146 - Confession (Ying Cheng)

Chapter 146: Secret Conversation As the faint light of dawn emerged, Qi Xian Qing and Yan Jue awoke from their slumber. The streets of Jiangnan were tranquil in the early morning, with few passersby, and a yellow dog walking leisurely along the riverbank. Duan Lu Xi, too, was an early riser, waiting downstairs for them. Without delay, the two headed to the Zuo family home. Qi Er came out to greet them and looked quite surprised to see them, "Immortals, how come you..." Yan Jue stepped forward, opening the storage pouch. Something black rolled out from inside. Qi Er cried out in shock. Yan Jue apologized, "I’m sorry. We tied him up hastily yesterday because the old man was uncooperative, so we had no other choice." Currently, Qi Er's grandfather had transformed into a mindless Shan Chi, bound tightly with a heart-piercing rope by Yan Jue, thrashing and struggling violently on the ground. Dazed, Qi Er stared at the figure on the ground, "Is this..." Duan Lu Xi inquired, "Miss Zuo, can you recognize if this is your grandfather?" Yesterday, Yan Jue had noticed a resemblance between this Shan Chi and the person Qi Er had shown her in a drawing one night. However, she wasn’t fully certain. Since they had promised to help look for the person, she decided to bring this Shan Chi for Qi Er to identify. After scrutinizing the figure for a while, Qi Er exclaimed, "It's my grandfather!" "Are you certain?" Duan Lu Xi pointed to the almost unrecognizable creature on the ground. "He truly is my grandfather," Qi Er stammered, overwhelmed and trembling with emotion, "Thank you, Immortal." Yan Jue, hands behind her back, smiled amiably, "It was a mere trifling effort." Qi Er frowned, staring at her grandfather, who was rolling on the ground, looking rather unsightly in this state, "Might I ask, is there any chance for my grandfather to return to his former self?" Yan Jue answered, "A human lives a hundred years; once lifespan is exhausted and the soul has departed, there is no means to revive." From the ground, the Shan Chi let out a strange, open-mouthed howl. Watching her grandfather, who was twisted and struggling on the ground, Qi Er was silent. Duan Lu Xi kindly suggested, "Since the old man has been found, perhaps it’s time to let the Old Lady see him." Qi Er rushed inside, soon returning, supporting the Old Lady. The Old Lady of the Zuo family was of great age, moving with unsteady steps. The Shan Chi on the ground continued to thrash and wail, its fingers opening and closing, long past recognition from its former appearance, with its black eyes now devoid of light. Tears silently filled the Old Lady’s eyes as she stumbled toward them, "It's him, indeed..." Looking up at the Old Lady, the Shan Chi’s face was expressionless, its gaze hollow. Qi Er frowned, "Did you already know about grandfather..." Trembling, the Old Lady’s voice cracked as she stared at what he had become, "This is a legend in our village." "If a person lives too long and does not die, they turn into a Qiu Hu." The Old Lady sighed, "Your grandfather is over a hundred, and his lifespan has ended. When he left us, I suspected he might have turned into something like this." Yan Jue was momentarily taken aback. The Old Lady was right. Except among mortals, this creature was called Qiu Hu, not Shan Chi. "The Immortal's great kindness will forever be unforgettable," said the Old Lady, looking at the Shan Chi with a long silence. Then she turned and deeply bowed to Yan Jue, "Could the Immortal please release him?" Qi Er bit her lip, "Release him…" The Old Lady shook her head, "In his current state, living is a form of torment." "The Immortal helped us find him, which is already more than enough." For such mindless creatures, releasing them is often the best choice. Qi Xian Qing sat crossed-legged beside the Shan Chi, her peach-blossom eyes half-closed. The breeze gently lifted her garments, embodying an immortal meditating with serene composure. The Luminous Pearl in her hand shone a brilliant light, causing the Shan Chi to squint away from the bright glare. Gradually, white mist began to emanate from its body. It slowly faded away. --- The pair hurried through day and night to return from Jiangnan, heading for Wulong Mountain. Before long, they arrived at the base of Wulong Mountain. Standing beside Duan Lu Xi, Yan Jue pressed her palms together, "Thank you, Senior Sister Duan. I'll treat you to a meal sometime." Duan Lu Xi replied with a playful smile, "No worries, it was like a little adventure for me." "Besides, I gained quite a bit from this trip." Intrigued, Yan Jue asked, "Oh? What did you gain?" Duan Lu Xi replied mysteriously, "The other day at the inn, Su Girl left me her contact information." Yan Jue: "..." Instinctively, Yan Jue glanced