## Red Heart Traversing the Heavens: Chapter 68 – Speak Not, Move Not

To hear Zhu Dali speak of his ideals was a peculiar experience, especially for Jiang Wang.

The grand notions of “Beneath the blood moon, in the name of peace, traversing the dark night, gazing upon the dawn.”

And “Peace cannot be eternally enjoyed, a demon’s life often meets a dead end.”

These were merely concepts he had fabricated on the spot to bamboozle.

As for the so-called “Three Officials, Seven Mandarins, Nine Envoys,” it was a jumbled mess, a patchwork of organizational structures lacking any genuine substance.

He had indeed racked his brain to lend credibility to the non-existent “Path of Peace.” But at its core, it was all a circular argument centered around the word “Peace.”

He himself did not believe in those so-called grand ideals.

But Zhu Dali believed.

Zhu Dali believed in the existence of a genuine organization called the Path of Peace, believed in a truly great being titled the “Lord of the Path of Peace,” and believed in the ideal of “Peace under Heaven.”

This street ruffian, who had mingled within the Fruit Gathering, was no good sort. While he hadn’t committed heinous crimes, he was often found lording over the marketplace.

However, since encountering the Path of Peace, receiving the Divine Wind Seal of Peace, and accepting the ideals of the Path of Peace as described casually by Jiang Wang, he had seemingly developed a simple, sincere sentiment, as if he had found meaning in his demonic life… From then on, he was reborn.

Self-aggrandizement is an innate desire. Once Chai Asi achieved his ambition, he couldn’t wait to show off. He reveled in the crowds at the Fruit Gathering and stole the spotlight at the Martial Arts Competition.

Zhu Dali, who had similarly gained an extraordinary encounter, had always endured solitude. He remained at the dilapidated old tavern, engaged in mundane work, idly observing the muddled customers.

Only when the long night descended would he don his night-walking clothes, strap on his twin straight blades, and transform into the Ghost Envoy of Peace, eradicating wicked deities and bringing tranquility to the common folk.

He genuinely felt that he was pursuing a great cause.

When describing his ideals, there was a genuine sparkle in his undeniably ordinary eyes.

Words like “Peace under Heaven,” if uttered in the Old Ape Tavern, would undoubtedly invite a chorus of laughter.

If shouted on the streets of Cloudy City, everyone would likely think he was a fool.

But She Guyu did not laugh.

Neither did Jiang Wang in the mirror.

Xiong Sansi, the object of discussion among several Celestial Demons and the focus of almost all his competitors, was currently walking slowly along the tree-lined path in the Land of Divine霄. His eyes were alert, his aura solemn. In his hand, a narrow blade was held, its edge concealed to the side.

He and Yu Xin had made the most extensive and long-term preparations for the Land of Divine霄, and they also seemed to have received the most intense and rigorous “attention.”

They were the first to find the Divine霄 Secret Chamber, yet they did not gain any lead over their competitors. They had randomly chosen a tree-lined path, but the journey had been fraught with constant danger, every step perilous.

Like a group of hunters carrying heavy packs, they should have systematically completed their hunt. But finally, after traversing mountains and rivers, they had gradually exhausted their hunting gear.

“Rest for a bit, rest for a bit!” Yu Xin panted, waving his hand. “As long as we don’t keep moving forward, there won’t be any danger. Let me rest for a bit!”

His exquisite martial attire was in tatters, and his usually neat bun was disheveled.

The Land of Divine霄 was truly not a place ordinary demons could reach. If not for the extensive preparations made beforehand, and if not for Xiong Sansi’s repeated assistance… He couldn’t even imagine how many times he would have died on this journey.

If every path was this difficult, it was truly hard to imagine how many of the six teams that had entered this dense forest would ultimately succeed.

Xiong Sansi slowly glanced at Yu Xin. Seeing how severely he was panting, he also stopped.

But the moment he stopped.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

The visitors’ stillness seemed to trigger some mechanism. Dozens of vines shot out from the forest, as fast as lightning, piercing the darkness and instantly tying Yu Xin into a ball.

