The Collapse, Kaslana's Way of Survival

"I've been waiting for you on the Sect Leader's orders for some time. The Sect Leader said that once you return, you should go to the top of Sky Vault Peak immediately."

"Mm..."

Ma Fei Ma looked at her for a moment, slightly hesitant.

Probably wondering what her name was?

"Alright, I understand. Su... has the Peerless Gate Sect Leader arrived?"

"He came half a month ago and is still catching up with the Sect Leader. But ever since he arrived at Sky Vault Peak, the entire sect has been bustling with activity."

Seeming to have finished her official business, the woman began to quietly complain.

"Busy? What happened?"

Li Sushang asked curiously.

Glancing at Ma Fei Ma and finding no unusual expression on his face, the woman spoke:

"Since Sect Leader Su arrived half a month ago, the Sect Leader ordered us to tidy up Mount Tai Xu, set up the decorations sent by Peerless Gate, and prepare a grand banquet to welcome the Red Sparrow Immortal's arrival."

At the mention of Red Sparrow, a clear look of admiration appeared on the woman's face.

But Kaino's expression turned strange.

The immortal's coming to kill you, and you're really just baring your necks and throwing a feast?

Not to mention, even if you did kill the immortal, you'd have no excuse to claim she ascended—others aren't blind or stupid.

And unlike Kaino, who was just a passerby in Shenzhou, the stigma of killing one's master would stick to these people, getting them shunned across all of Shenzhou.

After all, according to Li Sushang, the immortal's millennia of monster-slaying were widely revered, and her single-handed rout of the Raiken army nearly twenty years ago was still a popular tale.

Ah, the Raiken army referred to Schicksal's eastern expedition force.

Glancing at Ma Fei Ma, he caught a flicker of surprise on his face, but it quickly settled.

"Alright, we understand. Go ahead with your work; we'll go up on our own."

Hearing this, the woman was slightly surprised. She swept her gaze over Kaino and the others again, immediately grasping their status.

People the vice-sect leader personally brought to the peak during the immortal's visit to Tai Xu Sword Sect—these were likely the remaining few of the Seven Disciples.

But that woman and that Raiken young man weren't even older than her, were they? Probably disciples of the others.

Thinking this, the woman couldn't help but feel a pang of bitterness. Not a single person in the entire Tai Xu Sword Sect had been summoned to the peak by the Sect Leader.

"Yes, this disciple will take her leave."

The woman nodded, then departed.

"Alright, let's head up the mountain. Wanxi and Wanru have probably arrived already."

Ma Fei Ma said.

The group set off together.

Kaino looked around, then nudged Cheng Lingshuang.

"What is it?"

Cheng Lingshuang frowned slightly, looking at Kaino.

Kaino handed the Xuanyuan Sword to Cheng Lingshuang.

"The rest of the master's disciples all have Xuanyuan, right? Take this, so you don't lose face. Besides, I have other weapons, and I'm still not used to using a sword."

The Seven Disciples likely all had combat power near S-rank Valkyrie level, and the Red Sparrow Immortal's might might even surpass a Herrscher. If a fight broke out under these circumstances, Kaino figured it'd be better to just go straight for Heavenly Fire.

Cheng Lingshuang nodded slightly, taking the Xuanyuan Sword.

"Alright."

Kaino shrugged.

They had already stepped into the Tai Xu Sword Sect, where countless sect disciples were moving one piece of decoration after another. Whether because they spotted the vice-sect leader or noticed Kaino's Raiken face, people couldn't help but look their way.

Seriously, how much stuff did that Su Mei bring? They've been moving it for half a month and still aren't done?

Right now, the entire Tai Xu Sword Sect was bustling like a festival.

Was this some kind of great philanthropist?

Curious, Kaino began analyzing the decorations they were carrying.

"Huh?"

Lin Qi Ba Shi Qi Shi (Wu)??? Kaino raised an eyebrow, letting out a surprised sound.

Chapter 28: Gunpowder

"Hey, hello, can I have one of the candles you're holding?"

Walking up to a nearby Tai Xu Sect disciple carrying a stack of candles, Kaino patted his shoulder and said.

The disciple paused for a moment, glanced at the group, then shifted his gaze to Ma Fei Ma.

Ma Fei Ma looked at the candles, frowned slightly in confusion, then turned his eyes to the disciple.

"Give it to him."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

Before the disciple could act, Kaino directly took one of the candles from the other's hand.

"Hey hey, Raiken, what do you want that for?"

After the disciple walked away, Li Sushang asked Kaino curiously.

Twirling the candle in his hand, Kaino let out a light laugh.

"Nothing much. Just noticed something interesting. Let's go first—I'll tell you when we reach the peak."

As if dissatisfied with Kaino's cryptic attitude, Li Sushang snorted and turned her head away.

"Hmph, keep it to yourself then."

Kaino: ???

Didn't I say I'd explain at the peak?

Speaking of which, was it his imagination, or had she been clingy ever since she emerged from her late mother's shadow?

Was she transferring her feelings for her mother onto him and Cheng Lingshuang? But she didn't seem that attached to Cheng Lingshuang either.

Whatever. Not his business.

Analyzing the candle in his hand once more, Kaino couldn't help but grin.

This Su Mei was ruthless.

Including the candle just now, almost every piece of decor had been stuffed with gunpowder. If it suddenly went off, that would be a real cheap shot.

...But honestly, would it even work?

If someone with Herrscher-level combat power could be killed by a sneak attack from ordinary gunpowder in this era, Schicksal would be laughing all the way to the bank.

