I Only Stomp on Weaklings

"Why do they seem to know nothing about Zhou You and Fang Yong?"

Chen Ming observed the reactions of those present, feeling puzzled, and tentatively asked, "Lord Hong, these two demonic cult members from the Nine Nether Sect are likely here for the Demon Sword suppressed on the third floor. How is that Demon Sword now?"

Hong Yuze shook his head and said grimly, "I’m afraid things don’t bode well. I sent someone to find Lord Ruan, but he is nowhere to be found. Both he and his wife have disappeared without a trace, and the servants in the mansion know nothing about their whereabouts.

"Now, we can only wait for Lord Zhong to exit seclusion to enter the third floor and check if the Demon Sword is still there."

Could it be?

Chen Ming paused for a moment.

Did something happen to Luo Zhouwu inside?

Or maybe he doesn’t trust the people from Six Gates and decided not to inform them...

That can’t be right, he can’t take out the Demon Sword; it must remain suppressed in that Secret Realm, so he would have to cooperate with the local Six Gates...

Therefore, something must have happened to him.

Chen Ming speculated in his heart that it was very likely that after the Demon Sword passed through the hands of three people, part of its power was restored, and in his weakened state, Luo Zhouwu was killed by the Demon Sword.

"If that’s true, doesn’t it mean that what happened in the Secret Realm is known to no one else?"

He felt a sense of relief, thinking that perhaps he could continue to maintain his identity as Gu Xianyu.

Just then, Hong Yuze said, "Many people died inside the prison. Those bandits released the prisoners, and they suddenly broke out from the prison, alarming everyone. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have known their target was the prison... In the end, most of the prisoners were recaptured, but a few managed to escape, including a First Grade."

Chen Ming quickly asked, "Did everyone in the prison die at that time?"

Hong Yuze replied, "Not all of them. A few people were lucky to survive, including some of your subordinates. In fact, they claimed you were also in the prison at the time and that it was you who decisively took action and killed all those Third Grade prisoners. Otherwise, everyone would have been unable to suppress them."

Chen Ming felt quite relieved to know that several of his subordinates had survived the First Tribulation.

Suddenly, someone asked, "By the way, Lord Gu, how did you escape from the prison? And what about the two demonic cult members from the Nine Nether Sect? No one saw you leave through the prison gate at the time."

Everyone else looked at him, clearly sharing the same question.

That was a tricky one to explain.

In a flash of thought, Chen Ming decided to tell the truth, "Actually, I was being held hostage by those bandits and taken to the third floor with them..."

Zhu Wanlin sneered, "That’s interesting. These demonic cult members kill without blinking, yet they spared your life?"

Chen Ming said, "Shamefully, I owe my life to Lady Ruan. It was she who pleaded with those bandits on my behalf..."

His words were seventy percent false and thirty percent true.

When he mentioned Lady Ruan addressing the two bandits as ’senior brothers,’ there was no surprise on the faces of those present.

At that time, Zhou Yilan had swaggered into the prison with a guard, and many people saw it, naturally leading them to deduce that she was the mole.

"... That’s how things transpired."

In Chen Ming’s account, he only survived by playing dead, slightly altering the entire battle process. Luo Zhouwu took on his role and magnificently eliminated Ruan Caixiong.

As for himself, he naturally survived until the end. After Lady Ruan used the "Zhichi Demon Sword" to tear through space and let the two senior brothers escape, he seized the opportunity to follow the demonic cult members and escape with his life.

He also took advantage of these two wounded demonic cult members and killed them.

Hong Yuze was moved, "I didn’t expect that so much happened on that third floor. Such experiences can truly be described as thrilling."

He didn’t doubt Chen Ming’s words.

Many details of the battle couldn’t be fabricated; this Gu Xianyu was only a Third Grade. If he hadn’t witnessed it firsthand, how could he invent such a vivid fight among First Grade experts?

Someone asked urgently, "Lord Gu, are you saying that those cult members didn’t steal the Demon Sword? It’s still in the third floor?"

Chen Ming shook his head, "I don’t know. When I left, only Elder Luo was inside. Logically, he should have been able to leave after retrieving the key from Ruan Caixiong. Why hasn’t he shown up yet?"

Hong Yuze also realized something was amiss and hurriedly said, "Quick, send someone to fetch Miss Su. Let’s see if she can contact her martial uncle."

Soon, someone went to carry out the order.

Moments later, a person brought Su Zhining over.

When Chen Ming saw her, a strange feeling surged in his heart. It seemed like something had changed about her. They had met just that morning.

Although a lot had happened in between, it felt like much time had passed, but in reality, only half a day had gone by.

If pressed, it seemed like she had gained a hint of life’s fire, with a trace of sorrow at the corners of her eyes, unlike her previous aloofness, as if nothing in the world could move her.

As he was thinking, he heard Hong Yuze ask, "Miss Su also suffered at the hands of that scoundrel. Are you better now?"

