Chapter 332: Chapter 166: Ascending Mount Emei Again

The night was subtly astir.

In the grand hall of the Qingcheng Sect, long since repaired and now more magnificent than ever, Sect Leader Master Weichen faced the Statue of the Three Pristine Ones, stroking his beard in silent contemplation.

A moment later, six Daoists filed in together.

"Sect Leader!"

"Weiyun, you have managed the Qingcheng Sect well recently. I see our disciples are full of vigor. Excellent."

The old Daoist with white hair and beard, standing foremost among the group, bowed solemnly and replied, "It is merely my duty, Senior Brother. It is all thanks to you, Sect Leader, for your strategic planning and foresight."

"Mm. The current Sect Leader of the Qingcheng Sword Sect is quite decisive, to abandon such a vast enterprise and extricate himself."

Master Weichen’s eyes narrowed slightly. His square face was framed by sharp, sword-like brows, giving him an intimidating aura of natural authority.

In contrast, Master Weiyun, standing below, looked more like a true enlightened Daoist.

"However, since he chose to abandon it, he should abandon it completely. They should no longer use the ’Qingcheng’ part of their name."

"Weiyun, you will handle this matter."

"Yes, Sect Leader!"

Master Weiyun bowed in acceptance.

’The idle clouds’ reflection in the pool marks the slow passing of days... The world turns, the stars shift, how many autumns have gone by? Before I knew it, more than five hundred years had passed. Fortunately, this mountain still looks just as the Grand Founder described it...’

After muttering these lines, Master Weichen flicked his sleeve. A stream of purple energy soared into the air, suddenly imbued with vast True Qi. It shot through the entire grand hall and burst outside.

This purple energy was immensely powerful. Outside the hall, it gathered and expanded, growing until it was several hundred meters tall.

"The Sect Leader’s divine might is boundless! It is destiny that our Qingcheng Sect shall rise!"

Everyone was overjoyed and bowed in unison. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

At that moment, far below on a mountain road beside a cliff on Qingcheng Mountain, a traveler had pulled over to relieve himself. He suddenly sensed a brilliant purple light flaring up above him and couldn’t help but look up.

A single glance was so shocking, he immediately held it in.

’What is that?’

He hurriedly backed away, trying to get a clearer view.

As he was looking for a spot to get a better look, people from other passing cars also started getting out to gaze at the phenomenon from afar.

"Holy shit, is that a Daoist’s true form? Our ancestors weren’t lying, there really are powerful Daoist masters!"

"It’s probably a drone light show. You’re making a big deal out of nothing. And here I thought it was something special!"

"What do you know? What drone show would be way up on Qingcheng Mountain? Who’d be flying them just for fun? This is the age of the Martial Dao; visions like this happen all the time."

"This must be a Martial Dao master manifesting a Martial Art!"

As more and more people stopped to watch, many began to take out their phones to record.

But before they could film for long, the vision vanished with a SWOOSH, leaving no trace behind. Only the mist-shrouded mountain peak remained, as black as ink.

「The next day.」

In a side room on the rear mountain of the Qingcheng Sect.

"Reporting to the Elder, there are no powerful martial artists among those left in the Qingcheng Sword Sect. According to this disciple’s inquiries, the former Sect had two powerful experts, both of whom had reached the Grandmaster Realm. One was named Yun Hao, skilled in the Thunderbolt Sword Technique. His talent was considerable, and on that day, he exchanged over a hundred bouts with our senior brothers before being defeated."

"There was another, but he was not on the mountain that day. It’s said he was conscripted and joined the military!"

"Oh? And what of this person?"

"According to the disciples in our temple, his Martial Arts are peerless. No one knows the depths of his abilities, only that he was the one who resolved several of the Qingcheng Sword Sect’s past crises."

"Mm. If there are any new developments, report them immediately."

"You are dismissed!"

The Elder waved his hand, dismissing the disciple.

"Senior Brother Cangwu, it seems nine times out of ten, the man from Li Mountain is the one who damaged your Divine Soul that day. The despicable little thief!"

In the side room, another person spoke in a low voice to the white-bearded old Daoist seated in the main position.

"It must be him."

A sharp glint flashed through Cangwu Taoist’s eyes, but he said aloud, "A mere junior who doesn’t understand the mysteries of our Qingcheng Divine Skill. Ignorance is no sin, after all. However, we must still do our best to complete the task assigned by the Sect Leader."

The person seated below understood immediately. He knew his Senior Brother Cangwu’s words held a hidden meaning—he planned to use a public duty to settle a private score.

’Since the Sect Leader wants the Qingcheng Sword Sect to remove ’Qingcheng’ from their name, what if they don’t agree?’

’If they become agitated and a fight breaks out, some casualties will naturally be unavoidable.’

’And outsiders couldn’t accuse Cangwu of being petty.’

"Go! Our Qingcheng Sect is one of the most renowned Major Martial Arts Sects in the world. Don’t let people think we can’t tolerate a tiny Qingcheng Sword Sect."

"Yes, Senior Brother! This disciple will see to it at once!"

The Daoist rose to his feet, bowed in acceptance, and then turned and left the room.

...

"Sect Leader! Sect Leader!"

At the Daoist Temple on the peak of Iron Anvil Mountain, a young Daoist ran quickly to the front of Yu Zhengnan’s house, shouting loudly.

"What’s with all the panic? Show some decorum!"

Yu Zhengnan stepped out of the room and asked with a frown.

"Someone from the Emei Sect called! They’re inviting you and the two Elders to go to Mount Emei in five days to discuss the future of the Martial Arts world in Sichuan Province!"

"Who else will be attending?"

"They didn’t say."

"Mm, I understand."

Yu Zhengnan nodded, his brow furrowed slightly. ’The Emei Sect has been quiet for so long, and now they’re making a move again.’

’He didn’t actually want to go.’

’We’re so few and weak. If we attend, we’ll just be cannon fodder. What’s the point?’

’Besides, there’s Gui Xu Qing City. How are we supposed to act when we see them there?’

"Decline for me!"

Yu Zhengnan said with a heavy heart.

"But..."

"But what?"

Yu Zhengnan asked with a frown.

"The Emei Sect said you absolutely must attend. They said there are matters concerning the Qingcheng Sword Sect, and that the Court will also be sending someone."

Yu Zhengnan was silent for a moment, then waved his hand to dismiss the disciple. He let out a long sigh. "What’s coming will come. I’ve already retreated this far... isn’t that enough?!"

He paced for a moment, then turned and left the room.

About ten minutes later, Yu Zhengnan reached the cliffs on the rear mountain. He looked up toward a clearing on the cliff’s edge, a place of jagged, bizarre rocks.