In the quiet space, there was a long silence.

Whether it was the Old Ancestor, Fudao Shanren, or Jian Chou, they all seemed to be trapped in something, speechless.

For the Old Ancestor and Fudao Shanren, these were all old matters of Yashan, known for many years, occasionally circling in their minds without a day of forgetting.

Now that old matters were brought up again, there was mostly that unwilling sorrow.

But for Jian Chou, this was the first time she had heard these distant secrets.

Although she had previously had some speculation about the grievances between Yashan, Kunwu, Buddhism, and the Extreme Domain, when those bloody truths from back then were laid out before her like this, she still felt breathless.

Clearly spoken in a light, breezy tone, even with a hint of smile, yet the “truth” hidden within that remained unexposed was extremely shocking!

Jian Chou was indeed lost in thought for a long time before she could slowly regain her rationality and connect some details from before and after.

“So it was precisely because of this old grievance that Junior Brother Qu so hated Kunwu, even once clashing with Kunwu’s White Bone Dragon Sword Wu Duan over a disagreement. I still remember he seemed to have old injuries…”

That was revealed when fighting Wu Duan on the Western Sea.

Moreover, because she wielded Ghost Axe, which had once followed its former master in the Yin-Yang Realm War, she had once glimpsed a scene from the Extreme Domain battlefield under its influence.

At that time, it was precisely a deep purple sword light that attacked Qu Zhengfeng from behind…

“If following what Old Ancestor said, when Kunwu, Yashan, and Buddhism attacked from three directions, Kunwu sent Zichen Sword Shen Jiuhan to report. Then presumably, the one who clashed with Qu Zhengfeng was him.”

This analysis all followed traces of evidence, but Jian Chou believed it should completely match.

Sure enough, after her words fell, Fudao Shanren slowly nodded.

However, probably thinking of Qu Zhengfeng, his expression became more complex, though he quickly covered it up by taking a bite of chicken leg, even laughing: “Yes, who told this fool to be unlucky?”

“Sigh…”

Seeing him like this, the Old Ancestor couldn’t help but sigh, originally wanting to advise Fudao not to think too much.

But somehow, his mind also conjured up Qu Zhengfeng’s tone and expression when he had decided to break through to Nascent Soul and rebel by drawing his sword, standing before him and saying those words…

“Back then, Shen Jiuhan was also quite favored by his master, being Hengxu’s junior brother, called ‘Kunwu’s Twin Stars’ alongside Hengxu. He only said he had a disagreement with Qu Zhengfeng when coming to report, then for over six hundred years, he declared seclusion, and Kunwu was taken over by Hengxu. As for Shen Jiuhan himself, reportedly he never stepped out of Kunwu again.”

“Didn’t Yashan inquire further?” Jian Chou couldn’t help asking.

“Inquire? With what right to inquire?”

Fudao Shanren glanced at her, couldn’t help pointing at her with that greasy chicken leg, looking like he hated that iron wouldn’t become steel, but his eyes held that deep mockery he couldn’t hide.

“Tell me, you can at least be called a ‘Nascent Soul old monster’ now, how do you still have a Foundation Establishment bean-curd brain? Besides, what result could inquiring achieve? No one’s a three-year-old child.”

Why Kunwu had done this, they all understood clearly.

To inquire, to seek justice—what use would it be? Could it revive those fallen thousand cultivators, or kill the “late-arriving” Kunwu members to resolve their hatred?

Not to mention, Yashan at that time…

“Enough, these moldy old matters—why are we still sitting here rehashing them?”

As Fudao Shanren spoke, he himself didn’t want to continue discussing. He curled up one leg, rested his elbow on it, and changed to a careless sitting posture.

“Anyway, now our Yashan and Kunwu are one loving family—talking about these things isn’t good. Old Ancestor, let’s still discuss business. What do you think about this Nine-Headed Bird matter?”

Jian Chou hadn’t expected Fudao Shanren to change the topic so abruptly. Actually, she still had many doubts that hadn’t been answered.

