Simultaneously traversing: the pinnacle of all realms

Lu Ze helped Da Ben back to the east wing. As soon as Da Ben entered, he slumped into a chair, still cursing: "That pig Wu Jie, he looks fat and big-eared, but he does have some real skills... Hiss—" He clutched his chest, grimacing and gasping for breath.

"Don't talk." Lu Ze pressed him down on the couch, turned around and poured a bowl of water from the table and handed it to him. "The internal energy of the Toad Style has injured your lungs and internal organs. You need to rest for a few days."

Da Ben took the bowl, gulped down a big mouthful, wiped his mouth, and suddenly chuckled: "But that Zhu Wujie didn't get away with it either. Didn't you see how he ended up? He was rolling around on the ground like a toad that had lost its tendons."

Lu Ze didn't laugh. He leaned against the door frame, his fingers unconsciously tapping the hilt of his knife.

Divine Pill.

He knew about this stuff—it was a drug used by the Black Tiger of the Demonic Cult to control his subordinates, after all, such a ruthless person never trusted anyone.

Those who take the medicine will suffer excruciating pain if they do not take the antidote within seven days. Zhu Wujie and the other leaders of the Demonic Sect have probably all taken the Immortal Pill; he knows this very well. But he didn't expect the effects to kick in so conveniently, right when Zhu Wujie was unleashing his ultimate attack.

Coincidence? Or was someone sabotaging things behind the scenes?

"Brother Da Ben," Lu Ze suddenly spoke up, "when you were fighting Zhu Wujie on stage, did you feel like something was off?"

Da Ben paused for a moment, tilted his head, and thought for a moment: "Something's not right? Does that bastard's use of a hidden weapon count?"

"Not this." Lu Ze shook his head. "I mean—never mind."

He had a vague suspicion. If this suspicion was true, then there was someone else in the Jade Toad Palace secretly orchestrating everything.

—A person wearing a guardian robe and holding a blue-light sword.

"You rest first." Lu Ze stood up. "I'll go find Miss Purple Rabbit and get some medicine for my wounds."

"Hey, wait a minute—" Da Ben took out a wine gourd from his pocket and shook it. There was hardly any wine left inside. "Bring another gourd back for my brother."

Lu Ze glanced at him, said nothing, picked up the wine gourd, turned and went out.

The corridor outside the east wing was winding and secluded, and the Jade Toad Palace was built against the mountain. Lu Ze walked along the stone path, and the clouds and mist swirled among the mountains, shrouding the distant pavilions in a hazy mist.

-

If his guess is correct, this person is none other than Jump Jump, the master of the Azure Light Sword, one of the Seven Swords.

Having infiltrated the evil cult for ten years, walking a tightrope and maneuvering in the lion's den, the timing of the onset of the effects of the drug on Pig Wujie was very likely due to his intervention.

For example, postpone the delivery of the antidote.

-

The pharmacy was located on the west side of Jade Toad Palace. It was a small but extremely tidy room. Purple Rabbit was squatting in front of the medicine cabinet, rummaging through something. Hearing footsteps, she looked up, saw Lu Ze, stood up, and bowed.

"Young Master Lu, how is the Great Ben's injury?"

"He needs to rest." Lu Ze handed over the wine gourd. "He also asked me to fetch him a pot of wine."

Zi Tu took the gourd of wine, a slight smile playing on her lips, but she quickly regained her calm expression. "I'll have someone send some medicine to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. As for the wine—" she placed the gourd on the table, "the Palace Master has ordered that the injured must not drink alcohol."

Lu Ze nodded without saying anything more.

The two were silent for a while. Purple Rabbit turned around, took out several packets of medicine from the medicine cabinet, tied them with a thin string, and handed them to Deer Ze.

"This is for internal use, taken with warm water. This is for external application, crush it and apply it to the chest; it should heal in three days."

