Chapter 158: Sect Leader Leaves the Peak Demons Emerge

The skeleton of the great serpent resembled a giant white centipede, its flesh, transformed from gray mist spirits, serving as armor-like scales on its body.

Its upper and lower jaws were lined with rows of sharp, nail-like teeth, and on either side of its conical skull grew a pair of long, backward-curving horns, resembling inward-hooked blades.

The old man stood in the center of the serpent's skeleton, dressed in a black lapel and white robes, with a wooden hairpin securing his hair. His attire was simple yet exuded an otherworldly, ethereal grace.

He looked at the people gathered on Hidden Peak and said, "Today our sect suffered a calamity, but fortunately, you all stepped forward and repelled the powerful enemy with your swords. From now on, Yu Jian Tianzong will be able to stand firmly in Nanzhou, even if I am not truly present on the peak."

The old man's words were simple and gentle, and his long, drooping eyebrows resembled the dancing whiskers of a dragon in water.

His gaze first fell upon Ning Changjiu.

"Young friend, long time no see." True Master Hanchi smiled faintly and said, "That day, when I asked if you wanted to learn swordsmanship, you actually refused, missing out on a great opportunity. Don't you feel any regret?"

Ning Changjiu showed a remorseful expression and said, "This junior is deeply pained and regrets it immensely."

True Master Hanchi said, "Erasing your memory that day was not to harm you, but because the matter was of great importance and could not be revealed in the slightest."

"Sect Master, your intentions were truly profound; this junior understands." Ning Changjiu said, "By the way, Sect Master... Uncle-Grandmaster Yanzhou mentioned you when he was alive."

True Master Hanchi paused slightly, then nodded, his sigh filled with deep remembrance: "He finally emerged from seclusion?"

"Yes, Uncle-Grandmaster died from a blood oath backlash after emerging from seclusion." Ning Changjiu's words also carried an indescribable sorrow, as if the deceased elder had been a lifelong friend to him.

True Master Hanchi stood on the head of the great serpent, stroking his sleeves. A chilling wind swept through the peak, like a cold crow sweeping over a graveyard.

The great serpent extended its head from the Dragon-Entwining Pillar and lowered it to the ground of Hidden Peak. He looked at the man kneeling on the ground, revealing a satisfied expression, and said, "Yuanbai, rise. You have done very well."

"Yes, Master." Lu Yuanbai stood up, holding the great sword in both hands, and returned it to his master.

True Master Hanchi asked, "After years of cultivation and several years of endurance, all for a single day guarding the peak, do you have any regrets?"

Lu Yuanbai smiled and said, "The realm this disciple has achieved today is solely due to Master's appreciation and guidance. Personal affections are nothing compared to the eternal great undertaking of the sect."

Hearing this, True Master Hanchi's stern face revealed a satisfied smile. Only then did he take the sword, shatter its original scabbard, and return it to the sheath on his back.

This was originally his personal sword.

"True Master... Weren't you traveling in the Central Plains? Why..." Xue Xunxue hesitated, voicing everyone's doubts.

True Master Hanchi said, "My travels in the Central Plains were merely a ruse to deceive the Purple Heaven Dao Sect. They have been at odds with us since their inception. My actions had two purposes: first, to cultivate diligently and occupy this serpent's body; second, to seize this opportunity to lure the snakes out of their holes and clip the fangs and claws of the Purple Heaven Dao Sect. Moreover, Nanzhou is vast, and merely reaching the peak of the Purple Court realm is not enough to truly establish ourselves. Only by reaching the Five Paths realm and beyond can our sect truly flourish."

"As expected of a Sect Master, your magnanimity is far beyond what we can compare to," Xue Lin sighed, convinced.

True Master Hanchi said, "I emerged from seclusion late today. You all have worked hard."

"Fortunately, with the Sect Master present now, there's nothing to worry about," Xue Xunxue chuckled.

True Master Hanchi looked at Lu Jiajia and said, "I watched you grow up. Even then, I knew you possessed extraordinary talent, but I never imagined you would develop to this extent."

Lu Jiajia said, "You flatter me, True Master."

True Master Hanchi said, "It's a pity you haven't yet entered the Purple Court realm. If you had, how could the great mountain protection array have been breached today?"

Lu Jiajia lowered her head, her cheek resting in the shadow of her flowing dark hair. Her aura was restrained and calm, a calmness that seemed to carry a hint of hostility.

True Master Hanchi smiled faintly, offering no explanation.

"I know you all have many questions now," True Master Hanchi said, and with a thought, the great serpent's body beneath him twisted, bringing him down from the Dragon-Entwining Pillar to the ground of Hidden Peak. However, its immense size meant a large section of it still coiled around the pillar, spanning the chasm like a suspension bridge.