at Qi Xian Qing, who stood behind her with a composed expression, showing no superfluous emotions. After Duan Lu Xi had left, rejoicing, Yan Jue turned and asked, "Senior Sister Duan exchanged contact information with Daoist Su. Could they be..." Qi Xian Qing shook her head, "Jing Rou is very polite; she would agree to any request someone makes of her." "That doesn’t necessarily mean anything." Yan Jue made a knowing sound. Engaged in casual chatter, the two eventually found themselves at the frozen Peach Spring of Qiwu Peak. Only now did Yan Jue start to reflect on their recent endeavors. The Mo Zun had ordered them to find five materials, all of which they had collected. Next, she wondered if they could attempt to combine the ingredients into one. The Mo Zun had mentioned to Qi Xian Qing about using the five ingredients to refine a pill. Qi Xian Qing stated, "However, on Wulong Mountain, none of the Dan Ding disciples there are trustworthy." Suddenly, Yan Jue recalled, "Wasn’t Senior Sister Xie, who ventured with Senior Sister, a Dan Ding Hall disciple?" Qi Xian Qing was momentarily caught off guard before she understood Yan Jue was referring to Xie Zi Jin. Yan Jue asked, "How is Senior Sister Xie’s relationship with you? Can she be trusted?" Qi Xian Qing retrieved a communication talisman, "I'll ask her." Reaching out to Xie Zi Jin through the talisman, given their close relationship, Qi Xian Qing briefly explained her request, which Xie Zi Jin readily agreed to assist with. Qi Xian Qing cautioned, "Confidentiality is essential." Xie Zi Jin reassured, "Don’t worry." Just as Qi Xian Qing set down the talisman, it vibrated again. "…" As she infused her divine sense into the talisman, her expression turned slightly serious. This was a message from Sect Master Mu Zhong Zi, summoning them. The true Sect Leader Mu Zhong Zi still lay within Qi Xian Qing's Bodhi Leaf, meaning the one summoning them was the Mo Zun. Truthfully, Qi Xian Qing wasn't too concerned that the current acting Sect Leader, the Mo Zun, would uncover the true whereabouts of Mu Zhong Zi. The Soul Ring, while powerful, could only estimate a target’s rough location. Just like back when Yan Jue and she fell into the abyss of Fel Immortal Mountain and Master and Second Aunt used the Soul Ring, only managing to determine their approximate location then. When Qi Xian Qing and Yan Jue arrived at the Grand Hall of the Strange Escape Sect, Mu Zhong Zi sat calmly at the top, meditating with closed eyes. Yan Jue, upon approaching, instinctively felt a strong sense of danger, a sensation that made her scalp tingle. This was the oppressive aura of an Eighth Realm powerhouse. Soon, Yan Jue noticed a person seated below the Sect Leader. That individual wore a hued Daoist robe, looking dazed. It was unmistakably Jiang Meng Chu, whom they hadn't seen in a while. Back then, during the Five Dragon Summit’s individual battle, Jiang Meng Chu had claimed second place and had been among those who went down the mountain to gather materials with Yan Jue and the others. Yet, due to her condition as a Supreme Spirit Body, Jiang Meng Chu’s health was poor, causing her not to take part in many of their missions. Upon opening her eyes, Yan Jue was momentarily startled. The girl looked listless, her eyes faintly golden. Last time Yan Jue had seen her, she hadn’t looked like this. Yan Jue frowned slightly and bowed to the Sect Leader above. The Sect Leader glanced at her indifferently, "Are you the young disciple who drew the sword from the sword tomb last time?" Yan Jue paused, "Yes." Mu Zhong Zi gave Yan Jue a disdainful look. This girl, so composed outwardly, was ultimately just like the others after Chu Fu... Never mind, soon enough, she would be unable to open her mouth ever again. Ignoring her, Mu Zhong Zi looked tenderly at Qi Xian Qing, "Xian Qing, how goes your collection of celestial treasures for the longevity elixir I tasked you with gathering?" Yan Jue: "..." Whether it was the Mo Zun or the real Sect Leader, both had a poor impression of Yan Jue. She was content with that, leisurely casting her gaze towards Qi Xian Qing. Qi Xian Qing replied, "Sect Leader, I have not yet found the heart of the Nine-Tailed Fox, but all other materials have been gathered." The Sect Leader smiled, "That’s good. Then hand those materials over to me first." The Grand Hall of the Strange Escape Sect was surrounded by formations, preventing those outside from observing the events within. The contents of an A-level mission are highly confidential. The acting Sect Leader, the Mo Zun, felt no concern that any of them would divulge the materials. The lightest punishment for leaking an A-level mission included ten days under the Cold Waterfall and two hundred lashes with the Heart-eating Whip, with more severe