Chapter Ninety: The Third Senior Brother’s Past

After a long while, Han Zhifei finally exhaled slowly and said, "Third Senior Brother and I joined the sect years apart. I only heard about his situation back then, but I know it was very, very hard for him to trust anyone. Even with me… it took quite some time before he treated me kindly…" Han Zhifei closed his eyes. "But that traitor was always by his side, and Senior Brother trusted him, treated him well! That’s how it’s always been since I entered the sect…”

Zhang Ning knew that his Fourth Senior Brother was never eloquent, but hearing him speak so haltingly now, he realized just how deeply this matter had shaken him.

It was a long time before Han Zhifei opened his eyes again. After watching Zhang Ning for a while, he suddenly asked, "Junior Brother, do you know why Third Senior Brother’s name has never appeared on either the Mortal or the Earth Ranking?"

“…I don’t know.” Zhang Ning only knew that Han Zhifei himself had once been listed, but because he favored military formations and joint tactics, which didn’t align with the spirit of the rankings, he was eventually removed as it was impossible to accurately assess his personal strength. Now that Han Zhifei had reached the Martial Emperor level, the Earth Ranking was what concerned him. But why had Third Senior Brother "never" appeared on the Mortal Ranking? He was clearly outstanding.

When Zhang Ning heard that Han Zun topped the Mortal Ranking, he merely thought Han Zun was impressive, truly fitting the label of "chaotic evil" in the alignment tests, a future overlord. He hadn’t thought much more of it.

Han Zhifei said, "Because royals are not ranked."

This answer took Zhang Ning entirely by surprise. He exclaimed, "Third Senior Brother is royalty?"

Han Zhifei confirmed Zhang Ning’s suspicion, and as he continued, his words flowed more smoothly. Zhang Ning gradually learned that Fourth Senior Brother had, in his youth, been a puppet heir to the royal family. In a typical feudal dynasty, serving as a puppet was already stifling. In this high-martial world, it was even more terrifying—a single misstep could mean death at another’s whim!

So even when Chu Hanyu brought Zhuge Yi back, it was said that Third Senior Brother suffered from countless sleepless nights. Only after Chu Hanyu forged his life-bound divine weapon—the Heaven and Earth Compass, which allowed him to sense anything within a ten-mile radius—did he find some peace.

Thus, trust was the most precious thing for Zhuge Yi.

Later, Third Senior Brother took on a subordinate named Chen Zili, a man Zhuge Yi had pulled from the mud with his own hands. Chen Zili was an abandoned infant of unknown origin, adopted as a household servant by a wealthy family. Yet after following Third Senior Brother, he gained such trust that even Han Zhifei, Zhuge Yi’s own junior, was envious. No one could have guessed that the return Chen Zili would offer for this trust would be a blood-soaked betrayal.

It all began with rumors they heard outside about the Grand Heavenly Demon Sect and the Venerable of Myriad Phenomena. The rumors were detailed, claiming the Venerable of Myriad Phenomena incited other venerables to slaughter the demon tribes, pushing them to the brink of extinction, thus cursing their own fate and causing the early death of the eldest disciple.

Nowadays, as the world struggles against the great calamity, it’s said that the venerables’ quest for unrivaled power—ensuring none could stand beside them—was partly to blame. The rumors were absurd and far-fetched, yet they contained details only insiders could know. The circle of suspects was always narrow, but even then, Third Senior Brother refused to believe Chen Zili had betrayed him. The truth, however, was always the cruelest.

Unlike those who only half-guessed at the truth, Zhuge Yi, through a twist of fate, came to understand the full reality of the Azure Heaven Realm better than anyone below the level of Venerable. Yet even he needed trusted subordinates to carry out the schemes laid down by the venerables. Little did he know, Chen Zili would betray his trust so thoroughly. He refused to believe Zhuge Yi’s half-truths, instead concocting his own version of events, and when he betrayed Zhuge Yi, he used his personal charisma to take part of Zhuge Yi’s followers with him, leaving Zhuge Yi deeply wounded.

Zhang Ning could hardly imagine what his Senior Brother must have felt, his heart aching as if he could have borne those wounds in his stead.

Afterward, Chen Zili disappeared into a minor world with many resources and loyal followers. Zhuge Yi, upon recovering, reacted fiercely, even refusing Master Chu Hanyu’s help. He eschewed even the most effective medicines, letting his wounds slowly heal on their own. {Though the brutality of that time was nothing compared to the calamity now.}

Yet what was most terrifying was that Chen Zili knew Zhuge Yi so well. He knew Zhuge Yi would keep his belongings close as reminders. The jade pendant Chen Zili had offered as a token of loyalty held a fragment of a Martial Venerable’s remnant soul! After the venerables, especially Chu Hanyu, left the Azure Heaven Realm, the remnant soul took advantage of the void, leading to the current disaster.

Zhang Ning was silent for a long time before finally asking, “Senior Brother, do you know which minor world Chen Zili is in now?”

Han Zhifei squeezed Zhang Ning’s shoulder, then glanced around. Zhang Ning, puzzled, followed his Senior Brother’s gaze and realized, only then, that Han Zhifei had unknowingly brought him to… the rear mountain of the Grand Heavenly Demon Sect?

“He’s here,” Han Zhifei said coldly.

Zhang Ning observed the busy crowd for a long time before realizing this place was a massive operations center. Countless people were gathering intelligence about that minor world by every means possible. Although Zhuge Yi surely wanted to avenge himself personally, it was clear the Grand Heavenly Demon Sect would never let their prince risk himself in a solo battle. The sect’s full resources had been mobilized; even the formation leading to that minor world was set up here on the rear mountain. The message was clear: as soon as all was ready, they would storm in and take revenge.

Yet, to be fair, Chen Zili was a formidable opponent. The sect’s advance teams were shocked to find that he had gathered many native followers in that minor world, building his own power base! Upon investigation, they discovered that, whether by luck or premeditation, the time flow between that minor world and the Azure Heaven Realm was one hundred to one!

In other words, a single day in the Azure Heaven Realm meant three months had passed in that minor world! They had already wasted precious time misled by a series of inexplicable incidents. By the time they pinpointed Chen Zili’s location, who knew how long had passed—long enough for him to establish himself securely! Still, even if their adversary had grown from a lone traitor into a whole force, for the Grand Heavenly Demon Sect it merely meant more trouble, not a true challenge—the disparity in their levels was too great. Yet, this minor world had its own unique peculiarities!