On the banks of the Longquan River, flames burned fiercely, raging madly at the Hirata Estate. Fighting, killing, and screams wove together a human tragedy!
Although Bihua had seen this scene before through the secret realm crystal, experiencing it firsthand was entirely different. The former was mere observation, while the latter immersed her in the chaos.
Light, sound, touch, smell, and taste all created a vivid atmosphere and conveyed a sense of reality.
Bihua sighed, "How can other Underground Cities compare to a secret realm like this?"
She had been on adventures for nearly ten years and had seen quite a few Underground Cities. Tianyun City, while not one in a million, was certainly a first-class Underground City, one in ten thousand.
Currently, Tianyun City had four main secret realms: the Death Maze, Tower of Blasphemy, Valley of Heroes, and Hero's Tomb. Frankly, the quality of these four secret realms was excellent, especially Hero's Tomb, which allowed Adventurers to learn about the legendary stories of ancient heroes by investigating different tombs.
Tianyun City updated irregularly, continuously adding new hero stories, and Adventurers were quite fond of this secret realm. However, after experiencing the deeply immersive role-playing in Miracle City, Bihua now felt that the narrative style of Hero's Tomb was too old-fashioned and lacked immersion.
Unable to integrate into the story, she felt like just an outsider—an investigator. The most impressive aspect of Miracle City was that the character materials it provided were perfectly integrated with the world. Every character and detail in this realm was highly self-consistent, yet full of unexpected surprises and innovations.
Bihua glanced at the prosthetic arm on her left side. "This isn't entirely a memory!"
She realized she was currently in the Hirata Estate three years ago. It wasn't just a memory recall, but more like a special kind of time travel. This experience was truly astonishing.
"Go, Team Leader! Whether we can clear this side quest today depends on the great Bihua!"
Wind in Sleep, Lonely Swordsman, Forgotten River Wanderer, and several other Adventurers gathered to watch the battle unfold in front of the crystal.
Although Time Traveler was the discoverer of the hidden plot, he didn't have much energy left, and his skills were truly not good enough. He would definitely not be able to investigate the final result today.
Bihua was entrusted with high hopes by the Adventurers!
She said without hesitation, "Don't worry, I will definitely clear this place today. Just watch how I make a scene!"
The Hirata Estate was quite large, and time was precious, so they had to act immediately!
Bihua's operational level was indeed several notches higher. After entering the outer residential area using the prosthetic arm, she eliminated several waves of patrolling bandits with almost no setbacks, taking only two or three moves.
She commented, "The strength of these bandits is mediocre—mostly at the Tier 1 Two Star level, with a few reaching Tier 1 Three Stars. As long as the number appearing at one time doesn't exceed seven, under my preemptive strike, they pose no threat!"
A series of quick and decisive attacks successfully yielded several important items, including the Flame Vent and Shinobi Axe.
"Good stuff!" Bihua exclaimed excitedly. "These are Shinobi Tools that can modify the prosthetic arm, giving it more mechanical abilities and enhancing combat effectiveness!"
"For example, the Flame Vent is equivalent to a small flamethrower. I feel it will be very convenient to use against the Red Oni!"
Bihua explained the tactics and important item information to everyone. The Adventurers outside listened carefully, with Nancilia even taking a small notebook to draw a map and mark the locations of the small soldiers and items. This was all highly valuable information!
Not long after, they reached the entrance of the main house.
Time Traveler had been stuck here. An elite enemy, Serpent Heavy Hide, was present in this area. It would take at least ten or twelve attempts for an average person to defeat him!
If it was the first time facing Serpent Heavy Hide, Bihua would certainly not have been confident about passing in one go. This enemy was indeed quite skilled, but having seen the battle beforehand and having sufficient understanding of his moves, she now had at least a 70% chance of winning.
"There are two difficulties in this battle! First, Serpent Heavy Hide is tough and skilled, making him quite difficult to deal with. Second, as the bandit leader, Serpent Heavy Hide is surrounded by many miscellaneous soldiers. If they cannot be cleared in time, even with high skill, it is impossible to win."
They needed to clear the miscellaneous soldiers first!
Although she had memorized their positions beforehand, she didn't act rashly. Using the rockeries and woods as cover, she carefully lurked and waited for the right moment, then quickly dispatched seven or eight enemies.
"Who's there?"
Serpent Heavy Hide had been drinking. Only now did he discover that his subordinates were all dead.
He was furious and locked onto the intruding ninja. "You are the Divine Child's loyal dog..."
Bihua didn't wait for him to finish speaking and immediately rushed forward to attack.
Clang, clang, clang!
They clashed several times, and sparks flew.
