427 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

### Chapter 427: A Fugitives' Path The night was deep and silent. According to the agreement, now should have been the time for the Chu Qin Sect to deliver their goods by flying shuttle. Luo Zi, who had been waiting anxiously outside Yan Gui Mountain, was becoming nervous. "Could something have happened?" She quickly sent someone to report to Yan Nanxing. The 'Transference' operation, which began from Nanchu City and passed through Si Guo Fang, Yan Gui Mountain, Dan Qing Mountain, and He Huan City, eventually reaching the White Mountain Sword Sect's territory in the south, had already been successfully executed three times in the past six months. For the Yan Gui Sect, which relied heavily on its own production and a tenth of the business profits from Jiuxing Fang, this venture, netting a thousand third-grade treasure tokens each time just by transferring goods, was quite a windfall. "Could it be something went wrong?" Yan Nanxing couldn't be sure either, so he personally flew out to investigate. He sensed the Yi Mu Yufeng Shuttle of the Red Cloud Ship hovering just beneath the gale winds near the Lingmu Alliance's border. Several cultivators from the Lingmu Alliance surrounded it, apparently conducting an inspection. "Dare they really?" Yan Nanxing's heart skipped a beat. Their activities, after all, went against the interests of the Wuxing Alliance. Was the Lingmu Alliance already breaking ties and making a move just on the fourth run? Despite this, he had to handle his business. Bracing himself, Yan Nanxing flew over, intending to first ascertain the situation. While the outer parts were guarded by Lingmu cultivators, the gate was manned by authentic Qi Yun sect members, which slightly relieved Yan Nanxing. He approached the gatekeepers for a chat. "Law Enforcement Peak's Execution Sword? On a mission to capture fugitives?" Yan Nanxing inquired about the reason and realized it was a false alarm. After Execution Sword completed the search and departed, he guided the shuttle back to his territory for unloading and transferring to the Dan Alliance. The Lingmu cultivators outside merely watched the excitement without causing any commotions. ... Gazing at the shuttle moving south, Execution Sword pondered silently. "Jiang Yan's whereabouts have been exposed multiple times, each closer to Xing Shi Valley. However, if he were heading to Xing Shi Valley from the south of White Mountain, he wouldn't necessarily have to pass through Jiuxing Fang. Moreover, it's unlikely that the Chu Qin Sect would dare to cover for him." A nearby law enforcement cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage, an elderly man with an air of wisdom, offered a reminder. "I'm aware. I just seized the opportunity for a convenient check." Despite Execution Sword's high status, he was very respectful to the old man. "In any case, we've set up a net around Xing Shi Valley, with the support of the Patriarch's secret treasure. This time, we'll definitely capture that Jiang Yan!" The old man nodded, summoning a large white cloud that appeared in mid-air. He and Execution Sword entered, and with a flash, the cloud vanished again. ... "There's danger—we can't head towards Xing Shi Valley anymore!" About a fathom deep underground, the Ghost Spider, carrying Jiang Yan, was using an earth-element secret method to find a hiding spot. It suddenly changed course, accelerating northward. "Are we not going to Xing Shi Valley anymore?" Jiang Yan asked. "We can't. Now that I've replenished my corpse energy, traces of my foresight techniques have returned. This path is inauspicious—we must go the opposite direction, away from Xing Shi Valley, and settle down quickly!" "But..." Jiang Yan's face turned grim. "Heading north from here would lead us back to the Chu Qin Sect territory. Are we really going to circle back to Shandu Mountain to hide? The chaotic spiritual energy there makes it impossible for me to cultivate!" The Ghost Spider did not respond, simply pressing forward. ... A faint protective barrier sealed off the world outside. Standing tall between the heavens and the earth was a grand third-grade sect gate. Most of the buildings inside were devoid of light, and people were sparse. After the Development War, a post-Foundation Establishment family occupied this place. The spiritual land was even better than Si Guo Mountain, yet it didn't require a Golden Core cultivator to maintain the sect. This was partly due to this cultivator's significant contributions during the Development War, and partly because the Lingmu Alliance, after its major expansion, had plenty of lands but lacked people. As a result, they were generous with their allocations. Years ago, this late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator died outside of Si Guo Mountain. His lineage was small to begin with, and recently, many were conscripted to the south to aid