Chapter 246: 158、After this, you will be the whetstone for Xu Xing’s knife (4K words)_2
This was likely said with the intention of using the power and status of the Nascent Soul Daoist Lord to "oppress" Song Knife, a Dao Pill Daoist.
However, did Song Knife truly collude with the assassins from the Shadow Assassination Hall? Ren Yuanrui already had an answer in his heart.
The Divine Sense Communication between the two Dao Lords.
After ten thousand words were exchanged, only an incense stick’s time had passed in the outside world.
"Song Knife," Ren Yuanrui said, his eyelids slightly raised, "since you intended to force Xu Xing to avoid your blade’s edge for fifty years, for this crime, I sentence you: your cultivation will be sealed, and you will be imprisoned in Black Fire Prison for fifty years. Only after fifty years may you be released."
He deliberately ignored the first charge Giant Sword Daoist Monarch had mentioned earlier.
The first charge was that Song Knife had sought an Immortal Decree from Wangui Daoist to be issued by the Sect. Even though this was intended to suppress Xu Xing, the procedure itself was flawless. If this matter were overturned, many within the Sect would find themselves in jeopardy. Who hadn’t used their power for personal gain? They couldn’t afford to lose the bigger picture over a minor issue.
"Song Knife... I am willing to accept the punishment," he declared.
Prostrating on the ground, Song Knife felt a sliver of relief. Fifty years... for a Dao Pill Daoist like me, it’s merely a moment. This punishment isn’t severe!
"Regarding the third charge, your collusion with the Shadow Assassination Hall... However, considering your proactive confession and timely realization of your mistake, I shall also exercise discretion in your punishment." Ren Yuanrui’s lips curved slightly. "Hear my decree! From this day forward, Song Knife’s blood relative, Song Miyao, shall become Xu Xing’s concubine. Furthermore, Song Knife’s wealth within the Sect may be inherited by Xu Xing."
At these words, Song Knife’s expression changed drastically. He stared blankly, utterly aghast, as if plunged into an icy cellar.
He looked up, gazing despondently at the Dao Lords arrayed on the left and right sides of the hall, his expression one of dismay and helplessness.
"From now on..." Ren Yuanrui looked at Song Knife meaningfully. "You will be Xu Xing’s whetstone."
Then, with a flick of his horsetail whisk, he vanished from the Flying Immortal Hall.
The Dao Lords on the left and right sides of the hall exchanged salutes and then, they too, disappeared without a trace.
「Tianyun Mountain Range, Hangu Mountain」
This place was situated roughly in a basin, surrounded by level mountain terrain. Only this one steep and solitary mountain, Hangu Mountain, rose sharply, piercing the clouds. However, compared to the vast expanse of the Tianyun Mountain Range’s ten thousand peaks, this particular mountain seemed rather ordinary.
By the time Ruan Baimei, Gong Yuzhen, and the others arrived at Hangu Mountain, the House Elders piloting the Cloudbreaker Flying Boat had already been waiting for them for some time.
They stood quietly to one side, beginning to wait for the other disciples to arrive.
"Junior Brother Xu?" Kui Qi, seeing he was only the fifteenth to arrive at Hangu Mountain, felt a pang of disappointment. Looking around, he couldn’t find Xu Xing.
He should be behind us somewhere... Kui Qi mused, waiting patiently.
However, time passed, and even after half a day, Xu Xing had yet to appear.
Kui Qi was instantly puzzled. With Xu Xing’s Immortal Foundation Middle Stage cultivation, even if he couldn’t arrive at Hangu Mountain ahead of everyone, he shouldn’t be lagging this far behind.
At this moment, eighty-three True Disciples had arrived at Hangu Mountain; only Xu Xing was missing.
"May I ask Elder Tian," Kui Qi stepped forward, cupping his hands as he questioned him, "why hasn’t Xu Xing, the True Disciple from the Giant Sword Lineage, arrived at Hangu Mountain yet?"
House Elders had been monitoring the route from the Cloudbreaker Flying Boat’s landing site to Hangu Mountain. A living person had simply vanished. Kui Qi refused to believe that the few House Elders present had nothing to do with it.
"This matter..." Elder Tian stammered, unsure how to respond.
When he was monitoring Xu Xing’s route, he was called away by a friend on an urgent matter. While not strictly dereliction of duty, with a True Disciple missing, he still bore responsibility.
However, before he could formulate an excuse, a streak of cyan and red Escaping Light shot up from the foot of the mountain.
"Senior Brother Kui Qi, there’s no need to question Elder Tian," Xu Xing said, landing beside Kui Qi. "I merely encountered an assassination attempt by the Shadow Assassination Hall. Dealing with them took some effort."
He hadn’t wasted much time killing Bi Qing and the others. After the battle, he had been waiting for news from Giant Sword Daoist Monarch, hence his delay.
"An assassination attempt?" Elder Tian’s brow furrowed.
