Translator: CinderTL

Song Wen changed into a servant’s attire, adjusted his aura to the early Nascent Soul Stage, and followed Ke Zheng out of Ke Manor.

He had knocked unconscious all the servants and Wu Lingzhu in the manor, confining them to a secret chamber. To prevent any unforeseen events, he left a fifth-rank gu insect to monitor the situation.

As for the gu insect in Ke Zheng’s brain, Song Wen had removed it to avoid arousing suspicion.

The pair soared through the air, quickly arriving at the Wu Clan’s mountain gate.

The entire Wu Clan was shrouded by the Clan Protection Formation, with only the mountain gate serving as the sole entrance and exit.

The so-called mountain gate consisted of merely two colossal stone pillars.

These pillars rose from the depths of a serene lake, towering above the azure waters.

Between the pillars stretched a transparent formation barrier, through which Wu Clan members passed intermittently.

On either side of the gate stood a dozen guards, the Wu Clan’s sentinels.

As Ke Zheng, leading the way, gazed at these guards, he inexplicably hesitated.

"Stay calm and don’t try anything foolish," Song Wen’s deep voice echoed in Ke Zheng’s mind. "Act naturally and don’t give yourself away."

Ke Zheng nodded almost imperceptibly and continued forward, arriving at the mountain gate.

Clearly a frequent visitor to the Wu Clan, he was immediately greeted by a Divine Transformation Stage guard.

"Fellow Daoist Ke, it’s been a few days since we last saw you."

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Wu Hong," Ke Zheng replied, clasping his hands in a formal greeting.

"And this little friend?" Wu Hong’s gaze swept over Song Wen, who stood behind Ke Zheng.

"A newly acquired attendant. He’s quite sharp-witted, so I brought him along to broaden his horizons. I plan to take him back to the Myriad Swords Pavilion soon and make him a member," Ke Zheng said with a casual air.

"To earn Fellow Daoist Ke’s favor—this little friend has truly struck gold," Wu Hong remarked, then shifted the topic. "Fellow Daoist Ke, what brings you here today?"

"I wish to see Fairy Lingzhu," Ke Zheng replied.

"Unfortunately, Fellow Daoist Ke, your timing is poor. Fairy Lingzhu left earlier and hasn’t returned yet," Wu Hong said.

"I’ll wait outside her courtyard then. It’s no trouble at all. Please, fellow daoist, open the gate and allow me to enter," Ke Zheng requested.

Without further delay, Wu Hong produced a small flag and gently tapped it against the mountain gate.

Instantly, a meter-tall gap tore open in the formation barrier.

"Thank you," Ke Zheng said, then led Song Wen toward the opening in the barrier.

It’s worth noting that Wu Clan members entering or exiting the mountain gate didn’t need to create openings in the barrier. Instead, they activated their Identity Tokens, causing a cyan light to emanate from their bodies, allowing them to pass through the barrier freely, as if walking through a curtain of water, without the slightest resistance.

The Identity Tokens were bound to the cultivator’s soul, and only the owner could activate them.

This was why Song Wen hadn’t used Wu Bo’s or others’ Identity Tokens to enter the Wu Clan.

If anyone could freely use another’s Identity Token, the Wu Clan’s Clan Protection Formation would become a laughingstock.

After Ke Zheng and Song Wen passed through the barrier, a sprawling complex of buildings immediately came into view across the lake.

Some structures were built along the water’s edge, while others stood on small islands, all interconnected by corridors.

These corridors varied in height, some skimming the water’s surface while others arched through the air like flying rainbows, crisscrossing in a vast, intricate web that bound the entire architectural complex into a unified whole.

Despite their grand appearance, these buildings were merely residences for the Wu Clan’s low-tier cultivators and mortals. The high-tier cultivators’ residences lay deeper within the clan’s territory, some even hidden beneath the lake’s surface.

As they ventured deeper, the buildings gradually thinned out, scattered sparsely across the lake’s surface.

The pair eventually arrived at a secluded waterside courtyard.

"What are you doing at Fairy Lingzhu’s courtyard?" Ke Zheng asked through telepathy.

Before entering the Wu Clan, Song Wen had instructed Ke Zheng to head straight for Wu Lingzhu’s courtyard upon arrival. This was because Song Wen feared that heading directly to the Frozen Hell after entering the mountain gate would arouse suspicion.

"Going to the Frozen Hell," Song Wen replied telepathically.

"What are you going to the Wu Clan’s Frozen Hell for?" Ke Zheng pressed.

"Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t," Song Wen snapped coldly.

"But I’ve never been to the Frozen Hell before. I don’t know where it is," Ke Zheng protested.

"Southwest," Song Wen directed.

The intelligence provided by the Spirit Jade Palace contained detailed maps of the Wu Clan’s internal layout.

Though Ke Zheng remained clueless about Song Wen’s purpose in the Frozen Hell, he dared not press further and reluctantly headed southwest.

After flying another few hundred miles, they arrived above a solitary stone island.

The island was small, its exposed portion barely a few miles across. Pitch-black and barren, it rose from the water like a miniature mountain.

Near the waist of Stone Island, a thirty-meter-tall cave mouth yawned open.

A formation barrier sealed the entrance, and several guards stood watch before it, their cultivation levels peaking at the Nascent Soul Stage.

As Song Wen and Ke Zheng landed before the cave, the Nascent Soul Stage female cultivator immediately spoke up.

"Greetings, fellow clan brothers. What brings you here?" The guards clearly didn’t recognize Ke Zheng, mistaking them both for Wu Clan members.

"I am not of the Wu Clan," Ke Zheng replied, producing a token from his robes and displaying it to the female cultivator. "I am a core disciple of the Myriad Swords Pavilion."

"Ah, so you are a senior from the Myriad Swords Pavilion. Forgive this junior’s poor eyesight. However, the Frozen Hell is a sacred site of the Wu Clan. While you are honored guests, clan rules strictly forbid outsiders from approaching it. I must ask you to depart." The female cultivator said.

"I have a sworn enemy who has been missing for years," Ke Zheng explained. "I had believed him dead, but recently learned he is imprisoned in the Wu Clan’s Frozen Hell. Would you permit me to enter and see him, even just for a moment? Confirming his presence there would finally satisfy my lifelong desire for vengeance."

This explanation had just been communicated to Ke Zheng telepathically by Song Wen.

"This..." The female cultivator appeared conflicted. "I’m afraid this junior cannot make such a decision. I must consult the Ninth Elder."

"Where might I find your esteemed Ninth Elder?" Ke Zheng asked. "Please lead the way."

After a moment’s hesitation, the female cultivator spoke.

"Follow me."

With that, she turned and headed toward a mountain cave behind them.

The formation barrier was dispelled by an array disk she summoned.

After entering the cave, they advanced less than a hundred zhang before reaching a cavern stretching over a li in width.

To the right of the cavern was a vertical shaft leading deep underground.

To the left stood a crude, simple stone hut.

The female cultivator approached the hut and bowed respectfully.

"Ninth Elder, esteemed disciples from the Myriad Swords Pavilion seek an audience."

With a thunderous rumble, the stone door of the hut swung open.

"Let them in," a raspy voice echoed from within.

"Please enter, both of you," the female cultivator said.

Ke Zheng hesitated briefly before stepping into the stone hut, with Song Wen following closely behind.

(End of the Chapter)

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