu Yan was merely an outer sect disciple of Taiyi Sect—his identity even purchased with money.

Upon learning this, Elder Xiao’s long-dormant emotions surged, providing the opening that aura needed to invade and stir his heart demon.

Under the heart demon’s influence, Elder Xiao plotted to assassinate Lu Yan, which led to the scene that had just unfolded.

“The Mysterious Female Gate didn’t expect Elder Xiao to actually kill me.”

“Its true goal… was to use Elder Xiao to force me into activating the Human Emperor Banner, giving the gate a chance to break free from its seal!”

Realizing this, Lu Yan was shaken to the core.

If he hadn’t planted a wisp of Heavenly Dao Merit on Xiao Shang to track him—if he hadn’t prepared accordingly—he might’ve fallen right into the Mysterious Female Gate’s scheme.

If he hadn’t remained vigilant, then as he continued interacting with the outside world, the gate could’ve secretly manipulated rising hostilities against him. When those enemies eventually struck, he would be forced to use the Human Emperor Banner again and again just to survive.

With each activation, the gate would grow, until it eventually reached a point where Lu Yan could no longer suppress it.

“If I let down my guard for even a moment, it could all backfire. I cannot give the Mysterious Female Gate even the slightest opportunity.”

Lu Yan now understood just how important it was to eliminate the disaster behind the Longevity Version.

He cast a glance at the colorful cloud miasma before him, storing the artifact into his pouch. Then he flicked his right hand, and golden-yellow Virtuous Merit Fire descended onto Xiao Shang’s corpse.

The fire—manifested from Heavenly Dao Merit—consumed him completely. Lu Yan raised his index finger, and a miniature golden sun-like Merit Wheel appeared at his fingertip.

Bathed in the brilliance of Heavenly Dao Merit, all divine abilities and karmic traces were severed cleanly.

Moments later, Lu Yan turned into a streak of light and flew away, leaving behind a world that appeared utterly undisturbed.

Half a day later, an elder with a stern expression, clad in a robe of heavens and earth, stepped out from the void and descended upon this land. His cultivation—clearly at the Nascent Soul Realm.

In the distant sky, a colossal object broke through the sea of clouds, causing waves of ripples to radiate outward.

It was a massive Flight-Avoiding Dharma Ark, resembling an ancient divine mountain. The hull was covered with intricate, mystical array runes, each radiating a chilling divine glow. Over a dozen Golden Core cultivators sat at various key points around the ark, their auras surging like stars glittering in the night sky.

Wherever the ark passed, space trembled and clouds parted.

This was one of Qingwu Sect’s most prized treasures—the Flight-Avoiding Dharma Ark. It required at least ten Golden Core cultivators working in concert to operate it.

Its cost surpassed that of three Nascent Soul magical treasures, and when fully activated, it could even contend with a Nascent Soul cultivator.

The ark slowly came to a halt amidst the clouds. A man in green robes descended with a treasure mirror in hand.

“Greetings, Elder Zhu.”

Zhu Zhenjun cast a glance at the ark and said meaningfully:

“To bring out the Flight-Avoiding Dharma Ark… It seems the Law Enforcement Hall is taking Elder Xiao Han’s death very seriously.”

“Elder Xiao was still a Qingwu Sect elder. He may have made some mistakes, but he shouldn’t have died without explanation on the road to the South Sea Eye.”

Zhu Zhenjun didn’t respond to the excuse. His tone remained flat:

“I arrived a few breaths before you. I tried probing the residual traces of this realm—nothing. Everything appears perfectly normal.”

“No point in wasting time with mundane means. Use the Mirror of Retrospection and trace the cause directly.”

The green-robed Golden Core cultivator nodded, lifting the treasure mirror, carved like white jade, and directed it toward the surrounding realm.

The Mirror of Retrospection had once been a Soul Transformation Realm spiritual treasure, but was damaged in a great battle, losing its offensive capabilities.

Though it no longer possessed its peak divine might, the mirror still retained its core powers: discerning evil and tracing karma.

As the mirror’s surface reflected the world, karmic threads filled the air—countless lines intertwining and converging upon all things. The mirror tried to lock onto the thread related to Xiao Han’s death.

But the image held for less than a second before shattering. The mirror once again showed nothing unusual—just the same serene land.

“Impossible!”

The green-robed cultivator’s expression changed dramatically, clutching the mirror with disbelief.

He had wielded the mirror for two hundred years—and had never seen this happen.

Zhu Zhenjun, however, remained calm. His voice was cold:

“There’s no such thing as impossible. It’s likely the work of Merit or Destiny-type divine abilities that sever karma.”

“But just relying on those isn’t enough to kill an elder of Qingwu Sect.”

With that, he grabbed the mirror and injected it with a flood of Nascent Soul-level power.

