Daoist Master Ironcloud collapsed, his life force fading away. A Nepenthe powerhouse met his end here.
That was the sect master of the Sublime Bright Sect, a daoist master of Daoism, but he still died, died at the hands of the Warden.
However, he indeed had compelling reasons for his demise, whether was it the earlier abduction of those Great Liang Dynasty's commoners, the wanton killing of the former Rainwater Commandery's warden, or sending people to assassinate Chen Chao, the current warden. Each of these actions could be conducted in secrecy. But once exposed, became completely untenable.
Moreover, in this world, things were not just a matter of right or wrong; considering the benefits and price, they were all very important factors
Yun Jianyue looked at the fallen body and was silent for a long time without speaking.
If the foreign cultivators wanted to prevent the Great Liang Dynasty from killing people, they had the means to do so. But, they did not do anything, not because they could not do anything, but because if they did not do anything, it would yield them more benefits.
For example, right now, there would definitely be prominent figures from the various major sects outside the mountain. They could have reached this place long ago, yet they remained outside, with no intention of entering.
They were waiting for the outcome too.
Waiting for the Great Liang Dynasty to resolve this matter.
Then, they would come here.
The Warden took a look at Yun Jianyue, beckoned his hands, and the broken saber tore through the air and arrived. The Warden pointed and it landed neatly into Chen Chao's scabbard.
Chen Chao put away the fallen piece of paper before checking on Yu Xiyi's injuries.
This young sword cultivator's injuries were far more severe than his.
Yu Xiyi struggled to rise, his expression very ugly. With a slight thought, Wild Grass swept over, falling by his side. He appeared somewhat drained as he cast a fleeting glance at the nearby corpse. Yu Xiyi furrowed his brows and asked, "Why did you kill him?'"
Chen Chao said expressionlessly, "If he didn't die, I'd be dead."
Yu Xiyi might not know about the circumstances before, but how could Chen Chao not know? If he did not do something, Yu Xiyi would probably be preparing to burn incense paper for him by now.
Yu Xiyi frowned and said, "What I mean is, if you kill him, who should I kill then?"
Chen Chao raised his head and said with a frown, "When will the day come when you can kill him?"
"Ten years, at most ten years, and I'll be able to slaughter him."
There was a hint of gloominess between Yu Xiyi's brows, but it disappeared in an instant. He had great confidence in himself and believed that he would reach the Nepenthe Realm within a decade.
Chen Chao remained silent. If it were anyone else, he probably would not believe it. But when it came to this person in front of him, he would not doubt it.
Chen Chao patted his chest and said with a smile, "There's one thing I have to thank you for. If you hadn't refused that piece of paper, I might be dead. Consider it saving my life."
Yu Xiyi said disdainfully, "Don't pin such trivial matters on me, it's disgusting."
Chen Chao opened his mouth but could not say anything in the end. He just felt a bit helpless.
"I'm leaving."
Yu Xiyi took back Wild Grass, his expression improving. He was about to say goodbye.
Chen Chao frowned and said, "There will clearly be a great opportunity here if you wait a while. Aren't you going to take a look?"
Although Yu Xiyi was alone and unlikely to have his sect's elders come here, given his relationship with Chen Chao, how could he not get a share later on?
Yu Xiyi knew that Chen Chao was referring to that ancient ruin. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Is that ancient relic an ancient sword sect?"
Chen Chao thought about it seriously, then shook his head and said, "No."
"In that case, why should I stay here?"
Yu Xiyi wore an air of nonchalance and then casually turned away.
Previously, in that cave abode, he had seen so many precious treasures, not to mention this page of unknown origin, destined to be no ordinary paper. None of them could move him. Now, this so-called ancient ruin was naturally not going to change this young sword cultivator's mind either.
"What about your injuries?"
Chen Chao was still a little concerned.
"I won't die."
Yu Xiyi furrowed his brow, wanting to say something. But in the end, he did not say anything and descended the mountain.
The Warden saw Yu Xiyi leaving and then opened his mouth to say, "This sword cultivator, he's pleasing to my eye."
The foreign cultivators and those from the Great Liang Dynasty had long maintained a tacit understanding not to cross each other's paths, making it unusual to hear such sentiments now.
Chen Chao nodded in agreement. Throughout his journey with Yu Xiyi, he gained a deeper understanding of this young sword cultivator. In the end, he also felt that Yu Xiyi was really good.
Someone to build a close friendship with.
The Warden smiled but refrained from saying anything more, choosing instead to look ahead.
