413: Startled

Nancang Domain, Qing Prefecture, Xuanqing Sect, Suqing Peak.

A middle-aged man in his thirties with distinct facial features hurried toward the peak.

Jiang Hengliu felt a slight sense of trepidation in his heart.

He had intended to rest for a while, but suddenly received a sound transmission from the Sect stating that a True Lord wished to see him.

This left him somewhat at a loss.

Ever since he had arrived in Nancang Domain after a dizzying spin, and delivered the belongings of Shen Xuanzhao to Xuanqing Sect.

He had chosen to stay.

By now, Jiang Hengliu had come to regard Xuanqing Sect as his home.

As for seeking a way back.

In the first few years after his arrival, he had indeed harbored such thoughts.

However, as time passed.

His secret investigations yielded no results.

Jiang Hengliu had quietly abandoned that notion.

While lost in his anxious thoughts.

Jiang Hengliu had already reached the summit of Suqing Peak.

"Jiang Hengliu, Deacon of Shaoyun Peak, pays respects to the Grand Elder!"

Jiang Hengliu bowed respectfully.

"No need for such formalities."

A gentle voice emanated from True Lord Qingmu.

Jiang Hengliu felt a sense of relief.

It probably wasn't anything bad.

So, after expressing his gratitude, he slowly raised his head.

Three figures with ethereal and powerful auras came into Jiang Hengliu's view.

Just then.

The purple-clad figure who had been standing with their back to him turned around.

"Are you from the Jiang Family of the Sword Domain?"

Zhou Xiutong's gaze sharpened; she sensed a hint of a familiar aura from Jiang Hengliu.

The aura on this person shared the same source as that of Jiang Ningchan's lineage in the Jiang Family.

The clansmen of Jiang Ningchan's lineage lived in Jiangxue City outside the Tianning Peaks.

Zhou Xiutong was naturally familiar with the aura of the Cultivation Technique practiced by the Jiang Family clansmen.

"You, you, you, how do you know!"

"Please forgive me, True Lord, this Junior has lost composure!"

Hearing Zhou Xiutong's sudden words, the defense of the secret Jiang Hengliu had hidden deepest was shattered, and his expression changed drastically.

He even forgot that this was the Immortal Cave of the Grand Elder of Xuanqing Sect.

And those who could sit on equal footing with the two Grand Elders were undoubtedly Nascent Soul True Lords.

"What do I do, what do I do..."

Jiang Hengliu bowed down, large beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead.

"Do not be nervous. I simply found the aura on you somewhat familiar, so I asked instinctively. It was my presumption."

Zhou Xiutong waved her hand.

Spiritual power surged out, lifting Jiang Hengliu up.

Jiang Hengliu felt a slight relief.

Since this purple-haired True Lord knew about both the Sword Domain and the Jiang Family, he feared that any denial would be futile.

So, steeling his heart, he admitted it.

After admitting it.

True Lord Herun and the others had no particular reaction, but Jiang Hengliu himself felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

After all, keeping this secret buried in his heart for so many years had been truly exhausting.

"It really is, this is quite a coincidence..."

Zhou Xiutong thought to herself.

A short while later.

Jiang Hengliu descended from Suqing Peak, feeling a sense of relief.

He had not expected that so much had happened within his Family.

Nor had he expected that the two families had such a relationship.

Although Zhou Xiutong did not go into detail, she still provided him with a lot of information.

With the Family stable and under protection, his heart was finally at ease.

"And, perhaps before long, I will be able to go home..."

Thinking of the final piece of news he had received, Jiang Hengliu felt a jolt in his heart and strode toward Shaoyun Peak.

At the summit of Suqing Peak.

After Zhou Xiutong received confirmation.

She sighed inwardly, but there was nothing she could do to change the situation.

"Revered Master, Junior Martial Uncle."

"In the past, those factions of the Six Directions Alliance only managed to breach Tiannan Pavilion and establish the Six Directions Alliance to control Nancang Domain because they had the support of the Gao Family."

"To this day, only Tiannan Pavilion and Hundred Flowers Valley remain."

"The entire Nancang Domain has fallen under the control of the Bath of Fire Dao, an Evil Path."

"Within this, there might be changes we are unaware of."

