https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-408-Confrontation-with-a-Mid-Nascent-Soul-Cultivator/12550272/
Chapter 409: The Dead Won't Appear
Chapter 409: The Dead Won't Appear
"Fellow Daoist Chu, there's quite a story behind this," Fu Jing'an said as he began to explain the situation to Chu Ning.
Hearing only half of it, Chu Ning interrupted, "So, Fellow Daoist Fu, you're saying that after you arrived at Yunqi Mountain, you discovered a family with the surname You who were suspected of cultivating demonic cultivation techniques, and might be spies sent by the Demon Path Alliance? If that's the case, why not just capture the head of the family and interrogate them?"
At this moment, Fu Jing'an's expression froze slightly.
Wu Changdong, who was standing beside him, took over the conversation and said, "That guy looked crafty and slippery. When I questioned him, he dared to be dishonest with me. I lost my temper and used a little force..."
Hearing this, Chu Ning fell silent.
The highest cultivation level among the cultivator families here was only at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Wu Changdong, on the other hand, was a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, almost at the late stage.
The consequences of him using a little force were obvious.
"Please continue, Fellow Daoist Fu. How does this relate to your sudden attack on me?" Chu Ning asked.
"We interrogated the other members of the You family," Fu Jing'an continued, "and found that only a few core members were cultivating demonic techniques. Even they didn't know which sect of the Demon Path Alliance their family was associated with. Only the family head was in contact with the alliance."
Fu Jing'an paused briefly before adding, "After repeated interrogations, we finally learned from another core member of the family that the head had mentioned something about the Demon Path Alliance. They were expecting some members of the alliance to arrive soon, but this person didn't know their identities or cultivation levels."
"Since you, Fellow Daoist Chu, had just arrived and your spiritual sense was so powerful, unlike that of a cultivator from our alliance, Wu immediately took action," Fu Jing'an concluded.
After hearing the whole story, Chu Ning remained silent for a moment.
This Wu Changdong fellow certainly had a short temper.
Chu Ning then took out the sound transmission talisman that Qin Changkong had given him and handed it to Wu Changdong.
Wu Changdong listened to the message on the talisman for a while, his expression turning strange as he looked at Chu Ning.
"Fellow Daoist Chu, I was a bit hasty earlier," Wu Changdong said. "To be honest, I had never heard of you before, and I couldn't believe that you had just advanced to the Nascent Soul stage."
Wu Changdong did seem to have a hasty temperament, but Chu Ning could also tell that he was a straightforward person.
"That's right. I condensed my Nascent Soul just a year ago," Chu Ning confirmed.
"Wow, your abilities are truly impressive, Fellow Daoist," Wu Changdong exclaimed.
"To be honest, I also sensed your powerful spiritual sense, which was no weaker than mine. Plus, you were a stranger, so I took action. And not only is your spiritual sense strong, but your artifacts and abilities are also quite formidable. That attack just now was not easy for me to withstand. Our alliance hasn't seen a newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivator with such abilities in a long time," Wu Changdong said, his eyes filled with admiration.
Chu Ning smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Wu is too kind. Just now, you were unarmed, while I used an artifact, so I had the advantage."
Wu Changdong shook his head. "There's no need to be humble. I didn't use my full strength either, but I assume you didn't either. As for artifacts, my abilities lie in my fists. Your cultivation and abilities far surpass those of an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, and you could even hold your own against a mid-stage one."
Wu Changdong stopped short of saying more, and Chu Ning didn't press him further. After all, in the cultivation world, it was taboo to inquire about others' techniques and treasures.
As the three men chatted, Fu Jing'an summoned the four Golden Core cultivators, two from Yunling Zong and two from Baihong Zong.
Now aware of Chu Ning's identity, the Golden Core cultivators were once again astonished.
They, of course, knew about Chu Ning's advancement to the Nascent Soul stage a year ago. After all, for the past decade or so, Chu Ning had been known as the top Golden Core cultivator of the Yunxia Alliance.
But they had never expected that just a year after advancing to the Nascent Soul stage, Chu Ning would already be capable of sparring with a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.
At this moment, Fu Jing'an turned to Wu Changdong and asked, "Fellow Daoist Wu, according to the Alliance Master's message, we should head to Tianyu Pavilion immediately. What do you think we should do now?"
Wu Changdong pondered for a moment and then said, "Let's follow the Alliance Master's instructions. After all, this is just a small family, and even if they are connected to the Demon Path Alliance, they won't cause much trouble. The real issue is at Tianyu Pavilion—we must ensure it isn't taken by the Demon Path Alliance. Let's go there now, but we don't need to travel together."
Wu Changdong paused briefly before turning to Chu Ning and saying, "Fellow Daoist Chu, if the Demon Path Alliance has indeed colluded with the Tianji Alliance to plot against our alliance, they won't choose to make their move on Tianyu Pavilion at this time. After all, whoever makes the first move will have to face the backlash from our alliance."
Chu Ning nodded in agreement. Qin Changkong and the others had come to the same conclusion, which was why they had only sent him to deliver the message instead of mobilizing a group of Nascent Soul cultivators.
"In that case, Fellow Daoist Fu and I will go ahead," Wu Changdong continued. "Fellow Daoist Chu, why don't you stay here at Yunqi Mountain for a few days? You can investigate the You family's connections with the Demon Path Alliance and uncover their conspiracies. With your abilities, you have nothing to fear even if cultivators from the Demon Path Alliance show up."
