An invitation from the Alchemical Terrace Sect? To guide their sect disciples? These words were full of suspicious points, yet he spoke with such certainty, guaranteeing he would personally send Liu Xuan back.
No matter how many doubts Huo Zixun had, he could only swallow them and say, “The sect battle is imminent. I must ask the Elder to urge her to return before the battle begins.”
“Of course, of course!”
The Alchemical Terrace Sect Elder nodded repeatedly, agreeing to everything without a hint of displeasure. Only then did Huo Zixun feel slightly at ease. He then heard a magnificent and stalwart voice say, “The enmity between your two sects has lasted for a long time, forming a karmic consequence of fortune.
Outsiders should not interfere. But now, for the Yang Water Sect to ambush and kill your sect's disciples, and within the territory of my Perceptive Moon Sect at that, is truly going too far. You may return to your sect and inform your masters.
This Seat will seek justice for the True Spirit Sect in this matter.” He did not know which sacred figure had spoken, only able to see a pair of bare feet beneath the high seat. The figure was majestic and tall, its face difficult to see.
Knowing this must be one of the strongest experts of the Perceptive Moon Sect, he immediately bowed in thanks, saying, “Many thanks for Senior's assistance, I am endlessly grateful!” The remaining Profound Division cultivators all thought the old man was doing this to protect the reputation of the Perceptive Moon Sect.
Only Fang Dunian raised his eyes slightly to look at the old man. Seeing his expression was unreadable, still with that calm and unconcerned demeanor, the thought in his heart grew ever firmer. With the Perceptive Moon Sect's help, the Yang Water Sect would have to quell any malicious thoughts for a long time.
With both matters resolved, a great weight was lifted from Huo Zixun’s heart. He then spoke his farewells and went to find Qiu Jianying at the Yang Water Sect's residence to inform her of the day's events. As he flew to the outskirts of Tunqi Mountain, he suddenly saw Qiu Jianying emerge with another person.
Focusing his gaze, he was shocked to see it was Chunyu Gui, one of the Core Formation cultivators from the Yang Water Sect at the Soaring Skies Tournament!
“Elder Qiu!”
He walked up to the two of them and asked, “What is this?”
“Fellow Daoist Huo has arrived.”
Chunyu Gui wore an ambiguous smile, his face feigning embarrassment.
“Your sect's Fellow Daoist Qiu didn't say a word, drawing her sword on us before even entering the gate, demanding that we hand over a cultivator surnamed Liu. But this Cultivator Liu truly has nothing to do with my Yang Water Sect. Where are we supposed to hand her over from?”
“If she had asked nicely, my Yang Water Sect would have certainly dispatched disciples to help search for the person. However, under the sweep of Fellow Daoist Qiu's sword qi, many of my sect's disciples were frightened and are still unconscious. We are truly unable to assist your esteemed sect...”
Huo Zixun broke into a slight sweat. He immediately used voice transmission to tell Qiu Jianying of Liu Xuan's whereabouts, but he did not know how to reply to the hypocritical Chunyu Gui. It was Qiu Jianying who, with a cold brow, spoke with sarcasm, “Stop putting on an act.
Even if the matter of Liu Xuan has nothing to do with you, the ambush on Jiang Yun is inextricably linked to the Yang Water Sect! If you dare to lay a hand on True Spirit Sect disciples again, don't blame my sword for being merciless!” Chunyu Gui's eyebrows shot up, and he took a step back.
“Fellow Daoist Qiu's heart to protect her sect's disciples is no different from our own. However, cultivation is about one's own freedom and ease. Caring too much for others will inevitably disturb one's own cultivation. Let people settle their own grudges. Don't be like your esteemed sect's Sect Master...”
“If you dare speak another word about the Sect Master, I will cut you down right here today!”
Qiu Jianying's sword had not left its sheath, yet its sword qi had already sliced off a lock of hair by Chunyu Gui's forehead. Chunyu Gui knew she was furious. He wiped the smile from his face and said coldly, “Is Fellow Daoist angry at me for mentioning someone I shouldn't have, or because what I said makes no sense?”
