514 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

Chapter 514: Chu Wuying Takes a Risk In the glaring sunlight, the sheer cliffs of Moyun Lone Mountain stood barren and lifeless, overlooking the majestic XingShi Valley like a towering giant. Year after year, the unceasing roar of waterfalls filled the air. "Bang!" Suddenly, a crisp explosion echoed from the sky above the cliff. Invisible and colorless spiritual energy surged violently, causing the waterfall and river to scatter and blow skyward, filling the air with a misty spray. Atop the cliff, a massive spotted copper-striped hyena appeared, its back arched and vicious eyes fixed on the explosion’s center, emitting a low growl, ready to pounce at any moment. "Poof!" Under the gaze of the hyena, a one-armed Nascent Soul cultivator coughed up blood, appearing unsteadily in mid-air. His escape technique had been shattered, leaving him devoid of fighting spirit. Shouting "Run!" he mustered his remaining spiritual energy and bolted towards the valley. Ahead, numerous flying insects were slowly gathering. In the intense sunlight, their glow was muted, appearing only as a hazy mass. The hyena suddenly quieted, circled the cliff top several times, then gave up the chase and silently returned to its lair. Taking advantage of the shadow cast by the mist, Chu Wuying revealed himself unhurriedly. He glanced in the direction where the hyena had vanished, then turned his gaze to the insects. "Seen you again," he said, recalling his previous journey to XingShi Valley and his companions, Zhan Qiu and Pan Jialuo... A flicker of fear crossed his eyes but was soon replaced by a resolute coldness. "The hyena's not chasing anymore. Let's stop and heal first!" he shouted towards the one-armed Nascent Soul flying away. "As expected, you know your way around here well." Unexpectedly, the one-armed Nascent Soul hadn’t gone far. He was hiding using an escape technique behind a large boulder by the river. Hearing the shout, he emerged, clutching his chest, and remarked with a meaningful look, "There's talk that the Chu Qin Sect came to the valley for vengeance, only for the Beast Master Sect's Nascent Soul to perish within. It's said this place is a death trap for others but a back garden for someone from the Chu Qin Sect to come and go freely. Is this true?" Despite his injuries, he seemed unconcerned, gazing at Chu Wuying with an amused expression. "How could that be!" Chu Wuying shook his head with a bitter smile. "The Chu Qin Sect is small. We've lost a long-standing elder and a guest elder, both golden core cultivators, to the valley. Severe losses. It's no garden, just a place visited often enough to learn some tricks. By the way..." He clasped his hands in salute to the one-armed Nascent Soul. "Thank you, senior, for risking your life to divert the hyena's attention for me." "You're welcome." The one-armed Nascent Soul waved his hand, indicating it was no trouble, his gaze lingering on the insect swarm. "Since you know the way, I’ll entrust my life to you. Are we moving along the valley? What about those flying insects ahead, are they dangerous?" "Non-hierarchical creatures, nothing to worry about." Chu Wuying took the lead, flying straight towards the bugs. "Senior, to be honest, we don’t know each other that well. In this crisis, your care surprises me." "It's only right. Without you, I couldn't enter this safe place," the one-armed Nascent Soul replied casually. "Heh, as the saying goes, a wise rabbit has three burrows. When I started in this assassination business, I planned plenty of escape routes. Haven't you done the same, working for so many years?" Chu Wuying flew leisurely, speaking with a slick tone, seemingly quite pleased with himself. "The situation arose too suddenly." Under the veil of his black cloth mask, the one-armed Nascent Soul frowned. "I remember you as a reticent person. Why so talkative today?" His tone had grown noticeably colder. As they drew closer, the insect swarm began to shift, forming a familiar silver curtain that slowly unfurled towards them. "When thinking too much, naturally one speaks more." Chu Wuying's eyes flashed with a sharp light. "Still, I wonder, why was I conveniently sent away when the Bihu incident happened?" His question ended with a