126 - Confession (Ying Cheng)

## Chapter 126: The Cave Yun Zhen had just finished her conversation with Yan Yue when she noticed the head of the Five Dragons, Mu Zhongzi, approaching slowly. It was dusk, and the setting sun was blood-red. Mu Zhongzi, the head of the Five Dragons, walked over with his eyelids drooping and an inexplicable hint of gloom on his face. Yan Yue couldn't help but be slightly taken aback when she saw his face. She knew that her senior brother, the head of the sect, had reached the peak of the eighth realm and was on the verge of breaking through to the ninth. However, his last attempt at breakthrough during his secluded meditation had failed. For cultivators like them, the ninth realm was a major milestone, and crossing its threshold could lead to a significant change in temperament. As Mu Zhongzi drew near to Yun Zhen and Yan Yue, the ominous aura dissipated from his face. With a gentle demeanor, he said, "No need to hurry back yet, my dear juniors. In a while, Guang Gonggong from the court will come to have a word with us." Yun Zhen's gaze lingered on his face for a moment before she offered a faint smile. "Alright." Yan Yue inquired, "Who has the court sent this time?" Before her question was fully spoken, she saw several young disciples in daoist robes approaching, evidently having just returned from the mountain. They surrounded a man in a red robe with a smooth, beardless face. Before the man even came close, Mu Zhongzi had already greeted him with a smile. "To what do we owe the pleasure of Gonggong's visit?" The man had fair skin and a clean face, speaking in a high-pitched voice with a smile at the corners of his lips. His name was Guang Xian, the most favored eunuch in the current court. With a slight smile, Guang Xian said, "The evaluation of the Immortal Sects is underway. I heard a whisper that the Five Dragons Sect has been performing well and might secure a good ranking this time." The expressions of the present elders subtly shifted. The Five Dragons Sect was one of the Six Great Immortal Sects, though in recent years it had been steadily declining, often positioned last or near last among the six. Perhaps it was because the sect leader had emerged from seclusion last year, amending numerous outdated policies and leading his disciples to participate in various Immortal Sect activities, breathing new life into the sect’s revival. Regardless, Mu Zhongzi's administrative abilities were indisputable. His robe swayed slightly in the evening breeze as he politely thanked Guang Xian, "Thank you, Gonggong, for coming all this way to inform us." Guang Xian smiled broadly at Mu Zhongzi. "The headmaster should know that the Six Great Immortal Sects have always had the privilege of jointly discussing the arrangements for the Wanxian Gathering with the court. My visit today is to notify you and the elders of this." The Wanxian Gathering was a grand tournament in the cultivation world, vastly different from the Five Dragons Summit, which was an internal competition. All sects participated, making it a grand event. The disciples representing the Five Dragons Sect in such gatherings bore the sect's honor and reputation. Guang Xian continued, "The Wanxian Gathering will commence next summer. In half a year, we hope the headmaster will personally visit the capital to discuss this matter." Mu Zhongzi nodded, "Of course." "Will Gonggong be able to attend the farewell banquet of the Five Dragons Summit?" Originally, the Five Dragons Summit's schedule was packed with a welcome banquet, individual matches, team matches, recreational competitions, and a farewell banquet. However, due to the mishap a few months ago involving Chu Fu's descent into madness, the summit was postponed, and many disciples who had come to learn returned home. For the latter half of this summit, the Five Dragons Sect hadn’t sent out special invitations; those disciples with an invitation could attend the banquet. The conclusion of the group matches hinged on which sect's disciples first submitted three materials. Once the top three disciples had handed over their materials, the upper echelon of the Five