That Daoist Master Ironcloud had died and it might have seemed like the end of the matter. But things were not over, it was just beginning.
……
……
In this world, there are no secrets that remain hidden for long. News of Daoist Master Ironcloud's demise quickly spread. Many daoists on the mountain fell into great panic. Only that Sheng Yingfeng exuded some joy amidst his sorrow.
"Who killed Master?! I'll definitely seek justice!"
His voice trembled slightly, carrying a different implication.
But he soon could not speak anymore, because one oppressive aura after another appeared in the sky before his eyes. Streaks of brilliant light appeared. These powerful auras enveloped the entire Sublime Bright Mountain.
Sensing these formidable auras, Sheng Yingfeng stood in the wind, somewhat disheveled. It was unknown what he was thinking, but his expression became very ugly.
He did not understand why so many big shots would come to the Sublime Bright Mountain today. He only knew that if his master's death was related to these people, then no matter who it was, himself included, they probably could not do anything.
As he thought about the words he had just spoken, Sheng Yingfeng's face lost all trace of color.
Fortunately, those big shots were currently in the sky and had no intention of landing. But even so, they instilled great fear in the foreign cultivators in the mountains.
"Fellow Daoists, let's convene in the main hall."
The Warden's voice sounded out.
This peerless martial artist of the Great Liang Dynasty had appeared before the main hall at some point. The figure standing there appeared particularly striking. Even when facing those big shots in the sky, he showed no fear.
A voice came from the clouds, "Lord Warden, killing Daoist Master Ironcloud like this, I'm afraid it doesn't quite align with the laws of Great Liang, does it?"
That voice was akin to thunder, a little stern and tinged with anger.
The Warden remained expressionless and said calmly, "That Daoist Master Ironcloud wanted to kill an official of my Great Liang, how can I turn a blind eye?!"
"Then, what is the reason behind Lord Warden crushing the Sublime Bright Mountain's mountain gate formation unprovoked?!"
Voices continued to emerge from the clouds, clearly coming from more than one person. But they remained hidden in the clouds, leaving their identities uncertain.
The Warden sneered and said, "The Sublime Bright Sect murdered the previous Warden of Rainwater Commandery, and kidnapped our Great Liang citizens. The evidence is irrefutable. What more reason do we need?"
In truth, evidence was the most useless concept. When one had power, they could explain anything away. When one lacked power, even if they had the clearest evidence, no one would look at it.
Sure enough, after the Warden said this, the voices in the clouds fell silent, and no one spoke. Actually, how could this matter be concealed?
"Even so, it seems like Lord Warden has gone a bit too far,"
This was already showing weakness.
The Warden did not speak. At this point, he did not need to talk anymore.
"Please, Fellow Daoists, let's convene in the main hall."
Although this was not one of the official bureaus of the Great Liang Dynasty, with the Warden making this request at this moment, no one dared to say anything. Everyone was very silent. The daoists were terrified, how could they dare to say anything? Listening to the conversation among these big shots, they knew that their past deeds had been found out by people.
Those deeds, once brought into the light, would surely lead to major problems.
The Warden walked toward the main hall. No daoists dared to stop him.
Chen Chao took a look. Then, he turned to look elsewhere.
Yun Jianyue was standing in the distance.
A daoist in green robes appeared by his side, seemingly from nowhere.
Yun Jianyue glanced at him and bowed seriously, "Greetings, Martial Uncle."
This time, the Temple Master naturally would not come personally. But, the Infatuation Daoist Temple could not avoid sending someone. The daoist in front of him was the representative.
With such a major matter, how could they only have a young man like Yun Jianyue presiding over it?
The daoist in green robes nodded and asked, "Did you find anything?"
Yun Jianyue thought about it and began recounting what he saw and heard on the mountain. Starting from when he first encountered Chen Chao and Yu Xiyi, all the way to the Warden punching Daoist Master Ironcloud to death with one punch.
"Is that young martial cultivator truly so remarkable?"
The daoist in green robes was not very interested in the rest but seemed intrigued by Chen Chao. "After Song Changxi's defeat, the daoist temple sent someone to investigate his intel and found that this person is very interesting. Although it appears he grew up by the Wei River, it seems there's more to him than meets the eye."
Yun Jianyue replied, "I also find this person unusual. Although he's young, he's remarkably composed. Most people his age can't compare, even more so in battle. I heard he killed demons for two years in Wei Prefecture. It was probably honed during that time."
The daoist in green robes lamented, "That's right, it should be this way. In recent years, the Great Liang Dynasty has produced many talents, coupled with the appearance of a formidable ruler. This world is no longer as ordinary as it used to be."
