Chapter 1544: Not Holding Grudges Against Shan Lu Zhang

The Human World

A gentle breeze blew through the bamboo forest, and its rustling sound carried into the hall.

Qin Sang, effectively taking control, sat imperiously on the grand armchair.

Zhou Jin stood attentively behind Qin Sang.

Xie An stood in the center of the hall.

Qin Sang invited him to sit, but Xie An merely replied that he dared not.

Hearing the faint sound of the wind from outside, Xie An's anxious mood did not ease in the slightest. He desperately signaled to Zhou Jin with his eyes, hoping for some kind of hint.

Zhou Jin kept his gaze straight ahead, his thoughts also somewhat unsettled.

This was because the one accompanying him was not Qin Sang's true self, but an external incarnation operating under the alias Daoist Qingfeng.

Unaware of the true situation, Zhou Jin simply assumed Qin Sang had disguised himself. He speculated about Qin Sang's purpose: was he truly planning to confront the Six Illusions Sect head-on for the Xie family?

Due to his cultivation level, the information Zhou Jin gathered while investigating the Six Illusions Sect was superficial, unable to touch upon core secrets. However, he could still infer certain things from the clues.

The Six Illusions Sect occupied several commanderies in Zhuozhou, preventing Mount Buniant from extending its influence beyond the commandery city. This feat was likely not achieved by just three Nascent Soul elders, and offending the Six Illusions Sect would undoubtedly risk provoking a formidable power.

The Central Plains were just like this: various forces intertwined, complex and intricate, keeping each other in check.

The surface appeared calm, but undercurrents surged beneath.

Deliberately concealing his identity indicated that Qin Sang was not confident. Would they, as mere pawns, be discarded?

Qin Sang did not care what Zhou Jin was thinking; he merely glanced at Xie An.

Xie An's condition could not escape Qin Sang's discerning eyes. This person had not, in fact, been unable to form a Core, but had suffered severe injuries, causing him to fall from the Golden Core stage. Moreover, hidden injuries remained in his body, preventing his cultivation from recovering.

Qin Sang spoke as if casually, "Has the Xie family not yet opened the Pure Void Illusion Realm?"

To Xie An, these words were nothing short of a thunderclap.

Xie An's pupils constricted violently, his face filled with terror.

The Pure Void Illusion Realm was the Xie family's greatest secret, unknown to anyone outside the family. He himself had only learned of it from the previous patriarch when he took over the position, and had set up a self-destruct restriction in his primordial spirit to prevent soul-searching.

Neither the Luoyan Sect nor the Six Illusions Sect behind them knew about the Pure Void Illusion Realm.

Who exactly was this person?

Xie An's back was instantly drenched in cold sweat. The wind blowing through the forest swept over him, and he suddenly felt a chill rush from the top of his head down to his Yongquan acupoint. His entire body stiffened, and he completely lost his composure.

He didn't know how to answer, nor did he dare to deny it.

This secret was the Xie family's only hope for revitalization.

The Xie family had confirmed that the Pure Void Illusion Realm had not been destroyed, but had closed for unknown reasons. After being driven from Mount Pu by the Luoyan Sect, the Xie family had endured humiliation and hardship, never giving up.

Once they found a way to open the Pure Void Illusion Realm, they would plot their return to Mount Pu, but no one knew how long that would take.

Qin Sang stopped teasing the junior. "This Daoist is also acting on another's behalf," he said. "This person has deep ties with your Xie family and has entrusted this Daoist to help you return to the Pure Void Illusion Realm."

Hearing these words, Xie An froze. The terror on his face turned to astonishment, and he blurted out, "Which ancestor might that be?"

Qin Sang smiled without speaking.

Xie An dared not press further. His mind, at least, had cleared a little as thoughts raced through his mind. He recalled the dying words of previous Xie family ancestors but could not identify who it might be.

This person had directly revealed the Pure Void Illusion Realm; the secret certainly couldn't be kept anymore.

Moreover, this person was a Nascent Soul Grandmaster, capable of obliterating the Xie family with a mere flick of a hand.

Whether this person's words were true or false, the Xie family had no choice but to believe!

