Two Purple Fates

After putting away the refining method, Fang Heng recalled the disturbance in the Heretical Poison Pill during the sacrifice.

Shang Lengyun had not died naturally. It seemed more like he had been poisoned to death.

Sandalwood incense curled through the room. A ray of sunlight passed through the lattice window, casting dappled shadows across the floor.

Fang Heng lightly tapped his teacup, the crisp sound echoing through the quiet room as he seemingly casually brought it up.

"Lord Shang was in the prime of his life. How could he have suddenly died of illness?"

Upon hearing Fang Heng's words, Lin Yichen immediately seemed to grasp something.

His previously calm gaze turned sharp in an instant, and two frightening glints burst from his pupils.

He barked, "Junior Brother, are you saying there was another mystery behind Lengyun's death?"

As he spoke, Lin Yichen looked toward Madam Shang.

His gaze was as sharp as an eagle soaring through the nine heavens, as though he intended to see straight through her.

Under Lin Yichen's stare, Madam Shang lowered her head slightly.

Her eyes were reddened, her expression hesitant, while her hands nervously twisted the corner of her clothes.

She had never wanted to reveal the truth of the matter.

But when she thought of the Ninth Prince's kindness toward her family, concealing the truth would truly make her worse than a beast!

Madam Shang took out an official document from the Yujing Prefecture yamen from her sleeve, her voice filled with grief.

"This is the document issued by the yamen coroner. My husband died when Sha Poison entered his body and severed his heart meridians."

"Afterward, the Formation Court began investigating the source of the Sha Poison."

"Then, two days later, the Second Prince's steward came to visit and gave me a thousand taels of silver to keep my mouth shut."

After hearing Madam Shang's words, Fang Heng and Lin Yichen grew even more curious.

What was there to silence people about when investigating Sha Poison?

Madam Shang gritted her teeth, made up her mind, and continued.

"My husband's colleague was also part of the investigation team. He once mentioned it, intentionally or otherwise."

"The Sha Poison my husband suffered may have come from a Sha Acupoint."

"The Second Prince suspects that there is an undiscovered Sha Acupoint near the Formation Court."

At this point, Fang Heng immediately understood.

Killing Intent was a precious cultivation resource.

Cultivation in the Daoist School's third realm—the Jade Liquid Realm—required Killing Intent.

Refining Killing Intent and merging it into one's mana would transform that mana, multiplying its offensive power.

It could be said that as long as there was an unending supply of Killing Intent, a large number of Jade Liquid Realm cultivators could be raised.

Why would the Second Prince issue a gag order?

Without a doubt, he wanted to swallow the Sha Acupoint whole.

Even if he could not monopolize it, he still wanted the lion's share.

Fang Heng and Lin Yichen looked at one another. Neither had expected that Shang Lengyun's cause of death would involve both the Second Prince and a Sha Acupoint.

After leaving Shang Manor, the setting sun stretched their shadows long.

Lin Yichen did not follow Fang Heng back to the Prince's Manor, instead taking his leave directly.

"Junior Brother, I plan to gather heavenly treasures and earthly materials to advance my Purple Dawn Sword."

Hearing Lin Yichen's plans, Fang Heng cupped his hands.

"Then I wish Senior Brother smooth sailing and success the moment you strike."

After exchanging looks, Lin Yichen transformed into a streak of escaping light and flew toward Evergreen Temple.

Fang Heng boarded a carriage and, listening to the dull rumble of its wheels, returned to the Prince's Manor.

Seeing that Yun Menglan was still exhausted and had yet to wake, Fang Heng went to the cultivation quiet room.

The room contained only a simple meditation cushion and incense burner.

A landscape painting hung upon the wall, creating an atmosphere of tranquil distance.

He activated the formation, then activated the Fengdu Pass.

A small road, deathly still and dark, appeared out of thin air.

The Yellow Springs Road!

Stepping onto the Yellow Springs Road, he soon arrived in the City of Life and Death.

Fang Heng and Rabbit Face had left behind communication talismans. Once he arrived in the City of Life and Death, he contacted Rabbit Face to complete the transaction.

Sword Pavilion, within a courtyard.

Sunlight spilled over the courtyard, illuminating every leaf.

A breeze passed by, making the leaves rustle.

The sword-practicing girl stood tall and straight, like a sword drawn from its sheath.

Her steps were light, like the fierce wind above the nine heavens.

Her long azure robes fluttered gently in the wind.

