Chapter 510: Chapter 510

The situation within the Chaos Secret Realm has been unfolding exactly as Lin Fan planned.

The immortals were driven mad, obsessed with treasures.

If one stumbled upon an Immortal Treasure and failed to cherish it, surely they’d face divine retribution.

At the location of the Immortal Veins, six immortals had begun battling.

The mana overflowing from their struggle was absorbed by the Chaos Secret Realm, strengthening its vitality and spirit. Though the conversion was somewhat inefficient, one shouldn’t underestimate it—small amounts grew into something significant over time.

"Brother Lin, I think I understand your intentions now—this is absolutely ruthless. Do you think the secret realms we’ve entered in the past might also have been ?" Qin Yang asked.

Lin Fan and Xiang Fei turned to look at Qin Yang, their expressions solemn.

It seemed both complicated and intriguing.

"No, don’t think too much about it." Lin Fan immediately shook his head in denial. "You have to stay confident in life; how could there be so many Chaos Fragments? Those people aren’t nearly as lucky as me."

Pointing to the scene, Qin Yang said, "Brother Lin, look at this group—don’t they seem a bit arrogant? I think we should give them some fun, let them experience the bitterness of human suffering. What do you think?"

Lin Fan shifted his gaze to where Qin Yang was pointing.

The screen showed two people. Their cultivation was powerful, leaving ordinary immortals with no capacity to resist. Anyone who encountered them was swiftly driven away.

One of them carried an Immortal Sword on his back.

Lin Fan’s impression of sword-wielders always tied back to the Thief Sword Pavilion.

And, of course, the prodigy Mie Sheng.

Mie Sheng’s strength was undeniable, his attacks ferocious. Ever since he was defeated in battle, no one knew his whereabouts, not even within the Heavenly Secret Realm.

"Alright, from the looks of it, their friendship seems quite deep. Let’s test how strong their bond really is." Lin Fan thought about a saying—never test relationships lightly, for it can be devastating.

The sword-carrying man was named Zhou Tang. He practiced a Sword Dao Divine Ability renowned for its ferocious offensive strength and followed the path of the Sword Dao Heart. He was grateful that he hadn’t left Heaven and Earth City.

Prior to the secret realm’s emergence, he had planned to leave this place with his companion to explore somewhere else.

But due to certain circumstances...

They had temporarily stayed behind.

Unexpectedly, news of the secret realm reached them. Zhou Tang’s heart ignited with excitement. He had observed that none of the entrants were prodigies—only common immortals.

Were there prodigies present, he would’ve been keen for some competition, but their absence made this the ideal scenario.

"Brother Zhou, how do you think this secret realm came to be? Is it really as they say—a result of cosmic disruption?" asked Wang Hai, the other man.

The two had met while training in the Immortal Realm.

Zhou Tang had once saved Wang Hai’s life. Over time, their interactions deepened, and after a period of camaraderie, they decided to travel together, improving their cultivation along the way.

"It should be true. Heaven and Earth City isn’t small, and countless immortals come and go. If there were a secret realm here, someone would’ve discovered it earlier. For it to remain hidden until now, its sudden appearance likely does stem from spatial distortions." Zhou Tang pondered for a moment before replying.

Wang Hai said, "If this is a secret realm untouched by anyone, then it could be a great opportunity for us. I noticed many immortals heading in one direction earlier. Why don’t we take a different route? Competing with them for treasures isn’t wise."

Their strength was indeed formidable.

But if they faced a large number of immortals, their situation could turn dire—a battle they might not withstand.

Lin Fan manipulated the secret realm, listening to their conversation.

Indeed, these two were individuals with strategies in mind.

His secret realm was undeniably tantalizing for ordinary immortals.

But for prodigies, it fell rather short.

"Very well, let’s see just how deep your bond truly is." A smile curled on Lin Fan’s lips.

Xiang Fei noticed Lin Fan’s expression.

He instantly knew those two were in for tragedy.

In his heart, he silently mourned for them.

Hopefully, they’d be able to endure.

He’d been deeply pondering this secret realm. A treasure capable of transforming into a secret realm—it was simply too astonishing.

If he hadn’t witnessed it himself...

He wouldn’t have believed it.

Wang Hai and Zhou Tang arrived at a spot they believed to be extraordinary—surely a place holding immense treasures.

Based on their past experiences exploring secret realms...

Treasure-laden areas almost always carried significant risks.

"Be careful, this place seems dangerous to me." Zhou Tang scanned the area, his gaze settling on the upright steles surrounding them. He felt an inexplicable unease.

Wang Hai remarked, "These are blank steles, but the one in front seems different."

Though it was only ten or so steps away...

It took them a long time to reach it.

With every step they took, a subtle sense of dread settled deep in their hearts, as if danger might strike at any moment.

They stood before the stele.

Inscribed upon it were words, simple and clear.

The message was undeniable:

"I, the Immortal Venerable, have perished—betrayed by the one I trusted most. During my exploration of time and space, calculating the future, I foresaw the arrival of two individuals here."

"Between Wang Hai and Zhou Tang, one is destined to die in this place. Only one of you may inherit my Taoism. The choice lies in your hands."

After reading the stele’s contents...

The two stared at each other in disbelief.

