Chapter 457: All Eyes on Shen, the Sect Master (5K)

Chapter 457: All Eyes on Shen, the Sect Master (5K)



【Thirty-four thousand years later, the resentment of countless demons was almost dissipated, leaving only a handful of them dazed and immobile like wooden puppets, just like you.】

It was evident that time was still insufficient.

Shen Yi braced himself with his hands, panting heavily and revealing a rare disheveled state.

Without Li Xuanqing's insights to support him, forcibly deducing this Heavenly Derivative Forty-Nine technique had inflicted unimaginable damage on his spirit soul.

And it wasn't just Shen Yi.

Including the numerous demon souls who had accompanied him on this journey, all of them nearly disappeared and dissipated, even the Flood Dragon General at the sixth layer of Returning Void was lost in the Heavenly Derivative Forty-Nine.

Not enough.

Shen Yi wiped the corner of his lips and lifted his gaze.

He must invite another true demonic genius into this place.

Otherwise, his spirit soul might collapse before he even achieved minor success in this technique.

【Remaining Lifespan of Demons: One hundred and fifteen thousand years】

Shen Yi sat up, intending to rest for a while and, at the same time, familiarize himself with the new technique he had just acquired.

At the Returning Void stage, moving mountains and filling seas was considered a minor feat.

Yet, there were those who dedicated themselves to the pursuit of the ultimate path of fist and palm techniques.

There must be profound mysteries within.

He sat in seclusion for three days and nights.

His weakened spirit soul finally regained some vigor.

He stood up, took out a talisman, and received a message from Liu Qingyun.

"Sect Master Shen, how are your preparations going? We're waiting for you at the Sky Sword Sect. Do you need us to receive any guests?"

"Hmm?"

Shen Yi put away the talisman.

What guests? He certainly didn't have any helpers at the moment.

Thinking of this, he shook his head, opened the grand formation, and left.

...

Outside the Sky Sword Sect, on the stone relief.

People came and went, their sword robes more imposing than the attire of other alliance sects.

Ye Wenhuan stood on the Precious Boat of Qingyue Sect, staring at the Sky Sword relief in a daze.

This might be her last time here.

She looked at the three figures beside her. Although their cultivations far surpassed hers, besides the previously introduced Zheng Qian, the remaining man and woman didn't seem to have crossed the watershed.

Such a lineup would be considered formidable anywhere else.

But compared to the task recorded in the jade slip, it seemed inadequate.

"Are we really going?"

After a long silence, Ye Wenhuan finally shook her head. "Thank you for your kindness, Senior Zheng, but leaving the Sky Sword Sect doesn't necessarily mean death for me. If I truly get involved in this matter..."

"What's the rush?"

Zheng Qian interrupted her, gazing into the distance. "The main force hasn't arrived yet."

With Shen Yi's meticulous mind, since he dared to agree, he must have his considerations.

The previous incident with the Golden Fire Sparrow had already proven this.

"...”

Liu Qingyun remained silent and exchanged glances with Yan Wencheng beside her.

Even with the intention of a certain Elder Bai Yujing, it wouldn't be convenient for the Qingyue Sect to get involved. They truly couldn't afford to make any discordant moves against the Sky Sword Sect.

The fact that these three could come was already a pretext of their private relationship with Shen Yi.

After an unknown period,

Finally, a familiar purple and white rainbow appeared in the sky.

The three of them were curious and looked back, but they didn't notice that Ye Wenhuan's face had changed drastically.

"Paying respects to Sect Master Shen."

Zheng Qian and the other two cupped their fists in salute, then raised their eyebrows. "That's it? Just you alone?"

"Of course."

Shen Yi nodded slightly and stepped onto the Precious Boat.

Zheng Qian, recalling her previous mention of a "main force," felt a bit embarrassed. She glanced at Ye Wenhuan and noticed the strangeness on her face. She couldn't help but introduce, "Why are you staring blankly? Pay your respects. This is the Sect Master of Nanyang Sect."

"...”

Ye Wenhuan swallowed, her eyes fixed on Shen Yi's handsome face.

How could there be such a huge gap?

Her position as an executor was acknowledged by the elders, but Shen Yi's so-called sect master position was self-proclaimed.

Yet, no one took her, Ye Wenhuan, as an executor, while these powerful Returning Void cultivators could openly and sincerely address him as Sect Master Shen in front of so many people.

