Chapter 171 The Calm before the Storm

It took great exertion for Li Muxue to jerk herself free from her stupor. Yanluo was looking into her eyes. She smiling, walked up to Li Muxue. "You remember me?"

"I-I know you... Y-you are... Fairy..." Li Muxue stammered, finally recognizing the voice from her past. Yanluo was the Fairy Godmother from her childhood, although she looked considerably younger than she was.

Realizing that this was not Li Muxue's first meeting with Yanluo, Xiao Chen was happy for her. He strode to her side and bowed to Yanluo, saying, "My respects, Senior Yanluo. My name is Xiao Chen."

Yanluo smiled at him, although Huashang was taking everything with gritted teeth, feeling herself being discarded aside. But Moxuan Zi noticed her expression and said loudly, "It has been sixty years since the Jade Qing Seven was reunited. I'm glad, I'm glad!"

Hearing this, the disciples and acolytes congregated outside could not help feeling proud and happy. Adrenaline pulsed through their veins and hope coursed through every member of the Jade Qing Sect as the anecdote of the reunion of the Jade Qing Seven reminded everyone of the authority they once commanded. Nevertheless, there was but another one of the Seven absent.

Yu Yifeng's voice came booming from outside, "Six of the Seven, including my mentor, is already waiting, Senior! Do you really refuse to enter?"

"Enough, you insolent brat! You want me to teach you a lesson?!"

Everyone's head turned. It must be Martial Uncle Xiaoyao. He was known to be the most eccentric of the Jade Qing Seven. He must have gone off to sulk somewhere, knowing that Yanluo had returned.

Xiao Chen was quick to notice Yanluo's expression slightly freezing and quickly guessed what happened. He smiled and strode out and helped Yu Yifeng to pull Zi Mo into the hall.

"What is this? You two insolent pups! How dare you!"

The sight of two youngsters dragging Zi Mo into the hall sent a ripple of amused gasps and grins across the assembled acolytes watching outside. Some even began guffawing with laughter. He went into the hall, and Yanluo humphed, seeing him coming in. "I thought you had gone missing."

Zi Mo's face blazed with redness. "Er... How, how have you been, Junior Sister?" He greeted her, wearing a silly grin on his face, not daring to look at Perfected Immortal Qing Chen in the eye.

"Hmph!" Yanluo snorted. "Who do you think you are? My wellbeing is none of your business!"

Zi Mo's face grew even redder that it looked almost purple. Perfected Immortal Qing Chen did his best to suppress a smile; their seven's happy days seemed to occurred him when they were still young.

An acolyte stepped into the hall and came hurriedly forward. Contingents of warriors and swordsmen from other sects and schools had arrived. With them, they brought word of an imminent attack by Patriarch Guanshan.

The jovial mood of the reunion immediately melted into a still and morose silence. There was no more chime of laughter or cheerful words as everyone's brows creased into worried and distraught frowns. Perfected Immortal Qing Chen stood up and looked outwards, pacing quickly towards the entrance of the hall with the rest of the Seven in tow.

A thronging gathering of hopeful and spirited volunteers, numbering at least a thousand strong, all from various schools of the Orthodox Path, were marching into the plaza of the stronghold. Leading at the forefront, were Master Xuanji of the Wuyin Monastery and Xiaoyue of the Thousand Feathers Sect.

News about Patriarch Guanshan's success in reconstructing a physical body and his intent to wipe the board clean of any opposition had spread across the entire Eastern Continent. Knowing that the Jade Qing Sect was the greatest school of arcane arts in the Continent and its fall would be the first of many, so everyone had come to help.

Perfect Immortal Qing Chen stood at the top of the steps before the great hall with the rest of the Seven standing in a row behind him. Everyone beheld the awe-inspiring sight of the long-awaited reunification of the Jade Qing Seven, with beams of joy and pride across their faces. "Tomorrow's battle will be most perilous," Perfected Immortal Qing Chen said, "Are you sure of this?"

There was no way to ensure that there would be no casualties. Patriarch Guanshan had amassed tremendous might. Even Xiao Chen, with the powers of the Jade Qing Seven infused into him, could not be certain of victory.

"We'll fight to the death! We'll never surrender!"

A turmultuous roar rose from the crowd, displaying their burning resolve and will to fight. Everyone knew the stakes: the battle would be bloody and brief, for Patriarch Guanshan had not only reconstructed his physical body and regained his former strength, every member of the Skygale Sect had been turned into his mindless subjects that existed only to wreak carnage. More than half might not even survive this clash; but everyone knew, no one would survive in the future if the Jade Qing Sect were to fall.

The winds blew gently that night, caressing the faces of everyone in the plaza as their hair stirred in the breeze. The atmosphere was grim and silent, like the final silence before a huge impending storm, as everyone contemplated on their fates, pondering quietly themselves like soldiers before charging into battle. But their eyes rested on one person; the one person on whose shoulders their hopes rested: Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen too felt the weight of the fervent gazes upon him. Such was his destiny that he could not avoid. He was the only one capable to sustaining the insurmountable might of the Jade Qing Seven, otherwise, he would not have wanted such a precarious plan. There were so many things he wanted to do. He needed to look for Ling Yin, his teacher, and he must find out what happened thousands of years ago.

But there was no way he could back down now. He could not flee from all these, with or without his loved ones with him. He would never be able to face Ling Yin again.

