Chapter 336: Shi Hong

Novel:

"You met the requirements of the Kuiyin Sect and broke through to the sixth level of Qi Refinement. The sect's promised rewards were all distributed to you. I learned from Yue Wu that you, Brother Qin, were sent out as an external steward, and Senior Sister Shi Hong was taken in as a disciple by Yue Wu. Both of you were greatly entrusted.

Tan Jie thought he might have been overthinking it and continued cultivating without worry. However, the higher his cultivation became, the more Tan Jie felt something was amiss. At the same time, we noticed more and more unusual occurrences.

Brother Qin, you never returned, and everyone who left with you also vanished without a trace!

Senior Sister Shi Hong was guarded ever more strictly by Yue Wu, losing her freedom!

Those senior brothers and sisters disappeared as soon as they broke through to the tenth level of Qi Refinement!

The entire Yinsha Abyss was like a massive cage, and we were livestock being raised within it. People died every day, and bodies were continuously thrown into the Yinsha Abyss! They just kept coming!

Everything about the Kuiyin Sect was highly abnormal.

At that time, Tan Jie and I had already decided to escape. We tried to contact Senior Sister Shi Hong, but she was guarded so closely that we had no opportunity. This made us increasingly uneasy, and countless attempts to escape were futile.

Later, a sudden change occurred: the sect master's attack on the Yuanzhao Sect failed, and most of the Kuiyin Sect's masters were wiped out in that single battle, leaving only a few survivors. With the sect collapsing, those guarding the Yinsha Abyss either fled or dispersed. Yue Wu also died. Tan Jie and I escaped amidst the chaos, but when we went to find Senior Sister Shi Hong, we unexpectedly ran into Liang Yan.

He not only controlled Senior Sister Shi Hong but also tried to control us. Naturally, we wouldn't let him succeed. After a fierce battle, Tan Jie and I were severely wounded but managed to escape. Senior Sister Shi Hong, however, remained under his control.

We fled south all the way back to our hometown, near You Mountain Market. Since we didn't know how to contact you, we left a letter for you with the gatekeeper at You Mountain Market, using a secret code to warn you that the Yama Banner was fraudulent. That person had an eidetic memory, so if you had returned to You Mountain Market, you should have received the letter..."

Tan Hao looked at Qin Sang with an inquiring gaze.

"A letter?"

Qin Sang was momentarily stunned, then slowly shook his head. Back then, after taking the Nine Illusory Sky Orchid, he fled in a hurry. He passed by You Mountain Market but dared not enter, thus missing the opportunity to reunite with the Tan brothers. Later, he joined Mount Shaohua and cultivated diligently, never daring to relax. Let alone You Mountain Market, he hadn't even returned to the Great Sui Kingdom for a glance.

"I was afraid of Kuiyin Sect remnants operating in You Mountain Market, so I never dared to go back... Since you managed to escape, Tan Jie must have given up the Yama Banner and dispersed his cultivation to start anew, right?"

Tan Hao lowered his eyes, a flicker of sorrow crossing them, and spoke in an unusually low voice: "He didn't get a chance to disperse his cultivation and start anew... When we escaped the Kuiyin Sect, we first encountered Liang Yan and then were chased. Tan Jie's cultivation was high, so we had to rely on him, which led to his severe injuries. He couldn't suppress the evil spirits of the Yama Banner and suffered a backlash. Fortunately, he had known earlier that there was something amiss with the Yama Banner and was prepared, so the evil spirits didn't completely succeed. However, both his soul and body were severely wounded, and no one in You Mountain Market could treat him. To find healing spiritual medicine for him, I had to come to the Ancient Immortal Battlefield..."

"The Spirit-Calming Pill you bought in the secret market, that was for Tan Jie, wasn't it?" Qin Sang suddenly understood. No wonder Tan Hao seemed perfectly fine and not injured at all.

"Is Brother Tan Jie recuperating in a cave dwelling? I'll go with you, Brother Tan, to see him. If there's any way to heal Brother Tan Jie's injuries, I'll certainly contribute my share."