Dragons Sect would begin preparing for the farewell banquet. It should happen this month, or by next month at the latest, the Five Dragons Summit would be successfully concluded. Cultivators, traveling at great speeds, can cover enormous distances swiftly. Though the central dominion's court is far from the southwestern boundary of the Five Dragons Sect, it would be easy for Guang Xian to attend the farewell banquet if he wished. Guang Xian smiled, with a deep look in his eyes as he glanced at Mu Zhongzi, his voice soft, "Should the headmaster extend an invitation, I will certainly make my way here." --- "You might not be aware of Liu Bing's origins. Let me enlighten you. The immortal sword, Liu Bing, is said to have been one of the divine swords that slew the Demon Lord during the war between immortals and demons a thousand years ago. The other sword is... our Senior Sister's Zhu Ying!" "But why didn't Senior Sister participate in the sword flying competition this time? We could have witnessed an epic showdown between Liu Bing and Zhu Ying." "Yan Jue and Senior Sister have never gotten along. If Senior Sister were to compete, it would definitely be an ugly scene." Yan Jue, overhearing the whispers of her peers as she exited the arena, felt utterly worn out. Unlike her moments of glory at the Five Dragons Square, every step she took now felt like her soul was about to drift away. Her arms and legs had been injured during the sword flying, and Yan Jue was in quite a bit of discomfort. As she left the Five Dragons Square and hadn’t gotten very far, she suddenly noticed a familiar figure standing in the shade of a tree. Yan Jue paused slightly. Qi Xian Qing stood amidst the shade, with a sword slung over her back. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, outlining her face in a stunning contour. Yan Jue's eyes lit up as she quickly approached. "Senior Sister, what are you doing here?" Qi Xian Qing had been busy handling matters in the morning, and by the time she arrived, the competition had ended. Knowing that Yan Jue wasn't ready for them to be publicly seen together, she refrained from going to the square and quietly waited below instead. Turning her head to look at Yan Jue, Qi Xian Qing’s delicate features curved into a smile. "Let me see what the champion looks like." Qi Xian Qing had witnessed Yan Jue's recent impressive performance, acknowledging the significant progress she had made since first encountering Liu Bing, dazzling to an extreme. Yan Jue replied, "Stop making fun of me." Qi Xian Qing reached out to grasp her hand, pulling her closer. "Let me take a look." Instinctively, Yan Jue tried to dodge. "I'm sweaty, don’t touch me." Qi Xian Qing assured, "It's okay, I'll wipe it off with a handkerchief." From her sleeve, she produced a pristine white handkerchief and gently helped Yan Jue wipe her hands. Having just undergone an intense competition, Yan Jue’s true energy was severely depleted. Even after consuming supplements earlier, she hadn't fully recovered. Qi Xian Qing, having once shared a pill with Yan Jue, could easily channel her energy into Yan Jue's body. Holding Qi Xian Qing’s hand, Yan Jue felt the cool energy continuously flowing into her, contentedly closing her eyes. Her energy sea was soon filled. Qi Xian Qing suggested, "How about we head to Ice Peach Garden earlier today?" Without hesitation, Yan Jue nodded, "Alright." --- Along their way, they stopped at the Five Dragons Market for some food and only returned to Ice Peach Garden by dusk. "I already prepared the water for you. You can bathe as soon as you get in," Qi Xian Qing informed. The courtyard of Ice Peach Garden had a cleansing room. Qi Xian Qing would often bathe there, and for maintaining hot water, a simple charm was sufficient. Yan Jue sweetly thanked, "Thank you, Senior Sister!" With the screen positioned, Yan Jue hurried inside. The day’s competition had left her sore all over from injuries. She quickly cleansed herself, although she tried to be careful, some wounds inevitably got wet, their surroundings swelling into red patches. After finally finishing her bath, she put on her inner garment and