55: Chapter 55 Golden Core Emerges from Seclusion

In the evening, Innkeeper Wu Youcai rode a horse and arrived at the foot of the Xuanyang Sect mountain.

Along the way, he had hardly stopped; most of his padded robe was soaked through by melted snow, and the horse beneath him was panting heavily from exhaustion.

The two Disciples guarding the mountain gate both knew him.

These two were precisely Mo Xiaozhu and Mo Xiaoman, who had been selected and brought into the Xuanyang Sect from Mo Family Village ten years ago.

Over the past ten years, the Xuanyang Sect had visited the Mo Family three more times, taking away two children each time.

Counting Mo Xiaozhu and Mo Xiaoman, who entered the Xuanyang Sect earliest, there were now a total of eight descendants of the Mo Family within the Sect.

Mo Xiaozhu and Mo Xiaoman entered the Sect the earliest and were also the oldest; the six children who came later had always been looked after by them on ordinary days.

The cultivation Aptitude of all eight of them was not considered good, ranking near the back among the Outer Sect Disciples.

Fortunately, Mo Shoutian had never forgotten them over the years, and every once in a while, he would entrust someone to send silver, clothing, and food.

After the things were sent, Mo Xiaozhu and Mo Xiaoman distributed them to the others.

Mo Shoutian had also specifically instructed that they should not be stingy where connections needed to be managed.

Therefore, although the eight of them had no particular status in the Xuanyang Sect, they had not suffered much bullying either.

Since Mo Xiaozhu and Mo Xiaoman were older, the chores they were usually responsible for were mostly guarding the gate, patrolling the mountains, and delivering messages.

Seeing Innkeeper Wu Youcai in such an anxious state, Mo Xiaoman hurried forward to greet him.

Mo Xiaozhu walked up to the front of the horse and reached out to take the reins.

"Innkeeper Wu, what has happened?"

Innkeeper Wu Youcai dismounted from the horse, supported himself against its back, and panted for a few breaths.

"Elder Zhou is dead."

Mo Xiaoman was stunned for a moment.

"Which Elder Zhou?"

"Elder Zhou Xuanze."

Innkeeper Wu Youcai said:

"He died right at Xianyuan Pavilion."

Mo Xiaozhu's expression changed, and he hurriedly asked:

"Who killed him?"

Innkeeper Wu Youcai shook his head.

"Two Immortals wearing alien attire."

Mo Xiaoman and Mo Xiaozhu exchanged glances.

Zhou Xuanze had stayed in Qingshi Town year-round, responsible for the Mortal families and business matters under the Xuanyang Sect.

Although he was only an Outer Sect Elder, he was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

For such a person to suddenly die at Xianyuan Pavilion was definitely not a small matter.

Mo Xiaozhu handed the reins in his hand to Mo Xiaoman.

"You stay here and accompany Innkeeper Wu; I will go up the mountain to report first."

After saying this, he turned and ran toward the mountain.

Not long after, Mo Xiaozhu hurried back down from the mountain.

"The Sect Master wants to see Innkeeper Wu."

At this moment, another on-duty Disciple also rushed down from the mountain.

Mo Xiaoman handed the reins to the other party, then led Innkeeper Wu Youcai toward the main hall.

Xuanyang Sect Sect Master Lu Chongshan sat above, looking to be in his fifties, wearing a dark cyan robe.

Sitting below were two Elders, and standing beside them was a cyan-robed man in his thirties.

This cyan-robed man was called Han Qingshan, who was Lu Chongshan's eldest Disciple and had now cultivated to the Early Stage of Lingtai.

After Innkeeper Wu Youcai entered, he hurriedly bowed in salute.

"Greetings, Sect Master; greetings, Immortals."

Lu Chongshan looked at him and asked:

"What on earth happened?"

Innkeeper Wu Youcai did not dare to conceal anything, and recounted the matter of Zhou Xuanze dying at Xianyuan Pavilion and those two alien Cultivators heading north to leave.

After listening, Lu Chongshan asked:

"Zhou Xuanze couldn't even block a single move?"

"He couldn't."

Innkeeper Wu Youcai shook his head.

"Elder Zhou hadn't even finished speaking when that person merely raised a hand, and a wisp of black Qi emerged from his neck."

"By the time he collapsed, he had already breathed his last."

An Elder sitting on the left asked:

"What cultivation base do those two people have?"

Innkeeper Wu Youcai said with his head lowered:

"This humble one cannot tell."

