Ghostface's voice echoed through the underground palace.
One gaze after another gradually lit up with excitement.
They were going to do the opposite—right now, everyone believed the Demonic Sect would clash head-on with the Great Yan court over General Shenyu. But if they suddenly turned toward the Wang Clan and Zhenwu Sect, they'd definitely catch them off guard.
"The Wang Clan of Qingzhou are nothing but imperial lapdogs. We must crush them hard—otherwise, if those martial sects get a taste of success, they'll all oppose our Holy Sect in the future!"
"I'll handle the Wang Clan myself."
Ghostface's gaze was icy cold.
This kind of momentum had to be snuffed out while it was still budding.
The Demonic Sect was already operating from the shadows and at a disadvantage. If the other martial sects started leaning toward the court, then any hope of overturning the heavens would be completely lost.
"As for the Zhenwu Sect, though they were forced into this matter, Elder Lin's death is still closely tied to them. Elder Wang, I'll have to trouble you with this one."
"In a few days, the court's rewards for the Zhenwu Sect should arrive. That will be the perfect time to strike—kill them all in one go!"
Ghostface looked toward a short old man. The old man stood in front of everyone. While he was respectful toward Ghostface, he wasn't as terrified as the others.
"I accept the order."
Elder Wang nodded calmly.
Even though that Heavenly Sword True Person from the Zhenwu Sect had severely wounded Elder Lin with a single strike and gained a huge reputation,
They all knew the truth—Elder Lin had already been gravely injured by Shenyu and the Green Ox Bladesman working together. After being hunted for an entire day and night by Shenyu, he had finally let his guard down and been ambushed by the Heavenly Sword.
In terms of strength, Elder Wang was no weaker than Elder Lin.
With proper preparation this time—not to say he would definitely kill the Heavenly Sword True Person—but defeating him wouldn't be a problem. The rest would be enough to make the Zhenwu Sect pay a heavy price.
With everything in place, bloodlust glimmered in everyone's eyes.
Except for one person.
That person's heart was in chaos, as though something had gripped it tight.
The white-haired young man hung his head low, hiding the slight paleness on his face, preparing to leave with the others.
Suddenly, Ghostface's voice rang out:
"Qin Yun, you don't need to take part in this operation. Stay in the underground palace and focus on your cultivation."
Everyone came to a sudden halt, then looked toward the white-haired youth with strange expressions. Only now did some realize—Qin Yun used to be the eighth True Disciple of Daoist Longshan from the Zhenwu Sect and had only joined the Holy Sect two years ago.
Now they were going to strike the Zhenwu Sect, yet the Deputy Sect Master was excluding Qin Yun—clearly, he still didn't fully trust him.
A few people looked at him with mockery in their eyes.
Qin Yun was undeniably talented and had always been favored by the Deputy Sect Master. Rumor even had it that he was being trained as a potential Holy Son, but now it seemed like all that talk was nonsense. 𝘳ᴀɴȯ𝐛ʧ
Qin Yun's eyes paused briefly. When he looked up again, his expression was calm as water:
"I will follow the Deputy Sect Master's orders."
But inside, a quiet anxiety rose in his heart.
He had thought that if he were part of the operation, he might be able to quietly leak some information to the Zhenwu Sect to help them prepare in advance. But now, he could only hope that the Heavenly Sword True Person was strong enough.
Qin Yun's figure disappeared into the depths of the underground palace.
He thought of his Master, Daoist Longshan, his Senior Brother Luo Wentian, and his Little Junior Brother Ning Qi.
In the end,
He let out a long sigh in his heart.
…
Time passed slowly.
Outside the Seeking Dao Courtyard, the Zhenwu Peach Tree had begun to sprout. Compared to previous years, it looked even more vigorous. The Enlightenment Tea Tree seeds buried in the courtyard were also gradually gaining in spiritual strength, though they had not yet broken through the soil.
Ning Qi waited in silence.
Ever since his trip to Zhenwu City and learning that most of the imperial spies had been withdrawn, Ning Qi had quietly increased his vigilance.
While cultivating, he would also regularly attune his senses to Zhenwu Mountain.
In this manner, several more days passed.
A special group of guests arrived at the foot of Zhenwu Mountain.
Their expressions were relaxed, their auras powerful. Though their eyes were calm, there was a faint trace of arrogance about them. The leader and a few others were pale-skinned and beardless. In the middle of the group stood a boy and a girl—
The boy appeared to be seven or eight years old; the girl a bit older, around ten. Both carried themselves with exceptional poise—clearly not children from ordinary families.
"So this is Zhenwu Mountain? Not bad at all." The boy stood with hands behind his back, making a comment like a little adult.
The girl agreed:
"Look, Brother Ling. Zhenwu Mountain rises into the sky like a Divine Sword—no wonder they could produce a swordsman as powerful as the Heavenly Sword True Person."
The boy's eyes lit up:
"Elder Sister Qingyue makes a good point. If you look closely, the mountain really does look like a flying sword. I wonder if the Heavenly Sword True Person is as strong as the rumors say—hopefully we'll get to meet him."
