Yan Changkong walked at the front, proceeding with utmost caution.
Hundreds of people followed behind him. They had been selected by various major factions to enter the Xuanqing Sect and experience the Great Emperor's path of cultivation up close.
Not a single one of them used spells or flew through the air.
They climbed the mountain on foot.
Before long, they passed through an ancient gate tower. The Great Elder stood with a group of disciples, lined up on either side.
"Welcome, mighty ones, to our sect! We hope you'll grace us with your guidance!"
Yan Changkong let out a sigh of relief, thinking, At least the old geezer's finally done something right.
The outer disciples' lodgings were not far from the mountain gate.
Soon, the group arrived in a small valley, where simple wooden huts stood scattered about.
The valley's scenery was nothing special, but it was peaceful.
Near the river, one wooden hut had been fenced off. A stone stele stood before its entrance.
The words "Former Residence of the Great Emperor" were carved on it, impossible to miss.
The sight immediately drew everyone's attention.
Yan Changkong turned around and introduced it with a broad smile. "Everyone, behold. This wooden hut is the Former Residence of the Great Emperor."
"Back then, the Great Emperor lived in this humble wooden hut."
He spoke with heartfelt emotion. "Standing here, I can almost feel that indomitable will to strive ever onward!"
Liu Piaopiao raised an eyebrow but said nothing, thinking, It's been thousands of years. What the hell kind of will could possibly be left?
But this was hardly the occasion to contradict him.
Next, the people from the various factions took turns entering the Former Residence of the Great Emperor, as if they were on a sightseeing tour.
They got a close look at the traces of the Great Emperor's life.
Then, guided by Yan Changkong, they visited the Great Emperor Bathing Pool, the Great Emperor Latrine, the rock where the Great Emperor had meditated...
They even ran their hands over the ancient tree the Great Emperor had once climbed.
Yan Changkong was generous enough to bring out the techniques and spells the Great Emperor had once practiced for everyone to examine.
It wasn't as if they were worth anything anyway.
To those present, these techniques and spells were naturally nothing special.
Elsewhere, they wouldn't have given them a second glance.
But today, they studied them with unusual diligence, making sure to memorize every one.
The Great Emperor had practiced these techniques, after all. They had to have something exceptional about them, right?
This continued until dusk.
Liu Piaopiao glanced at the darkening sky and cupped her hands toward Yan Changkong.
"It's getting late. We should head down the mountain."
"We've imposed on you today. Once again, thank you, Sect Master Yan, for your warm hospitality. Experiencing the Great Emperor's path of cultivation up close has been deeply enlightening!"
Quite a few others didn't agree with her, but they still cupped their hands and offered their thanks.
Jiang Youlong gave a snort, turned around, and headed down the mountain.
Before long, the disciples from the Holy Lands, Ancient Clans, and Immortal Dynasty had all departed.
The Xuanqing Sect was quiet once more.
"At last, we've sent all those fiends on their way!"
The Great Elder Chen Xiu let out a long breath and sighed. "We've made it through this ordeal, haven't we?"
Yan Changkong shook his head, his face dark as iron. "It's not that simple. Just wait. Tonight will be the real show."
The Great Elder's voice turned grave. "Sect Master, you mean they didn't make their move today, but they'll strike tonight?"
"Exactly!"
Yan Changkong's expression was dark, his eyes flashing repeatedly. After a moment, he gave his orders in a low voice.
"Seal the sect tonight!"
"All disciples, you included, are to remain confined. No matter what you see or hear, you are not to leave!"
Chen Xiu's expression turned solemn. "Sect Master, then you..."
Yan Changkong drew a deep breath. "This is my sect's calamity, but also its chance to rise!"
"As sect master, I must shoulder this responsibility!"
He gave Chen Xiu a long, meaningful look. "If I'm dead by tomorrow, you'll temporarily take my place as sect master. Then send the disciples away and disband the sect."
"Don't let everyone sacrifice themselves for nothing."
Chen Xiu was deeply moved. He opened his mouth, but Yan Changkong cut him off.
"Enough!"
