Junior Brother Xuan Kong, mind your tongue

"At last."

A figure appeared within three hundred li.

He concealed his form and erased his traces with exceptional stealth, and the aura of his cultivation art closely resembled that of the assassin who had ambushed Chu Yunfei last time.

That was because both came from the same organization: the Draped Robe Tower.

After Chu Yunfei returned to the Chu clan, the clan provisionally identified Wang Sheng as a suspect based on information supplied by the Truth-Seeking Abbey.

They dispatched a Golden Core clan elder to follow him for several days. The elder uncovered quite a few things, all but confirming that he was the mastermind.

When Xuan Yu visited the Chu clan a few days earlier, he brought this news back, along with word that Wang Sheng had changed targets and hired an assassin to kill Xuanming, and that Senior Brother Xuan Ye's death was connected to this direct-line scion of the Wang Family.

Thus, Xuanming was unsurprised when the assassin headed straight for Floating Cloud Mountain. When the man entered Floating Cloud County, Xuanming's brow furrowed more deeply; when he approached Floating Cloud Mountain, Xuanming immediately struck to kill. There was no need to speak of compassion or morality with an assassin.

Though the Daoist Tradition taught that the Immortal Way cherished life and offered boundless salvation, such people were difficult to save, especially when the man had come to kill him.

With a thought, the Peachwood Sword left its sheath and flew from the table in his thatched cottage, whistling through the air. A five-hundred-zhang blaze of sword light fell at the mountain's foot.

Brilliant sword light illuminated the night, blasting the hidden assassin into oblivion without leaving so much as a bone.

This strike was open and forthright, with no attempt at concealment.

Quite a few scouts witnessed it. Horrified, they dared not linger. They bowed respectfully toward the mountain, thanking him for sparing their lives, then returned to Floating Cloud County overnight to report to the powers behind them.

The ill-intentioned people prowling at the mountain's foot were frightened out of their wits, fleeing in piss-soaked terror. Afraid that even a moment's delay would see them follow the assassin into death beneath that sword light, they silently swore never to come to Floating Cloud Mountain again.

Watching the scouts and furtive lurkers flee, Xuanming was satisfied. By killing a Qi Refining Realm assassin to intimidate all sides, he had let the world know that a True Person presided over the Truth-Seeking Abbey. That should reduce future disturbances and bring some peace to the mountain's foot.

As for any trouble afterward, although the Draped Robe Tower was a terrifying assassin organization of unfathomable depth and notorious reputation, Xuanming was not particularly worried.

The Chu clan intended to move against Wang Sheng. Once this direct-line scion of the Wang Family died, the Draped Robe Tower would naturally stop its assassination attempts, and the problem would unravel like bamboo beneath a blade.

Retrieving the Peachwood Sword, Xuanming lay on his side to sleep, his posture comfortable and his expression peaceful. Heaven and earth's spiritual mechanism surged with each breath as he regulated his body, breath, and mind, his aura gradually becoming profound and obscure.

The red sun rose, flooding its path with light.

The Truth-Seeking Abbey had a True Person.

Most likely, Daoist Xuanming had broken through.

The news spread swiftly.

Quite a few people had witnessed last night's sword strike.

The various powers and rogue cultivators who received the news began reassessing the Truth-Seeking Abbey. Knowing that this Daoist lineage would no longer be what it once was, they treated it with greater seriousness, though to varying degrees.

To the leading powers of Fengyang Commandery, the Truth-Seeking Abbey had earned the right to their attention; to powers with only one or two Qi Refining cultivators, it deserved serious consideration.

In the west of the city, at the Chu residence.

The Chu clan's senior members laughed heartily. True Person Xuanming had finally made his move. Once the laughter subsided, Chu Nan, the clan head, spoke gravely. He stood eight feet tall, with rugged features, resolute brows, and exceptionally thick earlobes. "We must deal with Wang Sheng as soon as possible, lest a long night breed too many dreams."

At the Immortal Grove Inn, in the Heavenly Seal Sect's quarters.

True Person Yuan Ji beamed. The two sects had always enjoyed good relations. Now that the Truth-Seeking Abbey had produced a True Person and would soon become a major Daoist Tradition sect, he was delighted to see it happen. Gazing at the beautiful scenery outside his window, he murmured, "It seems our two sects should have more dealings."

At the Heaven-in-a-Gourd Palace.

The viewing stands were divided into three tiers.

The first tier was for minor powers and rogue cultivators.

The second tier was for aristocratic clans, major sects, and powerful rogue cultivators.

The third tier belonged exclusively to the three great figures: Sun, Moon, and Stars.

The Truth-Seeking Abbey's viewing stand had been raised. Though it remained in the first tier, it now stood higher than the other stands.

