Chapter 636

Chapter 636

I Can See Through Everything

At Qiankun Sect, Ye Qingzhu knelt before her master, head bowed in silent deference.

“So it’s true then? Lingxiao truly perished at the hands of that Chen Qing?” Daoist Mo Xuan asked, his brows tightly furrowed.

“Yes, Master. And before Senior Brother passed, his demeanor had changed. He even began cursing us…” Ye Qingzhu answered softly, recounting how Qian Lingxiao had acted like a different person before his death.

After hearing this, Daoist Mo Xuan’s expression remained largely unchanged.

He had lived far too long, seen far too much. He knew all too well that most people wore masks. So while Ye Qingzhu’s report surprised him, it did not move him.

What concerned him more was the fallout from Qian Lingxiao’s death.

After all, Qian Lingxiao had been Qiankun Sect’s true disciple, a symbol of their prestige. Now that he had been slain in broad daylight, the sect had no choice but to respond.

“Master, with Senior Brother gone… what will our Qiankun Sect do?” Ye Qingzhu asked cautiously.

“That’s not for me to decide. We must wait for the Sect Master’s judgment. After all, Lingxiao was his descendant,” Daoist Mo Xuan replied with a shake of his head. “Stay here with me for now. Don’t go wandering outside.”

“Yes, Master,” Ye Qingzhu agreed obediently.

She hadn’t expected the Nascent Soul cultivators to act so swiftly. Her Second Senior Brother had rushed them back, but upon returning, they found the sect already fully informed—about Senior Brother’s death and the battle at Sacred Tianxu Mountain.

Even the Holy Assembly had issued an assassination order, spreading the news far and wide.

Realizing how dire things had become, Ye Qingzhu had come straight to her master for shelter. Though their conscience was clear, the gravity of the incident left her uneasy. Who knew if the Sect Master, in his fury, would take his anger out on them?

After all, it was their old ally, Fellow Daoist Chen Qing, who had killed Qian Lingxiao. And this time, Chen Qing had annihilated so many disciples from other factions… yet showed mercy to theirs.

If the Sect Master’s lineage believed they had colluded with Chen Qing to murder Qian Lingxiao, no explanation would save them.

Only her master could protect them now.

“Do not worry. The Sect Master is not one to be wholly unreasonable. Chen Qing killed many Nascent Soul cultivators this time—it wasn’t just aimed at us. As long as your heart is clear, I’ll ensure you are not falsely accused,” Daoist Mo Xuan said, trying to soothe her nerves.

“Our hearts are indeed clear,” Ye Qingzhu replied with conviction. “And I do not believe that Fellow Daoist Chen Qing is some demonic cultivator.”

“You must never speak those words again,” Daoist Mo Xuan’s tone turned stern. “I know Chen Qing saved you more than once, and you are grateful. But he has now committed a grave calamity. With so many factions joining forces and the Holy Assembly issuing a kill order, you must sever all ties. If not, the flames will consume you too—and even I won’t be able to save you. Understand?”

Ye Qingzhu froze.

Though unwilling, she could only nod reluctantly under her master’s gaze. “Yes, Master…”

“I know you are resentful,” Daoist Mo Xuan sighed. “But that is how the world works. The weak have no right to choose. If you want to follow your heart and live freely—then cultivate. Only if you achieve Nascent Soul and pass through multiple tribulations will you be strong enough that even if you associate with demons, no one will dare point fingers.”

Ye Qingzhu’s entire body trembled.

“Achieve Nascent Soul…” she murmured, then slowly, the haze in her eyes cleared, replaced by resolve.

“Master, I understand.”

“Good.”

Seeing the determination in his disciple’s eyes, Daoist Mo Xuan nodded with satisfaction.

He held high hopes for Ye Qingzhu. She was his most outstanding disciple, with the greatest potential to reach the Nascent Soul Realm.

This ordeal might just be her trial. If she could overcome the confusion within her heart, her Dao Heart would grow stronger, and her chances of breakthrough would greatly increase.

“Alright. You’ve stayed in the Sacred Tianxu Mountain’s secret realm for so long—you must have accumulated plenty of mountain qi. Go into seclusion and purge it.”

“Disciple takes her leave.”

After Ye Qingzhu departed, Daoist Mo Xuan’s expression turned grave once more.

He gazed toward the sect’s main peak.

“Sect Master… I wonder how you’ll choose. I only hope you won’t place personal sentiment above the sect’s greater good.”

Daoist Mo Xuan sat silently in his secluded chamber, yet his aura blanketed the entire mountain—profound and unfathomable.

Soon, dense clouds shrouded the peak, concealing everything even from Nascent Soul cultivators.

He waited two full days.

Finally, the Sect Master’s lineage issued a decree: Chen Qing was now deemed Qiankun Sect’s greatest enemy. Any disciple who saw him must kill on sight.

Beyond that, there was no further movement—only preparations for Qian Lingxiao’s funeral.

Only then did Daoist Mo Xuan withdraw his aura, and the fog over his mountain slowly dispersed.

The Sect Master had made the correct decision.

Daoist Mo Xuan could now show his stance as well. He had no desire to clash with the Sect Master’s lineage—they were all Qiankun Sect disciples, after all. If the conflict grew too intense, it would only become a joke for other sects.

A day later, Qian Lingxiao’s funeral was held as scheduled.

However, since Lu Qing had taken the body, Qiankun Sect could only erect a ceremonial tomb in his honor.

This fueled the Sect Master’s lineage’s hatred toward Lu Qing even more.

After the funeral, the entire Qiankun Sect mobilized, sending out disciples to track down Lu Qing’s whereabouts.

Several other major sects and aristocratic families did the same.

Many of them had lost Nascent Soul cultivators and disciples to Lu Qing, and they now vowed to find and kill the “demonic cultivator” at any cost.

