"Reporting to Sect Leader Martial Uncle, no. Such a secret would certainly be kept tightly by Ghost King and not easily leaked.
But if one wishes to keep something hidden, one must first refrain from doing it.
Keep watch on him. Sooner or later, Ghost King will reveal his true intentions."
After the report, everyone from Dazhu Peak returned, while disciples from the various peaks intensified their cultivation.
One night, Xiao Xuan went for a stroll on the Back Mountain and discovered Zhang Xiaofan cultivating. Besides Qingyun's cultivation art, demonic cultivation fluctuations and Buddhist radiance also emanated from him.
Xiao Xuan did not disturb him. He merely watched quietly for a while before turning and leaving.
"Hmm..."
Mysterious characters suddenly appeared around Zhang Xiaofan.
Heaven and earth are heartless, treating all things as straw dogs!
Though the characters danced chaotically through the air, Xiao Xuan memorized every single one with his exceptional memory.
Because of those mysterious characters, he found that his cultivation had actually begun to stir restlessly.
"He truly is a man with secrets. But then again, who does not have a few secrets?"
Not long after returning to Dazhu Peak, Xiao Xuan announced that he would enter seclusion. With Daoxuan's approval, he would cultivate in seclusion within the Huanyue Ancient Cave on the Back Mountain of Tongtian Peak.
Xiao Xuan slowly approached the Founder Ancestral Hall.
From afar, he saw an old man and a young man sweeping the grounds.
The youth was probably Lin Jingyu. Xiao Xuan did not know what Xuan had been thinking when he suddenly made a big fuss one day and sent Lin Jingyu here for confinement.
"Martial Brother Xiao? What are you doing here?"
Xiao Xuan frowned and scrutinized the old man a few times.
His aura was unfathomable. Though he held a broom and swept the ground, every time the broom touched down, it seemed to become adhesive, gathering up every speck of dust. Another expert.
"Martial Brother Xiao?"
"Ah... oh... Congratulations, Martial Brother Lin. It seems Sect Leader Martial Uncle has high expectations for you."
"Expectations? I am still wondering why I was punished and sent here."
"If there are things you do not understand, ask this senior for guidance."
Having said that, he bowed to the old man. "Senior, with Sect Leader Martial Uncle's permission, this disciple intends to cultivate in seclusion in the Huanyue Cave Abode for a time."
The old man, who had kept his head lowered all along, suddenly raised it and gave Xiao Xuan a surprised look.
"The Huanyue Cave Abode?
That place may be quiet, but it is fraught with dangers. It is hardly a good place for secluded cultivation."
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior. Martial Uncle has already warned me."
They watched Xiao Xuan reach the entrance to the cave abode, open it, and disappear into the vortex.
"What an extraordinary young man. It seems I truly am old."
After entering the Huanyue Cave Abode, Xiao Xuan discovered an ancient method within the simple iron sword. It unexpectedly shared the same origin as what Zhang Xiaofan had obtained.
As he entered seclusion, storms gathered outside. During one of Zhang Xiaofan's excursions with his fellow disciples, he saved them in an emergency and inadvertently exposed the secret that he cultivated multiple techniques.
The three sects held a joint trial, and the truth behind Caomiao Village's destruction was also uncovered.
The Demonic Cult took this chance to invade Qingyun. The Righteous-Demonic War erupted, resulting in devastating losses.
Even Ghost King's daughter lost her life because of it.
As a result, Zhang Xiaofan was taken away by Ghost King and fell into the Demonic Dao.
As for Xiao Xuan, he had no idea how much time had passed.
He only knew that after reaching a point where he could make no further progress in the short term, his cultivation had reached Peak Shangqing.
This was true Peak Shangqing, not the superficial aura Ghost King had spoken of before.
After Xiao Xuan refined it, the Mountain and River Fan finally became a Nine Heavens Divine Weapon. The Mystic Sound Art had also become even more profound and unfathomable after years of improvement.
Within the Huanyue Cave Abode, Xiao Xuan awoke and looked at the ancient longsword without the slightest desire in his eyes.
"The Ancient Sword Zhuxian?
