Chapter Thirty-Nine

The closer he got to Wangxian Peak, the stronger the pressure became. Jin Tuo, at the Great Perfection of Golden Core, could barely move.

By the time he reached the palace on the peak, his legs felt like lead.

Bent over, resisting the urge to kneel, he said: "Jin Tuo, on behalf of Qingxu Sect, welcomes Venerable Ning Yuan out of seclusion!"

The heavy palace doors opened from within. A tall man emerged. His features were sharp, his brows fierce. Spiritual energy swirled around him. His Mahayana stage presence pressed down, forcing heads to bow.

Jin Tuo could no longer bear it. His knees buckled, and he fell to the ground, his jaw trembling as he forced out congratulations: "Congratulations, Venerable, on reaching Mahayana!"

The Mahayana stage!

The only Mahayana cultivator in the cultivation world!

With the Venerable at Qingxu Sect, the sect's glory would last for eons!

Jin Tuo was about to say more when Ning Yuan's cold voice sounded: "Evil energy has reappeared in the cultivation world."

"How does the Venerable know?" Jin Tuo blurted out.

He had only learned of it from Qingyang Tianzong's letter. The Venerable had been in seclusion for a hundred years. How could he know?

Ning Yuan looked down at Jin Tuo. "How do you know about it?"

A chill ran down Jin Tuo's back. He lowered his head, not daring to meet the Venerable's eyes: "Half an hour ago, Qingxu Sect received a plea for help from Qingyang Tianzong."

He told everything: "They want the immortal sects to help deal with the evil energy. Otherwise, they'll release it all."

Qingyang Tianzong wanted to drag everyone down.

But Qingxu Sect had been the top for centuries. They wouldn't be threatened. The resources of Qingyang Tianzong were beneath them. Qingxu Sect wouldn't help.

Ning Yuan's eyes lowered. "Qingxu Sect will help Qingyang Tianzong."

Jin Tuo's eyes went wide. "The Venerable wants to help Qingyang Tianzong?!"

"Why not?" Ning Yuan's voice was unchanged.

"Qingyang Tianzong is just a minor sect. Not worthy of the Venerable's attention." Jin Tuo didn't hesitate. "Let them die..."

The pressure on Wangxian Peak intensified. Ning Yuan's gaze was ice.

Jin Tuo's chest tightened. Blood rose in his throat. He dared not continue.

Panicked, he kowtowed: "Venerable, forgive me! I'll send help immediately!"

The pressure eased.

Jin Tuo sighed in relief, wiped the sweat from his brow, and backed away.

Back in the main hall, Jin Tuo finally coughed up the blood stuck in his throat.

"Sect Leader!" The elders were alarmed.

Jin Tuo waved them off. "It's nothing. The Venerable's Mahayana pressure is too strong."

In the cultivation world, Golden Core cultivators were common. But Nascent Soul was rare. Those below Nascent Soul were ants. And the gap between Golden Core and Mahayana was vast. A Mahayana cultivator could kill with pressure alone. Jin Tuo's reaction was expected.

The elders returned to their places.

Jin Tuo composed himself. "The Venerable has ordered Qingxu Sect to help Qingyang Tianzong. Elder, send word and gather a hundred disciples to accompany the Venerable."

No one dared disobey Ning Yuan. The elder, though puzzled, accepted the order.

"Sect Leader," Nan Xingye stepped forward, "this disciple would like to go."

Jin Tuo saw through him. "You want to meet this Cen Yan who rivals you?"

Cen Yan was indeed talented. Thirty years ago, Qingxu Sect had offered to take him in, but he refused.

Wait.

A thought struck Jin Tuo. Could the Venerable want Cen Yan as a disciple? He had never taken one.

Nan Xingye didn't deny it. He did want to meet him.

Jin Tuo valued him highly. How could he refuse? "Fine. Go."

"Thank you, Sect Leader!"

Qingxu Sect's movements were watched by many. News of their support for Qingyang Tianzong soon spread.

Heavenly Machine Sect.

Heavenly Machine Secret Realm.

Mechanisms covered the area, gears turning constantly. Disciples in yellow and white robes worked ceaselessly, organizing and transmitting information.

