After Transmigrating Into The Body Of The Chief Disciple, The Villain Was Reborn. - Chapter 18

After Ji Yu and Lin Tian left, Ji Yu naturally began to ponder the opportunity Lin Tian was meant to obtain in the Nether Secret Realm; his dreams had only specified that it was found in a valley. Unwilling to waste time wandering aimlessly, Ji Yu had volunteered his knowledge of where the treasure was located. They had trekked across almost the entire realm before finally finding this valley, never expecting that someone would have arrived even faster.

As soon as they saw the trio, Ji Yu and Lin Tian grew vigilant. “Why are you here? How did you find this place?” Ji Yu asked, his anxiety mounting. Had the Crimson Feather sword already been taken? How had they found it? In his dreams, the sword was clearly obtained by Lin Tian. Was everything he dreamt a lie? He refused to believe it, pinning his hopes on the possibility that they had not actually entered the cave yet.

Seeing people he loathed, Ning Yuzhao set aside his previous sorrow and lifted his chin. “What? Is this your home? Only you are allowed here, and no one else?”

Ji Yu’s expression darkened, but he forced a smile. “Of course not. We were just curious, that is all.” He then tentatively asked, “How long have you been here? Would you like to go inside together?”

Lu Shi’an chuckled inwardly. He saw through Ji Yu’s facade instantly; the boy just wanted to know if they had obtained the sword. Lu Shi’an played along, saying, “We only just arrived, we have not had a chance to go in yet.”

Ji Yu was secretly overjoyed. It seemed they had not entered; he still had a chance. He feigned a casual tone. “Since we ran into each other, why not go together? It is safer in numbers.”

Lin Tian looked at Ji Yu in shock. Had he not claimed there was treasure here? Why invite others, especially those who held a grudge against them? Lin Tian silently cursed the “slut” for his fickleness; he would make Ji Yu pay once the treasure was secured.

Ji Yu did not want them to enter either, but if he tried to drive them away, they would immediately realize there was a treasure inside. Knowing how much Lu Shi’an and his group detested him, Ji Yu feared that if he openly demanded they leave, they would simply turn away.

Ning Yuzhao was about to snap, “Who wants to be with you?” but Lu Shi’an intercepted him with a smile. “Since you are so graciously inviting us, we would be remiss to decline.”

Ning Yuzhao and Xiao Heng were both confused but trusted Lu Shi’an’s judgment, so they remained silent. Ji Yu’s smile froze instantly. He had never expected Lu Shi’an to agree so readily. The situation had become incredibly awkward, and he felt as though he had been outplayed. With a stiff expression, he finally said, “Then let us go together.”

Of the five present, only Lu Shi’an remained composed. Ji Yu and Lin Tian did not want others snatching their prize, while Ning Yuzhao and Xiao Heng were baffled; they had already entered, and the divine sword was already taken. Why were they going back in? Still, out of trust for Lu Shi’an, neither protested.

“Please,” Lu Shi’an said, stepping aside to let Ji Yu and Lin Tian lead the way. Ji Yu felt even more uneasy. He knew Lu Shi’an never showed him a kind face; this sudden courtesy made him suspect a trap. But with no way to retreat, he entered the cave, with Lu Shi’an and the others following close behind.

Once inside, the cave had undergone a complete transformation. Gone was the biting chill, replaced by a normal temperature, and in the center stood a black sword. Every detail of the blade’s pattern matched the Crimson Feather, but the entire sword radiated a dark, sinister energy.

Ning Yuzhao and Xiao Heng were stunned. Why was there such a massive difference between their first visit and now? And why did this black sword look identical to the Crimson Feather save for the color? Lu Shi’an had already guessed as much, so he remained calm. He was only unsettled by the aura; everything about the dark energy radiating from the blade suggested it was an evil weapon. If it were truly an evil sword, why had no one stopped the protagonist from using it to defeat the original host at the Sect Tournament? He found it hard to believe no one had noticed such an obvious malevolent aura.

Ji Yu and Lin Tian rushed forward, viewing the black sword as their property. Just as Lin Tian reached out to draw it, the black sword flew into the air and attacked Lu Shi’an. Lu Shi’an immediately drew his own sword to parry, surprising everyone. Before Ning Yuzhao could assist, the Crimson Feather sword flew out of his own storage space and engaged the black sword in combat.

Lu Shi’an retreated to the side to watch the duel between the genuine article and the counterfeit. Ji Yu and Lin Tian were shocked to see two identical swords, but their preconceived notions led them to believe the black one was the true Crimson Feather. Ning Yuzhao watched with concern. “Senior Brother, can Crimson Feather win?” He had only just contracted the sword and was unsure of its strength, whereas the black sword looked dangerously abnormal.

Lu Shi’an squeezed Ning Yuzhao’s hand. “Do not worry. It cannot beat Crimson Feather.”

Ji Yu looked softly at Lu Shi’an. “Senior Brother Lu, how can you be sure which one is the real Crimson Feather? Clearly, the black sword matches the description on the Divine Sword Ranking.”

Lu Shi’an heard the mention of the ranking. It was true, the Crimson Feather on the ranking list was black. Yet, he had a hunch that Ning Yuzhao’s blade was the authentic one. He glanced coldly at Ji Yu, ignored him, and continued watching the duel. The black sword was gradually losing ground. After Ji Yu was snubbed, he dared not approach the others. He watched anxiously as the Crimson Feather eventually struck the black sword down. Upon hitting the ground, the black sword shattered into two pieces.

Victoriously, the Crimson Feather flew back to Ning Yuzhao and nuzzled his cheek as if begging for praise. Ning Yuzhao beamed, stroking the hilt. “Crimson Feather, you were amazing!”

Lu Shi’an walked over and picked up the broken pieces. Examining them closely, he discovered that while the material was identical to that of the Crimson Feather, it contained an additional, foreign substance. Lu Shi’an stared at the shards, deep in thought.