352: My savior

Mu Qingxian gazed at the familiar scenery ahead, but her heart was far from as calm as it appeared.

The relief of surviving the calamity, the worry for the sect's future, and the numerous questions regarding this mysterious powerful figure before her, were all intertwined.

She took a deep breath, finally voicing the question that had been suppressed in her heart for a long time. She turned to Jiang Donghua, her tone respectful yet carrying a subtle hint of scrutiny.

“Senior Donghua, this junior has a question that has troubled her for a long time. I don't know if it is appropriate to ask?”

Jiang Donghua’s gaze was placid, and he gestured for her to speak without reservation.

Mu Qingxian carefully weighed her words and asked cautiously.

“Senior has bestowed upon my Sound Valley the grace of salvation and rebirth.”

“However, this junior is foolish. Before this, it seems we never had any interaction with Senior, nor have I heard of any deep connection between Sound Valley and Senior. May I ask why Senior chose to bravely intervene this time and save us from danger?”

This was her greatest doubt.

A peak Dou Zun whose strength was unfathomable, and who was suspected to be an Alchemy Grandmaster, would never offend a behemoth like the Hall of Souls for a strange Sound Valley without cause.

There must be a reason for this.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Donghua’s expression remained calm.

He had long anticipated this question.

Should he directly say that he was entrusted by Venerable Huanhai?

Too many details would only cause trouble.

Using a vaguer excuse, one that better suited the identity of an old monster, was the most suitable approach.

He nodded slightly, and spoke plainly in a tone tinged with recollection.

“Hmm, let’s just say I have some connection with Sound Valley’s ancestors.”

He did not specify which generation, nor did he say whether it was a favor or a grudge, but combined with his act of assistance, it would naturally be interpreted as a benevolent connection.

These words were deliberately vague, leaving ample room for imagination.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Mu Qingxian immediately showed an expression of realization. Most of the doubt in her heart instantly dissipated, replaced by a sense of sudden enlightenment, relief, and deeper gratitude.

That’s right! Only this explanation makes sense!

This Senior Donghua has profound cultivation and must be extremely old, likely an ancient senior who has lived for countless years.

He had a past connection with one of Sound Valley’s long-deceased ancestors, perhaps having received a favor or being a close friend. Seeing Sound Valley in distress and its descendants being bullied, he appeared to help!

With this thought, everything became reasonable. She hurriedly bowed again.

“So it is the legacy of the ancestors, protecting my Sound Valley! This junior, on behalf of all the ancestors of Sound Valley, thanks Senior again for his great kindness!”

She had automatically completed the entire logical chain in her mind, and her attitude toward Jiang Donghua became even more respectful and familiar, truly viewing him as an otherworldly expert of the same generation as the sect’s ancestors.

However, the Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect, who was standing nearby, felt his heart sink after hearing this conversation. His face uncontrollably turned slightly pale, but fortunately, he was looking down and was not noticed.

He originally thought he had abandoned the darkness for the light, jumping from the sinking ship of the Hall of Souls onto the sturdy legs of Venerable Donghua and Sound Valley.

Especially Sound Valley, as one of the three valleys, it had deep heritage and was guarded by a Half-Saint expert, enough to shelter him and the Five Poisons Sect.

But now, upon hearing this, how could Sound Valley be considered a sturdy support?

It was fundamentally a sinking ship!

The greatest pillar, Old Man Tianyin, was long gone, and all that remained were half-dead, life-threatening old fossils.

The entire sect was barely held up by Mu Qingxian, an Eight-Star Dou Zun, being extremely strong on the outside but hollow within!

“It’s over, it’s over, I’ve truly boarded a pirate ship this time!”

The Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect cried bitterly in his heart.

“The two sturdy legs I clung to, one is thick but ultimately cannot stand alone, and the other is completely rotten! Now I have thoroughly offended the Hall of Souls to death, what am I going to do?”

He could already see the Hall of Souls’ frantic revenge descending.

And the precarious Sound Valley was completely powerless to resist.

Immense fear and regret gnawed at his heart like venomous snakes.

But he dared not show the slightest sign!

The two individuals before him, Venerable Donghua was unfathomable, and he could kill him like a chicken.

Although Mu Qingxian was heavily injured, she was still a genuine Eight-Star Dou Zun, and dealing with him, a Two-Star Dou Zun, would be effortless.

If he dared to show even a hint of regret or disloyalty, he would probably immediately follow in the footsteps of Blood River Heavenly Venerable!

He could only forcibly suppress the turbulent waves in his heart, squeezing out an expression of shared honor as he echoed.

“So Venerable has such a deep connection with Sound Valley, this is truly destiny! Destiny!”

However, that smile looked somewhat stiff and bitter no matter how one looked at it.

Jiang Donghua took in the subtle change in the Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect’s expression, understood the situation, but chose not to expose him.

For a fickle opportunist like the Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect, only absolute strength and control could ensure he dared not act rashly.

And Sound Valley’s weakness could conveniently allow him to more firmly bind the Five Poisons Sect, and even the entire Sound Valley, to his own war chariot.

A world of elegant beauty, where pavilions and towers were concealed by mist and the strange brilliance of musical notes, unfolded before everyone.

Unlike the mountains outside, the interior of Sound Valley formed its own small world. Spiritual energy permeated the air, exotic flowers and rare herbs grew everywhere, and natural sounds of flowing springs and wind passing through bamboo forests could be heard everywhere. Furthermore, countless subtle, harmonious, strange musical fluctuations filled the air, calming the mind.

