191: Chapter 191 The Pavilion Master's Favor

The mountain gate of Qingxin Pavilion was more majestic than Li Changsheng had imagined.

It was a palace complex built on a cliff, with bottomless abysses on three sides and only a narrow stone staircase leading to the gate.

On both sides of the stone steps, every ten paces stood a female cultivator in white holding a sword, her expression solemn and her gaze alert.

The mountain gate was tightly shut, its surface covered in dense defensive runes that emitted a faint glow.

Through the runes, one could vaguely see patrolling Disciples, each holding a Magical Artifact, standing ready as if for a great battle.

"State of war."

Su Qianxue whispered.

"Ever since the falling out with the Qinglan Sword Sect, the Pavilion Master ordered a round-the-clock alert."

Li Changsheng nodded without speaking.

The two of them walked up the stone steps.

The female cultivators on guard nodded in greeting when they saw Su Qianxue, but their gazes toward Li Changsheng were filled with wariness and curiosity.

Before the mountain gate, Su Qianxue took out a jade token and pressed it against the door.

The runes flickered for a moment, and the gate slowly opened.

"Let's go."

Su Qianxue said.

"The Pavilion Master is waiting for you."

The main hall of Qingxin Pavilion was located in the deepest part of the mountain gate.

It was a pure white hall with upturned eaves, bracket sets, and painted beams, exuding refinement and elegance everywhere.

The front of the hall was planted with various rare flowers and exotic herbs, emitting a faint fragrance.

Li Changsheng followed Su Qianxue into the main hall.

The furnishings inside were simple yet solemn.

In the center was a white jade seat, and on it sat a woman in white.

Su Qinghan.

Nascent Soul Early Stage.

She looked to be in her early thirties, but in reality, she was already a hundred and seventy or eighty years old.

Her face was clear and beautiful, her temperament cold and aloof, with long black hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall.

Her gaze was deep and sharp, as if it could see through everything.

Li Changsheng walked to the center of the hall and bowed.

"Junior Li Changsheng greets Pavilion Master Su."

Su Qinghan looked at him, her gaze lingering on him for a long time.

"Rise."

Li Changsheng straightened up and met her gaze.

A faint smile appeared at the corners of Su Qinghan's mouth.

"An interesting person indeed."

She stood up, walked down the steps, and circled Li Changsheng, looking him up and down.

"Foundation Establishment Peak, just one step away from Golden Core."

"Sharp sword techniques and rich combat experience. To be able to escape Ling Cang's pursuit is no simple feat."

Li Changsheng remained silent.

Su Qinghan returned to her seat and looked at him, her gaze becoming serious.

"Li Changsheng, I know you want to find out the truth about the Blood Fiend Sect."

"I also know you detest Ling Cang's ambition."

She paused, saying each word clearly:

"As long as you are willing to help Qingxin Pavilion fight against Qinglan, I will help you uncover the truth."

"I will also provide you with the resources needed for Core Formation."

Li Changsheng looked at her, remained silent for a moment, and then asked.

"Why does the Pavilion Master want to help me?"

Su Qinghan smiled, a smile tinged with bitterness.

"Because I hate Ling Cang."

She stood up, walked to the window, and looked outside.

"The Former Pavilion Master was my Master. She treated me like her own daughter and taught me everything she knew."

"In that battle, to protect Qingxin Pavilion, she burned her own life and died on the battlefield."

Her voice became low.

"Meanwhile, Ling Cang's reinforcements were just thirty miles away, staying put."

She turned around and looked at Li Changsheng.

"Do you know why he didn't move?"

Li Changsheng was silent.

Su Qinghan said word by word.

"Because he wanted more people from Qingxin Pavilion to die. The more who died, the easier we would be to control."

Li Changsheng's heart jolted.

He remembered Elder Zhou's face and the words he had said—'Let more of them die; only when we arrive will they be truly grateful.'

It turned out Ling Cang knew all about those words.

He had permitted it.

Su Qinghan looked at him with a deep gaze.

"Li Changsheng, you are different from me. You climbed up from the bottom step by step, seeing too much life and death, and too much ugliness. You won't be blinded by those high-sounding words."

"I need someone like you."

Li Changsheng was silent for a long time.

Then, he raised his head and looked at her.

"Pavilion Master, I can help you fight Qinglan. But I have one condition."

