I’m Definitely Taking This Power-Fantasy Protagonist Role! Chapter 59

The wind blew in through the window, gently stirring his hair and dropping petals here and there. The You Ke Tai was like spring all year round, with flowers blooming outside in a riot of colors, but such a beautiful scene couldn't catch his eye at all.

"Greetings, Master," Lin Zhao Ren said respectfully.

"Greetings, Master," Jiang Bai Yu followed closely behind.

The Zang Feng Zun Zhe raised his eyes, the seriousness in his expression dissipating, and his demeanor softened as he smiled, "Ah, it's Zhao Er and Yu Er. What delicacies have you brought today?"

Lin Zhao Ren replied earnestly, "It's crystal ginseng soup, perfect for nourishing Master."

Zang Feng Zun Zhe turned his gaze to Jiang Bai Yu, "How does it taste?"

Without a second thought, Jiang Bai Yu exclaimed, "It's especially delicious!"

The smile at the corner of Zang Feng Zun Zhe's lips deepened, and he gave Lin Zhao Ren a meaningful glance, "With Yu Er praising it so highly, I must taste it well to not let Zhao Er's kind intentions go to waste."

Lin Zhao Ren maintained a serious expression as he opened the food box and presented the crystal ginseng soup, quickly filling the room with a rich aroma. Zang Feng Zun Zhe's movements were elegant and pleasing to the eye; even drinking soup looked good on him. He took a sip with the spoon, set it down, and praised, "The flavor is indeed wonderful. Zhao Er's culinary skills are getting better and better; it’s clear you put a lot of thought into it every day."

He placed the soup aside, his expression turning slightly serious, "You and your junior brother will enter seclusion next, focusing on your cultivation. Don't worry about other matters; strive for a breakthrough within a month."

Lin Zhao Ren was slightly taken aback but quickly understood and asked cautiously, "Master, is there an important matter in the sect after a month?"

Zang Feng Zun Zhe nodded, "The sect leader has decided to open the Yuan Gu Secret Realm to all sects and even to wandering cultivators, scheduled for a month from now."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhao Ren was very surprised, his eyes widening.

Jiang Bai Yu had no knowledge of the Yuan Gu Secret Realm and didn't understand why he was so shocked, but he would soon find out.

Lin Zhao Ren quickly reacted and raised a question, "The Yuan Gu Secret Realm is the most important of the three secret realms controlled by our sect. It is rumored to have been left behind by our founding ancestor and holds great significance. Even disciples of the sect must go through strict selection to enter. Why would the sect leader suddenly make this decision?"

Zang Feng Zun Zhe did not answer and instead asked Jiang Bai Yu, "Yu Er, do you have any questions about this? Feel free to ask."

Jiang Bai Yu thought for a moment and voiced his confusion, "What is the Yuan Gu Secret Realm?"

As a new disciple, it was not surprising to have this question. As the most important of the three secret realms of Yu Heng Sect, there was no way to know without some connections. The announcement would be made to qualified disciples during the selection, but the decision had just been made.

Zang Feng Zun Zhe explained, "Our sect has three secret realms that belong solely to us: the Yuan Gu Secret Realm, the Chong Ming Secret Realm, and the Long Xue Deep Abyss. These are the foundation of our sect, crucial for supporting Yu Heng Sect's current status. The shared secret realms with other sects are merely embellishments for us; these three secret realms are the true foundation."

"The Yuan Gu Secret Realm is the most critical, not only because it was left by our founding ancestor but also because it contains immense secrets. Very few within the sect are aware of this."

He paused, his tone becoming grave, "According to the notes left by the ancestor, the Yuan Gu Secret Realm is suspected to have been left by a divine being. It was once a cave dwelling, but for unknown reasons, it was lost to the outside world. The ancestor stumbled upon it by chance, which led him to embark on the path of cultivation and eventually establish the Yu Heng Sect. Many of the restrictions within are so tricky that even the ancestor found them challenging. The sect is worried that disciples might recklessly barge in, leading to unpredictable casualties, so they specifically require disciples entering the secret realm to stay within a general area."

"This time, the secret realm is being opened to invite cultivators from all over to explore the ancient secret realm, including forbidden areas that we have never entered, which are fraught with dangers."

"If someone truly has good fortune and inherits the divine being's legacy, that would be their opportunity."

At this point, Zang Feng Zun Zhe fell silent, lost in thought, his expression quite obscure. After a while, he continued, "I know Zhao Er is puzzled about why we would open such an important sect secret realm to outside cultivators. If someone were to inherit the divine being's legacy, what if they turned around and threatened Yu Heng Sect? Wouldn't that be self-inflicted harm?"

"I agree with the sect leader's decision, and the other elders do not oppose it either. The sect's secret realms are indeed important, but no matter how important they are, if it serves the greater good, the rules can be broken. Moreover, inheriting the divine being's legacy is not something that can be easily obtained. The ancestor only gained a little benefit from it, and it was already immensely advantageous."

"After the secret realm, the sect will have major moves. Zhao Er, Yu Er, you both need to be mentally prepared."

Lin Zhao Ren nodded seriously, "I will definitely not disappoint Master!"

Jiang Bai Yu echoed, "I will follow Master's teachings."

Zang Feng Zun Zhe looked at them with warmth and affection, "The soup is there; I will drink it myself. You two must be shocked to hear this news. You can go now. Quickly enter seclusion and cultivate; a month will pass in the blink of an eye."

