As expected, on the way to Jiange, Qi Zhiye also received a letter from Mingguang.

A similar puppet altar also appeared in the center of the Western Realm, but it was discovered accidentally by Buddhist believers with better luck. The puppet had not yet been activated, and because it looked too terrifying, it was thought to be some evil god being worshipped. The believers informed the Buddhist sect overnight, and now the Buddhist sect has sealed the altar as soon as possible before the news spread.

Now that only one of the four realms remains, the only thing to worry about is which sect will be the first to master the altar of the northern realm - if it is the Body Tempering Sect, that would be perfect, but if it is the Sword Sect, it would be troublesome.

But no matter which sect discovered it, the first reaction would definitely be to seal off the altar. No matter how stupid the Sword Sect was, they would not act rashly without knowing the details.

"Are you just going to let Elder Jiang go like this?" Qiao Lingshan was still puzzled. "Why not bring him back to Jiange?"

Yun Xian said, "We have to send someone to guard the altar. I have a rough idea of ​​what that abandoned formation he mentioned is, but reopening it won't be easy."

Although the group left in a hurry, they still met with Yingluo before leaving, asking her not to bring any more Sword Pavilion members to join in the fun at that frivolous altar. While other cultivators might try to gain something from it, the entire Sword Pavilion clan was powerless against those puppets. At this critical moment, preserving oneself was paramount.

The road back to Jiange became increasingly desolate. Although the area around Jiange was sparsely populated to begin with, it was now even more dead silent. Yun Xian and his group were the only ones on the street, rushing back home. The others were leaving with their families. Yun Xian frowned at the melancholy on their faces as they passed by.

"Disperse the disciples, disperse the people..." Qi Zhiye said, "Could it be that the Sect Master knows something?"

Su Chi was at the helm, his face still calm.

Xue Lingxiu was flipping through ancient books in the back, his handsome face full of seriousness. After a while, he suddenly stood up and said, "I find that my previous speculation seems to be different."

Yun Xian put his head over with the cake in his mouth and asked, "Where?"

This book, "Love, Hate, and Vengeance," had actually been flipped through countless times by the group. Only Xue Lingxiu was still diligently deciphering each word, trying to understand it. He was always meticulous, and now, in an inconspicuous corner of a page, he had found information that contradicted all the previous ones: "...kill him and make a contract... Legend has it that Chi You was sealed for a thousand years, yet here they use the word 'kill'. What kind of contract is that?"

"There's no conflict." Qi Zhiye frowned and said, "At that time, I thought he was killed, but in fact he was not completely killed. He could only be suppressed temporarily."

"Whether she was killed or not, others may not know, but how could the Sword God not know?" Xue Lingxiu said, "If she knew that I was only suppressing her, she would have left no message to the Sword Pavilion and only two swords - and these two swords were not left for Chi You."

One of them, Taiping, was originally a magic sword, and it was the one that was properly suppressed under the Sword Pavilion; the other one, after growing up, wandered in the world. Su Chi was indeed very effective against demons, but Yun Xian always felt that the Sword God left him behind just by chance, and she didn't know that her sword had actually turned into a human.

Yun Xian quickly devoured the cake and said, "The erased traces in the book only indicate that there was once a person's name there, not that it was a 'monster'."

"So..." Qiao Lingshan pondered, "The Sword Pavilion's sword energy can't affect the puppet. It's possible that the two are close friends, but it's also possible that this is a method developed by the 'monster' to counterbalance Senior Sword God."

Why does it seem to make sense?

Why does it seem like everything you say makes sense?

Everyone fell into deep thought.

Yun Xian: “…………”

"Don't sleep!" Qiao Lingshan pinched her belly and complained, "Now's the time to show off your intelligence! You were able to sneak into Chencang with the Saint Lady in front of Chi You, aren't you very smart?"

Xue Lingxiu choked. Judging from her tone, there was a hint of personal resentment.

