https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-348-Master-I-Can-t-Control-My-Urge-to-Kill-Part-2-/12980456/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-349-Duan-Xiyang-10-000-Words-Part-2-/12980458/
Chapter 349: Duan Xiyang! [10,000 Words] (Part 1)
Chapter 349: Duan Xiyang! [10,000 Words] (Part 1)
Early the next morning, Yin Shengong first went to the Shocking Heaven Palace to pay his respects to the Old Ancestor and offer gifts.
Although Bai Jing, the Deputy Sect Master, did not summon him this time, it was still different from before.
He was rewarded with ten bottles of pills.
And a set of cultivation techniques.
Then, someone was sent to tell him: "Be careful on your journey back."
Yin Shengong was so moved that he almost cried.
After sending gifts for over a thousand years and bowing for over two thousand years, he finally received a response and got his rewards.
Ten bottles of pills, and all of them were high-grade, above Venerable-level pills... The total value of the rewards he had received from the headquarters and his sect for over a thousand years was not as precious as these ten bottles of pills!
And the Old Ancestor even showed concern for him!
He was overwhelmed with gratitude.
Then, he went to the Supply Department, the Treasury, and the Battle Arena, where the big shots of his sect were stationed, and paid his respects, visiting and giving gifts to each of them.
He made sure to fulfill all his obligations.
Although Yin Shengong was well aware that he couldn't rely on these people, he knew that failing to do so would be more detrimental than not doing enough.
They might not remember the gifts he had sent for over a thousand years, but if he didn't send gifts this year, they would definitely remember!
Yin Shengong was a smart man, so how could he make such a rookie mistake?
That's why he made sure to cover all bases.
Then he found that he was much more welcomed, as several departments were personally greeted by the big shots themselves, who were enthusiastic and friendly towards him.
Before leaving, they even gave him gifts... After making a round, he had given out quite a few gifts, but he received even more in return.
It was almost as if he had made up for all the gifts he had previously given.
Yin Shengong was so grateful that he repeatedly declined, but once gifts were offered, they couldn't be taken back, so in the end, he accepted them all.
He received a considerable amount of wealth with utmost humility, bowing and scraping as he left, his sleeves fluttering in the wind.
On the surface, he wore a face of honor and joy, even appearing smug.
But once he was alone, he spat out a mouthful of saliva.
"What the hell were you all doing before? After over a thousand years, I've bowed so much that I could have dug a hole in the continent. You all were like lifeless statues, not moving a muscle. When I was framed and about to lose my position as the Sect Master, not one of you lifted a finger to help."
"Now that I've become powerful and valuable, you all start acting like gentlemen, treating me with kindness. Pfft. You think I'm an idiot?"
Of course, Yin Shengong cursed in his heart, but on the surface, he wore a smile, feeling the warmth of the sect.
With nothing else to do, he returned to the inn, checked out calmly, and left the Divine Capital, enjoying the scenery along the way at a leisurely pace.
He knew he couldn't rush, no matter how eager he was to return, and no matter how afraid he was of an ambush on the road. He had to maintain his composure, as Deputy Sect Master Yan had said. If he fled like a stray dog, wouldn't he lose face for the old man? So, even though Yin Shengong was anxious and even nervous, he had to walk slowly!
This was for Yan Nan's face—to let everyone see that Deputy Sect Master Yan had spoken, and I, Yin Shengong, am completely safe. So, even if I act arrogantly, no one dares to come and kill me.
This was an indirect way of showing off the Deputy Sect Master's might!
This was a way of flattering!
But what Yin Shengong didn't expect was that, just after leaving the Divine Capital, not even a hundred li away, he encountered an ambush.
Two men in black, their faces covered, appeared like ghosts from both sides, brandishing their swords and knives.
The two sides clashed, and in an instant, the space seemed to tear apart. This attack was at the Saint level! Yin Shengong felt death upon him, and facing such an attack, he could only close his eyes and await his end.
But... the next moment.
A red shadow flashed by.
Hong Yi, with her graceful figure, appeared and clapped her two jade-like hands, releasing two green auras that exploded with green light.
Two muffled hums sounded, and two black shadows instantly spat out blood, turning into two distant black dots.
These two seemed to have anticipated their failure and had prepared to escape, their speed reaching an extreme.