If she had been the one to open the grand formation back then...

Would people be respectfully addressing her as Sect Master Ye now?

"What's with that look? Greet him."

Zheng Qian rolled her eyes and poked her forehead with her fingertip.

Shen Yi glanced sideways and shook his head. "She's an old acquaintance. No need for those formalities."

Then he nodded to Ye Wenhuan and said, "Take a seat, and let's talk about the situation."

Although her actions when she first left the Nanyang Sect were not likable, no matter what, she had once given the Nanyang Sect a precious period of development.

For the survival of sentient beings, including himself, this was an unforgettable grace.

"I..."

Ye Wenhuan took two steps back and sat down, her heart in turmoil.

In fact, she really hadn't expected that the helper these senior members of the alliance sects were waiting for would be Shen Yi.

What surprised her even more was that his attitude was unexpectedly mild, and he didn't take the opportunity to vent his anger on her because of the previous incident.

"I'm not very clear about it either... I've been doing some odd jobs in the Executor Hall... Here."

Ye Wenhuan originally thought that if she could raise her status one day, she would definitely make the people of the Nanyang Sect look at her with new eyes and let them know that her choice was the correct one.

That was why she was stunned by her embarrassment earlier.

But she suddenly realized that honestly admitting that she had become a handyman didn't seem so hard to say after all.

As she spoke, Ye Wenhuan handed over the jade slip.

"Why is it called 'suppressing rebellion'?"

Shen Yi took the jade slip, glanced at it, and found the content inside to be somewhat simplistic. He then passed the jade slip to the others.

It was only because of Shen Yi's mention of an old acquaintance that she realized Ye Wenhuan was a native of Nanyang.

Since that was the case, there was more to say on the matter.

"You've just come out and don't understand the situation yet. The jurisdiction of the Seven Sons of Nan Hong isn't limited to the seven allied sects. The reason for this lies in the Harmonious Treasure Lands."

"Sitting idly and consuming resources isn't the way of the righteous path. If something unexpected happens to one of the seven Harmonious Treasure Lands, losing just one would be equivalent to losing a Harmonious Realm giant... for example, the Nanyang Sect."

"So, we've always been focused on cultivating other forces, not absorbing them into the treasure lands, but allowing them to develop their territories outside. Many of the Nanyang Sect's former supporters have now become powerful factions with White Jade Capital cultivators."

"Of course..."

Zheng Qian smiled awkwardly, "They may not necessarily listen to you now."

That group of supporters was nominally part of the Nanyang Sect, but in reality, over these past ten thousand years, they had long been taken over by other allied sects.

Moreover, Shen Yi's position as "sect master" was currently only acknowledged by a handful of people.

"Let's get back to the topic. These vassals of the Seven Sons of Nan Hong rarely cause any trouble. Those that have started to take shape are directly managed by the elders, like this Chen family. Their patriarch was a powerful cultivator at the fifth layer of the Returning Void stage, but he seems to have perished recently."

"This year's tribute hasn't been delivered yet, and there hasn't been a word about it. This counts as rebellion."

When mentioning the word "tribute," Zheng Qian didn't feel the slightest bit embarrassed.

In Nan Hong, countless factions wished to pay tribute but lacked the qualifications.

The seven sects would almost exclusively shelter those factions they had cultivated themselves, preventing demons and evil cultivators from taking advantage of the situation.

"We'll have to go there to understand the specifics."

"However, I must remind you that this matter represents the face of the seven sects. If the situation is unfavorable, it's best we don't get involved. Doing nothing is better than making a mistake."

"Understood."

Shen Yi felt like he had gone around in a big circle and had ended up back at his old profession of collecting protection money.

...

Nan Hong, Chen Family.

In the majestic main hall, an empty coffin sat in the middle of the room.

The hall was filled with clan members, all dressed in mourning attire.

They surrounded a youth with a withered face, silently gazing towards the hall's entrance.

Just outside the hall.

A tall and straight figure stood with his hands behind his back. His appearance was seven parts similar to the withered youth, but his eyebrows and eyes shone with a brilliant light, and his graceful and elegant demeanor captivated onlookers.

"Are you in such a hurry when Father's coffin hasn't even been buried yet?"

