The visitor was Zhang Chengfeng, who had previously come to the Heavenly Sword Sect to discuss the Dao. In order to avoid attracting attention, he invited Xiao Yuhan and Liu Jiantang to an inn before finally explaining his purpose. This Grand Preceptor of the Great Yan Kingdom was a person who left a deep impression on Xiao Yuhan. Although he was in the court, he had the appearance of a hermit, and his knowledge and insights were extraordinary.
He took out a celestial sword that had lost its spiritual energy after being destroyed and placed it on the table. The two of them looked at it and realized that it was Shen Huairu's Suhan Celestial Sword.
Xiao Yuhan immediately asked, "What's going on?"
"Originally, even if the two Daoists hadn't come today, I was planning to go to the Heavenly Sword Sect anyway. A few days ago, Daoist Shen Huairu from your sect and a wanted criminal tried to spy on the core of the protective array of Lingsu City, which alarmed the ancestor guarding the core. A great battle ensued, and the two of them have already fled."
Seeing the Grand Preceptor's expression, Xiao Yuhan realized the seriousness of the matter and immediately asked, "Is the wanted criminal you mentioned who was with my senior sister Li Wenruo? Also, what I don't understand is, why were they spying on Lingsu City's protective formation?"
Zhang Chengfeng nodded and said, "That person is indeed Li Wenruo, but he shouldn't still be alive. The entire Li family of Lingsu was wiped out a hundred years ago. Although his whereabouts are unknown, the soldiers have confirmed that he fell off a cliff and his body was never found. As for why they were spying on Lingsu City's protective formation, I have no idea!"
Xiao Yuhan thought for a moment. Given the author's penchant for this "Eternal Empress" series, the possibility that Li Wenruo fell off the cliff, gained divine power, and made a powerful comeback wasn't out of the question. But what was there to pry into about the protective array of a mortal city? Zhang Chengfeng spoke of it as something precious, with some ancestor protecting the array, which was really absurd.
However, Liu Jiantang's expression was unusually solemn at this moment, and he immediately asked, "Can we meet the ancestor who guards Lingsu City?"
Xiao Yuhan seemed to be deep in thought. Suddenly, he realized that the person protecting the formation was able to force his senior sister to disintegrate. It seemed that his strength should not be weak. To be able to defeat his senior sister, he must at least be a master in the late stage of the Void Returning Realm.
However, in the world today, Void Returning Realm experts like Senior Sister Shen Huai are already rare, and Dao Integration Realm experts are even rarer. It is unknown why, although there is a concept of Mahayana Realm in this world, it only exists in ancient times. There are no rumors about Mahayana Realm cultivators in the present world, and there is no record of it even if we go back a thousand years.
Xiao Yuhan thought to himself that this so-called protector of the formation must be at least a master like Senior Brother Liu to be able to force Senior Sister into a desperate situation. He immediately became interested and said, "Hey! Senior Brother, your suggestion is good. After all, that protector of the formation has fought with Senior Sister. He should be able to provide us with some information."
Unexpectedly, Liu Jiantang shook his head and said, "Junior brother, this matter is not so simple. Years ago, I overheard a conversation between Master and a mysterious old man. Master asked the old man if the Heavenly Sword Sect's protective formation was still intact. The old man said it was fine. Then they brought up the protective formation of Lingsu City. The gist of it was that the core of Lingsu City's protective formation was related to the core of our Heavenly Sword Sect's protective formation, that they were interdependent and complementary."
Xiao Yuhan was astonished and immediately asked, "Does Senior Brother mean that their investigation of the core of the protective array of Lingsu City is actually aimed at my Heavenly Sword Sect?"
“That’s possible, so I’d like to pay my respects to the senior who guards the spirit of the Su City Grand Array!” Liu Jiantang said softly.
At this moment, the Imperial Advisor Zhang Chengfeng showed a troubled expression. He shook his head and said, "This city-protecting formation is the foundation of our Great Yan Dynasty. I cannot agree to this matter immediately. I must ask His Majesty's opinion. Moreover, the old man who protects the clan does not seem to like being disturbed. He has been guarding the core of the formation alone all year round."
At this moment, Liu Jiantang bowed to Zhang Chengfeng and said, "In any case, please ask the Grand Preceptor for help inquiring about His Majesty's opinion. We will wait here!"
Zhang Chengfeng thought for a moment, then agreed and got up to leave.
Xiao Yuhan suddenly thought of something and asked, "Senior Brother Liu, if it's really as you guessed, that they were spying on the array core of Lingsu City to deal with my Heavenly Sword Sect, then wouldn't they also go to the Heavenly Sword Sect to spy on the array core of the sect's protective array? Or perhaps Senior Sister has already told others the secret of the sect's array core?"
"Stop! Junior Brother Xiao, I believe that Junior Sister Shen would not betray the sect no matter what. She is either being coerced by villains or she has her own reasons."
In fact, the moment Xiao Yuhan saw Su Han Sword, he suspected that Shen Huairu had betrayed the sect. However, since Senior Brother Liu was so certain, he could not say much and could only keep his opinion to himself for the time being.
At this moment, Liu Jiantang continued, "Moreover, how could the core of my Heavenly Sword Sect's array be so easily discovered? The core of the sect's protective array has been passed down as a secret by the sect leaders of each generation. No one except the sect leader knows where it is. Moreover, the magic weapon used to activate the protective array is the sect leader's token, the Boundless Universe Sword. As long as you are in the Heavenly Sword Sect and hold this sword, no one will dare to invade. If the sect leader activates the protective array, I estimate that even ten of you plus ten of me wouldn't be able to act recklessly in the Heavenly Sword Sect."
"That's amazing? The more you talk about it, the more curious I get. What exactly is the structure of this sect-protecting formation?"
"How would I know? Junior Brother Xiao, so you should understand the significance of the sect's protective formation to our Heavenly Sword Sect. Although no one has dared to invade the Heavenly Sword Sect for many years, it doesn't mean we can let our guard down. So this time, Li Wenruo probably has ill intentions. I don't know what method he used to get Junior Sister Shen to stand on his side. We must find this person and rescue Junior Sister Shen!"
Xiao Yuhan looked at Liu Jiantang in front of him, lost in thought, and then cautiously asked, "Senior brother, if... I mean if Senior Sister Shen betrayed the sect, what would you do?"
"There are no 'what ifs'! I watched her grow up, she would never betray the sect!"
Xiao Yuhan sighed, thinking that Liu Jiantang shouldn't be such a naive person. "What if I betray the sect?"
Liu Jiantang glanced at Xiao Yuhan, and said thoughtfully, "I will cripple your cultivation and take you back to the Heavenly Sword Sect!"
Xiao Yuhan was on the verge of tears. He had only asked casually, but he hadn't expected Senior Brother Liu to answer like that. He was immediately displeased, "Senior Brother, you're being unfair! Why is it that when it comes to me, my cultivation is crippled and I'm taken back?"
Unexpectedly, Liu Jiantang said in a serious tone, "Because you might do such a thing, but Junior Sister Shen would never do it!"
How could I possibly be one?
Upon hearing this question, Xiao Yuhan was about to say something, but Liu Jiantang interrupted him, saying, "What if it's for your precious disciple? Junior Brother Xiao, you're a smart man. There's no need to say more. You understand what I mean!"
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