"Yes, Master."

The two complied and exited the room.

Even after leaving the You Ke Tai, Lin Zhao Ren's expression remained serious, deep in thought.

"Junior brother."

He suddenly called out.

Jiang Bai Yu asked, "What is it, senior brother?"

Lin Zhao Ren frowned slightly, his tone grave, "I feel that something big is about to happen."

Jiang Bai Yu was silent for a while before muttering, "…I feel the same."

Indeed, something big was coming. In the future, someone would spread the word that Lin Zhao Ren was a calamity star, leading to suffering and bloodshed across the world, causing a huge uproar. Thus, some would attempt to nip the crisis in the bud, planning to eliminate him before the calamity star could disrupt the world, cruelly killing Lin Zhao Ren.

Master was the Zang Feng Zun Zhe of Yu Heng Sect, but he was still not the strongest cultivator in the world.

He had never heard the Earslap Hero mention Yu Heng Sect, which only showed how deeply he was troubled by the term "calamity star," to the point of nearly going mad, his spirit on the verge of collapse.

Time had passed, and things had changed; was there really no need to bring it up anymore?

"Junior brother? Junior brother??"

Jiang Bai Yu's attention was pulled back by the voice in his ear.

Lin Zhao Ren looked at him, "What were you thinking? I called you several times, and you didn't respond."

Jiang Bai Yu replied, "I was just thinking, what kind of big event would make the sect leader decide to open the Yuan Gu Secret Realm. I think it’s fine if the divine being's legacy falls into someone else's hands."

Lin Zhao Ren said, "If the legacy falls into someone else's hands, that is the worst-case scenario. Not all cultivators from various places are close to Yu Heng Sect or have goodwill towards us. So, junior brother, once we enter the secret realm, we must act together to avoid being scattered and picked off one by one. Don't be fooled by those who flatter Yu Heng Sect; if given the chance, they would not hesitate to eliminate the biggest competitor for the divine being's legacy."

He grasped Jiang Bai Yu's shoulders, speaking earnestly, "We do not yet know why the sect leader chose to open the Yuan Gu Secret Realm, but one thing is certain: he, Master, and the elders all hope that the legacy falls into the hands of our own people."

Jiang Bai Yu stared at him blankly and, almost unconsciously, asked, "Senior brother, if someone says you are a calamity star and that you will lead to suffering and bloodshed across the world, would you believe it?"

With a feeling he couldn't quite place, he asked again, "Would Master believe it? Would the sect… believe it?"

Lin Zhao Ren's expression turned strange, "Why are you suddenly asking such a weird question?"

Jiang Bai Yu insisted, "Just answer my question first."

Since he had asked, he was eager for an answer.

Lin Zhao Ren, puzzled, thought for a moment before responding, "No."

Jiang Bai Yu pressed, "Why not?"

Lin Zhao Ren countered, "Why would I harm the world?"

"My Master is the esteemed Zang Feng Zun Zhe of Yu Heng Sect, and I am his true disciple, raised like a son. Within the sect, I have my uncles, elders, and many brothers and sisters. Why would I abandon all of this to become a villain who harms the world and makes everyone despise me?"

Jiang Bai Yu said, "But what if many people believe it, and many people don't?"

Rumors can turn falsehoods into truths.

This is the fear of public opinion.

Lin Zhao Ren's expression was hard to describe, "If someone has the ability to slander me as a calamity star, why not just say that we, Yu Heng Sect, want to eliminate our enemies and unify the world? That would be more credible."

He spoke dismissively, "There’s no need to go to such lengths. Some people already believe deep down that we, Yu Heng Sect, have ulterior motives and are ambitious. Junior brother, if you hear such things in the future, don’t take them to heart. The sect is strong, and those who fear us can only spew sour words and make baseless assumptions."

"If the sect were not strong, how could it uphold its reputation, protect its disciples, and maintain its dignity?"

"Yu Heng Sect is known for its integrity, with few dirty dealings, but outside, there are all sorts of messy affairs. Once you see more of the world, you will understand."

Before the matter truly fell upon him, Lin Zhao Ren could hardly believe that anyone would be so bored as to spread rumors about him.

Those involved are often confused, while bystanders see clearly.

The world is unpredictable.

Jiang Bai Yu only knew the final outcome, completely unaware of the process. Even if he wanted to be alert, he didn't know who to guard against. He wanted to warn, but he had no idea about the ins and outs of the matter. A nonsensical remark would only be seen as a whimsical fantasy, just like Lin Zhao Ren at that moment.

You Ke Tai

Zang Feng Zun Zhe sat on the couch, his expression unclear, with the crystal ginseng soup steaming on the low table. He stared at the wisps of white steam rising from the bowl, his gaze dark.

After a while, he moved his fingers, and a screen appeared before him.

"Senior brother…" The other party was painfully tugging at their hair, their long, lustrous black hair in disarray, dark circles under their eyes, and an overall aura of exhaustion.

This was the little junior sister from Dong Ling, who had taken down one senior brother after another and was now being talked to by the sect leader.

Zang Feng Zun Zhe got straight to the point, "Is Zhao Er a calamity star?"

Dong Ling rolled her eyes, "How could that be? Zhao Er is blessed with deep fortune and good luck; he looks like a chosen one who will achieve great things in the future."

Zang Feng Zun Zhe replied calmly, "As for luck, it is something we cultivators can believe in, but we cannot fully trust it."