In that instant, divine light exploded from the mirror, shaking the void. Under the might of a Nascent Soul cultivator, the broken treasure began to shine once more.

“Tracing karma and discerning evil are merely the mirror’s basic functions.”

“It’s called the Mirror of Retrospection because it was forged by a True Immortal through the Grand Divine Power of ‘Wind Reversal and Flame Return.’ It can peer into the past.”

“Though it was damaged in battle and can no longer rewind the present, it still reflects the past clearly.”

As Zhu Zhenjun spoke, the mirror’s surface began to ripple and shift. The world within looked as if time were rewinding. The Dharma Ark, Zhu Zhenjun, everything appeared in reverse.

As the image rewound, a blurred figure emerged in the mirror. Black-gold mist swirled like a tempest, blanketing the world.

At the heart of the mist stood a figure—indiscernible even to the mirror. Only a vague silhouette could be seen.

“As expected.”

Zhu Zhenjun narrowed his eyes and poured more energy into the mirror. The black-gold mist began to unravel.

That veiled figure slowly became clearer.

Time passed second by second. A Nascent Soul expert could draw from the world’s essence, making their energy almost endless as long as they remained connected to heaven and earth.

But using a Soul Transformation treasure as a Nascent Soul cultivator was like trying to fill an ocean with a cup of water.

Zhu Zhenjun could feel it—his power replenishment couldn’t keep up with the mirror’s consumption. His internal essence was visibly draining.

Still, the figure in the image remained veiled behind a thin layer of mist—like gauze.

Just one more step would unveil the truth behind the fog.

By now, even a fool could see something was off.

The mist appeared thin, but it was a calculated deception—enticing him to overexert his energy while never revealing what lay beneath.

“Outrageous!”

Zhu Zhenjun roared, turning to the green-robed cultivator.

“Activate the Flight-Avoiding Dharma Ark. Channel its core energy to aid me—I want to see who dares to mock Qingwu Sect like this!”

The Golden Core cultivator obeyed, flying back to the ark. The massive Qingwu treasure began to stir.

Around it, green light wove into a net, forming a vast luminous shield. Any change in the outside world would cause ripples to spread across its surface.

At the ship’s bow, a carved Azure Luan divine beast flared to life, its wings trembling, releasing a clear cry as if it were about to take flight.

Array formations inscribed across the ark began activating in sequence. The overlapping patterns created a massive formation. The spiritual energy of over a dozen Golden Core cultivators fused into a torrent, pouring into the Mirror of Retrospection.

With the ark’s support, Zhu Zhenjun’s dwindling essence was finally replenished. The Soul Transformation treasure flared with light once more, warping time and hammering at the black-gold mist.

An unseen force began stripping the mist away. Within the mirror, time was reversed. Even the world itself seemed cowed by the mirror’s power as fragmented Dao Laws came into view.

And then—the mist parted.

At the heart of the swirling cloud was not the expected figure.

It was… a towering stone gate.

It stood suspended in the void, its ancient gray-white surface bearing the weight of eons. Mysterious patterns coiled across its surface, faint traces of Dao Rhythm still lingering—just a single glance filled one with awe.

Yet it was not the gate that drew the most attention.

It was the black-gold banner pierced through the gate.

A soul banner of black-gold hue. Its surface bore ancient sigils like flowing stars. A vast continent shimmered faintly upon it. Auspicious violet aura curled around its edges, mingling with molten gold threads to form divine runes.

“This is…”

Zhu Zhenjun froze, countless banners and immortal weapons flashing through his mind—yet none matched this black-gold banner.

At the very moment Zhu Zhenjun saw the Human Emperor Banner through the mirror, Lu Yan—en route to the Taiyi Sect branch—suddenly halted.

He had felt it—a sense of being watched, emanating from the Human Emperor Banner.

“Is this the Mysterious Female Gate’s trick again?”

Lu Yan decisively projected a portion of his will into the banner, gathering immense Human Emperor Qi to trace the source of the gaze.

The next second, the Mirror of Retrospection’s image shattered.

Replacing it was a pair of eyes—formed entirely from Human Emperor Qi.

Calm. Dead. Detached.

They transcended all existence, as if the world itself were no more than ants before them.

The moment those eyes crossed time and space, the mirror’s time-reversal realm collapsed completely.

The distorted flow of time bled into reality. In the blink of an eye, the Mirror of Retrospection—once crafted from Kunlun Immortal Jade—seemed to endure countless millennia of erosion.

Its light dimmed. Its surface, once flawless, became mottled with weathered age. Even the spirit within the treasure faded into nothing.

A gentle breeze blew past.

The legendary Soul Transformation treasure in Zhu Zhenjun’s hand crumbled into dust—silently vanishing into the wind.

(End of Chapter)