burst of killing intent, unreservedly locking onto the one-armed Nascent Soul. "Killers normally avoid contact after a mission. Why stick with me, even protecting me at risk? You rejected my first few hideouts but plunged into XingShi Valley without hesitation. Why?" "Hmph!" Irritated, the one-armed Nascent Soul released his pressure, dispersing Chu Wuying’s killing aura. "Taking my kindness for ill intent, how ungrateful!" Under the oppressive force, Chu Wuying was forced to the ground, yet he continued, "What purpose do you have entering the valley with me? Why was I sent away during the Bihu incident, and why were the targets nonexistent? Isn’t this coincidence too perfect for your usually accurate intelligence?" "You truly lack gratitude..." Under the relentless questioning, the one-armed Nascent Soul was silent, finally sneering. "Does it bother you when others are kind? As a mere golden core, just guide me and curb that curiosity." "The Chu family lost many lives at Bihu. Blood cannot flow without price!" Glancing behind the one-armed Nascent Soul, Chu Wuying rolled into a shaded spot, maximizing his concealment technique. “Such ingratitude! Even with great inherent skill, you can’t escape me!” On the verge of action, the one-armed Nascent Soul suddenly felt intense fear, trusting his instincts that his life was at stake. Quickly shielding himself, he tried to summon his treasure, but it was too late. A slumbering lion apparition gently sniffed from behind... He felt his soul quiver, everything going dark, losing consciousness. ‘Thud.’ A dull sound spread as the one-armed body fell beside Chu Wuying. Chu Wuying dared not move, holding his breath and closing his eyes, like a corpse lying under the trees. An incense stick, two incense sticks passed... Time seemed to crawl. After an hour, he opened his eyes. The sky was clear, waters trickled gently, and the swarm of insects had dispersed as if nothing had happened, but the one-armed Nascent Soul's body lay there, evidence of the old lion's visit. "I gambled right!" Risking his life, betting the old lion would attack a Nascent Soul first, Chu Wuying's scheme succeeded, pressure gone. "Though I may never learn his intentions, following me into the valley, I’ve avenged Chu Shen in my way!" Thinking this, he approached the one-armed corpse, searching it to find many small items but no storage bag. "Strange, where did he keep his things?" Carefully rechecking it all yielded nothing. "Could it have been taken by the lion?" Unable to find anything, he resigned, disposed of the body, and oriented himself to continue along the familiar path. The previously cleared obstacles were now reclaimed by ferocious beasts. Fighting his way to the fringes of deeper territory, he bore several new wounds. "Hello." Unexpectedly, an oversized mole-like Earthwind Beast cavorted above ground. They recognized each other and, anxious yet unsure how to communicate, Chu Wuying clasped his hands and greeted it. The Earthwind Beast acknowledged him with a paw wave. Remembering the Chu Qin Sect's assistance in clearing subterranean dangerous soil, Chu Wuying thought, "This is promising." "I'm seeking refuge, a hideout..." He conveyed his intentions verbally and mentally. Eventually, the Earthwind Beast understood and led the way. Near the periphery of the deep territory edge, not far from where the Blood Blade was hunted, it found a cave and entered. Emerging shortly with a felled spotted leopard, the beast demonstrated feasting, indicating the place was his. The cave surprisingly held spiritual energy, somewhat comparable to mid or high second-tier. Chu Wuying thanked it again. Concepts like grace weren’t understood by the Earthwind Beast; it ate quickly, consuming the cave's unfortunate prior owner before waving goodbye and darting back to its domain. "If my suspicions are right, the organization likely did partake in the Bihu affair. As an implicated member, returning home seems impossible. Is this cave to be my lifelong refuge?" The cave wasn't deep. As he tidied up, Chu Wuying pondered, "Huh?" On the wall, he found marks of sword slashes and soon more traces. "These scorched marks, seemingly fire spells," he noted, realizing, "these resemble Gu Rong's methods. Could his treasures last time hail from here?"