Lu Ze took the medicine packet, hesitated for a moment, and asked in a low voice, "How is Palace Mistress Blue Rabbit doing?"

Purple Rabbit's hand paused slightly.

"The Palace Mistress is waiting for everyone to decide the winner," she said softly.

"That pig has no restraint..." Lu Ze carefully chose his words, "He won't wait forever."

"I know." Purple Rabbit raised her head, a hint of bitterness in her eyes.

Lu Ze tucked the medicine packet into his pocket, turned to leave, but suddenly stopped.

"Purple Rabbit, do you remember what I asked you to do yesterday?"

"……Remember."

"That's good." Lu Ze didn't turn around.

Purple Rabbit stood in the pharmacy, watching the figure disappear at the end of the corridor.

When Lu Ze returned to the east wing, Da Ben was already asleep on the couch, snoring loudly. He placed the medicine packet on the table and checked Da Ben's pulse again—it was relatively stable. Although the internal energy of the Toad Style was fierce, Da Ben had a strong constitution and would recover in a few days.

But I'm afraid I won't have time.

Regardless of whether the pigs suffer from withdrawal symptoms due to lack of medication, they will not give up easily after suffering a defeat.

Without Zhu Wujie's suppression, Niu Xuanfeng, the third leader of the Demonic Sect, will most likely take the opportunity during this period to search the palace and find the whereabouts of Hongmao and Yuqilin.

What can he do?

Lu Ze wanted to tell Lan Tu and Zi Tu about the future directly, but he was afraid to rashly change the plot—because he was unsure whether the result of the change would be better or worse than before.

But he can't do nothing.

Lu Ze opened his eyes and looked at the scenery outside the window.

He recalled the ending of Purple Rabbit in the original story. That purple figure who broke through the encirclement in an empty sedan chair, that resolute figure who perished together with the enemy during the siege of the Demonic Sect. She knew she would die, but she still went.

Because she felt it was something she should do.

"Bullshit," Lu Ze muttered under his breath.

He stood up, hung the deer-slaying knife on his waist, and pushed open the door to go out.

Sunlight shone on the glazed tiles of the Jade Toad Palace, creating a golden glow. In the distance, along the mountain path, the figures of several members of the Demonic Cult could be vaguely seen moving about, as if they were patrolling or monitoring.

Lu Ze narrowed his eyes and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

He knew that today would not be peaceful.

That brute Niu Xuanfeng is probably already at his wit's end.

He walked back along the corridor, turned a corner, and suddenly bumped into someone.

The man was tall and burly, with a face full of scars and wide, bulging eyes like copper bells. He was carrying two iron axes. When he saw Lu Ze, he was taken aback at first, then grinned.

"Hey, isn't this the antlered kid from yesterday?"

Lu Ze stopped and placed his hand on the hilt of his knife.

Bull Whirlwind.

They came so fast.

Niu Xuanfeng raised his hand and patted Lu Ze on the shoulder, whether he didn't see Lu Ze's hand holding the knife or didn't care.

"How's my buddy Daben doing now? I think that guy Zhu Wujie got a pretty good beating, and the drug's taking effect right away... well, anyway, it's really satisfying, hahahaha."

But the next second, Niu Xuanfeng's voice disappeared.

"Hmm? Master Niu, aren't you going to introduce him?"

Behind Niu Xuanfeng, a monkey-headed man in a dark green robe stepped out. He was tall and slender, with a thin face, narrow and sharp eyes, and a faint scar on his forehead. He smiled slightly when he saw Lu Ze.

His voice was unhurried, with an unfathomable gentleness, "I am Tiaotiao, a protector of the Demonic Sect."

His back was taut and straight.

Lu Ze looked into his eyes.

Those eyes were smiling, but beneath the smile lay something very deep, like a bottomless lake.

"Guardian." Lu Ze clasped his hands in greeting, and out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a jade pendant hanging at his waist—it was blue and carved with an eagle with outstretched wings.