"Don't talk so strangely! My friendship with the Saint Lady is very upright." Yun Xian finally sat up straight and pondered, "If we think about it this way, could it be that this monster is the ancient demon that the Sword God killed, and the plan was forced to be interrupted, so the altar has been buried until now, and those doors have not been used yet?"

Qi Zhiye: "She is the devil, then what is Chi You?"

Yun Xian: “…”

Xue Lingxiu: "What exactly is the formation used for?"

Yun Xian: “…”

The white snow-capped mountains came into view, and Yun Xian made a quick decision: "We're here! Get off first, first!"

Xue Lingxiu said: "I haven't finished yet——"

"Oh, let's talk about it later." Yun Xian jumped down from the pleasure boat, his expression not too serious. "If a child doesn't understand something, he should ask an adult first. How can he figure it out by thinking so hard?"

“…”

Although it is already summer, Jiange is still covered in the familiar frost and snow.

It seemed Yun Xian's idea was correct. Almost all of Jiange's disciples had been dispatched to various locations. Looking around, there were few people in sight, only the ferocious, unattended geese, their necks raised and their voices wailing. Now, back in the Eastern Realm, Yun Xian had become the host and greeted them with great hospitality, "Be careful, don't fall into the cliffs."

Xue Lingxiu's shoes and socks were soaked. She glanced down and asked, "Isn't there a net bag underneath?"

"There used to be one, but it was later removed," Yun Xian said. "The logistics department said that after the net bag was installed, the number of disciples falling into it actually increased—perhaps they were using it as a trampoline. So, they removed it."

"..." Xue Lingxiu felt something was wrong. "What if I accidentally fall?"

Yun Xian said, "Then you should ask Lingshan."

Qiao Lingshan swallowed her anger and said, "It only took a month to climb up."

Everyone silently moved half an inch further away from the edge, fearing that they would have to struggle for a month before even entering the Jiange Sect.

Qi Zhiye wanted to kick Jiangshan in, but in the end his conscience prevailed and he did not put it into practice.

In the midst of loneliness, a group of people climbed up the long steps. The atmosphere became increasingly cold. Yun Xian walked in front and finally saw the first fellow disciple - or should he be considered a fellow disciple.

The lady in the cafeteria was picking vegetables. When she saw Yun Xian suddenly appear, she was surprised and said, "Yun Xian! You still remember to come back!"

"Aunt, where are the others? Have they all left?" Yun Xian walked over cautiously and asked, "Where is the Sect Leader? Where is my mother?"

"The headmaster went to buy groceries. Your mother is arguing with the Sixth Elder in the meeting hall." The aunt in the cafeteria looked behind her and said, "Oh, Lingshan is back too! How come the child has lost so much weight? No, I'll slaughter a goose for you tonight to supplement your diet."

As she spoke, she saw Qi Zhiye and blinked twice, probably thinking that this was some Taoist partner that Yun Xian brought back. She was quite satisfied. Then she looked back and saw Xue Lingxiu. She was stunned, then her eyes lit up and she was even more satisfied.

Although the man in front was good-looking, from her perspective as an experienced person, it was better not to marry a man who was too flamboyant. This one was just right, he was pleasing to the eye and his family conditions were not bad either.

Xue Lingxiu felt a little scared when her aunt looked at her, so she turned slightly to the side, and her aunt saw Su Chi behind her.

Yun Xian: "Aunt?"

"Child, which one is it?" Auntie changed her mind very quickly and still thought the last one was the best. Look, these two even have the same color scheme, so they match so well.

"...What this and that?" Yun Xian thought to himself. Auntie really has a lot on her mind. She introduced her friends one by one and said, "Let's go in first. We have something important to discuss."

Xue Lingxiu had never seen such a lively sect before, so he was a little surprised. After all, no one would wash leaves at the door of Miaoshou Sect, and the Sect Master certainly wouldn't go to the market to buy vegetables himself. Yun Xian noticed his gaze and kindly reminded him, "Don't sit on the ground outdoors. It's easy to freeze your butt and get stuck in the ice."

"Why are you telling me this?" Xue Lingxiu was usually the only one sitting on the stool. He said, "It's better if you tell Qi Zhiye about this."

