205 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 205: Warning Even if it was confirmed that the disciple practiced malevolent techniques, it wasn't such a significant matter. On the long, arduous path to immortality, being tempted by side paths isn't unusual for a few cultivators. However, the methods of Yu Cang Mountain were truly vicious! When Huai Ye initially mentioned the malevolent arts, it seemed nonsensical to most, and few took her words seriously. Now with Zhu Yun stepping in, it was clear this was a meticulously crafted trap. Fu Wenyao found himself unable to reproach them for being underhanded, as the elder disciple's clothing was unique in material, with sect symbols that couldn’t be faked. It was unlikely that Zhu's family inflicted the fatal wound themselves — the person was indeed killed by one of his disciples, who possibly swallowed a piece of the spiritual garment to hide it. Zhu's family treated the Tai Xu Sect members as honored guests, only to be repaid in such a manner, which understandably enraged Zhu Yun. In this elaborate plot they devised, every maneuver was aimed at implicating Tai Xu Sect in the murder, making them seem like habitual offenders attempting to escape justice using their influence once again. Both Yu Cang Mountain and Tian Ji Sect threw out a diversion at this time, successfully attracting the lurking wolves on the sidelines. Those who had shared resources were eager to humble Tai Xu Sect. Big or small, the issue was still leverage, and as long as they could seize the right to control the core area from Tai Xu Sect, it was considered a gain. As for the lost lives? That was secondary. The families of the victims were undoubtedly angry, and even those whose members weren't directly harmed were stirred into action. They all presumed Yu Cang Mountain was seizing an opportunity to ally with other sects to suppress the arrogant Tai Xu Sect. Fu Wenyao held the same opinion just moments ago. In the cultivation world, the focus is always on refining oneself with the hope of one day scaling the heavenly ladder. Despite continuous conflicts, plans to annihilate a sect remain rare. The intrinsic characteristics of sects make it almost impossible to completely overthrow them, let alone destroy one as esteemed and well-established as Tai Xu Sect. With its thousand-year tradition, Tai Xu Sect's existence was common knowledge. Even Fu Wenyao initially viewed Yu Cang Mountain’s provocation as yet another skirmish over the distribution of the resources in the core area. Fu Wenyao wasn’t careless when he found himself ensnared. He simply couldn't fathom why the two sects and one estate would be resolute about eradicating Tai Xu Sect. The cultivators sought only to scrutinize Tai Xu Sect carelessly, disgracing them from their adjudication seat when done, but Fu Wenyao knew too well what was within Tai Xu Sect. Numerous disciples practicing the Vein Severing Treasure Manuscript had their bans lifted in the cultivation world’s eyes, which could potentially lead to Tai Xu Sect's ruin, down to his own ruin, having practiced the same! And that unknown thief still had Gu Qin Song as an unplayed card. Fu Wenyao couldn’t comprehend why, growing more anxious. He could only think of his former master, whom he had tortured and tormented over the years. But the Qin family born from Gu Qin Song’s escapee son had long been eradicated, and the one boy who survived died sixty years ago… That boy once was the eldest disciple of Yue Hua Jun. Those currently in power were either his senior or junior sisters. Could it all tie back to those old connections? If they believed Yue Hua Jun's disappearance and Qin Miao’s death were Tai Xu Sect's doing and sought revenge, then they were woefully mistaken. Those events did occur near Tai Xu Sect but had no association with them. After years of experience, Fu Wenyao's expression remained unchanged even when confronted before more than half of the cultivation world's key figures. He coldly scanned those seated in silence: “Indeed, that person perished suddenly the day before, but cultivation mishaps happen frequently. Crafting spiritual garments is difficult, and basing accusations solely on this