“Junior Sister, Master has emerged from seclusion with his old injuries healed and cultivation greatly advanced. Our sect has endured humiliation for three years and now is the time for a resurgence. How should we restore our sect’s prestige? We must use the blood of our former enemies to consecrate our banner.”

This voice sounded somewhat familiar. Only after hearing the latter half did Song Qian Ji remember that the speaker must be Yuan Qing Shi, Chen Hong Zhu’s senior brother, and Xu Yun’s eldest disciple.

Years ago, when the Huawei Sect deployed the “Huawei Floating City” and summoned the remnant souls of their ancestors to kill him, Yuan Qing Shi had been assigned by the sect to oversee the formation.

After Yuan Qing Shi finished speaking, three or four elderly or authoritative voices chimed in, all persuading Chen Hong Zhu to join the “sect revival plan.”

Song Qian Ji found it amusing. How did the Huawei Sect’s years of seclusion become entirely my fault?

Shouldn’t Xian Jian Chen shoulder a large portion of the blame?

Miao Yan frowned, her thoughts racing.

Chen Hong Zhu’s disrupted engagement ceremony was a blow to their prestige; Xian Jian Chen rescuing Song Qian Ji and leaving a sword energy mark while passing by the Huawei Sect was a martial blow. The Huawei Sect’s decision to lie low after this double strike was Xu Yun’s wise move.

“But why would Xu Yun dare to plan Song Qian Ji’s death now? Could it be that he’s about to break through to the Divine Transformation realm? Is he no longer afraid of Song Qian Ji’s backing, or even ‘that person’?”

Looking at Song Qian Ji again, she saw that this man was listening to others discussing how to kill him with a smile at the corners of his mouth as if hearing a joke.

Miao Yan couldn’t help but shudder.

The mountain wind howled and night clouds surged.

Cold moonlight penetrated through gaps in the cloud layer, illuminating Chen Hong Zhu’s profile.

Yuan Qing Shi gazed at his junior sister with complex emotions. Chen Hong Zhu had grown taller and thinner, her skin rougher, but she didn’t appear haggard at all. Instead, she exuded a spirited and capable aura, with long, powerful limbs. Standing in the fierce mountain wind at the cliff’s edge, her waist was as straight as a flagpole.

Previously, she would always sit on the Passing Water Bridge, dangling her legs and staring absentmindedly at the five-colored carp in the sea of clouds.

Now her eyes were bright and focused, neither arrogant nor impatient, calmly looking straight at him.

The young cultivators beside her all wore determined expressions, following her lead.

Rather than a young lady, she now resembled more of a “ruler,” a young sect leader.

But the “Little Huawei Sect” was not the “Huawei Sect.”

If Chen Hong Zhu refused to follow the sect’s arrangements and return with these people to the sect, it meant she had already broken free from their control.

Yuan Qing Shi raised his voice, his tone becoming stern:

“Junior Sister, these years Thousand Channels has expanded rapidly, and other sects and families in the Western Continent have all been threatened by Thousand Channels. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to recruit outer disciples and manage ordinary people, while the incense in temples everywhere gradually diminishes.

If this continues, Song Qian Ji will monopolize all the incense offerings in the Western Continent, and Thousand Channels will become the new hegemon of the Western Continent.

Song Qian Ji has already severed ties with us and formed a deadly feud. When that time comes, will our Huawei Sect have to rely on others’ mercy to barely survive? For the sake of our sect, are you unwilling to help?”

Chen Hong Zhu also looked at her senior brother Yuan Qing Shi. The Huawei Floating City incident had left him with a painful shadow.

Since then, he had trained diligently, no longer the Senior Brother who grew up smoothly, with ample steadiness but lacking edge.

“Senior Brother, this matter brings the sect harm without benefit. When comparing personal grudges to the greater situation, one should prioritize the latter,” Chen Hong Zhu said.