From the moment of the attack to the rescue, it was just a blink of an eye for Yin Shengong.
Hong Yi landed, humming, "They got off easy."
"Hong Yi... Thank you, Hong Yi."
Yin Shengong was still in shock.
It was only now that cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and he began to feel the fear of what had just happened, almost sitting down on the ground.
"Let's go!"
Hong Yi's face was frosty. "I want to see who dares to be so bold along this journey!"
Communicating with the Five Spirit Toad, she took out the communication jade and sent a message before putting it away, saying, "Continue on your journey."
After saying this, she vanished with a sway.
Yin Shengong stood alone in the wilderness, suddenly feeling how insignificant his life was.
In the southeast, as the leader of a sect, he was a figure who could summon wind and rain. But here, he felt so small and weak.
He had become mere bait.
But he steeled himself, thinking, "So be it. You want to kill me? Come on. If I die, a few families will follow me to the grave. If I don't, I'll draw you all out."
So, he continued forward, still at a leisurely pace, unhurried. After experiencing a life-and-death crisis, his mind became more open, indifferent. After all, this life wasn't his own anymore. With this thought, he became even more composed.
Hong Yi, who was secretly following him, nodded in approval.
This Yin Shengong, at this moment, truly carried the air of a Sect Master.
However, neither Yin Shengong nor Hong Yi expected that as they continued on their journey, for over ten thousand li, it would be a calm and peaceful journey.
Instead, Yin Shengong had a leisurely time, taking in the scenery along the way.
After another five thousand li, they had traveled almost half the distance.
Alone, he embarked on a journey through thousands of mountains and rivers.
Yin Shengong also relaxed, and whenever he encountered particularly beautiful scenery, he would simply sit down, take out wine and dishes from his spatial ring, and indulge in a drunken stupor.
As night fell, he would stop traveling and casually find the highest mountain peak nearby. Atop the summit, he gazed up at the starlight in the sky.
The twinkling stars seemed within reach at the mountain's peak.
The cold night sky blinked its eyes.
Every night, Yin Shengong sat with his knees hugged, gazing up at the stars, gazing up at the starry sky.
Silent and unmoving.
It was only at times like these that he would show some genuine human emotions.
His robes fluttered in the wind as he stood alone, gazing into the distance.
In his heart, only one name echoed.
"...... Ruochen, Ruochen......"
An extreme despair and bitterness rose in his heart.
With his back to everyone and facing the desolate valley, in this vast world where he was the only person, no one could detect the tears streaming down the face of this old demon.
Yin Shengong savored this feeling. It had been many years since he had cried; as the leader of a sect, how could he shed tears?
As a demon lord, how could he shed tears? In a sea of people, how could he shed tears? With others around, how could he shed tears? Even he hadn't expected that on this lonely journey where he was always under threat of assassination, he would suddenly feel this way. He savored the sensation of tears flowing, carefully relishing the bitter pain in his heart.
Silently, he mouthed the name he had never dared to speak aloud.
"Ruochen, I miss you so much."
As the tears fell, he seemed to feel that a certain emotion, long suppressed in his heart, was gradually being released and dissipating into the vastness of the world...
Hong Yi, who had been secretly following him, noticed that every night, Yin Shengong gave off a different vibe.
It seemed that every night when Yin Shengong went to the top of the mountain to gaze at the stars, he was gaining some sort of enlightenment.
Hong Yi's guess was confirmed.
Two days later, while Yin Shengong was walking, his body suddenly erupted with black energy, and a burst of azure light exploded from him.
His cultivation quietly soared from the Venerable rank to the peak of the Venerable rank.
It was a breakthrough, an epiphany that broke free from a shackle, and at this level, he was already knocking on the threshold of the Saint rank.
Half a step away from Sainthood!
Hong Yi was amazed.
She couldn't fathom why this was happening, even if she racked her brains. Could gazing at the stars actually aid in improving one's state of mind? Hong Yi decided to try it herself when she returned.
For the next two days, Yin Shengong traveled on his own, while Hong Yi, with her superior movement technique and secret arts, remained undetected.
Perhaps it was because Yin Shengong no longer had anyone protecting him from behind, that on this very night, two figures in black, their faces hidden, suddenly appeared on the mountain peak.
