The Divine Urban Physician Chapter 3696 - 3686: The Matter of Zhenyuan Palace! (Fourth Update)

"I arrived at the Six Paths Sect Mountain Gate, where the Grandmaster’s statue turned into this token. I don’t know the reason."

Ye Chen explained right away.

Hearing these words, Zhou Jiu Tong inhaled deeply, cast a glance at Ye Chen, and flicked his hand. A surge of spiritual energy coalesced into a chair that materialized behind Ye Chen.

"Please take a seat."

Zhou Jiu Tong spoke with utmost respect. The sight of the Six Paths Order left him no choice but to show reverence toward the Six Paths Artifact Spirit.

Without further delay, Ye Chen settled into the chair. Zhou Jiu Tong then formed a round table before them with his energy and took the seat across from Ye Chen.

"With the Six Paths Order in your possession, I’ll reveal whatever you want to know."

Zhou Jiu Tong gazed intently at Ye Chen. As the fated one tied to Karma, Ye Chen’s actions could dramatically shape the destiny of the Six Paths Sect. Thus, he chose to withhold nothing.

"The Sacred Origin Heart, lost alongside the seventh sect master Yin Zunxiao, was nothing but a deception."

Ye Chen’s brows lifted faintly at this revelation, though it didn’t shock him greatly. If Yin Zunxiao’s vanishing act was fabricated, then the Sacred Origin Heart—the Six Paths Sect’s supreme treasure—could easily be part of the same ploy.

"In reality, the Sacred Origin Heart has remained hidden within the Six Paths Sect all along. When the seventh sect master vanished mysteriously, we worried it would attract greedy eyes and invite catastrophe. That’s why we spread the word that it vanished with Yin Zunxiao."

A profound look filled Zhou Jiu Tong’s eyes, as if old memories stirred, a chill flashing within them. He continued, "For years, we’ve kept the Sacred Origin Heart concealed. The outside world fully believes it’s gone forever."

"It’s still here in the Six Paths Sect?" Shock and excitement surged through Ye Chen. Securing the Sacred Origin Heart would not only awaken Ye Luo’s memories but also allow him to reclaim Chong Guang Divine Radiance Palace, simplifying the rescue of those trapped powerhouses.

"Only half of it remains."

Zhou Jiu Tong’s words doused Ye Chen’s rising hopes like icy water.

"What does that mean?"

Ye Chen curbed his thrill, staring at Zhou Jiu Tong in astonishment. How could the Sacred Origin Heart be split in half? As the Six Paths Sect’s priceless treasure, any fragment leaking out would have sparked rumors long ago.

"The tale of its disappearance came from talks with Zhenyuan Palace. Indeed, the other half rests in Zhenyuan Palace."

This only deepened Ye Chen’s confusion. Why would half the Sacred Origin Heart end up in Zhenyuan Palace? From the looks of it, the Six Paths Sect had voluntarily handed it over, as the sects had coordinated on the story.

As Ye Chen pondered the mystery of Zhenyuan Palace possessing the other half,

Before Ye Chen could voice his question, Zhou Jiu Tong, sensing the bewilderment, clarified at once, "It all stemmed from the Sacred Origin Heart’s overwhelming phenomena when the Six Paths Sect first acquired it—too immense and fearsome, bound to lure supreme powers and risk total destruction."

"So, we reluctantly divided the Sacred Origin Heart in two, keeping one half in the Six Paths Sect and entrusting the rest to the Southern Saint, a close ally of the Grandmaster. It timed perfectly with the seventh sect master’s disappearance, letting us declare the treasure lost as well."

"A friend of the Grandmaster?"

Ye Chen’s gaze sharpened. Zhou Jiu Tong’s account suggested the Southern Saint was Xiao Shuihan’s companion. With the token symbolizing Xiao Shuihan’s authority, he ought to claim the Sacred Origin Heart from them.

"A friend, but only in the past."