limped out. Qi Xian Qing, seated at the table, looked up to see her current state, and frowned. "What happened to you?" Supporting her right arm with a guilty look, Yan Jue replied, "I got injured in the competition today." Qi Xian Qing pushed back the chair and approached, voice husky. "Why didn’t you tell me about your injuries?" The room fell silent. Qi Xian Qing, sitting cross-legged on the bed with a soft green ointment beside her, seriously treated Yan Jue's wounds. Yan Jue felt embarrassed; her injuries were far too many, especially the burns on her ankles from passing through a blaze today. Barefoot, Yan Jue rested her foot on Qi Xian Qing's leg. Qi Xian Qing didn’t mind at all, gently grasping and cleaning Yan Jue’s wounds with a cotton swab. Yan Jue felt her ears burning with searing warmth. After tending to her wounds, Qi Xian Qing didn’t have a chance to speak before Yan Jue quickly changed the subject. "There’s a moon tonight." She hopped off the bed and slipped outside. ... Yan Jue was right. Not only was there a moon, it was large and bright. In the courtyard, Yan Jue retrieved a piece of yellowed paper from her sleeve. It was a clue they had recently obtained from the secret realm in the Five Dragons Secret Lands. The paper devoid of characters led Qi Xian Qing to deduce, using the yin-yang patterns she had seen beneath the ruined temple’s Buddha statue, that it might need moonlight to reveal its message. As the midnight moonlight cast a clear beam upon the yellowed paper, just as Qi Xian Qing had speculated, two lines of fine text emerged. "Top of the pine forest, on the branch facing south." Compared to the first convoluted clue, this one was straightforward, requiring little thought. Removing the words "on the branch facing," it simply indicated the highest point in the southern pine forest. Soybeans hung upon the tallest pine. Yan Jue stared at the two lines on the paper for a moment, feeling a weight at her waist. Qi Xian Qing embraced her from behind, kissing her nape and neck. Clingy to the extreme. Previously, whenever Yan Jue spent time with Qi Xian Qing, she had never realized Qi Xian Qing could be this way. Suddenly remembering something, Yan Jue turned to Qi Xian Qing and said, "Tomorrow in the secret realm, you have to wait half an incense stick’s time after me." Qi Xian Qing raised an eyebrow. "Why?" "Isn't this clue purchased with a hundred spirit-feeding pills and my contributions?" Even though Qi Xian Qing had indeed suggested reading the clue under the moonlight, Yan Jue still wanted to playfully deny it, clinging to Qi Xian Qing as she whined, "I was the one who got this clue first, so you all have to wait until we go first." Qi Xian Qing lowered her head and whispered a sultry breath into Yan Jue’s ear, "What if I refuse?" Yan Jue’s ears burned, and she instinctively turned her head. "Then I... then I’ll..." Qi Xian Qing leaned in and started to kiss her again with little pecks. Yan Jue's breath hitched, and her face flushed a deep red. Qi Xian Qing was growing increasingly bold. Yan Jue pinched Qi Xian Qing's collar and pushed her away. "Then I won’t let you kiss me anymore." As soon as she said that, the surrounding silence was almost deafening. Qi Xian Qing, meeting Yan Jue's gaze for a long moment, glanced away, then let out a sigh and dropped her eyes, speaking softly, "Alright, I’ll concede half a tea's time." Yan Jue looked up at Qi Xian Qing, her eyes gradually lighting up with a glow. Qi Xian Qing indulging her like this was truly... delightful. Her heart was so filled with joy that it almost overflowed, and Yan Jue couldn't resist, stepping forward to grab Qi Xian Qing’s collar and planting a light kiss on her lips. The soft touch fell upon their lips, causing Qi Xian Qing to pause slightly. "Thank you, Senior Sister," Yan Jue said with a smile in her eyes, and just as she was about to step back, Qi Xian Qing caught her arm. Qi Xian Qing gently steadied her head and deepened the kiss. Yan Jue's period was still ongoing, but it was nearing its end. Yet, with Qi Xian Qing’s kiss, her whole body went soft, barely staying upright, supported by Qi Xian Qing. Qi