"Yuan Qing..."
Jiu Wu hesitated for a moment, then chose to tell the truth.
"I can't determine his whereabouts or find any trace of him. There are only two possibilities. One is that he's already dead, but he had an Origin Immortal guard by his side, so in theory, he wouldn't have died so easily. Besides, there are no other traces of a struggle, so..."
At this point, Yuan Qing's master, Daoist Lin Qi, could no longer pretend to be clueless. He stated the second possibility outright.
"So it can only be the second possibility: he fled to escape punishment!"
"Mm!"
That was something everyone could accept—or at least understand.
In their eyes, after Yuan Qing made his move, he couldn't find Youqin Xuanya and feared his actions would be exposed. Naturally, he had run away.
After all, Yuan Qing had brought a struggle over secular royal power into the Immortal Crossing Sect and had attacked a fellow disciple. His crimes were serious enough to warrant death.
Fleeing might at least let him survive.
Given that choice, it was hardly surprising.
"Ah!" Daoist Lin Qi let out a long sigh. "I failed to judge my disciple's character. I'll return to the mountain and accept my punishment."
Hearing this, Jiu Wu tried to console him. "That boy was devious and ill-intentioned. He'd been plotting for a long time before joining the sect. Besides, Junior Brother took him in directly during the Mountain Opening Ceremony. You can't be blamed for it."
Daoist Lin Qi shook his head dejectedly and said no more.
"Enough. Let's not delay over this. We should head back."
The master of Jiang Jingshan, who was Youqin Xuanya's master, began urging them on.
Though her disciple had even gained a few pounds by the time they met, she'd also heard from Youqin Xuanya how dangerous things had been. If not for Li Yang, she couldn't imagine what her disciple might have suffered.
"Li Yang, thank you for helping Xuanya escape safely this time. Come visit Sky Breaking Peak whenever you have time."
Li Yang quickly replied, "Helping a fellow disciple is only right."
"Mm!" Jiang Jingshan gave a quiet acknowledgment, then urged everyone on again.
Her disciple had suffered such an injustice for no reason. She wouldn't let it go—especially with the culprit, Yuan Qing, still on the run. That was even more unacceptable.
Who was she? The Sect Leader's disciple, a True Immortal with numerous magical treasures, and the partner of a Heavenly Immortal who treated her with deep respect. Wasn't she supposed to uproot the secular forces backing Yuan Qing and leave no trouble behind?
So before they'd even set out, she'd already sent word to her partner, asking him to gather a few fellow disciples with nothing better to do. Once she returned to the mountain, they would set off at once.
Her decisive and forceful manner made Li Yang and Li Changshou, the two Old Sixes, wipe cold sweat from their brows.
Women—especially beautiful women, and most of all beautiful women with powerful backing—were not to be offended.
Before leaving, Youqin Xuanya even went out of her way to approach Li Yang. With Li Yang staring blankly at her, she said, "Junior Brother, when we get back, I'd still like to hear about the Three Marvels of your Lesser Qiong Peak."
There was Killing Qi!
A bead of sweat ran down Li Yang's temple. He didn't even need to turn around to know that his Senior Brother's murderous gaze had locked onto him.
He awkwardly cupped his hands. "Of course. If I have time, I'd be happy to tell you about them, Senior Sister."
Seeing her disciple act that way, Jiang Jingshan glanced at Li Yang, whose looks were quite handsome, and found herself warming to him more and more.
Li Yang had reached the Ninth Stage of Spirit Transformation after only ten years of cultivation. Compared to her own disciple...
At the thought, she suddenly broke into a knowing smile, but quickly hid it, as if it had been an illusion. She said nothing more; she would have to keep watching.
"Xuanya, let's go."
"Yes, Master!"
And so Youqin Xuanya's master, Jiang Jingshan; Yuan Qing's master, Lin Qi; Jiu Wu; and Fairy Jiujiu hurried back to the Immortal Crossing Sect. Some had to confess their faults, some had to face punishment, and others were eager to return and take revenge.
As for Li Yang, he traveled slowly behind them with his master, Senior Brother, Liu Yan'er, and Wang Qi—the two pairs of masters and disciples.
