Chapter Sixty-Six: Virtue Revealed in Times of Peril

“A tremendous stroke of fortune.”
It was an immense temptation. Su Fan nodded with a faint smile, his expression utterly calm, showing no sign of excitement.
Liu Shaoyu stole a glance at Su Fan, shivering involuntarily, secretly marveling at the scheming mind of this young cultivator.
But Liu Shaoyu was shrewd and seasoned himself. He immediately adopted a flamboyant tone, saying, “Master, within the body of the Immortal-Demon are many extraordinary pills—perhaps even ones that could swiftly raise you to the Nascent Soul stage.”
Su Fan regarded Liu Shaoyu with interest and replied mildly, “With your cultivation at the Nascent Soul stage, why concern yourself with a junior like me?”
Anger flashed across Liu Shaoyu’s face, the expression clearly stating: If I could escape this place, I wouldn’t bother with such posturing for a mere junior.
Yet his demeanor quickly restored itself. He smiled, saying, “Master, although my cultivation may be a bit higher than yours, my fate is not as fortunate.”
Su Fan settled himself cross-legged and responded, “Since your cultivation surpasses mine, why not claim this great fortune for yourself?”
Liu Shaoyu scratched his head and muttered, “That fortune is arranged by heaven for you, Master. How could I dare to take it?”
Su Fan smiled at Liu Shaoyu and said, “Your cultivation is higher, and I cannot trust you. You must surrender your soul blood to me.”
Liu Shaoyu thought to himself, This boy is truly difficult to deal with. If I hand over my soul blood, my life will be in his hands. It seems I’ll have to sacrifice something to appease him.
He feigned heartache, adopting a pleading tone, “Master, do you still not trust me?”
Su Fan remained silent, eyes half-closed as he sat cross-legged.
Liu Shaoyu gritted his teeth, pointed to his brow, and a drop of dark red blood emerged. With a flick, he sent it drifting toward Su Fan.
Su Fan swept it with his divine sense, swallowed it, and stored it within his dantian. Now, should Su Fan wish, a single thought would end Liu Shaoyu’s life in an instant.
Su Fan’s expression was unchanged as he rose and looked at Liu Shaoyu. “Who are you?”
Liu Shaoyu answered nervously, “I am Liu Shaoyu, Master…”
Before he could finish, Su Fan’s eyes flashed with severity and Liu Shaoyu fell silent.
Su Fan continued, “How did you come to this place?” He did not believe Liu Shaoyu’s words fully—at least nine-tenths of them were false.
Liu Shaoyu cursed Su Fan inwardly for his shamelessness, but with his soul blood now in Su Fan’s possession, he could only continue with a forced smile. “I came here to fulfill a sect mission, but was chased by the Snow Wolf King. In desperation, I jumped into the ice lake and, by chance, ended up inside the body of the Immortal-Demon.”
Su Fan asked, “How did you enter the body of the Immortal-Demon?”
Liu Shaoyu replied, aggrieved, “I broke through the restriction and was transported inside.”
Su Fan’s expression shifted slightly. “What is this restriction?”
Liu Shaoyu showed a disdainful look, quickly reverting to a humble posture. “Restrictions are a type of formation. Setting up a formation requires much time and many materials, but a restriction can be cast with a mere gesture and is no less powerful.”
Su Fan nodded slightly. “And what is the Immortal-Demon?”
Liu Shaoyu’s face grew solemn, as if the term ‘Immortal-Demon’ carried a weight of reverence and terror.
It was like hearing tales of great beasts and monsters from one’s mother as a child—yet there was something more. Su Fan detected a hint of awe and yearning in Liu Shaoyu’s gaze.
After a long pause, Liu Shaoyu seemed to realize his lapse and cleared his throat. “The Immortal-Demon were rulers of heaven and earth countless millennia ago. I glimpsed fragments in ancient sect texts. It is said that the world belonged to them, and with a wave of their hand, they could ignite half the sky.”
Su Fan mused inwardly—these words rang true. In those strange visions, the Immortal-Demons indeed possessed such power.
Liu Shaoyu continued, “But who knows when it began—the Immortal-Demons gradually went extinct. Now, they are mere legends. Whether they truly existed, no one can say.”
Su Fan sighed deeply. “What is this fortune you speak of? Can it help us escape?”
Liu Shaoyu’s expression grew excited. “After falling into the body of the Immortal-Demon, I searched for a way out and discovered a certain place. I believe it may be where the Immortal-Demon’s memories are stored.”
Su Fan said quietly, “Indeed, only the Immortal-Demon would know how to leave this place.”
Suddenly, Su Fan asked, “Why did you not retrieve those memories yourself?”