He looked at the great serpent beneath him and said, "It is not an evil creature, but a deity from three thousand years ago that once devoured a malevolent elephant. It was later hunted and killed by an entire clan, but though the deity perished, its divine nature endured. I obtained this serpent's skeleton sixty years ago in the Southern Wilds and painstakingly pieced it together in the Ringing Waterfall Mountains. I kept this from you all simply to avoid unnecessary alarm."

Ning Changjiu looked at the ancient lamp held in the serpent's mouth and asked, "Is this the Heavenly Soul Lamp?"

True Master Hanchi nodded and said, "Yes, this originally belonged to the Purple Heaven Dao Sect. However, they intended to use it to revive a demon that would bring forth immense catastrophe. Therefore, I took this lamp to prevent them from falling into demonic ways and harming Nanzhou."

Ning Changjiu sincerely said, "Sect Master, you truly understand righteousness... May I ask if Mr. Zhang Qieyu from Lotus Town is an old acquaintance of yours?"

True Master Hanchi smiled and said, "It was indeed my instruction for Old Mr. Zhang to keep you confined in Lotus Town. This was primarily for your protection, though I never imagined that Heavenly Cavern Peak would produce so many talents that you would manage to escape, haha. In the future, if you are interested, you can come to Ringing Waterfall Mountain and become my personal disciple. I told you when you were at the foot of the peak that I am willing to pass on my sole true heritage to you."

Ning Changjiu's lips moved slightly, his expression unchanged, yet an undeniable anticipation and fervor shone in his eyes. He cautiously glanced at Lu Jiajia, then his Adam's apple bobbed, and he stooped slightly, whispering, "This junior... this junior will consider it further."

True Master Hanchi smiled indifferently, then looked towards a certain cave in Hidden Peak of Heavenly Cavern Peak.

Shortly after, a jade-green sword broke through the air and arrived at the cave dwelling.

Jing Yangxia immediately saw the enormous black serpent coiled on the peak. Its flesh had not fully grown, and the embedded white bones were densely packed and faintly visible. A warning flared in his heart, and he almost drew his sword directly.

"Old Jing, long time no see." True Master Hanchi's laughter, coming from atop the bone serpent, effortlessly dispelled Jing Yangxia's murderous intent.

Jing Yangxia's mind trembled, and only then did he see the old man. He was stunned for a moment, then asked uncertainly, "True Master... Has True Master returned to the peak from his travels?"

True Master Hanchi laughed heartily. He did not explain again, merely asking, "How is the situation?"

Earlier, after Shi Wu and others were defeated, Jing Yangxia pursued them with his sword and had only just returned.

Jing Yangxia composed himself and said, "I fought with Shi Wu until the wilds of Nanzhou, then became trapped within several landscape scrolls, allowing them to escape. As I cut my way out of the scrolls, I saw a surge of malevolent energy to the north, which must be a sign of the Nine Infants' initial formation. I had planned to return to the peak first to activate the mountain protection array and prepare to resist the Nine Infants. Originally, I was apprehensive, but now that I finally see the Sect Master back on the peak... alas, I suppose everything is settled."

"Nine Infants..." True Master Hanchi looked at the great serpent beneath him and uttered the name in a low voice. The great serpent seemed to understand, raising its head slightly, a deep crimson glowing in its dark pupils.

The great serpent carried True Master Hanchi, moving in a serpentine fashion, then astonishingly, it gently lifted into the air like a bird.

It flew past Hidden Peak, soared over everyone's heads, breaking open several previously isolated karst caves. Its massive body passed through the mountain and flew out, while True Master Hanchi's deep voice slowly reverberated through Hidden Peak:

"For a century now, the Purple Heaven Dao Sect has been at odds with our peak. Today, they invaded our sect, destroyed our great array, and engaged in despicable opportunism, even going against the natural order by attempting to revive a malevolent deity from three thousand years ago to bring disaster upon Nanzhou. With no divine emissaries or Heavenly Lords present, righteousness lies with me. I shall wield my blade and sword to clear away evil and misfortune for all living beings, and eradicate disaster as it arises!"

Every word from True Master Hanchi was like a rock tumbling down a cliff, deafening and resonating.

The bone serpent soared away on the wind, dominating everything. True Master Hanchi unsheathed his sword, which had not been drawn for sixty years, and as he swept through the sky, his presence surpassed the great sun illuminating the plains and a gale sweeping across the wilderness.

"Respectfully send off True Master as he emerges from seclusion!"

