104: Bribery and Inquiry

Seeing the large altar under construction, Jiang Yan’s heart skipped a beat, for that altar gave him the feeling that something major was about to happen.

'This won't do. I must find out what's happening to prevent my plans from being ruined!'

When Jiang Yan arrived at the North Courtyard of Blood Heavy Peak, some Disciples reflexively bowed respectfully upon seeing him.

Although he currently held no official position, he was, after all, someone who had once been a Blood Son.

After he knocked on Yin Duo's door, she poked her small head out. Seeing it was Su Chen, her eyes instantly lit up.

"Master, why are you here?" Yin Duo asked happily.

"Stop calling me Master; just call me Senior Brother," Jiang Yan said with a smile.

"Okay, Master," Yin Duo nodded, her tone cheerful. "Then, Senior Brother Su, what are you looking for me for?"

Jiang Yan pointed toward the Main Peak: "When did that building appear?"

"The construction started just a few days ago. All of us Disciples have to go there every day," Yin Duo explained.

Jiang Yan nodded upon hearing this, then began to ask Yin Duo about recent events within the Sect.

After learning that the Spiritual Object Hall had halted missions and begun consolidating resources, Jiang Yan felt in his heart that something big was definitely about to happen.

"Alright, get some rest early." Jiang Yan took out a handful of Spirit Stones and handed them to Yin Duo.

"Thank you, Master," Yin Duo happily accepted the Spirit Stones.

After bidding farewell to Yin Duo, Jiang Yan felt he should go talk to Fang Yu. After all, Fang Yu was now the Vice Peak Master and certainly knew more than he did.

But when he reached Fang Yu's residence, Fang Yu was actually not home. Subsequently, Jiang Yan glanced at the residences of other Elders and found that all the mid-to-high-level personnel were absent. Now he was certain that the Blood Cloud Sect was definitely making a major move.

While returning to his own residence, Jiang Yan's mind continuously churned with speculations. It wasn't until a very cruel scenario occurred to him that he stopped in his tracks and looked toward the unfinished altar on the Main Peak.

He knew the source of the Blood Cloud Sect's Blood Qi all too well. He just hadn't expected those people to be such beasts as to actually want to refine the entire Blood Cloud Sect!

Although he didn't dare assume his guess was correct, the direction was certainly right. After all, that Saint's thoughts always hovered on such an edge.

'No, I must clarify the situation.'

Jiang Yan glanced at the peak's summit. He felt he might be able to coax some clues out of Zhu Xiaoyun.

Back in his room, Jiang Yan did not use a Talisman this time but personally sat in meditation... The next day, Jiang Yan left his residence early, pretending to take a stroll as he walked toward the Main Peak.

As he gathered more or less consistent information from several Disciples, his inner suspicions began to find some answers.

Arriving at Blood Sword Peak, Jiang Yan bowed respectfully to Zhu Xiaoyun.

"Su Chen, are you here to ask for my help?" Zhu Xiaoyun asked.

Jiang Yan was puzzled, then understood her meaning and replied with a respectful smile, "To be honest, Peak Master, although I have prepared, I am not entirely certain. If you could help me, that would be for the best."

Hearing that Su Chen indeed wanted her help, Zhu Xiaoyun declined with a smile: "To be honest, even if I were to help you, I might not be a match for that Buddha Son. So I advise you to give up on that idea."

"Peak Master, is there really no other way?" Jiang Yan asked with feigned urgency.

Zhu Xiaoyun pondered for a moment before speaking: "There might be a way, but it's not with me. For your matter, you'll likely have to plead with the Sect Master."

Hearing this, Jiang Yan's expression froze. Immediately after, he looked very anxious and bowed deeply to Zhu Xiaoyun: "I hope the Peak Master can point out a way to survive."

Seeing Jiang Yan in such a state, Zhu Xiaoyun felt very satisfied, as she loved this feeling of being superior.

"It's not impossible to save you, but there are certain things..."

Seeing Zhu Xiaoyun rubbing her fingers together, how could Jiang Yan not understand? He hurriedly took out a Spiritual Artifact: "While I was out on a mission the other day, I happened to obtain a decent Short Blade. I hope the Peak Master can guide me through this."

Taking the Short Blade, Zhu Xiaoyun nodded with satisfaction: "Recently, the Main Peak has been building an altar, and the Sect's resources have been heavily consumed. If you can provide some resources, I think the Sect Master will plead for you."

Hearing Zhu Xiaoyun say this, Jiang Yan quickly asked: "I wonder when that altar will be finished? And how many more resources are needed?"

"The altar will take at least twenty days to complete. As for resources, it depends on how much you, Su Chen, can provide," Zhu Xiaoyun said.

