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The dignified man standing before him was none other than Chu Tianfeng, the number one cultivator in all the nearby cultivation nations.
"For hundreds of years, this Chu has always kept his word," Chu Tianfeng said in a clear, unruffled tone, exuding a certain pride that seemed detached from the mundane world.
"On the day of the wagered battle, I confirmed that several Nascent Soul cultivators from Feng Kingdom and Chen Kingdom were present at the mountain gate and had notified them in advance. I can guarantee that none of them interfered in the duel!"
"Is that true? But the assailant was clearly a Nascent Soul True Monarch!"
Master Lihuo had agreed to the wagered battle because Chu Tianfeng had a reputation for honesty and integrity in the past.
Chu Tianfeng’s strength was unparalleled in the region. When he first entered the mid-stage Nascent Soul Realm, he had already managed to defeat two Nascent Soul cultivators from the Golden Sun Sect simultaneously. Over the years, his power had only grown.
In his current weakened state, Master Lihuo stood no chance against Chu Tianfeng and had no reason to doubt him, much less think he would lie.
"Not long ago, I questioned Daoist Six Sun about this, and he swore a Heart Demon Oath that he did not seek external help," Chu Tianfeng added.
Master Lihuo was taken aback. If even the Nascent Soul True Monarchs with vested interests in the surrounding regions were ruled out as suspects... then who could the culprit be?
Indeed, in the eastern region of the Great Qing, there were many cultivation nations with several Nascent Soul True Monarchs in their ranks. However, they were far away and had no reason to intervene. Besides, with Daoist Six Sun having sworn a Heart Demon Oath that no foreign aid was enlisted, who else could it have been?
"Could it be... one of the Six Sects of the Devil's Path?" Master Lihuo’s heart trembled as he considered the possibility.
Yet, with the rapid expansion of the Six Sects of the Devil's Path, it didn’t make sense for them to invade Liang Kingdom’s surrounding area so soon. The Demon Sect invasions were brutal and unrelenting, unlike the Golden Sun Sect, which was more restrained. Anyone who resisted would have their sects utterly annihilated, with massacres and total obliteration of their legacies being common.
In most cases, the Six Sects of the Devil's Path did not accept surrender.
Compared to them, the cultivation forces around the Feng Kingdom adhered to a neutral, orderly stance. No matter how corrupt things were behind closed doors, everyone still maintained a veneer of propriety and morality.
"Among the Six Sects of the Devil's Path, there is a particularly unique faction known as the ‘Unseen Gate,’" Chu Tianfeng explained slowly.
"The Unseen Gate rarely participates in open warfare. They specialize in intelligence gathering, infiltrating enemy forces with spies, and occasionally carry out assassination tasks."
"So, you suspect that the sneak attacker might have come from the Unseen Gate?" asked Master Lihuo.
"It’s just a guess!" Chu Tianfeng said, not entirely certain. "Years ago, I visited a cultivation nation that had been invaded by the Six Sects of the Devil's Path and gathered a lot of intelligence. One conclusion I reached was that any territory targeted by the Six Sects of the Devil's Path would first see infiltration by the Unseen Gate. They would collect intelligence and weaken internal unity. When facing a formidable opponent, they might even lay plans spanning over a century."
At Chu Tianfeng’s level, he was among the first to notice the movements of the Six Sects of the Devil's Path, and he wanted to quickly quell the cultivation wars. His recent move to broker a truce in Feng Kingdom was meant to prevent needless infighting.
He had also proposed a wagered battle between the Nascent Soul cultivators of Golden Sun Sect and Flame Departing Palace, hoping to minimize casualties. Who could have expected a third party to interfere?
Master Lihuo had been ambushed during the duel, enraging him to the point that he struck out in fury. Golden Sun Sect, in turn, had refused to hold back, leading to an all-out assault that ultimately destroyed Flame Departing Palace.
...
Master Lihuo pondered for a moment and found himself inclined to believe Chu Tianfeng’s words. At the very least, it seemed Chu Tianfeng hadn’t played any tricks in that duel.
However, he still harbored resentment toward Chu Tianfeng. Now that he was in Chu’s grasp, with his life hanging by a thread, he saw no need for politeness.
"Chu Tianfeng! Now that Flame Departing Sect has been destroyed and our mountain gate reduced to rubble, what does the Six Sects of the Devil's Path’s invasion have to do with me?" Master Lihuo sneered. ɽ�
"Back then, when you allied with the Chen Kingdom to invade Feng Kingdom, I sent disciples to make contact with you. At that time, you looked down on us and ignored our requests."
"I led the sects of Liang Kingdom in ‘cooperating’ with your invasion of Feng Kingdom—plundering but not occupying territory. But in the end, your three nations brokered a peace agreement and forced the Golden Sun Sect to relocate north!"
Recalling these past events filled Master Lihuo with anger.