A wave of spiritual energy suddenly erupted around Xiong Sansi. Ripples spread out in circles, like a giant stone hitting water, stirring up enormous waves. And within these gradually solidifying ripples, a ray of dazzling blade light, like a white dragon穿過月亮, instantly streaked through the forest——

*Clatter! Clatter!*

The blade light was too stunning!

Hundreds of severed vines, heavily hitting the ground, emitted a clear sound. The remaining parts twisted and writhed, struggling like living creatures, even spurting blood.

The air grew increasingly cold, and the ground was gradually stained with crimson. The red color dyed the fallen leaves, turning yellow leaves into red. There were rustling sounds deep within the old forest, as if shadows were approaching, and a terrifying atmosphere was gradually gathering.

And the liberated Yu Xin’s face was already ashen.

In just that moment, more than half of the blood in his body had been sucked away. If Xiong Sansi had been a little slower, he might have become a dried corpse!

“It seems we can’t stop for a single step,” Xiong Sansi said in a muffled voice, moving his feet slightly to test the malicious intent of this tree-lined path.

Yu Xin regained his senses and took several deep breaths.

At this point, he dared not relax again. His Dao Yuan surged within his body, and a pair of silver-white feathered wings unfolded behind him… The silver feathers were like daggers, pointing diagonally towards the sky. He had already revealed his demonic form.

The biggest difference between demons and humans lies in their demonic forms. However, not all demons’ demonic forms are located in easily visible places, and not all demons are willing to reveal their demonic forms.

But the distinction between demon race and human race is never a problem. Because those with demonic forms have demonic energy, and demonic energy is fundamentally different from human energy.

The demonic form is the crown of the demon race, and even more so, the scepter of the demon race. It is the innate pháp ấn, and also the place where divine abilities are manifested.

Usually, the potential of a demon race can be seen from their demonic form.

Why did Yu Xin hold an extraordinary position in his clan, and why was he called “Little Yu Zhen”? It was because of this pair of beautiful feathered wings, which were strikingly similar to the demonic form of the legendary Great Ancestor Divine霄.

With the silver wings spread, electric light coiled around his body. The brilliance at this moment almost illuminated this dark tree-lined path.

“This place is not suitable to stay for long,” Yu Xin said with a serious tone as he moved through the forest with the electric light. “Brother Xiong, we must leave quickly.”

Xiong Sansi followed him silently, moving quickly.

The Little Yu Zhen with spread silver wings, having arrived in the Land of Divine霄, was like returning to his own home. He was confident and talkative: “There are a total of six paths in the forest, and the difficulty should be the same. The danger of any path is limited. Now that the danger has gathered in this section, the path ahead will be much safer. As long as we pass through quickly… Ah! Brother Xiong, save me!!!”

The moment Yu Xin soared through the air with electric light, the trees on both sides suddenly shook. Amidst the rustling sound, yellow leaves densely fluttered down.

There was an unspoken unwillingness in the unseen world.

Living beings are unwilling to die, and trees in autumn are unwilling to wither.

Thus, a certain terrifying power emerged.

Death is the greatest terror, and the power to fight against death is the strongest instinct. This power was born in the Land of Divine Stomach. The edges of those originally withered fallen leaves actually shone with a pale white sharpness.

Flapping leaves turned into tempered steel.

In an instant, the flying leaves were like knives, cutting through the air with a mysterious trajectory, bringing with them a whistling sound.

In front of Yu Xin were thousands, tens of thousands of densely packed flying leaf blades. Each took on a different posture, each revealing its killing intent.

The dignified Little Yu Zhen of Cloudy City, silent when not in action, would encounter trouble when he acted. Immobile when not moving, his silver-white feathered wings only moved once, and his body was already surrounded by blades!

The threat of death descended upon him once again.

Yu Xin was greatly alarmed. Electric light swirled around his body, and he flipped out a bright silver spear in his hand, dancing with spear light points, leaving no openings around his body. But with each strike received, he retreated, and under the continuous impact of the flying leaf blades, he was forced step by step to the ground.

Fortunately, Xiong Sansi had already arrived. Demonic energy surged and filled the forest. He stood in front of Yu Xin, his back like a mountain.

