87: Chapter 87 The Marquis of Beiliang's residence has a rather interesting maid!

Half a month is enough time for a piece of news to travel from one end of the Eastern Region to the other.

"Over 140 elite Disciples of the Zifu Sword Pavilion have been wiped out in the Tianyuan Ancient Realm."

This news was like a thunderclap, turning the entire Eastern Region's cultivation world upside down.

The Sect Heads, Elders, and Clan Heads of major forces could no longer sit still.

The Zifu Sword Pavilion is one of the three Holy Lands, with unfathomable foundations. If even their Disciples can be wiped out in such a systematic way, is there anywhere safe in this world?

Following that, a second piece of news exploded.

"Chief Disciple Mo Qianji of the Xuanhuang Immortal Mansion is suspected of setting up the Ten Thousand Souls Devouring Heaven Formation to lure and kill Zifu Disciples."

"Bullshit! It's clearly a bitter scheme orchestrated by Zifu itself!"

These two voices were arguing endlessly in the teahouses and taverns of every city in the Eastern Region.

Forces affiliated with Zifu cursed the Xuanhuang Immortal Mansion for being insidious and vicious.

Sects attached to Xuanhuang bit back, accusing Zifu of being a thief crying "stop thief."

Neutral forces dared not offend either side, each closing their mountain gates tightly, fearing they would be implicated.

The sky of the Eastern Region has changed.

...

Daoxuan Immortal Sect, Changsheng Peak, palace study.

Gu Yi knelt on one knee, presenting a thick dossier of intelligence with both hands.

"Young Lord, the information on Shen Jingzhe has been cleared up."

Gu Changsheng took the dossier from the desk and opened the first page.

"Speak."

Gu Yi raised his head, his expression serious.

"Shen Jingzhe, a concubine-born daughter of the Beiliang Marquis Manor in the Great Xia Dynasty, seventeen years old this year."

Gu Changsheng turned a page.

"Marquis of Beiliang?"

"A collateral branch of the Great Xia imperial family, with their fief in the bitter cold northern border of Great Xia." Gu Yi continued.

"Marquis of Beiliang Shen Yuanshan has three sons and two daughters, four of whom are legitimate."

"Shen Jingzhe's mother was originally a maid in the manor who served tea and water, and only conceived this child after being favored by Shen Yuanshan while he was drunk."

Gu Changsheng tapped his finger on the dossier.

"Concubine-born daughter?"

"Yes." Gu Yi spat out a single word.

"And the kind of concubine-born daughter who is least favored."

"When she was born, it happened to be when the Marquis of Beiliang's wife gave birth to a legitimate son, and the whole manor was celebrating."

"No one cared that a maid had given birth to a girl."

"Her mother was driven back to work before she had even finished her postpartum recovery."

"Shen Jingzhe grew up living in the most remote woodshed of the manor, eating the leftovers of the servants and wearing the old clothes discarded by her legitimate Elder sister."

Gu Changsheng closed the dossier and threw it back on the table.

"And then?"

"Then comes the important part." Gu Yi's tone changed.

"When she was fourteen, Shen Jingzhe accidentally touched a Spirit Stone, and the Spirit Stone exploded."

Gu Changsheng raised an eyebrow.

"Exploded?"

"Yes." Gu Yi nodded.

"That Spirit Stone was Medium Grade, and the moment she touched it, all the spiritual power stored inside surged into her body."

"The Beiliang Marquis Manor hired a wandering Taoist to test her Spiritual Root."

"The result, Heavenly Spiritual Root."

Gu Changsheng leaned back in his chair, tapping his index finger on the armrest twice.

Heavenly Spiritual Root.

In the Lower Realm, it might be considered a treasure, but in the Xuantian True Domain, it's just decent Aptitude for Cultivate.

What really caught his attention were the three Luck tags marked by the System.

Misfortune turns to fortune, finding a way out of a desperate situation, and immunity to all Dao.

Three of them are life-saving tags.

This girl is being raised by the Heavenly Dao as a turtle.

"After the Spiritual Root was tested, the attitude of the manor changed." Gu Yi continued his report.

"Shen Yuanshan personally moved her from the woodshed to the main courtyard, and her food and clothing were all provided according to the specifications of a legitimate daughter."

"Her mother was also promoted from a maid to a concubine and moved into a separate courtyard."

"Shen Jingzhe was also promising; within five years, she cultivated from a Mortal to the Dan Bian Realm."

Gu Changsheng's finger stopped.

Five years, Dan Bian Realm.

Even in the Daoxuan Immortal Sect, this speed would rank in the top ten.

"She's got something." Gu Changsheng spat out four words.

"There is one more thing." Gu Yi lowered his voice.

"My subordinate found out that there is a young man named Song Heng beside Shen Jingzhe."

"The two families are family friends, and Song Heng's father is the Marquis of Tongyuan."

"Song Heng is two years older than Shen Jingzhe, and they grew up together."

"During the years when Shen Jingzhe was bullied in the manor, she relied entirely on Song Heng to secretly bring her food and clothes."

Gu Yi paused, his tone revealing something subtle.

"My subordinate's scouts reported that these two... have an unusual relationship."

Gu Changsheng laughed.