Xian Qing could sense her emotions. As a peculiar feeling welled up inside Yan Jue, her cheeks turned slightly red and her gaze grew blurry. Yet Qi Xian Qing slowly pulled back, a small, amused smile in her voice. "You’re still on your period, Junior Sister. Better get some sleep early." Yan Jue felt like she could die right there, grabbing Qi Xian Qing’s hand. Off guard, Qi Xian Qing stumbled a few steps back. Yan Jue pouted, "Couldn't you just..." With her emotions already unstable due to her period, Yan Jue spoke in a low, trembling voice, blushing profusely. Qi Xian Qing gently caressed the girl's cheek, patiently waiting for her to continue, "What is it?" With a whisper almost as soft as a mosquito's hum, Yan Jue leaned into Qi Xian Qing's neck. "Kiss me a little longer." Gazing into those amber eyes shimmering with mist, Qi Xian Qing couldn’t help but marvel internally. Truly, she had found a treasure... Holding Yan Jue, Qi Xian Qing carried her inside, softly murmuring, "Let’s go inside." --- Yan Jue rested at Ice Peach Garden for the night. Qi Xian Qing’s ointment was extraordinarily effective; by the first day, Yan Jue felt that all her wounds had healed completely. Not wanting to linger with Qi Xian Qing, she returned to the Shuiyun Sect dormitory just as the first light of dawn appeared in the dark sky. Upon entering, she noticed something sent by Xie Ziqin of Zhenhuo Sect via a white crane. It was a gourd full of spirit-feeding pills. Yan Jue shook the gourd, the pills inside making a crisp, pleasant sound, bringing a smile to her face. ... With the entertainment competition wrapped up yesterday, today marked the start of the team matches. As the elder activated the secret realm at the Five Dragons Square, all disciples summoned their artifacts, and the sky was awash in a myriad of colorful lights. Yan Jue herself summoned the immortal sword Liu Bing, entering the secret realm alongside her team members. After a burst of golden light, the surroundings gradually became clear; a deep night sky dotted with stars came into view. While it was morning outside the secret realm, inside, it was night. Just like before, once inside, Yan Jue signaled everyone to land. Though it was sudden, having gone through this before, everyone promptly and obediently landed. Walking beside Yan Jue, Du Ming still didn't quite understand. "Yan Jue, do you have any insights on that clue? I know the yellowed paper might have characters on it, but I couldn't make sense of the Taiji pattern." Duan Luxi also frowned slightly. "And now it's nighttime, making it even harder to find the soybeans." Huang Yi and Song Jia looked at her expectantly. Originally, they hadn't felt much confidence in Yan Jue, but after experiencing the first clue hunt and witnessing her impressive prowess in the sword flying competition yesterday, their opinion of her had changed significantly. Their acquainted friends hadn't even retrieved the first clue’s red beans, and they were somewhat relieved to find themselves leaning on Yan Jue's capabilities this time. With a discreet glance, Yan Jue led the four southward without a word. Her navigation skills were swift and accurate; after merely an hour, they found themselves in the southern forest. The full moon hung high. Yan Jue, stepping on the fierce wind, quickly reached the top of the pine forest. It was exceptionally easy to determine which tree was the tallest under the moonlit sky. After observing for a while, Yan Jue noticed moonlight cascading like a stream onto the highest point of a pine tree. Concentrating, she saw... Her pupils suddenly contracted. A faint, golden glow almost merged with the moonlight—it would have been nearly impossible to spot without close scrutiny. With her clothes rustling in the wild wind, Yan Jue dared not employ her sword, instead performing aerial flips to directly advance onto the branch bathed in moonlight. The topmost leaf of the pine lay flat, swaying gently in the breeze, while ten golden-glowing spirit stones rested at its center. Soybeans. This time, there were ten spirit stones in total. Each clue culled a significant number of competitors; having