Yan Changkong's tone was resolute. "Go and pass on the order. I'll be entering seclusion in the Quiet Reflection Hall tonight, awaiting their arrival!"
With that!
Yan Changkong flashed through the air and arrived atop a tower a thousand zhang high.
He went inside and shut every window and door!
Then he sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and waited in silence.
"Dong!"
"Dong—dong-dong—"
A moment later, a strange, rhythmic bell tolled through the sect. It was the signal that the sect had been sealed.
Time passed, bit by bit...
Night fell.
A crescent moon hung in the heavens.
A hundred miles from the Xuanqing Sect, a massive ship hovered in the air, its banners fluttering.
Jiang Youlong looked up at the night sky, the corner of his mouth curling. "The real show is about to begin!"
"It's been a long time since I've felt this blood rush!"
A woman in a red dress approached with a playful laugh and chided him, "People are going to die, you know!"
Just then, another figure—a burly man—spoke in a deep voice. "Hua Hongyi, isn't this exactly the sort of scene you like?"
"Oh, stop it. I don't like killing people. I just like... corpses."
Jiang Youlong looked away and snorted. "That old geezer Yan Changkong didn't tell us a single word of truth today! And we all played along with him for the entire day!"
"Bet plenty of people want to grab him and search his soul now, don't they?"
"Hehehe, I like playing around with soul-searching, too!"
A bank of colored clouds drifted past.
Within the clouds stood countless halls and pavilions, like a celestial palace.
The people of the Jade Pool Holy Land were inside the palace, studying the information on the Great Emperor they had gathered that day.
Liu Piaopiao stood outside the hall, lost in thought as the night wind tousled her skirt.
"Peak Master Liu!"
An elderly man with prominent cheekbones approached. After hesitating for a moment, he asked, "Are we really going to make a move tonight?"
Liu Piaopiao came back to herself and nodded gently. "It's an order from the Holy Venerable herself!"
The old man stiffened. "I understand!"
Elsewhere in the night sky.
Enormous balls of fire hovered overhead, like suns.
They lit up the surrounding world as bright as day!
They were flying spirit beasts known as Mystic Birds, each wreathed in Black Bird True Fire. The sight was terrifying.
Standing proudly on the back of the foremost Mystic Bird was a middle-aged man dressed in a uniform patterned with Mystic Birds.
He was Zhao Shanhe, commander of the Black Bird Guard of the Liyue Immortal Dynasty.
Zhao Shanhe's gaze was sharp as a blade. He swept his eyes around, then slowly raised the jade slip in his hand.
"Her Majesty has ordered us to defend the Xuanqing Sect at all costs tonight!"
"Do not fail!"
The other Black Bird Guards looked astonished, then quickly answered in solemn voices:
"We obey!"
It was no wonder they were surprised.
Even Zhao Shanhe, their commander, found the order unbelievable and couldn't make sense of it.
The Liyue Immortal Dynasty and the Xuanqing Sect had never been on friendly terms.
Why had Her Majesty ordered them to protect the Xuanqing Sect?
Before he'd seen the secret decree...
Zhao Shanhe had even thought the Empress would order them to take Yan Changkong back.
The atmosphere gradually grew heavier.
Yan Changkong sat cross-legged in the Quiet Reflection Hall. Every door and window had been shut.
But now, a sinister wind suddenly swept through the hall, and the temperature plunged. Frost formed across the floor...
Yan Changkong sensed it. "They're here!"
Clack—
Suddenly, the windows around the hall flew open, and a fierce wind rushed inside.
He opened his eyes and looked out.
Above, dark clouds churned, and a colossal shape seemed to roll within them.
On the other side, snowflakes drifted down.
Yan Changkong turned his gaze. The sky in the opposite direction blazed with fire, dozens of fireballs burning like suns.
At the same time, countless powerful auras converged around them, rushing in like a tide.
The day's events had been only a small test.
The real storm was only beginning.
Yan Changkong drew a deep breath. His plump body trembled, yet he remained as immovable as a mountain.
He closed his eyes again, downed the rest of the Calm Spirit Pills in one gulp, and spoke in a low voice.
"This time, I, Yan Changkong, am taking the gamble!"
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