Lu Yuanbai straightened his back and shouted loudly. The emotions that had been suppressed in his heart for years finally unfurled at this moment. From now on, he no longer needed to hide anything.

"Respectfully send off True Master as he emerges from seclusion!"

The others shouted loudly in unison, respectfully bowing to the departing figure of the Sect Master.

The old man, accompanied by the serpent, left the sect alone, heading north with his sword.

To the disciples of the Four Peaks, this scene was an unforgettable image of an immortal riding a dragon into the distance.

When Ning Changjiu looked up, the serpent had already left Hidden Peak and disappeared into the layers of clouds. He had glimpsed earlier that the great serpent seemed to have also had its tail severed.

The Four Peaks settled down.

The clouds and mist that had been churned and shattered by the strong wind and sword energy also reformed, becoming a white sea with gentle ripples.

The mountainside was covered with fallen snow cherry blossoms, and the scattered crimson petals lay unswept.

The outer sect disciples below the Four Peaks only knew that something major had happened on the peak today. Earlier, looking up, they had seen the terrifying scene of rampant sword energy and oppressive dark clouds at the peak. But now, those dark clouds had retreated before turning into a downpour, and everything seemed to have calmed down.

In Ning Changjiu's room, the windows were wide open, and Lu Jiajia arrived on her sword from outside.

Ning Changjiu and Ning Xiaoling were sitting in the room, waiting for her.

As Lu Jiajia landed, she immediately established a sword domain to prevent any sounds from escaping the room.

"Senior Brother, what exactly happened on Hidden Peak earlier?" Ning Xiaoling asked curiously.

"Do you remember the old man from the previous vision?" Ning Changjiu said, "That's our Sect Master, True Master Hanchi. He has emerged from seclusion."

Ning Xiaoling exclaimed in surprise, "That terrifying place... it was actually the Sect Master, Old Grandfather! Then the Purple Heaven Dao Sect is truly doomed now."

Ning Changjiu nodded: "The Purple Heaven Dao Sect was indeed a party to the conspiracy and has now received its just deserts."

Ning Xiaoling nodded and said, "So, has everything come to light now? I only remembered all this today, and telling Senior Brother seems to have been of no use."

"No, it was useful." Ning Changjiu looked into her eyes and said, "Junior Sister, it's all thanks to you."

"Thanks to me for what?" Ning Xiaoling wondered, thinking she only ever caused trouble.

Ning Changjiu sighed, "It's because you helped me remember these things that I realized True Master Hanchi cannot be trusted."

"Huh?" Ning Xiaoling was stunned.

Lu Jiajia sat down beside them and asked, "You don't trust him either?"

Ning Changjiu nodded and said, "The bottom of the peak is a very terrifying place. Many ancient artifacts are hidden there, and all of them carry an evil nature. Anyone who approaches them could be corrupted."

Lu Jiajia said, "Old artifacts from the Southern Wilds are indeed like that."

Ning Changjiu said, "The several immortal swords of the Four Peaks, and many of the magical artifacts on the peak, must also be old relics from the Southern Wilds, right? Why was their corruption so easily erased?"

Lu Jiajia had never considered this, but she logically speculated, "Perhaps the degree of corruption varies."

Ning Changjiu asked, "Do you know why those items are kept at the bottom of the peak?"

Lu Jiajia said, "Because spiritual energy, when it accumulates, sinks. Placing them at the bottom of Hidden Peak allows the sinking spiritual energy to most easily wash away their evil nature."

"With such dense spiritual energy, centuries of washing should have turned even wicked wolves into white lambs. Yet, their corruption still can't be washed away..." Ning Changjiu clasped his hands within his sleeves, his fingers tapping against each other.

Lu Jiajia's slender fingers involuntarily tightened into fists. She asked, "Are you implying something?"

Ning Changjiu closed his eyes and sighed, "Is it possible that something else is corrupting them?"

Lu Jiajia's eyes suddenly narrowed. Her already straight back stiffened further. Ning Xiaoling, beside her, also understood. She bit her lower lip, exclaiming in surprise, "Senior Brother, are you saying... our Sect Master is a great demon?"

Ning Changjiu did not directly answer the question. Today, the Sect Master had emerged from the peak, displaying such righteousness that there was almost no flaw to be found in his actions.

The others were naturally convinced, and even though Ning Changjiu had given an outward speech as a hint and warning before the Sect Master emerged, once the Sect Master truly appeared, everyone's hearts turned towards him.

But Ning Changjiu and Lu Jiajia knew more.

