It should be Old Ancestor Luye, right?
Jian Chou remembered that she rarely heard her master use the three words “old demoness” to address anyone, except for that one person.
And whether it was the position of this statue or its imposing aura, everything matched perfectly.
She had once, due to Little Marten, fortuitously entered the Killing Red Small Realm with the killing disc, and when subduing Dijiang Guyu and exterminating Dijiang’s remnant soul, she had been fortunate enough to glimpse a bit of her grace.
Those garments and facial features were no different from this statue.
But vaguely, she also felt this statue bore some resemblance to the “Yinguo Daojun” she had encountered within the Cause and Effect Gate during the Left Three Thousand minor gathering.
“Yashan!”
“Shanren has come!”
“Greetings to Shanren, how have you been lately?”
“Congratulations, Shanren! A great teacher produces outstanding disciples—Yashan has gained another great power, truly the fastest cultivation to Void Refining in all of Shijiu Zhou’s history!”
“Elder Fudao…”
…
In just this moment of daze, cultivators from other sects around had already discovered their newly arrived group. Most cast their gazes over, and those who had long admired them or had good relationships came forward to greet them.
Fudao Shanren almost immediately snapped back to his senses.
He wore old clothes and held his nine-sectioned bamboo staff in hand. Facing this large crowd of cultivators who either had immortal bearing or wore fine silk robes, he showed not the slightest lack of confidence, walking out of the teleportation array with complete assurance.
“Hahaha, long time no see, long time no see!”
The vast plaza wasn’t crowded to the point of being unbearable.
But when Jian Chou walked out of the teleportation array and looked around, her mind was still shaken.
Having cultivated in Shijiu Zhou for so many years, when had she ever seen such a high-level scene?
Any inconspicuous cultivator standing in a corner was at least a Nascent Soul old monster!
As for the Out-of-Body and World-Entry realms after the Heart-Questioning Dao Tribulation, which were usually rarely seen, now in the crowd, you could find two or three out of every ten people!
Not to mention Void Refining…
Among those currently greeting Fudao Shanren, when Jian Chou briefly assessed their cultivation realms, she felt a breathtaking sense of awe.
Void Refining!
Void Refining!
Void Refining!
There was even one she couldn’t see through at all…
That person was a female cultivator wearing a pure black long robe with Two Extremes Eight Trigrams patterns embroidered on the sleeve edges. Her black hair was simply bound with an ebony hairpin, and her features carried a soft, feminine beauty as she smiled slightly while speaking with Fudao Shanren.
When Jian Chou’s spiritual consciousness swept over, she seemed to sense something and glanced in her direction.
After seeing it was Jian Chou, her eyes showed more curiosity as she asked Fudao Shanren: “Shanren, this must be your outstanding disciple?”
“Yes.”
Fudao Shanren looked back at Jian Chou and smiled.
“These days, disciples really push their masters to death—remarkable, remarkable.”
“Haha, this is something we all envy but can’t achieve!”
The others followed his gaze toward Jian Chou, first secretly lamenting how terrifying the new generation of young people was. After hearing Fudao Shanren’s sigh, they almost couldn’t maintain the composure they’d built up through years of bitter cultivation, wanting nothing more than to go over and strangle him!
Showing off!
Such infuriating showing off!
Even the black-robed female cultivator, whose cultivation was clearly higher by a significant margin, saw cracks appear in her nearly perfect smile. Her chest seemed to heave once before she managed to calm herself.
She also looked back at the person behind her.
This time coming to Star Sea, she hadn’t brought anyone else, just her most prized disciple from recent years, Tang Buye.
More than ten years ago at the Left Three Thousand minor gathering, he still had the strength to battle Yashan’s Jian Chou. Now…
One had become a Void Refining great power, the other had just reached mid-Nascent Soul stage.
No comparison possible, and she didn’t dare compare.
Tang Buye also wore black robes, standing behind his master. Though he had once been defeated by Jian Chou, he hadn’t thought the gap between himself and her was that large, until she disappeared for sixty years and returned with fame spreading throughout Shijiu Zhou…
Then he suddenly knew he could never catch up.
His handsome face couldn’t hide its complexity, but there was no jealousy, only sincere admiration as he bowed to Jian Chou: “It’s been a long time.”
Jian Chou hadn’t expected to encounter him here. Slightly stunned, she also returned the courtesy: “Last time I mistakenly entered the forbidden land of the Yin-Yang Sects and didn’t have time to greet Fellow Daoist Tang properly. My apologies.”
Tang Buye was a disciple of the Northern Domain’s Yin Sect, so the identity of the black-robed female cultivator before them was very clear—
The Sect Master of Northern Domain’s Yin Sect, Xuanyue Fairy!