Yun Jianyue furrowed his brows slightly but did not engage in this topic. Instead, he asked, "Martial Uncle, may I go down the mountain now?"
He had climbed the mountain because of a letter from the Temple Master, but the letter did not mention any further arrangements.
The daoist in green robes shook his head and said, "How can it be that simple? The matter isn't resolved yet. Wait a little longer, once there's a conclusion, I'll inform you."
Yun Jianyue nodded and stopped talking.
Only then, did the daoist in green robes walk towards the main hall.
Soon, he arrived in the main hall.
Seeing this daoist in green, the cultivators who had previously entered the hall stood up one by one to greet him. Cultivators from the same Daoism lineage even greeted him with smiles, saying, "Greetings, Daoist Brother."
The daoist in green was a great sage with a profound cultivation realm to begin with. Coupled with that he was also from the Infatuation Daoist Temple, how could anyone dare to underestimate him?
Hence, the hall was soon filled with laughter.
Only the Warden, who had been sitting at the main seat, remained very calm.
Only when the hall had quieted down somewhat, did the Warden say, "Now that the Grand Daoist has arrived, we can begin."
The daoist in green robes smiled and said, "My apologies for keeping the Warden waiting."
The two exchanged a glance, both hiding deep emotions in their eyes.
The Warden looked at the daoist in green, the daoist in green also looked at him.
Although there were quite a number of people present, there were actually just a small handful of people who truly held authority. Among these scanty few, this daoist in green represented Daoism, his authority was naturally immense.
In some sense, one could even say that this daoist in green could represent the cultivation world, while the Warden represented the Great Liang Dynasty.
Something would likely be happening again between the two of them.
In a corner, an elderly monk with white eyebrows suddenly stood up, his face filled with compassion. "This old monk just heard the cries of many tormented souls on the mountain. I truly can't bear it and would like to go and pray for their salvation."
The Warden looked at this monk from the Deercry Monastery and nodded.
The relationship between the Great Liang Dynasty and the Deercry Monastery had always been good. Moreover, this white-browed monk was the junior brother of that Nation Teacher, so the Warden naturally had no intention of stopping him.
However, when he thought of that Nation Teacher, a hint of melancholy also appeared on the Warden's face.
Daoist Master Ironcloud collapsed, his life force fading away. A Nepenthe powerhouse met his end here.
That was the sect master of the Sublime Bright Sect, a daoist master of Daoism, but he still died, died at the hands of the Warden.
However, he indeed had compelling reasons for his demise, whether was it the earlier abduction of those Great Liang Dynasty's commoners, the wanton killing of the former Rainwater Commandery's warden, or sending people to assassinate Chen Chao, the current warden. Each of these actions could be conducted in secrecy. But once exposed, became completely untenable.
Moreover, in this world, things were not just a matter of right or wrong; considering the benefits and price, they were all very important factors
Yun Jianyue looked at the fallen body and was silent for a long time without speaking.
If the foreign cultivators wanted to prevent the Great Liang Dynasty from killing people, they had the means to do so. But, they did not do anything, not because they could not do anything, but because if they did not do anything, it would yield them more benefits.
For example, right now, there would definitely be prominent figures from the various major sects outside the mountain. They could have reached this place long ago, yet they remained outside, with no intention of entering.
They were waiting for the outcome too.
Waiting for the Great Liang Dynasty to resolve this matter.
Then, they would come here.
The Warden took a look at Yun Jianyue, beckoned his hands, and the broken saber tore through the air and arrived. The Warden pointed and it landed neatly into Chen Chao's scabbard.
Chen Chao put away the fallen piece of paper before checking on Yu Xiyi's injuries.
This young sword cultivator's injuries were far more severe than his.
Yu Xiyi struggled to rise, his expression very ugly. With a slight thought, Wild Grass swept over, falling by his side. He appeared somewhat drained as he cast a fleeting glance at the nearby corpse. Yu Xiyi furrowed his brows and asked, "Why did you kill him?'"
Chen Chao said expressionlessly, "If he didn't die, I'd be dead."
Yu Xiyi might not know about the circumstances before, but how could Chen Chao not know? If he did not do something, Yu Xiyi would probably be preparing to burn incense paper for him by now.
Yu Xiyi frowned and said, "What I mean is, if you kill him, who should I kill then?"
Chen Chao raised his head and said with a frown, "When will the day come when you can kill him?"
"Ten years, at most ten years, and I'll be able to slaughter him."