He flicked his sleeve, turned, and left, his eyes filled with contempt and ridicule.
“Words from the bottom of my heart, Fellow Daoist, think on them carefully!”
“Elder Qiu?”
Huo Zixun asked softly, not wanting to touch upon her taboo. The matter of Master Tusheng was like a taboo within the True Spirit Sect. He himself had only met him once when he broke through to the Core Formation stage.
In the sect, the person most familiar with him was his disciple in name, but adopted daughter in reality, Qiu Jianying.
“It's nothing. Since Liu Xuan is fine and the Perceptive Moon Sect has intervened, let's head back first.”
She lowered her eyes, unwilling to say more. The two of them returned. When the members of the True Spirit Sect learned the outcome, they were somewhat relieved.
Even Li Su let out a long sigh and lamented, “The words of the Alchemical Terrace Sect Elder cannot be fully trusted. It's best to wait until she returns to ask her about it.” Two days later, a message disciple came to inform them that in this sect battle, the True Spirit Sect would be facing the Stone Ford Sect.
This sect also had four disciples who entered the Fate Seizing Battle, but their rankings were not high, all hovering around the fiftieth or sixtieth positions. Based on the True Spirit Sect's combat strength, their chances of victory were quite high.
Li Su admonished his disciples not to be careless, but he knew in his heart that the Perceptive Moon Sect and the Alchemical Terrace Sect likely had a hand in this.
The Alchemical Terrace Sect's help could perhaps be credited to Liu Xuan, but as for why the Perceptive Moon Sect had repeatedly shown goodwill to the True Spirit Sect, he truly did not know. He would have to report it to the Sect Master upon their return and listen to his judgment. Several more days passed.
Just as the morning glow began to climb towards the radiant sun, Liu Xuan finally returned at a slow pace. The Alchemical Terrace Sect Elder had indeed not broken his word. He personally escorted Liu Xuan to the True Spirit Sect's residence and only took his leave with peace of mind after seeing her reunited with her master.
Li Su asked her, “This time, in your Dao discourse with the Alchemical Terrace Sect disciples, did you gain anything?” Liu Xuan smiled, her eyes crinkling, and nodded in reply, “They are a great sect of the Dao of alchemy. I have truly benefited immensely.”
With this, she confirmed her trip to the Alchemical Terrace Sect.
“Good, that's good.”
Li Su felt relieved, then heard her ask: “I heard that the Yang Water Sect attacked and tried to kill our sect's disciples. Are they all unharmed?”
“Jiang Yun's injuries were not light, but he has now fully recovered. As for Zhao Chun, it was a close call but she came out unscathed. She actually killed a Foundation Establishment cultivator while at Peak Qi Refining, which greatly astonished me as well.”
While at their residence, Du Fanzhi had given him a detailed account of the ambush, and only then did Li Su learn of Zhao Chun's astonishing feat. Liu Xuan, however, showed no great surprise. She said with a smile, “Junior Sister Zhao's abilities are far greater than just this.
In the future, she will certainly have a place among the powerful experts of the Drifting Clouds World.” Li Su gave a slight nod.
“When I first took her as a disciple, I truly underestimated her. In another ten years, at the next Hundred Sects Assembly, it will be up to her and the others to compete for the glory of our True Spirit Sect...”
Liu Xuan’s gaze fell to the ground, her smile unwavering, but she spoke no more... Her return meant that the day of the sect battle was also fast approaching. The battles between the two sects all began at the same time.
Only then did Zhao Chun witness what true heaven-piercing power was. A great hand reached down from the zenith of the clouds, kneading the clouds into pure white circular platforms that spread out in all directions.
Each pair of sects occupied one cloud platform, and the sect battle began upon them. ~~ The sect battle will be written about briefly briefly briefly, time to start a new plotline hehe.
(End of this chapter)