The Truth of the Calamity Cause

When the words "Calamity Cause" were spoken by the white-haired elder, Chen Yan's heart sank slightly.

Calamity Cause.

He had heard of this term before, and it left a deep impression.

During one of Chen Yan's past reincarnations, just before he died, he heard a shadowy figure standing by his bedside mention this word.

That shadowy figure considered itself a "Calamity Cause."

"Uncle-Master, may I ask, what is a Calamity Cause?"

Chen Yan asked.

"A Calamity Cause is a lock,"

the young man in the yellow robe beside him replied.

"It is the fundamental reason why, after the Falling Star Sword Immortal Su Hongzhen 7,000 years ago, no one else has ascended to immortality."

Su Hongzhen, the foremost sword cultivator of the Chenping Continent, and also the last Sword Immortal.

Once, when Chen Yan's lifespan was nearing its end, he had traveled to the Falling Sword Mountain Range in search of Su Hongzhen's opportunities, hoping for a sliver of a chance.

But in the end, he found nothing.

After Su Hongzhen, no one on the Chenping Continent ascended to immortality.

"But this is just an unsubstantiated rumor,"

the white-haired elder waved his hand.

"No one knows why no one has ascended to immortality on the Chenping Continent for the past 7,000 years; it might simply be due to a decline in talent."

As he spoke, the white-haired elder paused for a moment.

"The Calamity Cause theory is merely an unproven speculation and hypothesis. Furthermore, because this viewpoint carries too much of a conspiracy, it cannot be brought into the open."

"However, Elder Fu Qian's faction has been a staunch supporter of the Calamity Cause theory from beginning to end. As for himself, he has become somewhat obsessed."

"So, what exactly is a Calamity Cause..."

Chen Yan pressed on.

"They are beings who hide among the common folk, yet are different."

The white-haired elder said.

"Legend has it that 1,200 years ago, in the southwest of the Chenping Continent, there was a sect called the Zhengshu Cult. At that time, the sect was quite renowned in the southwestern region, even showing signs of approaching the status of the Five Great Sects."

"Back then, the Calamity Cause theory had not yet been widely accepted by the major sects of the world, and the absence of any cultivators reaching the Immortal Ascension realm for nearly 6,000 years had also caused unease among cultivators."

"Against this backdrop, the Zhengshu Cult launched a massacre called 'Slay Calamity Cause'."

"Under the influence of the Zhengshu Cult, not only the various cultivation sects, but also the secular dynasties in the southwest of the Chenping Continent, and even ordinary citizens, joined this grand massacre."

"Dwarves, eunuchs, the deaf and mute, and later even widows, orphans, and the disabled, all fell within the scope of people's hunt."

"Later on, the fundamental purpose of 'Slay Calamity Cause' was no longer about slaying Calamity Causes, but merely about eliminating rivals."

"Cultivators began to attack each other, accusing enemies or competitors of possibly being Calamity Causes, throwing the entire cultivation world of the Chenping Continent into chaos."

"Finally, the First Disciple of the Xingtian Gate's sect leader was murdered by treacherous individuals during the 'Slay Calamity Cause' turmoil, making the high-level members of the Five Great Sects realize that this farce could no longer continue."

"Ultimately, the sect leader of the Xingtian Gate personally led a team to the southwest to annihilate the Zhengshu Cult and its affiliated medium and small sects. With this, the farce of 'Slay Calamity Cause' finally came to an end."

"After that, the Calamity Cause theory was no longer mainstream on the Chenping Continent."

The white-haired elder's words greatly shocked Chen Yan.

It reminded him of the witch hunts during the Middle Ages.

The 'Slay Calamity Cause' turmoil was a witch hunt within the cultivation world, triggered by people's fear of the millennia-long absence of immortal ascenders on the Chenping Continent.

Even though more than 99% of the cultivators in this world had no chance of breaking through to the upper three realms, the sight of no one ascending would still cause panic.

Because it could very well signify that the path to immortality was cut off.

The violent act of 'Slay Calamity Cause' was born out of this fear of the unknown.