"Thank you, Brother Qin." Tan Hao clasped his hands in gratitude, but there was little joy on his face.

Qin Sang mused to himself that Tan Hao hadn't been able to cure Tan Jie for so many years, indicating the injury was likely extremely difficult to treat. However, Tan Hao was only at the Qi Refinement stage and a rogue cultivator, so his capabilities were limited. He had to exert himself completely just to buy one Spirit-Calming Pill. Although Qin Sang didn't have much spiritual stone left, he was, after all, a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Moreover, he had the backing of Mount Shaohua and a good relationship with Yun Youzi, a disciple of the Taiyi Pill Sect, which meant he had many more options than Tan Hao. If he could cure Tan Jie, Qin Sang would certainly not hesitate to help.

"By the way, was Senior Sister Shi Hong taken by Liang Yan? Did you see her again later?" Qin Sang remembered Shi Hong. Of the few people who entered the Kuiyin Sect together back then, only the four of them survived. Now that he had met the Tan brothers, Shi Hong still had no news.

Tan Hao hesitated, then whispered, "After we parted ways at the Kuiyin Sect, there was no news of Senior Sister Shi Hong for a long time. It wasn't until a few years ago that we unexpectedly reunited at the Ancient Immortal Battlefield."

Qin Sang was delighted to hear this. "Senior Sister Shi Hong escaped Liang Yan? How is she doing now?"

Unexpectedly, Tan Hao sighed deeply. "Senior Sister Shi Hong is still under Liang Yan's control. Fortunately, she received Tan Jie's warning and knew something was wrong with the Yama Banner. Her cultivation has remained stuck at the bottleneck of the ninth level of Qi Refinement. She pretends to be trapped by the bottleneck and dares not break through even now."

"Liang Yan isn't dead?" Qin Sang's heart sank. The Kuiyin Sect was destroyed, and most of its cultivators were hunted down by the Yuanzhao Sect. He never expected Liang Yan to be so tenacious, still alive and well.

Tan Hao nodded, speaking with resentment. "Not only is he not dead, but he benefited from the disaster. Senior Sister Shi Hong said that while he was in the Kuiyin Sect, Liang Yan considered himself Yue Wu's direct disciple. When the great change occurred, he took Yue Wu's inheritance. During his escape, he encountered a severely wounded Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Kuiyin Sect. This person was skilled at deception; after gaining the cultivator's trust, he secretly ambushed and killed him. Having obtained the legacies of two Foundation Establishment cultivators, combined with Liang Yan's own good talent, he successfully broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage not long after. A few years ago, Senior Sister Shi Hong said he was already close to breaking through to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. I don't know if he succeeded by now."

"Foundation Establishment?" Qin Sang sighed inwardly, thinking of Liang Yan and also of his fellow disciples. Although Liang Yan's talent was good, he couldn't have broken through so quickly if he had cultivated steadily within the Kuiyin Sect. It simply goes to show that everyone has their own unique destiny. That battle was a catastrophic disaster for the Kuiyin Sect, but it was a great opportunity for Liang Yan. Although he lost the sect's protection, he gained the legacies of two Foundation Establishment cultivators, and his cultivation resources became even more abundant. The same applied to himself. If not for that battle, he would have remained in the Kuiyin Sect. If he had successfully broken through to the tenth level of Qi Refinement without being devoured by the Yama Banner, his anomaly would surely have been discovered. Not only would he have lost his life, but the Jade Buddha would also have fallen into others' hands, making him a mere stepping stone for them. It would have been impossible for him to be alive today.

For Shi Hong, however, this experience was incredibly cruel, severing her path to immortality. She possessed dual spiritual roots of Metal and Wood, a prodigy whose talent was second only to those with Heavenly Spiritual Roots. Throughout the entire cultivation world, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her a genius. Even if she hadn't joined a cultivation sect, there was a good chance Shi Hong could have broken through to Foundation Establishment on her own. However, due to mistakenly entering a demonic sect, she nearly became the soul of a demonic artifact. Although she escaped that calamity, she is now trapped at the eighth level of Qi Refinement and still dares not break through. It was truly lamentable.