Chapter 81 Things Have Gone Wrong
"Sect Master? Sect Master!"
In a hazy state, a voice, somewhere between youthful and mature, seemed to pierce the heavy silence, reaching his ears and awakening his fading consciousness. Ji Pengde slowly opened his eyes, feeling a heaviness throughout his body, as if something that shouldn't be there was churning wildly within him. He frowned and slowly pushed himself up from the ground. A person who has practiced martial arts for many years would at least be in good physical condition, especially with spiritual power at their side; invulnerability to blades and spears was a basic requirement. Although Ji Pengde hadn't touched his sword for many years, his physique hadn't changed. He wasn't as robust as a martial artist, but he was certainly not thin either. Yet now, he felt an unusual chill within him. External coldness was different from internal coldness; the latter indicated that he was in a weakened state. Ji Pengde had a headache and felt somewhat dazed—what was going on? How did he suddenly fall asleep, and why was he here?
Completely baffled, he turned his head and met Ye Chi's gaze. The young man's dark eyes were pure and clear. He had always liked Ye Chi, always feeling that he was a sincere and promising talent. Although he hadn't seen him much in recent years, it didn't stop Ya Feiyu from often mentioning him, so he knew this disciple quite well. Seeing that he was surrounded by a desolate snowfield, he knew he hadn't gone too far from the venue. Confused, but trusting Ye Chi, he decided to ask what had happened first: "What's wrong, Ye Chi? How did I get here?"
Ye Chi frowned slightly. These words seemed to remind him of something unpleasant. He didn't speak, but under Ji Pengde's curious gaze, he took out a recording stone. He had already recorded everything that had just happened in the venue. These things were somewhat difficult for him to talk about, so it was best for Ji Pengde to see for himself.
While Ji Pengde was fiddling with the recording stone, Shen Qinghe quietly opened her eyes. She woke up a little later, but she vaguely heard the conversation between the two. When she woke up, she didn't ask anything, but just watched Ji Pengde adjust the recording stone until the image from before was projected, and then she stared at it without saying a word.
"..."
After a long while, the image on the recording stone dimmed, and the long scene ended. Only then could the two women laboriously look away, exchanging a glance. Their eyes reflected the same pale expression, faintly revealing a hint of unease. Shen Qinghe spoke slowly. Her temperament was somewhat similar to Shen Rong's, but as the leader of a peak, she was more gentle compared to the other sister. "This…this is all what just happened in the venue?"
From the moment the image started playing on the recording stone, Ji Pengde's brows never relaxed. The leader of the Optimistic Sect could be quite dignified when he was serious. He looked up at Ye Chi and asked, "Where is your master?"
Ye Chi told the two of them about Ya Feiyu's plan in detail. Ji Pengde's expression tightened slightly. He seemed to be holding his breath, but in the end, he seemed to let go of his burden and shook his head helplessly. "Tianxue, Tianxue... never mind. Since he has his own ideas, let's just follow his lead."
“This matter is of great importance, and we must tell the others immediately,” Shen Qinghe frowned and stood up. “Ye Chi, take your recording stone and come with us to meet the sect leaders of the other sects and tell them what happened.”
Just as Ye Chi was about to respond, his thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a cold, aloof voice.
"Ye Chi, don't listen to her."
Is it a message transmitted through the language of crows?!
Ye Chi was stunned for a moment, but only for a fleeting instant. He concealed his true feelings well. "Why, Master?"
"Don't go with anyone, not even the sect leader," Ya Feiyu said without explaining why, his tone slightly urgent. "Listen to me, find a place to hide, make sure no one can find you, and wait until Master has dealt with things before Master comes to find you."
In the end, her tone was almost pleading, as if she were begging him, "Disciple, listen to me, okay?"
Ye Chi pursed his lips and lowered his eyes, saying, "Understood, Master."
He severed the telepathic connection with Ya Feiyu, raised his eyes again, looked at Shen Qinghe, composed his previous expression, and handed the recording stone to her.
"I've handed the recording stone over to the sect leader and peak master. This disciple has other matters to attend to."
Shen Qinghe's expression seemed to stiffen slightly, her hand paused in mid-air, just in time to catch the stone. Before she could even ask her question, Ye Chi vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye. She stood there stunned, feeling as if the stone in her palm was burning hot.
Ji Pengde watched Ye Chi's departing figure, sighed with a hint of helplessness, "Tianxue really knows how to exploit her disciples," before glancing at the recording stone in Shen Qinghe's hand. He had been friends with Ya Feiyu for many years, so how could he not understand Ya Feiyu's personality? Keeping Ye Chi so busy was in line with Ya Feiyu's character, so he naturally didn't care much.
He stood with his hands behind his back, drew his sword, lightly stepped onto the blade, and said, "Let's go."
Ta still wore that smiling expression, but the smile never reached his eyes; his weathered eyes seemed cold and indifferent.
