Suspicion

"This was no Heavenly Treasure. Someone had used a variety of Divine Abilities here to create this scene."

After the Qingyun Sect leaders had ordered the disciples sent back to the sect, they turned and came to the great pit. Dao Xuan examined it for a few moments before reaching a conclusion.

"It wasn't a Heavenly Treasure?"

The Peak Lords were deeply puzzled.

"Sword qi, Lightning Technique, and various strange forces intertwining could indeed make people think some earth-shattering phenomenon had occurred here. But this was all done by a person, and that person's Cultivation Level was likely within the Lower Three Realms. Their Divine Abilities had only been cultivated for a short time."

Dao Xuan explained with a smile.

The so-called Heavenly Treasure was nothing but fiction. The real matter was why the Demonic Cult had gathered here. As for this supposed site where a Heavenly Treasure had descended, it was very likely the work of some mysterious cultivator. What that cultivator had intended to do was unknown; perhaps they had merely felt like trying out a Divine Ability.

Still, Dao Xuan silently harbored some doubts. Judging from the traces left by those Divine Abilities, why did they resemble the cultivation arts recorded in Qingyun Sect's library?

However, compared to those records, the cultivation arts used by this mysterious cultivator were far more profound. They had even summoned heavenly lightning.

Of course, these were merely Dao Xuan's guesses, and he did not mention them to the others.

While everyone was still investigating and speculating over the Demonic Cult's actions, they suddenly spotted a figure walking toward them from afar and all turned to look.

"Hm? Master, Martial Uncles, why are you all here?"

As the figure drew close, it proved to be Su Changqing. Dressed in flowing white robes, he cut a handsome and elegant figure as he slowly approached the Qingyun Sect Peak Lords. Pretending to have only just noticed them, he asked with a look of surprise and confusion.

"Chang Qing!"

Seeing Su Changqing safely before her, Shuiyue finally felt the great weight in her heart lift. She hurried over and looked him over. "Did you encounter anyone else on this journey? Were you injured?"

"Thank you for your concern, Master. I kept your teachings in mind, avoided demon beasts along the way, and encountered no strange people. I was not injured."

Su Changqing smiled faintly as he replied to Shuiyue.

The Peak Lords, however, were baffled. Hadn't all the Qingyun Sect disciples already returned? Why had Su Changqing suddenly appeared here, looking so calm as though he had no idea what had just happened?

Moreover, when Qingyun Sect had selected disciples for this training excursion, they did not recall seeing Su Changqing among them.

"Chang Qing, why are you here?"

Zeng Shuchang, Peak Lord of Chaoyang Peak, was the first to question Su Changqing.

In contrast, Dao Xuan Zhenren, the Qingyun Sect Leader, said nothing. He merely watched Su Changqing with an enigmatic smile, as if silently speculating about something.

"Martial Uncle Zeng, I arrived at Nine Yin Mountain yesterday. While cultivating, I saw a record of an immortal flower called the Desolate Orchid Water Lily. I took a liking to it and came here to pick one, taking the chance to gain some experience. I had already informed my master in advance."

Su Changqing cupped his hands and bowed as he answered Zeng Shuchang.

"Desolate Orchid Water Lily?"

No one seemed particularly convinced by that explanation.

"Yes. I searched for a long time before finding one."

Su Changqing took a Desolate Orchid Water Lily from his robes. Fortunately, his Foundation Establishment breakthrough had only consumed the plant's spiritual essence; its main body remained intact and could now serve as proof.

Only then did the Peak Lords believe Su Changqing's answer.

"By the way, after I obtained the Desolate Orchid Water Lily, I was preparing to return to the sect when I noticed a disturbance coming from this direction and hid. Were you Martial Uncles using Divine Abilities here?"

Su Changqing changed the subject and asked them with apparent surprise.

No one spoke for a long while. Tian Buyi's expression darkened, while Shuiyue looked at Su Changqing awkwardly, as though reminding him not to bring it up.

Two Qingyun Sect Peak Lords had fought a Demonic Cult leader, yet had only achieved victory with someone else's help. It was not something they could bring themselves to say.

Su Changqing tactfully pretended not to pursue the matter. He then said, "Oh, right, Martial Uncles. While I was hiding, I saw a cave. There seemed to be a formation with glowing runes inside, but no one was there. Would you like to take a look?"

Naturally, Su Changqing could not directly mention the formation or the Kui Ox. That would only make these meticulous Peak Lords suspect him even more of what had happened at Nine Yin Mountain.

He could only hint at it like this and let them uncover the cause and effect themselves.

"Junior Brother Cang Song, Junior Brother Shang, go take a look."

With Su Changqing's report, Dao Xuan Zhenren dispatched Cang Song and another to investigate.

"Then, Sect Leader, Master, and Martial Uncles, this disciple Su Changqing will return to the sect first and no longer disturb you."

The Demonic Cult had fled, leaving behind only the formation. The rest was for the Peak Lords to settle, and Su Changqing had nothing more to do at Nine Yin Mountain, so he requested leave from the group.

"Yes. You, your master, and Martial Uncle Tian may return first."

Dao Xuan Zhenren nodded, telling Shuiyue and Tian Buyi, the two Peak Lords whose vital energy had been damaged in the recent battle, to return to the sect with Su Changqing.

Just as Su Changqing stepped onto Shuiyue's Flying Sword, ready to depart with them, a voice sounded behind him.

"Kid, your swordsmanship is not bad!"

Su Changqing paused in surprise and turned around. He saw Dao Xuan watching him with a meaningful smile, and immediately understood.

It seemed his actions had ultimately not escaped Dao Xuan's notice. Dao Xuan must have known that he was the one who had aided them and launched the surprise attack.

However, Dao Xuan did not seem to intend to expose his identity.

With that, Su Changqing was relieved. He could still remain an inconspicuous nobody and quietly grow stronger where no one could see, cultivating his way to the Great Dao.

Su Changqing returned his smile. Then his sword rose into the air, gradually disappearing into the drifting clouds.

"Good kid. You truly have not disappointed my expectations."

From the first moment Dao Xuan saw Su Changqing, he had already formed many suspicions. Especially after discovering that Su Changqing had already reached Foundation Establishment, he became even more certain of his thoughts.

Chang Qing had come to the sect to cultivate Daoist Magic only six or seven months ago, hadn't he?

In only six or seven months, he had cultivated the Taiji Xuanqing Dao to the fourth realm and reached the Foundation Establishment Realm. Even Dao Xuan, the Qingyun Sect Leader, was somewhat shocked by such cultivation speed.

Perhaps only the Qingyun Ancestor of old could compare to him!

Yet this boy possessed a steady temperament and seemed unwilling to display his abilities before others. Otherwise, he could have revealed the truth just now.

"You don't like showing off before others, do you? Then at the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament, I'll have to make you show what you're really capable of."

Suddenly, Dao Xuan Zhenren had a mischievous thought. Since this boy wanted to hide his abilities, then the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament would be the perfect place to test his true skill.