On the Auspicious Cloud, Li Changshou remained calm, though his transmitted voice carried a hint of menace.
"Junior Brother, what do you mean by the Three Marvels of Lesser Qiong Peak?"
Li Yang changed the subject without the slightest intention of answering directly. "Senior Brother, did you find the Immortal Solace Grass?"
"Found it," Li Changshou replied instinctively, then snapped, "Don't change the subject."
Li Yang said, "Senior Brother, who are you planning to ask to refine the Melting Immortal Pill?"
Li Changshou replied, "A True Immortal like Martial Aunt Jiujiu... No, I'll refine it myself... Stop trying to change the subject."
Li Yang said, "As I recall, refining the Melting Immortal Pill isn't all that complicated. If you ask a True Immortal for help and prepare a few extra sets of materials, you should be able to make it. But this isn't a safe plan, so I assume you intend to refine it yourself.
"But have you considered this, Senior Brother? You know a thing or two about making Knockout Drugs, and you're not bad at making poisons either. But when it comes to alchemy—especially Poison Pills—I think I'm more qualified to speak.
"So, will you reconsider?"
Li Changshou said, "I'd already considered it. I just thought you were at the Void Refining Realm before, so I ruled you out. Now it seems I really can put you back on the list."
Li Yang said, "Thank you for having faith in me, Senior Brother. I plan to become an immortal outside the sect this time. It'll take no more than half a year. Would you be willing to wait?
"After all, once I become an immortal, I'll have a much better chance of refining the Melting Immortal Pill!"
Li Changshou's usually expressionless face creased into a frown. He continued transmitting, "Junior Brother, do you really have to undergo Tribulation Transcendence? You're in far too much of a hurry!"
Li Yang looked toward the place where Youqin Xuanya and the others had vanished long ago and gave a bitter laugh. He had no choice.
What did seventy percent or ninety-eight percent matter? Even a hundred percent meant nothing. What mattered now was the Heavenly Dao.
Perhaps he'd been targeted as far back as the moment he'd transmigrated.
"Senior Brother, I have to become an immortal. There's no room for discussion."
Li Changshou sensed Li Yang's determination. He knew his Junior Brother wasn't usually so impatient.
At least on this trip, Li Yang had said he would undergo Tribulation Transcendence and become an immortal, but he hadn't seemed particularly rushed.
If he was acting this way now, something momentous must have happened—something that had forced him to take a gamble.
And Li Yang wasn't telling him what it was, which only made things clearer.
That mysterious thing, event, or whatever it was, posed a great threat to him as well.
Thinking this, Li Changshou kept his expression neutral.
"If that's the case, we'll do as you say. But what if you fail your tribulation and die?"
Li Yang replied, "Then you should make more preparations. Martial Aunt Jiujiu would be a good choice."
Li Changshou had naturally considered Martial Aunt Jiujiu. But now, his thoughts were on his Junior Brother.
His Junior Brother had been full of confidence before. If he was saying something like this now, he was clearly preparing for multiple outcomes.
That meant the matter was even more serious.
At the thought, Li Changshou felt a sense of urgency rise within him. He realized he needed to speed up his own plans as well.
"Junior Brother, we'll do it your way. I'll wait for you."
Li Yang gave a quiet acknowledgment and transmitted, "Senior Brother, when we're close to the sect, my true body will leave the group. Take my Avatar back to Lesser Qiong Peak. Then I'll claim to be in seclusion and stay inside. I'll need you to cover for me."
A faint light flickered in Li Changshou's eyes. A cultivator at the Return to Dao Ninth Stage had a limited range of control over an Avatar. If his Junior Brother was saying this, that meant the Avatar would lose control.
Then his Junior Brother's chosen location for undergoing Tribulation Transcendence would surely be far from the Immortal Crossing Sect.
"Very well!"
"Thank you, Senior Brother!"
As the group neared the Immortal Crossing Sect, Li Changshou keenly sensed that the Junior Brother beside him on the Auspicious Cloud had changed.
He turned to look into the distance, then faced forward again and silently offered his blessing.
"May your journey be blessed with eternal immortal fortune, Junior Brother, and may the Great Dao flourish forever!!!"
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