Cultivation: Fortune by Lots-Chapter 584 - 272. Return the property to its rightful owner, repay the debt with one’s life (Two Chapters combined)_2

Chapter 584: 272. Return the property to its rightful owner, repay the debt with one’s life (Two Chapters combined)_2

Lei Jun stood by, listening quietly.

Supreme Elder Wei Qiyue, a venerable senior from the previous generation of the Mount Shu Sect, held a higher status even than Chen Donglou and Wang Dongchu.

In terms of the Celestial Master’s Mansion, she was of the same generation as Li Song and others.

Also, as one of Mount Shu’s most renowned Eighth Heavenly Layer elders, her influence was significant in terms of both seniority and strength.

Now it seemed she had her own agenda.

Shangguan Sheng said, "Then, back on Snow Dragon Mountain, didn’t Chu Sheren face Wang Dongchu, Wei Qiyue, and Gu Han of the Alchemy Cauldron Sect at the same time?"

"At that time," Chu Yu said, "they wanted to divert the calamity eastward, framing Chen Donglou to shift the focus of the Imperial Court’s pursuit and thus downplay the matter. Only my arrival at Snow Dragon Mountain thwarted their wishful thinking."

Chu Yu had begun to suspect Wei Qiyue, who had accompanied her at that time.

However, she kept it to herself, only covertly discussing it with Shangguan Yunbo at the time.

It wasn’t until escorting Liao Jie and Mo Chen back north, and after further confirmation, that they were sure Supreme Elder Wei Qiyue of Mount Shu was indeed a core member of the Mortal Tao Country, just like Wang Dongchu.

This discovery also confirmed Chu Yu’s suspicions that the situation in Mount Shu was more precarious than anticipated.

Therefore, without waiting to reach Mount Shu, they took action ahead of time and captured Wei Qiyue.

Although Shangguan Yunbo was pursuing Wang Dongchu deep into the southwest land, Chu Yu secretly contacted other masters to jointly lay an ambush for Wei Qiyue.

In the Xiao Xiang Region, a bloodline of the Great Tang’s Founding Emperor—the lineage of the Prince of Xiang—had been passed down. The current Prince Xiang, Zhang Luo, personally took action. Together with Zhang Dongyuan, who had left Mount Shu early with the Blue Abyss Sword to meet up, they joined forces with Chu Yu to aim for the capture of Wei Qiyue.

But then, the situation completely spiraled out of control.

The good news was that Wei Qiyue was of much greater significance than Liao Jie, even more so than Wang Dongchu, leading to the involvement of bigger players.

And not just one.

The bad news was that the big fish were truly substantial.

Fu Dongsen.

The current Sect Leader of Mount Shu!

Under his leadership, the Mount Shu Sect began to interact more with the outside world, becoming more worldly, and even increasing their contact with the Tang Imperial Court.

That massive internal conflict years ago was started for this very reason.

Now it appeared that the real purpose of that conflict was not only to eliminate dissenters but also to arrange for some affiliates to move into the shadows, facilitating their activities outside all year round.

Hong Jie.

To many of the younger generation of cultivators, this name was extremely unfamiliar; even within the Mount Shu Sect itself, she was as legendary as an ancient ancestor.

She was the senior with the highest standing within the current Mount Shu Sect, ranking even above Wei Qiyue, Xu Duan, and the rest.

Fu Dongsen, Zhang Dongyuan, and others would have to address her respectfully as their Martial Grand-aunt.

Zhang Taigang, Liao Jie, Ji Chuan, and others would have to address her as their Martial Great-Grand-aunt.

Due to her advanced age, Hong Jie had been living a life of seclusion in recent years, barely involved with world affairs, spending most of her time in deep cultivation within the subterranean Qingxiao Manor of Mount Shu.

Even during that great internal conflict of the past, she did not participate, resembling the reclusive elders like Lin Jian and Lin Zhan of the Jiangzhou Lin Clan.

Looking back now, Hong Jie’s neutrality during that conflict seemed to carry a different implication. However... Hong Jie, Wei Qiyue, Fu Dongsen, Wang Dongchu, Liao Jie... Lei Jun was somewhat speechless for a moment.

Without considering others, just these names alone covered the highest positions and seniority within Mount Shu, ensnaring the old, middle-aged, and young generations in one swoop. Apart from the Mortal Tao Country’s vision that was not convenient to publicize outright, could it be that they represented the mainstream opinion of Mount Shu today? It was not easy to say who the insider participating in the Mortal Tao Country’s development within Mount Shu was, right? Perhaps it would be more appropriate to refer to Zhang Dongyuan, Xu Duan, Zhang Taigang, He Dongxing, Ji Dongquan, and others as the Mount Shu Sect’s own pro-Tang faction?

Shen Qubing and Shangguan Sheng were equally astonished.

"Great General, what’s the situation now?" Shen Qubing urgently asked.

Shangguan Yunbo replied, "We are returning north immediately. As for the traitor Wang Dongchu, we will have to let him go for the time being."

As they set out, he continued, "Hong Jie has always occupied Qingxiao Manor, while Fu Dongsen, as the Sect Leader of Mount Shu, directly controls the Taiyi Primordial Tower. They anticipated our moves and took initiative, seizing the North Abyss Divine Spear and the South Bright Separation Fire Cauldron, even injuring Taoist Xu Duan."

With the exception of the lost Ziwei Sword, of the six great treasures of Mount Shu, only the Blue Abyss Sword remained in Zhang Dongyuan’s hands.

The news also mentioned that cultivators like Gu Han from the Alchemy Cauldron Sect had arrived at Mount Shu.

"His Majesty is in Guanzhong. Will he personally journey south? I’m not sure if there’s enough time..." Shangguan Sheng furrowed his brows.

Shangguan Yunbo’s face was expressionless, but his tone slightly fluctuated. "Before I left for the south this time, His Majesty had already made corresponding arrangements, specifically to prevent the Shu region from losing control... Chief Fang of Jingxiang has come forth from seclusion."

Shangguan Sheng suddenly fell silent.

Shen Qubing looked surprised.

Lei Jun appeared contemplative.

Shangguan Yunbo added, "Chief Fang has been devoted to intense study for many years, overcoming the Heavenly Moat Tribulation between the Eighth and Ninth Heavenly Layers. He has successfully reached the Ninth Heavenly Layer realm of the Confucian Sect’s aspiration to pacify the world. He previously went to Guanzhong in secret to have an audience with His Majesty... Other clans have also sent representatives."

Shen Qubing was amazed. "The sun is rising from the west?"

Shangguan Yunbo said, "Times change; the world is unpredictable."

Shen Qubing was even more puzzled.

It wasn’t just because the North and South Lin Clans and the Jinzhou Ye Clan had previously suffered heavy losses... Lei Jun thought.

Another major upheaval was the emergence of the Xumi Vajra Sect from the Western Regions.

Rumor had it that the Xumi Vajra Sect, departing from the low-key style of Vajra Temple, became extremely proactive and started contacting the Tang Imperial Court.

While they presented a respectful and enthusiastic demeanor, there was also an implicit aggressive stance, and they were feverish about spreading their teachings and converting others.

Although they had not yet shown obvious aggressiveness, the various Confucian families, with their keen sense of smell, became alert at the first moment.