Apart from Xuan Kong, Xuanxu and the other third-generation disciples felt this was only natural after their initial surprise. They guessed that news of Senior Brother Xuanming's advancement to True Person had spread, but since the Heaven and Earth Academy had yet to verify it, the Truth-Seeking Abbey had not officially become a major Daoist Tradition sect and therefore remained in the first tier.

Aside from Chang'anzi, Xuan Kong and the other disciples were astonished. At first, they had no idea why this had happened. Once Daoist Fei Bai came over and explained, they were stunned. The difference was that the disciples felt pure joy, while Xuan Kong felt grief mingled with his delight.

Seeing how composed his fellow disciples were, and realizing they had known all along, Xuan Kong felt the hurt and desolation of someone abandoned by the whole world. Xuan Yang chuckled. "Junior Brother Xuan Kong, mind your tongue!"

"Otherwise, we'll keep you in the dark next time too!"

Xuan Kong glared fiercely at Xuan Yang.

You're the one who needs to mind his tongue.

Every time, you're the one who plunges two knives into my chest.

Though Junior Brother Xuan Kong was easygoing and optimistic, they could not disregard his feelings. They still had to offer him an explanation.

Xuanxu said, "Senior Brother Xuanming told us to keep it from you because he feared someone with ulterior motives might use you and alert our hidden enemies. Then we would lose the element of surprise."

Xuan Kong silently lowered his head.

He understood the reasoning. It just hurt.

"Senior Brother Xuanming already instructed us that once the news spread, you could order a table of delicious dishes at the Welcome Immortal Inn, as his apology and compensation."

At those words, Xuan Kong's face lit up with joy.

Two dimples blossomed on his plump face. His heart instantly stopped aching, and his spirits soared.

"Senior Brother!"

Xuan Yang had barely spoken before Xuanxu shot him a glare. He ducked his head in fright, offered a placating smile, and immediately fell silent.

Only then was Xuanxu satisfied.

Senior Brother Xuanming only gave me enough money for one table, barely enough to fill Xuan Kong's belly. If you join in, won't I have to dip into my own purse to cover the difference?

Don't you know how much wine you can drink?

Xuan Kong immediately raised his head and puffed out his chest, strolling around in front of Xuan Yang with his round belly swaying. Then he cheerfully invited Daoist Fei Bai to join him. He would play host without paying, being generous at his senior brother's expense.

The Welcome Immortal Inn's spiritual cuisine was renowned throughout the Commandery City. Daoist Fei Bai had long heard of it and had been tempted for ages, but his purse was thin, so he had only ever stood at its entrance and taken a couple of breaths of its fragrant air. Now that Xuan Kong was warmly inviting him, he readily agreed. It was not his money, after all.

Xuanxu: ...

People's joys and sorrows did not resonate with one another.

While the Daoists of the Truth-Seeking Abbey were filled with surprise and delight, in a residence in the south of the city, Old Man was blasted away by an oppressive aura. He crashed to the ground, raising a cloud of dust. The ordinary voice of the man shrouded in mist carried a note of furious frustration.

"Why did you hear nothing whatsoever about that old bastard Xuanming becoming a True Person?"

"Now we've beaten the grass and startled the snake. He'll certainly be on his guard. To kill him now, we'll need to hire at least a Primordial Realm assassin from the Draped Robe Tower, at a far greater cost."

Old Man coughed up a mouthful of blood.

As he lowered his head, his gaze toward the man in the mist held bitter Resentment.

You were the one who hesitated over every little thing, yet in the end you lay the blame on me.

For the sake of the greater plan, I'll endure it!

Only by bearing humiliation and shouldering heavy burdens can one achieve greatness!

After venting his Rage, Wang Sheng said calmly:

"The Chu clan has probably begun suspecting me over the last attempt on Chu Yunfei's life. It would be best if we did not meet for a while."

"Floating Cloud Mountain is under scrutiny from all sides. The Chu clan may send someone to warn that old bastard Xuanming, and they'll be watching the mountain too. Set aside his assassination for now. Don't give the Chu clan anything to use against us."

"Pick the soft persimmon to squeeze. Have the Draped Robe Tower kill Chang'anzi first. I want him barred from the Heaven and Earth Academy."

Old Man immediately accepted the order.

After Wang Sheng left, not a trace of pallor remained on the old man's face. He stared in the direction Wang Sheng had gone, his gaze turning vicious.

It seems I must get the Chu clan to kill this brat as soon as possible.

Both upstairs and next door are being renovated. The noise has given me a headache these past few days and blocked my train of thought. My irritability seeped into the story, and I'm truly sorry. I've adjusted my mindset now and finished revising from chapter thirty-five onward. I spent an entire night grinding away at it and am exhausted. I'll rest for a few hours, then write today's update.