Amidst the rolling black robe, the narrow and sharp blade in his hand emitted a solemn sharp sound.

With each sound, a large area of the flying leaf blades covering the surroundings would be cleared away. It was clearly a blade cry, but it whistled like a梵音.

Subduing all evil, preventing evil from encroaching.

It said—

“That! Held! Ignorance! Can! Suppress! Mountains! And! Seas!”

If Yang Yu were here, he would be able to recognize this ancient difficult mountain secret true word. This is the seventh of the eight phrases of the secret true word, a true word to subdue external paths.

Xiong Sansi did not know where he had learned it, but he incorporated the true word into his blade, unleashing such terrifying power.

After eight blade cries, the area around Yu Xin was empty. The “danger” had been eliminated, and the possibility of being dismembered by random blades had been wiped away in advance.

He was still shaken and looked left and right, feeling that nowhere was safe and everywhere was dangerous. On this broken path, stopping was not an option, walking fast was not an option, and walking slow was also a step into a pitfall. He also had to worry about his inheritance being seized by other teams first.

How could the dignified Little Yu Zhen be so distressed in his own home?

What was that saying among the human race? When Heaven is about to bestow a great task upon someone, it will first labor their… What was it? And then make them suffer… It should be sweet after suffering!

Yu Xin had a sudden inspiration and soared high with a flap of his wings: “Brother Xiong, let’s go from the sky!”

Xiong Sansi was unable to stop him and followed him with a sullen expression.

The two demons did not fly far from the forest, accelerating forward. Above them was the high sky, below was the sea of forest. Looking around, the field of vision was already very wide, but they could not see any other paths, nor could they see the end of the forest sea.

Only when looking down could they see the winding path they had laboriously walked. But they could not see where it began, nor could they see its end clearly. However, flying above, following this faintly visible small path through the forest leaves, they did not worry about getting lost.

“I finally understand! Divine霄, Divine霄. The inheritance of Great Ancestor Yu Zhen, shouldn’t it be obtained in the sky?” Yu Xin stretched his feathered wings and drew a beautiful arc in the air. Compared to Xiong Sansi’s caution, he was much more unrestrained.

In the boundless sky, he felt a long-lost sense of freedom, and his tone was also relaxed: “There are no trees or leaves in the sky, and vines can’t climb up. There won’t be any more ghostly things, right?…”

“Huh.” He frowned. “Why is it raining straw in the sky?”

Xiong Sansi solemnly looked up and saw strands of withered yellow straw abruptly appearing in the high sky, drifting down. This scene was quite bizarre. How could there be straw in the high sky? Where did it come from?

“Against the Heavens, Evil God”

Yu Xin’s tone also became cautious, pondering: “These straws won’t turn into monsters, will they?”

Before he finished speaking.

Those withered yellow straws suddenly began to move. It was as if an invisible hand was manipulating them, weaving a… life that was not tolerated by the world.

The reason it was called life was because within the paths where the straw moved, there was vitality blooming.

Why was it said to be not tolerated by the world?

Because during the weaving process of the straw, the sound of mournful ghost cries echoed in the air. The heavens grieved and the ghosts wept, not tolerated by the world.

The ghost cries that sounded out of nowhere brought a fierce feeling, but also seemed to催生了 something.

One by one, sinister straw figures appeared.

They were straw figures, not straw demons, because they had human energy, not demonic energy.

“Do not eat my grains, let those evil birds not approach.

Straw figures, straw figures.

Wearing sackcloth, tied with colorful ribbons.

Without face, without voice.

Speak not, move not!”

Dense straw figures fell like rain, and the white clouds seemed to be covered with a yellow haze.

The fluttering colorful ribbons were like battle flags, and the stitched eyes rolled around. Their dry and thin yellow hands were surrounded by a layer of incantations, and they each held weapons in their palms.

Some had swords made of thatch, some had knives made of saw grass, some had spears made of thorny grass, and some had whips made of vine grass.

All had extraordinary martial arts, and they even formed a military formation, falling one after another, charging towards the two demons in the air!

