471 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

Chapter 471: Teaming Up to Catch Jiang Yan Since the day Qin Changfeng rose to fame at Baishan, people had fixed their impression of him with these eight words: "As bright as a woman, treading upon the stars." He consistently lived up to this reputation, growing stronger with each passing day. Whether it was his speed of cultivation, his understanding of daoist techniques, his combat prowess, or his looks and temperament, he was always top-notch. He was the first non-monomaniacal Core Formation cultivator since the Chu-Qin Sect's southward move, the first to comprehend the supernatural art of dodging, the first to marry into a divine family, and he hailed from the commoner affluence lineage, the Youshan Qin family. If he was previously known as the darling of the Chu-Qin Sect, he had now unquestionably become one of its main pillars. His Core Formation ceremony could neither be humble nor unnoticed. Personally organized by Nangong Yanran, the event spanned from the entrance of Siguo City to the grand temple at the top of Siguo Mountain, with a path paved from low-grade cloud bricks, accompanied by ethereal celestial music, transforming the entirety of Siguo Mountain into a vibrant and revitalized place. All reusable canopies, tables, chairs, musical instruments like bells, drums, and zithers were discarded, and high-quality materials were sourced from various regions, crafted strictly according to the style of the Qin Nan merchants to be as exquisite and transcendental as possible. With only three days left until the ceremony and her vision of the perfect event still far from realization, Nangong managed preparations without rest, conscripting You Qing'er, Kan Xuan, and others in her frantic endeavors, even enlisting the help of elders like Mo Jianxin and She Yishan to the point of exhaustion. "I’ll show you rustic Baishan folks the class and grandeur of the Qin Nan lineage," she mused while reviewing the guest list, prioritizing childhood friends in her invitations. Noting that their husbands’ achievements in cultivation were all inferior to her own husband, she couldn’t help but feel proud. "Hmm?" When she noticed a certain childhood rival who had married into the Ximeng Sect now displaced and residing with her husband in a small retreat in Qin Nan City, she discreetly laughed and personally wrote an invitation to be delivered immediately. While she busied herself with preparations outside, little did Nangong know that the atmosphere within the sect master’s quarters was quite tense. "No! Absolutely not! I can’t possibly agree to this!" Qi Xiu’s angry roar had just subsided when Qin Changfeng, sitting below, looked quite displeased. It turned out there had been developments regarding the Beiding Shenshan matter. While the details of their power struggles were unknown, the Nangong family had, as Qi Xiu predicted, conceded a step backward. Now the situation was such that Lu Yunzi coordinated the four forces of Beiding Shenshan—the Nangong family of Qin Nan, the enforcement peak of the Qiyun Sect, Dazhou Academy’s Gui Gu sect, and Dazhou Academy’s Gui Ru sect—to form a team supposedly tasked with capturing Jiang Yan and the ghost cultivators, ostensibly handling the issue collaboratively. This configuration averted immediate intensification of conflict among the parties, especially between the enforcement peak and the Nangong family. Nominally, they were out to capture Jiang Yan, but in truth, one faction genuinely aimed to capture Jiang Yan while the other intended to capture He Yu; everyone understood the arrangement. Simultaneously, it was a rather passive solution, with Lu Yunzi resolving nothing; once this pursuit group embarked on their mission, it was likely the infighting among them would truly begin. However, as long as they didn't stir trouble near Qiyun, the sect master considered his job done—dealing with four divine forces, none of whom were easy to manage, was beyond him. The team composition was still being coordinated. The Gui Ru sect’s choice was still unknown, rumored to be led by a Nascent Soul cultivator. The Gui Gu sect selected Ji Jiaqian, a female Nascent Soul cultivator who led post-war awards in the past. The Nangong family unsurprisingly assigned Nangong Zhi, and the enforcement peak sent Jin Jian, an early-stage Core Formation cultivator true to his intent to catch Jiang Yan, unlike the others whose motivations clearly lay elsewhere; three Nascent Souls sent to catch a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator was far-fetched. Additionally, several related parties such as Jiang Yan’s family, the Jiang family in Qiyun, the host Lingmu Alliance of the Beiding Shenshan, and the site of Jiang Yan’s acts of homicide, the Heihe peak led by the Chu-Qin Alliance, among