A fervent glint flashed in Zhou Tang’s eyes. An Immortal Venerable’s inheritance—it hadn’t crossed his mind that such a significant legacy was hidden here. What shocked him even more was that the Immortal Venerable had predicted exactly who would arrive.

What a truly exalted power.

To calculate both past and future—such a feat was unimaginably terrifying.

Zhou Tang felt that fate had chosen him to inherit the Immortal Venerable’s Taoism.

"Brother Zhou, I feel there’s something off about this stele." Wang Hai, after contemplating for a moment, spoke up.

The Immortal Venerable’s legacy intrigued him greatly.

If they obtained this inheritance...

It would ensure a smoother path for them in the future.

But now, the words inscribed on this stele were ridiculously cruel. The message was stark—one of them must die.

It seemed as if it had been deliberately designed to sow discord.

"Brother Zhou, the stele’s warning doesn’t faze me. We’ve experienced countless dangers together and forged a deep bond."

"He may have predicted our arrival, but could he have foreseen the strength of our friendship?"

"Even if it’s the Immortal Venerable’s legacy, so what? I am unmoved. Everyone desires treasures, but fate—whether one is destined or not—should never sever the bond we share."

"What do you think, Brother Zhou?"

Wang Hai was indeed tempted by the Immortal Venerable’s inheritance.

But he couldn’t bring himself to harm his close companion for it—not even if life itself were at stake.

"Hahaha..." Zhou Tang burst into laughter. "Yes, Brother Wang is absolutely correct. While our power pales in comparison to the Immortal Venerable, we can still triumph over him in this regard. Such a tale would surely astonish the world."

"Hmm? Brother Zhou, what do you mean?" Wang Hai asked.

Zhou Tang replied, "An Immortal Venerable can predict the future, but could he foresee the outcome? He may have assumed we’d inevitably fight over his legacy. But how could he know the depths of our friendship?"

"Even if it’s the Immortal Venerable’s Taoism, it’s not something we covet."

"This means we’ve already won."

Wang Hai froze for a brief moment, then burst into laughter. "Brother Zhou makes a good point. Indeed, even an Immortal Venerable means little to us. He’s not worth paying any attention to."

"Brother Wang, let us leave this place." Zhou Tang said.

Wang Hai didn’t doubt Zhou Tang’s words. They had known each other for so long, surviving countless life-and-death scenarios together. He could entrust his life to Zhou Tang without hesitation.

He turned and began to leave.

Seeing Wang Hai turn his back, Zhou Tang’s eyes narrowed, and his expression subtly changed.

The sound of a blade piercing flesh.

Wang Hai’s body trembled. He widened his eyes in disbelief, slowly lowering his gaze to see a sword impaled through his chest. As he staggered forward, the blade scraped against his flesh and bone.

Clutching his chest, he raised a trembling finger, saying, "Brother Zhou, you..."

"I’m truly sorry, Brother Wang. The Immortal Venerable’s legacy...I can’t resist. If your death can fulfill my ambitions, I hope you’ll understand."

"After all, I once saved your life. You owe me a life, and now it carries even greater significance in repayment. Can you agree to that?"

"In the future, when I become an Immortal Venerable, I’ll always remember you. For you, granting someone the chance to become an Immortal Venerable is an unparalleled honor."

Zhou Tang couldn’t withstand the temptation of such a legacy.

It was the Immortal Venerable’s Taoism, after all.

Saving someone’s life before was one thing; sharing treasures was possible too.

But when the rewards reached a level beyond imagination, everything else faded into nothingness.

Family and friendships should never be betrayed.

But when the stakes became high enough, even they became negotiable.

"You..." Wang Hai clutched his bleeding chest as blood gushed out. He tried to heal the wound, but the embedded Sword Intent blocked his attempts.

The Sword Intent not only prevented recovery but actively worsened his condition.

Zhou Tang spoke in a calm tone, "I didn’t kill you with a single strike because I wanted to explain myself. I want you to understand that I truly have no choice—the temptation of the Immortal Venerable’s inheritance is just too great."

"I hope you can forgive me."

Wang Hai shouted in anguish, "I thought our bond could outweigh the lure of the Immortal Venerable’s Taoism. Turns out, I was wrong all along."

"Yes, you were overthinking it," Zhou Tang replied unflinchingly. He didn’t care if Wang Hai felt hurt—after all, the result wouldn’t change.

"Enough. Time to send you on your way."

As he finished speaking...

Zhou Tang’s expression turned cold. His Immortal Sword radiated mana and brilliance. In an instant, he lunged forward with the blade, aiming to sever Wang Hai’s head.

Wang Hai closed his eyes in despair.

He wasn’t Zhou Tang’s match, especially since he’d already been gravely injured by stealth.

More than that, his spirit had been utterly crushed.

If this was how it must be, then let him repay Zhou Tang’s earlier life-saving debt with his own life. Googlᴇ search novel fire.net

The anticipated pain never came. Could it be...

Could he still hold onto hope—perhaps Brother Zhou had come to his senses, remembering the strength of their bond?

Perhaps Zhou Tang’s heart softened...

Opening his eyes, Wang Hai saw what lay before him, and he realized he had been deluding himself all over again.