In other words, he had been killed in that past reincarnation because he was mistaken for a Calamity Cause.

Elder Fu Qian, who was still obsessed with the Calamity Cause theory, seemed to have been making arrangements in the Outer Court all along.

Did this, to some extent, indicate that the shadowy figures who killed him were related to Elder Fu Qian?

And Chu Xiyao, and even the deceased Song Mingde, how much were they involved in these matters?

Even the calamity that was to descend upon the Outer Court in three years, which would lead to Cheng Ziying's death...

Chen Yan didn't know. The information he could currently obtain was insufficient; it was only the white-haired elder's one-sided account.

What was the truth behind it all?

The white-haired elder in front of him seemed to strongly dislike the Calamity Cause theory, and therefore held considerable dissatisfaction towards Elder Fu Qian of Qingchan Peak.

And his junior brother, the Outer Court Elder Lin Qifeng, seemed to share the white-haired elder's views, which was why he had sent Chen Yan to deliver this message.

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"Did your Master say anything else to you?"

The white-haired elder continued to ask.

"No."

Chen Yan replied.

"Very well."

The white-haired elder nodded:

"So, what pill did you come here to get?"

"Body Tempering Fluid."

Chen Yan couldn't bring himself to ask for Body Tempering Fluid with higher purity.

"Zhao Bin."

The white-haired elder called out.

"This disciple is here."

The young man in the yellow robe beside him bowed.

"Take your Martial Uncle Lin's disciple downstairs to get three bottles of high-grade Body Tempering Fluid, and then one bottle of the Qi Guiding Pill I refined not long ago."

The white-haired elder continued to order.

"As you command."

The young man named Zhao Bin respectfully replied. He then took two steps back, waved his hand at the stairs, and gestured for Chen Yan to come over.

"Martial Nephew."

Just as Chen Yan was about to go downstairs, he was suddenly called back by the white-haired elder behind him.

"This disciple is here."

Chen Yan responded.

"We will meet again not long from now."

The white-haired elder said with a smile.

Chen Yan didn't speak, merely bowed in the elder's direction, and then followed Zhao Bin downstairs.

Perhaps not long from now, Lin Qifeng will send me to deliver a message again.

Zhao Bin stood in front of a shelf on the second floor of the Pill Hall, taking three crystal bottles filled with emerald green liquid from a tray, along with a small milky-white porcelain bottle.

"One bottle of Body Tempering Fluid is enough for three baths, so you'll need nine in total. Bathe once every seven days. Just pour the Body Tempering Fluid into the bathtub and soak for half an hour. Cold water is best."

Zhao Bin explained the usage of the Body Tempering Fluid to Chen Yan:

"As for this Qi Guiding Pill, you should wait until you break through to the Qi Condensation Realm before taking it."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Chen Yan said.

"What do you think of what my Master said?"

Zhao Bin suddenly changed the subject.

"What?"

Chen Yan asked, confused.

"What are your thoughts on my Master's view of the Calamity Cause?"

This seemed to be a test from the young man.

Chen Yan recalled Zhao Bin's attitude towards the Calamity Cause theory on the third floor of the Pill Hall just now. It seemed he and the white-haired elder had differing opinions on it.

But could it be that they were just acting for my benefit?

It's better to be more cautious.

"It's a pity for the beings who were wronged and died twelve hundred years ago."

Chen Yan replied.

This was a very vague answer, and Zhao Bin didn't seem to show any particular opinion on Chen Yan's response.

"Cultivate well. Although you are still an Outer Court Disciple now, your Master is Martial Uncle Lin."

Zhao Bin said:

"Do you know what that means?"

"This junior disciple is dull-witted; please enlighten me, Senior Brother Zhao."

"It means you are now half a Kongyuan Mountain disciple. If the Sect Master forgives Martial Uncle Lin and orders him back to Kongyuan Mountain..."

Zhao Bin paused for a moment:

"Then, Junior Brother Chen, you will be a disciple of our Kongyuan Mountain."