"When they entered Xianyuan Pavilion, they looked similar to ordinary guests."

That Elder looked at Lu Chongshan.

"Zhou Xuanze is an Outer Sect Elder of the Xuanyang Sect, and to die just like that in Qingshi Town, we cannot do nothing."

"If this matter spreads out, how will the Baihe Sect and the subordinate families below view the Xuanyang Sect?"

Lu Chongshan did not reply, instead looking at Han Qingshan.

"Qingshan, what do you think?"

Han Qingshan said:

"Elder Zhou is at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, yet he didn't even block a single move."

"Among those two people, at least one is in the Lingtai Realm, and their cultivation base might even be above mine."

That Elder asked:

"Could it be that we are just going to let them leave like this?"

"Of course we must investigate."

Han Qingshan said:

"But we don't even know who they are. If we chase after them now, what will we use to fight them?"

"Zhou Xuanze is already dead; we cannot let the Disciples of our Sect go die in vain again."

That Elder frowned and said:

"But once he dies, what happens to Qingshi Town and those few subordinate families?"

"That is why we must not panic."

Han Qingshan said:

"First investigate their cultivation base and background clearly. If we truly want to make a move, we must wait until the Sect is fully prepared before acting."

Lu Chongshan thought for a moment.

"Qingshan, you take two Foundation Establishment Disciples to Qingshi Town."

"First find out where those two alien Cultivators went."

"Before figuring out their cultivation base, you are not allowed to act without authorization."

Han Qingshan cupped his fists in assent.

"This Disciple understands."

Lu Chongshan said again:

"Those matters in Zhou Xuanze's hands shall also be managed by you for now."

Han Qingshan asked:

"Qingshi Town and those subordinate families will also be taken over by this Disciple?"

"For now, you will be responsible for them."

Lu Chongshan said:

"We will talk after this matter is thoroughly investigated."

"Yes."

Han Qingshan did not delay further. After walking out of the main hall, he picked two Foundation Establishment Disciples and went down the mountain with Innkeeper Wu Youcai.

That same night, in the back mountain of the Baihe Sect.

Duan Qingfeng guarded outside a tightly shut stone cave.

He was the eldest Disciple of the Baihe Sect Sect Master, and also the person who led seven or eight Disciples to Baitou Mountain ten years ago to look for Elder Xu.

Ten years had passed, and he had already cultivated from the Early Stage of Lingtai to the Middle Stage of Lingtai.

At this moment, a Disciple rushed back from Qingshi Town and recounted the matter of Zhou Xuanze being killed.

After listening, Duan Qingfeng asked:

"Did Zhou Xuanze really not even block a single move?"

"He didn't."

That Disciple said:

"I heard from the people in Xianyuan Pavilion that Zhou Xuanze had just prepared to stop those two people when one of them raised a hand and killed him."

"Two courtesan women also died in the pavilion, and their corpses both turned into withered mummies."

Duan Qingfeng did not ask about those two women.

"Who did the Xuanyang Sect send to Qingshi Town?"

"When this Disciple returned, I hadn't seen anyone from the Xuanyang Sect yet."

"Send another person over to keep an eye on them."

Duan Qingfeng said:

"See who the Xuanyang Sect sends, and also investigate where those two alien Cultivators went."

"Yes."

Just as that Disciple was about to leave, a muffled sound suddenly came from the stone cave behind him.

Duan Qingfeng turned around and looked at the tightly shut stone door.

His Master, Gu Changfeng, had been in seclusion inside for three years.

In order for Gu Changfeng to achieve a Golden Core Breakthrough, most of the Spirit Stones and Medicinal Pills accumulated by the Baihe Sect over the years had been sent into this stone cave.

For three years, no movement at all had ever been emitted from inside.

The several Disciples guarding nearby all stood up as well.

Not long after, the surrounding Spiritual Qi began to gather toward the stone cave.

The accumulated snow on the ground was whipped up by the wind, and several old trees growing in the rock crevices nearby constantly swayed, the snow on their branches falling down in succession.

Duan Qingfeng took a few steps back.

"Quickly go invite the Grand Elder."

A Disciple turned and ran toward the front mountain.

In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the Grand Elder arrived at the back mountain with several other Elders.

The Grand Elder came to Duan Qingfeng's side, watching the Spiritual Qi continuously surging toward the stone cave.

"When did it start?"

"It just started not long ago."

Duan Qingfeng said:

"This time, Master should be able to succeed."