In the main hall, a man in black-gold robes sat. His features were soft, handsome, his temperament like fine jade polished by time. He smiled at the letter before him, but there was no warmth in his eyes: "What does evil energy have to do with the Heavenly Machine Sect? Why bring this worthless information to me?"

Qingyang Tianzong. An insignificant sect. Besides taking in a talented disciple thirty years ago, what about it warranted the Heavenly Machine Sect's attention?

The disciple below trembled, stammering: "Venerable Ning Yuan of Qingxu Sect agreed to help them personally."

He Ting's smile faded. Surprise flickered in his eyes. Ning Yuan was out of seclusion?

Qingxu Sect was helping Qingyang Tianzong at Ning Yuan's command?

Why?

He Ting looked at the letter. What about this minor sect had caught the Venerable's attention?

Was it Cen Yan's talent?

Yunyin Valley.

Colorful flowers bloomed, stretching from the valley entrance deep within.

A grand, ancient courtyard stood by the water, filled with medicinal herbs. The air smelled of them.

Inside, a handsome man with an androgynous, somewhat sinister look sat, head propped on his hand, looking at two open letters. His pale lips curved, unsettling.

After a hundred years of seclusion, Ning Yuan emerged to help a minor sect?

Jing Heng could only think of one reason: Cen Yan. The only person in Qingyang Tianzong worthy of the Venerable's attention.

Dufa Temple.

Deep in the mountains, an ancient temple stood amidst the forest, Buddhist chants echoing.

Dufa Temple was where Buddhist cultivators practiced. Among the immortal sects, it had declined fastest in recent centuries.

But its abbot, Master Kong Wen, one of the two Nascent Soul cultivators, kept it from sinking too low.

In the Buddha hall.

Kong Wen sat cross-legged in his kasaya, hands together, looking at the young man before him with kind eyes: "Yun Tan, what do you think?"

Dufa Temple had always remained neutral, avoiding sect disputes. Getting involved with Qingyang Tianzong could cause trouble.

But if the evil energy spread, countless innocent lives would be at risk. Kong Wen was troubled.

Yun Tan's brows were like distant mountains. His hair was gone, but his handsome, ethereal face was unchanged. His eyes were calm, like a deep well, like a true Buddha: "Abbot, Dufa Temple has always only saved the common people."

Not any particular sect.

So there was no question of joining sect disputes or breaking centuries of tradition.

Kong Wen was taken aback, then looked at Yun Tan with even more affection: "This old monk was too narrow. Yun Tan, go. Stop the evil energy from spreading to the mortal realm."

Yun Tan pressed his palms together. "I will."

Other sects with open formations also received Qingyang Tianzong's plea.

Some minor sects, struggling themselves, wanted to ignore it. But hearing Ning Yuan would be there, they changed their minds and sent disciples.

Soon, all the sects with open formations agreed to help and headed for Qingyang Tianzong.

Qingyang Tianzong.

Still awaiting responses, Lian Ci and the others were anxious.

The atmosphere in the main hall was heavy.

Cen Yan's lips were pressed tight, his eyes churning. He had spoken confidently, but his heart was uncertain.

If no sects came... Cen Yan's hands clenched. He left the hall.

He Ming noticed. "Where are you going, Yan'er?"

"The back mountain." The evil energy in the inner sect was sealed, but the back mountain was not. He wanted to watch over it personally.

Xu Ziyang, sitting opposite, overheard. He looked at Cen Yan's retreating back.

Leaving the hall, Cen Yan headed for the back mountain. Halfway there, a hoarse voice stopped him: "Cen Yan."

Cen Yan stopped, looking up coldly. The tall, slender man walked towards him. The setting sun illuminated his terrifying mask, giving it a strange beauty.

Cen Yan's eyes flickered, then turned cold. "What do you want?"

Since moving to Xuanjian Pavilion four months ago, he hadn't seen Chu Rong. With the sect in chaos, why was Chu Rong looking for him?

Chu Rong seemed not to notice his coldness. His lashes fluttered, his eyes alluring. "I've come to grant your wish."

What wish could he have that Chu Rong could grant?

Absurd.

Cen Yan was about to leave when Chu Rong said: "To dissolve the engagement."

Author's Note:

Sorry for the wait~