"Yin Shengong! Your time has come!"
Yin Shengong slowly turned around and said calmly, "If my time has come, then so be it. I only hope to die with clarity!"
"By killing you, Night Demon, I will grow stronger this lifetime!"
"Don't waste time talking to him! Attack!"
The two assailants moved simultaneously.
Just then, behind Yin Shengong, a red shadow suddenly expanded, and just as the two attackers were about to turn Yin Shengong into mincemeat, Hong Yi's figure emerged from within Yin Shengong's shadow.
In an instant, the entire summit was bathed in red light.
It was as if the sunrise had arrived, with colorful rays filling the sky, and the relentless, fierce power of the explosion enveloped the two black-clad figures.
"I want to see who dares to cause trouble here!"
Hong Yi struck out with two palms, hitting one assailant with each, sending them both flying and spitting blood, their eyes wide with shock.
"Come to me!"
Hong Yi shouted coldly, and the rainbow light suddenly contracted, pulling the two figures in front of her. With a flick of her jade-like hand, she simultaneously removed their masks.
Revealed were two disfigured faces.
The two assailants' eyes showed a peculiar expression, and then their faces turned black.
They collapsed, their bodies slowly turning into pus.
They didn't even give Hong Yi a chance to interrogate them. Upon realizing their mission had failed and they were under control, they immediately bit into their poison sacs.
They didn't even utter a single word to Hong Yi.
Both of them died from the poison.
"Freeze them!"
Hong Yi, enraged, exhaled a white breath, instantly freezing the two corpses, turning them into ice sculptures.
"Disfigured, dead assassins!"
A terrifying thought emerged in Hong Yi's mind, and she searched their bodies thoroughly, but found nothing related to their identities. This only confirmed her suspicions, and her face grew heavy.
"Yin Shengong, do you know who these people are? You should know where they're from."
Yin Shengong sighed, "I guessed it. They're from the most mysterious assassins in the world, the Masked Pavilion. It's rare for them to send out two of their Masked Soul Harvesters at once; they must have been paid a high price."
"That's because someone offered a high price."
Hong Yi's face darkened, "Your journey hasn't been peaceful at all."
Yin Shengong said, "But it's strange. If they sent these two Masked Harvesters, even if I returned to Yi Xin Jiao, I would likely be killed. Why did they have to act during my return journey?"
Hong Yi was taken aback, "Yes, why?"
Yin Shengong thought for a moment, "Perhaps it's... for..."
Hong Yi nodded, "Indeed, they're testing. They're testing Yan Deputy Sect Master's trust in you, and they're testing whether you have protection. But why test this?"
Yin Shengong smiled bitterly, "This is beyond my understanding. Such matters are too high-level; I dare not analyze them."
Hong Yi nodded, pondering for a moment, and then said, "I will report this to Yan Deputy Sect Master."
The three words 'Masked Pavilion' were enough."
Yin Shengong said, "So, I believe that from now on, there won't be any more assassinations."
"That's still not acceptable."
Hong Yi forced a bitter smile, "There's not much distance left. If I were to return now and you were to be killed by someone else, all my efforts on this journey would have been in vain."
Yin Shengong laughed, "Then... I'll have to trouble Hong Yi again. How about we speed up from now on?"
"Alright."
Indeed, there were no more ambushes along the way, as if the appearance of those two assassins had put an end to the series of assassinations.
"I've arrived."
Yin Shengong said, "Ahead lies the headquarters of Yi Xin Jiao. Thank you, Hong Yi, for escorting me all this way. If not for you, I would have likely turned into a pile of bones by now."
Hong Yi bowed deeply, "I'm deeply grateful, and I hope that one day I'll have the opportunity to repay you."
Hong Yi smiled faintly, "It's not just me."
With a wave of her hand, two more figures appeared in the air and then immediately disappeared.
Yin Shengong was startled, as he hadn't noticed them at all during his entire journey.
He hurriedly expressed his gratitude once more.
"You may return now."
Hong Yi smiled and then vanished with a slight sway of her body.
Yin Shengong gazed at the distant mountains in the distance, feeling as if the entire trip had been a dream.
He bowed deeply once more and then soared into the sky, his slender figure darting like lightning into the mountains, heading towards the headquarters of Yi Xin Jiao.