There was a hint of gloominess between Yu Xiyi's brows, but it disappeared in an instant. He had great confidence in himself and believed that he would reach the Nepenthe Realm within a decade.
Chen Chao remained silent. If it were anyone else, he probably would not believe it. But when it came to this person in front of him, he would not doubt it.
Chen Chao patted his chest and said with a smile, "There's one thing I have to thank you for. If you hadn't refused that piece of paper, I might be dead. Consider it saving my life."
Yu Xiyi said disdainfully, "Don't pin such trivial matters on me, it's disgusting."
Chen Chao opened his mouth but could not say anything in the end. He just felt a bit helpless.
"I'm leaving."
Yu Xiyi took back Wild Grass, his expression improving. He was about to say goodbye.
Chen Chao frowned and said, "There will clearly be a great opportunity here if you wait a while. Aren't you going to take a look?"
Although Yu Xiyi was alone and unlikely to have his sect's elders come here, given his relationship with Chen Chao, how could he not get a share later on?
Yu Xiyi knew that Chen Chao was referring to that ancient ruin. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Is that ancient relic an ancient sword sect?"
Chen Chao thought about it seriously, then shook his head and said, "No."
"In that case, why should I stay here?"
Yu Xiyi wore an air of nonchalance and then casually turned away.
Previously, in that cave abode, he had seen so many precious treasures, not to mention this page of unknown origin, destined to be no ordinary paper. None of them could move him. Now, this so-called ancient ruin was naturally not going to change this young sword cultivator's mind either.
"What about your injuries?"
Chen Chao was still a little concerned.
"I won't die."
Yu Xiyi furrowed his brow, wanting to say something. But in the end, he did not say anything and descended the mountain.
The Warden saw Yu Xiyi leaving and then opened his mouth to say, "This sword cultivator, he's pleasing to my eye."
The foreign cultivators and those from the Great Liang Dynasty had long maintained a tacit understanding not to cross each other's paths, making it unusual to hear such sentiments now.
Chen Chao nodded in agreement. Throughout his journey with Yu Xiyi, he gained a deeper understanding of this young sword cultivator. In the end, he also felt that Yu Xiyi was really good.
Someone to build a close friendship with.
The Warden smiled but refrained from saying anything more, choosing instead to look ahead.
That Daoist Master Ironcloud had died and it might have seemed like the end of the matter. But things were not over, it was just beginning.
……
……
In this world, there are no secrets that remain hidden for long. News of Daoist Master Ironcloud's demise quickly spread. Many daoists on the mountain fell into great panic. Only that Sheng Yingfeng exuded some joy amidst his sorrow.
"Who killed Master?! I'll definitely seek justice!"
His voice trembled slightly, carrying a different implication.
But he soon could not speak anymore, because one oppressive aura after another appeared in the sky before his eyes. Streaks of brilliant light appeared. These powerful auras enveloped the entire Sublime Bright Mountain.
Sensing these formidable auras, Sheng Yingfeng stood in the wind, somewhat disheveled. It was unknown what he was thinking, but his expression became very ugly.
He did not understand why so many big shots would come to the Sublime Bright Mountain today. He only knew that if his master's death was related to these people, then no matter who it was, himself included, they probably could not do anything.
As he thought about the words he had just spoken, Sheng Yingfeng's face lost all trace of color.
Fortunately, those big shots were currently in the sky and had no intention of landing. But even so, they instilled great fear in the foreign cultivators in the mountains.
"Fellow Daoists, let's convene in the main hall."
The Warden's voice sounded out.
This peerless martial artist of the Great Liang Dynasty had appeared before the main hall at some point. The figure standing there appeared particularly striking. Even when facing those big shots in the sky, he showed no fear.
A voice came from the clouds, "Lord Warden, killing Daoist Master Ironcloud like this, I'm afraid it doesn't quite align with the laws of Great Liang, does it?"
That voice was akin to thunder, a little stern and tinged with anger.
The Warden remained expressionless and said calmly, "That Daoist Master Ironcloud wanted to kill an official of my Great Liang, how can I turn a blind eye?!"
"Then, what is the reason behind Lord Warden crushing the Sublime Bright Mountain's mountain gate formation unprovoked?!"
Voices continued to emerge from the clouds, clearly coming from more than one person. But they remained hidden in the clouds, leaving their identities uncertain.
The Warden sneered and said, "The Sublime Bright Sect murdered the previous Warden of Rainwater Commandery, and kidnapped our Great Liang citizens. The evidence is irrefutable. What more reason do we need?"