And with that composition and dosage, spread so thinly—forget blowing up an immortal, it probably couldn't even kill a random disciple of the Tai Xu Sword Sect.

After all, they were all martial artists who could use Honkai energy.

On the other hand, the fires from these explosions could probably destroy the entire Tai Xu Sword Sect. But weren't they supposed to be going after the Red Sparrow Immortal? What was the point of wrecking the sect?

As he was thinking, the group reached the peak, where a rather luxurious wooden house stood before them.

The climb to the top of Sky Vault Peak was no short trek—the steps numbered well into the thousands. It was only because Kaino and the other three had extraordinary constitutions that they managed it; an ordinary person would be half-dead by now.

"Su Mei, you said you had a way to deal with Master, and for that, I handed over nearly the entire Tai Xu Sword Sect to you. But setting up traps all over my sect to welcome the immortal... is this your so-called plan?"

As the group approached the wooden house, an indignant voice came from inside. Judging by the words, it should be Lin Chaoyu, the first disciple of the immortal.

Her voice sounded a bit old? The two of them didn't seem to have any prior feelings either—why did Ma Fei Ma marry her in the first place?

"Ahem."

After clearing his throat twice, Ma Fei Ma gently knocked on the door.

The house fell silent instantly, and a young, pleasant voice was the first to speak from within.

"Little Ma's back? I'm a bit later than I estimated."

Ma Fei Ma's eyes lit up as he pushed the door open and entered.

"Let's go."

Cheng Lingshuang led Kaino and Li Sushang inside as well.

The room was spacious and extravagant—peachwood tables, peachwood chairs, blue-and-white porcelain vases, ornate bookshelves... Luxurious furnishings stretched from the center of the room to both sides, arranged neatly.

At the very center of the room hung a tall ink-wash painting, flanked by two scrolls of calligraphy.

Embrace simplicity, return to the true origin; forget cunning, leave the mortal world behind.

And at the highest point of the room hung a plaque.

"Cloud Sweeping Temple?"

Kaino blinked and read it aloud.

What did that mean?

"It's 'Cloud Sweeping Temple,' actually."

That young voice came again, and Kaino finally took a good look at the people around him.

The speaker was a woman with long red hair, currently smiling as she sized up Kaino and the others. Of course, her gaze lingered mostly on the Xuanyuan Sword in Cheng Lingshuang's and Li Sushang's hands, and the candle in Kaino's.

A woman who looked the oldest stood about a meter to one side, her expression dark as she glanced between Ma Fei Ma and the red-haired woman—the more she looked, the darker her face grew.

Finally, there were two twins with purple hair and golden eyes, watching the scene from the sidelines. What stood out, though, was that one of them had faint red markings on her face.

"I didn't expect Little Ma to bring Junior Sister directly here. And these two children... are Junior Sister's disciples? Junior Sister actually took on disciples—how rare."

The red-haired woman spoke again.

"Su Mei, mind your own business."

Cheng Lingshuang shot a glance at the red-haired woman.

"They are Li Sushang and Kaino. Sushang is Su Yi's child."

Then, Cheng Lingshuang turned to look at Kaino and Li Sushang.

"These are your elders. Lin Chaoyu, Su Mei, Jiang Wanxi, and Jiang Wanru. You know the order—pair them up from oldest to youngest."

As Cheng Lingshuang's words fell, Lin Chaoyu's expression darkened further.

"The matches are all correct... but Master, didn't you say the Supreme Unrestrained Sect's rule is that anyone who falls to demonic corruption must be executed?"

Kaino nodded, then pointed at the woman named Jiang Wanru, fanning the flames.

Cheng Lingshuang had said that the fourth disciple had once fallen to demonic corruption, but Kaino had assumed she was dead. Yet not only was she alive, she had even come straight here.

Everyone in this room at least claimed to uphold the rule of executing the demonically corrupted, and not long ago, someone had used that very title to try and cut him down... Wasn't she worried that there might be even the slightest chance she'd be the one cut down?

Kaino wasn't afraid that his instigation would actually get her killed. If not for the connection through Li Sushang and Cheng Lingshuang, Kaino would have gladly helped the Immortal finish off her seven disciples. And even now, with the two sides opposed, Kaino wouldn't mind scheming to take out the remaining disciples.

It wasn't just about interests. The Red Sparrow Immortal, who had guarded this land for thousands of years just to destroy the Honkai, deserved respect. Besides, no matter how you dressed it up, killing one's master was an act of injustice.

Li Sushang followed Kaino's gaze, then froze. The Xuanyuan Sword immediately left its sheath, pointing straight at Jiang Wanru.

"Sushang, calm down."

Cheng Lingshuang grabbed Li Sushang's arm and said in a low voice.

"The biggest problem with demonic corruption is that it's irreversible and gets worse over time. But the operation of the Tai Xu Sword Heart can completely prevent True Qi from lingering in the body. So as long as you keep the Tai Xu Sword Heart running at all times, you won't have problems from demonic corruption."

"That being said, Junior Sister, since you brought your disciple here, didn't you think to teach them that beforehand?"

Jiang Wanru's elder sister, Jiang Wanxi, said coldly.

It felt like, even though they were all disciples of the Red Sparrow Immortal, the relationships between them weren't that good. But that made sense—they hadn't seen each other in over a decade.

"What, is it my disciple who's demonically corrupted?"

Cheng Lingshuang shot back immediately.

"You're already corrupted, and you don't even cover it up when you go out. If you ran into someone on the road, aren't you afraid a passerby would kill you with a single strike of the Tai Xu Sword God?"