Undercurrents Surge (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Under the rockery of the Qian Mansion's family head courtyard.

A secret chamber unknown even to the Qian Family's core members.

The air was thick with a nauseating, almost clotted stench of blood.

In the gloom, the gurgling sound of flowing water converged toward the center, finally falling into a pool a zhang wide.

The faint flame of an ever-burning lamp flickered, illuminating the pool's true face.

It was a pool of viscous, flowing blood!

Qian Family head Qian Yue strode quickly to the blood pool, then dropped with a thud to kneel on the cold stone slab, like a devout servant, the dignity of a family head utterly gone.

From the center of the blood pool came a series of gurgling surges.

Soon, a blood shadow formed entirely from congealed blood slowly rose.

Though humanoid, the shadow bore a single ferocious horn on its forehead.

"Esteemed Envoy..." Qian Yue kept his head bowed extremely low, fine beads of sweat oozing from his brow, not daring to meet the blood shadow's gaze.

"The mission failed?"

The blood shadow's voice was hoarse and raspy, like dry wood grinding, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"That Shangguan Hongyue somehow latched onto a grand-uncle of the Xuanyun Sword Sect. That old man's seniority is extremely high; even the stationed Deacon Huang obeys his every word."

Qian Yue tremblingly laid out the entire engagement annulment: "Today, it was that old man who pressured us, forcibly canceling the marriage contract. I dared not insist, fearing I'd alert Lei Qingyang."

"Useless!"

"This Seat ordered you to find a way to infiltrate the Xuanyun Sword Sect's inner sect. This Shangguan Hongyue was the most suitable pawn. Now the pawn is lost—how will you remedy this?"

The blood shadow snorted coldly, and the blood in the pool instantly boiled, the chamber's bloody aura surging sharply, pressing down on Qian Yue until he could barely breathe.

"Esteemed Envoy, calm your anger. I am willing to offer you another hundred maidens..."

Qian Yue shook like a sieve, prostrating himself in supplication.

Only when the blood pool calmed and the bloody aura gradually receded did he speak in a low voice: "Next, I plan to start with that Deacon Huang. Rumor has it that fellow is extremely greedy for wealth and women. If I apply some means, I might be able to bring him under my wing."

"Hmph. I hope this time you keep your word."

The horned blood shadow gave one final chance.

Qian Yue's heart relaxed slightly. He looked up at the blood shadow and, gathering his courage, requested:

"Esteemed Envoy... could you increase the supply of Shou'er Tea to my Qian Family? The nobles in the city are extremely fond of this tea now; sales are excellent. I need more tea to win the trust of those old fogies in the Mortal Elder Pavilion."

"Heh heh heh heh..."

The blood shadow let out a piercing, mocking laugh: "Qian Yue, do you take Shou'er Tea for roadside weeds? This tea requires a hundred consecutive days of irrigation with living blood before a single harvest can be plucked. If you still fail to complete the Holy Sect's orders, you won't get a single leaf of this Shou'er Tea again!"

"Understood. I will surely complete the Esteemed Envoy's orders."

Qian Yue shuddered all over, sweat pouring like rain.

With a splash, the blood shadow dissolved into a rain of blood that fell back into the pool.

Qian Yue pushed himself up from the cold stone slab, his eyes icy, and gave a slight bow: "I see the Esteemed Envoy off!"

Xuanyun Sword Sect, Sect Master Peak.

After returning to the sect, Chen Xian had immediately sought a private meeting with Lei Qingyang.

Now, in the council hall, the fragrance of tea curled upward.

The two had already been conversing for some time.

Lei Qingyang stood with his hands behind his back, his heroic brows locked in a tight frown: "Uncle-Master means that the Qian Family head is secretly cultivating one of the Blood Demon Sect's three great evil arts?"

Chen Xian sat, slowly blowing the floating leaves from his cup: "This Old One's cultivation may be gone, but I still have some insight. That Qian Yue is nearly sixty, yet the blood and qi within his body are extremely abundant—completely abnormal."

"A brief contact revealed traces of a Blood-Irrigated Body. It's ninety-nine percent certain."

Chen Xian took a sip of tea, not stating his words too absolutely.

He could never reveal the existence of his system to anyone.

"If that's truly the case, it is indeed troublesome."

Lei Qingyang paced back and forth in the hall, a note of gravity added to his decisive demeanor. "Cultivation sects cannot lightly interfere with mortal rules. Without solid evidence, if the sect forcibly arrests someone, the Mortal Elder Pavilion might report us to the Saint Hall."

Lei Qingyang did not doubt Chen Xian's judgment, but his frown deepened.

Ask-Dao City sat right at the foot of the Sword Sect. For the Blood Demon Sect to extend its hand here meant their scheme was surely enormous.