The sash around her waist traced clean, sharp lines, perfectly suiting the girl's cold aloofness and proud bearing.

Faint Sword Qi lingered around her delicate body.

It was like cold moonlight, yet also like the first glimmer of dawn.

When still, she resembled an immovable mountain; when moving, she was like a startled swan reflected in water.

Her sword intent and temperament melded seamlessly into one, revealing the unworldly backbone of a cultivator.

Even a three-year-old child could see the extraordinary nature of the girl's swordsmanship.

It was as though the sword in her hand had long since fused into her bloodline.

Outside the courtyard, several pairs of eyes watched the girl.

Though concealed, they could not escape the girl's spiritual perception.

"What a pity. A swordsmanship genius like the Saintess actually has to marry the Dao Child of the Divine Firmament Sect."

"Shh—are you courting death?"

"This marriage was personally decided by the Pavilion Master. Don't speak nonsense!"

"Ah—I just find it a pity!"

"A woman who marries out is like water thrown away. Our Sword Pavilion's prodigy is being handed to the Divine Firmament Sect for nothing—"

The girl in azure cultivated her swordsmanship without distraction.

Her movements flowed like drifting clouds and running water, smooth and natural.

At that moment, her communication talisman stirred.

The girl in azure did not change expression, pretending as though nothing had happened.

Only after calmly finishing the entire sword routine did she stop.

She returned to her own cave dwelling and activated the formation.

Then, the Yellow Springs Road appeared.

The girl in azure put on a Rabbit Face mask and stepped onto the Yellow Springs Road without hesitation.

When Rabbit Face arrived at the marketplace in the City of Life and Death, she saw Black Impermanence waiting for a long time.

She stepped forward and asked bluntly.

"Did you bring the evasion-type wonder?"

Fang Heng smiled slightly and took a wonder from his sleeve.

It was the Heavenly Gang Sword Orb he had traded for at Evergreen Temple.

"This is the evasion-type wonder you wanted, the Heavenly Gang Sword Orb."

Rabbit Face accepted the Heavenly Gang Sword Orb. After carefully inspecting it, she nodded in satisfaction.

Her eyes appeared calm, like a lake without a ripple. With this wonder, her plan to escape the marriage had finally begun.

Beneath the Rabbit Face mask, the proud girl bit down hard on her red lips.

Ever since her master had died suddenly, her position in the Sword Pavilion had plunged from great heights.

She still appeared to be the Sword Pavilion's Saintess, but in truth, every move she made was monitored.

All because she suspected that her master's death was inseparable from the Sword Pavilion Master.

"This is Emperor Yuling's chessboard and chess pieces."

Rabbit Face took out the chessboard and chess pieces from her Sumeru Ring.

The chessboard was ancient and grand, while the pieces were crystalline and translucent, emitting a faint glow.

"Additionally, there is a jade slip containing my master's research from recent years. It may be useful to you," Rabbit Face continued.

"Thank you!"

Fang Heng nodded slightly. Sensing the vast fortune within the chessboard and pieces,

he confirmed that Rabbit Face had not tried to deceive him with counterfeits.

These truly were the chessboard and chess pieces once held by Emperor Yuling.

"If there is an opportunity, we can continue cooperating."

Rabbit Face spoke coldly, then turned and hurried away, vanishing into the City of Life and Death.

Fang Heng put away the chessboard and chess pieces and returned to the Prince's Manor.

He immediately began eagerly absorbing the fortune within the chessboard and pieces.

One hundred and fifty chess pieces rose into the air, circling overhead as they emitted a dazzling radiance.

Vast fortune poured into Fang Heng's body.

Like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, Fang Heng felt as though fortune surrounded him completely.

After absorbing the fortune within the chess pieces, Fang Heng did not spare the chessboard either.

The fortune contained within the chessboard was even greater than that in the pieces.

Fortune +8000!

Seeing his increased fortune, Fang Heng's lips curved upward, impossible to keep down even harder than an AK.

Five wonders he could not use had, through a series of trades, earned him 8,000 points of fortune.

Fang Heng only wanted to shout: no one understood trading better than him.

Fortune: 8920

It was enough for Fang Heng to upgrade nine red fates into purple fates.

After glancing at his fates, Fang Heng did not hesitate long before choosing Soul Reaper Envoy and Flash of Inspiration.

Soul Reaper Envoy → Iron Brush Judge

Flash of Inspiration → Seven Orifices Exquisite