The sudden appearance of a Grand Ascension sword cultivator had thrown the Longevity Dao Sect into a state of confusion with a single stroke of his sword.
Those who held power within the Longevity Dao Sect were especially dumbfounded.
None of them knew how this had happened.
How had a Grand Ascension sword cultivator managed to infiltrate the sect so easily? And why had his sole purpose been to sever half of Ning Weixuan’s arm, while also launching an attack against the formation around the lake prison?
Every person now gathered in this room was someone whose mere presence could make the Longevity Dao Sect tremble.
The Nine Sons of Longevity.
So long as the Sect Master remained absent, these nine were the most powerful figures in the Longevity Dao Sect.
“How is he?”
“Senior Brother Ning’s injuries are not severe. That sword qi was clean and decisive, but removing the residual sword qi will likely require Martial Uncle’s intervention. As for the spirit herb that regrows flesh and bone, the sect has some in reserve. However, Senior Brother Ning’s mental state has been shaken. He will most likely need to enter seclusion for several years.”
“Misfortune may conceal a blessing, and blessing may conceal misfortune. If Senior Brother Ning can use this opportunity to rid himself of his inner demon, he may even have a chance of breaking through to Grand Ascension,” another cultivator said.
As fellow members of the Nine Sons of Longevity, they fought one another without end—but that was within the sect. When facing outsiders, they were remarkably united.
Ning Weixuan had already been brought back to safety, but even he had no idea how everything had unfolded.
After all, before encountering that Grand Ascension sword cultivator, Ning Weixuan had merely intended to accept a disciple.
“Could it have been someone drawn here by the fiends imprisoned in the lake prison? Perhaps someone intended to rescue them, and Senior Brother Ning simply happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said a woman of celestial beauty and an ethereal bearing. “Though I entered the sect relatively late, I have heard that the lake prison holds imprisoned giants of the demonic path. That Grand Ascension sword cultivator acted furtively, concealed his true appearance, and left immediately after striking. Perhaps he merely came to test the strength of our sect.”
“What Junior Sister says makes some sense.”
“Those demonic cultivators have always been plotting something. It is indeed possible.”
“I think we should, for the time being, attribute this matter to the demonic path. Otherwise, how are we supposed to explain it to the outside world?”
After some discussion, they decided that placing the blame on the demonic path was the safest course of action—and one that would not cost the sect its face.
“Senior Brother, I questioned the two attendants who were with Senior Brother Ning. They claimed to be disciples, though the formal disciple-acceptance ceremony has yet to take place. They said Senior Brother Ning had been waiting there for a female cultivator named Shu Xin, intending to take her as his disciple. That sword cultivator who appeared out of nowhere may have some connection to Shu Xin,” said a somewhat younger, elegant-looking cultivator. “Come to think of it, I was involved in this matter as well…”
The elegant cultivator then recounted the relationship between Situ Jian and Shu Xin, the response of the Lin family ancestor, and what had happened after Shu Xin was imprisoned in the lake prison.
“The most likely explanation is that Shu Xin had long been acquainted with that Grand Ascension sword cultivator. Working together from within and without, they were able to let him infiltrate unnoticed. Moreover, before joining the Longevity Dao Sect, Shu Xin was no more than an independent cultivator, yet she had already reached the Dao Inquiry stage and formed a Nascent Soul before the age of one hundred. Perhaps she had a master outside the sect all along; this incident merely exposed it.”
No one would ever mistake Shu Xin for the Grand Ascension-stage sword cultivator. At most, they would speculate about the connection between the two.
Of course, it was also possible that there was no connection at all.
But those in positions of power would never believe that such a coincidence could arise for no reason.
“Originally, I had hoped to use this matter to put families like the Lin family in their place. I never expected things to develop this way.” The refined-looking cultivator sighed. “I ask Eldest Senior Brother to make a decision.”