"If Nine Infants is a malevolent deity, then isn't the serpent also? Previously at the bottom of the peak, he used every lie to deceive me and finally sent me out of the peak. Had I not been delayed by the outer peak assessment, I would have been able to come up the mountain to find you quickly, and you wouldn't have fallen into that deadly trap out of concern for me descending the peak." Ning Changjiu spoke slowly.

"I care about all disciples," Lu Jiajia interjected.

Ning Changjiu smiled faintly, unconcerned, and continued, "The elders' realms are not low, and to truly convince them, only the Sect Master himself could act. If you had fallen to the bottom of the peak and been killed by Hanchi at that time, it could have been attributed to internal strife on Hidden Peak. However, True Master Hanchi is not omniscient after all; he cannot prevent every single accident."

Now they were almost certain that the word "Han," which one elder spoke unwillingly before his death, referred to Hanchi.

"Then Bing Rong's assassination..." Lu Jiajia began, then trailed off.

Ning Changjiu said, "What happened on Hidden Peak that day must have also exceeded his expectations. He secretly left the peak and lay in wait in the Cold Dungeon, intending to use Bing Rong to kill us directly. Later, when Bing Rong died, he had no choice but to abandon the killing and secretly arranged for me to be taken to Lotus Town, where Zhang Qieyu would trap me."

Lu Jiajia nodded her beautiful head. She had personally experienced two assassination attempts, so she naturally could not trust Hanchi. However, now that the Sect Master had successfully emerged from the peak, he appeared to bear no trace of corruption, and at this moment, he was riding the serpent to slay the Nine Infants with his sword.

It seemed that past grievances could also be put aside like this.

And in the past, True Master Hanchi had made countless contributions to the righteous path of Nanzhou.

Lu Jiajia thought, feeling a sliver of hope.

Ning Changjiu saw through her momentary weakness and said firmly, "Prepare for the worst: assassinate the Sect Master."

"Assassinate True Master Hanchi?" The shock in Lu Jiajia's eyes was undeniable. She had never imagined she could kill him, especially now that he was almost one with the serpent and had already stepped halfway into the Five Paths realm.

Ning Changjiu also thought it impossible, but he still said, "You must find a way to enter the Purple Court realm as quickly as possible."

Lu Jiajia's sword body was incredibly powerful, but even so, simply entering the Purple Court realm would make it absolutely impossible to contend with True Master Hanchi as he was now.

Ning Xiaoling listened nervously to their conversation and asked, "Senior Brother, what about me?"

Ning Changjiu was silent for a moment, then said, "Xiaoling, please go outside for now."

"Huh?" Ning Xiaoling widened her eyes and complained, "Senior Brother, whenever you're with Master, you always like to send me away!"

Ning Changjiu said, "I need to temper your Master's physique again to help her consolidate her realm. Your presence here, well... it's inconvenient."

Ning Xiaoling looked even more innocent and said, "Senior Brother, if it's convenient for you, why isn't it convenient for me? You... you just want to get rid of me!"

Upon hearing the words "body tempering," Lu Jiajia's body unconsciously grew warm. She seemed to recall something unpleasant, her brows furrowing. The nights in the Peak Master's Hall were etched in her heart, and every memory stirred strange emotions within her.

"I don't need body tempering anymore," Lu Jiajia said calmly.

Ning Changjiu said, "We don't have enough time. Don't be willful."

Lu Jiajia lowered her beautiful head slightly. The sunlight streaming in through the window fell upon her exquisite cheek, and the reflected snow-like glow appeared exceptionally bright.

Ning Xiaoling was still indignant and said, "I want to protect Master!"

"..." Ning Changjiu said, "With Senior Brother here, rest assured."

Ning Xiaoling thought about the huge events that had transpired today, feeling that her only contribution was holding an urn, and now she was being sent away by her Senior Brother again. Her grievance turned into a slight petulance. She said, "I just don't trust Senior Brother! Back then, when Master Jiajia was injured and collapsed at our courtyard gate, you also sent me out to fetch medicine, and I don't know what you were doing alone in the room?"

"?" Even with Ning Changjiu's exceptional composure, being suddenly exposed by Ning Xiaoling at this moment made him choke. He immediately turned his head to Lu Jiajia and said, "Miss Lu, at that time... well... it was actually like this."

Lu Jiajia heard these words but remained impassive.

She sat in the chair as usual, her skin like jade, her neck and back graceful. The black sash around her slender waist accentuated her lithe figure, and her current stillness carried an ethereal, almost otherworldly aura, an unusual quietness.

Her long, half-lowered eyelashes fluttered once before she softly said, "I knew all along."

Ning Xiaoling exclaimed in surprise, "Master... when did Master know?"

