Chapter 500: On the Eve of the Seven Sons Assembly

Chapter 500: On the Eve of the Seven Sons Assembly

In the Hongze region, the Dragon Palace was no different from a local tyrant.

As the Fifth Prince of the Southern Palace, Ke Shiliang, though not as powerful as his brothers who were close to the Dao Fusion Realm, was still a formidable opponent. If it came to a fight, he would not lose to most Daoists, and his noble status further added to his influence.

His every move was closely watched by the immortal sects.

The news of the Dragon Palace leading demon soldiers and generals to surround the Cloud Peak Pavilion had already spread like wildfire within the Seven Sects.

Unlike the previous incident in Xuan Yue City, the Dragon Palace didn't even bother with saving face this time.

Many outer sect elders and disciples, filled with righteous indignation, had already stepped out of their sect's gates.

As the largest human force in Nan Hong, they had their pride, and such humiliation was unbearable.

Unfortunately, those who truly had the power to decide on this matter had remained silent.

No matter how angry the disciples of the immortal sects were, they could only suppress their anger and redirect it elsewhere.

For instance, towards the Nan Yang Sect.

A prestigious immortal sect like the Nan Yang Sect had yet to issue an Imperial Decree regarding this matter. Were they really going to let Ke Shiliang trample on their dignity?

"If the Nan Yang Sect doesn't take action, should we just stand by and do nothing?"

"Even when dealing with a dog, one must consider its owner. Before the Cloud Peak Pavilion became part of the Nan Yang Sect, it was our affiliate. Are we just going to let this go?"

"Fellow disciples, who will follow me?"

An overseer angrily drew his sword and stepped onto the sect's treasure ship.

Just as the other cultivators were about to follow suit, a spiritual pressure descended from the sky, freezing them in their tracks.

"You, a mere overseer, dare to stir up trouble and provoke conflict between our sect and the Dragon Palace. If you continue, I will destroy your cultivation." The voice of Liu Xingshan, an elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect, echoed above their heads.

It was clear that this disturbance had caught the attention of the White Jade Capital elders of the Seven Sects.

The disciples' faces turned red with anger, but due to the vast difference in cultivation, they couldn't even move a finger.

There were obviously more than one pair of eyes hidden in the sky, all belonging to cultivators of the White Jade Capital.

However, no one wanted to say anything more. They merely looked at Liu Xingshan with a hint of strangeness.

Just then, a figure in the distance casually waved its sleeve, dispersing the thick spiritual pressure, and said with a light laugh, "Thank you, Elder Liu, for disciplining my disciples. It was my fault for not managing them properly. I will be more careful in the future."

As the voice trailed off, a youth in a golden silk white robe embroidered with a crescent moon approached with a sincere smile on his lips, "You are right, Elder Liu. The Dragon Palace and we, the Nan Hong Seven Sons, have always lived in harmony, without resorting to violence. With your help, we can enjoy peace for generations to come. Why ruin this harmony over a minor friction?"

"You..."

Liu Xingshan's face twitched slightly, and his instincts kicked in, causing him to retreat further behind the clouds. "Elder Qingyue, please don't speak nonsense. I didn't mean it that way... It's just that the time isn't right yet."

"Yes, we'll have a better chance once you achieve Dao Fusion," Bai Wu replied with a charming smile, then frowned and gave a subtle signal to the disciples, "Why are you still standing here? If Elder Liu is afraid to confront the Dragon Slayer, will he also dare to destroy your cultivation?"

Without waiting for a response, he turned away from Liu Xingshan and strode into the light screen of the Qingyue Relief.

"You, you!"

Liu Xingshan's hand trembled with anger. After a moment, he angrily waved his sleeves, "My loyalty to the sect is witnessed by heaven and earth. I just don't want to argue with you."

But soon, he saw two more figures approaching from a distance.

It was Chi Yang and Liu Shiqian, the eccentric old friends.

Liu Xingshan's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he had a bad feeling about this.

These two were always up to no good, and they had connections with Shen Yi of the Nan Yang Sect. They must have gone to the Cloud Peak Pavilion to lend a hand, but their demeanor didn't seem like they had just been in a major battle.

