Bidding farewell to old friends and setting out once more, traveling against the current, the path ahead fraught with danger.
Xu Ping’an, Li Yuer, and a few others continued their journey, heading straight from Liuhe County to Jinling Prefecture, preparing to change course there and travel through Yi Prefecture en route to Chao Ge.
Along the way, they would pass through two prefectures, three circuits, and twenty-seven counties, covering nearly a thousand kilometers in total.
Even with swift horses spurring them on, they could cover at most fifty kilometers a day.
Considering possible unexpected events, it would take almost a month to reach Chao Ge.
Setting aside Xu Ping’an’s ongoing journey, far away—over 2,500 kilometers—from Yuan Prefecture, there was Misty Mountain, Flowing Cloud Sect, and Swordsmith Peak.
Surrounded by towering mountains deep within a vast range, the area spanned hundreds of miles with almost no signs of habitation. Layer upon layer of sea-like clouds stretched far into the distance.
“You’re insane! This is Swordsmith Peak! The very place where the Sect Master cultivates in seclusion. What are you trying to do? Rebel against us!?”
Xiao Yunyuan, the Senior Disciple of Flowing Cloud Sect’s Swordsmith Peak, glared darkly at the approaching group.
“Xiao Yunyuan, you are merely a junior disciple within the sect. Do you even know that I am Elder Li Xuancheng of Coldwater Peak? Is this how you speak to your elders!?”
The speaker was Elder Li Xuancheng of Coldwater Peak.
His hair and beard were streaked with white, yet his complexion was as youthful as a young man’s—a striking example of longevity and vitality.
His entire being radiated celestial energy, and his eyes blazed with sharpness.
“Yunyuan, you are indeed the Senior Disciple of Swordsmith Peak, but even you cannot stop us old-timers from meeting the Sect Master, can you? The Sect Master has been missing for over a month now. You claim he’s in secluded cultivation, but rumors have already spread from the Demonic Sect—they say the Sect Master was ambushed by their agents, and his life is unknown.”
“We are all elders of Flowing Cloud Sect. Today, whether you allow us or not, we will see the Sect Master. We demand the Sect Master come forward to dispel these rumors and reassure the hundreds of disciples throughout the sect!”
A month ago, Flowing Cloud Sect Master Pei Qingxuan disappeared without a trace.
Before departing, she had not revealed her destination, which led to no one knowing where she had gone.
Though rumors spread that Sect Master Pei Qingxuan had been ambushed by the Demonic Sect and killed on the spot, her reputation built over a millennium caused many to hesitate before questioning it outright.
However, as time passed, the rumors grew stronger and more believable. Some even claimed that Pei Qingxuan’s corpse had been stolen by the Corpse Puppet Sect and transformed into an Enchanted Corpse for dual cultivation.
This was no longer just internal sect strife; if such a disgrace truly occurred, it would be a slap in the face to the entire Flowing Cloud Sect.
That was why disciples of the sect had gathered on Swordsmith Peak.
To determine whether she lived or died.
They had come to witness for themselves if Sect Master Pei Qingxuan was truly gone.
If someone had dared to turn their Sect Master into an Enchanted Corpse to perform dual cultivation—balancing yin and yang—the internal conflicts would have to be set aside.
The sect would unite to first destroy the Corpse Puppet Sect.
The reason the Flowing Cloud Sect had survived for over ten thousand years was largely due to the grudges held by its disciples.
If a disciple was wronged, the master’s first move was not to confront the aggressor but to punish the disciple, scold them, teach them stronger techniques, or encourage their peers to challenge the foe.
If the opponent dared to bring out their elders, Flowing Cloud Sect would at least mobilize an entire peak.
Though the sect only had nine peaks, each contained at least fifty or sixty disciples.
While fifty or sixty might seem few, it equated to a medium-sized sect’s numbers in the outside world.
Even though Great Qi was vast, true cultivators were one in ten thousand.
In populations of hundreds of thousands, there might only be three to five suitable for cultivation.
So while cultivators were not uncommon, they were thinly spread across sects.
Top-tier sects rarely exceeded two hundred members.
With nine peaks combined, Flowing Cloud Sect had over five or six hundred disciples, making it the largest righteous sect in existence.
On Swordsmith Peak now, nearly six hundred disciples from across the sect had gathered. Except for a few absent for special reasons, all were present.
Their only goal was to see Sect Master Pei Qingxuan.
If she were here, the incident could be forgotten.
Disciples would return to their cultivation or resume their usual scuffles.
But if Pei Qingxuan was not here, then the Flowing Cloud Sect needed to decide which Demonic Sect to strike first.
The Sect Master’s absence was a slap to the entire sect.
Previously, disciples dared not act rashly because Elder Kang, the most senior and respected elder, had subdued the situation.
He claimed the Sect Master was injured and resting, which calmed everyone down.
But two days ago, the elders of Coldwater Peak, Heavenly Gold Peak, and Spiritwood Peak jointly confronted Elder Kang. Without a word, they fought fiercely.
Though Elder Kang was the eldest and strongest among them, he was no match for several elders attacking him simultaneously. He was seriously injured and unconscious, and had yet to awaken.