The laughter was not loud, but it made Gu Yi's back feel cold.

"Another childhood sweetheart story."

Gu Changsheng stood up and paced around the desk twice.

He complained inwardly.

"This Heavenly Dao script always has the same few tropes."

"Humble origins, help from nobles, childhood sweethearts, and advancing hand in hand."

"Looks like it's time to break up the lovebirds again!"

Gu Changsheng walked back behind the desk and sat down.

"Which Sect governs the Great Xia Dynasty?"

Gu Yi answered quickly.

"Replying to the Young Lord, the Great Xia Dynasty belongs to the vassal territory of the Daoxuan Immortal Sect, and the directly governing Sect is the Qingyun Sword Sect."

"What's their background?"

"A second-rate Sect, the Sect Head is named Sect Leader Chen Chaoyang, at the Early Stage of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm."

"Summon him to see me."

Gu Yi was taken aback.

"Young Lord, for a Sect Head of such a second-rate Sect, should I issue an order directly—"

"Use the Saint token." Gu Changsheng interrupted him.

"Let him know who is calling him."

"Understood."

Gu Yi's figure disappeared at the doorway.

...

Seven days later.

Sect Leader Chen Chaoyang of the Qingyun Sword Sect stood before the mountain gate of the Daoxuan Immortal Sect, looking up at the thousand-zhang-high white jade stone steps.

On both sides of the stone steps, every hundred steps there was a mountain-guarding stone beast, with thick, inseparable Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi spewing from the beast's mouth.

He took a deep breath, and the Qi in his chest circulated uncontrollably for a cycle.

"This concentration of Spiritual Qi..." Sect Leader Chen Chaoyang swallowed hard.

He had Cultivate in the Qingyun Sword Sect for two hundred years and had never seen Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi of this quality; it was more than ten times thicker than his Sect's core Spiritual Vein.

The guiding Daoxuan Disciple walked in front without looking back.

"Sect Leader Chen Chaoyang, please."

Sect Leader Chen Chaoyang lifted his robe corner and followed up.

After walking up the stone steps and passing through three Restriction light screens, he entered the Inner Sect Disciple area.

Sect Leader Chen Chaoyang's pace slowed by half a beat.

In the distance, the Peaks were like swords, and palaces and pavilions floated on every mountaintop, with waterfalls pouring down from ten-thousand-zhang-high cliffs into the sea of clouds.

The sound of Flying Sword piercing the air passed overhead, and a dozen Inner Sect Disciple were riding their Flying Sword, traveling between the Peaks.

The aura on those Disciple was at least at the Divine Light Realm.

The corner of Sect Leader Chen Chaoyang's mouth twitched.

His Qingyun Sword Sect's town-guarding Elder was only at the Peak of the Divine Light Realm; in this place, he wouldn't even be qualified to carry someone's shoes.

The guiding Disciple brought him to the foot of Changsheng Peak.

"His Highness the Saint is waiting in the main hall at the Peak; Sect Leader Chen Chaoyang may go up yourself."

The guiding Disciple left after dropping this sentence.

Sect Leader Chen Chaoyang looked up at the mountain Peak, which was half-hidden by clouds, his palms full of sweat.

He had lived for over two hundred years and had seen many big shots, but this time was different.

The Saint token had been delivered to his desk three days ago, a palm-sized golden token engraved with the two characters "Daoxuan".

Once the token was revealed, he hadn't slept well for a single night.

Saint of the Daoxuan Immortal Sect, Young Lord of the Changsheng Gu Clan.

Either one of these titles alone could make his small Sect tremble.

Combined, they were a high mountain he couldn't reach even if he looked up for a lifetime.

Sect Leader Chen Chaoyang tidied his clothes and used his Qi to fly to the Peak.

The main hall doors were wide open.

Sect Leader Chen Chaoyang crossed the threshold and saw a young man in dark gold black robes leaning on the chair in the main seat.

A cup of tea was placed beside his hand, the tea soup still steaming.

The young man raised his eyelids and glanced at him, then pointed his finger at the guest seat below.

"Sit."

Sect Leader Chen Chaoyang didn't dare to sit directly; he first bowed deeply.

"Sect Leader Chen Chaoyang of the Qingyun Sword Sect, pays respects to His Highness the Saint!"

Gu Changsheng sized him up, the corners of his mouth twitching.

"Early Stage of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, you have some skills for a second-rate Sect."

The sweat on Sect Leader Chen Chaoyang's back added another layer.

"The Saint praises me too much; my humble Cultivate is not worth mentioning."

Gu Changsheng picked up the teacup and took a sip.

"Sit. I called you here, not to punish you."

The stone in Sect Leader Chen Chaoyang's heart loosened by half, and he sat down cautiously on the edge of the guest seat.

His buttocks only touched one-third of the chair.

"I wonder why His Highness the Saint has summoned this old man?" Sect Leader Chen Chaoyang started.

Gu Changsheng put down the teacup.

He didn't speak.

His finger tapped on the desk slowly twice.

"Tap."

"Tap."

The hall was so quiet that even breathing could be heard.

Sect Leader Chen Chaoyang's back was already soaked; it didn't feel like tapping on the table, it felt like tapping on his heart.