In truth, evidence was the most useless concept. When one had power, they could explain anything away. When one lacked power, even if they had the clearest evidence, no one would look at it.
Sure enough, after the Warden said this, the voices in the clouds fell silent, and no one spoke. Actually, how could this matter be concealed?
"Even so, it seems like Lord Warden has gone a bit too far,"
This was already showing weakness.
The Warden did not speak. At this point, he did not need to talk anymore.
"Please, Fellow Daoists, let's convene in the main hall."
Although this was not one of the official bureaus of the Great Liang Dynasty, with the Warden making this request at this moment, no one dared to say anything. Everyone was very silent. The daoists were terrified, how could they dare to say anything? Listening to the conversation among these big shots, they knew that their past deeds had been found out by people.
Those deeds, once brought into the light, would surely lead to major problems.
The Warden walked toward the main hall. No daoists dared to stop him.
Chen Chao took a look. Then, he turned to look elsewhere.
Yun Jianyue was standing in the distance.
A daoist in green robes appeared by his side, seemingly from nowhere.
Yun Jianyue glanced at him and bowed seriously, "Greetings, Martial Uncle."
This time, the Temple Master naturally would not come personally. But, the Infatuation Daoist Temple could not avoid sending someone. The daoist in front of him was the representative.
With such a major matter, how could they only have a young man like Yun Jianyue presiding over it?
The daoist in green robes nodded and asked, "Did you find anything?"
Yun Jianyue thought about it and began recounting what he saw and heard on the mountain. Starting from when he first encountered Chen Chao and Yu Xiyi, all the way to the Warden punching Daoist Master Ironcloud to death with one punch.
"Is that young martial cultivator truly so remarkable?"
The daoist in green robes was not very interested in the rest but seemed intrigued by Chen Chao. "After Song Changxi's defeat, the daoist temple sent someone to investigate his intel and found that this person is very interesting. Although it appears he grew up by the Wei River, it seems there's more to him than meets the eye."
Yun Jianyue replied, "I also find this person unusual. Although he's young, he's remarkably composed. Most people his age can't compare, even more so in battle. I heard he killed demons for two years in Wei Prefecture. It was probably honed during that time."
The daoist in green robes lamented, "That's right, it should be this way. In recent years, the Great Liang Dynasty has produced many talents, coupled with the appearance of a formidable ruler. This world is no longer as ordinary as it used to be."
Yun Jianyue furrowed his brows slightly but did not engage in this topic. Instead, he asked, "Martial Uncle, may I go down the mountain now?"
He had climbed the mountain because of a letter from the Temple Master, but the letter did not mention any further arrangements.
The daoist in green robes shook his head and said, "How can it be that simple? The matter isn't resolved yet. Wait a little longer, once there's a conclusion, I'll inform you."
Yun Jianyue nodded and stopped talking.
Only then, did the daoist in green robes walk towards the main hall.
Soon, he arrived in the main hall.
Seeing this daoist in green, the cultivators who had previously entered the hall stood up one by one to greet him. Cultivators from the same Daoism lineage even greeted him with smiles, saying, "Greetings, Daoist Brother."
The daoist in green was a great sage with a profound cultivation realm to begin with. Coupled with that he was also from the Infatuation Daoist Temple, how could anyone dare to underestimate him?
Hence, the hall was soon filled with laughter.
Only the Warden, who had been sitting at the main seat, remained very calm.
Only when the hall had quieted down somewhat, did the Warden say, "Now that the Grand Daoist has arrived, we can begin."
The daoist in green robes smiled and said, "My apologies for keeping the Warden waiting."
The two exchanged a glance, both hiding deep emotions in their eyes.
The Warden looked at the daoist in green, the daoist in green also looked at him.
Although there were quite a number of people present, there were actually just a small handful of people who truly held authority. Among these scanty few, this daoist in green represented Daoism, his authority was naturally immense.
In some sense, one could even say that this daoist in green could represent the cultivation world, while the Warden represented the Great Liang Dynasty.
Something would likely be happening again between the two of them.
In a corner, an elderly monk with white eyebrows suddenly stood up, his face filled with compassion. "This old monk just heard the cries of many tormented souls on the mountain. I truly can't bear it and would like to go and pray for their salvation."
The Warden looked at this monk from the Deercry Monastery and nodded.
The relationship between the Great Liang Dynasty and the Deercry Monastery had always been good. Moreover, this white-browed monk was the junior brother of that Nation Teacher, so the Warden naturally had no intention of stopping him.
However, when he thought of that Nation Teacher, a hint of melancholy also appeared on the Warden's face.