During the initial invasion, the Liang Kingdom had plundered resources, benefiting greatly. Many praised their Supreme Elder's foresight for allowing them to feast on Feng Kingdom’s wealth. Chu Tianfeng, at that time, had not issued any warnings or objections, likely because the Liang Kingdom had helped dilute the power of Feng Kingdom’s forces. It was an unspoken understanding, or so it seemed.
"Fellow Daoist Lihuo, this is simply fate," Chu Tianfeng replied, not denying the facts.
"If it weren’t for the Six Sects of the Devil's Path expanding eastward and Feng Kingdom’s deep foundation, which couldn’t afford further infighting, I wouldn’t have minded letting you participate. Had we been able to quickly subdue the Golden Sun Sect and claim their mid-grade fourth-rank spiritual vein, you would have had a share of the spoils."
"So, in the end, Flame Departing Palace was the one sacrificed," Master Lihuo said bitterly.
He had long understood that, even if Flame Departing Palace hadn’t taken the initiative to invade Feng Kingdom, the outcome would have been the same. Feng Kingdom would still have found a legitimate excuse for a counterattack.
"Exactly, because you were the weakest."
Chu Tianfeng spoke bluntly, exposing the bloody reality.
In truth, at that time, every step taken by Master Lihuo was correct.
If it weren’t for the eastward expansion of the Six Demonic Sects, and the sects of Liang Kingdom defying authority to invade the vast and resource-rich Feng Kingdom, pillaging its resources and heritage, it could have strengthened the foundation of Liang's cultivation world.
The sects of the Liang Kingdom only aimed to seize resources, not territory, showing restraint. Yan Kingdom and Chen Kingdom wouldn’t have objected.
If he had succeeded, he would have been sung and celebrated, becoming a hero of Liang's cultivation world.
In the ensuing war, Flame Departing Palace maintained a steady and solid defense, holding out for many years without fault.
But alas, the difference in power was too great.
Golden Sun Sect has an ancient lineage; thousands of years ago, it even had three Nascent Soul True Monarchs. Today is actually considered one of the weaker eras for that sect.
"That's right. Among the surrounding Nascent Soul-level sects, my Flame Departing Palace is indeed one of the weakest. Even the Six Demonic Sects chose to breach through us first," Master Lihuo said with a bitter smile, his expression despondent.
Although Chu Tianfeng's words were painful, they reflected the harsh law of survival in the cultivation world.
No matter how well-calculated each step was, without sufficient strength and fortune, the outcome was predestined.
...
"Chu Tianfeng, cut the crap, how do you plan to deal with me? This humble Daoist will accept whatever you decide," Master Lihuo said, acknowledging that in his current weakened state, he had no hope of escape.
Master Lihuo knew that, given his current weakened state, escape was out of the question.
If he had been at his peak, his Nascent Soul could have left his body, allowing him to flee at speeds far surpassing others of his rank, leaving him with a chance to escape.
However, during the Nascent Soul battle at the Flame Departing Palace, he had been ambushed and severely wounded in a brutal clash with Six Sun True Monarch. His Nascent Soul was also damaged.
Earlier, Liang Shaotian and the other cultivators had taken advantage of his injuries to raid him, further depleting his energy and worsening his condition.
Thankfully, he had managed to unleash a secret technique, pushing his potential to the limit, and single-handedly suppressed over a dozen Immortals, allowing Elder Wang and others to escape.
In order to demonstrate the might of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, he had spared no cost, forcefully breaking through the "Black Yin Heavy Water Formation" that restrained him, killing two or three Immortals in the process to vent his rage.
But the result was that his physical body was now on the verge of collapse, his life force nearly extinguished. He almost fainted from exhaustion.
"Fellow Daoist Lihuo, if I, Chu Tianfeng, wanted your life, I wouldn’t need to do so today."
Chu Tianfeng shook his head, laughing softly.
"Regarding our previous wager, I failed to fully consider its consequences, leading to significant losses for your sect."
"Hmm?"
Upon hearing this, Master Lihuo was surprised and began to sense Chu Tianfeng's true intentions.
Although he was at the mid Nascent Soul stage and held sway over several countries, a late Nascent Soul cultivator would be an entirely new level—renowned throughout the entire Heaven Honoured Continent.
Moreover, the Great Qing might struggle to retain such a powerful figure.
It was said that upon reaching the late Nascent Soul stage, one would draw the attention of the continent's top powers.
Such a cultivator would even attract offers from the Sacred Lands of Central State or the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty.
After bidding farewell to Master Lihuo, Chu Tianfeng transformed into a white streak of light, piercing the sky and ascending to the Nine Fiery Heavens where ordinary cultivators could not step their feet into, ignoring the astral wind that pulverized gold and shattered iron.
After a moment.
His deep, penetrating gaze turned toward a certain direction on the Jing Kingdom border.
The group of demonic cultivators led by Liang Shaotian, hidden within a barrier, was swiftly located by his spiritual sense.