Now that the 73rd Hanging Sword Array was locked in a stalemate, most of the sect's energy was tied up. If the backyard caught fire, the consequences would be unthinkable.

One move affected the whole body; a single misstep could severely weaken their strength.

Chen Xian set down his teacup and added: "After discovering this, This Old One has already instructed the stationed Deacon Huang to secretly monitor the Qian Family's movements. If the Qian Family reveals any trace, he will send word back to the sect immediately."

Lei Qingyang's face lit up with joy: "As expected of Uncle-Master, you've thought of everything." Now he no longer had to consider whom to send.

"But Deacon Huang complained to This Old One that his posting outside is harsh, and even if reduced to an ordinary disciple, he wants to apply for a transfer back to the sect."

Chen Xian relayed Huang Huanghuang's request.

Lei Qingyang waved his hand and said decisively, "How could that be? The sect is in need of people right now. I do not agree with Deacon Huang's request."

"However, if he truly manages to uproot the Blood Demon Sect's hidden hand in Ask-Dao City, I will also submit a recommendation for Deacon Huang to become an elder."

Chen Xian nodded, silently mourning for Huang Huanghuang for a breath.

But since Lei Qingyang had voluntarily offered to credit Huang Huanghuang with merit, he wasn't exactly a big swindler.

It was just unfortunate for Deacon Huang, who would likely have to keep toiling as a beast of burden for quite some time.

After finishing the official matters, Lei Qingyang's gaze suddenly fell on Chen Xian, and a look of surprise appeared on his stern face.

"Uncle-Master, your cultivation...?"

He stepped over to Chen Xian in one stride, his divine sense sweeping quickly. "You're now at the peak of the third level of Dao Disciple, about to step into the Second Realm Heaven? It's only been half a month since you returned to the sect, hasn't it?"

"Haha, you caught me."

Chen Xian stroked his white beard with pride. "Perhaps I wandered too long in the mortal world. Returning to this ancestral land rich with spiritual energy, decades of insights have suddenly burst forth. I've only barely reached the third level—just an old set of bones, nothing worth mentioning."

"Barely the third level?" Lei Qingyang's mouth twitched slightly.

It wasn't unusual for a re-cultivator to advance quickly, but he had never heard of anyone as heaven-defying as his uncle-master.

Moreover, at his uncle-master's age, his physical blood and qi had long dried up, and his meridians and dantian had already decayed. Even with a top-tier physique like the Mystic Jade Sword Bone, merely re-introducing qi into his body was already a blessing from a Saint.

Now, observing his aura, Lei Qingyang estimated he was just one step away from the fourth level of Dao Disciple.

First, discovering the Qian Family secretly cultivating evil arts, and now this rapid re-cultivation—this uncle-master had given him two surprises in a row!

Could it be that his uncle-master truly could return to the Dao Master Realm, or even the Dao Sect Realm?

Lei Qingyang's earlier certainty began to waver.

"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. Your tea here isn't as good as the brew that little Yue makes!"

Chen Xian stood up, smacking his lips.

"Uncle-Master, go slowly. I'll see you out."

Lei Qingyang hurried forward and personally escorted Chen Xian out, stuffing several bottles of fine blood-nourishing and meridian-protecting pills into his chest before he left.

No sooner had Chen Xian left than Elder Liu entered the hall holding a rolled-up blueprint.

"Sect Master, the reconstruction of Sword Suppression Peak has already begun. At most, a month and it can reopen."

"Should we inform Uncle-Master in advance and let him prepare to take the position of Sword Suppression Peak's Peak Master?"

Lei Qingyang gazed at Chen Xian's gradually receding figure, rubbing the lightning sparks between his fingers. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Not yet. Uncle-Master's cultivation progress has exceeded my expectations. Let's wait until he recovers to the Dao Master Realm before telling him."

"Sword Suppression Peak was one of the Nine Peaks back in the day. Reopening a lineage is no small matter. If Uncle-Master lacks sufficient strength, he may face criticism."

"Understood." Elder Liu nodded.

Lei Qingyang's eyes sharpened, lightning and fire bursting forth. "There's something I need you to handle. Secretly investigate whether there are any traitors within the sect. The Seventy-Three Hanging Sword Array was breached far too suspiciously."

Liu Yunshu's expression stiffened. "You mean..."

"Mm. I originally thought the Blood Demon Sect had broken the array through brute force. But now Uncle-Master has reminded me—the enemy has already extended their hand into Ask-Dao City. The array's destruction likely has another cause."

Lei Qingyang nodded, his mind racing, and added another sentence:

"Start with those who have had close dealings with Ask-Dao City recently."

Liu Yunshu's face turned serious. "Regardless of whether they are disciples or elders?"

Lei Qingyang clenched his fist, arcs of electricity bursting forth. "Regardless of whether they are disciples or elders!"