It was said she was one of the few Transcendent great powers in current Shijiu Zhou, though no one knew exactly what level her specific cultivation had reached, only that she hadn’t surpassed Kunwu’s Hengxu Master.
Because the current first place on the Eighth Heavenly Tablet was still Hengxu.
As for her personality, she was eccentric and disliked traveling, so she often secluded herself within the sect year-round, devoted to cultivation and ignoring worldly affairs. She was even too lazy to teach her own closed-door disciples, leaving them to others.
Tang Buye was the first exception in these hundreds of years.
From the moment he entered the sect, he had been kept by Xuanyue Fairy’s side as a true “personal disciple.” All the Yin Sect cultivators suspected he was actually the Sect Master’s illegitimate child from outside.
Cough.
Of course, these were all rumors—no one knew the truth.
Jian Chou just hadn’t expected that this incident would even alarm such a great power who normally ignored everything, which showed how severe the situation was.
In current Shijiu Zhou, there wasn’t a single person in the Heaven-Reaching realm. For the Transcendent realm, counting everything including the Chan and Mi sects and the three demonic paths, there probably weren’t more than eight people total.
Void Refining cultivators were somewhat more numerous—including Jian Chou, they could probably gather about twenty people.
But not this many had come today.
Some great powers were in death seclusion and wouldn’t care even if the sky fell outside, never bothering with Shijiu Zhou affairs from beginning to end. Some simply couldn’t possibly come, like Baoyin Dharma King and Baoping Dharma King from Xinmi. The remaining portion simply hadn’t had time yet, like the three high monks from Chan Sect, who should only arrive on the day of the council.
Among the several people currently greeting Fudao Shanren, besides Xuanyue Fairy being the Sect Master of Northern Domain’s Yin Sect, the others also had extraordinary identities.
One was Yin Wang, the Tower Master of Western Sea’s Wangjiang Tower—nearly a hundred years old with white hair and beard, appearing aged and decrepit, holding a green jade walking stick with a very serious expression.
One was Zhang Yuandai, Sect Leader of Fengmo Sword Sect—upright and righteous, carrying a long sword on his back, looking more like a swordsman than a sect leader.
One was Lu Song, Pavilion Master of Tongling Pavilion—powerfully built with piercing eyes, wearing purple robes with natural authority.
…
Jian Chou even saw Yang Jin, who was now considered part of the Old Mi camp!
Wearing brilliant colorful robes, she was extremely conspicuous in the crowd—graceful figure swaying like a dew-laden rose, combining coolness with charm. Just standing there, she possessed an alluring bone structure that stirred imagination.
But her expression was serious, lacking the frivolity she’d shown during the battle in the Snow Domain.
Several monks stood with her in a corner, just watching this side without coming over.
Fudao Shanren and Xuanyue Fairy naturally noticed them too, but didn’t take the initiative to greet them.
Although this Dakini Yang Jin was also Void Refining level, they weren’t familiar with her, and the Old Mi she represented had always been closer to Chan Sect.
With none of Chan Sect’s three masters having arrived, it naturally wasn’t convenient for them to approach for conversation.
Fortunately, cultivators at their level weren’t people who cared about such worldly courtesies—no one would take this to heart.
Several great powers stood together for brief pleasantries.
The topics of conversation naturally centered on the current situation and their respective disciples.
Because although Jian Chou’s seniority was somewhat lower at the moment, her cultivation was already standing firm and bright for all to see.
When addressing her, calling her junior would be presumptuous and putting on airs before equal-level cultivators; treating her as an equal would put the current Fudao Shanren in an awkward position.
So all these shrewd people very tactfully and affectionately called her “Little Friend Jian Chou.”
Jian Chou saw everyone’s faces bore smiles, but could vaguely sense the helplessness in their hearts. Knowing she should stay quiet at this moment, she just listened from the side.
But Xuanyue Fairy was particularly interested in her.
Seeing her not speaking, she wanted to start a conversation topic for her, but when she glanced away and suddenly noticed that someone had been standing two steps diagonally behind Jian Chou the entire time!
Dark cyan long robes with an inappropriate sense of age.
His appearance was that of an exceptionally handsome young male cultivator, but his expression was calm and his gaze distant. Though he stood as normally as anyone else, he subtly conveyed a feeling of not quite fitting with the atmosphere.
Like cutting out a piece from an ink wash painting and pasting it next to a meticulous painting—not quite right.
What made Xuanyue Fairy even more alarmed was his cultivation—
He had been standing here just now, yet she had completely failed to notice until her gaze accidentally swept over and discovered his presence. Looking carefully now, she could sense he had mid-stage Void Refining cultivation!