Both looked forward to it.
Whether boy or girl, they were both enamored with swordsmanship. Upon hearing of the Heavenly Sword True Person, they had insisted on tagging along.
The elder named Eunuch Ye chuckled:
"Young Lord and Princess may not know this, but Zhenwu Mountain wasn't always called that. It used to be Divine Sword Mountain, the secluded cultivation ground of someone known as the Divine Sword Elder. Later, he lost a bet with Daoist Longshan and gave the mountain to him."
"After that, Daoist Longshan founded a sect here—Zhenwu. And Divine Sword Mountain was renamed Zhenwu Mountain."
"As for the Heavenly Sword True Person, he most likely came afterward with Daoist Longshan."
The boy, Li Ling, quickly asked:
"Was that Divine Sword Elder strong too? Why have I never heard of him?"
Eunuch Ye shook his head with a smile:
"He was only in the Core Formation Realm."
Both the boy and girl looked disappointed—the glow around Zhenwu Mountain dimmed in their eyes.
The Core Formation Realm was still a force to be reckoned with, but they had already met many Heaven-Man Realm experts. Only those on the Heaven-Man Ranking could truly earn their admiration.
"Eunuch Ye, do you think if I demanded the Heavenly Sword True Person come out, he would?" the girl, Li Qingyue, asked.
Eunuch Ye's heart skipped a beat. He quickly replied:
"Your Highness, please don't say that on the mountain."
"The Heavenly Sword True Person is said to possess strength worthy of the Heaven-Man Ranking. Even General Shenyu couldn't meet him. Hermits of his level can't be pressured. If fate allows it, you'll meet him. This visit is to reward Zhenwu Sect for wiping out the Demonic Sect—please don't be reckless."
Princess Li Qingyue nodded:
"Don't worry, Eunuch Ye. I know. Ling and I just wanted to try our luck. At most, we'll linger at the Zhenwu Sect a little longer. We won't interfere with your business."
Eunuch Ye could only smile bitterly in his heart.
With his Heaven-Man Realm cultivation, he normally wouldn't be assigned to something like delivering rewards—Zhenwu Sect wasn't worthy of that treatment. But since these two little ancestors insisted on coming, he had to accompany them.
Li Qingyue was a favored princess, and Li Ling was the young son of the North-Stabilizing King—both had noble blood.
All he could hope was to get them back safely. If anything went wrong, he couldn't bear the consequences.
Eunuch Ye saw figures appearing faintly ahead on the mountain and immediately said:
"Princess, Young Lord, Daoist Longshan and the others are here."
Everyone immediately straightened up.
In the distance, Daoist Longshan's hearty laughter rang out:
"Honored envoys, you've come from afar—thank you for your efforts!"
He looked much better than before. Previously, he had been in closed-door cultivation and hadn't even met with the Zhenxuan Sect, but now that the court had come to reward them, he had to make an appearance.
Eunuch Ye also laughed loudly:
"You're too kind, Daoist Longshan. Your sect did well in suppressing the Demonic Sect—this recognition is well deserved."
Both sides exchanged polite pleasantries while secretly assessing one another.
Eunuch Ye nodded inwardly after seeing the bearing of Daoist Longshan and his True Disciples—clearly, the rumors were true. The Zhenwu Sect indeed had great potential. These disciples might one day become powerhouses in their own right.
Li Qingyue and Li Ling glanced briefly at Daoist Longshan, then started looking around curiously.
Daoist Longshan, on the other hand, was inwardly shocked.
This eunuch's aura was completely unrestrained—a clear Heaven-Man Realm expert. Sending someone like that just for a reward? That seemed excessive.
Then his eyes fell on the boy and girl who were looking around, and he realized something.
Eunuch Ye did not hide it. He introduced the two:
"This is Princess Qingyue. This is the Young Lord, son of the North-Stabilizing King."
Daoist Longshan suddenly understood, and the disciples behind him immediately bowed.
"Greetings, Your Highness. Greetings, Young Lord."
Li Qingyue and Li Ling weren't arrogant. They returned the gesture respectfully. Their initial impression of the Zhenwu Sect was favorable.
The group entered the sect's gate.
Eunuch Ye cleared his throat and raised his voice:
"Zhenwu Sect, receive the imperial decree!"
Daoist Longshan immediately composed himself, bowed slightly with a Daoist salute. The many gathered Zhenwu Sect disciples behind him bowed even lower.
Eunuch Ye continued:
"By imperial decree: Zhenwu Sect has done a great service in eradicating the Demonic Sect and serves as a model for all Daoist sects. The court hereby bestows a Daoist Jade Plaque, grants Zhenwu City to the Zhenwu Sect, and awards a Bloodsun Ganoderma to Daoist Longshan for his injuries while fighting evil."
"Thus decreed!"
Daoist Longshan was stunned at first, then joy lit up his face.
These court rewards were unexpectedly generous.
"Zhenwu Sect thanks His Majesty for this imperial grace!" Daoist Longshan led everyone in expressing their gratitude.