Chapter 99: Fierce Person

The Human World

After Qin Sang sat down, Yu Lian bowed slightly and said, "Just now, Young Miss You Niang mentioned that Fellow Daoist Qin had something to ask. Please feel free to speak your mind, and I will do my best to assist you."

"There's no rush for that," Qin Sang said with a smile. "I was just listening to Senior Yu discuss major events in the cultivation world, and my curiosity was piqued. I wouldn't dare interrupt everyone's pleasant discussion. It wouldn't be too late to hear Senior Yu finish his revelations first."

Hearing this, the others nodded repeatedly, and several of them smiled kindly at Qin Sang.

Li You Niang warmed several cups of wine and brought them over. She gave one to Qin Sang and then sat down nearby.

Yu Lian took a sip of wine and praised, "Young Miss You Niang's skill is getting better and better! Since Fellow Daoist Qin is also interested, I'll tell everyone the full story. The biggest event that has occurred recently in the cultivation world was undoubtedly the sudden invasion of the renowned righteous sect, Yuanzhao Sect's mountain gate, by the demonic Kuiyin Sect a few months ago. At that time, several Golden Core Venerables fought consecutive battles. It was a cataclysmic battle, shaking the heavens and the earth. Ultimately, the Kuiyin Sect was utterly destroyed."

Qin Sang was staring at the amber wine in his cup. Hearing this, he looked up in astonishment.

The others also started clamoring, "Old man, are you pulling our leg? How did the Kuiyin Sect get itself annihilated by invading the Yuanzhao Sect? What happened to the Yuanzhao Sect? And what's the origin of this Kuiyin Sect?"

Yu Lian chuckled and said, "No need to rush. Let me explain everything in detail. To understand the reason for this battle, we must first discuss the origins of the Kuiyin Sect and the Yuanzhao Sect. I presume some of you may have heard of them, but only know the 'what' and not the 'why.' Take the Yuanzhao Sect, for instance. Although it's increasingly in decline now, a few hundred years ago, its reputation was in no way inferior to the most renowned Eight Righteous Sects of the current Minor Han Domain! The Kuiyin Sect was also an entity comparable to the Yuanzhao Sect.

"The founding patriarch of the Yuanzhao Sect was Venerable Master Yuanzhao, a Nascent Soul ancestor within the sect. The Kuiyin Sect, on the other hand, was founded by Patriarch Kuiyin, a demonic Nascent Soul devil from the demonic path. Both were influential figures in their time. The two major sects were founded almost simultaneously. Even the names of both sects are derived from their respective founding patriarchs. Isn't that a coincidence? What's even more coincidental is that these two great sects are not far apart. They were practically diametrically opposed, a true match of rivals, and had long-standing grievances.

"Back then, Venerable Master Yuanzhao and several of his disciples unexpectedly met their demise in the Ancient Immortal Battlefield. If not for Wuji Sect's intervention, Patriarch Kuiyin would have long since used his superior power to bully the weaker Yuanzhao Peak, tearing it down. It wasn't until Patriarch Kuiyin passed away that both sides settled down. Who would have thought that the Kuiyin Sect never forgot their old grudges? They used the full strength of their sect to launch a surprise attack on the Yuanzhao Sect, only to end up losing everything."

At this point, Yu Lian took another sip of wine. He closed his eyes and savored it leisurely.

The enthralled listeners immediately expressed their shared frustration, denouncing Yu Lian.

"You old rascal always keeps us in suspense!"

"Exactly, it's so frustrating!"

Qin Sang was also impatient to hear more. He wished he could pry open Yu Lian's mind and read it. If the Kuiyin Sect had truly been destroyed by the Yuanzhao Sect, then he wouldn't have anything to worry about in the future. The mysterious orchid would truly be his!

Instead, Yu Lian looked smug. He laughed heartily, "If I didn't keep you all in suspense, wouldn't it be too boring?"