As the dispute continued, Song Qian Ji awakened the laboring souls in his domain:

“Don’t say I’m unsympathetic and won’t take you back to the sect. These are the current Huawei Sect’s young generation—watch if you wish.”

The laboring souls, wise from ages of experience, listened for a moment and understood the current situation of the cultivation world and their sect’s predicament, collectively sighing.

“The young Song wasn’t lying to us; our sect has truly declined.”

“He who wins the hearts of the people will win the world. The current trend is unstoppable—what use is killing one Song Qian Ji? What do dignity, pomp, and face matter? For the sect’s survival, all comforts should be temporarily abandoned.”

The Shake Heaven True Person, who invented the outer disciple labor system, said:

“In my opinion, we should temporarily sacrifice some benefits, break the boundary between inner and outer disciples, reduce punishments, and control disciples through honor and rewards. For those with rebellious tendencies, prioritize pacification, and lower our stance first. In at most a hundred years, the tide will ebb and flow again, and the world will still be our world.”

After a heated discussion, the laboring souls concluded.

“This young lady has courage—daring to abandon everything and change course. She’s indeed an intelligent talent with potential.”

Chen Hong Zhu continued listening to Yuan Qing Shi:

“Before the Sect Leader entered seclusion, he received help from Master Wuxiang. Now that he has emerged, he’s no longer the same. Those behind Song Qian Ji are either old, sick, or injured—who can contend with our Master? Once Song Qian Ji dies, Thousand Channels will lose its leader and naturally dissolve. Thousand Channels Prefecture will return to our sect’s territory and back on the right track.

“If Song Qian Ji doesn’t die, a great war will inevitably break out. How many ordinary people and cultivators’ lives will it take to fill the channels of Thousand Channels?” Yuan Qing Shi sighed. “No one wants war. But the world has changed, and war is not far from us.”

Chen Hong Zhu was alarmed: “Father wants to wage all-out war against Thousand Channels?! No! With the world in turmoil, other forces will surely reap the benefits!!”

“Of course, we’ll unite with major families and sects. You’ve found a hundred excuses, but they all boil down to not wanting to kill Song Qian Ji. Master ordered you not to return to the sect for three years, and you harbor resentment, growing distant from the sect,” Yuan Qing Shi said.

“No! I’m delighted that the sect is well and that Father has broken through,” she replied.

“Then why aren’t you willing to return? Why choose the difficult path when you’re struggling outside?” he asked.

“Because…” Chen Hong Zhu gritted her teeth, “That’s not my path!”

“Ha!” A cold laugh.

From the Huawei Sect’s contingent, Zhao Tai Ji stepped forward with seven Nascent Soul elders.

These eight people’s imposing aura overwhelmed the young and weak Little Huawei Sect with its shallow foundation.

After suffering a painful blow, the Huawei Sect’s upper echelon had set aside their arrogance and become more united.

As soon as Zhao Tai Ji appeared, he immediately launched into an attack:

“Young Lady, don’t forget that when you left, you took thirty thousand spirit stones, three thousand copied scriptures, three hundred bottles of pills, and thirty treasured swords! If you’re unwilling to return, you must return all these things with interest! From now on, you may not teach in the name of the Huawei Sect!”

Chen Hong Zhu was startled, her expression changing drastically: “Back then, the Sect Leader personally nodded and permitted me to take these things, and all the elders agreed!”

“Times have changed. Back then, everyone couldn’t persuade you and agreed, but nobody said they were giving them to you for free. The items were only borrowed, and since you refuse to follow the sect’s arrangements and have established your faction, why should the sect continue to support you? The thirty thousand spirit stones invested in the mine to open new tunnels should now be worth three hundred thousand!”

Chen Hong Zhu fell silent.

The young disciples behind her flushed red.

Compared to the vast, rich, and fertile Thousand Channels, and the radical, bold, brave, and battle-hardened Northern Desert, the Little Huawei Sect was undoubtedly the most impoverished.