Qi Zhiye was puzzled: "What does it have to do with me?"

Qiao Lingshan thought, maybe it's because you always sit on the ground with the wooden fish in your hand...

The group soon arrived at the meeting hall. While it was called a meeting hall, it actually served many functions. The Taiping Sword Seal was engraved in front of the hall. It was used for receiving guests, holding meetings, and hosting festivals. The back door led to the headmaster's floor plan, effectively multitasking. Normally, this hall was bustling with activity, but now, only the sounds of two people arguing could be heard.

"How difficult is it to keep you in Jiange? I've already told you that the situation is different now. Stop running down the mountain all day."

"How much more difficult is this than it was back then? Back then, when I was practicing swordsmanship, I'd wear out a pair of straw sandals in a single day! Now, the slightest sign of trouble has me hiding here. Doesn't that tarnish my reputation as a Sword Pavilion elder?"

"Even the Sword Pavilion's leader has no reputation, let alone the elders..."

"Xiao Xiao, what nonsense are you talking about?!"

This must be Xiao Wu and the Sixth Elder. The reason for the quarrel is also very clear. Xiao Wu asked him to stay in Jiange and not run around, but he was unwilling to do so and started to change his straw sandals. After a while, there was no sound again.

Yun Xian led his men over, and only Xiao Wu was left in the hall.

"Mother." Yun Xian scratched his head and said, "I seemed to hear the Sixth Elder's voice just now?"

"He's back?" Xiao Wu didn't even raise her head as she continued polishing her sword. "He seems to still miss the time of weaving straw sandals. I locked him up in the stone chamber and told him not to come out until he had made ten pairs."

Qiao Lingshan: “…”

That's all. My father deserves it. He's so stubborn. Is it so hard to be obedient?

Yun Xian saw that although Xiao Wu said it was relaxed, he was a little impatient when wiping the sword, so he knew that this matter was probably not a small matter.

The group was treated to tea. Jiange didn't have many precious teas, or perhaps it wasn't popular. Tea, as long as it was edible, was fine. But Xue Lingxiu took a sip and her mouth was filled with a cloying sweetness. She was startled, looking at the bottom of the cup. The white sugar and red dates complemented each other beautifully, along with a few peanuts and longans. It was actually sugar tea.

...Does Jiange treat them as children?

"Wait a moment." Xiao Wu was an old acquaintance of theirs. "Yun Lang will be back soon."

Sure enough, after an incense stick of time, Yun Lang hurried back carrying a lot of bags.

There weren't many disciples left on the mountain now, and he'd been helping out with these things before, and now he was even more adept at it. Yun Lang's longing for his daughter suddenly surged when he saw Yun Xian. He threw his things away and choked out, "Daughter, you're finally back!"

He was about to say "thinner", but Yun Xian didn't look thinner from any angle, so he could only hold it back and said, "Heavier! More stable!"

Yun Xian: "Dad... That's enough. No need to hold me. There are other people here. It would be so embarrassing."

The others silently turned their eyes away.

After the pleasantries, it’s time to get down to business.

There were no more people in the hall who needed to be dismissed. Yun Lang sat in the main seat. Yun Xian said sternly, "Dad, why did you evacuate all the disciples of the Sword Pavilion and the people living down the mountain? Did you learn something?"

"You all know about the altar incident, right?" Yun Lang said. "I didn't take any action when Jiang Xingyao disappeared because I knew he was fine. However, the current location of the Sword Pavilion is too dangerous. Although I don't know when the full outbreak will occur, I must prepare in advance to be prepared for any eventuality."

"...Is the location too dangerous?" Yun Xian seemed to have sensed something and suddenly asked, "Why have I only seen the Sixth Elder since I came in? Where are the others?"

The disciples could evacuate, but given the temperaments of the Sword Pavilion elders, there was no way they would abandon the Sword Pavilion and leave. There were eight elders in total, and although several had vanished without a trace, the Fifth Elder would definitely show up.

