Lying Low in the Martial World to Become a Saint

Chapter 427: Chapter 193: The Sky Changes (Part 2)

Seeing this, a gratified smile finally appeared on Du Lingchuan’s pale face, as if a long-held worry had been lifted from his mind.

He patted Chen Qing’s shoulder and, with Chang Xing’s support, turned to handle other matters.

....

He Yuzhou and Leng Qianqiu stood side by side on the edge of a secluded cliff on the back mountain of the Xuanjia Sect.

"The Xuanjia Sect is finished after this disaster."

He Yuzhou’s voice was low. "Shi Kaishan was ambushed by Jin Poyue’s Black Death True Astral. The Gang Qi has invaded his organs. Even if he survives, it will take years of hard work to recover. The casualties among the Elders within the Sect are heavy, and not even one in ten of the elite disciples survived... A century of foundation, all its Primordial Qi is lost."

Leng Qianqiu’s gaze swept over the ravaged Sect below. "There are some areas where our two Sects can temporarily ’assist.’"

He Yuzhou nodded. This was beneficial to all parties.

The Xuanjia Sect’s Primordial Qi was now severely damaged; what it urgently needed was time to rest and recuperate.

The Wutai Sect and Cold Jade Valley would gain some benefits, but they would also bear greater pressure.

He Yuzhou then asked, "And what about Qixia Manor? Zhou Nianchu may be dead, but the manor’s foundation remains. He Yueting’s attitude is deferential, and the disciples show no signs of trouble."

Leng Qianqiu said slowly, "We must remain vigilant. Who’s to say Zhou Nianchu didn’t leave behind some contingency plan? Who can guarantee He Yueting is completely clean? The temptation of Demon Skills is immense. Who knows if there are others secretly practicing them within the manor?"

"So, you’re suggesting...?" He Yuzhou looked at her.

"Strict surveillance and a thorough investigation."

Leng Qianqiu’s tone was decisive. "We must immediately report this to the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, clarifying Zhou Nianchu’s identity as a member of the Demon Sect and the details of his execution. Until the Upper Sect issues a decree, Qixia Manor must seal its gates and submit to a joint inspection by our two Sects. All its external affairs and resource flows must be reported. If necessary, we can dispatch Elders to be stationed there as supervisors until the hidden threat of the Demon Sect is completely eliminated."

This essentially placed Qixia Manor under semi-supervision.

He Yuzhou nodded slightly, having no objection to this arrangement.

This way, they could not only eliminate a potential threat but also use the opportunity to further infiltrate and control a portion of its resources.

"Zhou Nianchu... What a pity."

He Yuzhou gazed in the direction where the Qixia Manor party had disappeared. "The great and mighty Great Manor Master of Qixia Manor, a top figure in Yunlin Prefecture, actually threw in his lot with the Demon Sect, only to meet such an end."

"A pity?"

Leng Qianqiu shot him a sideways glance, her voice cold. "He joined the Demon Sect and harmed his peers. Death is what he deserved. What is there to pity?"

"He felt he had no hope of breaking through to the True Essence Realm and wanted to use a Demon Skill to fight for a sliver of a chance."

He Yuzhou clasped his hands behind his back, his voice betraying little emotion. "The True Essence Realm... It’s not just an earth-shattering transformation in strength; it can also extend one’s life by decades, condense one’s Martial Dao Will, and give rise to a profound Divine Sense. A temptation like that is enough to make many who have been stuck at the Astral Force level for years, their path forward severed, take desperate measures. Even someone like Zhou Nianchu could not escape its allure."

Leng Qianqiu suddenly whipped her head around to look at He Yuzhou. "That way of thinking is very dangerous."

Her tone grew heavier. "One wrong step and you’ll fall into a bottomless abyss. Though Demon Skills offer rapid progress, the price is an unstable foundation and a twisted temperament. You become a Demon who knows only slaughter and plunder, with no path of return. How is that different from self-destruction?"

Hearing this, the trace of melancholy on He Yuzhou’s face quickly vanished, replaced by a smile. "Let’s not talk about him. Let’s talk about what’s in front of us. What are your thoughts on Xu Wang Mountain’s genius development program, Cold Valley Master?"

Word of Xu Wang Mountain’s genius development program had already spread among the various prefectures.

The Martial Arts Sects of the various prefectures within the Three Paths were all secretly discussing the matter.

"This is an excellent opportunity, is it not?"

Leng Qianqiu’s gaze drifted toward the deep morning light, as if she could pierce the clouds and see the lofty Celestial Treasure Upper Sect. "If such a program had existed in my youth, perhaps... even I would have been tempted to compete for a spot."

She paused, then continued, "For the younger generation of disciples, this is an unparalleled path to access the core teachings of the Upper Sect and glimpse the true peak of the Martial Arts."

"Besides, if even one disciple from our Sects is chosen, it would be a tremendous boon for us. You and I both know that although we are Sect Leaders, seemingly glorious, in the eyes of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, we are nothing more than Stewards who guard their resources and collect tributes on schedule. If we could be exempt from five years of tribute, for both the Wutai Sect and my Cold Jade Valley, it would mean retaining a massive amount of resources—enough to cause our Sects’ strength to skyrocket in a short time."

Exemption from five years of tribute!

Only Sect Leaders like them knew just how many resources five years of tribute entailed. The amount was simply staggering.

"The opportunity is indeed excellent."

He Yuzhou nodded, but his expression grew a little grave. "But across the Three Paths and Fifty-One Mansions, among hundreds of Sects, how many geniuses and prodigies are there? To stand out from the crowd and be chosen by Xu Wang Mountain will be no easy feat. The intensity of the competition will likely far exceed our imagination."

Leng Qianqiu nodded and said abruptly, "Sect Leader He is quite fortunate. The Wutai Sect has produced a truly good seedling."

An unconcealable look of pride appeared on He Yuzhou’s face, but he feigned humility with a smile. "Cold Valley Master, you flatter me. That boy, Chen Qing, just has a bit of talent and is willing to work hard. Combined with the Wutai Sect’s dedicated cultivation, he was able to achieve what little he has today. Speaking of which, I’ve spent a great deal of effort fostering him, even the Earth Core Milk Cave..."

He stopped at the opportune moment, subtly taking the credit for cultivating Chen Qing in front of Leng Qianqiu.

Gaining the upper hand in this matter against his old rival of many years, Leng Qianqiu, put He Yuzhou in a rather pleasant mood.

How could Leng Qianqiu fail to see through his little scheme? She merely said flatly, "A seedling is a good seedling, but whether he can fight his way out of a viper’s nest like Xu Wang Mountain and ultimately remain has yet to be seen."