only ten meant many would go without. Qi Xian Qing had only allowed her half a tea's time, and Yan Jue couldn't afford to delay. She quickly stowed a golden spirit stone into her sleeve. By then, the other four arrived as well. From beneath the tree, Duan Luxi spoke softly, "Junior Sister Yan, did you find the soybeans?" "I did," Yan Jue replied. "Look around the tree, see if there’s another clue." The four then began searching, and Yan Jue climbed down from the tree, hearing Du Ming suddenly call her, "Yan Jue, come over here." She hurried to his side, finding a shallow, indented hollow beneath the pine. She touched it with her hand, and while the surface appeared to be tree bark, upon closer inspection, it felt extremely smooth. Coupled with the notable indentation, it suggested a tree hollow where something has been forcibly inserted. With a deft movement of her fingers, Yan Jue extracted an object from the hollow. A bamboo tube. Lightly shaking the bamboo tube, she heard a faint rattle inside. Under the moonlight, Yan Jue examined the bamboo tube. Carved upon it, albeit crudely, was a green bean motif. It was the clue for green beans. Yan Jue frowned slightly. The latter half of the Five Dragons Summit wasn’t lengthy, and the secret realm treasure hunt had only three stages in total. The green bean location should be the final stage. While searching for clues, Yan Jue maintained an open awareness. At that moment, her distant senses suddenly stirred. Someone was approaching. Realizing that half a tea's time had unknowingly passed, Yan Jue assumed Qi Xian Qing was leading her team over. Without drawing attention, she discreetly slipped the green bean clue into her sleeve. As she resumed her place beside Du Ming, she raised her head, unexpectedly meeting the serene, clear eyes of Qi Xian Qing beyond the pine tree. Bathed in bright moonlight, Qi Xian Qing, donned in white, gazed over with an ethereal presence akin to an exiled immortal. Qi Xian Qing held her gaze on Yan Jue. The girl who blushed in her arms yesterday now stood with the confidence of a monkey leaning against a tree, engaging in cheerful banter with those around her. The Qi Xian Qing of the past would never have imagined that someday she would behave with such yearning—that simply seeing the other would stir an undeniable desire to draw closer. Beside Qi Xian Qing stood the disgruntled Xie Ziqin and the equivocating Zhou Leng. Feigning surprise, Yan Jue conversed nonchalantly with Du Ming before abruptly turning, as if just noticing, "Oh? You’re here." There was a clang as Xie Ziqin drew her sword, leveling it at Yan Jue. "It seems Junior Sister anticipated our arrival." Initially, Xie Ziqin assumed that given Yan Jue's personality, she might guard those soybeans. Yet, seeing Yan Jue offering a harmless smile and stepping aside clarified otherwise. Having reached an agreement with Qi Xian Qing beforehand, Yan Jue certainly wouldn’t be foolish enough to act up at this juncture. As they brushed past each other, Qi Xian Qing unexpectedly turned her head. "Thank you for the alliance, Junior Sister." The heated breath brushed against her ear, making Yan Jue's body instinctively tense, and she responded with a humph. At that moment, she wanted nothing to do with Qi Xian Qing. Despite their intimate exchange the previous night, which ostensibly was just a simple kiss, it had left her uncomfortably flustered. Eventually, disjointed, inappropriate images continuously flashed before her. Claiming a stomachache, Yan Jue retreated to the restroom numerous times, only to be teased by Qi Xian Qing. Yan Jue found that the longer she spent time with Qi Xian Qing, the more irritated she became with her. Did she not realize how mean it was to tease this little fox? She glared at Qi Xian Qing fiercely and said coolly, "Who's teaming up with you?" With that, she walked past Qi Xian Qing. Everyone around was taken aback, shocked that someone dared to be so disrespectful to the Senior Sister! Du Ming and Duan Luxi were already sweating bullets. If their team could ally with the Senior Sister, they’d gladly agree, for Qi Xian Qing was the beauty and