Chapter Forty-Six: Under Suspicion
Treasure Vault of Qu’nan City.
The gentle radiance of moonstones poured across the ground.
Luo Yingying followed the disciples of the Second Squad as they tidied up the aftermath, the worry on her face growing more pronounced.
“Senior Brother Wu, could you finish up here for me? I need to go ask about Junior Sister Qu’s whereabouts.”
Wu Qiu responded without hesitation, “Go ahead, Junior Sister. I’ll handle this area for you.”
A smile broke across Luo Yingying’s face. “Thank you, Senior Brother!”
She extended her divine sense, and before long found Chi Yushu.
“Senior Brother Chi, have you seen Junior Sister Qu in the city?” Luo Yingying asked directly.
Chi Yushu’s gaze was tranquil as still water. With a turn of his hand, he produced a water mirror, his voice warm and clear.
“No need to worry, Junior Sister Luo. Junior Sister Qu is faring far better than any of us could have imagined.”
Luo Yingying froze for a moment, not understanding his meaning. But as she accepted the water mirror, she immediately saw Qu Yiqiu’s name ranked impressively at tenth place.
“H-how did Junior Sister Qu manage that?!” Luo Yingying stammered in astonishment.
The Thirteen Squads sent by the Celestial Evolution Sect each numbered at least a thousand disciples. Though their cultivation varied, most were more gifted and older than Qu Yiqiu.
Not to mention, every peak’s chief disciples and elite students were participating—the competition was fierce beyond measure.
Yet under such circumstances, Qu Yiqiu had surpassed the chief disciples of several peaks to squeeze into the top ten. It was truly hard to believe.
No wonder Luo Yingying’s reaction was so flustered.
Chi Yushu retrieved the water mirror, his slender, fair fingers gently tracing its surface.
“Perhaps Uncle Mo entrusted all his true teachings to Junior Sister Qu. Her strength may be far greater than we’ve seen.”
Luo Yingying closed her gaping mouth, clicking her tongue softly. “Junior Sister Qu’s master is truly remarkable!”
Hearing this, Chi Yushu lifted his gaze to the distant horizon.
“Uncle Mo is a genius without equal. Any disciple he teaches is bound to excel.”
All the more so, since Uncle Mo was a master of alchemy as well. No doubt, when Junior Sister Qu boldly swallowed the Foundation Establishment Pill, it was because Uncle Mo could stabilize her meridians with his alchemy.
Seven days later, instead of diminishing, the number of demon cultivators increased.
Beyond the demonic cultivators of the Supreme Sage Sect, who had long since revealed themselves, other sects of the demonic path arrived to muddy the waters.
They were all shrouded in black robes, making it impossible to distinguish which forces backed them.
Celestial Evolution Sect, Little Peace Peak.
Zhou Chen made his way as usual from the foot of the mountain to the spirit fields, now with several disciples sent by the Hall of Discipline accompanying him.
Zhao Wen and Huang Lan, torn between envy and admiration, seized every chance to strike up conversation with Zhou Chen.
All the disciples knew Mo Qingli had stolen a Nine-Colored Deer from the Profound Truth Sect; Zhao Wen and Huang Lan were no exception.
They schemed to sneak up the mountain to find Mo Qingli and learn more about the deer while Zhou Chen was distracted.
Huang Lan cast a Rain of Spirit Art, her eyes darting as she pressed a Concealment Talisman to her body, then made her way toward the small wooden hut Zhou Chen had built.
Zhao Wen discreetly covered for her, forming one spirit rain after another with rapid hand seals.
Huang Lan crept beneath the hut’s window, slowly extending her divine sense to scout within.
When she discovered Zhou Chen was deep in meditation, her face lit up with delight.
Turning, she signaled to Zhao Wen, beaming as she hurried up the mountain.
Watching her go, Zhao Wen quickly tossed out a slip of paper, transforming into Huang Lan’s likeness—though this Huang Lan was vacant-eyed and spiritless, as if her soul had left her body.