Those elders knew they had caused trouble and kept to their peaks, afraid to venture out, awaiting the Sect Master’s rebuke.
But days passed.
Elder Kang remained unconscious, and the Sect Master still showed no sign of responding.
It must be understood that Elder Kang had cared for Pei Qingxuan since her early days in the sect—more than a master, almost like family.
More than half of Pei Qingxuan’s cultivation methods had been personally taught by Elder Kang, who had even passed on the long-hidden treasure, the Nine Phoenix Sword, to her.
From there, Pei Qingxuan had risen swiftly, wielding the Nine Phoenix Sword and the Phoenix Dances Nine Heavens Profound Skill, soaring to new heights, illuminating the sect.
Now, her cultivation had reached the Great Ascension Stage, just one step away from Tribulation Crossing.
Such cultivation was the strongest in Great Qi, especially since Pei Qingxuan specialized in sword cultivation, entering the Dao through the sword—making her one of the deadliest among cultivators.
A Great Ascension Stage sword cultivator, if pushing to the limit, could barely compete with one at the Tribulation Crossing Stage.
This was the terrifying power of sword cultivation, but also its difficulty—widely recognized.
In thousands of years, no sword cultivator had ever reached Tribulation Crossing Stage.
Pei Qingxuan was the first in history, reaching Great Ascension Stage at a lifespan of a thousand years. If she ascended to immortality in the future, she would become a legend in Great Qi!
Sword cultivation was difficult for two reasons.
First, it required unwavering willpower, beyond what ordinary people could sustain. The killing intent in sword cultivators was hard to suppress; a single misstep could shatter their resolve and ruin their progress.
Second, sword cultivation demanded perfect harmony with one’s will. Any discord could stall their cultivation and block further advancement.
Because of this, sword cultivators were known to be the most grudging cultivators—hatred that went unavenged would stunt their growth.
This was why sword cultivators were hard to cultivate.
To Pei Qingxuan, Elder Kang was almost like family. Now, severely injured as he was, how could she remain indifferent?
Was such a thing possible for a sword cultivator?
After a few days of anxious waiting, the elders roughly reached a conclusion—Pei Sect Leader Pei Qingxuan was truly gone, just as rumors claimed.
Otherwise, why would she not intervene when Elder Kang was gravely injured?
This gave the elders the confidence to act today.
They were almost certain Pei Qingxuan was not within the sect.
If she were, who would dare to assault Swordsmith Peak?
“Senior Uncles, it’s not that this disciple wishes to bar you, but the Sect Master is currently recuperating and must not be disturbed. I beg you, do not make a mistake.”
Xiao Yunyuan’s heart was heavy with distress.
The Sect Master was clearly not at Swordsmith Peak, yet Elder Kang had lied, telling them the Sect Master was resting there.
When Elder Kang was still conscious, he barely managed to keep the tempestuous elders in check.
But now, with Elder Kang critically wounded and unconscious, and no word from the Sect Master, Swordsmith Peak’s disciples had been dispatched to search for her.
Only a few remained, including Xiao Yunyuan himself.
He was left standing alone at the mountain gate.
All he could do now was hope these elders understood the situation and would not barge in recklessly.
But if they did, there was no stopping them.
“Xiao Yunyuan, don’t forget—we are elders from various peaks, far senior to you. If you want to stop us from entering Swordsmith Gate, you’d better become an elder yourself first! Brothers, we can’t wait any longer. The rumors outside only grow wilder. If they keep spreading, who knows what nonsense will come next. I say we storm in today. If the Sect Master is here, I’ll be the first to kneel and apologize. But if she’s not… today, this old man’s patience is at its end!”
Facing Xiao Yunyuan, it was Elder Chi Xiaozi of Blazing Fire Peak, the most hot-headed among them, who finally lost his temper. He raised his hand, and suddenly a blazing fireball appeared in his palm!
“Boy! Today I’m breaking in whether you let me or not!”
Seeing the Samadhi True Fire condensed by this Refinement Void Stage powerhouse, Xiao Yunyuan knew well the power of Blazing Fire Peak’s techniques.
Among the Five Elements Peaks, Blazing Fire Peak and Heavenly Gold Peak were the strongest in offense.
Blazing Fire Peak was especially fierce. At Refinement Void Stage, their Samadhi True Fire could burn anything!
With Xiao Yunyuan’s current cultivation, even a single touch would turn him to ash. His soul would be burned into nothingness.
Seeing the situation, Xiao Yunyuan understood he couldn’t hold them back.
He gritted his teeth and bowed his head.
“If Senior Uncle Chi Xiaozi insists on breaking in, this disciple naturally won’t stop you. But you’ll have to bear the consequences yourself.”
He suppressed his helplessness, then looked up leisurely and stepped aside, giving way.
This scene unsettled many Flowing Cloud Sect disciples.
But Elder Chi Xiaozi of Blazing Fire Peak cared little for such details. He was hot-tempered and charged forward without hesitation.
“Today, I want to see if these rumors outside are true or false!!”
Before he could step through the mountain gate, a cold voice echoed in everyone’s ears.
“Interesting.”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.