Eldest Senior Brother, surrounded by his many junior brothers and sisters, was currently acting in place of the Longevity Dao Sect’s head. He was, in every sense, one of the sect’s true great figures.
Yet he merely sat upright upon a lotus throne, his eyes never opening.
“This matter ends here,” Eldest Senior Brother replied. “Since Fifth Junior Brother was involved in this affair, you will see it through to its conclusion. As for Shu Xin—regardless of whether she is connected to that Grand Ascension-stage sword cultivator, now that she has left, she is no longer a disciple of our Dao Sect.”
Since she was no longer a sect disciple, should they encounter her in the future, they could naturally deal with her as they pleased.
“I shall obey Eldest Senior Brother’s order.” The refined male cultivator naturally understood the implication and cupped his hands in acknowledgment.
The Lin family’s pocket realm.
“Idiots! Fools! How could something this serious happen, and you not come directly to me?” The Lin family ancestor berated several of his descendants until they were thoroughly humiliated, then kicked away several who particularly displeased him.
“Ancestor, you were in seclusion, so…”
“Shu Xin may now be connected to a Grand Ascension-stage sword cultivator, and you were still worried about disturbing my seclusion? I think you simply knew you had failed and were afraid I would punish you.”
The Lin family ancestor dearly wished he could simply kill these descendants. That would still be better than allowing them to continue making fools of themselves here.
It would have been one thing if Shu Xin had hidden in the prison beneath the lake and gone undiscovered. But who could have imagined that she would draw the attention of a Grand Ascension-stage sword cultivator? He had heard that someone had even been seriously injured over the matter, and the elders responsible for guarding the imprisoned fiends beneath the lake had taken notice.
The Lin family was now caught between a rock and a hard place.
But who could have anticipated that trying to kill one insignificant Shu Xin would trigger such a chain of consequences?
Had they known beforehand, not even a hundred times their courage would have been enough for the Lin family to dare such a thing.
“Go and find out at once who was injured! And where exactly has that Shu Xin disappeared to?” The Lin family ancestor was furious beyond measure, his killing intent nearly impossible to suppress.
“Fellow Daoist Lin, there is no need to investigate any further.”
A resonant voice rang out.
Five cultivators of the Immaculate Realm arrived together, descending directly before the Lin family ancestor.
When the Lin family ancestor saw these five Immaculate Realm cultivators, he recognized them as the Longevity Dao Sect’s true reserve strength—the genuine confidants of the Nine Sons of Longevity.
“Lin Jian greets you, fellow Daoists.” The Lin family ancestor’s expression changed at once. His manner was so mild that his descendants had never seen anything like it.
“No need for formalities.” The leader gave a mocking laugh. “The sect has already reached its verdict. The outcome for your Lin family has been decided.”
Lin Jian’s face shifted slightly, but he maintained his amiable expression as he cautiously asked, “May I ask what the sect intends to do with us?”
“This entire incident began with your Lin family. You allowed a demonic sword cultivator to exploit the situation and infiltrate the sect, resulting in Ning Weixuan—one of the Nine Sons of Longevity—being seriously wounded. Your Lin family will compensate us for all the spiritual medicines and spirit stones required for his treatment,” the Pure Realm cultivator at the head of the group declared.
Ning Weixuan? One of the Nine Sons of Longevity!
Lin Jian considered himself an important figure within the sect, but compared to Ning Weixuan, he was nothing.
Why had he been dragged into this?
The cost of Ning Weixuan’s treatment would likely strip the Lin family of a substantial portion of its wealth.
“It… it’s only right that we do so,” Lin Jian agreed through gritted teeth.
“Furthermore, the sect will reclaim six of the thirteen mountain ranges occupied by the Lin family. You have until the end of the month to remove every member of the Lin clan from those six mountain ranges. Anyone still there after the deadline will be dealt with at the sect’s discretion,” another elder continued.