What a pity. My memories are still incomplete. The Ancient Sword Zhuxian, Qingyun Sect, the Heavenly Book...
Fragmented memories... I have already reached Peak Shangqing, yet I still have not figured out what it is that I have been desperately trying to remember."
"Heaven and earth's righteous energy shall endure forever. I seek not Jade Dynasty, but only to Slay Ghosts and Gods."
The moment Xiao Xuan emerged from the Huanyue Cave Abode, he saw Lin Jingyu performing the true formula.
Vast and mighty, surging ever onward—advance without retreat.
The old man beside him wore a satisfied expression. As expected of the talent Daoxuan had sent over; he was simply himself in his younger days.
"Hmm? You brat spent seven whole years in seclusion. This old man thought you had died in there.
Not bad at all. After only a few years apart, you have already surpassed this old man."
Xiao Xuan smiled. "I am still far from catching up to you, Senior.
Senior, you must have some knot in your heart. Once it is untied, you will enter Taiqing in an instant.
I never expected this seclusion to last seven years. Congratulations, Martial Brother Lin, on breaking into Shangqing. What has happened in the outside world during these years?"
Lin Jingyu said, "Compared to Martial Brother Xiao, I am still far behind.
A great many things have happened over these years. The most significant was undoubtedly the Righteous-Demonic War..."
Through Lin Jingyu's account, Xiao Xuan soon gained a rough understanding of what had happened.
He had not expected so many things to occur over these years.
"I truly never imagined it...
As an outsider, I do not know what to say. My condolences, Martial Brother Lin.
I never imagined that Seventh Martial Brother would become so deeply entangled with the Ghost King Sect without anyone realizing it.
Such are time, fate, and opportunity!"
"Martial Brother Xiao, why call it an opportunity?"
"Jiang Shan may change, but one's nature is hard to alter. Martial Brother Zhang Xiaofan is kind-hearted and resolute.
Joining the Ghost King Sect does not mean he will become utterly wicked. I have never doubted that.
He cultivates Buddhist, Daoist, and demonic arts together, and he has succeeded. Joining the Ghost King Sect gives him the chance to study demonic cultivation arts—that is opportunity.
Across Shenzhou Haotu, countless living beings all yearn to know what immortality is like.
Perhaps that bald donkey Puzhi's schemes may yet create an immortal unlike any seen since ancient times.
Martial Uncle Daoxuan took the wrong step here!"
"Oh... Where was I wrong? I merely acted for Qingyun's eternal reputation."
Daoxuan emerged from the darkness, looking puzzled.
"Martial Uncle!" Lin Jingyu and Xiao Xuan immediately said. Only the old man ignored Daoxuan outright.
"Martial Nephew Xiao, congratulations. The Taiqing Realm is within sight for you.
As for the mistake you spoke of..."
Xiao Xuan said, "Mere Peak Shangqing is not worth mentioning. I have only made Martial Uncle laugh.
I have seen the Zhu Xian Ancient Sword. Nothing in this world is more evil than it.
Martial Uncle should have used the Zhu Xian Ancient Sword before.
This is a mysterious ancient scroll I acquired by chance. It feels as though it shares the same origin as Qingyun's ancient scroll.
Qingyun's ancient scroll produced the cultivation art Taiji Xuanqing Dao.
This ancient scroll should be one of the sources of the Demonic Cult's cultivation arts.
When Martial Uncle has the time, study it. Dissolve the Zhuxian Evil Power within your body, or turn it to your own use."
As he spoke, three streams of light shot into the Sea of Consciousness of the three men.
"Many thanks, Martial Brother/ Martial Nephew!"
"As for my presumptuous words toward Martial Uncle, there is a great chance that Martial Brother Zhang Xiaofan will unravel the secret of immortality.
In the end, in a world of cultivation, strength reigns supreme. Though Martial Brother Zhang Xiaofan values loyalty and righteousness, and would never stand idly by even if Qingyun faced the danger of destruction someday.
Still, it would be false to say he had no thoughts of his own. In the end, he no longer has that original sense of belonging."
"Oh... You think so highly of him?
You should know that your progress over these years has not been inferior to his at all."
Before you continue