Inquiry of the Young Master

Qing Prefecture is the territory of the Chen Clan Immortal Family, located on Yellow Cloud Mountain.

They are the only Immortal Sect that has maintained its aristocratic family form since ancient times, and all new disciples must abandon their original identities and surnames to become part of the Chen clan.

Then, in the early years of Taiyuan, as spring approached and the last vestiges of winter receded on a bright day, the great formation of Yellow Cloud Mountain suddenly dissolved. The immortal mist that had shrouded the mountain peaks gradually dispersed with a wave of the Sect Master's sleeve.

At this moment, heavenly light surged, and disciples of the Inner and Outer Courts lined the mountain path, whispering amongst themselves.

"A disciple from another sect is coming to visit the mountain?"

"The sect protection formation has been lifted. This is clearly not a friendly visit, but a challenge."

"What's the difference between a friendly visit and a challenge?"

"No matter who a disciple from another sect is, even a direct disciple of the current generation, they must first present a visiting card to visit another sect. This is called a friendly visit. Only when the Sect Master of another sect comes for a specific reason can it be called a challenge. As a sign of respect, the host clan must lift their sect protection formation."

"Why have I never heard of any sect master leaving their mountain?"

"Yesterday, a senior disciple saw someone from the Spirit Sword Mountain. It's said that the one coming this time is the Young Master Jian, a direct disciple of the Spirit Sword Mountain."

On the peak of Yellow Cloud Mountain, amidst vast seas of clouds, three people stood against the wind and waves. At their feet, the rising sun painted the surging sea of clouds with golden hues.

Two of the three were a young man and woman, named Chen Luo and Chen Xi, a brother and sister with direct bloodline to the main family.

Despite their youth, both were now at the Middle Dao Integration Realm, and were direct disciples of the Chen Clan Immortal Family's current generation.

Behind them stood an old woman, a cultivator at the Boundless Realm, who was also their protector.

The three looked down from the sea of clouds and saw Chen clan disciples arrayed across the mountain, with immortal cranes flying alongside the clouds. They looked utterly bewildered.

"Last autumn, my sister and I also visited Spirit Sword Mountain with a friendly visiting card. How dare Yan Shuyi, merely a direct disciple of Spirit Sword Mountain, come to challenge us, and even alarm the Old Ancestor?" Chen Luo said coldly, looking at the old woman behind him.

The white-haired old woman heard him and replied, "Young Master is correct, but this Young Master Jian of Spirit Sword Mountain is different from other direct disciples."

Chen Xi couldn't help but ask, "Granny Wu, how is she different?"

"Among the Seven Great Immortal Sects of this era, only the Celestial Academy has not yet appointed a direct disciple. The other six Great Immortal Sects all have direct disciples, but the Young Master Jian of Spirit Sword Mountain is the only one who is different."

The old woman clasped her hands behind her back. "Among the six direct disciples, she is the only one who has already wielded a Heavenly Dao Sacred Artifact. Although she is not the Sect Master, she already holds the status of a Sect Master."

Chen Xi and Chen Luo exchanged glances, a hint of astonishment in their eyes.

In fact, they also knew that even being a direct disciple of the Sect Master did not guarantee one would become the Sect Master.

Just like Chu Xian of the Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion, his Xuan techniques were unparalleled and his talent astonishing, but the Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion ultimately belonged to the Ji family.

Therefore, whether the current Sect Master of Xuan Yuan would pass on his position to Chu Xian remained an uncertain matter.

While the Qingyun World is indeed prosperous in immortal cultivation, it ultimately shares a commonality with secular dynasties: hereditary rule.

There are often folk tales in Great Xia about disciples who were astonishingly talented, were favored by the Sect Master upon joining, received both training and a daughter in marriage, and were given everything they could wish for.

But one would realize upon reflection that in Immortal Sects that have been passed down for thousands of years, who would truly be willing to hand over a vast clan and the power of its rise and fall to someone of a different surname.

Even among those of the same surname, internal power struggles are fierce.

Take, for example, the three main branches of Spirit Sword Mountain: Heaven Sword Peak, Mystic Sword Peak, and Inquiry Sword Peak, which have been vying for power for thousands of years. Eventually, the great power was monopolized by Heaven Sword Peak, which produced five consecutive Sect Masters.

But after the Young Master of the previous generation, who hailed from Heaven Sword Peak, mysteriously disappeared, the Spirit Mirror also lost its control.

It was only then that it fell into the hands of Mystic Sword Peak.

Therefore, the Young Master Jian of Spirit Sword Mountain is different from all other direct disciples of this era.

Because she wields the Heavenly Dao Sacred Artifact, she is destined to be the next Sect Master of Spirit Sword Mountain, a fact that even the current Sect Master has no right to interfere with.

Sacred Artifacts represent the orthodox lineage. Only if the orthodox lineage remains can the disciples within the sect have a chance to advance from the upper five realms to the Immortal Approaching Realm.

If the Seven Great Immortal Sects lose the recognition of the orthodox lineage, they would merely be considered large aristocratic families.

Thus, none of the other six Great Immortal Sects truly considered her to be just a minor direct disciple.

Even if she were to visit the Celestial Academy, ranked first, the Sect Master of the Celestial Academy would personally lift the sect protection formation to show friendly relations between the two sects.

Chen Luo and Chen Xi listened, their faces filled with surprise.

The old woman couldn't help but say, "The reason the Qingyun World has been stable for a thousand years is because the Seven Great Immortal Sects operate independently. However, with the recent frequent appearance of Evil Seeds, it seems that a chaotic era is approaching. The Young Master Jian of Spirit Sword Mountain has come to my Chen clan for the first time since leaving her sect. Regardless of the reason, it serves as a deterrent to other Immortal Sects and malicious individuals."