Could it be that even with Ke Shiliang's involvement, they couldn't do anything to that Nan Yang native?

Meanwhile, in the Ancestral Hall of the Qingyue Sect.

Xuan Qing sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, and in front of him stood a cold and aloof figure with his hands clasped behind his back. Their posture and demeanor were identical to the Ancestral Master's statue.

"Will you not help me, Shishu Ji?"

"No." The woman replied indifferently.

"Why?" Xuan Qing suddenly clenched his fists, with the intention of getting up.

"Because I don't want the new sect master to be like you, thinking that there's always someone to back them up, and becoming lawless... Oh, I forgot, you've always believed that you're blessed with good fortune, and every time you manage to turn a crisis into safety by coincidence, without ever losing. You've taken pride in that, even after the death of Senior Brother Qin."

As a grandmaster of the Dao Fusion Realm, Shishu Ji rarely spoke so much at once.

She was known for her calm and serene demeanor, like the clear moon, but at this moment, her lips curved like a crescent moon, carrying a hint of ridicule.

"Xuan Qing has realized his mistake," Li Xuan Qing stood up, wanting to bow again, but the spiritual pressure held him in place. His voice carried a hint of urgency, "Shen Yi and I are different."

"How are you different?" The Qingyue Sect Master finally turned around, "He's even more deserving of the title 'Heavenly Pride' than you, and his ability to stir up trouble is far greater than yours ever was."

"Xuan Qing, Shishu is truly afraid. The joy we felt when we first saw you is now replaced by worry."

The Qingyue Sect Master looked at him with a complex expression, then withdrew the ridicule from her lips, "You should know that by not forcefully taking over the Nan Yang Treasure Site, we have shown you the greatest tolerance. It represents a new Dao Fusion Realm cultivator, and we are willing to give you a chance. But this path is one you must walk yourselves."

If the small temple of Hongze cannot contain this great Buddha, then it will be proven to everyone.

If it is another Xuan Qing, then Shen Yi's terrifying talent, for the Southern Flood Seven Sons, will only be an even greater calamity... to the point of total annihilation.

You must know that the immortal might not have forgotten Nan Yang yet.

"Xuan Qing understands."

Li Xuan Qing fell silent for a moment before finally turning and walking out of the hall.

"It's good that you understand. But you're just going to look for your old friends again." The Qingyue Sect Master, rarely raising an eyebrow, saw Xuan Qing step out of the hall as if he hadn't heard a word, and finally sighed.

"There's no need to look for him. At least, up to now, he's much stronger than you."

"At least three out of the seven Daoists are willing to speak for him, unlike you. In the beginning, the other six only wanted to kill you to mend their Dao hearts."

The Qingyue Sect Master took out a Dao tablet, and inside, the news sent by Bai Wu earlier could be heard.

Ever since Xuan Qing entered, her silence, not stopping Bai Wu from leaving the sect, was already a statement.

"Thank you, Ji Shushu." Xuan Qing was startled for a moment and finally bowed.

However, he felt a bit helpless. Shen Zongzhu's performance was impeccable, but his style of conduct was truly a headache.

He never communicated with others, acting alone, and secretly planning big things by himself.

Just like this time, he had already made arrangements without saying a word, making her run an extra trip for nothing and allowing Ji Shushu to scold her.

"Go find your old friends if you want to. Anyway, someone has come forward, and I've asked Bai Wu to bring them to stay at Qingyue Sect for a while." The Qingyue Sect Master added another sentence indifferently.

Upon hearing this, Xuan Qing's whole body stiffened.

He immediately turned around and wanted to leave quickly.

Just as the two of them were talking.

Outside Qingyue Sect, accompanied by Su Hongxiu and her sister, an old woman with white hair down to her waist held the Treasure Flower Cane, standing slowly with a stunningly beautiful barefooted girl by her side.

"It's too kind of you to come from afar to attend the Seven Sons Assembly. Please come to Tianjian Sect for a visit when you have time." Even Su Hongxiu's voice became gentle when facing this old woman.