"The cultivation world is about to undergo a major upheaval."
Shen Qinghe watched his figure gradually disappear into the distance on his sword, pursed her lips, and a faint, deep purple glint flashed in her dark eyes. She then summoned her own sword and followed closely behind Ji Pengde.
Above the snow-covered plain, the leaden sky pressed heavily on the earth, with a deep, dark color seemingly drifting in from it, surging and gradually obscuring the remaining sunlight. The wind and snow became even more biting, carrying a sharp chill that scraped across every inch of skin, bringing profound pain.
Is the undercurrent of movement due to the clouds, or perhaps to a cunning person lurking in the shadows?
Ji Pengde seemed lost in thought, a smile still lingering on his lips.
Only at the very end will the outcome be known.
...
Something big seems to have happened at the Lingshan Sword Tournament.
Ordinary people whispered among themselves. Normally, such a major event would be widely publicized, but now everyone's expression was somewhat subtle. No one knew the specific details of what happened, only that a lot of people had died, but they couldn't ask for any more specific information.
Some mortals asked their cultivator friends, but the answers they received were ambiguous. They were told that the higher-ups forbade them to talk about it, which further fueled the curiosity of mortals. However, what exactly happened remained unresolved.
Unlike in the mortal realm, this matter is already widely known among cultivators.
Demonic cultivators have infiltrated the Lingshan Sword Tournament and are even committing mass murders in order to seize a certain treasure. This is no small matter.
In order to resolve this matter more quickly, the major sects discussed it and unanimously decided to convene a meeting of many cultivators from the cultivation world.
...
The council chamber, a building that has rarely been used for decades or even centuries, is now overflowing with people.
Initially, the council hall existed tens of thousands of years ago, during the Immortal-Demon War, when many powerful cultivators built it to discuss tactics against the demons. After the Immortal-Demon War ended, it was abandoned for a time. In recent years, it has been used mainly to announce the time and place of the Spirit Mountain Sword Tournament. Apart from that, it has been sealed off for most of the time.
Today, it has been restarted again for the purpose of the Lingshan Sword Tournament.
Seated high in the main seat of the council hall was Ji Pengde, the sect leader of Qinglian Immortal Sect. He had been injured a few days ago and had escaped from the chaotic meeting place. Now he looked somewhat pale and haggard. Sitting next to him were the other elders of Qinglian Immortal Sect, most of whom also looked tired.
As one of the few survivors of the Lingshan Sword Tournament incident, they have to deal with far more than others can imagine.
The council hall was almost full, so much so that some people even had to go up to the second floor to stand and watch. But no one complained. The huge council hall was crowded with people, but there was no extra sound except for the heavy breathing that seemed to come in unison.
The remaining seats below the main seat are those of the major sects.
"Sect Leader Ji, have you rested properly?" A somewhat aged voice came from below. Ji Pengde raised his somewhat cloudy eyes. He hadn't rested well during this period. Hearing this, he tugged at the corners of his lips, but found that he couldn't smile. He then bitterly mocked himself, "Alas, I'm getting old. I'm so tired after being busy for a while. I'm sorry for making you all laugh."
The person who inquired about Ji Pengde's condition was Ren Yeqing, the deputy head of Qing Shen Pavilion. He was a late bloomer, and despite his profound cultivation, he looked like an old man in his sixties or seventies.
Ren Yeqing stroked his deliberately long beard, his eyes, which were squeezed together by wrinkles and were only the size of peanuts, narrowed slightly. "May I ask what exactly happened?"
As soon as he asked this question, everyone turned to look at Ji Pengde—this was the question they most wanted to know.
It is said that Ji Pengde has a recording stone, but the images in it have only been shown to the sect leaders of major sects. The details of what happened inside the Lingshan Sword Tournament actually come more from the accounts of survivors.
Ji Pengde smiled wearily, took out the legendary image-recording stone, infused it with a small amount of spiritual power, and placed it in the center of the long table in front of him.
The patterns on the photo stone emitted a faint glimmer before disappearing from the frame.
Everyone stared intently, their faces gradually turning pale at the scene inside. Even Ye Qing looked unwell. Suppressed retching sounds and some soft gasps echoed from inside the council hall.
"This..." After the video finished playing, Ren Yeqing was speechless. "The Spirit Mountain Sword Tournament actually had demonic cultivators manage to infiltrate it..."
“Not only that,” said Jin Zong, the sect leader of the Sword Intent Sect, “that group of cunning demonic cultivators came prepared. In our subsequent investigation, we discovered that their target was actually the treasure hidden in this snow mountain.”
Ren Yeqing turned around and looked, "A supreme treasure? The sect leader is talking about... could it be..."
Jin Zong nodded deeply: "Yes."
"It is the Lingshan Ancient Sword, one of the four most precious treasures in the world."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com