consequences potentially leading to expulsion from the sect. As for Jiang Meng Chu, she was merely deemed foolish, unaware of what those celestial treasures were. Regarding Xian Qing... Qi Xian Qing was the Mo Zun's most trusted. For Qi Xian Qing bore a heartfelt loyalty. Qi Xian Qing was destined to become a devoted follower and ally. Defender. Qi Xian Qing drew a brocade pouch from her robes, intricately secured with a top-tier, confidential formation that wasn't easily opened by just anyone. With due respect, she presented the pouch, which held the materials. During their visit to Yuxu Sea, the King of the Merfolk gave them many Merman Pearls. They had also procured more than two stalks of the Green Immortal Grass outside Feidu City. And the Phoenix Embryo required no mention. These were rare treasures of the world. The Mo Zun evidently had great trust in Qi Xian Qing's capabilities, entrusting her with the expedition to find these materials. Displaying no visible emotional fluctuation, Qi Xian Qing dutifully offered the materials. The Mo Zun, initially smiling, suddenly spotted something awry: "Why is there a leaf missing from the Xiang Jing Herb?" The Xiang Jing Herb initially had two leaves, but only one was present. Qi Xian Qing explained calmly, "While collecting the Xiang Jing Herb on Mount Taihua, a guardian white ape attacked. Initially, there were two leaves, but one was accidentally lost." Qi Xian Qing's explanation, delivered with utmost composure, made Yan Jue inwardly admire her cleverness. Her words weren't entirely untrue—a blend of 80% truth with 20% lies only served to bolster her statement's credibility. Suddenly, a young disciple dressed in a brown Daoist robe hurried in from outside. "Master." Sect Leader Mu Zhong Zi of Wulong furrowed his brow slightly in annoyance, "What’s the matter, barging in like this?" The disciple, intimidated, cast a nervous glance at him and knelt, "Master, outside the mountain gate, an elder from Qing Feng Gu seeks an audience." Mu Zhong Zi was taken aback, "Why is Qing Feng Gu visiting at such a time?" The disciple continued, "He claims that Senior Sister killed...killed his disciple for a treasure on Mount Taihua." Before the disciple had finished speaking, silence descended upon the hall. Mu Zhong Zi turned his gaze to Qi Xian Qing, "Xian Qing, is there any truth to this?" Qi Xian Qing stepped forward and knelt, "Replying to Uncle-Master, I did encounter disciples of Qing Feng Gu on Mount Taihua." "At that time, he tried to snatch the Xiang Jing Herb from us. Without any intention to contest, I yielded, allowing him to go ahead. Unbeknownst to him, during his attempt to seize it, he ran into the herb's guardian white ape." Impressive. Yan Jue couldn't help but admire silently once more. Just a moment ago, Qi Xian Qing had spun a tale for the Mo Zun, and now an elder from Qing Feng Gu arrived to bring accusations, inadvertently validating Qi Xian Qing's story. Indeed, Qi Xian Qing's protagonist luck seemed unparalleled. Sect Leader Mu Zhong Zi maintained a stern countenance for a moment, then waved the young disciple off, "Inform him that his disciple was the rude one first, and advise him not to make a fool of himself." The disciple quickly responded, "Yes, Master," and retreated. Mu Zhong Zi studied Qi Xian Qing for a while before resuming his smile. "My dear Xian Qing, you've performed admirably this time." "The Nine-Tailed Fox's heart is the final material. How do you plan to proceed?" Qi Xian Qing replied, "I have yet to secure any information about the Nine-Tailed Fox, but rest assured, upon the Sect Leader's command, I will spare no effort." After speaking, she kowtowed, her resolute Dao heart burning fervently, willing to go to any lengths for Mu Zhong Zi. Yan Jue smacked her teeth in her mind. Mu Zhong Zi then said, "I happen to have a lead on the Nine-Tailed Fox." Qi Xian Qing was momentarily taken aback. Mu Zhong Zi continued in a serious tone, "Come here." Qi Xian Qing, expressionless, moved forward, following Mu Zhong Zi into an inner chamber. Standing alone in the grand hall, Yan Jue watched Qi Xian Qing’s retreating figure and sighed silently. Being anxious wouldn't help now. When Qi Xian Qing emerged, she would share whatever was discussed. After Mu Zhong Zi departed, Jiang Meng Chu became lively, raising her hand to beckon Yan Jue, "Sister Yan Jue." In the dim hall, the golden hue in her eyes flickering like flames made Yan Jue uneasy. Yan Jue nodded, offering her a warm smile, "Hello there." In the Inner Chamber. "Although there are few Nine-Tailed Foxes left nowadays, they are not fully extinct." A millennia ago, Nine-Tailed Foxes, considered divine beasts, were plentiful in the world. However, due to the immense value of their hearts, bones, and blood for