Chapter 52: True and False (Thanks to Jiangbei Little Red Star for the Alliance Leader Reward)

San Jue Venerable was half-human, half-demon, appearing somewhat ferocious and eerie.

But the words he spoke excited everyone present.

For Martial Artists, Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills are of utmost importance; a single Profound-Grade Cultivation Technique can create a small Sect or Family.

Perhaps in a few decades, they too could become figures at the Ancestral Master level—how could they not be excited?

“After eliminating the demonic creature, Venerable One, will you also be freed?”

Someone suddenly asked.

San Jue Venerable smiled, one half of his face benevolent, the other half eerie.

“I’ve already said, I’m essentially a dead man, only existing in this world because I’ve fused with the demonic creature.

If the demonic creature is destroyed, I will naturally die as well.

But it doesn’t matter anymore; I’ve been entangled with this demonic creature for over a thousand years and am long tired. If you all help me eliminate it, you’ll also be helping me attain liberation.”

As the saying goes, a living dog is better than a dead lion.

If it were them, even in a half-human, half-ghost state like San Jue Venerable, they wouldn’t be willing to die so easily.

Everyone present immediately felt a deep respect.

This was a true senior of the Martial Forest, a great virtuous figure of the Jianghu!

Thirteen Lang Luo also whispered with emotion, “My adoptive father said that although most people in this world are petty and scheming, there are still some with righteous hearts willing to sacrifice their lives for the common people.”

Chen Yuan smiled, revealing an inexplicable expression on his face. “There are such people, but they’re not many.”

At that moment, Wei Guangming stepped forward, cupping his hands and saying, “Dare I ask, Venerable One, what do you need us to do to eliminate this demonic creature?”

He believed he could represent the Martial Artists present, and no one objected.

Although there were some Lunhai Realm Martial Artists present, their strength was below Wei Guangming’s, and even Old Daoist Qi deferred to him.

Moreover, he was the Sect Leader of the Iron Clad Gate, making his influence the strongest.

San Jue Venerable waved his hand, and two paths opened in the eerie forest, the ground covered with Formation imprints emitting a hazy glow.

The end of the left path was shrouded in Devilish Qi, from which came a heart-palpitating rhythm.

The end of the right path shimmered with a hazy glow, making it unclear what lay within.

“The left end is where the demonic creature resides. Over the years, I’ve tried to completely eradicate it but always fell just short, allowing it to break through the Formation and leak Devilish Qi.

Now, with your help, it’s simpler. Just enter the left path and sprinkle your essence blood on the ground’s Formation to enhance its power and completely crush the demonic creature.

But don’t worry, there are enough of you; each person only needs to release a bowl of essence blood.”

Everyone present instinctively hesitated.

Essence blood isn’t ordinary Qi and blood; a bowl of essence blood requires a month of recuperation afterward.

Moreover, only Blood Moving Realm Martial Artists can actively force out their essence blood.

Those below the Blood Moving Realm haven’t refined their Qi and blood, so their essence blood is impure and can’t even be called essence blood.

But thinking of the three Cultivation Techniques, the weakest being Earth-Grade, they didn’t hesitate much longer.

Wei Guangming and Old Daoist Qi exchanged a glance, then took the lead, slowly walking toward the left path.

However, their movements were slow as they carefully observed their surroundings; seeing this, the others quickly followed.

Thirteen Lang Luo didn’t immediately follow but glanced at Chen Yuan, only to find Chen Yuan hadn’t moved.

Just as he was about to ask, San Jue Venerable suddenly contorted his face and shouted, “Stop! That’s a trap!”

Wei Guangming and Old Daoist Qi immediately halted, their faces changing to shock and suspicion as they looked at San Jue Venerable.

At this moment, San Jue Venerable’s face was constantly twisting.

One half human, one half demonic, pulling and tearing at each other, extremely horrifying.

“The one speaking to you earlier wasn’t me—it was the suppressed demonic creature!

Don’t go to the left end! That’s where the demonic creature’s true body is. Your essence blood won’t kill it but will Blood Sacrifice to it, helping it revive!”

Everyone present gasped in shock.

Wei Guangming and Old Daoist Qi exchanged a glance, both feeling a lingering fear.

Actually, they had sensed something off, which was why they walked slowly earlier, carefully observing and testing.

But they couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong; intuition just told them this venture seemed too smooth.

However, they didn’t dare openly question San Jue Venerable.

What if it was true? If their questioning angered this thousand-year-old Jianghu senior and he withheld the Cultivation Techniques, what then?

Now it seemed their caution had saved them; otherwise, they’d have fallen for the demonic creature’s trick!

Thirteen Lang Luo also looked at Chen Yuan with admiration.

Brother Chen remained calm—there really was a trap here!

“Venerable One, if we can’t go left, how do we suppress and kill this demonic creature?”