wouldn't hold. Moreover, the timings of the victims' deaths diverge, showing they might not all share the same culprit.” “I assure you, Tai Xu Sect will bring justice to the wronged and thoroughly investigate this matter.” “Mere words are untrustworthy. We trust Sect Leader Fu simply overlooked that spiritual garment. However, since the disciple is from your sect, it's best to investigate alongside other sects to avoid gossip.” Lian Long chuckled contentedly. “...Such audacity. They must know very well what an in-depth investigation would reveal.” Fu Wenyao smirked slightly, “How about this, the deceased belonged to the Zhu family, and the complaints are from Yu Cang Mountain and Tian Ji Sect. The two sects and one estate, along with our Tai Xu Sect, should collectively investigate. It would be ideal if this matter could be resolved before the core area handover.” Having said this, those eager to join the investigation fell silent. Fu Wenyao's words implied that if the investigation wasn’t concluded before the two sects transitioned control, Tai Xu Sect wouldn’t interfere with the division of the core area. Thus, fewer people involved meant possibly more time. “Very well, let it be so.” Huai Ye glanced at the silent Tian Ji, seeing the elder nod, she agreed. Upon adjournment, Zhu Yun and Zhu Yu couldn't leave quickly enough, appearing especially eager. Huai Ye attempted to stop them in confusion, but Fu Wenyao's voice called from behind, “Master Huai Ye, please stay.” Zhu Yun shot her a glance, bowing to Lian Long as she passed Yu Cang Mountain's delegation. Master Lian Long pretended not to see the sisters, his typical smiling face stiff. Behind him, Elder Yi Shi bowed his head awkwardly in recognition. With Fu Wenyao standing beside Huai Ye, many strained to hear, yet few dared linger openly to eavesdrop. Lian Long and Jing Shan stood protectively on both sides, exuding authority. With a smile not meeting his eyes, Fu Wenyao began, “Why isn’t Lord Ruo Shui present?” “...Does Sect Leader Fu have a preference for my junior sister's company?” Huai Ye’s wooden face forced a perfunctory smile. “I thought Sect Leader Fu wanted to promptly discuss the investigation with us.” Fu Wenyao ignored the comment, “Left midway. Is there something urgent to tend to?” “I'm afraid that has nothing to do with Sect Leader Fu?” Seeing Huai Ye growing anxious, Lian Long reached out to pull her behind him. Fu Wenyao pressed on, “Where was Lord Ruo Shui on the night Tai Xu Sect was attacked?” “…Is Sect Leader Fu trying to pin what's beyond his investigative capability onto my disciples?” Lian Long Daoist stood firm before Huai Ye, blocking Fu Wenyao's descending aura perfectly. “A dual spiritual root Nascent Soul expert is rare indeed. Is there something shameful about it?” Hearing her sarcasm and insinuations, Fu Wenyao hmmphed coldly and withdrew, “I have no intention of entangling with you further; just a warning not to be unsuspecting pawns.” Without further explanations, the man departed, leaving behind his anger. Huai Ye, still catching her breath, heard her ancestor speak calmly, “Tai Xu Sect indeed harbors secrets. Who knows what might surface? Where has He He gone?” “Whatever it is, wouldn’t it be beneficial to weaken them a little? Less obstruction, after all.” “If it’s merely injury, it's of no concern. But shaking their foundation brings no gain.” “Why?” With a firm tap on Huai Ye's forehead, Lian Long offered no further words, merely glancing at the silent Jing Shan with an ironic smirk, “Do you have any insights?” “Some speculations, unworthy to mention.” The newly instated Tian Ji gave no quarter. “Not a place for further discussion.” “…A congregation of secretive gourds.” Lian Long massaged her temples. Entrusting the vast Yu Cang Mountain to Li Huai earned her temporary peace, but she didn’t expect her eldest apprentice to adopt her hands-off approach. At least she waited until Li Huai and his disciples matured before stepping back, unlike Li Huai, who left Huai Ye with no support, practically forcing her to stay on Yu Cang Mountain. The vendetta marked from sixty to three hundred sixty years matured, leaving Lian Long devoid of carefree days. Her