Chapter 1328: Chapter 51: A Clever Plan Misleads the Path
On Tide Cliff, all sects cultivators had been waiting for a moment. It was now the hour of the Snake, the sun almost at its zenith, blue skies and azure seas, white clouds drifting leisurely, and the gentle sea waves awash with flowing golden light. Suddenly, a sound reverberated across the Heavenly Vault above, the Gang Cloud abruptly parted, and a Rainbow Light descended. Chu Muran trembled with excitement and exclaimed, "It is the Sect Leader Brother, the Sect Leader Brother has returned."
The disciples of the Han Yuan Sect were all visibly joyful, knowing well that Zhang Yan had won this battle of Dao Techniques, and gathered in front of the cliff, offering their congratulations in unison.
Yet those two disciples of the Longxiang Sect and that Daoist boy, unable to spot Shao Zhongxiang, couldn’t help but show signs of apprehension.
The tunneling light descended from the clouds, landing in front of the cliff, then slowly dispersed. Zhang Yan stepped out gracefully, handing an envelope to Chu Muran and said, "Junior Brother, this was found on Shao Zhongxiang. Take it and show it to everyone."
Chu Muran hurriedly accepted it, took a quick glance, and immediately understood. He invoked a mana to envelop the letter, sending it into the air, and pointed it out, "Everyone, please take a look."
The crowd took a look and found it to be correspondence between Shao Zhongxiang and the Python Clan, with a seal and Dharma Contract below. They were all perceptive individuals and, with a turn of thought, realised this was intentionally left by him to guard against the Python Clan’s betrayal. However, it now became irrefutable evidence of his collusion with the clan. Someone suddenly became furious and shouted, "Request the Master to order the eradication of Longxiang."
This statement immediately provoked numerous echoes, and the surrounding area was filled with cries of denunciation.
Many others looked unfavorably at those two disciples of the Longxiang Sect, making the pair tremble with fear, pulling on the Daoist boy and running towards Han Wangke like grabbing onto a life-saving straw. They kneeled down, kowtowing and begging, "Master Han, we beg you to spare our lives."
Han Wangke furrowed his brows slightly, sending a Spirit Light over to encircle the three, saying, "Even though I and your Sect Leader are only acquaintances, you three have come with me, so I will protect you for now. But if True Master Zhang insists on dealing with you, I cannot intervene."
Despite the surrounding cultivators’ hostility towards him, given that he was a Nascent Soul cultivator, no one dared approach.
Zhang Yan then spoke loudly, "Fellow cultivators, the Longxiang Sect colluded with demon pythons, and Shao Zhongxiang is now executed. However, his disciples merely acted on orders from their master; not deserving of death, they should simply be exiled from Divine House’s domain without undue difficulty."
He turned his gaze towards Wen Liang and said, "Junior Wen, this matter is for you to handle."
Wen Liang responded loudly, "I shall proceed immediately."
Han Wangke nodded, waved to the two disciples of the Longxiang Sect, and said, "You have heard, leave early."
The pair, as if granted amnesty, dared not linger, for the sect’s cultivators were already seeking trouble with them. They hurriedly dragged the Daoist boy, boarded a flying boat, and fled in panic.
With Shao Zhongxiang dead, the third match was unnecessary, so Han Wangke walked directly before Zhang Yan, and said via voice transmission, "Junior Brother Zhang, I bid farewell."
Zhang Yan contemplated briefly and retrieved a Spirit Talisman from his sleeve, offering it over, "This is my Sect’s Flying Book. If you need anything in the future, you can come to Han Yuan Sect to find me."
Han Wangke hesitated for a moment but still reached out to take it, hesitated again, and said, "Junior Brother Zhang, the Python Clan has long harbored the intention to dominate East Victory. Failing this time, they will certainly not abandon their ambitions. Take extra caution."
Zhang Yan smiled and bowed slightly, thanking him for the reminder.
Han Wangke returned a salute, then ascended with the wind, soon disappearing into the blue sky.
Zhang Yan watched him depart. Although he was a disciple abandoned by the sect, it was inadvisable to deepen enmity. Considering he might hold some position in the Python Clan, there might be future interactions.
Now that the flood had receded, all sects needed to return and re-establish their mountain gates. With the battle of Dao Techniques concluded, they came forward one after another to bid farewell.
An hour later, Zhang Yan also returned to his Cave Mansion, carefully examined the Three-flavor Spirit Medicine obtained from Shao Zhongxiang, and expected that if refined into White Moon Ying Fruit, it could be used for four to five years. As for the remaining deficiencies, he would have to seek fortuitous encounters in Chu Kingdom.
It was several years until the Dragon Pillar Meeting; he could settle down and diligently cultivate the Five Elements Escape Technique—should he succeed in this Divine Skill, he could lock heaven and earth like a Nascent Soul Third Realm cultivator, at which point he’d be able to set out for the location.
Fire Hole Mountain.
Zeng Conglun had always kept ears and eyes on Divine House Mountain, and the matter of Zhang Yan and Shao Zhongxiang battling Dao Techniques took just two or three days to reach him.
Though Shao Zhongxiang had left East Victory Continent for hundreds of years, he was once a disciple of Fengxiang Sword Sect, still a demon body Enlightenment, his name known among Nascent Soul cultivators present, causing surprise at Zhang Yan’s victory over him.