"The Xuan Yin Demonic Sect was once one of the seven pillars of the demonic path, but later splintered, leaving only the Six Demonic Sects."
"Before the Six Demonic Sects invade, they might try to recruit the Xuan Yin Demonic Sect through the 'Unseen Gate.'"
"Liang Shaotian, the sect leader of this Demonic Sect, is incredibly lucky. With just a high-grade spiritual root, he has reached such heights, and he possesses extraordinary talent, having mastered the Black Dipper Demonic Flame. Given time, if he reaches the Nascent Soul stage, he might even contend with a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator."
At this moment, Chu Tianfeng faced a choice: to eliminate this rising demonic talent before he could grow any further.
Inside the concealed barrier, Liang Shaotian, who was meditating to heal his wounds, suddenly opened his pitch-black eyes.
"Hiss! Damn it! Why did it suddenly get so cold?"
In the corner, Xiang Jinglong, who had bandages wrapped around his arm, shrank back, shivering.
...
Half a year later.
Qingsha Bay, Autumnwind Isle.
Above the residence, a vortex of spiritual energy in the heavens slowly dissipated, accompanied by a faint glow of auspicious clouds.
"Fortunately, there were no special phenomena upon advancing to the next realm with her innate Dao physique."
Lan Chang'an sat in the courtyard, observing the entire Foundation Establishment process of Xia Wenyue.
Inside the cultivation chamber, Xia Wenyue's body was encased in a crystalline layer of ice, making her resemble an ice sculpture of a goddess.
This was a unique phenomenon caused by cultivating the Ancient Sealed Ice Scroll.
The Ancient Sealed Ice Scroll was the core technique of an extinct Nascent Soul sect from Lan Chang'an's previous life in the Great Kun region, possessing unique attributes. Each major breakthrough would encase the user in ice, undergoing a transformative rebirth.
Additionally, the Ancient Sealed Ice Scroll contained a mysterious ice-sealing technique that allowed one to enter a state of eternal ice-seal.
Even cultivators with far superior power would struggle to break through it directly.
In this eternal ice-seal state, the loss of life force would be significantly slowed.
The Ancient Sealed Ice Scroll had stringent aptitude requirements, but Xia Wenyue’s innate Dao physique was a perfect match, and the technique amplified her spiritual energy.
Crack!
The ice around Xia Wenyue shattered, and her robes fell apart, revealing skin as flawless as snow.
Her eyes, which opened with a cold glimmer, softened to a gentle radiance as she showed her joy at her success.
Noticing her tattered clothes, her cheeks flushed as she quickly retrieved a new robe.
"Master Lan promised to watch over my Foundation Establishment in secret. There shouldn’t be any way he saw... Besides, Master Lan is a gentleman," she reassured herself before channeling her spiritual energy to stabilize her new cultivation level.
As a gentleman, Lan Chang'an averted his gaze immediately.
Since he didn't consider the nurturing route, he held no personal interest in Xia Wenyue.
In this life, Lan Chang'an was determined not to consider marriage until he reached the Nascent Soul Realm.
However, as an immortal cultivator with a long life, he didn’t reject the idea of fleeting, consensual relationships.
With Xia Wenyue's talent and potential, her future was destined for greatness, and he wouldn't want to risk her reputation.
Even if she didn’t mind, it could invite jealousy and trouble for Lan Chang'an.
...
Half a month later, the Xia Family held a Foundation Establishment ceremony for Xia Wenyue. It was relatively low-key, without excessive fanfare.
Nonetheless, the ceremony drew many guests to Qingsha Bay.
Apart from cultivators from the five major families of the Wufu Merchant Association, representatives from partner guilds also attended.
Lan Chang'an, as Xia Wenyue’s nominal medical teacher, could not decline the invitation.
He was given a seat of honor beside Patriarch Xia Hongyu.
During the celebration, Lan Chang'an enjoyed numerous toasts with spirit wine, conversing with Patriarch Xia Hongyu.
Many attendees came to congratulate, some of whom brought along companions, making it inevitable that a few unfamiliar faces were mixed in.
Lan Chang'an noticed that certain guests discreetly observed Xia Wenyue or tried to pry information from Xia Family members during the festivities.
This was unavoidable.
Lan Chang'an and the Xia Patriarch chose to let things unfold naturally.
Fortunately, Xia Wenyue’s innate Dao physique wouldn’t reveal any peculiarities in a casual setting unless she actively displayed her abilities.
...
That evening, after drinking a fair amount of spirit wine, Lan Chang'an returned to his residence on Autumnwind Isle.
The earth rat spirit beast, who had indulged in fine food and drink during the ceremony, was now sleeping soundly in a cellar somewhere.
It could have the day off.
As he stepped into the master bedroom from the courtyard, Lan Chang'an noticed something strange in the shifting shadows on the floor.
"Lan Chang'an, your secret is out!"
A deep, raspy voice of a mysterious man echoed from the shadows within the room.