Hearing that the altar would take twenty more days, Jiang Yan felt relieved. He was truly afraid the altar would be finished before he took action.

"Su Chen, do you know why the Saint gave you an impossible task?" Zhu Xiaoyun asked.

Jiang Yan knew, of course, but he had to pretend to be ignorant.

"I do not know. I hope the Peak Master can enlighten me," Jiang Yan said.

Zhu Xiaoyun toyed with the Short Blade in her hand. Her Divine Soul instantly left her body, and after confirming no one was eavesdropping, she said in a low voice, "Su Chen, to tell you the truth, your timing isn't great. If you had come to the Sect two years earlier, perhaps you would have been the Saint's dao protector. But appearing now, the Saint feels you are not a loyal Servant. As for why, you should be very clear in your own heart."

Jiang Yan remained silent. It seemed like Zhu Xiaoyun was speaking for his benefit, but it was actually a test.

As for why she was testing him, it was likely at the behest of the other two Peak Masters.

Because when Zhu Xiaoyun's Divine Soul left her body, he had intercepted a man's voice. Though the voice was blurry, he was certain it belonged to either Peak Master or Chen Tianhe.

"Su Chen, I've already told you the method that can save you. As for how you choose, that is none of my concern," Zhu Xiaoyun said.

Hearing that Zhu Xiaoyun was about to dismiss him, Jiang Yan hurriedly said, "To be honest, Peak Master, the Sect has recently halted missions, and I don't have many resources. If possible, I could complete some tasks on behalf of the Sect Master to earn my survival."

He had plenty of life-saving resources—after all, he didn't rely on resources to Cultivate—but to figure out what the Sect was planning, he had to play poor to fish for information.

Zhu Xiaoyun thought for a moment and asked directly: "Do you know about the Great Sect Secret Realm?"

"I do not," Jiang Yan replied respectfully.

He indeed didn't know anything about a Great Sect Secret Realm, and this information hadn't reached him.

Zhu Xiaoyun was somewhat surprised that Su Chen didn't know about the Great Sect Secret Realm, but since this information wasn't a secret, she simply began to explain.

Upon hearing that sixteen Sects were going to fight for the Secret Realm's resources and Legacy, Jiang Yan's expression was one of shock, because one of those Sects was the Qingyun Sect.

Learning the opening time of the Secret Realm, Jiang Yan instantly remembered what Li Yi had said to him: if he didn't come out within two years, he should stay in the Blood Cloud Sect for the rest of his life... 'Holy crap, Cheap Master, this joke about entrusting me is a bit too much!'

Although the thought crossed his mind, he didn't dare believe it. After all, there were so many Sects, and the Qingyun Sect wasn't the weakest, so it should have just been Li Yi's joke.

"Peak Master, what does this have to do with us?" Jiang Yan pretended to be bewildered, his tone confused. "I just want to earn some resources to save my life, I hope you understand."

Zhu Xiaoyun chuckled: "Su Chen, I don't know if you're truly foolish or just pretending. Can't you see the Saint and the Sect Master's intentions?"

Hearing this, Jiang Yan immediately shut his mouth. He had finally obtained a complete thread of information.

Before Jiang Yan could continue probing, Zhu Xiaoyun's tone suddenly shifted: "Alright, I have no tasks here. The other Peak Masters still have matters to attend to. Next, I advise you to be mentally prepared."

Sensing the meaning in Zhu Xiaoyun's words, Jiang Yan did not linger. He rose, bowed respectfully, turned, and left Zhu Xiaoyun's Cultivation Grounds.

What he could now confirm was that the Blood Cloud Sect was not among the sixteen great Sects, but they had a way to enter that Great Sect Secret Realm.

And that altar was definitely related to the Great Sect Secret Realm. Even if it wasn't, it was likely preparation to boost the strength of these Peak Masters.

'These lunatics... it seems I really must find a way to send you all to Hell!'

Jiang Yan returned to his small courtyard, took out some Talisman paper, drew a few simple First-tier Talismans, and then lay down on one side to rest, pretending to be exhausted.

South Courtyard of Blood Sword Peak.

Since Lü Yue returned, she had not gone out. Looking at the dazed Su Qingyan, tears involuntarily flowed down her face.

Sometimes she envied Su Qingyan, but knowing Su Qingyan's ultimate fate, she felt pity instead.

"Blood Son, if this Slave Girl dies, would you be sad?" Lü Yue asked softly.

"Why would you die?" Su Qingyan asked blankly.

Hearing this, Lü Yue broke into a smile. It was as if Su Qingyan had opened a window for her.

Indeed, why must she wait for death? Could she not resist?