The Treasure Flower Sect Master, a giant in the Dao Fusion Realm.

The Treasure Flower Sect is located at the border between Nan Hong and Xi Hong. Logically, it should ally with Xi Hong's forces to jointly resist the Western Dragon Palace, but due to some special relationships, it has a better relationship with the Southern Flood Seven Sons.

"Just take a look." The old woman sighed slightly and scanned the surroundings. It had been a long time since she last visited this place.

Immediately after, a radiant light appeared in her sight, swiftly moving away into the distance.

She was slightly startled.

With the strength of the Dao Fusion Realm, it was easy to discern the wooden figure in the radiant light and the familiar aura that she had been thinking about day and night.

The old woman remained silent for a long time before suddenly showing a faint smile. "It's good."

Although the other party still refused to glance back, at least she had seen this figure again.

"What's good?"

Su Yuchang asked curiously in a low voice.

"I don't know." The Treasure Flower Immortal also lowered her voice, but her mind was clearly elsewhere.

"I heard that you've recently started managing the sect's affairs. Why not focus on cultivation first? Your cultivation level is a bit low." Su Yuchang's straightforwardness showed that their relationship was indeed good.

"I'll handle both. Anyway, I'm much younger than you."

The Treasure Flower Immortal glanced at her master beside her and quickly skipped over this topic, feeling a bit nervous.

She couldn't possibly say in front of her master that she wanted the sect's overseer to find someone for her, including this trip to attend the Seven Sons Assembly, which was also an opportunity to secretly slip out and see if the allied sect had found any news.

A young male cultivator with a handsome face and the strength of the Fifth Stage of Void Return should logically be well-known, but there was no information about him at all. It was so annoying.

"What's going on?"

The old woman retracted her gaze and looked up at the sky. She had already sensed the presence of many White Jade Capital cultivators but hadn't been in the mood to ask about it until now.

Now, seeing Xuan Qing again.

If the Southern Flood Seven Sons had any trouble, she wouldn't mind lending a hand.

"It's just a small matter. No need to trouble yourself." Su Hongxiu lightly nodded.

As soon as she finished speaking, figures appeared one after another in the sky, bowing respectfully to the Treasure Flower Sect Master: "We juniors have met the Treasure Flower Sect Master."

They were all high-ranking elders or direct disciples.

Their surface skills were undoubtedly impressive.

But as they quietly exchanged glances, ripples stirred in their hearts.

Many had already received the message and knew what had happened at Cloud Peak Pavilion.

The power of Shen Zongzhu seemed to be vastly different from what they understood.

How could a young cultivator who had left the sect for only a few months orchestrate such a grand event?

It was truly terrifying to think about.

With the support of three Daoists, this unowned Dao Fusion Realm treasure site seemed to be firmly in the other party's grasp.

The remaining task was to quickly reach the White Jade Capital before any unexpected incidents occurred.

Although it was equally challenging, compared to the previous situation, this was already considered perfect.

Many of the White Jade Capital cultivators had second thoughts, their hearts wavering with apprehension.

They recalled the earlier conversation between Liu Xingshan and the White Witch Daoist.

Could there be another side to the Cloud Peak Pavilion incident?

The more they considered it, the more it seemed like taking sides.

A group of radical Daoists planned to unite, intending to rectify the sect's discipline and, taking advantage of Shen Zongzhu's noble status, aimed to change the previous attitude between the Immortal Sect and the Dragon Palace.

This was no small matter, as Su Hongxiu had put it.

However, they dared not speak up, for many White Jade Capital cultivators had not even laid eyes on Shen Zongzhu until now.

They, too, were curious about what he was currently doing.

...

In Nan Hong, on a small island not far from Cloud Peak Pavilion.

Yan Xianqing held the array plate with a sense of helplessness. He had anticipated that Shen Zongzhu's use of this object would be extremely dangerous, and he had even prepared himself for the possibility of Shen Zongzhu's demise.

But he never imagined the danger would be this severe.

