Although these twins were only at the Foundation Establishment Great Circle, everyone present—except for Hua Xijian and Shen Luohe—possessed a higher cultivation level than them.
Yet, no one dared to look down on them for their low cultivation.
This was because the elder was named Canzhi and the younger was called Meifu. Both were personal disciples of the current Qingjing Sect leader, and they were not to be underestimated.
The fact that the Qingjing Sect had sent these two indicated that they took this matter very seriously.
“That little cultivator has only just reached Foundation Establishment, and her foundation is unstable. She risked her life to break the Two-Form Inversion Formation, which triggered the heavenly lightning. She is still recovering from her severe injuries and is currently unfit to see anyone.”
Empress Cao covered her lips with her sleeve and spoke softly:
“Speaking of which, that child is quite the victim. She was acting out of pure sincerity, assisting the Demon Suppression Division in an investigation, only to be caught up in the schemes of the demon monk Huiyuan and Daoist Qinglong.
After Qinglong's death, the commissioners of the Jingxinan, Hedongxi, and Huainanxi circuits took over the Northwest Circuit Demon Suppression Monastery to clear up the old cases. They indeed found evidence of him protecting a tiger demon and rearing ghosts.”
Her words were soft yet pointed, making the twins feel somewhat uncomfortable. The twin with the softer expression spoke up, offering a piece of information with a smile:
“You may not know this, but when Senior Brother Mo uncovered Qinglong’s misdeeds, he was strangled by that villain. However, a sliver of Senior Brother Mo’s soul was preserved within the Two-Form Inversion Formation, allowing him to remain in this world.
After the formation shattered and the heavenly lightning descended, Senior Brother Mo’s soul returned to the sect and reported the matter to Ningxue Ancestor, which shocked the entire sect.
A grand-uncle skilled in deduction attempted to calculate the events, but he found the heavenly secrets obscured. The details of the battle within the Demon Suppression Monastery that day were blurry and could not be deduced.
Therefore, we were sent ahead as the vanguard. Ningxue Ancestor herself will arrive shortly.”
Mo Chenghuai wasn't dead?
Everyone present had their own thoughts on the matter.
The Cao siblings exchanged a look, both reaching their own conclusions.
Miaoyun fingered her prayer beads, her expression calm. However, when she heard that the battle could not be deduced, her brows furrowed slightly, and she glanced at Shen Luohe thoughtfully.
Hua Xijian was confused, while Shen Luohe lowered his eyes. He pondered for a moment, a flicker of struggle appearing in his gaze before it vanished.
“I heard that Ningxue Ancestor hasn't left the sect for seven hundred years. To think she would personally descend to the mortal realm for the sake of Qinglong’s affair.”
Qiu Buguo didn't seem surprised. He casually picked up a hawthorn fruit and toyed with it in his hand:
“I heard that your sect’s Ningxue Ancestor has a chance of reaching the deity transformation stage. I wonder if that’s true?”
Personal disciples of major sects always had some life-saving trump cards.
Especially in the lineage of formation cultivators, those who achieved success were precious. If they didn't have some means of protection, how could their masters bear to station them in the human realm?
Even he carried a life-saving talisman close to his body. By sacrificing his essence blood, he could summon a senior of the same sect within ten thousand miles to come and fight.
“So it is Uncle Qiu Buguo of the Wuwei Sect. Let it be known to Uncle Qiu that our Qingjing Sect’s rules are strict, and we do not lightly discuss matters concerning our ancestors.”
Seeing that it was someone from the Wuwei Sect, Canzhi’s expression flattened, and he replied with a sharp edge to his tone:
“I recall that Ancestor Zongfang of the Wuwei Sect wished to become Daoist partners with a Dragon Girl. He spent money like water at the Haifang Market; the betrothal gifts alone were worth half a spirit stone vein. He was truly quite extravagant.
What happened after that? I wonder if Ancestor Zongfang is still at the Haifang Market?”
Qiu Buguo’s face turned green.
The Zongfang mentioned was the son of the Wuwei Sect leader—a profligate and playboy, the most mischievous of them all, who especially loved to dally with women of the demon race.
This man had caused enough scandals in his time. Originally, the Wuwei Sect had planned to open a sea route at the Haifang Market leading to the Three Provinces to transport spirit stones toward the Four Heavenly Pillars.
Who would have thought that Uncle Zongfang, who was sent to negotiate, would fall for a honey trap? Not only did he give away half a spirit stone vein with a single word, but he also shamelessly insisted on marrying into the Dragon Girl’s family.
In the end, the beautiful Dragon Girl didn't care for him at all. She was purely acting for the benefit of the demon race. As soon as the peace talks concluded, she abandoned Zongfang.