Xie An gritted his teeth, his mind made up. He bowed and said, "This junior cannot make such a decision alone. Might senior grant us a few days? The Grand Elder is currently not in the clan, but this junior will contact him immediately."

Zhou Jin revealed a surprised expression. He had investigated the Xie family's background, yet he had no idea they had a mysterious Grand Elder.

Qin Sang, however, found it normal. If the Xie family hadn't hidden its strength, it would have long been utterly devoured by the Luoyan Sect.

"No matter!"

Qin Sang nodded, not in a hurry.

Xie An quickly exited the hall and returned a moment later, presenting the clan's ancient texts as Qin Sang had requested.

The external incarnation remained with the Xie family.

Meanwhile, Qin Sang's main body was stealthily infiltrating the prefecture's yamen in Fudu Commandery.

Inside the yamen.

Qin Sang sat alone in a quiet room, sipping fragrant tea.

A series of hurried footsteps came from outside. A moment later, a slightly plump cultivator entered, his face wreathed in smiles. "Reporting to Senior," he said, "the message has been sent back to the sect as per your request. This junior marked it as urgent, so it will certainly reach Elder Lu. As for whether he will come to the appointment, that is not something this junior can decide."

This person was the Prefect of Fudu Commandery.

He hailed from Mount Buniant. Having no hope on his path of cultivation, he was sent to the commandery city to serve as Prefect. He should have been burdened with trivial matters, responsible for maintaining peace and educating the populace.

Unfortunately, Fudu Commandery was under the Six Illusions Sect's dominion. He, as Prefect, was confined to the commandery city as if in a cage, a mere figurehead, unable to realize his ambitions.

However, with Mount Buniant's prestige, others dared not do anything to him. The Prefect was free of responsibilities and quite content not to return.

When Qin Sang suddenly visited, revealing his Nascent Soul cultivation and requesting to meet an elder from Mount Buniant, the Prefect naturally dared not utter a single word of refusal.

Elder Lu was Mount Buniant's Enforcement Elder, a figure of lofty and significant standing.

Qin Sang set down his teacup and said with a faint smile, "My thanks to the Prefect."

The Prefect repeatedly said he dared not accept the thanks.

"As for what happened today, this old man does not wish for outsiders to know."

Qin Sang's smile vanished. He glanced at the Prefect, and his figure disappeared into thin air.

After a good while.

The Prefect shivered. With his eyes open or closed, that terrifying gaze was all he saw. He couldn't sit still, constantly muttering, "A time of trouble! A time of trouble!"

Three days later, a white-bearded old man quietly entered the Xie family residence and, accompanied by Xie An, paid his respects to Qin Sang.

As expected, this Grand Elder was indeed a Golden Core cultivator.

"This junior, Xie Qian, greets Senior!"

The old man's voice boomed like a great bell, his aura clearly stronger than Xie An's. Yet, he faced Qin Sang without being overly humble or arrogant. "This junior is late and has kept Senior waiting," he said. "I beg Senior's forgiveness."

Qin Sang scrutinized him and said calmly, "Presumably, you already know the full story. This Daoist wishes to help the Xie family reclaim their ancestral land. What are your plans?"

Xie Qian hesitated and said, "This junior is incompetent and doesn't know how to repay Senior's great kindness. Furthermore, the Luoyan Sect surely wouldn't dare defy Senior's will, but the Six Illusions Sect..."

Qin Sang interrupted Xie Qian, his tone calm. "This Daoist acts on another's behalf," he said. "The Xie family needs no repayment. After the Pure Void Illusion Realm is opened, this Daoist merely needs to borrow it for a period to cultivate in seclusion. As for the Six Illusions Sect, this Daoist has his own way to deal with them. If there are no other questions, you may go and make your preparations."

Such simple conditions!

Xie Qian and Xie An exchanged a look, both finding it hard to believe.

Perhaps this senior hadn't deceived them; it truly was a legacy left by an ancestor.

"We shall obey Senior's decree!" they said in unison.

With a Nascent Soul decree from above, the Xie family dared not refuse. Whether it was rushing to their doom like moths to a flame or not, there was only one path to take.

Fortunately, having long known of the Luoyan Sect's malicious intentions, the Xie family, to ensure their survival, had previously split off a branch, sending them far away to another land to live under new identities.

