Daoist Jin Lian transmitted:

[Nine: I don’t understand military matters, but there’s something you all seem to have overlooked. That is Black Lotus!]

Seeing Jin Lian’s transmission, the Heaven and Earth Society members’ hearts trembled.

[One: Daoist, you mean…]

[Nine: Yes, the existence of Heaven and Earth Society members has long been exposed, and between Black Lotus and me, there must be a resolution. Now that Xu Qi’an has entered the transcendent realm, and you’re all in the Fourth Grade, our combat power is considerable.

[Put yourself in their position – if you were Black Lotus, what would you do?]

Ally with the Yunzhou rebels to attack Great Feng… this thought flashed through the Society members’ minds. As for Li Na, she suddenly remembered that when she first joined the Society, she had indeed promised to help Daoist Jin Lian clean house once her cultivation was accomplished.

It had been so long that she had almost forgotten this promise.

Also, she hadn’t meant to oppose Daoist Jin Lian earlier – she truly couldn’t understand what he had done wrong.

[Two: But Black Lotus hasn’t appeared.]

[One: Could it be that Black Lotus is in seclusion, too preoccupied to care about external matters, just like your previous state, Daoist Jin Lian.]

When it came to important matters, Huaiqing always spoke actively, never hesitating to express her views.

[Nine: It wouldn’t be like that. Although Black Lotus sleeps most of the time, he always maintains an avatar in the outside world and won’t completely isolate himself.]

Chu Yuanzhen transmitted:

[This matter is indeed unusual. Black Lotus once allied with Zhende to deal with Xu Ningyan. He would certainly ally with the Yunzhou rebels as well. Even if Black Lotus were unwilling, Xu Pingfeng would persuade him.

[But the rebels have been entangled with the Qingzhou army for so long, and Black Lotus still hasn’t appeared – what is he plotting?]

Daoist Jin Lian analyzed:

[Black Lotus is cunning and treacherous. If he conspires with a Second Grade artificer, combining their schemes, no one can guess what they’re planning.]

The Society members immediately became secretly vigilant.

But they weren’t too worried, because given Xu Qi’an’s current status, if he went all out, dealing with Black Lotus alone wouldn’t be too difficult.

Although that guy was only a Third Grade warrior, he had many techniques and trump cards, capable of unleashing combat power far beyond ordinary Third Grade practitioners. Moreover, the Daoist Black Lotus wasn’t in his proper state – he was incomplete.

Among Second Grade practitioners, he should be in the upper-middle tier, not matching peak masters like Luo Yuhen who had one foot in the First Grade.

Jin Lian transmitted: [Number Four just mentioned Xu Pingfeng…]

Chu Yuanzhen responded: [Xu Pingfeng is that Second Grade artificer.]

[Nine: That name sounds strange.]

Daoist Jin Lian tactfully expressed his confusion – if he remembered correctly, Xu Qi’an’s second uncle was called Xu Pingzhi.

Ah, this… the Society members didn’t know how to explain.

The family drama between the Xu father and son was too complicated to know where to begin. If you said it was “heartbreaking to hear and tearful to witness,” that wouldn’t be wrong. If you said it showed the decline of social morals, that wouldn’t be wrong either.

[Three: He is my father, my second uncle’s elder brother.]

At this point, Xu Qi’an jumped in.

He had been lurking the whole time, now lying on a small boat, sunbathing and feeling the sea breeze, with seagulls wheeling in the distance.

The group leader is finally online. If you had come out of seclusion a year or half later, the Central Plains might have changed dynasties… Xu Qi’an felt inexplicably reassured.

It wasn’t that Jin Lian was particularly strong, but rather that when he was still weak, Jin Lian had always fulfilled the role of a reliable senior. Even now that he had become a peak expert, he still had that “child seeing their parents” sense of security.

In the Society, although Huaiqing and Chu Yuanzhen were clever, and the other members were reliable, none compared to the group leader.

In Xu Qi’an’s view, Jin Lian was one of the few old foxes who could play chess with bigwigs like the Observatory Master and Xu Pingfeng.

With his help in strategizing and analyzing the pros and cons, plus Jin Lian’s deep jianghu experience, Xu Qi’an would feel much more at ease.

The Second Grade artificer from Yunzhou is Xu Qi’an’s father?!

Daoist Jin Lian’s mind buzzed, stunned for a long while, never expecting Xu Ningyan to have such a strange and twisted background.