Wei Guangming quickly asked.

San Jue Venerable’s face twisted and deformed, pulling back and forth until the human side gradually stabilized, struggling to say, “Go right! At the end, there’s a Formation. Just step into it, pour your Internal Energy into it to enhance its power, and you can completely suppress and kill the demonic creature!”

Before anyone could react, San Jue Venerable let out another roar, the two faces again fighting for control.

“Don’t listen to it! It’s the demonic creature transformed! It fears you injecting essence blood into the Formation, so it’s stopping and deceiving you! Continue to the left!”

Those who had just prepared to move hesitated again.

Meanwhile, San Jue Venerable’s two faces resumed their struggle, each insisting on its own version.

Everyone looked to Old Daoist Qi and Wei Guangming, unsure which side they’d choose.

Wei Guangming thought for a moment, then decisively said, “Choose right!”

Old Daoist Qi also said gravely, “We should choose right.”

“Sect Leader Wei, if we choose wrong and release the demonic creature, we’ll truly die without a burial place!” someone worried.

Wei Guangming said gravely, “Don’t worry, it won’t be wrong. From the moment the fake San Jue Venerable appeared, I sensed something off.

It was too smooth, too coincidental, as if he was specifically waiting for us.

Also, though I don’t understand Formations, what Formation requires essence blood to enhance its power?

It wasn’t until just now that I realized: if the first San Jue Venerable was real, why didn’t he mention from the start that he couldn’t control his body and that the demonic creature was fighting him?

The only explanation is that he himself was fake, deliberately omitting this to trick us into sacrificing our essence blood!”

Old Daoist Qi also nodded. “Exactly. Without the real Venerable suddenly intervening, we’d never have thought of this and almost fell for his trick!”

At that moment, San Jue Venerable struggled and gasped, saying with difficulty, “Everyone, act quickly! Five hundred years ago, I could suppress this demonic creature, but since then, it has been suppressing my will.

Now, quickly go activate the Formation. I’ll use my last shred of will to control the Formation’s power and completely suppress and kill it.

One thing the demonic creature said is true: I did leave behind Cultivation Techniques—not just them, but also my lifetime’s Martial Dao insights.

Originally, these were for my three disciples’ descendants, but now I entrust them all to you!

The Cultivation Techniques and insights are fused into the Formation. Just pour your Internal Energy into it, and they’ll automatically enter your Sea of Consciousness.

Everyone, don’t delay; success or failure hinges on this!”

Hearing this, Wei Guangming and the others hesitated no longer, immediately rushing toward the right.

Seeing Chen Yuan not moving, Wei Guangming and the others present all showed a trace of mockery in their eyes.

Though this Loose Cultivator from Youzhou had decent strength, he was cowardly and lacked vision.

Thirteen Lang Luo looked at Chen Yuan. “Brother Chen, aren’t we going?”

Chen Yuan shook his head.

“Is the San Jue Venerable telling us to go right fake?”

Chen Yuan showed a strange smile. “Not fake—real.”

“Then why aren’t we going? Three Cultivation Techniques, the weakest being Earth-Grade.”

Though Thirteen Lang Luo had the Sun Exchange Alliance’s leader, Zhi Shilang, as his adoptive father, Earth-Grade Cultivation Techniques were still very appealing.

Even if the Cultivation Technique didn’t suit his attributes and he couldn’t use it, he could take it back to the Sun Exchange Alliance for other brothers to cultivate.

“What if I said the first San Jue Venerable was also real?”

Even if Thirteen Lang Luo was slow, he suddenly understood, a chill rising from the depths of his heart.

“It’s all a scam?”

Chen Yuan nodded.

Thirteen Lang Luo anxiously said, “Then quickly stop those people! What if they release the demonic creature?”

“Good advice can’t save those destined to die. After all this turmoil, they believe the right is true, and with the lure of Cultivation Techniques, do you think they’ll listen to my one-sided words?”

Chen Yuan said calmly, “Believe me, if I dared stop them, Wei Guangming and Old Daoist Qi would definitely incite everyone to kill me first, then continue to the right.

Also, don’t worry about any demonic creature emerging. I said both San Jue Venerables were real.

Since both San Jue Venerables are real, where is the demonic creature?

This scheme is older than you think—it’s been a scam since a thousand years ago!”

At that moment, hundreds of Martial Artists, from Blood Moving to Lunhai Realm, rushed toward the right, starting to pour True Qi into the Formation.

San Jue Venerable, who had just been struggling with two faces, suddenly calmed down, looking at Chen Yuan and Thirteen Lang Luo standing conspicuously in place.

That gaze made Thirteen Lang Luo feel a chill run down his spine.

Even though he feared nothing, even daring to lead Death Warriors in charging Formations, he couldn’t help but feel a cold dread in his heart.

“You two, why aren’t you going?”