Even if Xie An's branch were to perish, their bloodline would continue.

This was a crisis.

But it could also be the Xie family's destiny!

That day.

Several disciples of the Luoyan Sect were guarding the mountain gate. Seeing the constant flow of cultivators entering and exiting, their expressions unconsciously grew tense.

"Senior Brother Wu," a shy young girl, seizing a moment, asked the young man beside her in a low voice, unable to contain her curiosity, "Martial Uncle Zhou values you so highly. You must have heard what's going on, right? Why does the sect look as if it's facing a formidable enemy? They didn't hesitate to expend spirit stones to activate the mountain-protecting array. Even the Sect Master and several Grandmasters have come out of seclusion, and they've gone out several times in recent months. Has something changed in the cultivation world?"

Other disciples also looked over, chiming in, just as curious as the girl.

Flattered by his junior brothers' praise, Senior Brother Wu secretly felt smug. He glanced around and whispered, "I also heard a bit a few days ago when I was helping Martial Uncle Zhou refine pills. Don't spread it around. A few months ago, it was rumored that a Nascent Soul Grandmaster was undergoing tribulation nearby. Suddenly, a mysterious Nascent Soul cultivator appeared in the vicinity. How could the Sect Master and the others not be worried?"

"A Nascent Soul Grandmaster!"

The disciples exclaimed repeatedly, finding it hard to imagine such a lofty figure.

The Luoyan Sect's strength allowed them to dominate the region, but they had never produced a Nascent Soul Grandmaster.

"The legendary heavenly tribulation! Did that senior succeed in transcending it?"

The girl, her face full of longing, pressed on excitedly, her hand on her chest.

"How would I know?" Senior Brother Wu spread his hands. "Didn't we see several seniors from the Six Illusions Sect recently? They must have come for this matter. Presumably, nothing came of it, otherwise, the sect would have returned to normal long ago."

"That's true..."

The disciples nodded in agreement, whispering among themselves.

Just then, a sharp whooshing sound suddenly came from down the mountain.

The disciples quickly straightened their bodies and looked in the direction of the sound, immediately falling into a daze.

They saw a dark mass of people swiftly ascending the mountain from below, radiating an aggressive aura, clearly not here with good intentions.

The Xie family and the Luoyan Sect were at odds, and their disciples often clashed, so Senior Brother Wu easily recognized several familiar faces.

"The Xie family!" Senior Brother Wu cried out in alarm, immediately crushing a warning talisman and shouting frantically, "The Xie family is attacking the mountain!"

*Boom!*

The talisman shattered, releasing a signal arrow that shot straight into the sky.

Mist billowed from the mountain gate, converging towards the center, leaving no gaps, as the mountain-protecting array fully activated.

In an instant, the entire Luoyan Sect trembled.

Streams of escaping light shot from within the mountain, rushing towards the gate.

A grey-robed cultivator was the first to arrive. Seeing the scene before the mountain gate, his expression changed drastically. He roared, "Xie An, how dare you! Leading the Xie family to blockade my sect gate without reason, what exactly are your intentions?"

Xie An landed in front of the mountain gate and swept his arm.

The Xie family disciples arrayed themselves before the Luoyan Sect's mountain gate, their weapons pointed directly at the Luoyan Sect. Hearing such shameless words, they were all filled with righteous indignation, their eyes blazing, curses pouring forth incessantly.

Xie An sneered, "Everyone in Fudu Commandery knows that Mount Pu was originally my Xie family's ancestral land! Your Luoyan Sect bullied others with your power, seized our cultivation cave, and now you have the gall to question me? How shameless!"

The grey-robed cultivator paused upon hearing this. He naturally knew the truth, and for a moment, he didn't know how to refute.

With the Xie family's decline, the Luoyan Sect had long regarded Mount Pu as their own sect's mountain.

They had never expected the Xie family to actually dare to attack their gates, truly ignorant of their own impending doom.

The grey-robed cultivator let out a cold snort. Just as he was about to unleash a torrent of curses, he suddenly saw the Sect Master approach. He quickly bowed respectfully and retreated to the side.

The Luoyan Sect Master, surnamed Mo, wore a cyan robe.

