61: Impossible

The Chess Sword Pavilion, Sect Master's Pavilion.

Nangong Li closed her eyes in meditation, Cultivating in the sword chamber filled with famous swords.

The moment the Innate Sword Intent emitted Sword Qi, the famous swords around her immediately let out ringing sounds.

Suddenly, Nangong Li opened her eyes.

The three thousand famous swords in the sword chamber simultaneously unsheathed, all landing around Nangong Li, interweaving and emitting faint sword cries.

"I am still one step away from Breaking through the sixth layer of the Primordial Chaos Realm. My progress is still far too slow compared to when I was by Shen Lian's side."

Putting away the Innate Sword Intent surrounding her, Nangong Li rose and walked out of the sword chamber.

The moment she left, the three thousand famous swords on the ground flew together again and returned to their sheaths autonomously. Clearly, these swords possessed spirituality.

"Greetings, Sect Master."

Just as Nangong Li left the sword chamber, she saw a white-robed Disciple carrying a sword on his back kneeling on one knee, his expression respectful.

Nangong Li flicked her long sleeve: "Have you found any clues regarding the murderer of White Sword Life?"

"Reporting to Sect Master, we have not investigated clearly, but this Disciple went to the Monster Beast Mountain Range and found that ten thousand square miles deep inside the Monster Beast Mountain Range had been razed to the ground. It is likely that Senior Brother White died during that Demonic Beast riot."

Nangong Li closed her eyes and sighed softly: "White Sword Life was a Disciple I meticulously nurtured for nearly a hundred years. I had intended to give him heavy responsibilities, but I never expected him to meet such an end."

"Issue an order to the entire Sect: White Sword Life, a Disciple of the Chess Sword Pavilion, perished in the jaws of a Demonic Beast while protecting the common people. This righteous act must be known throughout the world."

"Yes!"

The sword-carrying Disciple responded and accepted the order.

Nangong Li nodded, then asked: "Right, how is the Heavenly Feather Sect currently? Are Junior Brother Ye and the Old Ancestor doing well? Have the gifts I selected for them been delivered?"

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this question, the sword-carrying Disciple lowered his head and whispered: "Reporting to Sect Master, the Heavenly Feather Sect has been annihilated. Apart from Sect Master Shen Chuyun and Ye Fan, whose whereabouts are unknown,"

"the masters of the other five Peaks, the Sect Elders, two thousand Inner Sect Disciples, thirty thousand Outer Sect Disciples, and even Old Ancestor Tianyu, were all killed."

"Cang Jian, do not joke like this!"

Hearing this news, Nangong Li's expression showed no fluctuation whatsoever.

Because it was impossible. Although the Heavenly Feather Sect was not considered top-tier on the entire continent, it was definitely paramount within the Eastern Barrens territory.

Annihilated now?

How is that possible!

"Sect Master, you should know that this Disciple never jokes," Cang Jian replied calmly. "This Disciple followed the Sect Master's instructions to enter the Eastern Barrens to investigate Senior Brother White's cause of death and visit the Heavenly Feather Sect,

"but when I arrived at the Heavenly Feather Sect, I found it had become a ruin. The Spiritual Veins were destroyed, the Life Qi in the medicinal fields had dissipated, and it bore no resemblance to a Cultivation Sect."

Hearing this, Nangong Li was finally moved: "Are you saying all this is true?"

"This Disciple dares not conceal a single word from the Sect Master."

Nangong Li's eyes turned cold: "I must return to the Eastern Domain to investigate this thoroughly. During my absence, all matters, large and small, within the Sect will be handled by Lord Youyang."

"Yes."

After Cang Jian responded, Nangong Li immediately rode her Flying Sword, transforming into a streak of light and departing into the distance... "Senior Sister Du, I've brought the water for you. Remember not to forget to water the medicinal fields."

In the back mountain of the Chess Sword Pavilion, Su Mengyao, who had been demoted to a Utility Disciple, carried two buckets of spiritual spring water to the medicinal fields. After greeting Du Bingyan, who was tending the fields, she poured the water directly into the water vat in front of the wooden house.

Du Bingyan ignored Su Mengyao, remaining focused on tidying the soil in the medicinal fields.

"I'm exhausted."