other smaller factions, were all tasked with supporting roles. They were to provide scouting, relay information, and form subsidiary cultivator factions to aid the main forces. This task troubled Qi Xiu greatly, yet Qin Changfeng actively volunteered to partake. "Jiang Yan once carved the names of ten people at the base of the Shandu Mountain, swearing vengeance upon them. The tenth is you, Brother, and the first is my wife, Yanran. If we don't kill this menace, there will be consequences. I’ve pledged to vanquish him myself. Now that I’ve achieved Core Formation and this opportunity presents itself, many Nascent Soul seniors are leading; with my 'Star Evasion' to protect me, would it not be safe? Why should I not be allowed to go?" Qin Changfeng could not comprehend and, for the first time in his life, felt compelled to defy Qi Xiu, having always obediently listened before. "It's not that simple—the teleportation array at one end has been destroyed. A primordial expert of the Dazhou Academy probed the spatial transmission traces, roughly determining a location in the distant northwest near a semi-wild region. This journey not only risks attacks from ancient beasts but it's even more hazardous considering teammates could turn hostile at any moment. The Nangong family will not share He Yu's secret, likely related to the teleporter with the Gui Gu faction, and the Gui Ru faction is keen on exposing their plot. To be amidst these tumultuous undercurrents is exceedingly dangerous." “There are complex underlying details you do not understand,” Qi Xiu explained. “She Yishan, being not long for this world and repeatedly snubbed by the Fa Yin Sect, wishes to venture out one last time before he dies. If he is lost outside, I will offer considerable compensation to the Yuanhe Mountain She family. I’ve made arrangements with him: he will lead some brave scattered cultivators we recently recruited, purely as a nominal gesture." Qin Changfeng still wouldn’t budge, and after further dispute, Qi Xiu lost his temper, "Have you forgotten how Zhan Chou died? Because he was single-mindedly fixated on vengeance, it led to him being trapped, and Paniao died in the valley, Qi Zhuang Mianzhen went far away, and I was gravely injured. From then on, I regretted indulging him—if I had not, we wouldn't have suffered that painful outcome! It makes no difference; if you insist on going this time, I will expel you from the Chu-Qin sect. You and Yanran could go live with the Nangong family; do not recognize me as the sect master!" Faced with such stern words, Qin Changfeng, fundamentally not someone who would obstinately defy till the end, finally abandoned the thought of participating, even turning back to apologize to Qi Xiu. Thus, a dispute was firmly subdued by Qi Xiu, dissipated without any trace, unknown to the outside world, including Nangong Yanran. Three days later, a grand Core Formation ceremony was held with much fanfare. When the day for the team to capture Jiang Yan arrived, She Yishan led over a dozen newly accepted Baishan itinerant cultivators, alongside several willing peripheral cultivators from the Chu-Qin Alliance, to partake in the mission heading northwest. However, this event also sparked another development. Near Lianshui City, an "Yi Wood Wind Vessel" hovered silently in the sky, giving the appearance of an empty ship awaiting docking for maintenance despite its bustling interior. Occupied by numerous lower-tier cultivators busily moving about, a few Core Formation cultivators gathered near the central formation for discussions, dressed predominantly in Lianshui Sect attire, naturally led by the Lianshui Alliance and Lianshui Sect master, Shui Lingyi. “Now that the Teng family has firmly established themselves and the Xi Meng mountain route has reopened, Chai Yi is entangled with that Beiding Shenshan chaos. This is a heaven-sent opportunity—our time for the northward migration is today!” After Shui Lingyi’s spirited declaration, a flurry of voices expressed their agreement. "Finally, the day has come!" "We must proceed quickly; those in our alliance will notice our disappearance eventually!" "Right, if others from our alliance find out before we succeed, they might retaliate against our disciples and families!" "Let them try! Once we become part of the Qiyun lineage, they won’t dare touch our mortal kin!" As the discussion derailed, Shui Lingyi interrupted, “Enough of what’s been settled long before! Ready yourselves! It’d be ridiculous if we couldn’t seize an ownerless third-level mountain.” United in response, the group dispersed to rest, while Shui Lingyi executed a spell to maneuver the ship, directing it towards Heihe Market. Upon arrival, she disembarked alone, entering the largest storefront of the Wanbao Pavilion there. “Where’s your master?” In the secret