But his greatest wish now, was to see his parents, Bai Ying, and his other friends and relatives. But he knew full well that there was no time for that. He steeled himself, standing up. His eyes gleamed with courage and determination. "Tomorrow we'll be facing Patriarch Guanshan in battle!" he shouted loudly to everyone in front of him, "To life or death! Together!"

"Together!" A huge thunderous voice from everyone reverberated as one, echoing his sentiments and emotions.

Despite what he did in the past, Xiao Chen's reputation and prestige reached an unprecedented height. With his triumph, he would be known as the hero of this war against the evil Patriarch Guanshan and the Skygale Sect for futures to come.

The shroud of darkness thickened, although no one slept that night. Everyone busied themselves making preparations for war and planning battle formations. The city-state of Qing Province had already been evacuated by orders of the Emperor of Qing State and the monarch had marshaled a force of 100,000 men to guard the vicinity of Yuqing Mountain.

Realizing the crisis, the Emperor of the neighboring State of Zhou forwent past enmities and sent forth a host of three thousand elite warriors, accompanied by an army of 30,000 men to help to repel the invasion. Everyone in the Continent fully appreciated the living hell that the diabolical Patriarch could inflict should he emerged victorious.

Sitting in the Coalesced Colors Hall, the Jade Qing Seven were all seated together, their faces somber and stern. Perfected Immortal Qing Chen cast a barrier to ward off eavesdroppers. "We'll start at midnight, everyone," he said to the rest of the Seven, "The Seven-stars Soul-transfer Formation shall commence."

"I understand your resolve, Senior Brother," Yuheng Zi muttered gravely, wearing a concerned frown on his face, "But this is dangerous. Woe betides us if anything goes wrong. I suggest that we first set up an Energy-gathering Formation in the Tongchen Hall. If this Xiao Chen somehow becomes deranged or if his evil intent shows, we could still draw back our power."

"I understand your reservations," Perfected Immortal Qing Chen replied, nodding faintly, "But surely you know what will happen if somebody were to trigger the Energy-gathering Formation. We, and Xiao Chen too, will suffer a terrible blowback."

"Rest assured, Senior Brother," Yuheng Zi pressed and said, "I can have men guarding outside the Tongchen Hall to make sure all is well."

The Perfected Immortal Qing Chen made no reply. For seconds, he pondered in silence before he looked at Qingfeng and Zi Mo. "You both know the boy best," he said to them, "Do you trust him?"

"I do." Zi Mo was the first to answer, showing no hesitation at all. "I trust the boy."

Qingfeng too answered, "The boy is pure of heart. He will never, like how Senior Brother Yuheng described, turn to evil and plot to steal our power. But I only worry about..." He did not finish his sentence, falling instead into a deep ponder.

The creases on Qingfeng's forehead told the Perfected Immortal Qing Chen as much. "You're worried about the strange force of energy within him?"

Qingfeng nodded. "The energy lies dormant within him. But it fills him with a demonic urge so strong that he can barely control himself. I have tried countlessly to help him expel the force, but to no avail."

"Where do you think this energy came from, Junior Brother?" The Perfected Immortal Qing Chen asked again, "Was it planted in him by evil beings with insidious plans?" "I cannot say." Qingfeng shook his head. "This is a secret that no one has the answer to yet."

"So be it then," Perfected Immortal Qing Chen pronounced at last, "Tomorrow's battle is one that we cannot lose. Millions of lives are at stake here. We'll erect an Energy-gathering Formation, just as how Junior Brother Yuheng had suggested."

In the same time, Xiao Chen was lying on the grass at the other side of the mountain, gazing into the sea of stars above him, with a mind full of blurry thoughts. He had met with Luo Shangyan, Murong Xian'er, Liu Fenghuang, and Li Muxue, urging them to be careful tomorrow, no matter what might happen. He was especially worried about Liu Fenghuang since Patriarch Guanshan was the one who had first destroyed the Teal Jade Sect. He was afraid that she might do something foolish and brash.

He suddenly heard footsteps approaching. He knew who it was. "You've come, Senior Sister Liu." After all this time, he continued addressing her as such.

Liu Fenghuang came to his side and sat down. A hint of mountain breeze blew between them, grazing at their skins as they watched the flickering fire from the army camps at the foot of the mountain without a word. A strange silence lingered, until Liu Fenghuang said suddenly, "Do you still call me Senior Sister Liu?"

Xiao Chen peered at her, remembering of his earliest experiences in the Violet Manor when he first came. They had spent so much time together when Liu Fenghuang had pestered him to accompany her every day. She had been so happy and joyful then. And now, she would wear that smile no longer. It was a pain that continued to throb within him, a guilt that would torment him forever for the month during which he had been deceiving her.

"Why are you not saying anything?" Liu Fenghuang asked again softly.

Xiao Chen shook his head. "Do you blame me?" he asked again. Everything had happened because of the strings of the Fuxi Zither.

Liu Fenghuang gave no answer. Seconds past until she smiled suddenly. "I have always believed that you would return," she said, "Every day I would wait for you at the Wind-riding Pavilion, hoping for a day where I would once again witness with my own eyes of you pacing towards me. But autumn came. Leaves began to fall. But there were so many... No matter how many times I swept..."

Her voice broke. "Until one day, I dreamt of you returning. I was so happy. But it was only a dream. I woke up to find corpses strewn everywhere. Senior Brother Mo, maimed and injured, risked his life to save me... But he..."

"No... Speak no more..." Xiao Chen murmured. His eyes were moist and red. He hugged her, placing her head on his shoulders, saying softly, "It was all my fault..."