Chapter 86 Ice Cave (900 Nutrient Solution Two-in-One Plus) Si Jun...
Zhongyuzhou, Kunwu Mountain.
As soon as the spirit boat engraved with the sword pattern of the Qingxuan Sword Sect landed, disciples of the Tianqi Sect immediately came forward to greet it.
"Everyone, please follow us."
Two disciples wearing white robes with crane patterns led the way, followed by Gu Congxing, Lan Jue, Zhong Ming and Si Junjian.
All you see are white marble steps, flying eaves and tiles, and an ethereal aura, as if you have stepped into the White Jade Palace in heaven.
When you walk to the main hall, you will see a stone sculpture of a Xiezhi standing in front of the door, looking quite majestic.
The disciples' robes fluttered in the wind, and the whisks in their hands moved with the wind, making them look more and more untainted by the mundane world.
"Apocalypse Gate... I now understand why the 'Nine Rings' were set up here."
Gu Congxing looked around and said, "Compared to the sects that are full of martial virtue, this place actually has a lot of immortal aura."
"Indeed. Furthermore, the Tianqi Sect is quite powerful, probably already on par with the aristocratic families, or even surpassing them by a considerable margin," Lan Jue replied. "During the last Immortal Sect Competition, when the demons attacked, a senior from the Tianqi Sect rescued my junior brother."
When Gu Congxing heard this, his gaze shifted to Zhong Ming, who looked helpless.
"I almost forgot about this matter. Junior brother, who is that senior?" Gu Congxing asked.
Zhong Ming smiled and said, "That person's name is Xuanyuan Chu."
"Is that so... Then when you come to Tianqimen this time, are you going to visit him?"
Zhong Ming shrugged and shook his head after hearing this question, saying, "There's no need. After all, the situation was chaotic at the time, and he just did it casually." He also didn't want to make friends with that person.
But just as he finished speaking, he heard a cold snort behind him.
"You're truly an ungrateful person. Except when it comes to Gu Congxing, you don't even bother pretending to be grateful to others."
Si Junjian stared at Zhong Ming with an arrogant and indifferent look.
Zhong Ming said coldly: "Ah? What are you talking about, you useless half--"
"Junior Brother!"
Gu Congxing suddenly interrupted him and shook his head at him sternly.
Even though Si Junjian is no longer the chief disciple of Tianlin Sect, his half-demon blood is still a secret that cannot be known to outsiders.
Hua Yi and Qiao Anan of the Tianlin Sect did not reveal Si Junjian's identity to anyone. Although they were not sure whether the two inner disciples who accompanied Sima Huai to capture Si Junjian had revealed the matter, at least they could not escalate the matter any further.
“…I’m sorry, brother.”
Zhong Ming lowered his head apologetically.
"It's okay, just be careful." Gu Congxing rubbed his head again, "Especially now that there are so many people from various sects of Tianqi Sect, we must be more careful in what we say and do."
"I understand, Brother~"
Seeing that he was looking at her obediently, and holding her wrist and rubbing his face against it as usual, Gu Congxing turned around with relief and continued walking forward.
Therefore, he did not see the blush and deep smile on Zhong Ming's face when he turned around.
—A smile like that of a wild animal stalking its prey.
Lan Jue glanced at him, his eyes moving slightly.
The four of them soon arrived at a guest peak. The spiritual energy was abundant here and the scenery was superb. It was the peak specially built by the Apocalypse Sect for the Qingxuan Sword Sect.
After the two leading disciples left, everyone was about to divide the rooms, but they saw Si Junjian still standing there.
Zhong Ming had a polite smile on his face, but spoke bluntly.
"Friend Si Dao, aren't you leaving yet?"
Si Junjian stood there with a bow and sword in hand, his beautiful face looking pale for some reason.
He shook his head resolutely and said, "No, I can't go back until the Tianlin Sect is reorganized. If they hear something and become hostile to me, I..."
When he said this, he lowered his eyelids and his expression became a little gloomy.
Looking at him like this, Gu Congxing suddenly recalled the tragic scene at the foot of Muyin Mountain when the demonized Si Junjian was stabbed one after another by his former teachers and friends, shedding tears of blood.
His heart ached, and he immediately said, "It's okay, you can stay here, there are empty rooms."
"good."
Si Junjian chuckled when he heard that, and glanced at Zhong Ming with a smug look.
"Tsk!!" Zhong Ming snorted coldly without any concealment.
At this moment, they heard two people talking outside the courtyard, and a moment later, a white-bearded elder and a cold-looking elder walked in.
"Elder He, Elder Tang."
Lan Jue was the first to salute with his fists clasped, and the other three followed his movements.
