A life hanging by a thread

Inside the hall.

The blue jade floor tiles reflected a cold light. Zhang Guangyuan, master of the External Affairs Hall, sat in the seat of honor, flanked by elders with grave expressions.

Song Yan's gray robe was stained with dust, and the spiritual power around him was unstable.

"Outer Sect Disciple Song Yesheng..."

Zhang Guangyuan spoke slowly, his voice devoid of emotion.

"This disciple is here."

"Now that the elders have gathered, recount everything that happened in the secret realm in detail, from the beginning."

As soon as Xu Ziqing received the news, he had brought Qin Ying and Lu Ziye back from Silent Valley.

His expression was calm as he added, "Among the Xuanyuan Sect disciples in the secret realm, Wang Xi died, and two Spirit Talisman Sect disciples also died."

"All the Dongyuan Sect disciples caught up in it survived."

"Shao Sichao returned to the sect earlier, but he knew nothing of what happened in the secret realm."

"You must truthfully recount everything you saw and heard, down to the last detail."

"Otherwise, when the Xuanyuan Sect elders come demanding you in the future, we will be unable to protect you."

Xu Ziqing's early return would certainly draw the attention of interested parties. It was only a matter of time before news leaked that Song Yan had returned alive.

"Yes."

Song Yan paused briefly, his thoughts shifting slightly.

He had originally thought the sect could not possibly sour relations with the Xuanyuan Sect over an insignificant Outer Sect Disciple like him.

But now, the actual situation seemed somewhat different.

Perhaps it was because the Dongyuan Sect was already utterly penniless and unwilling to part with resources over minor matters?

Gritting his teeth, he decided to give a half-true, half-false account of his life-and-death struggle with Wang Xi.

Song Yan lowered his eyes.

He slowly recounted the Xuanyuan Sect's trap, Wang Xi's pursuit, Wan Songran's sneak attack, and the final desperate battle, concealing the secrets of the Glutton Tail Flute and the sword Dao seed.

With a little embellishment, Wang Xi's primary target in his account became Wan Songran of the Spirit Talisman Sect, while he himself became a secondary participant in the battle that killed Wang Xi.

"Wan Songran of the Spirit Talisman Sect was a disciple of the Wan Household. Though his cultivation was only at Qi Refining sixth layer, he possessed a Spirit Gathering Secret Method that could briefly increase his combat strength."

"Working together with this disciple, he barely managed to kill Wang Xi."

At the end, he coughed softly, his voice weak. "To protect myself, I had no choice but to forcibly drive my spiritual power, injuring my foundation. Wang Xi also wounded me gravely, and my cultivation... has fallen to Qi Refining, first layer."

"Wan Songran intended to kill me to silence me, but he, too, was gravely wounded by then, his oil spent and his lamp burning dry. So we each took a step back and left separately."

"This disciple does not know how he died."

"..."

An uncanny silence fell over the hall.

The elders in the hall exchanged glances, their expressions varied.

"Hmph!" An elder Song Yan had never seen before snorted angrily, breaking the silence, then immediately erupted in curses. "Those bastards from the Xuanyuan Sect were born of mothers but never raised by them!"

"Elder Luo! Mind your words."

Zhang Guangyuan stopped Elder Luo Haonan's angry tirade.

"Wang Xi was at Qi Refining eighth layer, and according to you, he also possessed powerful Law Artifacts and spirit talismans. Killing you should have taken no more effort than blowing away dust..."

Yang Wenxuan's gaze was piercing. "How did you help the Wan Household disciple kill Wang Xi?"

Song Yan's heart tightened, but he betrayed nothing.

"This disciple contributed little, merely assisting from the side."

"Also, this disciple's Divine Sense is slightly stronger than most people's. Before losing my cultivation, I had some proficiency in several Law Techniques."

Now that he had "lost all his cultivation," was it not up to Song Yan himself to say what he had been like before?

This was one advantage of being an Outer Sect Disciple no one paid attention to.

"Divine Sense..."

Yang Wenxuan pondered, but Xu Ziqing spoke.

"Indeed. Though Outer Sect Disciple Song Yesheng has mediocre spiritual root aptitude, his Divine Sense exceeds that of ordinary people, and he has also achieved something in alchemy."

Song Yan wondered how this elder knew these things, but at this moment, he was only too glad to have someone speak on his behalf.

"Elder Zhang!"

A disciple outside requested an audience.

"Xuanyuan Sect External Affairs Elder Shen Yu and executive elders Zheng Xinzhi and Chang Ziyi have arrived with several disciples!"

Zhang Guangyuan and Xu Ziqing exchanged a glance.

"They certainly came quickly..."

Zhang Guangyuan left Dragon Head Peak with several elders and flew to the Dao-Entering Terrace at the mountain gate.