Compensation alone would have been bearable. But once the spiritual mountains were taken away, all the grotto-heavens and immortal realms upon them would vanish, along with the Lin family’s thousand years of effort, the grand formations they had built, and everything else they had invested there.
This move was no different from cutting away most of the Lin family’s roots.
“Fellow Daoist—no, Elder, we accept the compensation. But what justification is there for taking our spiritual mountains?” Lin Jian now fully understood how badly the situation had deteriorated. How had something that seemed so harmless suddenly escalated to the point where the Lin family was nearly being uprooted?
“Are you questioning the sect’s decision?” a female cultivator of the Pure Realm asked coldly.
“…No. I wouldn’t dare.”
Lin Jian knew all too well that if he could twist right and wrong and have Shu Xin imprisoned in the Law Enforcement Hall, then naturally the sect could use the same opportunity to strip his family of its wealth.
The cultivation world had always operated by the law of the jungle.
Lin Jian could accept losing these assets in a battle against another clan. What he found difficult to accept was that all of this had happened merely because of a little Shu Xin.
“Finally, since Shu Xin has already left, she is no longer a disciple of the Longevity Dao Sect. Do you understand what I’ve said?”
Lin Jian was sweating profusely, but all he could do was nod bitterly.
Of course he understood.
The sect’s meaning was perfectly clear: if the Lin family still intended to cause trouble for Shu Xin, it could no longer do so under the name of the Longevity Dao Sect.
Just as Lin Jian could cast aside any useless pawn of the Lin family at will, the sect could likewise abandon him.
After delivering the sect’s orders, the five Pure Realm cultivators left while chatting and laughing, as though they had not just issued commands capable of shaking a family to its foundations, but had merely taken a leisurely stroll.
“Old… Old Ancestor, if we lose half of our spiritual mountains, I fear the other families will seize the opportunity to suppress us.”
“And our shops, alchemy halls, merchant association, and inns may not survive either.”
“Shut up!” Lin Jian shouted, his bloodshot eyes seeming ready to burst. “Go. Inform Situ Jian that his apprenticeship ceremony must be held as soon as possible. And make sure you arrange it with as much grandeur as possible. We absolutely cannot let the other families see us make fools of ourselves. Understood?”
“Yes, yes.”
The members of the Lin clan practically fled. None of them dared to linger.
Only after everyone had left did Lin Jian collapse onto the meditation cushion.
Years of painstaking work had been wiped out in a single day.
And it was all because of that female cultivator named Shu Xin.
The Lin family and Shu Xin were now sworn enemies.
At that moment, inside the prison beneath the lake, Shu Xin was meditating calmly, completely ignoring Luo Huannian’s frequent glances in her direction.
Everyone believed that Shu Xin had taken advantage of the chaos to escape. They even assumed that the Lin family’s oppression had bred resentment in her heart, leading her to join forces with that unknown Mahayana-stage sword cultivator from within and without, ultimately causing the disaster that had just occurred.
But regardless of the truth—and regardless of the relationship between Shu Xin and that Mahayana-stage sword cultivator—no one was going to investigate any further.
Even Ning Weixuan, who had lost an arm, could no longer pursue the matter.
The Longevity Dao Sect could blame everything on the demonic path to preserve its reputation. But if they investigated to the end, Shu Xin’s plight would be exposed to the world.
What would the cultivators outside think?
Would they believe that Shu Xin had acted only because the sect had oppressed her too harshly?
And what about all the ordinary disciples within the sect? If the matter were blown out of proportion, what would they do if they followed her example in the future?
Therefore, the matter could only be suppressed.
Even though they knew that Shu Xin might still be hiding in the prison beneath the lake, no one came to investigate anymore.
Thus, for the month following the appearance of the Mahayana-stage sword cultivator, Shu Xin remained in Luo Huannian’s room, diligently meditating and cultivating while recovering from her injuries.
As for Luo Huannian, he was even less willing to ask questions—or listen to the answers.
He was merely a Core Formation cultivator, with a great vengeance still unavenged. He truly was not suited to become entangled in an incident of such a high level.