After carrying the water, Su Mengyao shook her aching arms, then looked at the medicinal fields, which were neatly tended.

This was Su Mengyao's seventh day as a Utility Disciple, and she had completely adapted to her new identity.

Compared to the internal strife within the Sect, Su Mengyao felt that her current living environment was exceptionally peaceful.

"Senior Sister Du, you tend these medicinal fields so well. Can you teach me?"

Su Mengyao always had a smile on her face. She leaned closer to a patch of medicinal fields and sniffed.

"Don't touch those randomly."

Du Bingyan didn't even turn her head, giving a sharp reprimand.

"If anything happens to the medicinal herbs, the Hall Master certainly won't spare me. You should go somewhere else. You're not needed here anymore."

Su Mengyao realized Du Bingyan didn't trust her, but she didn't get angry and immediately picked up the empty buckets.

"In that case, Senior Sister Du, please continue your work. I'll head back first."

After speaking, Su Mengyao hummed a little tune and prepared to leave.

"Why do you have to be like this?"

Just as she turned around, Du Bingyan's voice came from behind her.

"Can't you be a little more accommodating? Knowing that they don't like you, why won't you change your temperament?"

Hearing this, Su Mengyao put down the empty buckets, turned around, and said to Du Bingyan: "My personality is just like this. Wrong is wrong, and right is right."

"I haven't offended anyone; they were the ones who provoked me. Senior Sister Du, are you suggesting I should constantly suffer injustice and swallow my anger?"

Du Bingyan sighed lightly, put down the medicinal tools in her hand, and walked up to Su Mengyao.

"Aren't you suffering injustice right now? With your talent and Aptitude, becoming a Sect Master's Personal Disciple would be more than sufficient,"

"It's precisely your unforgiving attitude, even when you are right, that makes people dislike you,"

"Take Lu Qingyi, for instance. Her Aptitude and talent are inferior to yours,"

"Yet why was she accepted by the Sect Master as a Personal Disciple and Inner Sect Disciple? Isn't it because she knows the Sect Master's preferences?"

Hearing this, Su Mengyao took Du Bingyan's hand and said: "But I just can't bring myself to be that fake. Things obtained through groveling will never truly belong to oneself."

"Oh, you're still being stubborn."

Du Bingyan playfully tapped her nose.

"Look at you now. You can't even be an Outer Sect Disciple anymore. How are you going to realize your childhood dream of reaching the Peak of the Sword Dao?"

Su Mengyao, however, looked completely unconcerned: "Don't worry, Senior Sister Du. I am just a pearl covered in dust right now. Sooner or later, I will shine brightly."

"Who says a Utility Disciple can't reach the Peak of the Sword Dao? Who made that rule?"

"Oh, just keep being stubborn," Du Bingyan shook her head speechlessly. "Just listen to me this time,"

"Wait until the Sect Master's anger subsides, then proactively go and admit your mistake. If she's happy, she'll definitely forgive you."

"No," Su Mengyao puffed out her cheeks. "They stole my Flying Sword and framed me as a thief. Why should I apologize to them."

"You, why are you so unreasonable? Hehe."

Du Bingyan was also amused by Su Mengyao's current adorable expression.

"Forget it, we'll talk about your matters later. For now, just stay honestly in the back mountain for a bit of peace and quiet."

"If there's nothing else, I'll head back now. If I go back any later, I'll miss lunchtime."

Su Mengyao said goodbye, gave Du Bingyan a sweet smile, turned around, picked up the buckets, and left.

"Sigh."

Watching Su Mengyao's receding figure, Du Bingyan just sighed helplessly... At noon, Su Mengyao held a lunch box, sitting by the cliff edge in the back mountain. She ate her meal in small bites while enjoying the magnificent scenery.

"Before, I only focused on practicing the sword and never relaxed my mind to appreciate such beautiful scenery. This is truly wonderful."

Looking at the overlapping Peaks before her, Su Mengyao was in high spirits.

Just then, a sickly sweet voice broke the wonderful tranquility.

"Senior Sister, why are you here? Having not seen Senior Sister for the past few days, Junior Sister has felt quite lost."

Su Mengyao took a deep breath and looked back.

She saw Lu Qingyi, accompanied by two male Disciples, watching her with a mocking expression.