The withered youth was Chen Zilong, the legitimate eldest son of the Chen family. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and the surrounding heaven and earth vitality subtly surged as he slightly opened and closed his palms.

The clan leader had perished, and after the funeral, it would be time for the succession of power.

However, this empty coffin had been blocked by his younger brother in the main hall for an entire month.

The losses were severe. Among the clan elders, seven of those at the fourth layer of the Returning Void stage had been severely injured, and two of them, due to the viciousness of the opponent's attacks, had died despite receiving medical treatment.

"Do I look like I'm in a hurry?"

The man outside finally turned around and smiled gracefully.

He took out a wine jar from his storage treasure artifact, held it by the neck, and raised it towards the crowd, "This jar is a tribute to me, Chen Zilong. After being driven out of the Chen family by my elder brother, I never expected to live to see this day."

After speaking, the youth drained the jar in one gulp.

He threw the jar to the ground and strode into the hall.

With a crisp crack, the mourning-clad crowd took a step back in unison, complex emotions flashing in their eyes.

Having a dragon among sons was supposed to be a blessing for the family.

But the problem was that two dragons had been born, and the sickly dragon had chosen the most inappropriate time to return.

Only Chen Zilong remained standing before the coffin, his withered face filled with killing intent.

"This jar is a tribute to me, Chen Zilong. In such a situation, I still managed to expand the Chen family's territory and establish a vast domain. This is a remarkable achievement."

Chen Zilong drank another jar of wine.

He wiped his lips with his sleeve.

He walked slowly towards Chen Zilong, took out the last jar of wine, and handed it over, "This jar is for you to pay respects to me and acknowledge that I am more suitable to be the clan leader than you."

"Otherwise."

Chen Zilong's tone was gentle as he spoke the last word, "Die."

As he finished speaking, he slowly released his hand.

Chen Zilong watched as the wine jar fell, like a death knell.

To survive, Chen Zilong had to catch the jar before it hit the ground.

For a cultivator at the Returning Void stage, this wasn't a difficult task.

The mourning-clad clan members also seemed to see the impending scene, and they all sighed and made a gesture of respect.

If the clan leader were still alive, there might have been a chance to turn things around.

But with his ambiguous death, the two brothers could only rely on their own means.

It was clear to everyone that Chen Zilong had demonstrated his strength by blocking the clan members in the main hall for a whole month with his own power.

But what no one expected was

The sound of a shattered wine jar rang through the main hall for the third time.

Chen Zilong looked at the spilled wine on the ground and then at his younger brother. He closed his eyes, hiding the killing intent in his eyes, and said softly, "The territory you conquered, the Chen family doesn't want. How much strength you have, the Chen family doesn't care."

"You walk your own path, and I'll walk mine. This small temple of the Chen family can't accommodate your grand presence."

"Please."

As Chen Zilong spoke, he slowly raised his palm in a gesture of dismissal.

Seeing this response, Chen Zilong remained silent for a moment before a smile finally curved his lips, "You chose this path, so don't blame me."

As he spoke, the sleeves of his long robe fluttered without any wind.

The two-layered Spirit Palace, even among the Nan Hong Seven Sons, was nearly at the threshold of becoming an intimate disciple.

"I only regret not killing you with my own hands back then."

Chen Zilong gave a self-deprecating laugh, then clenched his fists tightly. However, in front of his younger brother, no matter how much malice filled his withered face, it seemed utterly unconvincing.

"Then I should thank you."

Chen Ziqi abruptly performed a hand seal, but halfway through, he furrowed his brows and glanced back towards the entrance of the hall.

Amidst the faint footsteps.

A handsome youth in ink-colored robes strolled forward, followed by four cultivators with extraordinary auras.

He casually entered the hall, ignoring everyone else.

Walking up to the brothers.

"..."

Chen Ziqi instinctively stepped aside, then watched as the youth walked past him and took a seat at the head, on the chair that the brothers had been vying for over the years.

Shen Yi gently patted his robe, leaned back in the chair, propped his chin with one hand, and calmly scanned the room.

Then, in a nonchalant tone, he spoke, "What's the matter? Go ahead and speak."

Since it was about collecting protection money, Shen Yi was quite experienced in that regard.

"...!"

The remaining four stood below, quietly exchanging glances.