But thinking again, when had Master’s words ever been wrong?

Many things didn’t necessarily need clear, definite answers. Right and wrong, black and white were already in the heart. The higher their realm, the clearer their understanding of benefits and drawbacks.

Yashan—just from the existence of the “Sword-Drawing Sect,” one could see this wasn’t a sect that liked to argue with people verbally and pitifully demand justice.

Yashan couldn’t do things like being humble and exposing their own wounds.

Compared to talking, the sect preferred action.

So after Jian Chou briefly pondered Fudao Shanren’s words just now, an indescribable strange and alarming feeling arose in her heart.

As for the Old Ancestor, whether he had heard too much or simply agreed, his face showed no unusual expression.

He furrowed his two long eyebrows and pondered for a long time.

“That the Nine-Headed Bird’s remnant soul still exists is naturally great news for our Shijiu Zhou.”

“However, in today’s world, demons and devils are about to emerge, chaotic signs are gradually appearing—it’s not as simple as back then. Though we’ve rested and recovered for many years, Kunwu is now powerful. To decide on matters like warring with the Extreme Domain again—it’s not our place to speak. Whether Kunwu is willing is one thing, the situations of the Chan and Esoteric sects are unknown, not to mention the old grievances?”

“Let’s take it step by step. The small gathering is coming soon—Hengxu should know this news.”

The Zuo Sanqian small gathering had always been jointly hosted by Fudao Shanren and Real Person Hengxu.

When the time came, he would definitely need to go to Kunwu and would see Real Person Hengxu. The Old Ancestor’s meaning was to have Fudao use this opportunity to inform them that the Nine-Headed Bird’s remnant soul still existed, and probe Hengxu’s intentions.

Fudao Shanren understood, snorted, but shook his head: “About what this mountain man thought too—really doesn’t give any ‘surprises’ at all.”

The Old Ancestor glanced at him and said nothing more.

Fudao didn’t care either. He casually patted the dust off his bottom, stood up, stretched, and even yawned.

“Since there’s nothing else, this mountain man will leave first—”

“Stand there.”

Seeing Fudao Shanren about to leave, the Old Ancestor lifted his eyelids and spoke again, but his next sentence turned his face toward Jian Chou.

“I still have something to ask your master. You go out first.”

Seeing Fudao rise, Jian Chou had already followed suit, preparing to leave with him.

Hearing these words, she stopped her movement and quickly bowed respectfully: “Yes, then Jian Chou will take her leave first.”

Fudao Shanren rolled his eyes but didn’t stop her.

When they came, he had brought Jian Chou here without telling her how to enter. But now that Jian Chou had late Nascent Soul cultivation, she didn’t need to know how to get out.

After she bowed, she took two steps back. On the third step back, her figure disappeared.

“Your disciple is truly remarkable.”

Once Jian Chou left, the Old Ancestor raised his hand, stroked his beard, and sighed, his face showing considerable appreciation and satisfaction.

“Though I didn’t deliberately block her, the formation here is still active, and we’re in the mountain’s belly with special rocks. Yet she could easily teleport out from here…”

“Nonsense, could this mountain man’s disciple be inferior?”

Fudao Shanren had always been thick-skinned. Though the Old Ancestor was clearly praising Jian Chou, he directly claimed the credit for himself, even becoming somewhat proud.

“Whether it was the former Qu the Fool or little Jian Chou, they’re absolutely first-rate. You can’t envy this—don’t even think about it.”

“Yes, your Fudao’s disciples are all first-rate. But I kept you to speak because I have something to ask, which happens to be about your disciple.”

He raised his head, gazing at Fudao Shanren, his voice somewhat grave.

“Uncle Master Jiang He, how has he been lately?”

“…”

The motion of gnawing the chicken leg suddenly stopped, as if frozen in place.

Fudao Shanren slowly raised his head but didn’t answer for a long time, his expression rather ghostly strange.

On Jian Chou’s side, she teleported out but found herself standing beside the Beast Prison.