Bihua fought steadily. Each strike consumed Serpent Heavy Hide's posture just right. Although he had some unblockable attacks, such as large-scale poison spray and sumo grappling techniques, Bihua was mentally prepared. Coupled with Wolf's strong danger prediction, she could always resolve them with ease.
Lonely Swordsman said admiringly, "As expected of someone who fought fiercely with Ashina Genichiro for over thirty matches; the Team Leader's compatibility with Wolf has almost reached its limit!"
Wind in Sleep remarked, "So Serpent Heavy Hide is only this much; his fighting style is too clumsy!"
After a few rounds, it was clear that Serpent Heavy Hide was at a disadvantage. His rough and tough skin was covered in sword marks.
"Damn it!" he suddenly picked up his gourd, took a few big gulps, and then sprayed the liquor onto his blade, letting out a ferocious low growl. "You can't beat me, and you can't save the Divine Child. You don't even know who you're facing... Just accept your fate!"
"Accept your head!"
The two clashed several more times. Bihua suddenly found something was wrong; half of her body felt numb, and her reactions became inexplicably sluggish.
"The blade is poisoned..."
His action of spraying alcohol just now was actually to poison his blade. She hadn't seen this move before, so she was completely unprepared. During the clashes, the poison liquid on the blade splashed onto her body, causing her to be poisoned.
"Hahaha, the Divine Child's loyal dog, how are you going to fight me now?"
Serpent Heavy Hide became arrogant and launched another furious offensive. Although Bihua was caught off guard by the opponent's trick, she didn't panic. Even if her speed and strength were inferior to the enemy's, and even if most of his moves were unblockable, she still had ways to counter them.
She had fought Ashina Genichiro over thirty times and adapted to fighting in extreme conditions. Even in a situation that would be fatal for other Adventurers, she had the ability to continue contending.
After several rounds, Serpent Heavy Hide failed to defeat her. Bihua felt her body gradually returning to normal. This poison that numbed her body took effect quickly but did not last long, and the initiative was slowly returning to her hands.
"Damn it!"
Serpent Heavy Hide attempted to use the same trick again to poison his blade.
How could Bihua give him that chance? She immediately switched from defense to offense and slashed wildly!
Clang, clang, clang!
Serpent Heavy Hide's strength was exhausted. Unable to maintain his posture, he revealed an opening.
"Die!"
Bihua felt a red glow appear in his chest, and with all her strength, she propelled Kusabimaru, stabbing it fiercely. This time, it successfully pierced through his skin and flesh, going straight through his heart.
With a twist and a pull, blood gushed out like a fountain, spraying several meters away.
Serpent Heavy Hide fell down weakly, his eyes wide open, unable to close in death.
The Adventurers couldn't help but exclaim in admiration at this move:
"Killed the elite enemy on the first try!"
"A master is a master!"
"I have to admit it!"
Bihua was also very satisfied. This battle was quite dangerous and extremely difficult. She believed that besides White Crane Hermit, no other Adventurer in Miracle City could have done better.
"A small character is not worth wasting time on!"
After showing off a bit, she immediately explored the main house area.
She soon found several important characters in this area. The first was Father Owl, who adopted Wolf. This old man named Owl appeared in the center of a courtyard ablaze on all sides. He had multiple fatal wounds and was on the verge of death, leaning against a large rock.
"Father Owl!"
"It's you..."
Owl's breath was faint at this moment.
"I was too careless this time... It seems I am indeed too old!"
"Don't waste your strength; there's no cure for such injuries..."
Owl used all his strength to take out a key and threw it on the ground: "This is the key to the secret Buddhist hall... The Divine Child is there..."
A clue about the Divine Child!
Bihua was invigorated. "Wolf, please remember the ninja's precepts... Your master is above all else!"
After speaking, he lost consciousness.
"Father Owl!"
Bihua quickly checked. Owl had already died, his life signs gone.
For a moment, she could feel a faint sadness emanating from the body she was controlling.
Other Adventurers were also moved by this.
"What's going on? Our Father Owl just died like that?"
"This is the adoptive father who raised Wolf for twenty years. In his final moments, he was still teaching Wolf to uphold the ninja's precepts and mission!"
"He looks fierce on the outside, but it seems he was a respectable old man!"
"Yeah, unlike that scumbag Weiming Genichiro, who has no bottom line or honor, he's just a despicable villain!"
Although Owl was usually harsh, cold, and unapproachable, he was, after all, the adoptive father who had raised Wolf for twenty years. Not only did he give his most outstanding son to the Divine Child, but he also died protecting the Hirata family. He was truly a loyal minister!
With his death, many Adventurers felt sadness.
Bihua had no time for sentimentality. She put away the key and immediately took action.
She soon met Ichi and his mother inside the main house, which had not been completely burned down.
Ichi's old mother was the one who personally gave the Guardian Bell to Wolf three years later, and her identity was a servant of the Hirata family. Now, she had gone mad due to seeing terrifying illusions and the immense shock.