apprentice wasn't very bright. If Lian Long had her way, Xiang Shi Yan’s sinister second disciple should be the head, using Huai Ye as a reliable tool instead. Yet she personally disliked those like herself, finding Huai Ye's simple nature more endearing than her cunning sibling, He He. Nonetheless, Huai Ye was easily deceived. “I intended to invite the twin junior sisters to Yu Cang Mountain to wait out the storm. Could we still manage to catch them…” Once outside the main hall, the breeze from earlier ceased. Huai Ye, alongside Elder Yi Shi, followed swiftly behind the vigorous steps of Lian Long, hesitating. Hearing this, Lian Long slowed down, offering her renowned serene and charming smile, “Back to the mountain? Expecting two of the thirteen sect seats to retreat to your household? At least check if your humble abode can accommodate those lofty figures. Besides, having just offended the petty and vindictive Fu Wenyao, if they can’t even manage careful travels, they might as well resign early from their positions.” “They don’t seem unprepared. Slow-witted as you are, you failed to notice yet still worry about them.” Those twins have tricks aplenty. Her Master was sharp-tongued, leaving Huai Ye with no ground to gain favour. Yet the aloof disgust beneath her grandmother’s smile made her frown slightly, “I never asked before, Master, why do you harbor such dislike for the twin sisters?” Zhu Yun and Zhu Yu had arrived at Yu Cang Mountain when they were just ten years old. Both their master and uncle had urged careful supervision over them, signaling Uncle Gong Ning’s close relationship with his own disciples. The two girls were indeed charming, much more appealing than the likes of their junior brother Qin Miao. Yet somehow, Lian Long didn’t even bother to greet them with her usual insincere smiles, which was quite puzzling. Elder Yi Shi's curiosity peaked, though he feigned disinterest, patting Huai Ye’s shoulder to suggest she refrain from such impertinent inquiries. "They're all disciples, how could there be dislike? You've misunderstood. Sister Lian Long, please don't mind a child’s idle chatter." The woman stopped and turned, playfully pinching Huai Ye’s cheek with a smile, "I dislike that irresponsible uncle of yours who vanishes without warning and leaves me with all the juniors to take care of. That's why I also dislike his three little brats." Her grip was gentle, yet she subtly manipulated her spiritual energy to pinch hard enough to make even Huai Ye, with her solid cultivation, wince. As Huai Ye withdrew with a pained expression, a red mark was left on her face. Before she could look again, her master had vanished without a trace. By her logic, she should detest herself most, being the one Li Huai left in her care. Moreover, Lian Long never seemed particularly annoyed with He He. The anger in Lian Long's eyes moments before had been so fierce that Huai Ye felt somewhat intimidated and dared not ask further. Lian Long, like Xiang Shi Yan, pursued the path of emotion cultivation. However, their chosen paths diverged significantly. Lian Long was impulsive and freewheeling, a woman with an unrestrained reputation and a negative standing in the cultivation world. Yet, as a Nascent Soul cultivator who had delved into emotions for over five hundred years, how could she easily let her feelings show? Huai Ye hadn’t expected that the two sisters she was concerned about wouldn’t return to Huaihai City with the Xu and Bai families. Instead, they dispensed with their companions and diverged southward. They flew swiftly on their swords, bypassing their flying vessel, traveling light and fast. They didn't underestimate Fu Wenyao. Zhu Yun had long known of his suspicions since plotting with He He. On that fateful night, it seemed that He He had caused considerable damage within Tai Xu Sect, prompting Fu Wenyao’s fruitless search for months, leading him to speculate Zhu Yun’s involvement, given that she lured him away from Tai Xu Sect. The Tai Xu Sect member dispatched as a scout raised Fu Wenyao’s suspicions due to Zhu Yun's notable conduct in the sect affairs. Today was perhaps Fu Wenyao’s final chance to see if she would defect at the gathering; if Zhu