His home is in Jiange. Although no female cultivator has taken a fancy to him yet, how could he just leave like this?

"..." Yun Lang sighed: "Missing."

Yun Xian frowned: "Missing? All of them?"

"Except for the three who were already away and the Sixth Elder, the remaining four have all been like Jiang Xingyao. There's been no response at all." Yun Lang shook his head. "However, Jiang Xingyao hinted to me before she left, but there's been no news from the four elders. One even told me she'd choose a date to return to Jiange before she disappeared... She's such a trustworthy person, there's no way she'd break her word at this critical moment."

Su Chi: "Where's the soul lamp?"

"The soul lamps are still there, but I really can't guess where everyone is." Yun Lang said in a low voice: "The weak connection has been cut off. I think the four elders have been abducted."

Qiao Lingshan's expression changed slightly. No wonder Xiao Wu hadn't let his father leave the mountain just now. It turned out to be because of this matter!

"There's one more thing, and it's about the Qinfang." Xiao Wu had taken Feng Ye back to the Qinfang early. Now it seems that the owner of the Qinfang has also discovered this. "The Qinfang is already weak, and now several old predecessors who support the sect have disappeared inexplicably. I only realized something was wrong when the owner asked me for help that day."

"They kidnapped these seniors... for what purpose? Where did they take them?"

Naturally, no one knows about this at the moment.

"Regarding the abandoned formation at the altar." Yun Lang took a sip of tea and said solemnly, "The altar is still constantly moving. We don't know where it will end up, so there's no point in entering now. At least Jiang Xingyao must master the formation at the Eastern Realm beforehand. After all, if this formation falls into the hands of others, the consequences will be endless."

Yun Xian asked, "Can that formation connect the four realms?"

"...It's not connected. If it were connected, it would be better." Yun Lang denied it and said slowly: "The effect of the formation is folding!"

As soon as the words came out, how could everyone not understand? Their faces changed suddenly.

In short, each of the four realms has a formation. If all four formations are activated, then the four realms will be forcibly folded into one realm, and will overlap repeatedly regardless of the terrain.

If it folded, according to the Four Realms Map, Jiange would be the first to sink into the deep sea of ​​the Western Realm called Xule. However, this was already the most coincidental result. If both sides of the fold were high mountains or deep seas, then the collision and damage between the two realms would surely cause the earth to collapse and devastate all living things!

"...Is it really possible?" Qiao Lingshan said, her face pale. "Can such a terrifying thing be accomplished with just the power of the formation?"

Changing the world, rebuilding the world, what's the difference between this and ascending to the true god? Maybe there's only a fine line between them!

"That being said, it's certainly possible that it can't be done. But who would dare bet on that possibility?" Xiao Wu said helplessly, "If that formation was really just a trick, why would the Sword God kill her? Everyone knows the Sword God's temperament. If it hadn't really touched her bottom line, she would definitely not care about these things."

Yun Xian thought again of the carvings on the underground palace and the coffins prepared in front of the five ancient sects in the Eastern Realm. Although he didn't show it, he was already 80% convinced in his heart.

Even without asking, everyone could guess that, given the "monster's" nature, she couldn't possibly be trying to do anything good by exhausting herself in constructing these formations. With the puppets she'd managed to conjure from her fingers, she'd been able to briefly allow the Xingyan Sect to rule the Four Realms. If the formation had worked successfully, at least half the people in the Four Realms would have perished. At that point, she wouldn't need any assistance from any other faction to rule the Four Realms, no different from ruling the Heavenly Dao of the past and present.

"At the altar, I tried to push the door that belonged to the Sword Pavilion." Yun Xian raised his eyes and said, "I can touch it, but I can't push it open - what is behind it?"

She began to wonder if the formation for seizing destiny was also left behind by the demon. However, if successfully seizing destiny would grant her ascension, she could easily achieve her goal. Why bother with all this folding, clearing, and slaughtering? What role did Chi You play here? Was he just a lucky demon who happened to stumble upon the "monster" that the Sword God had defeated, thus inheriting everything and deciding to wait until the Sword God disappeared before rekindling this grand scheme that spanned millennia?