After learning the truth, this Uncle Zongfang spent every day wailing and drinking. He stayed at the Haifang Market like a stubborn piece of plaster, chasing after the Dragon Girl’s tail.
Although this was an old story from over a decade ago, whenever it was mentioned, the disciples of the Wuwei Sect felt they had lost all face.
“Your Qingjing Sect certainly is ‘pure and quiet.’ Although my uncle was a bit rowdy, he never disregarded human life or acted against the heavens.”
Qiu Buguo sneered, squashing the hawthorn in his hand with a wet splat:
“Rearing Yin Wine Worms, feeding tiger-chang ghosts, colluding with the fallen immortal Huiyuan, murdering people, refining evil pills...
For the sake of resurrecting a Daoist partner, he actually threw away all shame to scheme against a Foundation Establishment junior. I feel embarrassed for you just speaking of it.
And today you come here so aggressively, wanting to hold someone accountable? Although Qinglong was the Northwest Circuit Demon Suppression Commissioner, he was also a Nascent Soul master of your Qingjing Sect. If all these deeds were made public, would your Qingjing Sect have any honor left?”
Canzhi and Meifu exchanged a look, both realizing that this matter was absolutely not suitable for a large-scale public handling.
The sect had ordered them to act low-key for this very reason.
Even though Qinglong was dead, if this matter were publicized, the only one whose reputation would suffer would be the Qingjing Sect.
If only that Foundation Establishment female cultivator and the senior-junior pair, Shen Luohe and Hua Xijian, had been present, it would have been easy to handle.
Although the female cultivator had indirectly caused Qinglong’s death, it was ultimately because the latter had committed many evils and acted unrighteously, thus suffering heavenly retribution.
They could have provided various compensations and then decided whether to admit her into the sect based on her aptitude.
As for Shen Luohe and Hua Xijian, although they had made minor mistakes by failing to correct the situation in time, they had committed no great crimes. They should have been dealt with according to sect rules, awaiting the judgment of the elders.
However, the situation that day had been complex, and since it could not be deduced, they couldn't know exactly what had happened within the formation. This made them uncertain about how to deal with that female cultivator.
A Foundation Establishment cultivator killing a Nascent Soul master by jumping ranks.
Even if it was by breaking a formation and drawing lightning, if word got out, everyone would probably think they were daydreaming.
“I can also testify to what was seen and heard that day.”
Miaoyun guessed some of the Qingjing Sect’s thoughts. She clicked her prayer beads and said slowly:
“Under the heavenly lightning and earth fire, Qinglong’s many sins were intolerable to the heavens. His nascent soul shattered, and his spirit was extinguished. There was absolutely no human interference involved.
If your sect still has doubts, you might as well ask the surrounding mountain gods and local deities. I imagine some of them witnessed it with their own eyes.”
Miaoyun had a significant background, so the two did not dare to be disrespectful. Meifu quickly stood up and replied:
“The Abbess is most polite. We are not here to be unreasonable. We have come simply to fulfill the old pact between the Qingjing Sect and Empress Shenlong.
Although Qinglong committed many evils, he was, after all, a Nascent Soul cultivator of our sect. If this matter were concluded sloppily without any investigation, wouldn't it make the cultivators of our sect feel disheartened?
To be honest with you all, the two of us came ahead for three reasons: first, to take Shen Luohe and Hua Xijian back to the sect for trial; second, to deal with the troubles left behind by Qinglong; and third, to pave the way for Ningxue Ancestor.”
Having said that, Canzhi added stiffly from the side:
“Now that Qinglong is dead, the Northwest Circuit Demon Suppression Monastery will be taken over by Ningxue Ancestor.”
The others exchanged glances, all understanding the situation perfectly.
On that day, the heavenly lightning had rolled, and the Northwest Circuit Demon Suppression Monastery had collapsed and sunk. Even after several days, lightning intent still surged at the site.
The killing intent of heavenly lightning was extremely rare, especially the divine lightning that fell as heavenly punishment. If a cultivator were to train and temper themselves within it, they would surely achieve twice the result with half the effort.
This lightning intent would likely last for a hundred years. How could the Qingjing Sect possibly give up such a naturally formed treasure land?
However, trading a single Demon Suppression Monastery for a Nascent Soul master to be stationed there was a worthwhile bargain.
“So that’s how it is. It seems we have misunderstood.”
State Uncle Cao set down his teacup. He traced his finger through the air, and a misty vapor arose. The fairies on the screen descended to serve everyone fresh tea:
“With the chaos on the Yin Yang Road and the fallen immortal Huiyuan fleeing with an evil treasure, it would naturally be for the best if Ningxue Ancestor is willing to stay in the Great Song.”
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