Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 346: Chapter 346 Agreeing to Help

Xi Jianwei’s wails were now even more harrowing than when he had been whipped. While this was partly due to the viciousness of Lin Lanxin’s Gu insects, it was also because he had already fallen into utter despair. The moment he saw Lin Lanxin use the Gu insects, Xi Jianwei understood that the ones tormenting Xiao Ruoli must have been planted by her as well!

The agony lasted for a full hour before it subsided. By then, Xi Jianwei had been tortured beyond recognition and lay on the ground, unable to move.

With no trace of pity in her eyes, Lin Lanxin sneered, ”This Gu insect activates every three days, becoming more vicious each time. When you can no longer bear it, your organs will rupture, and you will die in agony!”

Huan Yuehua also laughed coldly. ”You old fool, I’ll have you thrown into the death cells now. You can reflect on your actions in there. I will release you only when you hand over the Wordless Jade Bi.”

With that, Huan Yuehua ordered her disciples to drag Xi Jianwei away.

Xi Jianwei’s eyes were hollow. From beginning to end, he did not utter a single plea for mercy.

For decades, his faith had been dedicated to the Huanyue Sect. Xi Jianwei knew he could sacrifice his life for the sect without a second thought, yet he could neither understand nor accept this fate. But now, there was nothing he could do. He was like a walking corpse.

News that Xi Jianwei had been thrown into the death cells sent shockwaves through the Huanyue Sect.

As the chief alchemist, Xi Jianwei held an esteemed position in the Huanyue Sect. He was also approachable and had an excellent reputation among the disciples. But since the order came directly from the Sect Master, the disciples dared not voice their anger, though they felt it.

Only one person was indignant over his master’s plight: Xi Jianwei’s head disciple, Xi Yongsheng.

Xi Yongsheng was not only Xi Jianwei’s head disciple but also an orphan Xi Jianwei had adopted. In his heart, Xi Yongsheng had long regarded his master as a father.

After learning where Xi Jianwei was being held, Xi Yongsheng found an opportunity to sneak into the death cells for a secret meeting.

”Master! Master!”

When Xi Yongsheng reached the cell, he found his master staring blankly, dressed in tattered rags. His body was a mess of torn flesh and open wounds, and he did not even notice his disciple’s arrival. Seeing him in this state, Xi Yongsheng’s heart ached as he cautiously called out to his master.

Perhaps it was the familiar voice that slowly brought Xi Jianwei back to his senses. He stared at Xi Yongsheng for a long while before finally asking, ”Yongsheng?”

Holding back tears, Xi Yongsheng nodded. ”Master, I’ve come to rescue you!”

As he spoke, he moved to break open the cage, but his master stopped him.

”Don’t bother,” Xi Jianwei sighed. ”My body has been poisoned by the Sect Master’s wife. Even if I were to escape, I would inevitably succumb to the poison.”

”Master, you’re a seventh-rank Pill King,” Xi Yongsheng said, his heart aching. ”Is there really no way for you to cure this poison?”

Xi Jianwei shook his head with a bitter smile. ”It’s useless. The Sect Master’s wife used a Gu insect. Ordinary medical arts are completely ineffective against it.”

Xi Yongsheng frowned. It was the first time he had heard that the Sect Master’s wife could use Gu insects, but he knew now was not the time to investigate. He pressed on, ”Then, Master, is there no other way?”

Xi Jianwei shook his head, but then a light flickered in his eyes before dimming again. ”I know one person who can remove Gu insects... but I fear he will not be willing to help me.”

Hearing a glimmer of hope, Xi Yongsheng would not give up so easily and questioned him relentlessly.

”The owner of the Chen Yue Pavilion, Chen Qingye,” Xi Jianwei said helplessly. ”He once removed the Gu insects from the wife of Thunder Valley’s Sect Master. If he is willing to help, the Gu in my body can be easily dealt with! However... I’ve plotted against the Chen Yue Pavilion many times. They have no reason to help me.”

Xi Yongsheng’s expression firmed. ”As long as there is a sliver of hope, I will not give up. Master, rest assured. I will go find Chen Qingye now and beg him to help!”

”Very well,” Xi Jianwei sighed. ”If you are going, then your master has a few words of instruction for you...”

「Later that night.」

Outside the Chen Yue Pavilion, Xi Yongsheng cautiously knocked on the door.

Ye Qingchen was in his room studying the Pill Emperor’s Heart Sutra when an attendant reported a visitor from the Huanyue Sect, which made him pause.

The Chen Yue Pavilion and the Huanyue Sect are now like fire and water. What could someone from the Huanyue Sect want at a time like this?

Ye Qingchen instructed the attendant to show Xi Yongsheng to the guest hall. After freshening up, he went to meet him.

Upon seeing Ye Qingchen, Xi Yongsheng immediately fell to his knees, pleading through his tears, ”Mr. Chen! I beg you to save my master!”

Ye Qingchen helped Xi Yongsheng up and gestured for him to sit. ”Your master? Who is your master?”

Xi Yongsheng wiped the tears from his eyes and replied, ”Mr. Chen, my master is Xi Jianwei, the chief alchemist of the Huanyue Sect!”

”Xi Jianwei?”

Ye Qingchen looked at Xi Yongsheng impassively and asked, ”Tell me, what happened?”

Xi Yongsheng then laid out the entire story for Ye Qingchen, from beginning to end.

Ye Qingchen tapped his fingers on the table. He had kept his Dual Pupil Martial Soul active the entire time Xi Yongsheng was speaking, so he was certain that the young man was not lying.

Still, Ye Qingchen said indifferently, ”Even if everything you’ve said is true, I don’t seem to have any reason to save Xi Jianwei, do I?”

Xi Yongsheng had anticipated this response, so he replied without the slightest hesitation, ”Mr. Chen, please rest assured. We would not ask you to intervene for nothing. My master has obtained proof that Lin Lanxin planted the Gu in the wife of Thunder Valley’s Sect Master. Not only will he testify against Lin Lanxin, but he will also leave the Huanyue Sect and join the Chen Yue Pavilion!”

Admittedly, the offer was tempting.

If Lin Lanxin was exposed as the one who framed Xiao Ruoli, Thunder Valley would also move against the Huanyue Sect. That would give him a powerful ally.

Furthermore, if Xi Jianwei joined the Chen Yue Pavilion, it would be a devastating blow to the Huanyue Sect.

After all, Xi Jianwei, a seventh-rank Pill King, single-handedly propped up most of the Huanyue Sect’s Alchemy Pavilion. He was, for all intents and purposes, Huan Yuehua’s right-hand man.

Ye Qingchen had never imagined Huan Yuehua would do something so foolish as to move against one of the main pillars of her own sect.

With Xi Jianwei in the Chen Yue Pavilion, they could quickly dominate the entire elixir market, striking at the very foundation of the Huanyue Sect’s power.

This was a favor worth granting.