benevolent leader of their sect—their model Senior Sister. They all admired her greatly. Yet Yan Jue refused Qi Xian Qing’s offer... Xie Ziqin was just about to draw her sword when Qi Xian Qing stopped her. "Leave it be," she said, calmer in temperament than ever. Witnessing this, Du Ming was moved almost to tears. Senior Sister's patience was as good as ever. Yan Jue walked past Qi Xian Qing, having taken just a few steps when the black ball in her pocket whimpered. Though it had grown a little, Heitundzi was still in its infant phase, frequently doing inexplicable things. Initially, Yan Jue didn’t intend to bother with it, but it became increasingly restless. Heitundzi was pushing around in her spatial bag, making it difficult for Yan Jue to stay still. All her valuable materials were stored there, and if Heitundzi damaged anything, it would truly be a loss. With a gaping mouth, Heitundzi let out a plaintive “whoa—”, its tiny paws stamping on the ground insistently, clearly wanting Yan Jue to let it out. Hesitating only a moment, Yan Jue transmitted a message to Qi Xian Qing, "Could you come here for a moment?" Others couldn’t hear her message, but Qi Xian Qing did. Qi Xian Qing hesitated before making her way to where Yan Jue stood among the bushes. "Senior Sister, we..." Zhou Leng started to say, but then realized Qi Xian Qing was already gone. She looked up suddenly, her gaze following Qi Xian Qing’s retreating figure. Heaven help them, how could she leave so quietly? Perhaps Qi Xian Qing still cared about how Yan Jue had disrespected her. Watching the graceful Yan Jue from afar, Zhou Leng suddenly felt a deep sense of sympathy. They even went to a hidden spot. Qi Xian Qing wasn’t planning to reprimand her harshly, was she? In the nocturnal secret realm, having some privacy made conversations easier. Taking a couple of steps into the trees, Yan Jue faced Qi Xian Qing. "The black ball in my bag is acting up." Qi Xian Qing replied, "Doesn't it tend to do that from time to time?" Yan Jue explained, "Not usually as vigorously as this." "Hold on," said Qi Xian Qing. She took out a communication talisman to instruct Zhou Leng and the others to move ahead. Yan Jue, too, contacted her teammates via her own communication talisman. Once that was settled, Qi Xian Qing looked down at her. Yan Jue immediately pulled out Heitundzi. Qi Xian Qing was a bit surprised. Heitundzi was still the soft, small bundle as before, but it looked a bit different now. Its eyes were open. Heitundzi’s eyes were a faint blue, vast like the stars, as it restlessly wriggled in Yan Jue's palm, clearly anxious. "It wants to go that way," Yan Jue said, placing Heitundzi on the ground. It immediately started crawling in that direction, struggling a bit with the long grass. But it disliked being held, so Yan Jue followed behind, curious about what it intended. After much difficulty, Heitundzi finally reached the edge of a small stream. The water babbled softly, crystal clear. Without hesitation, Heitundzi hopped in, paddling its tiny feet toward the other side. Yan Jue was startled, using a water-repelling technique to follow. There were countless streams within the Five Dragons Secret Realm, and this one led into a mountain. As it was nighttime, the surroundings were desolate. Since the secret realm only opened for three hours, Yan Jue kept an eye on the time while tracking Heitundzi. Qi Xian Qing asked, "Are you really just going to let it run wild like this?" She found Yan Jue’s indulgence of Heitundzi somewhat excessive ever since its birth. Yan Jue retorted, "...It wants to go over there for a reason. We have time, so we'll check it out." Heitundzi wasn't foolish; it had a basic understanding of danger, enough not to wander into peril knowingly. Unaware of how long they trudged through the stream, the path in front suddenly ended. They found a massive cave before them. The cave’s entrance was adorned with a grand plaque, yet the path was blocked by boulders beneath it. The Five Dragons Secret Realm was constructed by the sect's great experts, though some features were borrowed from real landscapes. At a high enough cultivation