One of the Thirty-Six High Clans, the Gongshu Clan, even issued a public bounty from within the Netherworld Palace: anyone who could assassinate this so-called fiend would receive a mid-grade spiritual artifact from their clan.

With the Holy Assembly’s assassination order added to the mix…

In no time, every ambitious cultivator across the land began hunting for Lu Qing.

…

The Demon Domain.

Within a palace wreathed in demonic mist, a voice boomed, shaking the entire structure.

“Youling, is what you said true? One of our kind infiltrated human territory, slew multiple Nascent Soul experts, and returned unscathed?”

At the palace’s center sat a massive throne, slouched upon which was a terrifying figure, resting his chin on one hand, eyes glinting with interest.

“Reporting to the Demon Lord, the information is accurate. The humans’ Holy Assembly has issued an order to hunt down our kin,” replied a curvaceous woman in dark armor. Two black horns jutted from her head, and a long, spiked tail curled behind her as she knelt.

“For one of us to dare venture alone into human lands and return after killing Nascent Souls… impressive. Have you found out who it is?” the figure asked, eyes gleaming.

“Not yet. We only know he goes by the name Chen Qing. He also has a beast companion—possibly of ancient royal monster bloodline,” the woman answered.

“To go unnoticed in human lands while traveling with a royal beast… now that is interesting.” The Demon Lord's eyes gleamed even brighter.

“But, Lord, could this be a human trick—false news to lure us into a trap?” the armored woman asked warily.

“Whether it’s true or not, we’ll know once we investigate. Doesn’t your clan possess a secret technique to perfectly disguise yourselves as humans? Go. Take a team and find out the truth,” the Demon Lord ordered casually.

The woman trembled slightly. But a Demon Lord’s command could not be defied.

“Yes, Lord. I shall depart at once for human territory.”

“Take this,” the Demon Lord flicked a black bead toward her. “There’s a strand of my Nascent Soul within. If you encounter an unbeatable foe, summon my avatar with it.”

“Thank you, Lord! I will not fail!” she said joyfully, bowing deeply.

…

At the same time, another command issued from a sacred land deep within the Monster Domain.

“Go. Bring back our kin who are scattered beyond.”

Suddenly, undercurrents stirred throughout the human realm.

…

Back in the homeland world, Jiuli Village, at the Half-Mountain Courtyard.

Xiao Yan stood in white robes outside the courtyard, gazing up at the sky.

“Brother and Xiao Li have been gone nearly twenty years now. I wonder how they’re doing out there. Did they reach other worlds? Were they bullied?”

Xiao Yan looked the same as when Lu Qing had left—still a youthful girl. But her aura had grown more refined, and her temperament colder.

She missed her brother, Xiao Li, and Wuxing deeply, worrying about their lives in distant realms.

Then she suddenly smiled. “What am I thinking? My brother’s too strong. He bullies others, not the other way around. He’s probably reached some mighty world already and become as powerful as a Nascent Soul cultivator.”

No one had more faith in Lu Qing than Xiao Yan.

No matter where he went, she believed he would shine brightest. Even if he hid for a time, he would one day rise—unstoppable.

“Xiao Yan, still thinking of Ah Qing?” Doctor Chen stepped from the courtyard. His complexion was as healthy as ever, and his presence soothing and gentle.

“Yes. Brother and Xiao Li have been gone so long. I miss them,” Xiao Yan said honestly.

“It has been a long time,” Doctor Chen murmured, looking to the sky.

He too missed Lu Qing.

It had been nearly twenty years, with no news at all. Fortunately, the puppet avatar Lu Qing left behind remained safely in seclusion within the Jade Transformation Chamber.

That at least proved Lu Qing still lived.

As the two reminisced, a streak of light shot from the sky. Xiao Yan reached out and caught it—it was a Communication Talisman.

As she read the message, her expression turned serious.

“What’s wrong?” Doctor Chen asked.

“It’s from Brother Zhirui,” she replied. “He says there have been signs of demonic activity—possible resurrection of ancient demonic cultivators. He wants me to come to Sacred Mountain to discuss countermeasures.”

“Demonic cultivators…” Doctor Chen mused. “Now that you mention it, I have noticed odd things during my travels—strange incidents involving blood-draining and corpse-refining.”

Doctor Chen had been traveling in recent years, helping people with his medical skills—dispelling miasma and plague wherever he went, especially as the world’s spiritual revival progressed and malign forces surged.

“It's probably because some petty fools think my brother won’t return and dared to act out,” Xiao Yan said coolly.

“Before Brother left, he told me the world wasn’t truly at peace—evil still lurked in shadows, waiting to rise. Looks like he was right.”

She recalled how Lu Qing had once taken her to the Extreme Northern Icefield to kill a Golden Core demonic cultivator. He had warned that someone more sinister lurked behind that foe.

And now, demonic signs were appearing again. Was that hidden hand moving once more?

“No matter who you are—if you dare reveal your hand, I’ll cut it off first. Then I’ll find the rest of you,” Xiao Yan said coldly.

“Are you heading to Sacred Mountain now?” Doctor Chen asked.

“Yes. I’ll go see what’s really going on. Grandpa Chen, I’ll leave the village to you.”

“I wasn’t planning on traveling anytime soon. Go, with peace of mind.”

Xiao Yan nodded, then transformed into a streak of light and soared into the sky, heading for Sacred Mountain.

Doctor Chen watched her leave, sighing inwardly.

Ever since Ah Qing had left with Xiao Li, Xiao Yan had grown quieter, colder, harsher.

There was little he could do to change it—he could only let it run its course.

He just hoped that when Ah Qing returned, Xiao Yan’s heart hadn’t turned too cold to thaw.