84: Chapter 84 If you try to kill a snake but fail, you'll only get hurt in return.

As the voice fell, the atmosphere in the square suddenly grew heated.

Disciples from the Five Major Families emerged one after another from behind the stands, lining up in the open space beside the arena.

Each one possessed an extraordinary bearing, standing tall with heads held high, their eyes filled with an eager Battle Intent.

In the crowd, Qin Muchuan said to Su Fuguang, "Xiao Guang, do you think these fifteen added together are enough for Senior Brother to cut down with one sword?"

Su Fuguang glanced at him and said indifferently, "Aren't you just talking nonsense?"

Qin Muchuan grinned and looked back at the arena, saying no more.

Lu Jinghan stood in front of the two with his hands behind his back. His gaze swept casually over the fifteen people before withdrawing.

His attention began to focus elsewhere: the buildings around the square, the layout of the streets, the distribution of the crowd, and those hidden Auras lurking in the shadows.

This was a habit he had developed in his past life; no matter where he was, he would first observe the terrain and sense the surrounding Auras.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles.

This habit had saved his life countless times.

Just then, his gaze suddenly froze.

On the western side of the square, at the sparse edge of the crowd, stood two figures.

A man and a woman.

The man wore a cyan long robe, with a handsome face, sword-like eyebrows, and starry eyes; his Aura was long and steady.

The woman was dressed in white as pure as snow, with a delicate face and a Green Jade Flute in her hand, possessing a gentle temperament.

The two stood side by side, their eyes fixed on the arena as they conversed in low voices.

Lu Jinghan's pupils suddenly constricted—Xiao Yuan, Bai Yue.

These two names were like two red-hot branding irons, searing into his heart at the same time.

Memories of his past life surged again, and scenes he thought he had buried began to surface in his mind one by one.

The first meeting in the Purple Bamboo Forest, the five of them traveling together, their footprints covering the five regions of the Xuanhuang world.

He thought they were friends, Fellow Daoists who shared life and death.

But in that Immortal Secret Realm, when he trusted them the most—

Lu Jinghan took a deep breath, suppressing the surging killing intent in his heart.

According to the trajectory of his past life, they should have already left the Southern Wilds by now; it was impossible for them to appear in Xihai City.

In his past life, he had met Xiao Yuan and Bai Yue in the Purple Bamboo Forest, which was the starting point of their group of five.

Later, it was also Xiao Yuan who suggested they go to the Central Continent to gain experience together.

Only then did the five of them travel north from the Southern Wilds to step into the vast world of the Central Continent.

But in this life, the rules of the Purple Bamboo Forest had changed, the Nine Heavens Tower had appeared, and the Secret Realm had closed early.

Everything had deviated from its original path.

Xiao Yuan and Bai Yue appearing in Xihai City meant their route had also changed.

Regardless, in this life, many things were different.

"Senior Brother? Senior Brother?"

Qin Muchuan's voice sounded in his ear, carrying a hint of confusion.

"What are you looking at?"

Lu Jinghan withdrew his gaze, his expression returning to calm as he said indifferently, "Nothing."

Qin Muchuan looked toward where Lu Jinghan had just been staring, but he only saw a sea of heads and found nothing.

He scratched his head and didn't ask further.

On the arena, the first match had already begun.

Zhao Zhibai of the Zhao family versus Sun Yu of the Sun Family.

Zhao Zhibai didn't even draw his sword; relying solely on his palm techniques, he forced Sun Yu to retreat step by step. Within ten moves, Sun Yu was knocked off the arena.

A burst of cheering erupted in the square.

"This Zhao Zhibai is indeed powerful!"

"Sun Yu couldn't even take one of his palm strikes. The gap is just too large."

Qin Muchuan watched with great interest, occasionally offering a few comments.

Su Fuguang also watched seriously, his gaze lingering on Zhao Zhibai for a moment.

"This Zhao Zhibai's palm technique has some skill, but unfortunately, his cultivation is a bit lacking."

Lu Jinghan didn't speak. Although his gaze was on the arena, his thoughts had drifted elsewhere.

For Xiao Yuan and Bai Yue to appear in Xihai City at this time, it must be the will of heaven!

Lu Jinghan thought to himself, his gaze once again turning toward the west side of the square.

There, Xiao Yuan and Bai Yue still stood side by side.

Xiao Yuan had his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent, his gaze on the arena as if watching a play that had nothing to do with him.

Bai Yue stood beside him, occasionally turning her head to say a few words to him, a faint smile on her lips.

The atmosphere between them was relaxed and natural, exactly the same as in his past life.

Lu Jinghan withdrew his gaze and stopped looking.

The matches on the arena continued, with cheers rising wave after wave.

Zhao Zhibai fought three matches in a row and won all three, pushing the Zhao family's Aura to its Peak.

The spectators in the square discussed among themselves, saying that the champion of this year would surely be Zhao Zhibai, making the faces of the other families look rather unsightly.

But none of this had anything to do with Lu Jinghan.

Xiao Yuan, Bai Yue.

These two names were like a thorn buried deep in his heart.

He could let go of everything from his past life, but these two thorns, he could not.

However, Lu Jinghan knew he couldn't be impatient.

He knew Xiao Yuan too well; this man acted cautiously and never took risks lightly.

When the five of them traveled together in his past life, every time they encountered danger, Xiao Yuan was always the last to act, yet he could always deliver a fatal blow at the critical moment.

He had so many trump cards that even Lu Jinghan couldn't see through them all.

Furthermore, Xiao Yuan's Luck was extremely strong.

In the Secret Realms they explored together in his past life, the Opportunities Xiao Yuan obtained were always the best.

It was as if, in the dark, there was a hand favoring him.

To deal with such a person, one must never act rashly.

He had to ensure absolute success and deliver a certain kill in one blow.

Otherwise, failing to kill the snake would only lead to trouble.

—

On the western side of the square, Xiao Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze on the arena, his face calm as if the surrounding noise had nothing to do with him.

Bai Yue stood by his side, gently twirling the Green Jade Flute in her hand, her gaze also on the arena, but with a faint smile on her lips.

"This Zhao Zhibai's palm technique is somewhat interesting."

Bai Yue spoke in a low, clear voice.

"Unfortunately, he only cultivates the form and has not grasped the spirit."

Xiao Yuan nodded slightly but did not respond.

Bai Yue asked, "Xiao Yuan, do you think the second treasure land marked on that map is truly outside Xihai City?"

Xiao Yuan turned around, looked toward the west of the city, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke slowly.

"The map won't be wrong."

"That map was obtained from a hidden stone chamber in the Purple Bamboo Forest. Although it is damaged, the Restriction techniques on it are extremely ancient and definitely not a forgery."

Bai Yue nodded, a hint of anticipation flashing in her eyes.

"At the first treasure land, we each obtained two high-grade Medicinal Pills, and our cultivation broke through from the Golden Core Peak to the Early Nascent Soul Stage in one go. I wonder what Opportunities are hidden in that second treasure land."

Xiao Yuan did not answer immediately.

He reached into his robe and took out a yellowed map, about the size of a palm, with tattered edges and several locations in the Southern Wilds marked in ancient handwriting.

One of the locations had already been circled in cinnabar; it was the treasure land they had already explored.

Another location was three hundred miles west of Xihai City, marked with an ancient rune that he could not understand.