Zheng Qian retracted her gaze, raising an eyebrow as she transmitted her voice, "Is he really just out of the Nanyang Sect? He's putting on more of an act than your father."

Liu Qingyun also had doubts in her eyes.

She had seen Shen Yi's gentle side and his ruthless side, but she never expected that there would be an aspect to his character that she couldn't fathom.

"He used to be the captain of the Berkshire County police... the Qingzhou General... the Da Qian Inspector... and the Demon Emperor of the Thousand Demon Cave..."

Ye Wenhuan sighed inwardly and suddenly felt like she was reciting a menu.

Including Yan Wencheng, the other three fell silent simultaneously.

Although they hadn't heard of these powers, his experience sounded quite extensive, especially the last one, which was quite baffling.

Were all these titles referring to the same person?

"...!"

Chen Ziqi stared intently at the man above.

He had returned to regain his dignity, not to file a complaint with the 'Judge of Qing Tian'.

What made him even more dissatisfied was.

He had just subconsciously stepped back in front of this Returning Void Third Layer cultivator.

It was probably because the other four were wearing Qingyue Sect robes.

Time had dragged on too long, and he had become too complacent, allowing the people of the Nan Hong Seven Sons to arrive.

If he had waited until after he took power.

He wouldn't have minded greeting these "celestial beings" with pleasantries.

But not today.

The limelight in this hall belonged to him and him alone.

"Honored Qingyue Sect cultivators, this is our Chen family's domestic affair. After Ziqi handles it, we will definitely double this year's tribute. You have traveled far, so please rest first."

Chen Ziqi cupped his hands.

Even when facing the cultivators of the Nan Hong Seven Sons, his tone remained respectful yet firm.

With his demeanor and the talent displayed by his Spirit Palace, even an outer sect elder would view him with higher regard.

For example, Zheng Qian nodded in satisfaction.

However, Shen Yi merely glanced at him indifferently, "I didn't ask about that. I asked you to speak about the matter at hand."

There was no hint of sarcasm in his tone.

But it caused Chen Ziqi's face to turn red with anger. A mere junior cultivator, relying on his status, was acting arrogantly towards him.

If he weren't a disciple of the Immortal Sect, with just this cultivation, would he dare to point fingers at him?!

"Honored Immortal, Ziqi will first handle his family affairs, then come and explain."

Chen Ziqi abruptly retracted his palms, his gaze once again falling on his brother, and the energy within his body suddenly surged!

The azure palace, filled with surging waves, simultaneously exuded a terrifying oppressive force.

Even Zheng Qian's expression changed slightly.

This small, secluded sect, with meager resources, had actually produced a cultivator on par with her.

Such talent was enough to be proud of.

Thinking of this, she glanced at Shen Yi, wanting to see his reaction.

In this hall, the only ones who could stop Chen Ziqi were probably her and Shen Yi, and that old dog Shi Kui wouldn't be able to do anything.

However, Sect Master Shen's attitude was too aloof, and it wouldn't be appropriate for him to make a move now. If it escalated into a fight, it would be somewhat embarrassing.

But Shen Yi seemed not to have noticed her inquiring gaze.

He remained leaning back in his chair.

Suddenly, the entire hall fell silent for a moment, as if all things had come to a standstill.

When everything returned to normal.

Almost everyone held their breath.

The ink-robed youth on the chair continued to move gently, his gaze unchanged.

The only difference in the hall.

Was Chen Ziqi, who was kneeling on the ground, his entire chest caved in.

His mouth was filled with dark red blood, and his eyes were wide open in disbelief as he stared upwards, "You... you..."

"Now, can you start talking?" Shen Yi raised an eyebrow and looked down at the people below.

"Honored Immortal, why are you taking his side... I don't understand..." Chen Ziqi's face was filled with pain, anger, and a hint of fear. With blood in his mouth, he spoke incoherently, "Back then, when I was driven out of the house, who stood up for me? Who cared about me..."

"Oh dear."

Finally, some emotion appeared in Shen Yi's eyes, and he pressed his palm down, saying indifferently, "I didn't ask you about that. I want you to explain the aquatic demonic aura on your body."

"Now, can we begin?"

His voice echoed in everyone's ears, causing their expressions to change drastically.

Chen Ziqi stopped his angry rant, his expression frozen, and he stared at Shen Yi warily.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end