His reputation preceded him.

Seeing Sect Master Mo emerge from the mist, not only did everyone in the Luoyan Sect fall silent, but the clamor of the Xie family disciples outside also unconsciously quieted.

Despite the Xie family blocking their gate, no trace of anger was visible on Sect Master Mo's face. His eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze skipping directly past Xie An to fix on Xie Qian behind him. He let out a scoff, "Old devil Xie Qian, you are indeed still alive."

"With our ancestral land still in others' hands, how can I, Xie, face our Xie family ancestors?"

Xie Qian took a step forward, his aura erupting, confronting Sect Master Mo.

However, his cultivation was inferior to the other's, and his aura was clearly a notch weaker.

Instead of anger, Sect Master Mo laughed. "On that day, the Six Illusions Sect acted as a witness," he said. "Right and wrong were judged with justice. I, Mo, am too lazy to engage in a pointless dispute with you. Have you thought this through? Do you truly intend to ignite a full-scale war with just you old, weak, sick, and disabled...?"

Mid-sentence, Sect Master Mo suddenly noticed Qin Sang's incarnation standing on Xie An's other side.

The more Sect Master Mo looked, the more he felt something was off. He hadn't even noticed this person's presence just now, completely overlooking them.

His words caught in his throat.

Sect Master Mo stared intently at Qin Sang, a look of growing horror appearing on his face.

At that moment, Qin Sang stepped forward.

It seemed like a casual step, and despite being separated by the mountain-protecting array, the minds of everyone in the Luoyan Sect were struck as if by lightning. Including Sect Master Mo, they all took a unified step back.

"Sect Master Mo is right; right and wrong are judged with justice," Qin Sang said. "Since the Six Illusions Sect bore witness back then, they should also be the ones to judge now, who is right and who is wrong."

As he spoke, Qin Sang turned slightly, extending a hand to gesture. "Sect Master Mo, why not send someone to invite your fellow Daoists from the Six Illusions Sect? This Daoist eagerly awaits."

Fudu Commandery, with its interconnected mountains and rivers, boasted picturesque scenery.

The sky was clear for thousands of miles.

Yet, a mass of white clouds sped across the high sky.

Two figures were on the cloud, which turned out to be a flying magic treasure.

Both of them appeared young.

One wore tight-fitting attire, with a wooden plaque bearing the words "Enforcement Hall" hanging from his waist; his brows revealed a sharp keenness and an imposing bearing. The other appeared much more ordinary, dressed only in a plain Daoist robe, his expression calm, his aura peaceful, as he sat cross-legged with his eyes closed.

In the blink of an eye, the white cloud soared over mountains, rivers, and lakes, moving with unusual stability.

The youth in tight-fitting attire stood at the edge of the white cloud, looking at the scene below and softly saying, "Martial Uncle Lu, we are almost at the commandery city of Fudu Commandery."

His demeanor was extremely respectful.

Although the other person appeared to be of similar age, he was, in fact, the renowned Enforcement Elder of Mount Buniant—Lu Zhang!

Lu Zhang not only held a high and influential position in Mount Buniant but was also a mid-stage Nascent Soul master himself, and was said to be the most likely person in Mount Buniant's current generation to become a Grand Cultivator.

Lu Zhang did not respond, remaining silent.

The youth in tight-fitting attire dared not show the slightest impatience, standing quietly to the side.

Just then, Lu Zhang suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing within them, and rose to his feet.

The youth in tight-fitting attire was startled at the sight. Before he could understand what was happening, he was violently flung away by a force, and Lu Zhang's shout came to his ears, "Retreat quickly!"

The youth in tight-fitting attire barely managed to stabilize himself, then discovered with horror that a fierce wind had inexplicably arisen in front of the white cloud.

A terrifying ripple surged from the mountain below into the sky.

The fierce wind howled, and the force rapidly contracted towards the center, forming a ghostly human figure moments later.

"Spiritual Sense Incarnation!"

The youth in tight-fitting attire cried out in alarm.

The figure spoke, its voice rolling like thunder.

"Fellow Daoist Lu," it said, "this Daoist has been awaiting you for a long time. Why not come down for a chat?"