Chapter 2239: Stepping Forward

The Mortal World

"Once the truth is investigated, Yuanjing Mountain will never shield any murderer!" Qingyan declared loudly, standing in front of the mountain gate and facing the cultivators of the Qingjiang Sect. He had only learned the full story upon his return to the mountain gate, and upon seeing Steward Xia's death, he found the situation exceptionally thorny. Qingyan was intent on resolving this conflict, but the Qingjiang Sect didn't seem interested in a resolution. A torrent of vile insults rained down, with some even openly and covertly cursing Revered Master Tongshe, which filled Qingyan, as his disciple, with immense anger. He suppressed his fury, intent on pacifying the Qingjiang Sect and avoiding a war between the two sects as much as possible.

However, You Chen, the Qingjiang Sect Master's eldest disciple, sneered repeatedly. He suddenly pointed at Lan Jingchuan, "The murderer is right here, what else is there to investigate? Moreover, a mere third-generation disciple, without anyone instructing him, how dare he unilaterally kill the Qingjiang Sect's Grand Elder's grandson? Do you think handing over the murderer is enough?" Qingyan's expression darkened, "Brother You, what do you mean by this?"

"What do I mean?" You Chen scoffed, "Not just the murderer, but all those behind the scenes must be handed over to atone with their lives; only then can we comfort Elder Xia and Steward Xia's souls in heaven!"

At these words, everyone was in an uproar. Even the most obtuse person could see the hidden agenda; the Qingjiang Sect had probably not come simply for revenge. Lan Jingchuan's master was Revered Master Tongshe's second disciple, Qinghong, who now managed all affairs of Yuanjing Mountain and was widely recognized as Yuanjing Mountain's next Sect Master. Besides her, who else could be the mastermind? If it were only Lan Jingchuan, Yuanjing Mountain might have been able to make a drastic sacrifice and hand him over. But the accusation was aimed directly at Qinghong, leaving Yuanjing Mountain no room for retreat. Today's dispute could not be resolved amicably. The question was, why would the Qingjiang Sect do this?

Qingyan's eyes turned cold. Qinghong and Shuangluo's faces were frosty. Lan Jingchuan, seeing that the trouble he caused had implicated his master, felt even more sorrow and indignation.

In the distance, the old man in green robes and others watched the argument unfold. The young man in white finally deigned to shift his gaze from the two women and looked at the Qingjiang Sect Master, "Tell him to stop the unnecessary talk." The Qingjiang Sect Master nodded, his lips moving slightly as he transmitted a message to You Chen. Subsequently, You Chen's attitude became even more resolute. After a fierce debate, he actually proposed a duel with Qingyan.

"Thanks to you back then, I, You, have kept it in my heart and vowed to redeem myself. Do you dare to fight me again? If you defeat me, this matter will be cleared, and I will immediately lead the Qingjiang Sect down the mountain, never to mention it again!" You Chen's voice grew increasingly agitated as he looked at Qingyan, his eyes blazing with fury. It turned out that the eldest disciples of the two sects had indeed sparred before, but You Chen had also lost to Qingyan, failing to restore the Qingjiang Sect's honor. Everyone suddenly understood, realizing that this was the case; enemies meeting made their eyes blaze with vengeance, and You Chen proposing a duel was logical. The Qingjiang Sect elders did not stop him either.

"Senior Brother, I fear they have a trick!" Qinghong transmitted a message to Qingyan, worried.

Qingyan sighed lightly, "Even if Jingchuan atones with his death, the Qingjiang Sect won't let it go. Are we really going to hand over Junior Sister?"

Qinghong lowered her head, "It's my fault for failing to properly discipline him."

"It's not Junior Sister's fault," Qingyan shook his head. "The Qingjiang Sect has clearly been plotting this for a long time. No one could have predicted it. Master and I both underestimated the Qingjiang Sect Master's ambition, leaving behind this trouble. The only way now is to win this duel, to have a chance to resolve this once and for all. Otherwise, if they attack the mountain gate and disturb Master's cultivation, our actions would be unforgivable."

"But..."

"Junior Sister, there's no need to persuade me further. You Chen was my defeated opponent back then, and today I can defeat him again! Recently, my cultivation has progressed. Junior Brother sent me some secret lightning techniques a while ago, and I've just mastered them. I'm eager to test their power!" Qingyan's eyes glinted coldly as he spoke.

Seeing his determination, Qinghong and Shuangluo could no longer dissuade him. The two groups of people each retreated, clearing a large area as a battlefield, leaving only Qingyan and You Chen in the center.

Qingyan and You Chen glared at each other, locked in a stare-down.

'Crack!'

A thunderclap echoed, startling everyone. Above Qingyan's head, in a clear sky, a lightning ball suddenly formed out of nowhere. Inside the ball, red and blue lightning coiled like dragons and serpents. The lightning ball was initially the size of a fist, but gradually expanded, and the lightning within grew thicker. The two colors of lightning—one fiery and intense, the other calm like water—possessed distinctly different qualities, yet they merged perfectly without any conflict. Everyone's gaze was drawn to the strange lightning ball. Even knowing Yuanjing Mountain's unique doctrine of cultivating both water and fire, they were filled with admiration seeing Qingyan perform it himself.

