Translator: CinderTL
Xu Sanyan, slightly curious, tilted his head. "What is it?"
"The method and detailed array formation for the Life-Borrowing Soul-Return Technique," Liu Wanjun said slowly.
She had already worn the book threadbare, every word etched into her memory. After all, for hundreds of years, it had been her only source of study—it was impossible not to know it inside and out.
"Oh?" Interest flickered in Xu Sanyan's eyes.
To be honest, he was indeed very intrigued by this technique. It was a Mystical Art that could grant a mortal over eight hundred years of life, a feat of immense significance.
Anything related to longevity was bound to be incredibly valuable, even if he couldn't use it himself. He could always trade it for something else later.
He was certain many people would be interested in such a treasure.
Xu Sanyan readily agreed. "Very well. Give me the book, and I'll stop bothering you."
In his mind, he planned to renege on his promise once he had the technique in hand.
He wanted the Mystical Art, and he wanted the book too!
After all, his reputation was well-established. He was already quite adept at breaking his word without a shred of guilt.
Liu Wanjun's eyes darted around. "The book isn't with me. I'll have to retrieve it."
"I'll go with you," Xu Sanyan said.
Liu Wanjun nodded slightly. The two of them walked towards the tomb, separated by a considerable distance, each warily watching the other.
Xu Sanyan stared at Liu Wanjun's chest, his curiosity piqued. He wondered what that heart truly was, still so vibrant after nearly a thousand years.
Liu Wanjun noticed Xu Sanyan's gaze and felt slightly awkward. Why was he staring at her chest?
Though she was over eight hundred years old, she had spent most of that time alone in her coffin. Her understanding of men and women remained at the level of a woman in her twenties, and she felt somewhat shy.
Liu Wanjun's mind raced with wild speculations. Could he be a lecher?
She was quite confident in her appearance. While not quite as stunning as Xi Shi or Wang Zhaojun, she was still exceptionally beautiful and dignified—one in a million.
TL/N: The two women referenced—Xi Shi and Wang Zhaojun—are legendary beauties in ancient Chinese history and folklore, known as part of the "Four Beauties of ancient China" (四大美女).
Each of them had their own thoughts, but neither relaxed their guard for a moment. They both knew the other was not to be trifled with.
Reaching the entrance of the cave, Xu Sanyan frowned. He was hesitant to enter.
What if a Great Formation lay within? He would be walking right into a trap.
He held a deep reverence for formations, having witnessed their power firsthand that day.
But what if Liu Wanjun entered and never came out? Not only would he fail to obtain the Life Borrowing Soul Return Technique, but he would also let her escape.
Xu Sanyan spoke first. "Send the zombie in to retrieve the Mystical Arts. You and I will wait here."
Liu Wanjun's mind raced. She nodded slowly. "Very well."
A jet-black zombie hopped into the cave. Liu Wanjun felt a weight lift from her chest and chuckled softly. "May I ask your name, sir?"
Xu Sanyan gave her a sidelong glance and smirked. "What? Planning to take revenge?"
"Not at all," Liu Wanjun replied, shaking her head slowly. "If it weren't for you, I'd still be searching for that secret passage. I should be thanking you instead."
Thanking me? Xu Sanyan sneered inwardly. If you're so grateful, tell me what that thing you're clutching does.
Liu Wanjun hesitated briefly before shaking her head. "You'll understand once you read the Secret Manual of the Life-Borrowing Soul-Return Technique, sir. It explains how the Imperial Advisor used this object to construct the Great Formation back then. But I'm not well-versed in such matters, so I don't know exactly what it is."
Xu Sanyan's eyes narrowed. It was undoubtedly a treasure!
Suddenly, Liu Wanjun moved. She dashed toward the tomb entrance, and the ground trembled slightly. A transparent light barrier abruptly rose, enveloping a thirty-meter radius around the cave mouth.
Xu Sanyan's expression tightened. The tomb was indeed protected by a formation!
It was only natural that the Imperial Advisor, a master of array formations, would have set up layers of protective formations. There was no need to question that.
Xu Sanyan opened his palm, and a dark dagger suddenly appeared in his palm. With a flick of hia wrist, a wisp of eerie light shot straight toward Liu Wanjun's back.
"Hmph!"
Liu Wanjun let out a sharp cry, her body turning deathly pale. She tried to use her old trick and withstand the blow head-on.
Thwack!
Xu Sanyan's strength far surpassed that of the Blood Demon. She might have been able to withstand the Blood Demon, but she couldn't be sure she could withstand Xu Sanyan!
Moreover, the dagger was a treasure, exceptionally sharp and carrying Xu Sanyan's immense force of ten thousand jin. It pierced through Liu Wanjun's back without any resistance, rendering her Defensive Technique, which hardened her body, completely useless.
Xu Sanyan grinned, a smile spreading across his face. Playing this game with him? He had been prepared for this all along.
Pfft...
Blood gushed from Liu Wanjun's mouth. The dagger's immense force lifted her high into the air before slamming her heavily onto the ground, precisely three steps away from the light barrier.
"Cough..." Liu Wanjun's body twitched slightly as she lay on the ground like a wriggling worm.
Xu Sanyan shook his head, walking toward her unhurriedly. With her heart pierced, there was no chance of survival. What a pity...
"Eight-hundred-year-old sister..."
Whoosh!
Suddenly, Liu Wanjun leaped to her feet, her legs pushing off the ground as she shot into the light barrier.
"You're not dead?"
Xu Sanyan stared in disbelief. She had been stabbed through the heart and still lived? How could she be so tough?
Liu Wanjun stood within the light barrier, a smug look in her eyes as she pulled the dagger from her chest. The obsidian blade emerged inch by inch, dripping with fresh blood that made Xu Sanyan wince just to watch. Yet Liu Wanjun seemed to feel nothing at all.
She held the dagger in her hand, twirling it playfully as her eyes locked onto Xu Sanyan.
Xu Sanyan suddenly remembered their first meeting. He had noticed then that she wasn't breathing and had never heard her heartbeat. But her subsequent behavior had been so convincingly human that he had subconsciously dismissed it.
No wonder she didn't die from a heart wound. She's not like ordinary people anymore. She has no vital organs.
Xu Sanyan couldn't help but laugh. She was now a hybrid of zombie and human.
In this vast world, anything was possible! Today, he had truly learned something new.
"Heh... I overlooked that," Xu Sanyan said, without a hint of regret. After all, he was only human; how could he anticipate everything?
Now that she had entered the Great Formation, he was completely helpless. Judging by its scale, it was likely beyond his ability to break.
Liu Wanjun didn't mock him. Instead, she reached into her bosom and pulled out a book, casually tossing it to Xu Sanyan. "Here's what I promised you."
Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow. "You're still giving it to me?"
"Of course. We have no deep-seated hatred. I'm willing to resolve this misunderstanding. What do you think?" Liu Wanjun replied.
Xu Sanyan nodded silently. "Alright."
Now, even if he wanted to threaten her, it was impossible.
Seeing his agreement, Liu Wanjun casually tossed the dagger back to him. "Take this too."
Xu Sanyan clicked his tongue. "Tsk..."
After a moment's thought, he summoned the Ferocious Demon and retrieved the Azure Treasure Sword from its back. With a casual flick of his wrist, the sword plunged straight into the ground just outside the light barrier.
"Farewell..."
With that, Xu Sanyan picked up the dagger and turned to leave.
(End of the Chapter)
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