Shen Zongzhu quietly instructed him to investigate the direction and encampment locations of the departing Demon Soldiers and Generals.

"I will do my best to fulfill your command," Yan Xianqing sighed, walking towards the shore where a figure in an ink robe stood.

As the sea breeze blew, Shen Yi stood with his hands hanging down, his hair gently swaying. His fair and handsome face remained calm, but compared to the reckless and fierce demeanor from their previous meeting, he now seemed to exude a sense of composure in his eyes.

If not for his young age, he would have truly resembled the master of an Immortal Sect.

"Did you miss anything?" Shen Yi turned and took the jade slip from Yan Xianqing.

"There must be some omissions, as my cultivation is lower than theirs..." Yan Xianqing couldn't help but ask, "What exactly are you planning to do?"

Shen Zongzhu's calculations were flawless, and without showing himself, he had effortlessly resolved the Cloud Peak Pavilion crisis.

But strangely, after the incident, he rushed over and gave this bizarre order.

Yan Xianqing's heart suddenly trembled: "You're not planning to take me into the water to teach them a lesson, are you?"

As the words left his mouth, he saw Shen Yi shake his head, and he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

The next moment, Yan Laotou heard the youth's voice in his ear.

"I'm not taking you."

"..." Yan Xianqing was stunned, examining Shen Yi up and down.

Indeed, the composure and calmness were fake; the sect master was still the ruthless person who had come to the Yan family with Elder Liu and killed Ke Shisan without hesitation.

Such a cultivator would never tolerate the Dragon Palace's intrusion and leave unscathed.

But the one thing Yan Xianqing couldn't understand was that although Shen Zongzhu's aura had become much more powerful, he had clearly not yet broken through the Perfect Realm of Void Return.

Even with his exceptional talent and the Primordial Purple Qi in the Dao Palace, he was no match for the White Jade Capital Demons.

After all, the jade slip that Shen Zongzhu had asked him to investigate included the eight Great Demon Generals.

"Alright, go."

When Yan Xianqing heard Shen Zongzhu's words, he was still hesitating whether to make an excuse. He clenched his teeth, preparing to show that he wasn't a coward, and was about to follow when he saw Shen Yi's figure quickly disappear into the water.

"You're really not taking me?"

He was completely dumbfounded, rooted to the spot.

Was Shen Zongzhu looking for a fight or his death?

At the same time, beneath the slightly turbid waves.

Shen Yi casually pinched a spell.

【Nanyang Calming Technique (Rare): Perfection】

He had wasted the last two thousand years of his lifespan on this cultivation technique, specifically for the current situation.

Earlier, in the Concealed Law Pavilion's illusion, his strength hadn't changed significantly. With the help of Qin Zongzhu, he had simply memorized all the cultivation techniques of the Nanyang Sect.

In other words, if Shen Yi could endure the loneliness, he could now sit in the White Fog Chamber, repeatedly muttering, "Xuan Qing, you're here?"

No matter what Shen Yi asked for, he could quickly pick it out.

Aside from cultivation techniques, there was also a precious pearl used to store them.

Shen Yi closed his eyes, and in his sea of consciousness, he saw the green pearl suspended in front of the Dao Palace. Aside from its storage function, it seemed to possess mysterious properties.

However, he didn't know its specific effects.

After all, that old man was truly gone, even his last trace of illusion had dissipated, leaving no lingering thoughts for Senior Xuan Qing.

"The thing I regret the most is taking this disciple."

"But it was also the happiest moment of my life, as being a sect master is truly boring."

Even after witnessing that night's events.

Shen Yi still wasn't entirely clear about what had happened. He only knew that in Qin Zongzhu's eyes, a cultivator at the Dao Fusion Realm, he saw deep fear and sorrow.

It seemed the matter wasn't over yet.

"Let's take it one step at a time."

Shen Yi looked down at the watery domain, and he was truly in need of more lifespan.

His greatest advantage now was that he could quietly appear anywhere with four Great Demon Generals, each as formidable as two cities of the White Jade Capital, as his backup.

So, during the Seven Sons Assembly, he would have a hearty feast.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end