There seemed to be sect disciples sparring with each other in the arena, with quite a few people gathered around watching, occasionally bursting into exclamations and cheers.

But all of this failed to attract her attention.

Standing on the rather high viewing platform, looking ahead, her expression was rarely dazed—

Just now, what had she sensed?

That huge mountain belly, countless complex formations carved into the mountain walls!

Truly magnificent!

Originally, she had just activated teleportation when taking her leave, planning to return to Lingzhao Peak. But when she extended her spiritual consciousness and sensed those terrifying formation groups hidden in darkness, she momentarily lost control and teleported to the wrong place, ending up at the Beast Prison.

Really…

Unheard of, unseen!

Even the formations she had witnessed in Qingfeng Monastery’s hidden realm couldn’t match what she had just sensed in the mountain’s belly!

Imagine: an altar identical to the eighteenth level of hell in the Extreme Domain, a Mitian Mirror left by Pangu Dazun that could allow passage between realms, a withered bone “Old Ancestor” unknown to the outside world who could instantly become a “living person”…

How many things about this vast Yashan did she still not know?

People always said Yashan had always stood alongside Kunwu, even with a reputation that had long surpassed Kunwu’s by quite a bit. Previously, she hadn’t felt this deeply.

But today…

It truly overturned her previous understanding and finally made her realize where Yashan’s profound foundation lay!

Just, she didn’t know…

What exactly was this “Old Ancestor”?

Living person, or dead person?

Jian Chou fell into contemplation, becoming absorbed.

During this time, some Yashan disciples noticed her, but seeing her lost in thought, they all refrained from disturbing her.

When she came to her senses, there were few people left in the Beast Prison.

Only Fang Xiaoxie was still crouching not far away, maintaining that posture of gnawing his fingernails while tilting his head to look at her, and had been doing so for quite a while, also seemingly lost in thought.

But the moment Jian Chou turned to look at him, he shuddered all over.

As if he had done something bad that was about to be discovered, he suddenly jumped up from the ground, straightened his back, and faced Jian Chou with his head held high and chest out.

Jian Chou was startled by him, puzzled for a moment before recognizing who he was.

The kid she had seen on the Sword-Drawing Platform when she first returned to Yashan, the one who constantly challenged Shen Jiu—Zheng Yao’s nominal disciple.

“Fang Xiaoxie, what are you doing here?”

“I’m waiting for you.”

His round, dark eyes bulged very wide. Though clearly very young with a tender-looking face, his speech was particularly resolute.

“This is the Beast Prison. Do you dare draw swords with me for a trial?”

Draw swords for a trial?

Jian Chou truly hadn’t expected this. After being stunned for quite a while, she reacted as if hearing something amusing, pointing at herself.

“You’re saying you want to draw swords against me?”

“Right, I heard from others that you’re very powerful.”

Fang Xiaoxie showed no fear whatsoever. On the contrary, his eyes burned with fighting spirit, his chin slightly raised with a hint of young genius arrogance.

“What, are you afraid?”

Afraid…

Mm, how long had it been since she’d heard those two words?

Jian Chou put her hands behind her back and paced back and forth twice, sizing up Fang Xiaoxie, only feeling this kid’s face was full of arrogance, giving off a very punchable feeling.

There were so many geniuses in the world—how many ultimately succeeded?

Even someone like Xie Buchen, a shocking talent rarely seen in a hundred years, had only reached Golden Core Peak due to various hardships…

This kid constantly hanging “drawing swords” on his lips really didn’t take it seriously at all!

Newborn calves not fearing tigers wasn’t a bad thing.

But ignorant fearlessness couldn’t be considered good either.

The further one cultivated, the more one knew, and the more reverence one would develop for the world and others.

Jian Chou just looked at him like this, her thoughts flickering slightly, then slowly smiled.

“There’s nothing I don’t dare about it. I just happen to have some principles I’d like to teach you. But I’m afraid you’ll lose too badly and cry.”

“Hmph, how could that be possible?”