Yun turned against him, he still had the Bai family to rely upon. Yet, Bai Lie, the fool, delayed so long that when he finally spoke up, it only further marred Tai Xu Sect. Zhu Yun’s desire to realign the Zhu family upset many aristocratic cultivators. The Zhu lineage was known to have been at odds with her, even tied to multiple assassination attempts. If she were to perish, someone would surely take the blame, especially after Tai Xu Sect's collapse once their malevolent arts were exposed. Better a pyrrhic victory than none. He He had forewarned them: assassins could be waiting on their journey back. The sisters flew on in silence, unfazed by their strange actions. The sharp wind slipped between them. Black clouds gathered ahead, and their spiritual barrier kept the icy rain and water vapor at bay. Their hurried flight on swords cleaved the cloudy mists apart. What matter required such haste? The dark dragon accompanied them, watching from a distance, pondering. The two twins, little imps more stern-hearted than Huai Ye, seemed inclined towards their past bonds. He He longed to pat these two ingrates on the head, to remind them who had truly raised them. During Xiang Shi Yan's seclusion and disappearance, wasn’t it she who had dutifully cared for them? Now that family matters were settled and their health mostly restored, they turned their attention to their beloved master once more. He He felt as if she had lived another life in vain, merely babysitting for Xiang Shi Yan—Huai Ye the simple, Zhu Yun the feeble, Zhu Yu the fretful—none easy to manage. Why did Xiang Shi Yan, abandoning them mid-way, reap the benefits? The dark dragon's jealousy summoned thunder and clouds. In an instant, the two small figures plunged into the dark clouds, vanishing. Unsure of whom she envied more, He He lamented the depth of their master-disciple bond. Years of alliance dissolved into the likes of Xiang Shi Yan’s occasional aid request. Feeling her losses mounting, the dark dragon mused. Cultivation techniques, medicine, swordsmanship—who taught them, if not He He? Zhu Yun and Zhu Yu should count her as their master! Hovering like a ghost, she watched spiritual energies flicker within the storm cloud. A man with an ambiguous affiliation fell from the clouds, his bound hair ablaze, his chest pierced through. An uncontrolled spirit sword plummeted with its master. Swirling dark purple mist ascended wildly at the central flaming tongues, parting to either side as if blown by the flame, while torrential rains fell on those unable to maintain their spiritual barriers. Sudden lightning cast stark shadows over them. Zhu Yun kicked a would-be assassin back so forcefully that the spirit sword, tainted with an eerie glow, nearly severed her arm. With a scowl, she yanked Zhu Yu behind her. Clenching a fist, Zhu Yu gathered the clouds, enveloping two unshielded assassins, as golden flames followed, their screams carrying into the distance. Brandishing an infernal whip, Zhu Yun appeared like a deity descending, fierce flames conjuring a tempest with her sister’s summoned gale, sweeping down assailants and dark clouds alike. The intimidating fire dared not venture close; yet Zhu Yu navigated it unharmed. In no time, the conflict resolved, and the sky returned to calm. Zhu Yu, frowning, steadied the trembling Zhu Yun, still riding their swords. They landed in a barren landscape, devoid of life, distant from the shattered remains of an enemy body. Hastily, Zhu Yu removed Zhu Yun’s outer robe and examined her arm. “Are you crazy? With your shallow cultivation, you try to parry strikes?” she scolded, her fingers dripping with conjured water as she cleansed the grisly wound, awestruck by its severity. Zhu Yu bore a single fire aspect in her spiritual roots, and it was Zhu Yun who learned by heart to manipulate spiritual veins after her cultivation ascended to the Greater Perfection stage. Zhu Yun chuckled dryly, “At least this stand-in has its uses.” Identical in appearance, the twins understood each other deeply, rendering disguises effortless, indistinguishable even to Huai Ye. The figure at the Zhu family head during the assembly had, in truth, been Zhu Yu. “Shut up! You barreled