His father was a Second Grade artificer, born in the Celestial Observatory, Xu Ningyan was wrapped in destiny and was a chess piece valued by the Observatory Master… In this instant, Jin Lian’s inspiration flashed like electrical sparks.

He understood many previously puzzling questions.

[Nine: What exactly is the situation?]

Number Three didn’t respond for a long time.

Xu Ningyan didn’t speak because he didn’t want to mention his deranged father… Chu Yuanzhen understood in his heart and transmitted:

[Four: This matter starts from after killing Zhende…]

The clear-minded Graduate Chu began with Xu Pingfeng’s first appearance and his desire to reclaim destiny, continuing with the Yunzhou rebellion. His thoughts were clear, his word choice perfect, not verbose yet not lacking in detail.

Deeply demonstrating the literary skills of a top graduate.

From Zhende to Xu Pingfeng, they were all “good fathers”… Daoist Jin Lian sighed with emotion.

[Two: Xu Ningyan, can we tell Daoist Jin Lian the Buddha’s secret?]

[Four: Yes, the Daoist is well-experienced and has encountered more high-level secrets than us. Perhaps he could offer a different perspective.]

Li Miaozhen’s words gained Chu Yuanzhen’s approval.

Li Lingsu also chimed in: [One: This matter involves secrets of the Transcendent Grade. Previously our level was too low, our foundation insufficient – we could only be shocked. But as the Earth Sect leader, the Daoist might be inspired and recall something.]

What are you all talking about… Daoist Jin Lian stared blankly at the Earth Book fragment.

Involving the Transcendent Grade? The Buddha’s secret? No, although I’m the Earth Sect leader, I don’t know Transcendent Grade secrets either… No, that’s not the key – the key is how you all came to possess even the Buddha’s secrets.

And it seems to be related to Xu Qi’an again.

Daoist Jin Lian once again doubted whether he had been in seclusion for half a year or sixty years.

[Three: Let me explain!]

At once, Xu Qi’an told Jin Lian about the relationship between Buddha and Shenshu, the hidden truth of the Demon Purge Battle five hundred years ago, and his two conjectures.

After the transmission, Jin Lian didn’t respond for a long time, showing no movement.

So long that the Society members thought Jin Lian had gone offline.

[Nine: Shocking news. This poor Daoist also hadn’t imagined the Demon Purge of five hundred years ago had such hidden circumstances.]

Coming back to his senses, Jin Lian transmitted with emotion, making his position clear – the level was too high, and this poor Daoist didn’t understand either.

It seemed even Jin Lian couldn’t touch Transcendent Grade secrets, despite being the Earth Sect leader… The members who had hoped to find clues in the Earth Sect texts understood and didn’t pursue it further or make comments like “even Daoist Jin Lian doesn’t know.”

It wasn’t that they couldn’t say it, but there was no need.

Half a year ago, the Daoist had been the Society’s backbone, always able to answer everyone’s questions.

Just as everyone was about to change the topic, Li Na belatedly transmitted:

[Ah, even you don’t know, Daoist Jin Lian? I thought you would surely know something, being the Earth Sect leader, one of the few in all Nine Provinces.]

… The Society members silently covered their faces.

[Nine: when Li Na mentioned a Semi-Martial God appearing during the Demon Purge, I found it strange. As far as this poor Daoist knows, the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox was in First Grade, with almost zero possibility of advancing further.

[At first, I thought Li Na might have remembered wrong, but later during the Sangbo case, Shenshu caught my attention. He came from the Buddhist sect and was also sealed in Sangbo five hundred years ago. Moreover, his physical body was immortal, his spirit indestructible, and even Buddha couldn’t kill him.

[Except for lacking evidence, this poor Daoist could determine he was that Semi-Martial God.]

Jin Lian was trying very hard to save face… Xu Qi’an transmitted:

[As expected of Daoist Jin Lian, you knew early on. By the way everyone, I just returned from overseas and have a secret about gods and demons to share with you all.]

How does he always have so many secrets… The Society members perked up and then felt complicated emotions.

When did ancient secrets and transcendent-grade mysteries become as common as cabbage, and why did they all happen to him alone?

[Three: Do you all know how the gods and demons perished?]

Xu Qi’an opened with this question.

[Seven: At the end of the Gods and Demons Era, humans, and demons rose, mighty experts emerged one after another, and the two races destroyed the Gods and Demons Era. In this, it was mainly the achievement of human ancestors, with demons only helping a little. Our Dao Sect’s Dao Sovereign, as humanity’s first Transcendent Grade, was one of the main figures in destroying the gods and demons.]