Liu Shaoyu replied, crestfallen, “I won’t lie to you. Claiming those memories is dangerous—my physical body was destroyed there. I intended to lure you in and seize your body, but your aptitude was unexpectedly poor.”
Seeing Su Fan remain calm, Liu Shaoyu continued, “When I saw you use that ancient restriction, I realized you might be useful and kept you alive. That place may truly require an ancient restriction.”
Su Fan asked, puzzled, “Ancient restriction?”
Liu Shaoyu was nearly exasperated, but seeing Su Fan genuinely unaware, explained, “Ancient restrictions are those left by cultivators of old—exquisitely crafted, closest to the primordial restrictions.”
Su Fan smiled knowingly. “Let’s go have a look at the place you mentioned.”
Liu Shaoyu broke into a genuine smile—this time there was no pretense.
He formed a seal with his hands, swiftly traversing the crimson space. Su Fan flew at full speed, barely able to keep pace.
Su Fan silently marveled at the strength of a Nascent Soul cultivator. Even with only the soul remaining, their power was remarkable.
A barely perceptible smile flickered in Liu Shaoyu’s eyes, occasionally replaced by surprise.
He thought, This young cultivator is unexpectedly capable; even at full speed, I cannot shake him off.
Each harbored their own thoughts as they flew. Soon, Su Fan saw Liu Shaoyu halt ahead.
With Liu Shaoyu’s soul blood in his dantian, Su Fan could roughly sense his location. So, despite his weaker cultivation, he managed to keep up.
Liu Shaoyu glanced at Su Fan and said offhandedly, “We’re here.”
Su Fan scanned the surroundings calmly—the area remained a sea of red, indistinguishable from before.
With a wave of his finger, Su Fan sent out a restriction, which soared into the void.
A barrier emerged, and Su Fan continued, sending dozens more restrictions in rapid succession against the revealed barrier.
Liu Shaoyu could not hide his surprise. He had believed his mastery of restrictions was formidable, yet Su Fan, a junior, exposed his work with such ease.
Su Fan’s expression was unchanged, his hand seals slowing as he cast the final restriction. The crimson hue gradually darkened.
Then darkness enveloped the surroundings, and Su Fan felt the searing heat. Liu Shaoyu swept them both away, vanishing into the blackness.
Liu Shaoyu stuck out his tongue and whispered, “Are you trying to kill us?”
Su Fan apologized, “What was that?”
Liu Shaoyu shot Su Fan a glare. “That is the Immortal-Demon’s memory site, within which lies the eternal flame of the Immortal-Demon. My body was destroyed there.”
Su Fan forced a bitter smile. “How do we obtain those memories, then?”
Liu Shaoyu’s gaze grew grim. “Your cultivation is low—if you enter, you’ll surely die. Just cast restrictions to control the darkness.”
Su Fan sighed inwardly. Despite Liu Shaoyu’s cunning, he treated others with sincerity.
Those who appeared most virtuous were often the true villains.
Su Fan managed a smile. “Take care of yourself.”
Liu Shaoyu smiled back and flew toward the blackness.
Su Fan paused, finally seeing clearly the face of this short, young man. He was neither handsome nor imposing, but his smile was gentle.
Su Fan smiled in return, a genuine, heartfelt smile. With a flick of his finger, he sent a drop of blood toward Liu Shaoyu.
Liu Shaoyu cautiously approached the darkness. Judging by his demeanor, even with his cultivation, it was not easy.
The two were not far apart. Su Fan casually cast a restriction, sending it forward.
Suddenly, a violent tremor shook them. Su Fan quickly steadied himself, looking toward Liu Shaoyu.
Liu Shaoyu turned to Su Fan, eyes filled with terror, and shouted, “Run! The Immortal-Demon’s blood sea is surging!”
As he spoke, a torrent of red blood rushed forth, roaring like a river flooding into the sea.
Su Fan’s heart tightened, ready to retreat, but saw Liu Shaoyu nearly swept into the darkness.
Acting on impulse, Su Fan flew swiftly to Liu Shaoyu, channeling his spiritual power to throw him clear of the blood current.
Though he rescued Liu Shaoyu, Su Fan himself was caught in a deadly situation, powerless against the overwhelming force of the blood flow.
Just then, the restriction Su Fan cast opened the entrance to the memory site, and the blood flowed rapidly inside, carrying Su Fan with it.
He felt the heat intensify, as if he was about to burn and melt, the blood boiling like a pot.
The further he went, Su Fan nearly lost consciousness—the blood had become vapor, drifting as red mist.
In the haze, Su Fan felt a coolness coursing through his veins.
A wave of drowsiness overcame him, and he drifted into sleep.