Zhou Jiu Tong let out a heavy sigh, his aura exploding outward. In that instant, Ye Chen felt thrust onto a vast, chaotic battlefield. Savage, boundless killing intent that could rend the All Heavens ravaged the hall.

Soon after, Zhou Jiu Tong reined in his power, masking the fury in his eyes, and went on, "Once the Southern Saint claimed the other half, he established Zhenyuan Palace and housed the Sacred Origin Heart there."

"At first, Zhenyuan Palace was a trivial sect, mere insects compared to the mighty Six Paths Sect. It clung to existence only through our aid, and relations between the two stayed cordial. Yet as the Six Paths Sect waned, Zhenyuan Palace produced a handful of prodigious talents."

Narrowing his eyes at that, Zhou Jiu Tong pressed on, "Influenced by those genius disciples, Zhenyuan Palace soared swiftly to power and strength, while over tens of thousands of years, the Six Paths Sect utterly declined, and the ties between the two sects are no longer what they used to be."

Ye Chen’s gaze grew cold and detached upon hearing this. Such events happen time and again in the world, no longer shocking him, so he could only fault the Six Paths Sect for choosing the wrong ally, supporting Zhenyuan Palace that showed no gratitude.

"Thus, you see, even if the other half of the Sacred Origin Heart rests in Zhenyuan Palace’s possession, holding the Six Paths Order doesn’t guarantee you can reclaim it."

"The Sacred Origin Heart stands as a treasure that shocks the world and shakes the All Heavens; Zhenyuan Palace already restrains itself by not turning hostile to snatch it from the Six Paths Sect. Getting them to hand it over to you is harder than ascending to the heavens—they’ll be most unwilling to surrender it willingly."

"I understand."

With a slow nod, Ye Chen grasped from Zhou Jiu Tong’s words that the brotherhood between Zhenyuan Palace and the Six Paths Sect had faded long ago. Zhenyuan Palace was probably just maintaining face; otherwise, they might have already seized the other half of the Sacred Origin Heart from the Six Paths Sect by force.

Right then, Zhou Jiu Tong fixed a profound gaze on Ye Chen and declared, "With the Grandmaster’s Six Paths Order now yours, you’ve become the true master of the Six Paths Sect. Its destiny of rise or fall hangs on you—this is the will of Fate, impossible to escape."

"Yes."

Ye Chen perceived Zhou Jiu Tong’s concerns and promptly assured, "Even before entering the Six Paths Sect, I swore to elevate it to an Outer Realm sect. I will honor that promise."

At these words, Zhou Jiu Tong’s eyes blazed with sudden light, filling the grand hall with dazzling splendor.

"Excellent, truly deserving of the Grandmaster’s choice."

Nodding in approval, Zhou Jiu Tong added, "Therefore, you must guard against Zhenyuan Palace; the old bonds between the sects are severed, and they nurse evil designs."

"In recent years, Zhenyuan Palace has yearly summoned Six Paths Sect disciples to witness their splendor. On the surface friendly, it hides vicious intent, putting those visiting disciples in dire straits."

"Zhenyuan Palace is utterly shameless."

Ye Chen shook his head in disbelief upon hearing this.

"The Six Paths Sect saw through Zhenyuan Palace’s wicked schemes and stopped sending people after a few times, rejecting further invitations. It’s been a century now, turning the Six Paths Sect into a joke among others."

A chill flickered in Zhou Jiu Tong’s eyes at this, clearly scorning Zhenyuan Palace’s actions. Were it not for his self-control, he might have charged into Zhenyuan Palace to unleash his fury.

"These days, Zhenyuan Palace has produced a genius holy maiden named Feng Yusi, fueling their growing arrogance and tyranny."

"Watch out for this Feng Yusi; she’s no ordinary figure, a genius rarely seen."

"I understand."

Ye Chen noted this carefully. For Zhou Jiu Tong, a mighty grand elder, to highlight Feng Yusi so gravely showed her exceptional prowess. With the Six Paths Order in his grasp, his path was now bound inseparably to the Six Paths Sect.