By then, quite a few disciples and stewards had gathered nearby, watching the events on the Dao-Entering Terrace from afar.

Zhang Guangyuan called out clearly, "Elder Shen, it has been some time..."

Shen Yu raised a hand, cutting Zhang Guangyuan off.

"There is no need to beat around the bush, Elder Zhang. We have come today only to demand an explanation."

Shen Yu was in a foul mood.

As the Xuanyuan Sect's external affairs elder, over all these years, which sect had not been made to give them whatever they demanded?

This plan actually had nothing to do with the Xuanyuan Sect. He had simply wanted to fish a Spirit Vein out of another sect for himself.

As the Xuanyuan Sect's external affairs elder, such matters were understood by everyone without being spoken aloud.

Now, after all that effort, before he could extract any benefits from the two sects, he had lost one of his own disciples first.

He simply could not understand how that useless Wang Xi had died in the secret realm.

"Our disciple Wang Xi died, and the Spirit Talisman Sect also lost two disciples in the secret realm. Yet both disciples of your Dongyuan Sect are alive and well."

Xu Ziqing smiled. "Cultivation has always been unpredictable. If someone dies and their Dao vanishes, they can only blame their own lack of strength, not others, surely?"

"..."

"Naturally, but..."

"A surviving disciple of the Spirit Talisman Sect stated that they saw your Dongyuan Sect disciple Song Yesheng behaving furtively in the secret realm, secretly following my disciple Wang Xi."

"Wang Xi was at Qi Refining eighth layer. Had he acted cautiously, protecting himself should have been no problem..."

"Therefore, we suspect that Wang Xi's death may be connected to Song Yesheng!"

"If his conscience is truly clear, why not have him come out and confront us face-to-face?"

Song Yan slowly emerged from the crowd and bowed to the Xuanyuan Sect elders hovering in the air.

He was about to speak when Xu Ziqing interrupted him.

"We questioned him just now and have already learned what happened in the secret realm."

Song Yan was astonished, unsure what medicine this Elder Xu was selling in his gourd.

Xu Ziqing's face was filled with grief. "Who could have known that several late first-tier Demon Beasts would be in that secret realm?"

"Worthy nephew Wang Xi stepped forward upon seeing injustice. To cover Song Yesheng and Wan Songran's escape, he fought alone against many, battling the Demon Beasts fiercely until he exhausted his strength and fell."

"Rest assured, Elder Shen. Our Dongyuan Sect will certainly engrave worthy nephew Wang Xi's righteous deed upon our hearts!"

This...

Song Yan was dumbfounded, momentarily speechless.

"Our disciple Song Yesheng was wounded by a Demon Beast during the struggle. Though he escaped by good fortune, he has now lost all his cultivation and can hardly ascend the Great Dao of Longevity again."

"..."

Song Yan said nothing, merely maintaining a sorrowful expression.

He thought to himself that the story he had concocted was still far too restrained.

"Utter nonsense!"

"That secret realm was small and shallow. Where could any late first-tier Demon Beasts have come from?!"

"Elder Shen, you never entered the secret realm. How can you make such a definite judgment?"

Xu Ziqing could not help asking in return.

"Could it be that you already knew what was inside this secret realm?"

Shen Yu froze, then his expression darkened.

Sometimes, he wondered whether he could return to the sect and petition several Golden Core elders to emerge from seclusion together, sweep through like a force crushing rotten wood, and simply destroy the Dongyuan Sect.

A minor sect that failed to appreciate kindness like this was truly infuriating.

"I have no wish to waste more words with you. Have this boy surnamed Song hand over his Heaven and Earth Bag. If none of Wang Xi's belongings are inside, naturally, there will be no problem."

"Otherwise... hmph."

Behind him, another Xuanyuan Sect elder moved slightly forward.

"Give you an inch and you take a mile!" Xu Ziqing laughed instead of growing angry. "The great path of cultivation goes against heaven. Who does not have secret treasures and spiritual objects of their own?"

"Our disciple must let you inspect his Heaven and Earth Bag?"

"Does the Xuanyuan Sect think our Dongyuan Sect can be bullied?!"

"Heh..."

Spiritual power surged around Shen Yu. No longer inclined to remain entangled with the Dongyuan Sect, he unleashed his spiritual pressure with a thunderous burst.

"What... if we do?"

Bang!

Three immense waves of spiritual pressure erupted in unison. The might of the Foundation Establishment late stage swept out like collapsing mountains, bearing straight down on Song Yan.

"Elder Shen, do you intend to attack within our Dongyuan Sect?"

Xu Ziqing swept his sleeve, shielding Song Yan behind him.

For some reason, Shen Yu could not see the slightest worry or fear in his expression.

The corners of Xu Ziqing's mouth even curled into a fanatical smile.

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