Chapter 49: Alarmed the Higher-ups

In the secret chamber, Chu Huaixu’s thoughts were flying wildly.

He boldly speculated first, planning to find a way to verify it cautiously later.

At this moment, he had no idea how big of a commotion he had caused.

Outside the Cold Pool, the number of cultivators gathering grew by the minute.

A large number of sword cultivators converged at this spot. Among the nine Outer Sect Stewards, aside from the two who had gone down the mountain, all others had arrived.

The female steward Mo Qingmei stood alongside another female Outer Sect Steward, Tang Qiuyue.

Mo Qingmei still retained her charm, while Tang Qiuyue was on the plumper side, but she appeared amiable and kind.

“I don’t know what’s happening, but I feel the Sword Spirit is very excited,” Mo Qingmei said to Tang Qiuyue.

“Excited?” Tang Qiuyue found it strange. She wasn’t a sword cultivator, so she looked toward Mo Qingmei’s sword.

She saw nothing.

A large number of sword cultivator disciples had gathered along the edge of the Cold Pool.

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Like them, most were holding their Natal Swords, chattering noisily.

The noise here rivaled that of the Outer Gate Market.

By rights, with such a heaven-and-earth phenomenon in the Outer Gate and so many disciples gathered, the stewards ought to have taken charge.

However, the stewards were equally confused, unsure of what exactly had happened.

Faced with questions from his colleagues, Liu Tianfeng didn’t know how to explain.

“A secret realm of this level shouldn’t be causing such a spectacle, right?” said a steward surnamed Wang.

“Brother Liu, you said your son Chengqi is still inside the secret realm? Could it be that he’s received some great fortune?” a steward surnamed Chen said with a squinting smile.

Niu Yuanshan listened from the side, glanced at the Cold Pool, but offered no opinion.

He didn’t believe Liu Chengqi, that brat, could stir up all this.

“A guy who gave up on himself after his Spirit Embryo was damaged, even ruined his temperament—how could he be worthy?” Old Niu sneered in his heart.

Listening to the others, Liu Tianfeng forced a bitter smile and said, “This heaven-and-earth phenomenon only affected Spirit Swords, nothing else.”

“My son Chengqi isn’t a sword cultivator!”

Mo Qingmei, standing to one side, immediately asked, “Then among the three people at the bottom of the Cold Pool, who is the sword cultivator?”

“Junior Sister Mo, you might not know, only those without Spiritual Energy can enter this secret realm. So they’re all Qi-opening Stage disciples, none of them are sword cultivators,” Niu Yuanshan, who had remained silent until now, explained.

Earlier, he had pretended to be dead on the side, but his peripheral vision had occasionally drifted toward Mo Qingmei.

Hearing him speak to her, Mo Qingmei replied coolly, “Oh, got it.”

Tang Qiuyue nudged her lightly with an elbow upon hearing her tone.

“She’s just still mad about being rejected back then. It’s been years already, yet she still can’t show a kind face to Brother Niu,” Tang Qiuyue muttered inwardly.

After a few more exchanges among the stewards, the oldest and most involved, Liu Tianfeng, made the decision:

“This matter must be reported to the Inner Sect Elders. Such an extraordinary phenomenon is beyond what we can handle.”

He felt some concern for his son, thinking that with an elder’s protection, nothing serious would happen.

Just as he finished speaking, a young girl’s voice echoed from the skies.

“No need to report. This seat is already here.”

Elder Ten, Chu Yinyin, descended from the heavens, hands clasped behind her back, landing atop an ancient tree by the Cold Pool.

Her development had been stunted, leaving her short in stature. Yet her strength and status surpassed most, so she disliked looking up to others and often chose to speak from higher ground.

“Elder Ten!” Everyone present bowed respectfully.

It was widely known that the one with the least power among the Inner Sect Elders was Elder Ten.

But she also had the worst temper.

Although she never admitted it herself, her temperament, influenced by her Cultivation Method, sometimes resembled a rebellious teenage girl.

Chu Yinyin was like a cat that was always ready to explode.

“Tell this seat, who’s inside the secret realm?” she frowned, eyes fixed on the Cold Pool.

“Reporting, Elder, there are still three Enrolled Disciples inside—Chu Huaixu, Han Shuangjiang, and my son Liu Chengqi,” Liu Tianfeng replied immediately.

“Enrolled Disciples? Then they must be Qi-opening Stage? Did Shen Man make a mistake?” Chu Yinyin froze for a moment.

Everyone looked at each other upon hearing her mention Elder Seven.

Ever since Elder Seven received the Dao Ancestor Inheritance, hadn’t she been confined within the Purple Bamboo Forest for a year now?

This heaven-and-earth phenomenon had even alerted the Purple Bamboo Forest?

Liu Tianfeng exchanged glances with Niu Yuanshan; both felt their hearts tighten.

How could this secret realm cause such a stir?

Elder Seven hadn’t concerned herself with worldly affairs for a year, yet even one of the 【Four Great Divine Swords】 like her was alarmed?

Most critically, no one knew what was happening inside.

“Could it really be my son Chengqi who received a fortune? Hopefully, he’s not in danger,” Liu Tianfeng was on the brink of madness. The uncertainty was unbearable.

Niu Yuanshan also felt some concern for Chu Huaixu’s safety.

In the end, Liu Tianfeng summoned his courage and asked, “Elder Ten, my son Chengqi is still inside. May I boldly ask, what exactly was the heaven-and-earth phenomenon just now? Please enlighten us.”