Lu Jiajia said, "After I woke up, you brewed a pot of tea for me. Some water had spilled outside the cup, and I knew that such a delicate touch wasn't yours."

Ning Xiaoling was speechless and lowered her head in shame.

Ning Changjiu was slightly stunned, thinking, *Why is it always about brewing tea?*

Ning Changjiu sighed. Seeing that no one else was speaking, he said to ease the awkwardness, "Miss Lu is truly exceptionally intelligent."

Lu Jiajia coldly said, "Call me Master."

Ning Changjiu thought, *Didn't she just say today that we could interact as equals?* But Lu Jiajia seemed to be in a bad mood, so he didn't push it. He obediently called her "Master," then turned his gaze to the culprit.

The young girl, realizing she was the cause of the trouble, immediately said, "Xiaoling will leave now."

"Wait," Ning Changjiu stopped her.

"What is it, Senior Brother?" Ning Xiaoling asked.

Ning Changjiu took a porcelain bottle from the curio shelf and handed it to Ning Xiaoling, saying, "Inside here is a ghost sister, the Little Meng Po who used to sing by the bridge in Linhe City. Take good care of her."

Ning Xiaoling carefully took the small porcelain bottle and exclaimed, "Senior Brother is truly amazing, this golden house hides..."

Ning Changjiu didn't give his Junior Sister a chance to babble on. He walked to her side, covered her mouth, and ushered her out the door.

Lu Jiajia walked to the side, closed the window, lowered the bamboo curtain, and then sat on the edge of the bed, her quiet face turned away.

Her hand went to her waist, and with a delicate hook of her jade fingers, she gently untied the sash. The collar clinging to her back at the nape of her neck loosened and fell slightly, revealing her beautiful, rounded shoulders. She completely turned her back, and her outer robe fell away like a waterfall, piling up like snow around her waist. She grabbed the brocade quilt to cover herself and said in a cool, clear voice, "Begin."

Sunlight filtered through the bamboo curtain, casting distinct lines of light and shadow across her delicate, fragrant back.

In Lotus Town, Twelve Autumns was already dead.

His corpse lay in the lotus boat, which drifted with the wind across the verdant, sky-meeting lotus pond, slowly moving towards the opposite bank.

By the time Shi Wu and the others arrived in Lotus Town, the lotus boat had just docked.

Shi Wu looked at Twelve Autumns' corpse, remaining silent.

Thirteen Yuchens gripped the black-clad youth's clothes, practically dragging him there.

The black-clad youth continuously clutched his head, painful screams erupting from his throat in waves, an agonizing torment as if he were undergoing the death by a thousand cuts.

The townspeople in the streets curiously moved to a distance, observing the newcomers who looked rather sinister.

"Where are you from? What do you want here?" A giant gecko on the rooftop spoke.

"Ah, a dead person, a dead person! They must be here to collect the body," a spotted great frog croaked from across the way.

Shi Wu found this irritating. He extended his hand, and two sharp rays of light emanated from his palm, shooting left and right, piercing through and pulverizing both the gecko and the great frog.

But before long, identical geckos and great frogs crawled out from unknown places. They returned to their original spots, indignantly declaring, "These outsiders are so ill-mannered; they should be fined."

"Yes, a fine."

They continued to chatter noisily.

Thirteen Yuchens watched this scene in astonishment. She specialized in the art of breaking paths, excelling in dispelling illusions, dismantling formations, and countering sword arts. She was certain that this place was enveloped by some formation. She summoned her Dao sword and ascended into the sky, searching for the core of the array.

"Don't bother," a sluggish voice said. In the lotus pond before them, the water's surface began to spin and collapse, forming a massive whirlpool.

From within the whirlpool, a huge dark shadow slowly rose. Then, a strange creature, unlike anything they had ever seen, appeared before them.

It was a terrifying creature, serpentine yet not entirely a snake. Its body was extremely long, half-submerged in the water, revealing only a winding shadow like an ancient dragon. Its raised upper body was peculiar: its central green head was as massive as a boat, with crimson patterns painted beside its vertical pupils. On either side, its enormous body appeared to be stretched open by something, resembling both webs growing on the sides of its abdomen and fins gently fanning like those of a flood dragon.

Upon closer inspection, one could discern four large bumps at each fin-like location, and these bumps were shaped like giant snake skulls. Furthermore, lower down its body, dragon-claw-like appendages seemed on the verge of bursting forth.

"Nine... Nine Infants?" Shi Wu looked at the utterly bizarre creature, counting its heads.

As he met the gaze of those cold, vertical pupils, he could only associate it with a devil.

"No!" The black-clad youth stared at him, screaming hoarsely as immense fear consumed him.