Zhou Xiutong learned of the changes that had occurred during this period from her Revered Master and Junior Martial Uncle.

She had her own speculations.

"Correct."

True Lord Herun nodded in agreement.

"Before I came, the Old Ancestor bestowed upon me some methods; at a critical moment, we can seek the Old Ancestor's assistance."

"I need to make some preparations. I ask that Junior Martial Uncle pass down word not to cause panic among the Disciples of the Sect."

Zhou Xiutong said to True Lord Qingmu.

True Lord Herun felt a slight stir in his heart, marveling at the means and capabilities of Mo Xuan.

Since she had spoken this way, and given the character of Fellow Daoist Mo, she must certainly have confidence.

"Very well."

True Lord Qingmu's expression was serious.

Zhou Xiutong said no more.

She gently brushed her palm across her waist.

A five-story divine altar, the size of a palm, appeared above her palm, rising and falling.

"Swift!"

Zhou Xiutong tapped her hands lightly, channeling her Dharma techniques, and pointed at the palm-sized, five-story divine altar.

"Go!"

Zhou Xiutong pushed her hand forward.

The five-story divine altar flew out from Suqing Peak, expanding in the wind until it became a hundred zhang in size, standing tall above Xuanqing Sect.

Above the divine altar.

There was a black scale, several zhang in size, covered in profound patterns.

Zhou Xiutong continued, and one Top-Grade Spirit Stone after another flew out from the Storage Pouch at her waist, merging into the divine altar.

Having received the sound transmission from the Grand Elder, the entire Xuanqing Sect, although surprised by this ancient divine altar that had suddenly appeared high in the sky.

Felt no panic.

"It is done."

A moment later.

Zhou Xiutong breathed a sigh of relief.

She said to True Lord Herun and the other.

As for Zhou Xiutong, there was no reason for True Lord Herun not to trust her, so he did not ask further.

Meanwhile.

Somewhere in Nancang Domain.

Deep within the ancient bronze palace buried underground.

At the moment the Bath of Fire Dao Revered Master departed.

Inside the secret chamber.

A figure solidified from flames rose from the body of the old man sitting cross-legged.

Taking a step, it vanished into the Void Realm.

The Incarnation of the Bath of Fire Old Ancestor left the ancient bronze palace and disappeared.

At Xuanqing Sect, on Suqing Peak.

True Lord Herun and the others, who had intended to say something more, suddenly had their expressions change.

In the Void Realm, an inexplicable aura emanated, enveloping the entire Xuanqing Sect.

"A Venerable..."

True Lord Herun's heart tightened, and he stood up. Although he had long suspected that the Bath of Fire Dao possessed a Nascent Soul Venerable.

After all, only a Venerable would have the qualifications to seize Nancang Domain from the Gao Family.

He had not expected, however, that one would truly appear.

"With my Bloodline, transform into a bridge."

"Connect to the other shore, let the divine creation manifest."

Zhou Xiutong could not care about anything else; she whispered rapidly in her heart, connecting with the shimmering five-story divine altar suspended high in the sky.

"Old Ancestor, save me!"

Hum~

The divine altar shone with boundless light, and upon it, the scale flickering with mysterious light illuminated all directions.

An indescribable fluctuation followed the connection of the Bloodline, transmitting to an unknown destination.

Xuanming Realm, Azure Dragon Domain, bottom of Cangyuan River.

A giant beast spoke in human language.

"Arrive!"

Boom!

Xuanyang Realm, Nancang Domain, Xuanqing Sect.

A powerful and ethereal aura, beyond the understanding of the gathered Cultivators, manifested from the five-story divine altar suspended high in the sky, radiating boundless light.

In the Void Realm.

A figure shrouded in flames, who had reached out a palm in a grasping motion, froze in place.

"Hmm? The aura of Soul Transformation..."

The expression of the flame-shrouded figure shifted.

"The lands of the eight prefectures are already enough; it is not advisable to create complications..."

The flame-shrouded figure whispered.

Retracting its palm, it turned into flames and dispersed into the Void Realm, leaving no further trace.

"It left?"

In the Xuanming Realm, Azure Dragon Domain, at the bottom of Cangyuan River, the Giant Black Beast had a look of confusion in its eyes.