65: Chapter 65 Returning to the Source and Turmoil

"Then say that there were five people who captured you in total," Su Chengyuan had already planned this out. "Three ambushed you and Wenren Zimo, and later, at the place where you were imprisoned, you saw another man and woman.

You must insist that you saw that Senior kill those five people with your own eyes. As for who those five were, you don't know and didn't see clearly. Do you understand?"

Su Yunling nodded vigorously.

In this way, the deaths of the Blazing Fire Sect members and Chen Zifan's group would all be logically shifted onto that "Mysterious Powerhouse."

Even if the Tiangang Sect and Blazing Fire Sect had suspicions, they wouldn't find any evidence; they would only direct their hatred toward that illusory powerhouse.

"Father, you really are..." Su Yunling looked at her father, momentarily unsure of what to say.

When did her father, who she remembered as honest and simple, become so meticulous and decisive in killing?

Su Chengyuan gave a self-deprecating smile: "It was all forced out of me. In this world, if your heart isn't ruthless, you can't stand firm."

He stood up and took out a large pile of bottles and jars from his Storage Pouch, arranging them in front of Su Yunling.

"Here are some top-grade qi recovery pills and body tempering pills prepared for you by your younger brother. Take them for now..."

Su Yunling waved her hand and said softly, "Father, I have no use for these pills for the time being. Most of the ones you brought me before I left the Sect are still hidden in my Immortal Cave; they are enough for me to Cultivate to Peak Tenth Layer Qi Refining."

Hearing this, Su Chengyuan's face showed a hint of gratification, so he no longer insisted and put the pills back.

He looked at his daughter, his expression becoming solemn as he took an exquisite jade box from his Storage Pouch.

"But this, you must accept."

Su Yunling took it and opened it to see a perfectly round Medicinal Pill lying quietly inside. Its surface had three natural veins and it emitted a profound aura.

"Three-veined, supreme grade... foundation establishment pill!" Su Yunling cried out in shock, her hands trembling.

With her High-Grade Spiritual Root Aptitude, she had a significant chance of successful Foundation Establishment even without a foundation establishment pill.

This had always been the source of her confidence.

But that was only for an ordinary Foundation Establishment! What did a supreme grade foundation establishment pill signify?

It signified a success rate of nearly one hundred percent!

One would be a true fool not to take such a shortcut!

"When you go back this time," Su Chengyuan said, looking into his daughter's eyes, "do not have any more misgivings. Forget about unstable Foundations or attracting suspicion; ignore it all. Use the fastest speed to rush your cultivation! Reach Peak Tenth Layer Qi Refining, and then use this pill to achieve Foundation Establishment!"

"If anyone asks, say you were saved by that Senior and gained a massive Opportunity. Not only did he save you, but he also guided your cultivation and bestowed pills upon you. Push all unreasonable matters onto that non-existent person!

Once you become a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and a true core of the Sect, who would dare to move against you easily? Your Revered Master, Elder Jing Xuan, will also become your backing!"

Su Yunling gripped the jade box tightly. Her father's words were like a morning bell or an evening drum, resonating in her heart.

Indeed, she had always been full of worries before, fearing that her brother's secret would be exposed, causing her to act with bound hands and feet.

But what was the result? It only brought about the jealousy and murderous intent of others.

In this world, only strength is the Foundation for survival!

With this excuse now, even if someone wanted to investigate, they would never be able to trace it back to the Su Family.

"I understand, Father." She nodded heavily, the weakness and lingering fear in her eyes swept away, replaced by an unprecedented determination.

"Good." Su Chengyuan nodded with satisfaction. "Set off now for the market at the foot of the Qingxuan Sect's mountain. Then, wait to be 'discovered.' I will escort you in secret until you are safe."

The father and daughter finished their discussion, and Su Yunling placed the foundation establishment pill close to her body.

Afterward, she deliberately made herself look even more wretched and haggard before sneaking toward the direction of the Qingxuan Sect under her father's secret protection.

Three days later, the market at the foot of the Qingxuan Sect's mountain.

A female Cultivator in tattered clothes with a pale face appeared at the market entrance, staggering along.

Her steps were weak, and her eyes held the terror of someone still shaken and a hint of daze, like a weed battered by wind and rain for a long time, ready to collapse at any moment.

"That... isn't that Su Yunling from the Tiangang Sect?" A sharp-eyed Cultivator recognized her, simply because Su Yunling's portrait had been all over the market recently.

"It really is her! Hasn't she been missing for nearly two months? Why is she here?"

"Looking at her state, she must have suffered greatly!"

The sounds of discussion rose everywhere, and soon Qingxuan Sect Disciples patrolling the market arrived upon hearing the news.

Once they confirmed Su Yunling's identity, they did not dare to delay and immediately reported the matter.

Half an hour later, a Foundation Establishment Elder from the Qingxuan Sect's Law Enforcement Hall arrived personally and took Su Yunling back to the Sect's guest courtyard.

As the news spread, the entire Qingxuan Sect was shaken.

The Genius Disciple of the Tiangang Sect, missing for nearly two months, had actually returned alive; this was undoubtedly a major event.

The Tiangang Sect Elders and Disciples staying at the Qingxuan Sect received the news and rushed to the guest courtyard immediately.

When they saw Su Yunling, who was weak but not in mortal danger, everyone breathed a long sigh of relief.

Among the remaining Disciples, Wenren Zimo's reaction was the most intense.

He pushed through the crowd and rushed to the front. Seeing Su Yunling's torn clothes and pale face, this usually steady young man's eyes instantly turned red.

These past days, his heart had been filled with self-reproach and regret.

However, if it weren't for his insistence on continuing the search, the remaining group would likely have returned to the Sect long ago. He hadn't expected to actually see Su Yunling return now.

"Junior Sister..." Wenren Zimo's voice was hoarse, filled with deep guilt. "Are... are you alright? It's all my fault; I failed to protect you!"

Seeing his haggard face and bloodshot eyes, Su Yunling's heart warmed slightly, and she shook her head gently: "Senior Brother Wenren, I don't blame you. The enemy was too cunning and powerful."

Beside them, Elder Li patted Wenren Zimo's shoulder, signaling him to calm down, then turned to Su Yunling and asked with a serious expression: "Yun Ling, let's not talk about that for now. What exactly happened?!"

Following the story she had discussed with her father, Su Yunling slowly recounted the fabricated experience of terror and lingering fear.

She told of how she was ambushed by three masked Cultivators, how Senior Brother Wenren was heavily injured trying to protect her, and how she was captured.

Then, she focused on describing being imprisoned in a dark cave, living in fear every day.

"There were five people who captured me in total," Su Yunling's voice trembled. "Besides the three who attacked, a man and a woman came to the cave later. I don't know what they were plotting, but for some reason, they never made a move against me."

"Until three days ago, the Formation of that cave was suddenly broken. It was a passing Senior expert who discovered the place by chance. Those five people wanted to attack that Senior, and as a result... as a result..."

Her face showed an expression of extreme terror, as if recalling some horrifying scene: "That Senior just waved his hand, and those five people... all died. Not a single one was left alive."

"A Senior?" Elder Li pressed, "What did that Senior look like? What was his cultivation level?"