Before Chen Hong Zhu left the mountain, the cultivation world only knew her as spoiled and willful, and many were waiting to see this Young Lady make a fool of herself.

If she wanted to accept disciples, how could she compete with other major sects and families? Therefore, wherever she went, it was mostly to poor and harsh places in the Eastern Continent, healing and saving people along the way, giving sermons without taking a single coin. Later, as her reputation gradually spread, people came seeking her guidance.

Zhao Tai Ji knew that Chen Hong Zhu had no money and was using this reason to pressure her, simply wanting to force her to submit.

“Young Lady, you claim everything is for the sect, yet you don’t follow the sect’s orders. How can you speak of loyalty?!”

Chen Hong Zhu took a deep breath, refusing to be threatened: “I have long sworn to serve the Dao; no one can doubt my loyalty to the sect. Unless you are willing to swear as I have.”

Zhao Tai Ji couldn’t maintain his composure and shouted angrily:

“Do you think you can create a new Huawei Sect, become the sect leader yourself, and everything will be fine? This way, even if you don’t follow the sect’s arrangements, you won’t be breaking your oath. Ha! If we remove your name from the ancestral shrine, you will no longer be a member of the Huawei Sect. The Dao you teach will not be the orthodox Huawei Sect, and you will have broken your oath!”

Chen Hong Zhu’s calm expression crumbled. Her lifelong oath to the sect had become a death warrant—a casual statement “not orthodox” could plunge her into the abyss.

She felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, her blood running cold.

Both sides stood in silent deadlock, one side looking down from a position of power, the other filled with shame and indignation.

Suddenly, a leisurely voice drifted in:

“Lend me an egg this year, return ten chickens next year. Lend me one seed in spring, return a hundred catties of wheat in autumn. Such a profitable business—I’d like to do it too. Who wants to borrow some money from me?”

Both sides were on guard against each other, not expecting a third party to emerge.

All eyes shot like swords toward the source of the voice: “Who?!”

From behind dense old pines and craggy rocks, a figure leisurely strolled out.

He wore tattered robes, his features handsome, his temperament serene.

He walked straight forward, into the center of the scene, precisely blocking in front of Chen Hong Zhu, standing opposite Zhao Tai Ji.

“Song Qian Ji!” Zhao Tai Ji exclaimed in shock, “You… you!”

The Huawei Sect crowd’s faces turned various shades of green and white, displaying a spectrum of emotions.

Countless thoughts flashed through their minds.

He was here all along—how much had he heard?

How dare he appear alone, so fearless and confident? Could it be that Thousand Channels’ forces or his helpers were hiding nearby?

Perhaps Ji Chen had already set up a formation here?

Could Chen Hong Zhu have colluded with Song Qian Ji in advance, deliberately leading us to this place?

Miao Yan stood behind a rock, her face slightly pale.

The Huawei Sect had come aggressively; Song Qian Ji shouldn’t have gone out.

Could it be that to help Chen Hong Zhu out of her predicament, he was willing to get involved in a deadly trap?

Chen Hong Zhu only stared at the back of that figure, frozen in place, her body rigid.

The young cultivators beside her, however, grew more spirited:

“So he is Thousand Channels’ King Song Qian Ji, still so young!”

“Entering dangerous territory alone, fearless and talking and laughing at ease—this is the bearing of the King of Thousand Channels. Truly worthy of being a current-world hero with a far-reaching reputation!”

If they had first seen Song Qian Ji elsewhere, they wouldn’t have reacted like this. But in this moment of night and howling wind, with the Huawei Sect pressing hard and making trouble, they were angry but dared not speak. Just as the two sides were deadlocked, Song Qian Ji appeared out of nowhere, mercilessly ridiculing the Huawei Sect, saying what they dared not say.

This group of young cultivators looked at him with admiration in their eyes; even Song Qian Ji’s tattered robes seemed to exhibit a carefree and unrestrained flavor.