Li Lingsu gave the standard answer.

Li Miaozhen added:

[Two: But actually, the Dao Sovereign’s birth should have been after the Gods and Demons Era, although the Heaven, Earth, and Human sects don’t have detailed records about the Dao Sovereign.]

After speaking, she and the Society members stared intently at the Earth Book fragment, waiting for Xu Qi’an’s reply.

[Three: I’m on my way back from overseas. Not long ago, I met a descendant of the gods and demons who have survived since ancient times and personally witnessed that upheaval.

[It told me that the true reason for the end of the Gods and Demons Era was that the gods and demons went mad for no reason and killed each other.]

This news was like a cannonball striking the Society members’ hearts, raising storms capable of destroying reason.

For a moment, Li Miaozhen, Huaiqing, Chu Yuanzhen, and others couldn’t speak, and the Earth Book chat group fell silent.

The information Xu Qi’an revealed helped them part the mists of history, like lightning striking their minds, bringing spark-like inspiration.

Some had sudden realizations, some were shocked and confused, some found it incredible, some were excited and invigorated… no one could remain calm.

At the same time, it brought new questions.

[Four: Why did the gods and demons kill each other?]

Maybe they all caught the “what are you looking at, looking at what” bad habit… Xu Qi’an sighed and transmitted:

[Don’t know, that descendant didn’t know either. But it said the Dao Sovereign might know. Back then, the Dao Sovereign drove all god and demon descendants out of the Nine Provinces.]

The Dao Sovereign even drove all god and demon descendants out of the Nine Provinces?! Jin Lian was shocked again – another secret he didn’t know.

The Society members didn’t comment, obviously because this was an ancient secret of an even higher level than the “Buddha’s secret,” and any speculation would be meaningless imagination.

But that didn’t mean they didn’t take it seriously – they had already firmly remembered it.

Seeing the topic conclude with no one speaking, Jin Lian actively transmitted:

[The Holy Son has finally regained his freedom. How was the taste of the emotional tribulation?]

You should ask his kidneys about that… Xu Qi’an made a silent joke, believing the Society members were also making similar jokes in their hearts.

[Seven: Shameful, experiencing the emotional tribulation didn’t help much with Supreme Forgetting, but rather following Brother Xu in wandering the jianghu for years almost led me to comprehend Supreme Forgetting.]

After transmitting, the Holy Son mentally spat – Xu Ningyan, that heartless scoundrel.

Jin Lian had no interest in Li Lingsu’s mental journey and transmitted:

[Shortly I will go to Number Eight’s seclusion place to take a look. Number Eight has been in seclusion for many years without awakening, and I’m somewhat worried.]

Ah, we have a Number Eight in our Society? This question flashed through every Society member’s mind.

[Two: Daoist, who is this Number Eight?]

Li Miaozhen voiced everyone’s thoughts.

[Nine: Hehe, although you seven have now met and formed friendships, no longer needing to worry about identity exposure, this doesn’t include Number Eight. Unless they’re willing, even this poor Daoist must follow the Society’s rules.]

Seeing him say this, everyone let it go, as it was just a casual question anyway.

When the time comes, they’ll all isolate Number Eight together.

[Three: Once I return from the Southern Borderlands, I’ll head north to participate in the Qingzhou war. You should all come to Qingzhou too. If Black Lotus dares to appear, we can eliminate him.]

The Gu tribe and demon matters were resolved, and he had no more concerns, so he could throw himself into the battlefield and wrestle with Xu Pingfeng.

The Society members all agreed, with Li Miaozhen even seeming eager to return to her old profession of warfare.

…

Southern Borderlands, Power Gu tribe.

Li Na sat on the threshold outside the courtyard, turning the Earth Book fragment over and over as she examined it.

“Eh, why aren’t they talking anymore?”

The Southern Borderlands’ little white skin blinked in confusion, holding the Earth Book fragment and knocking on the threshold, still receiving no messages.

“How did everyone suddenly stop talking? Are you all still there?”

Li Na hugged the Earth Book and sent messages to the group.

The messages went out like a cow entering the sea, with no response.

Li Na had been like this since saying “Ah, even you don’t know, Daoist Jin Lian.”

She vaguely felt something was wrong.

At this time, Xu Lingyin led a group of Power Gu tribe children running over, waving their hands:

“Master, take us hunting, take us to play!”

Li Na immediately tucked the Earth Book into her bosom and said happily:

“Alright!”

She went off to play with the children, full of joy.