cultivators, they faced massacre by the sects and are now nearly extinct. Mu Zhong Zi stood with his hands behind his back, silently gazing out the window before turning back to Qi Xian Qing, "The Ghost Mansion Mountain in the Northern Realm is the Nine-Tailed Foxes' native land. Initially, I intended to have you explore their whereabouts in the Northern Realm, but I received new information." "There's a trace of a Nine-Tailed Fox demon within our sect." Qi Xian Qing frowned slightly, "How could a Nine-Tailed Fox demon infiltrate the sect?" Mu Zhong Zi replied, "I’m not sure. Perhaps it has been here for a long time." "Stay vigilant of those around you." Qi Xian Qing’s brow furrowed slightly, "Uncle-Master, are you suggesting..." The Mo Zun was aware of Qi Xian Qing’s childhood trauma—being imprisoned underground for a long time by a pair of tiger demons had instilled in her a deep hatred for demons. Even the slightest hint of a demon’s presence compelled her to seek retribution. After a lengthy silence, Qi Xian Qing whispered, "I'll be cautious." Mu Zhong Zi smiled, "So you've advanced to the sixth realm, the Golden Core stage, haven't you, Xian Qing?" Qi Xian Qing affirmed, "Yes." Mu Zhong Zi gazed at her affectionately, "Would you like to progress faster and reach the seventh realm sooner?" Qi Xian Qing responded, "My Dao heart remains steadfast, and I adhere to a steady and gradual approach in my cultivation." Mu Zhong Zi scorned, "Then you are quite foolish." Qi Xian Qing was taken aback. Mu Zhong Zi waved his sleeve dismissively, "While cultivation relies primarily on oneself, leveraging external assistance to quickly improve is not impossible. Had everyone always cultivated by conventional means, there would be no figures like the ancient Dao Sage who reached the ninth realm." Mu Zhong Zi, intending to exploit Qi Xian Qing’s habitual obedience to elders, aimed to plant a subtle, dark seed in her heart. For the first time, a rare hint of uncertainty crossed Qi Xian Qing's usually composed face. She lowered her eyes and softly asked, "Uncle-Master, what do you mean?" Approaching, Mu Zhong Zi placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "With your exceptional talents, you are Wulong Sect’s hope. I plan to assist you more in your cultivation journey." Mu Zhong Zi handed Qi Xian Qing a blood-red pill. It shimmered faintly under the dim light, with a strange black substance swirling inside. "This is the Heart-returning Pill I specifically crafted for you to help you breakthrough to the seventh realm." The words struck like a thunderclap in Qi Xian Qing's ears. Numerous cultivators stop at the sixth realm, with only a handful reaching the seventh realm. The idea of a pill enabling such advancement from the sixth to the seventh realm was a profound shock to Qi Xian Qing. Qi Xian Qing accepted the pill. Mu Zhong Zi stared into her eyes, "Once you reach the seventh realm, why not become an elder under me?" Qi Xian Qing gazed up at him with a slight shift in her expression. "Becoming an elder will open limitless opportunities for you. If you continue advancing, you could even surpass Yun Zhen and claim the sect master’s position," Mu Zhong Zi suggested, closely observing Qi Xian Qing's reaction. The position of sect master offers various benefits, such as better resource access and the esteemed status of being revered by many. The sect may seem calm, but the undertones are tumultuous, known only to those within. If Qi Xian Qing truly surpasses Yun Zhen, making her the sect master would be entirely feasible. Currently, Qi Xian Qing, though a direct disciple of Yun Zhen, was unlikely to rise due to her standing. The Mo Zun's suggestion was essentially extending an olive branch. Human nature is fundamentally greedy, and the Mo Zun intended to exploit this greed to completely bring Qi Xian Qing to his side. "I’m looking out for you," Mu Zhong Zi said, regarding her kindly. "After all, you're our sect’s hope." He lightly patted her shoulder with his slender fingers. Normally, a disciple might feel overwhelmed by such remarks from the sect leader, yet Qi Xian Qing simply stood quietly, without a word. The Mo Zun, understanding Qi Xian Qing’s temperament, wasn’t surprised. His thoughts lingered on the major threat within the sect—Yun Zhen, who continually opposed him. Qi Xian Qing's intelligence meant she could contemplate these matters independently. Through his insights into human nature, he knew few could resist the temptation of advancement. "Thank you, Uncle-Master. I shall consider your words carefully," Qi Xian Qing responded. "Very good." "The farewell banquet for the Five Dragon Summit is approaching, and I have something I need you to do." (Note: xbanxia.com is free of pop-ups and permanently accessible at this domain.)