Song Qian Ji didn’t know what Miao Yan, Chen Hong Zhu, the Little Huawei Sect, and the Huawei Sect crowd were thinking. He only knew that if he didn’t come out, he would be driven crazy by the overly excited laboring souls.

“King of Thousand Channels! How this account should be settled is an internal affair of our Huawei Sect. Does your Thousand Channels intend to intervene?” Zhao Tai Ji recovered his composure and said harshly, “Thousand Channels have not yet become the new hegemon of the Western Continent, yet it acts so tyrannically and unreasonably. No wonder people say all Thousand Channels people are bandits and robbers.”

Hearing this, several Huawei Sect elders immediately began mocking loudly, probing to see if there were any ambushes nearby.

Unfortunately, no one jumped out or revealed their aura due to anger.

Song Qian Ji shook his head: “Your Huawei Sect’s affairs should, of course, be resolved within your sect. Even if you invite me to manage it, I’m too lazy to do so!”

Zhao Tai Ji said coldly: “If that’s the case, get out of the way immediately!”

Song Qian Ji replied: “Very well.”

He turned around, seemingly about to leave.

At this moment, he was blocking in front of Chen Hong Zhu, and as he turned, he faced her directly.

She instinctively averted her gaze.

Chen Hong Zhu felt that in these few years, everything had changed, except Song Qian Ji, who remained the same.

The cultivation world rose and fell in turmoil, but he didn’t care; he even treated hearing about others wanting to kill him like a joke.

She, however, was being cornered so miserably by her sect members, and now she didn’t want to face this person.

“I don’t have Wei Zhen Yu’s talent and combat strength, nor Thousand Channels’ foundation, and I still have to deal with my people. Am I incapable of accomplishing anything?”

Various pains, grievances, and resentments pressed on her heart, never revealed to others, but seeing Song Qian Ji, they suddenly surfaced again.

Song Qian Ji noticed Chen Hong Zhu avoiding his gaze and thought she was trying to avoid suspicion:

“I came in a hurry; Meng He Ze and the others can’t find me and must be worried. I have to go—are you coming?”

“I…” Chen Hong Zhu thought, what do you mean?

We were just discussing how to kill you, and you still come to help?

“We’ll go with the King of Thousand Channels!” a young cultivator behind her quickly said.

Hearing this, the Huawei Sect crowd exchanged glances.

Song Qian Ji came alone?

And he still dared to be so arrogant?

Zhao Tai Ji felt he was being mocked and burned with anger.

Looking closely at Song Qian Ji, whose robes were tattered and hair disheveled, he seemed to have just survived a fierce battle and fled here.

Since Song Qian Ji had already heard their plan to kill him, letting him return now, waiting for him to recover, would be like releasing a tiger back to the mountain.

Zhao Tai Ji signaled to the seven elders behind him: “You insult our sect with your words. Do you think you can come and go as you please?”

Before he finished speaking, eight sword shadows pierced directly toward Song Qian Ji’s back.

Chen Hong Zhu hadn’t expected them to suddenly attack mid-sentence and couldn’t warn him in time; the sword energy had already arrived.

“Ah!” Miao Yan cried out from behind the tree.

Song Qian Ji still hadn’t turned around.

Could it be that he hadn’t anticipated this and couldn’t defend himself?

The moment the sword shadows touched Song Qian Ji, a burst of white light exploded from his body.

The night was illuminated, and a huge phantom rose from his back. A thunderous shout shook the empty mountain:

“Rebellious disciple!”

The sword energy dissipated!

The eight people spat blood and flew backward!

That phantom had a flowing white beard and immortal bearing.

White light orbs flew out one after another from the domain wheat field, transforming into human forms.

Like heavenly deities appearing in the world, they densely filled the night sky behind Song Qian Ji.

Majestic and magnificent, their countenances dignified.

“Rebellious disciple!”

Countless authoritative voices overlapped, echoing repeatedly.

Everyone was shocked.