Exquisite towers and halls were built along the mountains and near the water, perfectly integrated with the natural environment.

As soon as the magical artifact landed on a wide jade plaza, two powerful auras appeared in front of them as if teleporting, blocking their path.

These were two beautiful women dressed in elegant palace robes, whose appearances were eight or nine parts similar. Both retained their charm, carrying a hint of heroism and vigilance between their brows.

Their auras were thick and majestic, and they had both clearly reached the level of Four-Star Dou Zun!

They were more than a match stronger than the Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect, who only had the strength of a Two-Star Dou Zun.

The two women’s gazes immediately fell upon Mu Qingxian. Sensing her unstable aura and pale complexion, a clear sign of severe injury and unpurged poison, their expressions instantly changed drastically.

“Valley Master!”

“You are injured? What happened?”

The two spoke in unison, their voices crisp yet urgent. They flashed to Mu Qingxian’s side, guarding her on the left and right, their eyes filled with concern and vigilance.

Their gazes were like sharp blades, instantly sweeping over the few people behind Mu Qingxian.

When they saw the anxious, cold-aura Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect, cold hostility and undisguised enmity burst forth simultaneously in the two women’s eyes!

The reputation of the Five Poisons Sect was not good in the Central Plains, and the aura of its cultivation method was quite similar to the poisonous fluctuations faintly emanating from the Valley Master!

“Someone from the Five Poisons Sect? Did you injure the Valley Master?!”

The slightly more mature beautiful woman on the left shouted sharply, battle qi already surging around her, showing a posture ready to fight at the slightest disagreement.

The Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect felt his scalp tingle as he was locked onto by the aura of two Four-Star Dou Zuns. Cold sweat nearly broke out, and he quickly waved his hands, looking pleadingly toward Mu Qingxian and Jiang Donghua.

“Misunderstanding! A huge misunderstanding!”

However, when the two women’s gazes swept over Jiang Donghua, they paused only slightly, not lingering long.

Jiang Donghua’s aura was contained to the extreme. In their perception, he seemed like an ordinary person with no cultivation. Coupled with his youthful appearance, they simply assumed he was some unimportant young person the Valley Master happened to save, and they didn’t connect him with the word ‘expert’ at all.

The main vigilance and hostility were focused on the Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect, who was clearly a Dou Zun and had a dubious background.

Seeing this, Mu Qingxian hurriedly raised her hand to stop the two Elders, revealing a weary smile as she introduced the others.

“Sixth Elder, Seventh Elder, no need to be nervous. This is Senior Donghua, my life-saving benefactor. If not for Senior’s intervention, I would probably have fallen victim to the Hall of Souls this time.”

She then pointed to the Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect, her tone slightly more neutral.

“This is the Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect. He also contributed this time. If he hadn’t abandoned the darkness for the light at the last moment and restrained the enemy, I would have struggled to hold on until Senior Donghua arrived.”

“As for my injuries, they were caused by the Hall of Souls’ Soul-Corroding Miasma, and the forced use of a secret technique. They are unrelated to the Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect. I will explain the details later.”

“The Hall of Souls?!”

“Life-saving benefactor?”

The Sixth and Seventh Elders exclaimed simultaneously upon hearing this, their faces filled with shock.

When they looked at Jiang Donghua again, their eyes instantly changed from casual disregard to startled uncertainty.

The Valley Master was actually ambushed by the Hall of Souls?

And this seemingly unremarkable young man before them was actually the Valley Master’s life-saving benefactor?

He could save someone from the hands of the Hall of Souls, so his strength?

Both were veteran Dou Zuns who had lived for hundreds of years. Their minds raced, and they immediately realized they had misjudged him—this Senior Donghua before them was definitely a hidden expert!

Their attitudes immediately became respectful, and they bowed in unison toward Jiang Donghua.

“Thank you, Senior, for your righteous assistance in saving our Valley Master! We were rude just now; please forgive us, Senior!”

Jiang Donghua merely nodded faintly and said nothing.

This transcendent demeanor further convinced the two Elders of his extraordinary nature.

Mu Qingxian introduced the two Elders.

“Sixth Elder Mu Yu, Seventh Elder Mu Yun, are twin sisters born of the same mother. Their minds are connected, and their combined power is doubled when facing enemies. They are the pillars of my Sound Valley.”

She then said respectfully to Jiang Donghua.

“Senior, these two are the Elders I trust the most. They assist in handling most of the matters within the valley.”

Jiang Donghua’s gaze swept over Mu Yu and Mu Yun. This pair of twin Dou Zuns could indeed be considered Sound Valley’s strongest visible fighting force besides Mu Qingxian.

He nodded slightly, considering it a greeting.

Mu Qingxian instructed the Sixth and Seventh Elders.

“Quickly go and open Tianyin Hall, prepare a quiet room and the best spiritual tea. Senior Donghua has bestowed the grace of rebirth upon my Sound Valley; he must not be neglected.”

“Furthermore, pass on my order: the events of today are listed as the sect’s highest secret and strictly forbidden from being spread!”

“Yes! Valley Master!”

Mu Yu and Mu Yun saw the Valley Master’s solemn expression, knew the matter was serious, and dared not ask further. They immediately accepted the order and left. Before leaving, they couldn’t help but take a deep look at the profound and imposing Jiang Donghua, their hearts filled with curiosity and shock.