"Oh, you guys are here too!"
He Runzhi stroked his long beard and nodded with satisfaction.
Tang Wuxin folded his arms and nodded, "Pretty fast. It's just right, we have something to tell you too... Wait, why is Tianlin's first disciple here too?"
Lan Jue replied, "Because of the previous mission, he is temporarily working with us."
Si Junjian politely clasped his fists towards the two elders and said, "That's right. I'll take my leave now."
As he said this, he got up and went to a house in the courtyard.
"Hmm? Why does he seem different from the last time I saw him?" Tang Wuxin stroked his chin and thought for a moment before saying, "Never mind, it's not important. You guys, follow me."
Tang Wuxin and He Runzhi brought the three people to the largest residence in Kefeng and set up a soundproof barrier.
He Runzhi spoke first: "While you were carrying out your mission, we stayed here to discuss various matters with the heads and elders of other immortal sects. Thanks to your defeat of Sima Huai, everything has now come to a conclusion."
Upon hearing this, Gu Congxing exchanged glances with Lan Jue and Zhong Ming.
Tang Wuxin continued, "Just as everyone thought, it was indeed Sima Huai who kidnapped so many disciples of the immortal sect. Moreover, the people of Tianlin Sect voluntarily handed over Sima Huai's hidden treasures, among which were quite a few Phoenix Feathers!"
"Phoenix Feather?!" Gu Congxing's voice suddenly rose, "Then he is indeed related to the Kong family's massacre!"
"That's right." Tang Wuxin nodded. "Back then, we thought that a powerful person might be involved in the Kong family's massacre. Now, it's finally solved."
As she said this, she actually stretched out, looking like she had completely relaxed from her tense state.
Lan Jue asked, "So, how is Sima Huai doing now?"
According to what they had planned when they came, they were probably going to kill him in public.
He Runzhi stroked his beard and sighed.
"Dead."
Gu Congxing suddenly raised his head and asked in astonishment, "He's dead?"
"Well, that guy endured several rounds of torture, but he couldn't bear it anymore and committed suicide out of fear of punishment." Tang Wuxin grinned coldly, "But he was also a tough guy. He persisted for quite a long time under the continuous torture of the monks."
"It's just like that..." Gu Congxing fell into silence for a moment.
But the image of Sima Huai lying calmly even after being stabbed flashed through his mind, and Gu Congxing frowned again.
"Two elders, did you witness his death with your own eyes?" He couldn't help but ask.
Lan Jue also said: "My disciple also has this question."
He Runzhi and Tang Wuxin looked at each other, both with surprise in their eyes.
However, they then looked at the disciples in front of them, all showing satisfied expressions.
"Indeed, it seems your training abroad was not in vain." Tang Wuxin nodded. "Of course, we can't believe this, so we went with other cultivators to confirm it in person..."
"Sima Huai is already dead and can't die any more."
Hearing this, Gu Congxing still did not relax, but continued to listen with a frown.
He Runzhi stroked his beard and said, "His spiritual power was originally sealed, but he managed to forcefully use it, causing damage to his Dantian and severing his spiritual veins. He died in a horrible way. Furthermore, we have all secretly investigated and found no spiritual power left in that cell from anyone else."
"Not even a single bit." Tang Wuxin emphasized, "Even Zhuoguang Sword Master, who is close to the Great Perfection stage, can't achieve such a level. The others present are probably even more difficult to achieve."
Lan Jue's eyes moved slightly.
"No wonder it was confirmed to be suicide."
Zhong Ming listened to their conversation, and although he didn't say anything, he frowned.
His intuition told him that something seemed strange.
But he had no evidence, so he just thought about it in his mind and didn't say anything.
Tang Wuxin and He Runzhi talked with the three of them for a while, and seeing that it was almost noon outside, they prepared to say goodbye.
"We still need to catch up with the elders from other sects." Tang Wuxin waved his hand. "Why don't you go out for a walk too? You're the most popular among the disciples of the Immortal Sect right now."
Gu Congxing blinked and grinned proudly.
“This is an unexpected gain.”
Lan Jue chuckled a few times and said with a squinting look, "Then Cong Xing, do you want to go out and socialize? There should be a lot of people who want to chat with you."
Gu Congxing suddenly remembered the scene where his master was surrounded by a group of monks at the Qianqiong Banquet, and he couldn't help but wave his hands hurriedly.
"No, after such a long journey, I'd better go and rest first."
Having said this, he walked straight out, said goodbye to the two men and went to his room.
The door closed, Gu Congxing set up a barrier as usual, and then lay down on the couch.