Yu Xin gripped his long spear, his expression vigilant: “These straw monsters wouldn’t possibly…”

Xiong Sansi slapped him to the ground: “Shut up!”

Turning around, he charged straight up, his blade light piercing the sky. Thus, he battled these straw monsters in the high sky.

What a fierce battle!

Straw flew all over the sky, and the blade light was like a white rainbow.

Yu Xin fell several feet, just avoiding the encirclement of several teams of straw figures. He reversed his silver spear, flapped his feathered wings again, and also charged into the sky.

Blade energy and spear light crisscrossed the sky.

This bloody battle lasted for two full hours.

At a certain moment, Xiong Sansi, who had just broken through three military formations, was suddenly attacked by a straw figure! A saw-toothed knife flashing with cold light slashed past him at an angle. Xiong Sansi bent his body back, narrowly avoiding it.

But his mask was still shattered. Two pieces of the broken mask fell to the ground, and his face, like ravines and hills, was no longer covered.

Yu Xin’s figure, dancing with the spear, paused for a moment.

After ten years of acquaintance, this was the first time he had seen Xiong Sansi’s face.

What a terrifying face it was?

His face was covered with dense knife wounds. The turned-up flesh had formed scars, like ridges in a field. His entire face had no intact skin, making it impossible to see his original appearance.

Branded-face demon, tattooed-face demon.

This was the origin of the “Silent Face.”

Even criminals were only branded with one character.

What crime did Xiong Sansi commit to be reduced to this state?

An unpleasant voice ripped through his ears—”I’m not feeling refreshed yet!”

He simply tore off the black robe wrapping his body, revealing his lithe waist and ape-like physique! Xiong Sansi brandished his narrow blade, resembling a free hawk even more than Yu Xin, and charged back into the sky without any hesitation.

Yu Xin, with electric light circling around him, soared high, facing the biting wind.

Ten years had passed, and he realized he still did not understand Xiong Sansi.

“What do you say Xiong Sansi was like back then?”

Zhu Lanruo walked slowly, holding a zither in her arms.

The dark forest also brightened due to this graceful figure.

“There’s no back then? Everyone who knew him back then is dead,” Zhu Zheng said from the side.

Zhu Lanruo seemed to be deep in thought: “There are more than just one or two demons with such origins in Purple Bristle Hill.”

Zhu Zheng also became alert: “Are you saying…?”

Zhu Lanruo said decisively: “Tiger Taisui must be plotting something!”

“The Heavenly Venerable’s schemes are not something we can interfere with. And Heavenly Spider Maiden is still recovering from serious injuries…”

“Brother, why belittle yourself? Although this is a game of chess players, at this moment we are fighting on the chessboard. The victory or defeat of the pieces can sometimes determine the outcome of the game,” Zhu Lanruo gently plucked the strings with her jade fingers, resolving the hidden danger by the roadside invisibly, and said slowly, “To put it another way, although we are pieces in the game, we are also soldiers who have crossed the river and cannot retreat. But if we cannot fathom the thoughts of the chess players… being swept off the board is only a matter of time.”

Zhu Zheng nodded, then remembered something, “You said that Chai Asi wouldn’t also be related to Purple Bristle Hill?”

“Not necessarily,” Zhu Lanruo shook her head. “Don’t forget, earlier tonight, he went to see Deer Qilang. Don’t think they seem to be at odds. Whether it’s real or fake, who can say for sure?”

“That’s true,” Zhu Zheng agreed. “Demonic hearts are treacherous. It really remains to be seen who is with whom.”

“Then what about you?”

“Hmm?” Zhu Zheng looked up and saw those clear, bright eyes, like a tranquil lake, gently illuminating him.

After a series of fleeting transformations, only three faces remained, gradually becoming clear, each one silent and still.

They were all fellow travelers, all in this mountain.

He saw blood color swirling in She Guyu’s pupils; a shadow hidden behind Chai Asi, with an unclear outline within the shadow; Yu Xin’s handsome face glowing with a jade color, as if a heavenly god.

“Who are you with?”

He heard Zhu Lanruo’s voice ask.