NOVPUB
Chapter 352: Chapter 349 Doubts
Blood debts must be paid in blood.
Xuan Hai listened to his Master’s words and solemnly promised, "Yes."
"After finding Venerable Xuan Tian, do not act rashly and alert the enemy. A Deva wielding a Divine Weapon... likely possesses a power close to that of a Saint. You are no match for him. Only by my hand can I avenge my fellow brother and cleanse this hatred!"
Immortal Wu Zhong said.
He seemed to exhibit a profound bond of brotherhood.
Xuan Hai nodded his head.
After a moment, something seemed to occur to him, and he pondered aloud, "Master, in our investigation into Venerable Xuan Tian’s plot to exploit Xuan Yue, we discovered another issue. Xuan Yue was well protected by people like Xuanqing, Xuanwu, Xuan Chi, and others. The reason he could leave the Sanqing Hall was partly due to the unobstructed power of his Primordial Spirit Monarch cultivation, and partly because someone assisted him from the shadows."
He added, "Along with Venerable Xuan Tian, who brought Xuan Yue back to the main vein of the Sanqing Hall, there was a man and a woman, Bai Ye and Bai Yuxuan—a Divinity Transformation Cultivator and a Great Heavenly Master. It was after communicating with Bai Ye and Bai Yuxuan that Xuan Yue, already yearning for the freedom of the outside world, made up his mind and secretly left the Sanqing Hall. In other words, he was virtually lured by these two... especially Bai Yuxuan, with the bait of beauty, out of the Sanqing Hall."
"These two? A coincidence or a premeditated plan?"
"It can’t be a coincidence. I suspect that behind these two lies an even more powerful force, intent on targeting our Sanqing Hall."
"Targeting our Sanqing Hall..."
Immortal Wu Zhong narrowed his eyes.
The most motivated force to target them in the world today is the True Immortal Hall, which was formed by merging Earth Immortal Palace, Human Immortal Hall, and the Purple Night Sword Sect.
However, given the relationship between Venerable Xuan Tian and the True Immortal Hall, it’s unlikely that they would cooperate.
Moreover, Blood Demon Emperor Luo has just made an enemy of Lingxiao Palace and would not rashly provoke the Sanqing Hall.
So...
The instigator could only be one.
"Emperor Qian."
Immortal Wu Zhong said, "Jiang Tianji."
"The disciple shares the same thought."
Xuan Hai solemnly nodded, "Over the past century, Jiang Tianji’s ambition to destroy our Sanqing Hall has never died. Even though our Sanqing Hall only occupies Moon State and does not seek expansion, they still see us as their number one threat, fearing that Uncle Wu Shi will recover and lead the Sanqing Hall to replace their Imperial Family."
He paused and then said, "Those two should not be called Bai Ye and Bai Yuxuan, but rather Jiang Ye and Jiang Yuxuan."
Immortal Wu Zhong closed his eyes.
This Emperor Qian had always been cautious and hostile towards the Sanqing Hall, and of course, Wu Zhong was also aware of it.
But the internal situation of the Sanqing Hall was complicated.
He, Immortal Wunian, and Immortal Wushi once disputed fiercely over the World Sword and the Star Heart.
Although Immortal Wushi conceded and handed over the two Divine Weapons to them, because he maintains the acknowledgment state of the weapons, it caused great discontent between him and Immortal Wunian.
If not for the uncertainty of Immortal Wushi’s injury, the three veins of the Sanqing Hall would have already come to blows.
In such a state, despite being aware of Emperor Qian’s malice,
and with the comprehensive strength of the Sanqing Hall surpassing that of the Daqian Royal Family, they never dared to truly act against the Daqian Royal Family.
Otherwise, in a fierce battle between him or Immortal Wunian and Emperor’s Master Tai Yuan, he could not ensure that Immortal Wunian or Immortal Wushi would not strike from behind.
After all!
This was about Divine Weapons!
By that same logic,
if it were him, he would also not miss the chance to strike in the shadows, to completely take possession of the Divine Weapons.
"Jiang Tianji..."
Immortal Wu Zhong tightly gripped the sabre hanging at his waist and reopened his eyes, "Let the matter with him be for now. As long as Immortal Wunian and I do not come to blows, that Emperor Qian won’t dare to openly move against us. At most, they’ll resort to some tricks. Everything else can wait until we find Venerable Xuan Tian!"
"Yes."
Xuan Hai respectfully acknowledged his Master’s command and withdrew.
...
While Immortal Wu Zhong and Xuan Hai, a Saint and a Deva, discussed information about Venerable Xuan Tian,
At the foot of a mountain several miles from the Yuxu Saint,
Rows of followers and Daoists knelt in homage, approaching the building complex with slow reverence, akin to a pilgrimage.
Even though the number of those performing three kneels and nine bows was not large, and most people were carrying what could be considered exorbitantly priced Blessing Jade and incense sticks, their eyes were filled with respect and piety.
Despite not expanding territorially over the past century, the Sanqing Hall used formidable tactics to occupy one after another of the extreme abundance of resources.
The largest gold mine in the Qiantian World was controlled by them.
Even as the Daqian Dynasty held sway over the world, in recent years, its income from the gold mines sometimes could not match that of the Sanqing Hall.
Furthermore, with Immortal Wushi, the world’s foremost expert and the sole Earthly True Immortal of Qiantian, along with the prestige of being Qiantian’s greatest sect...
Each year, innumerable geniuses from all over Qiantian would rush to join the Sanqing Hall, desiring the ample resources and cultivation it provided.
And within Moon State, the followers were so brainwashed over the years that they became the most loyal citizens of the Sanqing Hall, diligently living on this land to farm, labor, trade, and craft, all to be closer to the "Immortals" of the Sanqing Holy Temple.
