A Sect from a Spirit Vein

Chapter 421: Chapter 379: Entering the Mountain Gate

Some of the disciples who had fled earlier returned to the sect, bringing the latest news that shook the Shengyi Sect like an earthquake.

Elder Sunx Hong betrayed at the front, injuring the Sect Leader, who was besieged and feared to be in grave danger! The disciples who went to rescue later also did not find any trace of Qian Ji.

Now leaderless, everyone was in a state of panic while several elders were loudly arguing, unable to reach a consensus.

"A snake can’t go without a head, and the most urgent task is to quickly select a new Sect Leader."

"Ha, you unfaithful and ungrateful scoundrel! We don’t even know whether the Sect Leader is alive or dead; our top priority is to search and rescue!"

"Pshaw, your loyalty? You’re only making a fuss because you think you have no hope of becoming Sect Leader."

...

Only in the corner of the main hall sat an elderly cultivator with white hair and beard and a face full of distress.

Listening to the quarrel in the hall, he sighed deeply in disappointment.

Someone nearby sneered, "Zhao Cang, stop pretending. Until Master Xuan Ji is caught, the suspicion on you will never be cleared. Naturally, the position of Sect Leader is beyond your reach!"

Suddenly, a disciple stumbled in. Just as the elders were about to reprimand him, he gasped and shouted:

"The Sect Leader, the Sect Leader is back!"

"He returned with Elder Sunx, and they have captured those two Foundation Establishment renegades!"

In the main hall, one could hear a pin drop, and the expressions on everyone’s faces turned incredibly varied.

In a daze, Zhao Cang was the first to sigh. He stood up and went out to welcome them.

Despite his aversion to Qian Ji’s character, he was still the Sect Leader, and his return meant the Shengyi Sect still had a chance to survive.

Only then did the others snap out of it. Regardless of the confusion and suspicions in their hearts, their faces instantly showed flattering smiles as they scrambled to get out.

As soon as they stepped out of the door, they saw the Mountain Protection Grand Array split open, with Sect Leader Qian Ji and Elder Sunx Hong descending gracefully. Behind them were two Foundation Establishment Feather Scholars tightly bound, their Qi Sea Dantian seemingly sealed.

What exactly is going on?

Wasn’t it said that Sunx Hong betrayed and injured the Sect Leader, whose life was unknown under the siege? How could he be back in one piece and with two Foundation Establishment captives?

Upon closer inspection, it was clear that the Sect Leader and elders weren’t entirely unscathed, as their eyes were tightly covered with black cloths.

"Elder Sunx was confused by the enemy’s Secret Technique, which led him to attack me," Qian Ji said. "Fortunately, he freed himself in time, and then we captured the deeply poisoned enemy. These two enemies were quite difficult to deal with and used Magic Technique to burn my and Elder Sunx’s eyes, so we must keep them covered and rest for a few days."

Cultivators have Divine Sense for perception; while the loss of colorful sight with the eyes gone is lamentable, normal living is not an issue.

After hearing his words, the elders rushed forward, all praising the Sect Leader’s great fortune and exceptional strength, claiming the two villains were naturally captured with ease, and so on.

But Zhao Cang looked up, scrutinizing carefully, confirming beyond a doubt it was indeed Qian Ji and Sunx Hong, hence the duty disciples hurriedly opened the grand array to let them in.

Yet he felt something was subtly amiss.

The situation now was far better than described by the returning disciples. Could these two Foundation Establishment cultivators really be so vulnerable? Could a critically injured Qian Ji still turn the tide?

Right, the returning disciples! It was unlike Qian Ji’s character to not first hold them accountable.

Just then, Qian Ji instructed, "Dismiss, continue with what you need to do, Elder Sunx and I still need to heal. These captives are too dangerous and must be personally guarded by us."

The elders took their leave, and Zhao Cang withdrew with a bow, his doubt growing, feeling Qian Ji’s tone was somewhat abnormal.

He cast a furtive glance to see Qian Ji give a few commands, and a disciple led their way, with the two Foundation Establishment captives obediently following behind.

Zhao Cang was suddenly startled, a flash of realization crossed his mind!

The biggest abnormality had been discovered!

Qian Ji, suspicious and cunning, never let people walk behind him, especially highly cultivated ones; he always stood behind others and never the other way around.

Even as captives, they are Foundation Establishment Feather Scholars; a normal Qian Ji would never act in such a way!

Realizing this, Zhao Cang was enveloped in a chill. He suddenly recalled the words Qian Ji said earlier, "Elder Sunx was confused by the enemy’s Secret Technique..."

Indeed, if it weren’t so, Sunx Hong wouldn’t have attacked Qian Ji.

This statement was probably true. Ten to one, this Secret Technique was yet unresolved, and the enemy was controlling Qian Ji and Sunx Hong through it!

He stood there firmly, watching Qian Ji, Sunx Hong, and the two Foundation Establishment "captives" leave, not uttering a word.

What should be done now?

Whatever the case, this is just my speculation. I was never favored, and if I told the other elders, would they believe it?

Moreover, if it’s true, with four Feather Scholars, and only about one hundred forty Qi Cultivators in our sect, a direct confrontation would be the end of Shengyi Sect!

As turmoil filled his mind, the "captive" wearing the Conical Hat seemed to sense something and turned around, allowing Zhao Cang to feel a cold gaze sweep over him.

The four stopped abruptly, turning back.

Zhao Cang trembled slightly and lowered his head.

What he didn’t know was that Wang Yu was very sensitive to strangers’ energy fluctuations. Staring at Wang Yu like this, combined with the emotional turmoil from his speculations, had triggered a change in his energy that naturally caught Wang Yu’s attention.

"Come with me, I have something to ask you," said Qian Ji.

Zhao Cang’s heart was full of bitterness, and he replied in a low voice.

When they entered a quiet room, Qian Ji dismissed the disciples and set up layer upon layer of arrays. Zhao Cang chuckled bitterly and sat cross-legged on the ground.

"Who are you really? Both our Sect Leader and elders are controlled by you, aren’t they?"

"So you figured it out," Wang Yu arched an eyebrow but didn’t answer Zhao Cang’s question and instead asked, "Why didn’t you shout out earlier?"

In the face of death, Zhao Cang was surprisingly composed: "You didn’t act immediately, which means you have designs on our Shengyi Sect. If I were to expose you now, the four of you Foundation Establishment would turn hostile and slaughter us, and the Shengyi Sect would surely be destroyed."

"But if I pretend not to know, perhaps after you’ve achieved your goals, you will leave quietly without inciting a great battle. After all, there are over a hundred forty disciples in our mountain gate, and should we swarm, you also face the risk of being severely injured or killed."

Yang Jiye looked at him with surprise, not expecting to see a cultivator in this chaotic Shengyi Sect who was so mindful of the bigger picture and possessed such wisdom.

Wang Yu gently clapped his hands and praised, "You are a rare clear-minded person. May I ask your full name and your position within the Shengyi Sect?"

"Zhao Cang, just an old man, a sinner at that."

"Zhao Cang?" Yang Jiye’s eyes widened, and Lu Qian’s instructions before setting out suddenly came to mind, "Do you know Master Xuan Ji?"