chamber, Shui Lingyi was slightly displeased to see the person waiting was merely a Foundation Establishment practitioner supervising in her master’s absence. “Master had urgent matters, leaving me to deliver this to the senior.” The acolyte handed over a token, immediately easing Shui Lingyi’s mind upon recognizing it as Wanbao Pavilion’s promised permit for operating large vessels within Qiyun territory. Cutting the pleasantries short, she thanked them and swiftly departed. The vessel then navigated westwards, crossing Heihe and Qiyun borders, advancing towards Xi Meng Mountain quietly. Upon landing outside Xi Meng Mountain, all Lianshui Sect personnel disembarked, ready to be scrutinized according to regulations by the Teng family. Unsurprisingly, the Lianshui Sect was now the neighbor of the new Teng family rulers of Xi Meng Mountain; given their strength disparity, a temporary stance of submission was necessary. Since the Teng family’s occupation, swift renovations or similar activities had left the place bustling. Shui Lingyi, witnessing her thousands of sect members disembark in grandeur while Teng's people pretended not to notice, found it peculiar. She approached a gatekeeping Teng disciple, asking, “Could you inform the elder that Shui Lingyi of Lianshui Sect requests an audience?” “What message should I pass along?” The Lianshui Sect emissary, a mere Qi Refining greeter, projected an air of arrogance as he loudly proclaimed, “What Lianshui Sect? Never heard of it. Do you think our ancestor is someone you can simply demand to see? Do you know the rules? Have you even submitted a formal request?” His loud and pompous attitude riled up the Lianshui disciples, known for their fiery tempers as Baishan cultivators, who were keen on retaliating—only to be forcibly restrained by the Core Formation cultivators. Shui Lingyi maintained her composure despite the provocation; years of dealings with the Teng family had never resulted in such rudeness. Why was it happening today of all days? Faced with no other option but to follow protocol, she submitted the formal request and waited with her thousands of followers for two to three hours, until finally, a young female Core Formation cultivator emerged to speak. “The ancestor is aware. Proceed as you wish.” She succinctly conveyed the message and promptly disappeared into the mountain-protecting formation. Was that it? Confused glances were exchanged among the Lianshui members. In other attempts to seize a third-level mountain gate, the Teng family had always sent overseers. Why was it unexpectedly smooth this time? “There’s something fishy going on.” An elder Core Formation cultivator whispered to Shui Lingyi. “Could we be falling into a trap?” “Surely not? A Nascent Soul family can’t possibly go back on their word, right?” As the sect’s Core Formation cultivators deliberated, they couldn’t arrive at a conclusion. "Indeed, there’s something odd, but we can't turn back now!” sighed Shui Lingyi. With no room for doubt, she decisively ordered the thousands of Lianshui members to rise into the air and charge toward their target mountain gate. “I remind you once more! This is Qiyun, not Baishan. There must be no casualties, absolutely no casualties!” As they neared the silhouette of what would be their new main peak, Shui Lingyi finally relaxed a bit. The area was quiet, showing no signs of interference. Again and again, she reminded everyone of Qiyun’s rules. Upon closer inspection, she noticed a newly installed protective array enveloping the mountain, with numerous figures bustling inside. "Recently, there were only some scattered and destitute cultivators around; how are there so many people now!?" "Whose audacity is this, trying to snatch what’s ours!?" Shouts of indignation arose among them, and Shui Lingyi wasted no time declaring, “Fan out, form the attack formation!” Without hesitating, they executed the practiced maneuvers. Thousands of Lianshui disciples swiftly surrounded half of the mountain gate, retrieving various formation instruments, siege tools, talismanic devices, and other preparations for the final assault. “Who are the cultivators inside? Come out and speak! This site has already been allocated to the Lianshui Sect. I advise you to vacate at once, or don’t blame us for drawing blood with our flying swords!” She flew close to the mountain gate, exuding the pressure of her Core Formation presence, her command resounding all around, showcasing her leadership authority. “Bull!” Another cultivator emerged from within, a late-stage Foundation Establishment, boldly wearing the attire of the disbanded Ximeng Sect. “The surroundings of Ximeng Mountain have been our ancestral territory for generations. You thieves have plundered everything and still won’t leave us this last refuge. Do you still claim to be