Inside the hut, Zhou Chen opened his eyes, swept the area with his divine sense, confirmed Zhao Wen and Huang Lan were both at work, then withdrew his awareness and continued cultivating.
Little Peace Peak, mountaintop cave residence.
Huang Lan cautiously observed the restriction at the cave entrance. After a few hesitant moments, she called out.
“Is Peak Master Mo here? I’m Huang Lan, a new servant disciple, and I have some questions about tending the spirit fields.”
As soon as she finished, the restriction vanished and the cave doors swung wide open.
Joy surged through Huang Lan. She hadn’t expected entry to be so simple—she’d thought Peak Master Mo was reclusive and eccentric, unlikely to see anyone!
Elated, she stepped inside, but before she could speak, a strange rune shot into her body, instantly paralyzing her.
“P-Peak Master Mo…”
She struggled to utter those three words, but could say no more.
Mo Qingli descended calmly from the stone bed, carrying the Nine-Colored Deer in his arms.
“Apologies, but I must leave at once.”
In that instant, Huang Lan understood what the rune was.
The sect, intent on watching and safeguarding Mo Qingli, had placed a tracking seal on him. If he dared leave Little Peace Peak, the seal would immediately trigger an alarm.
Mo Qingli gently stroked the deer’s antlers, set it down, and vanished in a flash.
Unable to move, Huang Lan could only watch helplessly as Mo Qingli escaped before her eyes.
“Zhao Wen, help! Mo Qingli is gone—we’re doomed! The sect master will never forgive me!”
Tears streaming down her face, Huang Lan was gripped with terror. She had never imagined Mo Qingli could transfer the tracking seal, making her his scapegoat!
She couldn’t fathom how the sect master would punish them once this became known.
She had thought that after enduring three months as a servant, she would finally win her freedom. But with Mo Qingli’s maneuver, all her hopes were utterly shattered!
Save me, Senior Sister Youyou—save me, Zhao Wen—come back, Peak Master Mo!
Wuwuwu!
The Nine-Colored Deer glanced around in confusion, lowered its head, sniffed, and wandered out towards the entrance.
…
Celestial Evolution Sect, Nine Swords Peak.
Violet Canopy Palace.
Luo Tangyu moved with lightning speed, weaving through layers of formations and restrictions to stand at the very heart of the palace.
Su Xichen sat with relaxed elegance, draped in a purple robe trimmed with silver openwork clouds, a priceless gold-threaded jade belt at his waist. His black hair was neatly tied and fixed with a white jade and purple gold crown. His presence was commanding, his features cold and severe.
Luo Tangyu mused that Su Xichen’s bearing was in no way inferior to Mo Qingli’s.
Fate had placed them in the same sect, of the same generation, disciples of the same master.
Two peerless talents, set against each other—who would emerge victorious, and who would fall? It was a question to stir regret in any heart.
Su Xichen’s slender, fair fingers moved slightly. On the table, the eight-petaled purple clay lotus teapot rose soundlessly and poured steaming tea into its matching cup.
“I hear the Great Wheel of Samsara technique that appeared in Qu’nan City has yet to be found?”
His tone was indifferent. With a casual wave, the eight-petaled purple clay lotus teacup floated steadily toward Luo Tangyu.
Luo Tangyu sipped the fragrant tea; clarity and calm flooded his mind.
“Yes. That elusive, incomplete technique—no one knows who snatched it away. According to that girl Jiang Shuangyan, some unknown force infiltrated Qu’nan City, and she suspects the technique was stolen by a female cultivator of strange cultivation.”
Su Xichen’s expression remained unmoved.
“Jiang Shuangyan’s words can be believed to some extent. But what is the truth? Have you learned anything, Sect Master Luo?”
Luo Tangyu subconsciously stroked his chin, pondering aloud. “Even the Jiang family, a great clan, couldn’t help Jiang Shuangyan track down the technique. Perhaps it’s true that an unknown force slipped into the city. I had people verify Jiang Shuangyan’s account, and it does seem that, just as she said, the incomplete technique was stolen by a female cultivator of peculiar power.”