in the war efforts of the Ruijin and Houtu alliances. These departures left their home protection weak, and they could only rely on activating their mountain-protecting formation. The lands acquired during the Development War were snatched from the wilderness beasts, and beast troubles still occasionally occurred. Decades later, the surrounding area had only expanded with three small villages, each protected by thick wooden barricades. "Hm?" Deep underground nearby the sect gate, debris softly descended as the Ghost Spider poked its head out, expressing an aged exclamation. Initially planning to excavate a resting burrow nearby, he inadvertently discovered an underground tunnel. "What is this?" The tunnel was narrow, only allowing two people abreast. The Ghost Spider's myriad eyes flickered as they gazed into the dim depths, wary of potential dangers. "Something's odd?" Jiang Yan inquired. "Though this cave seems naturally formed, I sense human intervention." The Ghost Spider hesitated briefly but chose to explore. "I feel the opportunity to escape pursuit lies here!" "Wan Gu, what were you before? The more corpses gas you absorb, the more you act like a clairvoyant!" Jiang Yan teased, calling the Ghost Spider by its name. "Just a minor skill. My true abilities lie in… Ah, the past is too difficult to revisit, let's not talk about it..." Wan Gu sighed. He never discussed his past, and Jiang Yan was joking. They pressed on, man and spider, slowly navigating the underground maze filled with dead-ends. Wan Gu, in his Ghost Spider form, moved freely, occasionally dispatching blood bats, harvesting their corpse energy. After enduring years in hiding underground, Jiang Yan had grown patient. Together with Wan Gu, they continued their exploration. ... Half a year passed. In addition to its ongoing transference business, the Chu Qin Sect, due to the intense inspections by Qifu City on southern cultivators, found that Si Guo Fang and Hei He Fang had reached unprecedented prosperity. Shops frequently saw unfamiliar cultivators appear, no prominent in level but lavish in spending. The prices for fighting tools, healing, and qi restoration elixirs skyrocketed, especially flying swords, which were snapped up immediately. The market faced severe shortages, and auction houses became fevered battlegrounds. Even rare treasures were increasingly purchased solely to prevent them from falling into the hands of southern sword cultivators, with the Wuxing Alliance driving bidding wars to irrational heights. The anticipated war by the residents of White Mountain had yet to arrive. The reinforcement troops from Lingmu and Li Huo, stationed with their southern allies, enjoyed a relaxed demeanor with leave permits for exploring White Mountain's southern sights, seemingly forgetting their original purpose. At Jiuxing Fang, Execution Sword grew restless commanding the manhunt. His subordinates, loaned from Law Enforcement Peak, wished to return home, their discontent fulminating beneath his control. Wan Gu and Jiang Yan plumbed the depths further—each step more biting cold, devoid of life. No bats or similar creatures remained. "This place rings a bell…" Jiang Yan mused. Turning around, Wan Gu's spider eyes gazed at him. "Oh? Why didn't you mention it earlier?" "I vaguely remember my father talking about it when I was a child. Before my mother married him, they visited this place during the Development War," Jiang Yan recalled. Memories of his father, mistreated and belittled in the Jiang family, and his mother killed by Nangong Yanran, kindled a flash of hatred in Jiang Yan's eyes. "This place should be North Dingshen Mountain. My father's description matches exactly, both in environment and direction. They were once driven here to assist when a notable Da Zhou Academy cultivator fell. Many Chu Qin Sect members reportedly died here. My father, seeking safety, stayed hidden in a cave and wasn't well-regarded for it afterward…" "A ghost cultivator? Tell me more." Wan Gu was intrigued. Unfortunately, Jiang Mingrong had been more concerned with surviving, knowing little of the specifics. Though Jiang Yan could recount the gist, that was all he knew. "An important Da Zhou Academy figure? Intriguing…" Wan Gu's interest in the discovery grew. Three days later, having reached what seemed a dead end, a discreet, mottled jade wall barred their way. It was no illusion, but camouflaged so superbly it merged with the cave walls. Only Wan Gu's keen perception had spotted it; anyone but him—even a Golden Core—might consider it a dead path and turn back. Wan Gu's pathfinding acumen, subterranean traversal technique, and intuitive sense were the keys to reaching this place. "This would be a fine storage spot, if not something else…" Regarding the jade wall, Wan Gu hesitated. "I've lost the ability to sense beyond here, yet initially, I can't be wrong—beyond this wall, our escape surely lies." (To be continued…)