This time they flew all the way from the southwest of Luoxi Continent to Zhongyu Continent. Even with Lan Jue's spirit boat, it still took them nearly three days.
I don’t know how things are going with Master. Maybe he has already repaired the barrier?
He looked up at the wooden rafters of the roof, a bright light surging in his glassy eyes.
So, Sima Huai is really dead.
Is this how the opponent, who we defeated with so much difficulty and cooperation from both inside and outside, died?
It's like a dream.
"system."
[Ding! Host!]
"What is my current redemption value?"
[Ding! Host's current redemption degree is 96%, with a total of 940 points!]
Sure enough, it hasn't changed.
The two lives that he had been given at the beginning of the mission were also completely intact.
Gu Congxing frowned and looked at the transparent stone slab in the air, then suddenly sat up straight.
It is clear that the previous unsolved case has been solved, and the mastermind behind it, Sima Huai, is dead. Now the world of cultivation is full of victories.
The monks from many sects that I met today all looked relaxed and contented.
But why can't I be completely at ease?
In fact, the more I think about it, the more uncomfortable I feel.
It was instinct, the instinct gleaned from thousands of battles that made him like this, and the most direct evidence was the system's incomplete degree of redemption.
What exactly is the problem?
Gu Congxing only felt that he was on a seemingly flat and peaceful road, but this road was just a huge flat blanket.
And beneath that blanket lies a brutal trap. If you step into it, there's no way back.
“Bang, bang!”
There was a sudden knock on the door, and Gu Congxing was startled and trembling all over.
"Gu Congxing, are you there?"
It was Si Junjian's voice.
By the way, he didn’t know about Sima Huai’s death yet.
Gu Congxing got down and opened the door, welcoming Si Junjian into the house.
Si Junjian closed the door and sat next to Gu Congxing quite naturally.
"Well, do you know any clues?"
Gu Congxing told Si Junjian everything the two elders had said without reservation.
"Is that so...he is dead."
A complicated expression appeared on Si Junjian's pale face, as if he was in deep thought or sighing, but he did not look happy.
"Si Junjian, based on your understanding of Sima Huai, is he someone who would commit suicide under torture?"
Si Junjian remained silent for a long time after hearing this, and finally shook his head slowly.
"...I don't know." He lowered his eyes and spoke in a low voice, "After all these years with him, I've never seen through him."
"Ah, that's right." Gu Congxing realized he had asked a stupid question. After observing Si Junjian's expression for a moment, he suddenly said, "Why do you look so listless and pale?"
Si Junjian raised his eyes and looked at Gu Congxing, supporting his head with one hand.
"Maybe I've been sitting on the spirit boat for too long, and I'm a little uncomfortable. I never like long journeys."
"Just because of that?"
Gu Congxing moved closer: "Don't force yourself. Don't forget what I told you before."
——No matter what, I will stand by you.
The promise echoed in his mind again, and Si Junjian's eyes flashed.
He glanced to the side. Although there were no white ears standing upright on his head, Gu Congxing felt as if he saw the ears drooping slightly.
"...After I came here, I always felt that the demonic power was a little difficult to control." Si Junjian gritted his teeth and continued, "I'm afraid that I will lose control again."
Upon hearing this, Gu Congxing immediately came to his side, their foreheads touched, and pure spiritual power slowly flowed.
"Perhaps it's the hidden injury left by Sima Huai's formation."
Gu Congxing closed his eyes and focused on letting his spiritual power flow through Si Junjian's body, imitating what Chen Mu had done before.
"After that, we'll go find other highly skilled medical practitioners." His voice was gentle but firm, carrying a soothing power. "Don't be afraid, Si Junjian, don't be afraid."
You will no longer be attacked from all sides and trampled into the mud.
Si Junjian looked at the young man in front of him with his trembling long eyelashes, and a faint light flashed in his red eyes.
But at this moment, the door was knocked again.
“Bang, bang, bang!”
Gu Congxing had not yet let his spiritual power flow through Si Junjian's body, and ignored the knock on the door.
“Bang, bang, bang!”
The voice sounded again, much more urgent.
Gu Congxing frowned and was about to retract his spiritual power, but he felt that the barrier he had set up had been broken!
He suddenly raised his head and was about to summon the Whale-Slaying Sword, but he saw a long white shadow standing at the door.
Lan Jue stood with his back to the sun, his slender body casting a shadow.
"Big Brother?"
Gu Congxing let out a breath and withdrew his hand that was blocking Si Junjian.
"What's the rush?"
Lan Jue did not respond immediately. He glanced at Si Junjian, who looked worried, and his eyes paused when he saw that the two were very close.