But what kind of mid-stage Void Refining could be nearly invisible before an early-stage Transcendent like herself?
Moreover…
Had she been out of circulation too long?
This great power cultivator standing among Yashan’s group—she had no impression of him whatsoever, completely unable to remember Shijiu Zhou having such a formidable cultivator.
Her lightly swept eyebrows furrowed slightly. For some unknown reason, she suddenly felt a strange wariness and asked Fudao Shanren with some hesitation: “Shanren, who is this?”
Fudao Shanren looked back and saw she was asking about Fu Chaosheng. His expression became somewhat strange. After a pause, he replied: “He’s my disciple’s friend.”
“Friend?”
Xuanyue Fairy repeated the word, but didn’t quite believe it in her heart.
Jian Chou had clearly just broken through to Void Refining half a month ago—where would she have met such a “friend” who could make her inexplicably wary?
Could it be a hidden expert from Yashan’s side?
But she’d never heard of such a person.
Then it must be assistance requested for this incident, and saying he had some relationship with Jian Chou was probably just Fudao Shanren’s cover story.
Anyway, the person came with Yashan. Though Xuanyue Fairy’s cultivation was high, it wasn’t convenient to ask more questions. She just said “oh,” nodded, and asked no further.
It was also because of her question that everyone’s attention fell on Fu Chaosheng.
Each person felt the same as Xuanyue Fairy had earlier—completely unfamiliar with such a person and having completely failed to notice him before.
The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat strange.
Fu Chaosheng felt nothing, just glanced at Xuanyue Fairy once without bothering to acknowledge her. Instead, he suddenly seemed to sense something and looked toward a nearby teleportation array.
Almost the moment his gaze fell there, the formation lit up.
Moments later, a group appeared in the array—coincidentally also about twenty people, and Jian Chou recognized several of them.
“Kunwu has come too!”
“It’s Elder Gu…”
“Indeed, we don’t see Hengxu Master—looks like he’s the same as Chan Sect’s side, arriving later.”
“Exactly…”
…
Following Yashan’s arrival, there was another commotion.
Everyone stopped talking and looked over—it was indeed Kunwu’s group arriving fashionably late.
Several elders and Wu Duan and Wang Que led the way, with several of Hengxu Master’s personal disciples and other sect elites following behind, including Gu Qingmei.
Upon appearing, they naturally noticed Yashan’s side first.
Since Hengxu Master hadn’t come, after several elders walked over, they first bowed to Fudao Shanren: “Greetings to Shanren.”
Fudao Shanren accepted graciously, glanced over their group, and asked: “The old monster and his precious disciple really didn’t come?”
The elders’ expressions immediately became somewhat troubled.
At this point, Wang Que, ranked fourth among Hengxu Master’s personal disciples, stepped forward with a slight smile and elegant demeanor, cupping his hands toward Fudao Shanren.
“Junior Brother Xie has some small cultivation issues requiring Master’s guidance, so he specially commanded us juniors to apologize to Shanren. For this Star Sea gathering, the old master may have to arrive a few days late.”
Fudao Shanren had already grabbed his chicken leg, but looking Wang Que up and down, he suddenly made a sound of surprise: “Eh, Shanren sees something’s not quite right with your cultivation?”
“Haha…”
Wang Que couldn’t help laughing. His former reclusive and detached manner had diminished considerably, replaced by worldliness, righteousness, and directness—an aura of balanced harmony.
“Shanren has sharp eyes—this junior can’t hide from you. After several years of seclusion, all doubts cleared, I’ve decided to abandon the Hermit Sword path and switch to cultivating the Confucian Sword.”
Not only Fudao Shanren heard these words—everyone was stunned.
Only Jian Chou understood clearly in her heart.
She had once fought Wang Que and afterward exchanged a few words on the Dao. From then on, this genius whose talent in Kunwu rivaled Xie Buchen had fallen into confusion.
Now…
The Confucian Sword?
Jian Chou saw that although his cultivation seemed to be regressing, the aura around him far surpassed his former self, so she sincerely smiled: “Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Wang Que.”
“I still owe much gratitude to Fellow Daoist Jian Chou’s awakening words that day. Without that, I might still be stubbornly persisting in my delusions.” Wang Que’s thanks to Jian Chou was heartfelt.
The two didn’t need many words—they looked at each other and smiled.
Fu Chaosheng watched from the side with some confusion, glancing at Jian Chou and then at Wang Que, his brows slightly furrowed as if pondering something.
But no one noticed him—everyone’s attention was on Yashan and Kunwu.