Su Zhining replied, "Thank you for your concern, Lord Hong. I’m much better now. Might I ask why you summoned me?"

"Miss Su, do you have a way to contact Luo Zhouwu of your alliance?"

"I can’t reach him."

"That’s troubling. Your martial uncle might be trapped in the Secret Realm where the Demon Sword is suppressed."

"What?"

Su Zhining was somewhat surprised, "What exactly happened?"

Hong Yuze said, "Gu Xianyu, tell Miss Su about encountering Luo Zhouwu in the Secret Realm."

Thus, Chen Ming could only recount the event again, this time more briefly, saying that he encountered Luo Zhouwu in the Secret Realm, and in the end, he was the only one staying there, together with the Demon Sword."

After hearing this, Su Zhining’s face slightly changed, "Did Uncle Luo happen to touch that Demon Sword?"

"Indeed he did, for about four or five seconds."

"This is bad. Uncle Luo, I fear his Heavenly Heart was contaminated by the Demon Sword, the situation is critical, I must immediately inform my Master."

A trace of urgency flashed in Su Zhining’s eyes, "Lord Hong, before my sect’s people arrive, make sure not to open that Secret Realm. Otherwise, it might agitate my Uncle."

Hong Yuze was well aware of the severity of this matter, and solemnly said, "Rest assured, I will report it exactly to Lord Zhong."

Currently, only Lord Zhong can open that Secret Realm.

After saying this, Su Zhining hurried away.

Upon hearing this, Chen Ming understood that at least until Su Zhining’s Master Yuan Zhixing arrived, his identity was still safe.

Perfect, take advantage of this time to deal with the matters that need handling.

Thus, he apologized to Hong Yuze and left with an excuse.

Hong Yuze naturally consented, and as for the matter regarding another Lifebound Object, no one brought it up again.

He has achieved such a great merit, it can be said he saved everyone present, naturally, no one would be so tactless.

Only Zhu Wanlin watched his departing silhouette with a gloomy gaze.

...

As soon as Chen Ming exited "Zeshi Hall," he saw Su Zhining with one hand resting on a corridor pillar, her face somewhat pale. He was startled and hurriedly approached to ask, "Miss Su, are you okay?"

Su Zhining was clutching her chest, painfully closing her eyes, as two rows of tears slid down from the corners of her eyes.

Chen Ming was stunned, this... what’s going on?

She actually shed tears?

Did I see wrong?

"I’m fine?"

Su Zhining had already regained her composure, lowered her head, her voice somewhat low, flicked his hand away, and walked forward.

Fine my foot!

Chen Ming knew she must be facing a big issue, for someone usually so aloof and extraordinary, an unstable emotion meant her heart of the path was unsteady, a major problem in her cultivation.

He watched her leaving figure, feeling worried, but unsure how to help her.

"This outstanding heir of the Celestial Dao Alliance, I’m afraid she’s fallen into an emotional tribulation."

Suddenly, a woman dressed in a third-rank Governor’s Uniform emerged, it was the sole woman inside "Zeshi Hall" earlier, named Lin Qiong.

He bowed, "Lady Lin."

"No need for formalities, soon you and I might be of the same rank." Lin Qiong said with a smile, treating him kindly.

Chen Ming asked, "Lady Lin, what did you mean earlier by saying Miss Su fell into an emotional tribulation?"

Lin Qiong looked at him strangely, "It seems Lord Gu and Miss Su are old acquaintances. The Celestial Heart Technique of the Celestial Dao Alliance is renowned. It’s one of the top divine skills in the world. But mastering it is not easy.

"Before reaching the fourth grade, one must maintain a pure and immaculate Heavenly Heart. After reaching fourth grade, one must venture into the mortal world, experience the secular life, and face various tribulations. The most difficult one is the emotional tribulation. Many extraordinarily talented disciples of the Celestial Dao Alliance have fallen because of it."

"Fallen?"

Chen Ming’s eyelid twitched at this word, "Is it possible to fail the emotional tribulation and face mortal danger?"

Lin Qiong said, "Since it’s an emotional tribulation, most often it results in death due to love. Within this, many, to solidify their heart of the path, kill the person who caused them to fall into the tribulation with their own hands, ultimately dying as their heart of the path shatters. Others, seeing their beloved in danger, sacrifice themselves to save them. Some confine themselves in death seclusion within the Celestial Dao Alliance to escape the tribulation."

She explained thoroughly, eventually sighing, "I wonder what fate awaits this Miss Su."

Chen Ming asked, "Isn’t there anyone who transcends this emotional tribulation and advances further?"

"Maybe there is, maybe there isn’t. Only the people of the Celestial Dao Alliance know that. Well, I must be off to relay the message." Lin Qiong bowed and left first.

Chen Ming couldn’t help but sigh, how did she fall into an emotional tribulation?

This morning everything seemed fine.

"Could it be due to Fang Lue’s plot? Stirred up her Heart Demon again?"

This is really troublesome.