"...Nothing." Lan Jue raised his eyes to look at Gu Congxing, his voice still gentle, "I saw that you hadn't responded for a long time, and I was worried that you might be attacked by criminals, so I got anxious for a moment."
Gu Congxing frowned and asked, "Bad guy?"
"Hmm." Lan Jue smiled softly and brushed off the words. "Cong Xing, I came here to ask you to go out and investigate together and gather some information. Do you want to come with me?"
"I...I'd better not go for now."
Gu Congxing hadn't finished transmitting his spiritual energy to Si Junjian yet, but he instinctively knew he couldn't say this to Lan Jue, so he said, "Why don't you go first, Senior Brother? I'll come find you later."
"Is that so." Lan Jue's smile faded a little. "Cong Xing, do you find it annoying to be here with me?"
Gu Congxing immediately said: "How could this be——"
"Humph, you know you're annoying, why don't you just leave?"
Si Junjian suddenly spoke up, his voice cold and deep: "Why bother to be so pretentious and make insinuations here?"
Even though he was grimacing, he started coughing violently for some reason.
"Hey, Si Junjian!"
Gu Congxing immediately scolded him, but seeing his furrowed brow and pained expression, he couldn't help but lean down and ask anxiously, "What's wrong with you?!"
Lan Jue stared at Si Junjian expressionlessly, then looked at Gu Congxing who looked worried.
His fists clenched tighter and tighter, but finally loosened.
"Throwing insinuations at others, pretending...?"
He chuckled and turned away.
Gu Congxing looked at the white sleeves flying away in the wind, and unexpectedly had the illusion that he would never be able to catch them again.
He was about to fly after him, but he heard Si Junjian's painful groan again.
He gritted his teeth and began to transmit spiritual power to Si Junjian again.
After an incense stick of time, the transmission of spiritual power ended and Si Junjian's condition stabilized slightly.
Gu Congxing stuffed another Heaven Grade Spiritual Pill into his hand and asked anxiously, "How do you feel now?"
"Better." Si Junjian wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
Gu Congxing nodded slightly and stood up: "Then, I'll go first--"
"Wait!" Si Junjian grabbed his arm and shouted, "Don't go!"
Si Junjian's eyes were blazing and his expression was sincere, completely different from his usual arrogant look. He was surprisingly frank and honest.
It also carries a hint of pity.
If it were an ordinary day, Gu Congxing would definitely not leave, but at this moment he was thinking about Lan Jue's departing figure - so alone and looking particularly lonely.
"Don't worry, I'll be back soon!"
He still pulled down Si Junjian's hand, turned around and walked away, without forgetting to restore the barrier.
Si Junjian sat there for a long time, looking at his receding figure.
Then he tightened the barrier again, lay down on the bed and curled up.
With a slight movement of spiritual power, the window was opened.
Si Junjian looked at the sky outside the window and closed his eyes deeply.
“Swish——”
A breeze blew past, and spiritual power flashed in a corner of the house, but after a moment, there was no trace left.
***
"Friend Lan."
Not long after Lan Jue went out, he ran into a disciple of the Tianqi Sect.
The disciple bowed slightly and said, "The elder of the Qingxuan Sword Sect is now in the main hall. Please go and have a chat... Fellow Daoist Lan?"
"Oh, oh, thank you, I will go." Lan Jue suddenly came back to his senses, and his usual faint smile appeared on his blank expression.
The disciple wanted to say something else, but heard a hearty laugh.
"Hahahahaha! Fellow Daoist Lan, you also get distracted like this sometimes!"
It turns out to be a strange Yao from the Gan Yang School.
He looked cheerful and unrestrained, and next to him was the cold and solemn Xiao Wangyou.
"Fellow Daoist Yao, Fellow Daoist Xiao."
Lan Jue responded politely and distantly.
Yao Qi, however, approached him with great interest, grinning, "I heard it was you who defeated Sima Huai. You're quite capable! Can you spar with me someday?"
The young man's smile was bright and pure, and Lan Jue felt that the dark clouds around him seemed to dissipate, and his smile became a little more genuine.
"Of course. I hope to see the advanced techniques of the Hunyuan Spear."
Xiao Wangyou observed Lan Jue's expression and said, "Just now I saw Zhong Ming also being called away by Xie Qingnian with an impatient look on his face. Could it be that you three brothers had a quarrel?"
"Oh, that brat dares to show disrespect to such a beautiful fairy." Yao Qi clicked his tongue.
"I guess it's Senior Xuanyuan Chu calling him again. Junior Brother doesn't seem to want to meet him, but this time he really can't avoid it."