Regarding why Hengxu Master hadn’t come, everyone had their own speculations, but in this setting, they wisely refrained from mentioning it, only discussing harmless matters.
Soon, most people had arrived.
This Star Sea gathering was of great importance, so both sides had naturally coordinated beforehand, even agreeing on the dates.
Therefore, after waiting briefly in the plaza, the people sent by Mingri Xinghai to receive them arrived.
“Hey, make way, make way!”
Someone shouted from far away with obvious panic.
Then the outer crowd suddenly parted like a tide.
Jian Chou looked up following the sound and saw a small mountain over ten feet tall rushing through the crowd, weaving left and right, nearly colliding with many cultivators.
On top of the “mountain” stood a short cultivator wearing old, oversized dark green robes, looking extremely flustered.
His small green bean eyes were about to bulge into soybeans, both hands flailing in midair as he desperately tried to control this small mountain, obviously in complete chaos.
Just barely managing to stop in front of Kunwu and Yashan’s groups.
“Damn it, that really scared me to death! Good thing nothing happened, good thing nothing happened, or I couldn’t explain to His Majesty the Sword Emperor…”
He spoke while patting his chest, still shaken as he made a hand seal. The small mountain instantly disappeared into the ground without a trace.
Everyone could now see him clearly.
Short and stocky, shabbily dressed, with only Golden Core cultivation. Anyone in this plaza could crush him with a finger.
But unexpectedly, the moment they saw this person, several among the nearly forty cultivators from Kunwu and Yashan changed their expressions!
Jian Chou was relatively fine—just slightly surprised.
Because the cultivator standing before everyone was someone she recognized: the single-person sect master she’d encountered in the wilderness. If she remembered correctly, his sect was called Yushan Sect and his name was Yushan Xing.
According to his own boasting, he was the sixth-generation master of Yushan Sect, so he should be called “Yushan Xing VI.”
But how had he ended up in Mingri Xinghai?
And just now he’d mentioned “His Majesty the Sword Emperor” in his words—this clearly indicated he was sent by Qu Zhengfeng to receive them.
But Qu Zhengfeng himself wasn’t coming?
Jian Chou’s attention was naturally on Qu Zhengfeng, but when she turned and noticed the unusual expressions on both Kunwu and Yashan’s sides, she vaguely sensed something was wrong.
On Kunwu’s side:
Several elders looked at Yushan Xing as if remembering something, their expressions not particularly good. One executive elder, Gu Pingsheng, even showed hints of anger in his eyes.
Wu Duan and Wang Que also seemed to know something and frowned slightly.
Yashan’s reaction was different from theirs.
Fudao Shanren and Sect Leader Zheng Yao both showed momentary shock upon seeing Yushan Xing, especially at his obviously worn and ill-fitting robes.
Eleven cycles ago, Yashan also had a young disciple who wore such robes.
But at that time, they were still brand new.
Just like the youth who wore them—young and spirited, high-spirited and vigorous, every gesture carrying the unique bearing of a genius.
Not only talented but also more diligent than others.
Outside Yashan, the one who could be mentioned alongside Qu Zhengfeng was West First Sword Xue Wujiu; but within Yashan, the only one who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Qu Zhengfeng was him…
Also once a generational pride.
Also once bringing glory to the entire Central Domain.
But after that Yin-Yang realm battle ended, he left Yashan in dissatisfaction with his sect, creating “Yushan Sect” and proclaiming himself sect master, taking one person as disciple and having him adopt his name, letting Yushan Sect continue for a long time.
He wanted the three words “Yushan Xing” to witness everything that would happen thereafter.
At this moment, Zheng Yao’s eyes were already somewhat moist.
But this sixth-generation Yushan Xing didn’t sense anything unusual about the current scene at all. He quickly straightened his robes and walked before everyone.
Short in stature, looking cheerful and very happy.
“Greetings, everyone. I am Yushan Xing VI, master of Yushan Sect, currently serving His Majesty the Sword Emperor. Today I’m specially sent by his command to receive you.”
“He also said that with all you great powers gracing Star Sea, he should personally come to welcome you.”
“It’s just unfortunately ill-timed—he happens to have some matters to attend to. He hopes for your understanding.”
These words were really…
So high-sounding!
Did he think no one here knew about how he waited three full days before replying to Hengxu Master’s invitation?
Now not only was he not coming himself, but he’d sent such a shabby short Golden Core cultivator to receive them?
Arrogant.
Contemptuous.
Completely looking down on people!
For a moment, many developed very poor impressions of this newly risen Sword Emperor and Star Sea master of less than two years. But since neither Kunwu nor Yashan spoke up, others naturally couldn’t say anything either.