"Indeed, there's something to it." The young man in white gently fanned himself. "Qi Bo, if Revered Master Tongshe were to emerge from seclusion now, what are your chances of victory?"

The old man in green robes said, "Revered Master Tongshe has long established his fame, and his divine abilities are unique; this old servant is not his match. However, no matter what, this old servant will protect young master at all costs."

"I certainly trust Qi Bo's strength. From this person, can you deduce anything about Revered Master Tongshe's divine abilities?" The young man in white knew that Qi Bo was a top-tier expert, calling himself 'old servant' because his father had saved his life, and he willingly served. His father had also repeatedly warned him not to treat Qi Bo lightly.

Qi Bo stared at Qingyan, then shook his head after a moment, "This person is different from Revered Master Tongshe. He specializes in lightning techniques; he is an anomaly in Yuanjing Mountain. Moreover, Revered Master Tongshe's attainment is certainly far superior to his disciple's, making it difficult to deduce."

"Since he's not very valuable, let's not waste time. Tell Fellow Daoist You to finish quickly," the young man in white said indifferently.

In the arena, the lightning ball expanded to its limit, and thunder roared through the mountains, its deafening roars echoing.

'Zzzzt!'

The lightning ball shot out two bolts of lightning, one red and one blue, like two lightning dragons, incredibly powerful and fiercely formidable, lunging at You Chen. You Chen's eyes narrowed slightly. In his vision, the two lightning bolts actually merged into one. The lightning was too fast, and its momentum was fierce. You Chen, at the spearhead of the attack, felt his heart pound violently.

Although his previous words were a pretense, deliberately luring Qingyan into the fight, there was also some truth to his real feelings. Back then, both he and his master had suffered defeat, a humiliation You Chen had carried his entire life. He had since studied diligently and practiced hard, greatly improving his strength. He had thought he could finally surpass Qingyan and redeem himself, but at this moment, he realized that Qingyan had also transformed immensely!

In an instant, the lightning was upon him. A silver light flew out from You Chen's chest. The silver light hovered before You Chen, revealing a small silver humanoid figure. The figure's features and limbs were like a normal person's, and its appearance resembled You Chen, like a sophisticated puppet. It carried a long saber on its shoulder. Facing the lightning, its eyes flashed with spiritual light, and then it raised the saber and fiercely slashed at the lightning.

'Swish!'

Such a small saber actually generated a terrifying surge of air, transforming into a formidable saber light.

'Rumble...'

The saber light and the lightning collided, dimming the sky and shaking the earth. Everyone's eyes widened, seeing the battlefield filled with chaotic currents, making it impossible to discern whose power dominated or who had the upper hand. It seemed that this strike was evenly matched. You Chen, however, felt a bitter taste in his mouth. With just one strike, he understood that he was still inferior to his opponent. With his own strength alone, it was impossible to defeat Qingyan. Perhaps, he would never be able to defeat Qingyan honorably in this lifetime. The urging voice of his master sounded in his ear. You Chen could only cast aside his distractions and merge with the small silver figure, actively charging towards his opponent.

At this point, the lightning ball above Qingyan's head was gone, but lightning was now omnipresent across the battlefield. Thunder roared and lightning crisscrossed the battlefield. Qingyan and You Chen's figures were invisible, but anyone with a keen eye could discern that Qingyan held a steady advantage. Everyone looked towards the Qingjiang Sect, and indeed, the Qingjiang Sect cultivators all bore grim expressions. Conversely, the Yuanjing Mountain side was jubilant, though only Qinghong and Shuangluo remained secretly nervous, not daring to relax. Clearly, You Chen was too confident and arrogant, believing he could defeat Qingyan, but he never expected the gap to be so large. If You Chen had no other means, the Qingjiang Sect would have to retreat ignominiously, a strong start but a weak finish, losing much face.

Just as everyone was thinking this, an anomaly suddenly erupted on the battlefield: a burst of light, even more dazzling than lightning, emerged. Simultaneously, a furious cry was heard. The voice carried a sense of shock and anger, seemingly Qingyan's.

'Whoosh whoosh whoosh!'

The light arrows immediately shot out, and the lightning bolts wandering across the battlefield were struck by the light arrows, scattering one after another. Qinghong had always harbored an ominous premonition. Seeing this, her heart skipped a beat, and she inwardly cried, "This is bad!" Immediately after, she saw a figure flying out of the battlefield, somewhat distorted, with faint blood splattering.

"Senior Brother!" Qinghong and Shuangluo cried out in alarm. Without hesitation, they rushed towards the battlefield.

"Yuanjing Mountain is indeed full of despicable people, trying to sabotage the duel!" The Qingjiang Sect elders shouted, all striking to stop the two women. Fortunately, Qinghong and Shuangluo had been on guard. Seeing this, they immediately activated the mountain protection array. Layers of light waves surged from one of the light pillars, blocking the attacks of the Qingjiang Sect elders and protecting Qingyan beneath them.