As for what kind of monster Luo Huannian now took Shu Xin for, or what suspicions he harbored about her, that was beyond Shu Xin’s control.
【Shu Xin, the mountain-protecting formation outside really has been opened. You can leave now.】 The sword spirit was astonished.
It could not understand.
“The mountain-protecting formation was infiltrated by a Mahayana-stage sword cultivator, so naturally it’s no longer secure. Of course they have to open it and set up a new one,” Shu Xin said with a smile. “Besides, everyone will now assume that I have a Mahayana-stage cultivator backing me. Even if I deny it, the Longevity Dao Sect won’t pursue the matter over someone as insignificant as me.”
Mahayana-stage cultivators were like nuclear weapons in this cultivation world. Once one had revealed itself, no one would dare act rashly unless faced with a crisis threatening the destruction of an entire sect.
See? Once she had revealed that trump card, the matter with Ning Weixuan had been resolved, her conflict with the Lin family had been resolved, and even the sect had become much more accommodating.
Although Shu Xin had not expected it to be quite so powerful at the beginning.
This was the perfect opportunity for her to leave openly and boldly while the formation was being dismantled and rebuilt. She would not have to worry about being hunted down again anytime soon.
“Thank you for everything these past few days.” Shu Xin smiled and tossed a letter to Luo Huannian. “Once you leave this place, find Situ Jian. He’ll help you after reading the letter.”
Luo Huannian frowned slightly, but he still accepted the letter. “You’re leaving?”
“I can’t exactly stay here forever.” Shu Xin shrugged. “I’m off.”
“I’ll see you out,” Luo Huannian replied instinctively.
“No need.” Shu Xin waved casually, not giving Luo Huannian any chance to say goodbye.
After all, they had only met by chance. Once she became a disciple of the Seeking God Sect, it would already be fortunate if they did not become enemies when they met again.
Luo Huannian could not shake the feeling that this female cultivator was utterly mysterious—so mysterious that no one could hope to see through her.
She had just endured such a momentous ordeal, yet she remained completely composed. Did she truly possess the kind of calm that could withstand the collapse of Mount Tai without so much as changing expression?
Luo Huannian asked himself honestly: he certainly could not do the same.
But by the time he looked up, intending to ask her about it, Shu Xin had already vanished without a trace.
The mountains were high and the rivers long. Would they truly meet again someday?
After disguising herself with minimal effort, Shu Xin easily followed a group of guests out of the Longevity Dao Sect.
【I’m dying. They wanted to see you off, and you still refused?】 the Sword Spirit mocked. 【You really are a sinful woman. That young man’s eyes were practically glued to you.】
“He’s simply never met anyone like me before.” Shu Xin shook her head. “What can I do? My charisma is irresistible—you could never hope to understand it. Besides, even if I needed someone to see me off, he wouldn’t be the one.”
【Who else could it be? You truly have no idea how attractive you are.】 The Sword Spirit traded barbs with her.
Only after leaving the Longevity Dao Sect’s territory did Shu Xin sling her sword over her shoulder and stroll leisurely down the road. She planned to intercept Xu Guan and the others from the Seeking-Deities Sect.
If she could simply return with them, there was no need to search for the Seeking-Deities Sect’s mountain gate herself.
On the road that everyone traveling to the Seeking-Deities Sect had to take, a tall, graceful figure was already waiting in the distance.
Shu Xin blinked. A smile spread across her face as she approached him with a grin.
“I didn’t expect us to be this in sync. You knew I’d be passing through here, didn’t you? How long have you been waiting for me?”
And who else could be waiting there but Situ Jian?
“I heard the formation had reopened, so I came.” Situ Jian gave a slight nod. After a brief pause, he continued, “I knew you wouldn’t delay.”
Shu Xin threw her head back and laughed.
Even when one walks alone, there will always be someone willing to see them off across ten thousand miles.