Upon seeing Yin Shengong return to the headquarters, Hong Yi reappeared.
This time, she had truly escorted him all the way home.
She immediately asked, "Have you collected the bodies of those two Faceless Testers?"
"Yes, we have."
"On our way back, we'll keep an eye on them to prevent them from turning into ice. Humph, Masked Pavilion, they've really gone too far!"
The three of them vanished in an instant.
...
Yin Shengong's return journey.
The entire continent was in an uproar, with the entire populace caught up in the excitement.
On the Guardian Continent: The Only Righteous Sect initiates a friendship battle, challenging the young generation of the Guardian Continent! Their intentions are dubious, and their ambitions are as vast as the wolves!
On the Only Righteous Sect's side: The Guardian Continent proposes a challenge, targeting the young generation... Their schemes are endless, and their plots are heavy!
But the public doesn't care about who started it.
The public only knows that a battle of geniuses spanning the entire continent is about to begin! Who is the true genius?
The Cloud Talents Spectrum has been a hot topic among the people for many years, but its popularity has somewhat declined. Now, another battle between young geniuses has ignited the continent once more.
Immediately, some busybodies began clamoring for a new ranking list.
They wanted a 'Cloud Talents Spectrum'.
As soon as this proposal was made, the entire populace responded with enthusiasm. Of course, having a ranking list would make things more exciting. Imagine having a thousand names on the list, fighting day after day—what a spectacle!
However, the Only Righteous Sect refused this proposal, deeming it too childish.
Why should young people be ranked on a list? Let them grow and mature first, or let them directly challenge the Cloud Talents Spectrum after they've grown.
It's not a joke; the Only Righteous Sect has existed for thousands of years, and Dong Fang Sansan has been creating various ranking lists, causing countless high-level disciples within the sect to be named and sent out to their deaths.
The Only Righteous Sect has suffered greatly from these ranking lists, to the point where even the Deputy Sect Masters have had enough. Hearing the word 'ranking list' makes them wince in pain.
After much effort, the sect finally managed to suppress and abolish these lists. How could they possibly repeat the same mistake?
That's why they firmly refuse to participate.
The public doesn't have such a long memory, and they don't understand why the Only Righteous Sect refuses. However, high-level cultivators with long lifespans remember those times well. How could they not know what the Only Righteous Sect is afraid of?
Numerous 'emperors' emerged, spreading the word across the continent about the various ranking lists from back then, how they had achieved great victories, how the Only Righteous Sect had been humiliated, and how Jiu Ye had plotted against them...
How the Only Righteous Sect had been driven to the brink...
How the Only Righteous Sect had suffered greatly and eventually resorted to unconventional means to abolish all the ranking lists.
There used to be many ranking lists, such as the Cloud Talents Spectrum, the Cloud Sword Spectrum, the Cloud Talents Spectrum, the Cloud Blade Spectrum, and the Cloud Sword Spectrum...
In short, there were rankings for everything you could think of, and even for things you couldn't imagine.
Now, the Only Righteous Sect refuses to participate in rankings because of this. They are afraid.
Once the ranking lists are released, Dong Fang, the military advisor, has countless ways to manipulate and exploit them.
As this inside information from thousands of years ago is revealed, with credible sources and evidence, the entire Guardian Continent is in an uproar!
Everyone is discussing it, and their morale is soaring.
Thus, some busybodies begin to dig deeper into these matters, uncovering many details.
The friendship battle between the young geniuses becomes a raging inferno, sweeping across the entire continent with an intensity that rivals the Guardian Continent's side.
Unlike the Guardian Continent, the enthusiasm of the Only Righteous Sect's populace plummets after the exposure of these historical events.
"You people nowadays know nothing. Do you know how powerful our sect's experts were when they swept across the world? Our martial prowess was overwhelming, far surpassing our opponents..."
"Then how did we end up in such a state?"
"The Supreme Military Advisor's strategies are unfathomable, his wisdom is boundless, his calculations leave no stone unturned, and his intelligence is as vast as the sea and the sky... His methods are endless..."
"Don't believe me? Go ahead and ask around. Just mention Dong Fang Sansan, don't be fooled by her name sounding a bit rustic.
(End of Chapter)
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