With such stable internal governance,
And the continuous absorption of talent from around Qiantian, the Sanqing Holy Temple remained thriving and prosperous over the century.
The number of Devas and Saints, even the Daqian Dynasty could not compare to them.
At that moment, outside this majestic and solemn complex of buildings, a relatively young man holding a sword with a calm demeanor climbed the stairs step by step and arrived in front of the most magnificent main building.
The Daoist guarding the entrance leaned against the wall, casting a sidelong glance at the pilgrims who were making their way forward on their knees.
Upon seeing someone with a calm expression, chest puffed out, and not even bearing the customary offerings or pilgrimage items usually bought from below, the Daoist’s apprentice frowned and immediately scolded, "What are you doing? If you wish to pray to the gods or pay homage to the Immortals, prepare your incense money. If there’s an issue, go to the corresponding hall and submit a worship plea..."
"Oh, it’s my second visit to the Sanqing Hall, and I’m not familiar with the guest reception procedures here. Should I submit a worship plea?"
The man glanced at the Daoist boy and calmly said, "I was under the impression that upon my arrival at the Sanqing Hall... even though I belong to the Yuxu lineage, I would still receive a most ’grand’ reception."
"Grand?"
The Daoist boy looked at the man, sizing him up, laughed scornfully at his youthful face, and said, "What status does our Sanqing Hall hold? In today’s world, even if the Emperor Daqian himself visited, whether he’s given a grand reception would depend on his purpose. If he brings gifts, we might show him some face, but for anything else, he shouldn’t expect such treatment. Do you rate higher than the Emperor Daqian?"
"That’s hardly the case."
The man shook his head.
"If not, then what are you swaggering for? State your business," demanded the Daoist boy.
"I have come to visit Immortal Yuxu," replied the man.
"Immortal Yuxu?"
The Daoist apprentice was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized something.
This was their Yuxu lineage’s founding ancestor.
For a moment, the apprentice gathered his divine sense and became slightly more formal, "You...where is your worship plea?"
"I don’t have one," said the man, calmly continuing, "Just say that Venerable Xuan Tian has come for a visit. I believe Immortal Yuxu should want to meet with me in person."
"No worship plea and you still want to meet the founder...you..."
The Daoist’s apprentice was about to burst with indignation, but then he seemed to comprehend the man’s self-introduction. First, he hesitated, then shock struck him like lightning.
For several seconds, his pupils dilated with terror as he looked at the man who remained calm and steady, his voice trembling, "Venerable...Venerable Xuan Tian!? You...you are..."
At that moment, another Daoist apprentice who had found the man somewhat familiar but was incredulous hurriedly turned and ran into the hall as fast as he could, "Venerable Xuan Tian...Venerable Xuan Tian has arrived..."
Venerable Xuan Tian watched the Daoist in front of him go weak at the knees, without a hint of change in his expression.
After a few breaths, a series of powerful auras and divine thoughts swiftly swept out from the palace complex.
Accompanying them were a series of exclamations of shock.
To this, Venerable Xuan Tian patiently waited without showing the slightest sign of impatience.
He had assassinated Immortal Wushi.
He did so because he believed that based on Immortal Wushi’s actions a hundred years ago, when he assembled the Four Continents True Immortals to murder Emperor Tianji, if Wushi knew that he was now the new Sword Master of the Sky Extreme Sword and had achieved Devas status, Wushi would definitely take action himself with the overwhelming might of an Earthly True Immortal to pulverize him into dust.
Just as they, without hesitation, had joined forces with the Earth Immortal Palace and Human Immortal Hall to dispatch Devas to hunt him down.
At the time, he was only a Primordial Spirit Monarch, and Sanqing Hall had sent several Devas in their attempt to kill him.
Immortal Wushi, upon becoming a Deva, sought to nip him in the bud and took matters into his own hands...
It was reasonable.
Thus, for self-preservation, he did not hesitate to cooperate with Emperor Qian, and through Emperor Qian Jiang Tianji’s arrangements, he boldly assassinated Wushi, the foremost expert of the Qiantian World.
Ending the life of this Earthly True Immortal.
However, after successfully assassinating Immortal Wushi and escaping from Sanqing Hall, he gradually became aware of some troubling issues.
It was too smooth.
Smooth enough that...
Immortal Wushi seemed to have deliberately died by his hand.
He didn’t even attempt to retaliate using the World Sword.
And that final phrase before his death...
"Very good?" n𝚘𝚟𝚙u𝚋.co𝚖
Why ’very good’?
Especially the liberated look in Wushi’s eyes just before his death kept lingering in his mind, unsettling him for a long time.
In order to resolve the doubts in his heart and to uncover the real reason why Immortal Wushi was willing to die by his sword, he came to the dwelling place of the Yuxu lineage.
He planned to have a proper discussion with Immortal Yuxu.
...
"Rumble!"
The earth shook and the heavens trembled.
Within the architectural complex of Yuxu Palace, the wind and clouds surged as no fewer than four Devas Realm auras shot into the sky, bringing with them an overwhelming pressure that rolled in waves.
At the same time, from the deepest part of Yuxu Palace, a spiritual will strong enough to seem tangible swept across, locking onto Venerable Xuan Tian’s form unrelentingly.
"Venerable Xuan Tian!"
Following this, a sky-piercing cry resounded.
An elder, looking like a model Taoist with an attire similar to that of Immortal Wushi, stepped forward with an expression filled with rage...
And to one’s surprise, delight!?
"You actually dare to show yourself at our Sanqing Hall, you bypass the road to heaven and choose to barge through the gates of hell! Mark today, for this will be the anniversary of your death next year!"