in yourself… I’ve told you countless times, don’t ever do that again!” Zhu Yun hurriedly fetched elixirs from her storage bag, administering them, hesitating whether to apply the medicinal powders on hand to the severe slash. The sword’s penetration was moderate, caught upon Zhu Yu’s scapula. Luck spared her from losing her arm completely. But spirit sword wounds don’t easily heal, not without knowing if muscle or bone suffered damage… Seeing her indecisive, Zhu Yu nudged her sister with her good hand, spilling powder onto the wound. He He’s gifted balm took swift effect, leaving Zhu Yun pale, quivering, gritting her teeth silently, while cold sweat incessantly poured. Zhu Yun tightened her lips, securing her sister's arm, binding the wound with precision, her face taut. He He had boasted the medicine could mend flesh and bones, claiming to work even on cultivators with slow potency but genuine pain. When Zhu Yu finally winced, leaning on Zhu Yun for support, she tried to stand, only to be drawn back down by Zhu Yun. Puzzled, she looked down at her half-kneeling sister, who remained silent. Zhu Yu shook her blood-smeared hand, asking, "Are we leaving?" "No... we're going home..." Zhu Yun’s voice was low, the rain still fell, washing their hands of blood, as Zhu Yu erected a barrier against the storm. A wave of dizziness struck her, but Zhu Yun grounded her with a warm, tight grip. How could they so easily return home again? After that disappearance, after so many years, merely hearing any news of their master stirred indescribable emotions. Even the expression on Zhu Yun’s face when hearing Xiang Shi Yan’s message was beyond words. The contact had arrived through Long Rui Qing, believed dead decades before. Setting aside the resurrection, the emblem—a peculiar crane-engraved jade—authenticated the message. Only they, Xiang Shi Yan, and possibly deceased Gong Ning knew of it. Zhu Yu once encountered Xiang Shi Yan during an oversight during the Tian Ji replacement, but the woman hadn’t sought her out. Zhu Yu, though filled with questions, bore more patience upon hearing Xiang Shi Yan once more. The note explained she was being held in Du Ruo’s domain and hoped the twins could aid her escape. She was opposed to it. If it were only herself, that would be one thing. But having Zhu Yun risk the demon territory with her was simply ludicrous. Yet her elder sister was unusually insistent, leaving her with no choice but to propose the idea of a stand-in as a compromise. Their master had once ventured into Huaihai City to rescue them due to a promise, and now it was time to repay that debt. However, Zhu Yun's enthusiasm seemed suddenly doused, leaving Zhu Yu to witness a rare sight of her elder sister in a state of despondency. "The most pressing matter is to fix your arm and heal your wounds quickly." "The external injuries are no big deal; I can manage..." Zhu Yu’s words were cut short as another wave of dizziness from blood loss nearly caused her to collapse. Zhu Yun stood up, pulling her into an embrace while maintaining the spiritual barrier above them: "That's enough. I'll summon the flying vessel right away." Speaking, she stooped and let Zhu Yu lean on her back, hoisting her younger sister with her slender shoulders. Beneath the surface of their conversation was an understood reality: He He wouldn’t make mistakes. She had promised to eliminate any potential assassins Fu Wenyao might have sent before their return. There shouldn’t have been any remnants. When Qin Miao was found, his body was a disheveled wreck on a barren stretch, leaving one to wonder if the dragon's eyes that lurked in the black clouds remained watchful, wary of any betrayal. Seemingly in alignment with He He's scheming, Xiao Luan appeared to have ignited some new trouble, prompting the demon emperor to urgently call Du Ruo to address it. She wasn’t particularly concerned about the prisoner escaping since Xiang Shi Yan was shackled with cuffs imbued with the demon emperor’s spiritual power. In a state akin to a mortal, how far could she really go? Under the indigo and violet night sky arching with stars and moon, Xiang Shi Yan sat quietly by the pondside veranda, waiting patiently.