As Yun Xian was thinking, a scene suddenly popped up in his mind: Chi You squatting behind a monster and secretly picking up leftovers to eat. He felt like laughing at an inappropriate time: "..."

It seems that the only advantage of Chi You is his good luck, other than that he is useless.

"If this is true, the four realms must cooperate." Xiao Wu said indifferently, "But considering those people in the Sword Sect, they won't cry until they see the coffin. I think this matter is unlikely."

It has not been figured out yet where the Sword Sect's magic core came from. Who would dare to cooperate with them? Aren't they afraid of being stabbed in the back?

"What's the big deal? If he doesn't cooperate, then he doesn't." Yun Lang said meaninglessly, "Doesn't my daughter have a good relationship with Sect Leader Ji of the Body Tempering Sect? There's no need to worry about the Four Realms. Master Mingguang's disciple is here now. In the Southern Realm, Young Master Xue is here, so there's no need to worry about him either. We can just talk about it when the time comes, right?"

Yun Xian protested: "Please don't make me sound like a socialite!"

Qiao Lingshan thought, isn't it...

Yun Xian said jokingly, "Actually, I have some connections in the Sword Sect. Liu Xu, the leader of the young lineage, and I are good friends."

Look. As expected! Qiao Lingshan glanced at her butt, which was about to stick out to the sky again: "Don't you have connections in the Demon Sect?"

"I wonder where that bastard is holding the Saint now." Yun Xian frowned. Every time she thought of this, she felt inexplicably panicked.

Previously, in the Southern Realm, she had at least been able to get some information about Jimo Shu. Now that Chi You was seriously injured, he was keeping a close eye on Jimo Shu, which made her wonder what Chi You was going to do with her... No matter what, she had to rescue the Saint before the situation became unmanageable.

However, she still couldn't figure out where Chi You would appear next time, and what the words Jimo Shu left behind meant. It was too difficult to understand.

"So, now, what we need to do is to defend that formation." Yun Xian thought to herself. Ever since the Four-Way War ended, she had been exhausted and hadn't had a single moment of rest. She stood up, grasped her sword, and said, "Which realm will it attack first?"

Su Chi looked at her intently without saying a word.

Xiao Wu had noticed that his eldest disciple's expression was changing almost in sync with Yun Xian's. Yun Xian's expression was now solemn, and he was also quite serious. If Yun Xian laughed heartily, he would also curl up his lips. It was really...

Xue Lingxiu said: "Probably not the southern boundary."

Qi Zhiye couldn't say for sure. But, most likely, it wouldn't be the Western Realm—the Buddhist bald masters might not excel at fighting, but when it comes to maintaining formations, the two Northern Realm sects combined probably aren't as good as them. If Chi You were to use his mouth to chew on a Golden Bell Cover, it would take forever.

Having just been beaten to a pulp by Li Jianye, the entire Miaoshou Sect was still in a state of shock, so returning to the Southern Realm was unlikely. Of course, Chi You could also have anticipated their predictions and launched a rather idiotic counterattack... After all, this demon didn't seem very smart.

"This is what I think." Yun Xian, bathed in the encouraging gazes of the crowd, said slowly, "If I were Chi You, now that I'm seriously injured and my time is running out, my first step would naturally be to seek stability."

Xiao Wu said: "You are right."

"Yes." Yun Lang also agreed, "That makes sense."

"So, in order to avoid failure again, I will definitely choose the weakest realm!" Yun Xian raised his eyes and said confidently, "This way, we can proceed steadily and gradually, and avoid another setback."

After she finished speaking, everyone fell silent.

"Why is no one talking?" Yun Xian blinked inexplicably, and finally realized something, "The weakest realm now... Oh, it seems to be our East Realm."

She had forgotten everything.

Yun Lang: “…”

Xiao Wu: “…”

Qiao Lingshan silently picked up the sword and said, "Let's go and guard the formation. Let's talk about this."