righteous?” “Hmm, remnants of the Ximeng Sect. Nothing more to discuss then, attack!” Regardless of the tearful and poignant accusations, Shui Lingyi remained unmoved. The area outside the gate exploded with action—a riot of colorful attacks launched, complemented by formidable military array techniques held in reserve, reserved only to prevent breakthroughs and avoid unnecessary fatalities. “Something’s not right.” After a mere half-hour of intense assault, several formation-savvy Lianshui cultivators grew anxious. "This is a highly complex fourth-tier array—it’s too formidable!" Surveying the scene, Shui Lingyi saw it too. All attacks merely scratched the surface of the protective white barrier like an itch, leaving not a trace. She immediately ordered an increase in efforts. The three-thousand-strong Lianshui forces mobilized, releasing colossal ice spears that fell like rain, huge siege beasts, mechanical puppets, and high-power talismans activated one by one, turning the fresh green mountainside into scorched black earth in an instant. Inside, Ximeng Sect cultivators shouted and fussed, while their formation shuddered under the relentless barrage. Yet Shui Lingyi calculated that a full capture would drag on indefinitely—quite a worry, given their position in Qiyun. Many passing cultivators, witnessing the assault flames, came over to inquire. Though permit explanations appeased them quickly, as long as Lianshui remained outsiders in Baishan, not everyone was keen to leave. Instead, local Qiyun cultivators stayed afar, ensuring all within the mountain remained unharmed. Dawn turned to dusk, and so the cycle repeated across three days of futile assaults, the insiders seemingly as vibrant as ever. With more Qiyun onlookers gathering, voicing opinions about outsiders assaulting local mountain gates, and some even threatening to rally their ancestors for justice—although no elders had yet surfaced—the longer it dragged on, the more precarious the situation grew. Shui Lingyi couldn't remain idle and ordered intensified attacks before heading towards Qiyun Mountain in pursuit of Wanguan Tian’s help. Upon reaching Qiyun, she sought Wanguan Tian, only to be told he was sequestered in seclusion. Turning to Pei Wen resulted in the same; gone to visit friends. “Then convey a message to the Gao family—I request an audience with Gao Hetong, Master Gao.” “That’s rich, are you just planning on going down a list of ancestors?” The Qiyun gate greeter seemed displeased, his inquiry prompting a ripple of amusement among other waiting cultivators. “Um…” During her years as a sect leader, Shui Lingyi had nearly lost her patience yet forced a smile, “Just Master Gao—the last one.” After a protracted wait, the Gao family returned saying Gao Hetong, along with Pei Wen, left for social visits. "Do I look like a toddler? Ever since Gao Guangsheng died in Qifu City, that old fox, Gao Hetong, hasn’t stepped out of the Qiyun mountains!" At this realization of developing circumstances, with all significant figures purposefully avoiding her, Shui Lingyi felt a chill spread through her body, her teeth clenched with resentment. With no other recourse, she had to return, the siege still underway, while even more curious Qiyun cultivators gathered to observe. “What news?” Her people's hopeful eyes all turned to her, to whom she offered no words of surrender. “Keep attacking, push further!” was all she could muster for their spirits. “If they’re avoiding me, I’ll force them to intervene!” She vowed silently. Another ten days wore on; the Baishan cultivators exhibited their characteristic battle prowess, their explosive attacks growing more refined. The cultivators within the array, though dealing with a mighty fourth-tier barrier, began visibly waning due to insufficient resources—a precarious state. “Hold on!” Just as victory seemed near, an elderly Nascent Soul cultivator flew in from the north, ordinary in appearance, hunched as he spoke, “I am Jiang Huan of Qiyun, relaying a directive from Sect Master Lu Yunzi. Although the Ximeng Sect has erred, it doesn’t warrant annihilation. Let them retain a foothold here; cease pursuing and attacking.” With this abrupt declaration, the watching Qiyun cultivators cheered, while the Lianshui disciples felt the world spin beneath their feet. “Sect Master! This…this…” The thousands of gazes of all sizes zeroed in on Shui Lingyi, who, surprisingly, laughed, offering Jiang Huan a respectful bow, loudly praising, “Such righteousness befits Qiyun’s virtue; our Lianshui Sect reveres it fervently, yearning to affiliate. Today’s display by your esteemed master speaks of integrity and benevolence. In that case, we shall depart at once!” With that, leading her thousands of disciples, tears brimming, she cried, “We’re returning to Baishan, farewell!” (To Be Continued)