It turned out Yan Chongyu was related to Wu Zhaohui.
Chen Fan remained wary of Wu Zhaohui and, unsure of Yan Chongyu's connection, did not wish to get involved.
Furthermore, Yan Chongyu's cultivation was not high. He offered to pass on a message, but Chen Fan doubted his ability to do so.
If it still required him to find connections and pull strings, Chen Fan had no patience for such delays.
Pinning his hopes on someone like Yan Chongyu, whom he had only just met and whose stance was unknown, was clearly unreliable.
Chen Fan had no reason to trust Yan Chongyu.
Upon hearing Chen Fan's words, Yan Chongyu smiled but said no more.
Before long, the group arrived at their destination, a platform situated slightly above the mountainside.
The area had been repaired, with the ground paved in white marble, a surprising sight amidst the snowy mountains.
Against the cliff face on this platform stood a large, ancient incense burner.
"Fellow Daoist Chen, it's not too late to back out now!" Kong Qingzi said to Chen Fan.
"I never regret my actions," Chen Fan replied calmly.
Kong Qingzi nodded and said, "Then, Fellow Daoist Chen, fare thee well!"
"Senior Brother Kong Qing, why bother with pleasantries? If someone refuses the path to heaven and insists on walking the path to hell, why concern yourself with him?" Yun Yazi sneered.
Kong Qingzi took a deep breath and inserted the three Two Realms Incense sticks into the burner.
Then, he chanted a prayer with resonant blessings.
He formed a hand seal, his five fingers moving rhythmically before rubbing each of the three incense sticks.
Three wisps of smoke rose, and the three incense sticks were successively lit.
The smoke curled and ascended into the air.
A wind blew, yet it could not disperse the three wisps of smoke.
The smoke grew thicker, piling up in mid-air. Without Kong Qingzi's control, it condensed into three circular patterns in the air, resembling runes.
The three runes became clearer and brighter.
Following this, a mysterious crack appeared in the void. The three runes flew into it and vanished abruptly.
Only their trailing tails remained, stretched infinitely long.
Kong Qingzi turned and said, "They've gone in. Fellow Daoist Chen, the rest is just waiting. The wait won't be too long!"
"Understood," Chen Fan replied indifferently.
Everyone present was accustomed to this and showed no surprise.
Approximately three minutes later, a radiance suddenly surged from the area where the crack had appeared.
The radiance rapidly expanded, condensing before the eyes of the onlookers, appearing profoundly mysterious and peculiar, as if forming a door.
Beyond the radiance, a palace could be faintly discerned. Several figures stood there, seemingly gazing through the shimmering light at the people present.
A few breaths later, the radiance dispersed, and the air rippled like waves.
A figure suddenly became clear and stepped out, rapidly appearing before them.
Several lotus flowers emerged, supporting the person's feet as they descended from a height of seven to eight meters, as if walking down steps.
An ethereal and transcendent aura emanated from them.
The person wore a dark black Daoist robe, appearing to be in their thirties, with deep-set eyes and an extraordinary presence that commanded attention.
Following this person, three more figures appeared, also clad in dark black Daoist robes, stepping on lotus flowers and descending.
The difference was that the leading Daoist's robe had a golden trim, indicating its exceptional nature.
As soon as the last person emerged, the ripple-like air fluctuations instantly converged and disappeared. The vaguely visible scenery, including the palace, vanished.
Stepping onto solid ground, the leading man's gaze swept over Chen Fan, who held his sword, and he coldly snorted, asking, "Kong Qingzi, what is the meaning of this?"
"Senior Brother Baiya, please forgive me. It was unavoidable!" Kong Qingzi quickly stepped forward, bowed, and respectfully said, "Kong Qingzi's strength is insufficient. I was forced to light the Two Realms Incense, thus disturbing Senior Brother Baiya!"
"Is it this person?" Baiya asked, pointing at Chen Fan, his voice cold.
"It is I!" Before Kong Qingzi could answer, Chen Fan spoke indifferently, "I forced him to do it. My name is Chen Fan, and I wish to see Su Yingxue, also known as Xue Qingzi in your Kunlun Secret Realm!"
"Presumptuous!" Before Baiya could speak, a man in a black Daoist robe behind him sternly exclaimed.
"Do you think Kunlun is just any place, to dare act so wildly?"
Chen Fan glanced at this person. The man appeared to be in his late twenties, but his cultivation was not low, his aura profound, likely not below that of a martial arts grandmaster in the martial world.
"I don't care what kind of place it is. If you dare take my woman, you can tear down the heavens, and I wouldn't care," Chen Fan said indifferently.
"You court death!"
Another man shouted fiercely, his voice sharp and his imposing aura surging.
Baiya's expression was disdainful. "How come there's such a complication with this batch of Daoist academy disciples chosen this time?"
Shaking his head, he waved his hand and said, "Take him down. Once the academy elders arrive, we'll see how to deal with him!"
His voice was calm, and his gesture seemed casual. He hadn't even bothered to ask Chen Fan's name, clearly not taking him seriously.
"Yes!"
The three clearly subordinate Daoists responded. The one who had previously rebuked Chen Fan flashed forward and reached out to grab him.
Kong Qingzi quickly reminded him, "Be careful, Senior Brother Baiya, this person is strong!"
Baiya ignored him.
The attacker circulated his true qi, forming a rune in his palm that exuded a sense of restraint, and swiftly struck.
Chen Fan's expression was impassive. He didn't bother drawing his sword and instead punched out.
Bang!
With the force of his punch unleashed, the rune shattered. The attacker was sent flying with a single blow, his expression one of shock.
The other two reacted, drawing their swords with a swish, and simultaneously thrust them towards Chen Fan.
Their swordsmanship was exquisite.
Chen Fan raised his hand and executed a simple sword strike.
Two continuous streaks of sword light, like a white rainbow across the sky, were bisected.
The sword momentum was overbearing, engulfing the two Daoists.
The next instant, the two Daoists stumbled back, each bearing a sword mark that tore through their robes, drawing blood.
Their expressions were filled with horror. Chen Fan's swordplay was extremely simple yet incomparably domineering; they crumbled upon contact.
"You... court death!"
Baiya's face flushed with embarrassment. He raised his hand, and a jade ruler appeared in his grasp.
Holding the jade ruler, he flashed forward and attacked Chen Fan.
A spiritual light flickered on the jade ruler, appearing profoundly mystical. Accompanied by the interwoven natural, peculiar patterns and textures, a potent force emerged, surging towards Chen Fan.
Chen Fan raised his sword to block.
With a booming sound, Chen Fan was engulfed by immense power, as if struck by a torrent. He staggered back several steps.
"A firefly's light dares to shine so brightly?"
Baiya sneered, stepping in a Big Dipper formation, each step blossoming with lotus flowers. The light from the jade ruler intensified, pressing down on Chen Fan again.
Chen Fan's expression was indifferent. He slashed with his sword.
Accompanied by a dragon's roar, sword energy crisscrossed the air.
After a thunderous explosion, Chen Fan emerged from the shattered spiritual light, now beside Baiya's left side, and attacked with his sword.
Baiya's expression changed abruptly.