In truth, without Shen Man’s account, Chu Yinyin wouldn’t have known that it was caused by 【Sword Heart Clarity】.

But now wasn’t this a perfect chance to show off?

She stood atop the ancient tree, putting on a solemn act. Her hands remained behind her back, and she didn’t look at the crowd, only stared quietly at the Cold Pool.

“Cultivators at your realm wouldn’t understand.”

“That mysterious ripple just now was...”

Everyone looked up at Chu Yinyin, noticing that while her mouth kept moving, no one could hear her last few words!

Suddenly, Chu Yinyin looked up and cursed furiously toward the sky, “Xiang Yan, you dare use a Soundproofing Formation on me!”

“If you won’t let me say it, I’ll say it anyway!”

“That ripple was...”

They could hear the start, but the final words were muted again.

“Xiang Yan! Go to hell!!” Chu Yinyin drew her Spirit Sword 【Farewell Joy】 and soared into the sky.

The Outer Gate crowd beside the Cold Pool was left in shock, murmuring among themselves.

“Even the Sect Master has been alarmed?”

“This must be a classified matter!”

“What could have happened? Even the Sect Master came personally. Could it be a Dao Ancestor Inheritance?”

“Watch your words! It could also be the inheritance of some great sword cultivator!”

Countless chaotic voices echoed. Liu Tianfeng’s expression shifted rapidly.

He suddenly regretted giving the Fragment of the Dan King Token to Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang.

“No worries, no worries. Up till now, no one knows what’s really going on inside. My son still has a chance, still a chance!” he consoled himself.

As for the others encircling them, most had heard of Steward Liu’s son, Liu Chengqi.

But Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang—these two names were utterly unfamiliar.

Everyone silently etched those two names into memory.

Who exactly beneath the Cold Pool had the fortune to trigger such a phenomenon?

......

......

High above the nine heavens, Sect Master Xiang Yan stood with hands behind his back, floating among the clouds.

Several elders including Li Chunsong stood beside him, all maintaining a cautious distance.

Chu Yinyin soon charged in.

The Eighth Realm Xiang Yan remained motionless. His aura flowed around him, and no matter how Chu Yinyin swung her sword, she couldn’t get even an inch closer.

Everyone knew well—this junior sister’s temper was like a firecracker.

After venting her emotions, Chu Yinyin sheathed her sword. Knowing she couldn’t land a hit anyway, she snorted coldly, “Hmph! I can’t be bothered with you!”

Xiang Yan’s bald head looked absurdly ugly, like a hideous face drawn on a dark marinated egg.

He grinned at Chu Yinyin in an attempt to appease her, saying, “Don’t be mad, little junior sister, don’t be mad.”

“But this matter is too important. Don’t let it leak out,” he added.

The Enforcement Elder immediately chimed in. Lu Pan said, “Little junior sister, don’t break the rules!”

“Yeah, yeah!” Chu Yinyin waved her hand impatiently.

She secretly perked her ears up, wanting to eavesdrop on her senior brothers and sisters.

“Shen Man said this was a phenomenon caused by Sword Heart Clarity, but there aren’t any sword cultivators beneath the Cold Pool.” She began doubting. “Maybe she shut herself away too long and went dumb. She was already pretty dumb to begin with.”

Then, the same infuriating scene happened again.

Just like last time in the great hall of Ask-Dao Peak—they set up another formation and blocked her from hearing!

Fuming, the dignified Sixth Realm peak cultivator and the Dao Gate’s Elder Ten began trying desperately to read lips.

“What? Did that damned bald head just say ‘Sword Heart Clarity’? What were the last two words?!”

“Nangong Yue, you base woman, what did that gambler say to make you laugh like that? Your boobs are jiggling! I’m getting dizzy!”

“Arghhhh! Why won’t you let me hear!”

“Are those below the Seventh Realm not even human?!”

“If you keep treating me like this, I swear I’ll break through right now to show you!” She was panicking now.

Soon, Xiang Yan and the others finished talking. With a wave of his hand, the formation was lifted.

“This matter must be discussed with Seventh Junior Sister. Let’s head to the Purple Bamboo Forest,” said Sect Master Xiang Yan.

“I’m not going. You go if you want. You won’t let me hear anyway!” Chu Yinyin began sulking.

Enforcement Elder Lu Pan looked at her and nodded. “Not going is fine, but rules are rules.”

With that, he waved his hand and placed another Soundproofing Formation on Chu Yinyin, silencing her to prevent further disruption.

Having done all this, the group flew off toward the Purple Bamboo Forest with laughter.

Chu Yinyin was left alone in the sky, going berserk, her voice unheard: “What?! You’re really not taking me?!”

“Arghhh! Lift this damn Soundproofing Formation!” She felt like she was going insane, looking just like a puffed-up angry cat.

Enforcement Elder Lu Pan, a rare Array Master of this era, was far more skilled in formations than even Xiang Yan.

Ultimately, Chu Yinyin could only clench her teeth in fury and chase after them toward the Purple Bamboo Forest.

By the time she landed, the others had long arrived and were already chatting.

Xiang Yan seemed to ask something, and everyone looked toward Shen Man, waiting for her reply.

This cold and slender Taoist nun still sat atop a massive rock, facing the Stone Wall, having drawn a boundary for herself.

She remained silent for a long time, a helpless expression appearing on her face, her gaze soft with a hint of affection.

Then she flicked her finger lightly, and the Soundproofing Formation that Chu Yinyin had failed to break shattered instantly in response.

......