Ichi was a retainer of the Hirata family. He was seriously injured and lay near the entrance to the secret Buddhist hall.
He recognized Bihua: "You are... the Divine Child's ninja..."
Can still communicate!
Bihua asked, "What exactly happened here? Why did it turn out like this?"
Ichi said with difficulty, "I advise you not to go any further; that illusion technique is too terrifying..."
Illusion technique?
What kind of illusion technique?
Bihua was puzzled but said firmly, "As the Divine Child's ninja, protecting the young master is my mission. Please tell me what happened!"
Ichi said with difficulty, "If you insist, I still have some Phantom Seeds that can dispel illusion techniques... I entrust everything to you!"
After speaking, this loyal retainer also fainted.
Ichi did not die, but he was crippled by this battle. Three years later, he and his old mother lived together in a dilapidated abandoned house, their living situation extremely miserable.
Even so, the mother and son still cared about the Divine Child.
At the twilight of the old woman's life, when she was delirious and nearing her end, the Adventurer obtained the Guardian Bell from her hand and thus came to this place.
This loyalty moved the Adventurers.
"What exactly is Kuro's ability..."
Nancilia murmured, "Why are there so many loyal and righteous people who would risk their lives to protect him, while villains like Ashina Genichiro resort to any means to get him?"
Wind in Sleep also said with emotion, "That's no longer important. We cannot disappoint the hopes of so many people. No matter how difficult it is, we must save the Divine Child!"
Cat Meow Meow shouted, "Go, great Bihua, you must defeat the mastermind!"
"Yes, defeat the mastermind and avenge our Father Owl!"
Bihua searched Ichi's body and found some strange seeds.
**[Phantom Seed]**, Secret Realm Item... Description: This is a type of Corydalis seed that makes a loud sound when crushed and can be used to dispel the effects of illusion techniques.
"Is this the Phantom Seed that Ichi mentioned? It turns out to be a special item that can counter illusion techniques!"
She immediately entered the secret passage. When she pushed open a wooden door at the end, the scene she saw made her freeze.
This was the secret Buddhist hall of the Hirata family. The space was rectangular, with four thick supporting pillars. Rows and rows of Buddha statues lined the four walls. These seemingly ancient stone carvings were not only numerous, numbering in the hundreds or thousands, but also lifelike and varied in shape.
In front of the Buddhist hall stood a huge gilded Buddha statue, fifteen meters tall, magnificent and solemn, but half of its body was destroyed, revealing a hollow abdomen.
Upon entering, Bihua suddenly felt a sense of oppression from being overlooked by all the gods and Buddhas from all directions.
The wooden roof of the Buddhist hall had been affected by the fire, turning into a fiercely burning inverted sea of flames, surging and boiling with waves, with sparks and broken wood constantly falling, ultimately forming a closed stage with strong Eastern aesthetics!
Although the Adventurers didn't understand what Eastern aesthetics was, they could all feel the atmosphere and some kind of metaphor conveyed by the scene.
"Divine Child!"
A familiar figure appeared in the center of the Buddhist hall.
This person was dressed in plain clothes, with blank eyes. It was the young master Kuro, who looked younger and more naive at this time.
Kuro stumbled forward, muttering, "Father... Mother... Lady Butterfly... Where did everyone go?"
This is... under an illusion!
Bihua made this judgment based on Wolf's memory.
She quickly stepped forward to support him and woke him up using ninja techniques.
At this moment, an old woman's voice came from the Buddhist hall: "It's been a long time... Owl's son..."
Bihua protected Kuro behind her. Although she had never seen the person in front of her, she had already found the answer in Wolf's memory.
"So it was you! Did you do all of this?"
An old woman appeared in the Buddhist hall. Her face was full of wrinkles, and her white hair was tied back. Her fingers were long and slender like withered branches. Although she looked old, her steps were light and elegant, and her eyes were gloomy and sharp.
This person was Lady Butterfly, also known as "Phantom Butterfly"—a ninja master from the Usui Forest north of Ashina. She was a top ninja skilled in illusion techniques and also Wolf's teacher.
"Please leave here!" Bihua told the awakened Kuro to leave quickly.
Kuro was still in a state of confusion: "Then... what about you..."
"I have something I must accomplish!"
As Bihua spoke, she slowly drew Kusabimaru. The blade gleamed with cold light in the firelight, and then she took a fighting stance.
At this moment, inside the burning Buddhist hall, flames were constantly falling. This place could be completely destroyed and swallowed by fire at any time.
In such an extremely dangerous environment, amidst the fiercely rolling sea of fire and the gaze of gods and Buddhas, these former master and disciple faced off. This was destined to be a difficult due.
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