Another wave of complaints arose. Only then did Yu Lian merrily continue: "When this news spread, my family was also discussing it. What no one could figure out was why the Kuiyin Sect dared to invade the Yuanzhao Sect. One must know that the Yuanzhao Sect's protective formation is no simple matter. It was set up by Venerable Master Yuanzhao himself, who invited two Nascent Soul friends to help him. One of them was even from the Yuanzhen Sect, so it was definitely not something a mere few Golden Cores could break. What's even stranger is that the Yuanzhao Sect's protective formation truly seemed to have been breached by them!"

"Breached?"

Everyone was surprised. "If the protective formation was breached, why was it the Kuiyin Sect that was destroyed instead?"

Yu Lian shook his head. "There are many rumors now, and since I wasn't there, I can't be sure which are true and which are false. However, one piece of information should not be a rumor, as it originated from the Wuji Sect. It's said that on that night, demonic flames raged, and the Kuiyin Sect attacked fiercely, forcing the Yuanzhao Sect's Grand Elder to self-detonate his Golden Core. He simultaneously detonated the protective formation and the sect's spiritual leyline. The terrifying power instantly killed one Golden Core Venerable from the Kuiyin Sect, severely wounded two others, and caused countless casualties among Foundation Establishment cultivators. If the situation hadn't been critical and irreversible, why would that Grand Elder have self-detonated his Golden Core?"

The crowd gasped in shock, "Self-detonating a Golden Core!"

Golden Core Venerables were beings far beyond their reach. It was hard to imagine how terrifying the scene would be if a Golden Core Venerable self-destructed in desperation.

Qin Sang was also somewhat dazed. That night, when he saw the horrifying explosion of the great sun, he had vaguely guessed as much. Even with the confirmation now, he was still incredibly shocked. He couldn't help but murmur, "How ruthless..."

A Golden Core, the protective formation, and the Yuanzhao Peak's spiritual leyline—all detonated simultaneously. That Grand Elder was truly decisive.

"Indeed, he was a ruthless individual!"

Yu Lian's tone was filled with emotion. "His self-detonation, though seemingly a mutual destruction, preserved his sect's lineage and cut off the roots of their sworn enemy. No wonder he was able to cultivate to the Golden Core stage and become a Grand Elder."

A young man scoffed, "That's because he had a Nascent Soul master. If we were given the same cultivation resources, our achievements would definitely be no worse than his!"

Yu Lian chuckled and nodded. He then steered the conversation back. "Presumably, the three Golden Cores of the Kuiyin Sect never expected the Yuanzhao Sect's Grand Elder to be so resolute. With one dead and two severely wounded on the spot, they were immediately terrified and fled in a panic. Another Golden Core Venerable from the Yuanzhao Sect pursued them relentlessly, killing one more. The remaining one retreated into the Kuiyin Sect's stronghold and refused to come out. Later, reinforcements from the Wuji Sect arrived and surrounded the Kuiyin Sect. They found that the Kuiyin Sect had already fallen apart. This individual reportedly fled into the Ancient Immortal Battlefield. The Kuiyin Sect is now occupied by the Yuanzhao Sect. One might say they suffered a crushing defeat, losing everything."

Qin Sang suddenly spoke up and asked, "Which Golden Core old devil from the Kuiyin Sect survived?"

Yu Lian frowned and said, "I'm not sure. The news released by the Wuji Sect only stated that the Kuiyin Sect Master, having committed many wicked deeds, was doomed to a bad end. It's estimated that this devil is dead. The other two are not well-known, so it's unknown which one managed to cling to life. To think that Patriarch Kuiyin was such a fierce devil in his lifetime, and yet after only so many years, his lineage has been severed. Who knows what the Kuiyin Sect Master was thinking? He was supposedly five hundred years old and nearing his demise, yet he suddenly pulled this stunt, not only losing his own life but also ruining his patriarch's legacy."

Qin Sang lowered his head in thought. As long as one Golden Core from the Kuiyin Sect was still alive, he might not be safe.

Thinking of this, Qin Sang spoke with a compliment. "The revelations you've shared, Senior Uncle Yu, are truly eye-opening. Just now, I heard Senior Yu mention the Eight Righteous Sects. I am quite unlearned and don't know much about many of those sects. Would Senior Yu be able to briefly tell me about them, to broaden my knowledge?"