Anomaly

From the day they met, this Yuanhua Mountain disciple named Qian Xun had been acting strangely.

Chen Yan had simply thought he was an oddball.

But just now, Chen Yan realized that there was probably more to him than mere oddness.

Because he genuinely wanted to kill Zheng Fei.

Every move Qian Xun made was a killing move.

He was truly insane.

Chen Yan merged the Shadow Binding Rope into the shadows. Since obtaining this Mid-grade Second-tier Magic Artifact, he had never once used it in actual combat.

After all, a mid-grade magic artifact was no roadside trinket.

Even in the Empty Mountain Sect, many Spirit Realm cultivators' prized treasures were only high-grade low-tier artifacts.

Wielding a Mid-grade Second-tier Magic Artifact with a Martial Spring Realm cultivation to deal with a disciple who had only just entered the Qi Condensation Realm was, without a doubt, like a lion hunting a rabbit.

The Shadow Binding Rope vanished into Chen Yan's shadow, then darted swiftly through the courtyard's shadows toward Qian Xun.

Qian Xun seemed to suddenly sense something and whipped his head around.

But it was already too late.

The Shadow Binding Rope swiftly wound around Qian Xun's shadow, then abruptly tightened.

Its effect on the shadow was reflected onto Qian Xun himself. His body was bound by invisible ropes, and he dropped to his knees.

Qian Xun tried to break free, but though his true qi surged, it was useless.

Realizing what had happened, Qian Xun whipped his head around and glared at Chen Yan.

"Chen Yan, you despicable coward!"

The veins on Qian Xun's forehead bulged. His eyes were wide, their whites streaked with blood, making for a terrifying sight.

And as he ground out Chen Yan's name, spittle flew from his mouth, and blood even trickled from his gums.

A Qi Condensation Realm cultivator was bleeding from the gums?

Chen Yan's breath caught slightly.

This was decidedly abnormal—not the state of a normal cultivator. It looked more like he had fallen into demonic madness.

"Senior Brother Chen!"

Li Xiuxiu stepped up beside Chen Yan.

"What do we do now?"

"It's fine. We'll wait for Instructor Lu to return."

Chen Yan said.

"He won't escape my restraint."

Qian Xun continued struggling. The robes on his body had already been torn by the invisible Shadow Binding Rope, and blood was even seeping through the fabric.

"Die! You worthless Outer Court disciples, all of you, die!"

Blood spilled from Qian Xun's mouth, and the whites of his eyes had turned completely red.

He spat out mouthful after mouthful of blood, until at last he collapsed to the ground before Chen Yan, Zheng Fei, and Li Xiuxiu.

He seemed to still have a trace of life left in him.

"Was that really necessary?"

Zheng Fei panted heavily. He looked rather battered.

"What's wrong with that kid? This isn't just a grudge against Outer Court disciples anymore. He was beating me like I was some evil cultivator!"

"There's definitely something wrong."

Chen Yan's expression was grave.

"What happened?"

A while later, Lu Li entered the courtyard. He glanced at Qian Xun lying in a pool of blood, his brows knitting slightly.

"Instructor Lu!"

Zheng Fei hurried over and explained what had just happened.

Lu Li said nothing. He simply walked over to Qian Xun, who was sprawled on the ground with only a breath left, took a small bottle of pills from his robes, tapped out one, and slipped it into Qian Xun's mouth.

Soon, Qian Xun's breathing steadied somewhat.

"Li Xiuxiu."

Lu Li called to Li Xiuxiu, who was standing nearby.

"Here, Master."

The County Princess has already decided to join the Empty Mountain Sect. Go keep her company, take a walk around the mansion, and explain a few things about cultivation to her."

Lu Li spoke slowly.

"Instructor Lu, I'm only an Outer Court disciple, while after entering the sect, the County Princess will be an Elder's Personal Disciple..."

Li Xiuxiu hesitated.

"It's fine. Everyone has to go through the same things in cultivation; it's only a matter of when."

Lu Li said.

"I obey."

Li Xiuxiu replied, then headed out of the courtyard. As she passed Qian Xun lying on the ground, she lowered her head to glance at him.

"Chen Yan."

Next, Lu Li called his name.

"Here, Master."

Chen Yan took a step forward and answered.

"Go immediately to the Consulate Office in the city and write to the sect. Ask an elder to come to Cloud King's Mansion. Tell them one of our disciples may have a serious problem, and that Lu Li, an instructor at Qingchan Peak's Scripture Hall, cannot make a decision."

Lu Li said.

"Understood."

Chen Yan replied, then started toward the courtyard exit as well.

"Wait."

Lu Li suddenly called out to Chen Yan, who was heading out.

"Add one more sentence to the letter."

Lu Li said.

"What is it?"

Chen Yan asked.

"Don't rule out the possibility of a Calamity Cause."

"Immortal Master."

In the courtyard of the mansion, Qin Yue rose from the stone bench in the pavilion and bowed to Li Xiuxiu, who had just entered the courtyard.

She lifted her eyes and stole a glance at Li Xiuxiu's face. For some reason, she felt the immortal master looked somewhat uneasy and pale, as though something had happened.

"There's no need to be so formal."

Li Xiuxiu forced a smile at Qin Yue and said:

"I heard from Instructor Lu that you've decided to join the Empty Mountain Sect, County Princess. From now on, we'll all be cultivators of the Immortal Dao."

"Then..."

Qin Yue hesitated for a moment.

"Senior Sister Li?"

"If you like, you can call me that for now."

Li Xiuxiu said.

Though Qin Yue was still only a County Princess of a mortal dynasty, everything would change once she stepped through the gates of the Empty Mountain Sect.

She had already been designated as the Personal Disciple of an inner sect elder from Qingchan Peak, and that elder's standing there was surely no small matter.

Since the Cloud King had taken this opportunity to show the Empty Mountain Sect his allegiance, the sect would certainly not mistreat its loyal follower.

Besides, Qin Yue's talent was excellent to begin with.

On the way to Taiyun City, Instructor Lu had told her that Qin Yue had the Glass Mirror Physique, a constitution found in only one among tens of millions of cultivators.

"Senior Sister Li, you seem rather troubled. Is something the matter?"

Qin Yue asked Li Xiuxiu curiously.

"Don't worry, County Princess."

Li Xiuxiu smiled at Qin Yue again, but said nothing more.

Though she was a Qi Condensation Realm cultivator, confident she could defeat any ordinary martial artist, when it came to maturity, Li Xiuxiu was still just a young cultivator who wasn't yet twenty. What's more, she had been cultivating on the mountain ever since joining the Empty Mountain Sect at seven and had never once left it.

In terms of maturity alone, Li Xiuxiu might not even measure up to some younger girls in the mortal dynasty who had to struggle just to make a living.

She couldn't hide what was on her face.

But Li Xiuxiu had no intention of telling the County Princess what had happened to Qian Xun in the courtyard. There was simply no need.

Seeing that Li Xiuxiu put it that way, Qin Yue stopped asking. She assumed Li Xiuxiu must have some difficulty she couldn't speak of.