The discussion was basically over. The peak masters and representatives departed one after another.
Xu Changqing had just risen, ready to leave with them, when he heard Grand Elder Xuan Yan's voice by his ear. "You stay behind."
His heart tightened, and he hurriedly stopped.
Seeing this, those remaining revealed thoughtful expressions.
Once only Xu Changqing, Xuan Yan, and the artifact spirit Hao Yuan remained in the hall, he cupped his hands in salute. "What instructions does the Grand Elder have?"
Xuan Yan rose from his meditation cushion and asked, "Do you know why Azurewood Peak sent no representative this time, and instead had you here to fill the numbers?"
Xu Changqing froze for a moment before answering honestly, "I have some guesses, but I truly don't know the exact circumstances.
"You should know that I've always lived in the Spirit Fields, so I don't know much about Azurewood Peak."
Standing with his hands behind his back, Xuan Yan gazed through the hall doors at the resplendent starry sky outside. "A group of people stirred up trouble while your master was in seclusion.
"Several of them even wanted to drag you into the water."
Xu Changqing raised a brow. "Su Qingyao?"
Xuan Yan gave a slight nod. "Her, and more than just her."
Xu Changqing had long known, but he still pretended to have only just realized it. "No wonder Master and Senior Brother Zhu had me go out for a while."
"Only by leaving the whirlpool could you avoid being dragged in."
"Then what became of them?"
"They endangered the Immortal Sect and brought disaster upon the Heavenly Origin Realm. Naturally, they perished body and soul!"
With that exchange, the two finally made the whole sequence of events clear.
At first, Xu Changqing had indeed been baffled. Now, after