Chen Xi suddenly understood, "So when she broke through to a new realm, the direct disciple of the Dao Seeking Sect went to congratulate her with great fanfare?"

"Indeed, because after all, she is a woman and will eventually get married."

"..."

Chen Luo and Chen Xi pondered for a moment, then saw the immortal cranes in the clouds suddenly cry out to the sky.

Following that, a woman of unparalleled beauty appeared on the divine path leading up the mountain, followed by more than ten people. She walked calmly towards the clan's main hall.

Several elders of the Chen Clan Immortal Family were already seated in the hall. Sect Master Chen Ruhai stood at the front. The two parties met and exchanged courtesies.

"Young Master Jian, your journey has been long. We of the Chen clan are deeply honored. Please, take the seat of honor."

Yan Shuyi smiled faintly, "Thank you, Sect Master Chen."

Chen Ruhai stroked his beard and nodded, then gave a look to the person beside him.

Moments later, a gaunt clan member was brought into the hall. He first paid his respects to the Old Master, and then to Yan Shuyi.

Standing beside Chen Ruhai was the clan's head steward, Chen Sheng. He spoke at this moment, "We've investigated the person the Young Master Jian sent up the mountain yesterday. His name is Chen Qinghe, originally a disciple of our Chen Clan Immortal Family. This is the teacher who instructed him during his time in the clan, Chen En."

Yan Shuyi's eyebrows rose slightly. "Originally?"

Chen En immediately cupped his hands. "Replying to the Young Master, Chen Qinghe was indeed my disciple. However, I stagnated at the Perfection of the Lower Three Realms for many years and left the mountain over a year ago."

"So, the disciple lost by Spirit Sword Mountain has nothing to do with your Chen Clan Immortal Family?"

"Young Master, please see clearly. Chen Qinghe's actions were absolutely not at the behest of our Chen Clan Immortal Family."

Yan Shuyi looked at Chen En. "Then do you know where Chen Qinghe went after leaving the mountain?"

Chen En shook his head. "My five-year term as his master ended, and our master-disciple bond is fulfilled. I am unaware of his affairs after he left the mountain."

Chen Ruhai spoke with a deep voice at this moment. "Since the Spirit Sword Mountain disciple disappeared in Qing Prefecture, our Chen Clan Immortal Family bears responsibility. We have already dispatched disciples from the Outer Court to search for him."

Yan Shuyi glanced at Chen Ruhai, then turned back to Chen En. "When he left, he was at the Perfection of the Lower Three Realms. After a little over a year, he reached the Upper Dao Integration Realm?"

"We received a message from Spirit Sword Mountain yesterday, and we found it strange. We immediately instructed our disciples to compile all of Chen Qinghe's cultivation techniques, the types of medicine he took, and his dietary records. Please come with me to the Disciple Hall."

Yan Shuyi immediately stood up and followed Chen En to the Disciple Hall to examine everything about Chen Qinghe.

Chen Ruhai, however, glanced at Chen Sheng. The two left from the rear hall, entering a narrow passage, and finally arrived in a stone chamber.

Chen Qinghe was bound by iron chains, struggling in the stone chamber. From last night until now, he hadn't stopped, clearly having lost his humanity.

"Have you found out?"

"We have. After he left the mountain, he went to Qiling Town in Zhong Prefecture."

Chen Ruhai spoke with a blank expression. "The largest Ancient Ruins is in Qiling, and no one has been able to open it yet."

Chen Sheng glanced at the Old Master. "Is it related to the Evil Seed's sudden departure from the ruins?"

"It must be related, but that's not the main point. The main point is that in just over a year, someone at the Perfection of the Lower Three Realms managed to break through to the Upper Dao Integration Realm. There must be an extraordinary secret treasure within the ruins."

"But Chen Qinghe has lost his humanity."

Chen Ruhai chuckled. "So what? Even if he's just a killing weapon, he cannot fall into the hands of others. The Celestial Academy sending disciples to investigate the so-called Evil Seed incident is likely not as simple as protecting their sect's prestige."

Chen Sheng pondered for a moment after hearing this. "Then we must also quickly send people, lest we fall behind other Immortal Sects."

"Indeed."

"Then... should we inform the Old Master?"

The Chen Clan Immortal Family was a lineage of aristocratic families, so even the Sect Master, Chen Ruhai, was not the sole authority.

The one who truly controlled the Heavenly Dao Sacred Artifact was the Clan Leader, Old Master Chen, who cultivated in the deep mountains. He was currently at the Immortal Approaching Realm.

Chen Ruhai pondered for a moment, then waved his hand. "We haven't even found any leads yet. How can I dare disturb him? Let's find some clues first."

"Yes."

"Also, find a way to keep the Spirit Sword Mountain group stable. Let them stay for a few more days to prevent any leaks."

Chen Ruhai rolled up his sleeves. "The Young Master Jian of Spirit Sword Mountain is no ordinary person, but he has lived fewer years after all. He is only focused on finding his missing disciple and has overlooked the greater opportunity behind this."

Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng immediately turned and secretly sent messages to the inner and outer courts, selecting a group of disciples. They quickly changed their clothes and left the mountain via a back path, heading towards Qiling Town.

As the disciples stealthily departed, Zhuo Wanqiu and three disciples emerged from behind a thousand-year-old ancient tree on the back mountain path.

"The Young Master's guess was indeed correct. Follow them."

"..."