There was quite a sense of being angry but not daring to speak.
When Qu Zhengfeng betrayed Yashan and was hunted by them, who could have predicted today?
Yushan Xing’s reaction was truly slow—even with everyone’s attitudes so obvious, he still hadn’t noticed, continuing to dutifully complete his task.
“Our Star Sea side has set aside nearly half of Broken Immortal City for everyone to stay during this period. But the space allocation wasn’t quite appropriate, so it seems insufficient.”
“But His Majesty the Sword Emperor also said that the two great powers Kunwu and Yashan have long had arrangements in Star Sea…”
“So, well, our small temple can’t accommodate great Buddhas. Please find your own accommodations, honorable sects.”
“What did you say?!”
Just as Yushan Xing finished speaking, someone nearby suddenly roared in fury, clearly having reached the limit of endurance.
Everyone turned to look, but it wasn’t any cultivator from Kunwu or Yashan.
It was Lu Song, the purple-robed Pavilion Master of Left Three Thousand’s Tongling Pavilion.
His eyebrows stood on end as he pointed at Yushan Xing’s nose and rebuked without courtesy: “What do you think Star Sea is, daring to slight even Yashan and Kunwu?!”
Hearing this, Jian Chou immediately frowned.
This Tongling Pavilion Master had too fiery a temper. Neither Yashan nor neighboring Kunwu had spoken yet—what was he yelling about?
She felt vaguely displeased.
Wu Duan and Wang Que from Kunwu also hadn’t expected the first to object wouldn’t be cultivators from Kunwu or Yashan. They looked at Lu Song with surprise and slight frowns.
Wang Que was the one who smiled.
He stepped forward to persuade Lu Song: “Pavilion Master Lu need not be so enraged. Kunwu and Yashan indeed have some arrangements in Star Sea, right here in Broken Immortal City. That the Sword Emperor can agree to today’s matters and cooperate fully is already great fortune for our Shijiu Zhou. Why harm harmony over such trifling matters?”
“But…”
Lu Song hadn’t expected Wang Que to say this. Feeling offended, he opened his mouth to retort.
But before his rebuttal could emerge, a cold laugh sharp as a blade accompanied by an angry roar instantly suppressed everything, spreading throughout the entire plaza!
“When did affairs of Kunwu and Yashan become your place to interfere!”
What, what?
Lu Song was so stunned by this voice that his vision blurred. Looking back carefully, he realized the speaker was none other than Fudao Shanren, who had remained silent until now!
“Shanren, you—”
“Apologize!”
His face was dark as night sky traversed by lightning, carrying terrifying oppression.
Fudao Shanren didn’t want to hear Lu Song’s nonsense at all. He directly pointed at Yushan Xing, pressing down with these two stern words.
Everyone’s gaze instantly focused here.
Jian Chou didn’t know what was behind this, and though she found Lu Song’s words unpleasant, it shouldn’t warrant such fury from Fudao Shanren, should it?
She looked with some surprise at the equally frightened Yushan Xing.
Yushan Xing himself couldn’t understand what was happening, let alone others.
Hadn’t the great powers been talking pleasantly just moments ago?
How did faces turn so quickly? And within Left Three Thousand’s own sects…
Lu Song himself had no idea what was happening—he’d just pointed at this Golden Core cultivator’s nose.
Mingri Xinghai dared such disrespect—couldn’t he show some temper?
He was also a Void Refining great power—who didn’t have some pride?
Usually everyone showed Yashan some respect, which extended to respecting Fudao Shanren somewhat. But speaking of current cultivation, he was just the same level as himself—where did he get the authority to force him to apologize to this shorty?!
Lu Song’s chest heaved, his body already tense as he gritted his teeth and sneered: “Elder Fudao, are you perhaps joking with Lu? Apologize to him?!”
This meant he didn’t want to apologize!
Fudao Shanren’s expression became even more terrible. From his withered body, a tremendous aura suddenly erupted, surging majestically toward Mingri Xinghai’s sky!
The jade-green nine-sectioned bamboo staff was gripped in his branch-like dried palm and struck heavily on the ground!
“Dong!”
A crisp sound!
With the staff’s landing point as center, the plaza’s surrounding ground cracked in response, spreading like a spider web with “crack, crack” sounds!
A layer of deep blue spiritual light surged from his feet across the entire plaza like waves!
Fudao Shanren’s old robes, even showing some raggedness, billowed in the wild wind stirred by this spiritual light, filled with surging coldness!
His sharp gaze faintly tinged with blood, he looked expressionlessly at Lu Song and spoke the final time:
“I told you to—”
“Apologize!”