Those few words immediately brought to mind the internal power struggles within the Sect. However, as a mere minor House Elder, he lacked the power to intervene.
Since Xu True Disciple has arrived at Hangu Mountain... then... Elder Tian thought, intending to downplay the incident. The Shadow Assassination Hall assassins have been dealt with by Xu Xing. As long as we keep a lid on this and don’t let Xu Xing expose it, today’s events can be concealed, and the Sect won’t pursue accountability.
However, the next moment, Elder Tian was dumbfounded.
In the distance, several streaks of Escaping Light suddenly flashed past, moving with extreme speed. Moreover, the aura of the leader was intensely familiar to him: it was Zhongtai Dao Monarch, a Nascent Soul Daoist Lord from the Zhongtai Lineage within their Master and Disciple Lineage!
Ordinarily, the Sect wouldn’t dispatch additional personnel to the Hangu Mountain Secret Realm. Zhongtai Dao Monarch’s arrival this time was likely deeply connected to Xu Xing’s assassination attempt.
「 」
Upon his arrival, Zhongtai Dao Monarch did not directly question the few House Elders piloting the Cloudbreaker Flying Boat. He merely gave them a few profound glances. Then, taking the Array Disk from their hands, he opened the entrance to the Hangu Mountain Secret Realm.
The eighty-three True Disciples bowed respectfully to Zhongtai Dao Monarch, then, with flashes of Escaping Light, entered the Secret Realm. Xu Xing mingled among them, entering the Hangu Mountain Cave as well.
"Tian Pijiang," Zhongtai Dao Monarch began his leisurely interrogation of Elder Tian only after the entrance to the Hangu Mountain Secret Realm had closed, "do you know your crime?"
An encounter with assassins from the Shadow Assassination Hall was a failure on the Sect’s part. Concerned about the potential repercussions, Zhongtai Dao Monarch hadn’t immediately interrogated Elder Tian and the others, waiting until the True Disciples had entered the Secret Realm.
"Dao Monarch, what crime... have I committed?" Elder Tian asked, gritting his teeth and bracing himself. This time, although he had "left his post," it wasn’t dereliction of duty; he was diverted by official business. If even this constituted a crime, then accusations Under the Sky could be made far too easily.
"The safety of a First-class genuine transmission," Zhongtai Dao Monarch said lightly, "takes precedence over any official duties you may have!"
At these words, Elder Tian’s face turned ashen. He was aware of this Flying Feather Immortal Palace statute, but it was generally not invoked against House Elders. Besides, he had only been gone a short while, a gamble he had taken.
Now, Zhongtai Dao Monarch was using this statute to hold him accountable. This meant that those who wanted him dead were far more numerous than just Zhongtai Dao Monarch. More influential powers were involved behind the scenes.
Being charged with a different offense might have offered him a chance of survival. This charge, however, left no room for debate.
"I... admit my guilt!" Elder Tian cried, collapsing to the ground.
「 」
The Hangu Mountain Secret Realm was a Cave Mansion, and also a suspected tomb – that of the late Divine Illusion Saint Monarch.
Upon entering, Xu Xing saw only a dilapidated ancient palace perched on a precipice. Outside the palace, the ground was barren, like scorched earth, not a single blade of grass in sight. The dilapidated ancient palace obscured the view behind the cliff.
"It’s the White Bone Wilderness Palace," the veiled Gong Yuzhen, who was beside him, said. "According to the Sect’s Classics, upon entering the Hangu Mountain Secret Realm, one will be transported by the Arranged Array of the Divine Illusion Saint Monarch to thirteen different locations: Death Ridge, Solitary Tomb Courtyard, Blood Blade Stack, Abyssal Ancient Gold Pond, and so on."
"The White Bone Wilderness Palace is ranked as the second most dangerous. However, in the Hangu Mountain Secret Realm, danger and opportunity coexist; the more dangerous the place, the greater the potential fortuitous encounters."
After speaking, Gong Yuzhen’s beautiful eyes swept over Xu Xing, who had been transported here with her. "The Divine Illusion Saint Monarch was a venerable Senior. He didn’t establish these thirteen dire locations to kill people. Therefore, those transported to more dangerous locations are correspondingly stronger in cultivation."
She knew of Xu Xing. Just as they were entering the Hangu Mountain Secret Realm, a Gong Family True Lord accompanying Zhongtai Dao Monarch had sent her a mental message, urging her to befriend Xu Xing at all costs and to renew efforts to reconcile the enmity between the Gong Family and the Giant Sword Lineage.
Furthermore, this Gong Family True Lord had specifically instructed her that if she could win Xu Xing’s favor, she could even become his spouse, with the Family’s full support.
The enmity between the Giant Sword Lineage and their Gong Family Third Branch was common knowledge throughout the Flying Feather Immortal Palace. The Gong Family’s shift from prior arrogance to current deference deeply intrigued Gong Yuzhen. What could have happened in these few several days to make the Gong Family change its stance so drastically?