"Senior Brother!" The two women caught Qingyan, seeing his face pale, his breath faint, and a gaping bloodied hole in his chest, which had already injured his internal organs. The two women frantically fed him healing elixirs and aided his absorption. Only then did Qingyan manage to stabilize his condition, glaring at You Chen, "Despicable! Cough, cough..."

At this moment, You Chen held an object in his hand: a jade arrow merely three inches long. The jade arrow was covered in cracks and then suddenly shattered, its fragments scattering through You Chen's fingers. You Chen's face was also somewhat pale, but he was not injured; rather, he had excessively consumed his true essence. You Chen's single strike, which severely wounded Qingyan, relied on this jade arrow. This was no ordinary magic treasure, but a disposable magic treasure that could only be used once, capable of instantly unleashing all its power to kill an opponent. Such magic treasures were powerful, but came at a high cost and demanded extremely skilled refiners, making them very rare in the cultivation world. This was a powerful life-saving killer weapon. No one expected You Chen to possess such a treasure, let alone be willing to use it in a duel.

"Hehe..." You Chen sneered, disdainfully replying, "You have already lost. Why don't you quickly hand over the murderer and open the mountain gate, allowing us to investigate thoroughly!" Having incapacitated Qingyan, their strongest combatant, their objective was achieved. You Chen knew the Qingjiang Sect would not agree to such conditions, so he immediately ordered the Qingjiang Sect cultivators to launch a full-scale assault on the mountain.

Just then, an unexpected visitor arrived.

"Wait!"

A person flew from down the mountain. This person moved with the wind, their movements graceful and effortless. Wherever they passed, the crowd instinctively parted to either side. In an instant, he became the focal point of all gazes. The newcomer was the young man in white. With a series of flashes, he had already arrived before the Yuanjing Mountain gate, landing directly between the two opposing camps.

"Who are you? Are you courting death!" You Chen roared.

Facing You Chen's gaze, the young man in white remained unperturbed and said mildly, "I am Chen Yuze from the Tianjing Sect!" He stood tall and elegant, possessing a composed and self-assured demeanor, which was even more striking in such a fraught situation.

Having said that, Chen Yuze looked at Shuangluo, revealing a gentle smile, "Miss Shuang, we meet again."

"Young Master Chen?" Shuangluo looked surprised.

"Junior Sister, you know him?" Qinghong asked via spiritual transmission.

Shuangluo replied, "Senior Sister, do you remember that time you asked me to oversee Shuyu Valley? On the way, I met a few fellow daoists who were traveling from outside to Qingtuo River, and Young Master Chen was among them. However, I was in a hurry to get to Shuyu Valley and only spoke a few hurried words with them."

"Miss Shuang comes from a prestigious family, no wonder her temperament is extraordinary, like a fairy descending to the mortal world," Chen Yuze lavished compliments, then looked at Qinghong, "And who might this fairy maiden be?"

"She is my Senior Sister, Qinghong. It is embarrassing for Young Master Chen to witness our sect's plight. Please step aside, Young Master Chen, to avoid getting involved," Shuangluo bowed.

Chen Yuze smiled and declared generously, "I have come this time precisely to resolve this feud; how could I fear difficulties and retreat!" As he spoke, he looked at You Chen: "Fellow Daoist You has already injured Miss Shuang's Senior Brother. Would you perhaps listen to my advice and each take a step back and let bygones be bygones?"

You Chen wore a surprised and suspicious expression, "You just said you're from the Tianjing Sect?"

"Precisely!" Chen Yuze's expression was serene, "I wonder if I am qualified to mediate this dispute?"

You Chen's expression flickered, then he suddenly sneered, "I thought they'd brought some nameless man from who knows where, turns out it's an expert cultivator from the Tianjing Sect. However, as far as I know, the Tianjing Sect and Yuanjing Mountain have no connection whatsoever. Are you their paramour? Otherwise, what right do you have to stand here! The Tianjing Sect's influence shouldn't extend to Qingtuo River!"

However, everyone else heard the hint of bluster in You Chen's words, and they began to inquire about the Tianjing Sect's background.

Qinghong even managed a joke, "Junior Sister, listening to that You fellow's implications, if Junior Sister were to take Young Master Chen as her husband, this crisis could be resolved."

Shuangluo retorted, "Why not Senior Sister, then?"

"I'm afraid he wouldn't be interested in Senior Sister!"

Qinghong said gravely, "This Young Master Chen's arrival is strange. Junior Sister, do not be misled by his outward appearance; be careful."

Shuangluo said solemnly, "I understand, Senior Sister! But without external help now, how can we break this deadlock? Do we really have to force Master out of seclusion?"

Qinghong's expression was somber. She and Shuangluo had prepared some contingency plans to buy time, but these could no longer be used due to Qingyan's defeat in the duel. It was clearly a dead end. And You Chen gave them no time to deliberate, immediately ordering the Qingjiang Sect cultivators to launch a full-scale assault.