"Speak."

"I will not do anything that goes against my conscience. I will not kill the innocent indiscriminately, nor will I oppress the weak."

"If your orders contradict this, I have the right to refuse."

Li Changsheng said.

Su Qinghan looked at him, a flash of appreciation in her eyes.

"Fine. I promise you."

She reached out her hand.

Li Changsheng also reached out his hand.

Their hands clasped together.

The cooperation was established.

After leaving the main hall, Su Qianxue took Li Changsheng to his quarters.

It was a quiet room located halfway up the mountain, not large, but clean and tidy.

Outside the window were rolling mountains shrouded in mist, a magnificent view.

"Rest for now,"

Su Qianxue said.

"Tomorrow, I will take you to the Scripture Pavilion."

"The Pavilion Master said you may freely browse the Cultivation Techniques of Qingxin Pavilion."

Li Changsheng nodded and thanked her.

Su Qianxue looked at him, hesitating.

Li Changsheng asked.

"What is it?"

Su Qianxue hesitated for a moment and whispered.

"Lately, the Pavilion Master... there are some things I don't quite understand."

Li Changsheng looked at her.

Su Qianxue continued.

"She has been in contact with people from the Demonic Cult."

Li Changsheng's heart sank slightly.

Su Qianxue said.

"I don't know what she plans to do."

"But she seems to have reached some kind of agreement with the Demonic Cult to jointly oppose Qinglan."

"I... I'm a little worried."

Li Changsheng was silent for a moment, then asked.

"Do you think the Pavilion Master will be used by the Demonic Cult?"

Su Qianxue shook her head.

"I don't know. The Pavilion Master is very clever and always acts with discretion."

"But the Demonic Cult... those people cannot be trusted."

Li Changsheng looked at her and said seriously.

"Su Qianxue, thank you for telling me this. I will keep it in mind."

Su Qianxue nodded and turned to leave.

Li Changsheng stood by the window, gazing at the mountains outside, motionless for a long time.

Su Qinghan was in contact with the Demonic Cult.

What exactly did she want to do?

He didn't know.

But he knew that from now on, he had to be even more careful. The Scripture Pavilion of Qingxin Pavilion was located in a cavern behind the main hall.

It was a massive underground grotto, a hundred yards across and ten yards high.

Countless niches were carved into the surrounding stone walls, housing all kinds of classics, Jade Slips, and scrolls neatly.

In the center of the grotto was a large stone table with several ever-burning lamps, illuminating the entire space.

Li Changsheng sat by the stone table with the Blood Fiend Sect's Jade Slip before him.

Su Qinghan stood behind him, her hands forming seals as she continuously channeled spiritual power into the Jade Slip.

Her brow was furrowed, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead; clearly, this process was not easy.

"This Restriction is very strong."

She spoke, her voice sounding strained.

"The cultivation level of the person who set this Restriction is not inferior to mine."

Li Changsheng's heart skipped a beat.

Not inferior to Su Qinghan?

That would be the Nascent Soul Stage.

Who would place a Nascent Soul Stage Restriction on a tiny Jade Slip?

He thought of True Lord Three Swords' words and Elder Li Ran's final words before his death, and an ominous premonition welled up in his heart.

"Pavilion Master, can it be broken?"

Su Qinghan was silent for a moment, then said.

"Yes. But it will take time."

She took a deep breath, and the speed of her hand seals increased.

Strands of spiritual power surged from her fingertips like fine threads, wrapping around the Jade Slip.

Those threads seeped into the runes on the surface of the Jade Slip, wearing down the Restriction bit by bit.

Time passed in silence.

One hour, two hours, three hours...

As the fourth hour was nearly over, the Jade Slip suddenly made a faint cracking sound.

Crack.

A fracture appeared on the surface of the Jade Slip.

Then, a second, a third...

The cracks spread like a spiderweb until it finally shattered!

The light on the surface of the Jade Slip dissipated, revealing its contents.

Li Changsheng's heart pounded like thunder as he leaned forward to carefully identify the ancient text.

"tianwu calendar year 3700, Blood Cloud Gate Sect Master Xue Yunzi and Qinglan Sword Sect Grand Elder Ling Yuan discovered an Ancient Ruin in the Northwestern Desert of Yunzhou."