The Grand Elder did not speak, leading everyone to back up a bit further.

The Spiritual Qi near the stone cave grew denser and denser, ultimately surging entirely into the interior of the stone cave.

This commotion lasted for nearly half an hour before a long whistle suddenly echoed from within the stone cave.

The sound shook the accumulated snow on several nearby stone houses down in succession.

The dozen or so white cranes raised in the valley were frightened, flapping their wings and flying up into the sky.

Several Foundation Establishment Disciples could not withstand the pressure emanating from the stone cave and retreated backward one after another.

After a short while longer, the surrounding Spiritual Qi gradually calmed down.

The stone door that had been tightly shut for three years also slowly opened from the inside bit by bit.

Baihe Sect Sect Master Gu Changfeng walked out from the stone cave.

He looked to be in his fifties, with a tall and thin figure, his hair slightly over half white, wearing a white robe without a speck of dust on it.

The Grand Elder stepped forward and bowed in salute.

"Congratulations, Sect Master, on achieving a Golden Core Breakthrough."

Duan Qingfeng and the other Elders and Disciples also bowed in salute along with him.

"Congratulations, Sect Master, on achieving a Golden Core Breakthrough."

Gu Changfeng stood in front of the stone cave and glanced at the crowd.

"Rise, all of you."

After everyone straightened up, Gu Changfeng asked:

"During these three years of my seclusion, nothing happened in the Sect, right?"

The Grand Elder replied:

"No major events occurred."

Duan Qingfeng continued:

"However, news was just received today that Zhou Xuanze of the Xuanyang Sect was killed."

Gu Changfeng asked:

"Who killed him?"

"Two alien Cultivators of unknown origin."

Duan Qingfeng said:

"Zhou Xuanze didn't even block a single move, and he died right in Qingshi Town."

Gu Changfeng asked again:

"What movement does the Xuanyang Sect have?"

"This Disciple has already sent people to keep an eye on them."

Duan Qingfeng said:

"With Zhou Xuanze's death, the Xuanyang Sect has lost yet another Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator."

"Master has now achieved a Golden Core Breakthrough, and right now is precisely the time to attack the Xuanyang Sect."

Gu Changfeng did not reply immediately, instead looking at the Grand Elder.

"How many Spirit Stones and Medicinal Pills are left in the treasury?"

The Grand Elder said:

"This time, in order to help the Sect Master achieve a Breakthrough, everything that could be brought out was brought out."

"The remaining ones are only enough for the Sect's Disciples to use for half a year."

After listening, Gu Changfeng looked at Duan Qingfeng.

"Go call over all the Lingtai Realm and Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators in the Sect."

Duan Qingfeng asked:

"Is Master going to attack the Xuanyang Sect?"

"Correct."

Gu Changfeng walked forward a few steps.

The Grand Elder said:

"The Sect Master has just broken through, and your cultivation base has not yet stabilized. Attacking the Xuanyang Sect right now, is it too hasty?"

"The news of my Golden Core Breakthrough has not yet spread out."

Gu Changfeng said:

"Making a move now will happen to catch the Xuanyang Sect off guard."

"Besides, for the sake of this Breakthrough, the Sect has already taken out more than half of its foundation. The Spiritual Vein, medicinal garden, and treasury of the Xuanyang Sect can happen to be used to make up for it."

Duan Qingfeng immediately cupped his fists and said:

"This Disciple will go assemble the men right away."

Gu Changfeng looked toward the Grand Elder again.

"You take a few Disciples to stay behind and guard the mountain gate; everyone else follows me."

The Grand Elder asked:

"Set out right now?"

"Right now."

Gu Changfeng said:

"Once the Xuanyang Sect receives the news and recalls the Elders and Disciples outside, it will instead be more troublesome."

Duan Qingfeng turned and walked toward the front mountain.

Having just walked a few steps, Gu Changfeng called out to stop him.

"Tell the Disciples of the Sect, no one is allowed to privately hoard the treasury, medicinal garden, and Spiritual Vein of the Xuanyang Sect."

"Whoever dares to tamper with them, I will kill them first."

Duan Qingfeng acknowledged and quickly left the back mountain.

In less than half an hour, the Lingtai Realm and Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators of the Baihe Sect gathered in front of the mountain gate.

Gu Changfeng stepped onto a white longsword, led Duan Qingfeng and the others to fly up into the sky, and headed straight for the Xuanyang Sect.