Lan Jue chuckled, and then heard Xiao Wangyou casually say, "Oh, what about Gu Congxing?"
Has the ultimate plan been revealed?
"Cong Xing, you are probably resting in the room." Lan Jue said in a distant tone.
Yao Qi said "Hey" and was about to continue, but he heard another call from the distance:
"Friend Lan!"
The three of them looked back and saw a slim pink figure. Who else could it be but Jiang Li?
"Fellow Daoist Jiang."
"Friend Lan, have you seen Cong Xing?"
This person is very straightforward.
Lan Jue's eyes twitched slightly, but he still wore a proper smile: "Cong Xing is resting in the room."
But Jiang Li frowned slightly: "Friend Lan, please don't lie to me! I just went to Cong Xing's residence to look for him, but I didn't see him. But I don't know why Si Junjian is in his house."
Everyone's expressions changed slightly when they heard this.
"Si Jun Sword?" Xiao Wangyou repeated with a frown.
But Lan Jue was silent for a moment after hearing this. He looked at Jiang Li and then his gaze suddenly turned to Xiao Wangyou and Yao Qi.
There was a bright light in his amber eyes, as if he had suddenly become clear-headed.
“…So, now Si Junjian, me, Cong Xing, and Zhong Ming are all alone.”
He seemed to be talking to them, but also seemed to be talking to himself.
"Hey, Fellow Daoist Lan...?"
Jiang Li sensed something was wrong and was about to ask, but Lan Jue suddenly turned around and asked Yao Qi, "Do you know where Zhong Ming was taken?!"
"It's in the direction behind the main hall..."
"Thank you!"
Upon hearing the answer, Lan Jue flew away like a flash of lightning.
***
Gu Congxing followed the direction Lan Jue went to look for him, but he did not meet him. Instead, he met many cultivators from other sects.
After being surrounded by several disciples and asked some questions, he quickly got away.
"Where did you go?"
He frowned and talked to himself, but heard a call.
"Friend Gu."
The person who came had an ethereal air and a pure and elegant temperament. It was Xie Qingnian.
"Thank you, fellow Daoist." Gu Congxing nodded slightly and asked, "Have you seen my senior brother?"
Xie Qingnian was silent for a while after hearing this, then nodded slowly.
"That's perfect, can you take me to find him?"
Xie Qingnian hesitated for a moment before saying, "Well, come with me."
She turned and walked forward, and Gu Congxing followed her.
There weren't many people walking around with Xie Qingnian. Gu Congxing looked at the figure in front of him and couldn't help but think that this woman didn't seem to like interacting with others, so she should walk on less crowded paths more often.
Thinking of this, Gu Congxing stopped suddenly.
So why did Xie Qingnian initiate conversation with him more than once? And Zhong Ming...
"arrive."
Xie Qingnian had already stopped and looked back at Gu Congxing. He said indifferently, "It's the side hall in front. I have something important to attend to, so I'll leave first."
Gu Congxing was about to speak when he saw the white shadow disappear from his sight very quickly.
The side hall in front...
At this moment, the strong feeling of uneasiness in his heart emerged again. Gu Congxing thought for a moment and decided to use the jade token to contact his senior brother first.
However, at this moment, he heard a low roar coming from the hall.
The voice was strangely familiar, it was clearly... Zhong Ming!
"Junior Brother!"
He stepped forward with his sword, only to see a figure in red standing outside the side hall.
How come Si Junjian is here?
Gu Congxing's heartbeat was getting faster and faster. He clenched the hilt of his sword, but Yu Guangzhong's tightly closed palace door opened.
A monk in white robes stepped out. He had a handsome face and an unconventional expression, with a somewhat embarrassed smile on his face.
"Oh, it turns out to be the famous Whale-Slaying Sword. I'm sorry I forgot to call you..."
Gu Congxing turned his head and looked at him. In an instant, his eyes widened with anger, and he attacked the man with all his strength without hesitation!
The man looked incredulous and panicked, and quickly dodged to the side.
At this moment, Gu Congxing had already flown towards Si Junjian, but his whole body was shaking!
Just one look at that person made him feel like he was falling into an icy cave!
A shrill roar broke out from his throat:
"run--!!!"
This person is not an elder of the Apocalypse Sect at all, but the mastermind behind the plot against the Gu family's ancestor and the Demon Lord a thousand years ago! !
That mysterious robed talisman cultivator!!
That face, after thousands of years, is still exactly the same!!
"Si Junjian, Zhong Ming!!! Run!!"
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Author's words: The man behind the scenes finally appears! The big boss appeared in Chapter 76. Does anyone know who it is?
Also, I'm very sorry for the late update. I'm so sad!
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