Chu Ning agreed that it was indeed a good plan. After all, Yunqi Mountain was a necessary stop on the way from Yunxia City to Tianyu Pavilion. If the Demon Path Alliance had any sinister intentions here, it would be detrimental to the Yunxia Alliance.
After discussing, Wu Changdong and a few others returned to the You residence. They crippled the cultivation of a few family members who practiced demonic cultivation techniques and spells before leaving triumphantly.
This gave the other cultivator families on Yunqi Mountain the impression that the Yunxia Alliance had completely withdrawn.
After they left, Chu Ning quietly made his way to the back mountains of the You family's estate. With his cultivation, even without using the Soul Concealment Technique, he could avoid detection.
For several consecutive days, Chu Ning stayed there to cultivate, and nothing out of the ordinary happened.
Every day, he could only hear the members of the You family anxiously discussing their options. Some talked about fleeing Yunqi Mountain and starting anew elsewhere, while others suggested joining the Demon Sect and allying with the Demon Path Alliance.
However, despite their words, they didn't dare to take a single step outside their home. It was clear that Wu Changdong's recent actions of killing and crippling cultivators had instilled fear in this small cultivator family.
Just as Chu Ning was growing impatient and considering heading directly to Tianyu Pavilion to meet up with Wu Changdong and the others, a new figure appeared within the range of his spiritual sense one evening.
"They've finally arrived, but it's only a late-stage Golden Core cultivator."
Chu Ning's spiritual sense swept over the newcomer, revealing a tall and thin elderly man with a cold and sinister demeanor. Chu Ning's first impression was that this man was extremely treacherous.
Moreover, the faintly discernible icy aura emanating from him reminded Chu Ning of another cultivator he had encountered before.
This sparked some thoughts in Chu Ning's mind.
The tall and thin elder was also a veteran in the cultivation world, and he, too, was cautious. After flying into Yunqi Mountain, he circled the entire mountain before finally descending upon the You family's residence. He then swept the area with his spiritual sense.
However, even though his spiritual sense passed through the area where Chu Ning was hiding, he didn't detect anything. Perhaps sensing something amiss about the You family, his expression changed slightly, and he quickly landed in their courtyard.
Immediately, voices of conversation reached Chu Ning's ears, which he clearly sensed with his spiritual sense.
"Where's You Zhonghui?"
"Reporting to Senior, our patriarch was killed by cultivators from the Yunxia Alliance. Senior, please help us seek justice for the You family!"
"Killed by cultivators from the Yunxia Alliance? What cultivation level were they?"
"It seemed like they were Golden Core cultivators? We couldn't sense their exact cultivation levels either."
"How many of them were there?" Upon hearing this, the tall and thin elder's voice took on a strange tone.
Just then, a faint voice sounded.
"Since you've come, why leave in such a hurry?"
"Who's there?" The tall and thin elder's face changed drastically, and he shouted in alarm.
But when he saw the figure that had appeared like a ghost in front of him, his eyes flickered with fear.
"A Nascent Soul cultivator!"
The tall and thin elder glared at the You family member behind him, his eyes full of reproach.
In the courtyard, several cultivators of varying ages looked terrified and confused.
"A Nascent Soul cultivator? The one who came a few days ago wasn't this senior, was it?"
"It wasn't this senior."
Upon hearing this, the tall and thin elder immediately turned around.
Looking at Chu Ning's youthful face, he couldn't help but feel a sense of respect, and he bowed politely.
"Senior, if I've offended you by blocking your path, please let me know how I can make amends."
"Are you from the Demon Path Alliance? Why have you come to the Yunxia Alliance's territory?" Chu Ning asked calmly.
The tall and thin elder saw that Chu Ning didn't immediately attack, and a glimmer of hope ignited in his heart. He replied respectfully,
"This is the family of an old acquaintance, and I'm just passing by to pay a visit."
"Oh, an acquaintance?" Chu Ning nodded slightly, his eyes fixed on the elder.
"Are you a disciple of the Yin Demon Sect? What position do you hold there?"
The tall and thin elder was taken aback, but he still answered respectfully, "Senior has sharp eyes. Yes, I am a disciple of the Yin Demon Sect and hold the position of a Guardian there."
"A Guardian of the Yin Demon Sect," Chu Ning murmured, his eyes sweeping over the tall and thin elder and the You family members behind him.
"So, the acquaintance you mentioned is the other Guardian of the Yin Demon Sect, You Jing. And these people here are his relatives?"
Upon hearing this, the tall and thin elder was stunned, while the You family members behind him looked confused.
The elder studied Chu Ning's calm face, trying to discern something, but ultimately, he asked with a hint of curiosity,
"Senior, do you know Guardian You?"
"We've met a few times," Chu Ning nodded slightly.
Having fought and severed his arms a few times, they could be considered acquaintances.
Chu Ning's gaze shifted back to the tall and thin elder.
"As far as I know, You Jing hasn't shown himself for quite some time. Why have you come here?"
The tall and thin elder was even more astonished by Chu Ning's words, wondering who this person was to know that You Jing hadn't appeared in a while.
What he didn't know was that the dead don't make appearances.
(End of Chapter)
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