Fang Xiaoxie scoffed at Jian Chou’s words about “crying,” but hearing her agree, he didn’t waste words. His left foot directly swept a semicircle behind him, and spiritual light began to spread.

“I’m going to attack!”

Still just a little brat after all. Jian Chou felt somewhat helpless in her heart.

Everyone knew Fang Xiaoxie was currently only at Golden Core stage and couldn’t possibly defeat a Nascent Soul cultivator, much less Jian Chou, whose Nascent Soul stage carried full weight and definitely wasn’t comparable to ordinary cultivators.

So she hadn’t planned to use full strength.

Of course…

Since she was planning to visit the Scripture Repository tomorrow before opening the Armory, she didn’t intend to waste too much time here either.

Standing perfectly straight, Jian Chou’s entire posture immediately appeared extremely standard and firm. Her “Human Artifact” body cultivation directly activated to the third level.

She looked extremely composed.

The next moment, Fang Xiaoxie’s entire being transformed into a meteor-like stream of light, rushing straight toward her!

He formed hand seals, and the spiritual qi within his body surged out, actually transforming under a special spiritual power circulation pattern into a mass of crimson flames!

Where his body passed, where his hands moved, long trails of fire were drawn!

Like painting a winding fire dragon in this Beast Prison!

“Roar—”

A bellow!

The momentum reached its peak for a moment!

Though Yashan’s Beast Prison for martial practice was built within the mountain’s belly, its dome was extremely high. Generally, no one would pay attention to it or see it clearly.

But when Fang Xiaoxie conjured this crimson fire dragon, the entire Beast Prison was illuminated!

The high dome was also painted a warm red.

Burning wind struck her face!

The azure hair scattered over her shoulders was blown and danced in the wind; in those calm, peaceful eyes was reflected the image of Fang Xiaoxie’s fire dragon.

At the moment Fang Xiaoxie’s technique attack rushed toward her with fierce momentum, Jian Chou neither dodged nor avoided, not even moving her facial expression a bit!

Simply and straightforwardly, she lifted her leg and kicked out!

“Bang!”

The impact was like hitting a bronze wall and iron rampart!

Fang Xiaoxie only felt his vision go black, his whole body’s bones making “crack” sounds, nearly falling apart from the collision!

How fast he had approached determined how great the impact force!

At this moment, the spiritual qi that had originally been circulating endlessly through his meridians suddenly scattered and broke.

Thus, the fire dragon condensed in his hand seals also instantly collapsed!

Fang Xiaoxie’s entire body directly flew backward, without any power to resist, directly smashing into the hard ground of the Beast Prison!

The previously clever and handsome young boy was suddenly covered in dust.

His whole body ached everywhere!

He lay on the ground, teeth clenched, one hand supporting the ground, but couldn’t get up for a long time. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead.

Whether it was because this battle ended too quickly or because of his own pain was unclear.

This battle ended too fast.

Fang Xiaoxie’s entire mind should still be confused.

Jian Chou calmly lowered her leg. From beginning to end, she had used nothing but “Human Artifact.” Now she looked at Fang Xiaoxie from seven or eight zhang away, inexplicably recalling the past.

The scene before her eyes—how similar was it to that time on Huanqiao Peak?

Thus, that extremely complex feeling surged up—what kind of mood had Qu Zhengfeng been in when he “drew swords” with her back then?

Her eyes flickered slightly. Looking at Fang Xiaoxie’s sorry state, she originally wanted to go help him up, but when the thought came, somehow she suddenly restrained herself.

This youth before her was being cultivated by Zheng Yao as the next generation’s number one…

When one falls, one must get up oneself.

So Jian Chou still stood in place, not moving an inch.

Her eyes showed some reminiscence and complexity. Though the corners of her lips curved up slightly, her light voice carried a few points of barely perceptible sternness.

“It’s true that our sect draws swords at the slightest disagreement, but drawing swords has never been child’s play. If you have time to find people to fight, better to retreat and cultivate hard—lest when the day comes to draw swords, you disgrace our Yashan Sword-Drawing Sect’s reputation.”