level, experts could move desirable landscapes into their secret realms with a simple incantation. Heitundzi paused at the stone door, sniffing it with its large nose, then turned to Yan Jue. Spreading her senses, Yan Jue confirmed there was no danger around them and exchanged a glance with Qi Xian Qing. Qi Xian Qing gave a slight nod, and Yan Jue stepped forward, drawing the immortal sword Liu Bing. In an instant, a chill swept through, and a mighty sword energy condensed into a sharp beam that shattered the stone door. As massive volumes of dust settled, Yan Jue's entire focus was drawn into the cave, but suddenly her arm was yanked, and she staggered back, seeing the ground she'd stood on now swathed in intense fire mist. The oppressive heat waves made it nearly impossible for Yan Jue to breathe. A trap. Yet Heitundzi, undeterred, continued crawling forward. Yan Jue opened her mouth to speak, instinctively extending a hand, but Qi Xian Qing grabbed her. Facing Qi Xian Qing’s expressionless countenance, Yan Jue refrained from speaking. “Junior Sister, children need to find their own way sometimes.” "..." Strangely, Heitundzi, with its tiny form, showed no fear of the flames and pushed through! Having been regularly fed spirit-feeding pills, Heitundzi had lately spent most of its time nestled in Yan Jue’s spatial bag, either sleeping or hiccuping, rarely this animated. The cave was dark and filled with a damp, musty air. It was stifling. Following Heitundzi, Yan Jue watched as it finally stopped before an old jar. A moment of dread overcame her as she sensed danger, frowning instinctively. Heitundzi, however, seemed giddy with anticipation, trying to engulf the jar whole with its maw. But lacking teeth, it gnawed uselessly at the jar, unable to devour it. With a sudden "clang—", it shattered the jar. Frightened, Heitundzi scampered back, whimpering and diving into Yan Jue’s arms. Qi Xian Qing couldn't help but glance at it. "..." Though stubborn at times, Heitundzi became very clingy when scared. The jar lay in pieces, its contents having vanished. Yan Jue was perplexed. If the jar held nothing, what had excited Heitundzi so? At that moment, a dense black mist began to rise from the shattered remnants. Qi Xian Qing’s brow furrowed instantly. She formed a seal with her right hand, summoning a blue light to shield her and Yan Jue. The black mist roiled, swirling in the air, solidifying into a mass where the face of a bewildered man emerged. Qi Xian Qing’s pupils contracted slightly. The sect leader… In Yan Jue’s arms, Heitundzi suddenly became animated, its tiny black paws clawing eagerly at her arm, seemingly wanting to consume this delectable soul. A wave of questions surged in Yan Jue’s mind, “Why is the sect leader here?!” The man overwhelmed by black mist was undoubtedly Mu Zhongzi, the sect leader—though his visage was wracked with agony and his eyes vacant, merely a fragment of a soul pacing anxiously atop the broken jar. Comprehending the situation, Yan Jue quickly retrieved a jade seal. This jade seal, she had previously asked Duan Luxi to help repair, was now fit for use. As Yan Jue activated the seal, a greenish-blue light enveloped the soul. Chanting the incantation, cold sweat dotted her forehead, and her arm trembled slightly. The black energy began to coalesce anew, only to be gently absorbed by the jade seal. Half an hour passed before the surrounding air returned to clarity, and the expression on Mu Zhongzi’s face once more assumed tranquility. His form shivered briefly in mid-air before his eyes shot open to see Qi Xian Qing. Qi Xian Qing had been brought to Five Dragons Mountain by Mu Zhongzi and spent her childhood within the Five Dragons Sect, a person very close to Mu Zhongzi. Seeing Qi Xian Qing, Mu Zhongzi frowned slightly, “Xian Qing, why are you here?” Having just emerged from his heart’s demon, his voice was weak, trembling with strain, “Where am I?” Lifting her head, Qi Xian Qing answered, “You are in the Five Dragons Secret Realm. I also wish to ask why you appear here, Headmaster.” Upon hearing Qi Xian Qing’s words, a moment of panic crossed the usually composed man’s face.