At the summit of Pipi Mountain, the disciples of Yandan Sect saw the signal talisman lit up in the southeast direction and hurriedly informed the sect elders. They were quick, but someone was even faster. Looking from the sect's training ground, they could only see several streaks of light flashing across the sky above the peak where the sect leader and elders lived, heading straight for the direction where the signal talisman lit up.
The leader was dressed in a long white robe, wearing a black crane silver crown, his long hair was tied up, his temples were already frosty white, and there was a deep furrow between his eyebrows, making him look somewhat rigid. The group arrived at their target location and stood in mid-air, while below, there was a scene of panic, as if they were searching for something.
As soon as his foot touched the ground, someone quickly came forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Sect Master."
The newcomer was none other than Yan Zhihe, the master of the Yandan Sect and the head of the sect, also known as Zen Master Ye.
Yan Zhihe was over two hundred years old this year, with gray hair and temples, but his face looked like he was no more than thirty. Seeing the busy disciples inside the sect, he frowned and asked, "What happened?"
One person replied, "It seems that an outsider has broken in."
"seem?"
"Yes, a disciple lit the communication talisman. When we arrived, the person was already lying behind the rock, but we did not find anyone else. The disciple is ordering everyone to search around."
Yan Zhihe frowned even more deeply. "Where is the Grand Elder?"
The disciple glanced in one direction subconsciously, then lowered his head and said, "Elder, he has entered the Bone Rock Cave and has not yet come out."
While the other disciples were still searching, Yan Zhihe suddenly focused his mind and scanned the nearby places where he could hide with his divine sense. He found nothing. He opened his eyes and looked around. Just as he was about to turn behind the rock to check, someone came flying in from a distance on a sword. Before the person landed, he said urgently, "Sect Master, something bad has happened. Someone from the Tianzhi Sect has come to visit."
Yan Zhihe's expression changed slightly: "Who is it?"
"It is Rong Yu, the young sect master of Tianzhi Sect."
The people present all turned pale.
The Third Elder, standing behind Yan Zhihe, said, "Didn't Rong Yu go back to Tianzhi Sect?"
"The Master said that there are strange things about the ghost taking souls in Gefeng Town, and the disciples of the sect have died without being found. He came to Yandan Sect to discuss countermeasures with the sect leader and elders. He has already gone up Pipi Mountain and is waiting in the front courtyard."
The front courtyard is where a sect entertains distinguished guests. When people from the Tianzhi Sect visit, they must be treated with utmost respect, let alone the sect's young master or even just an ordinary envoy.
Yan Zhihe pondered for a moment, then asked, "How many people did he bring?"
The messenger said, "Alone."
"..."
After a long silence with a complicated expression, Yan Zhihe instructed, "Guard the things here."
"yes."
Watching the sect leader and several elders leave, the man turned and headed in one direction. Right behind the rock where they had been talking, Geng Qi yawned casually, poked his head out from behind the strange rock, looked in the direction the disciple had gone, and hurried over.
On the other side, Rong Yu entered through the main gate at the bottom of Pipi Mountain. He was invited up the mountain by a disciple of Yandan Sect through a teleportation array. After waiting for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea in the front courtyard, Yan Zhihe finally arrived late.
When the three of them entered the front courtyard, Rong Yu had not yet taken a seat, so they greeted each other at the door.
"The sect is busy with affairs, and we were unaware of the young sect leader's sudden visit. We apologize for any neglect." Yan Zhihe forced a smile onto his stern face and bowed to Rong Yu.
According to seniority and status, he should not be so polite to a young sect leader. However, he was not as strong as the other man. His cultivation level had been stuck at the late Nascent Soul stage for more than ten years. However, more than twenty years ago, he had a sparring match with this man. Although it ended in a draw, he knew that with his strength at that time, if it were a life-or-death struggle, he would not last ten moves against this man.
Rong Yu returned the greeting in a gentle and measured manner: "I apologize for coming uninvited."
Yan Zhihe said it was alright, and invited the people to sit down. A disciple from the sect served tea.
Rong Yu and Sect Leader Yan sat in the main seats, with two elders seated below them. After exchanging pleasantries for a while, they got down to business: "I wonder what's so strange about what the young sect leader said about the matter in Gefeng Town?"
The two exchanged teacups, and after taking a sip, Rong Yu asked, "Sect Leader Yan, have you ever seen someone with a soul but no spirit?"
Yan Zhihe said, "I have heard of it."
Having a soul but no spirit, like a walking corpse, without consciousness, unaware of pain.
"We found a secret passage ten miles southeast of Gefeng Town, where dozens of people with souls but no spirits were hidden, as well as a Guhuo ghost."
Yan Zhihe remained calm, but his eyes held a hint of surprise: "Is that so?"
Rong Yu said, "The disciples your sect sent to Gefeng Town have returned. It seems that Sect Master Yan is indeed busy with affairs and has not paid much attention to the disappearance of the sect's disciples."
The people in the courtyard were startled. The Third Elder hurriedly said, "Young Sect Master, you misunderstand. Our disciples and Young Sect Master returned to Pipi Mountain only about an incense stick's time apart. There are some things we haven't had time to report to the Sect Master yet. We already know about the encounter with the Guhuo Ghost in Gefeng Town, but we have never heard of a person with a soul but no spirit."
If a person is guilty and lacks strong self-control, they will easily reveal their flaws. People with a soul but no spirit are not only found in secret passages. The people of Yandan Sect know about Li Yao's matter. How could such important information not be transmitted back to the sect!
Nodding slightly, Rong Yu seemed to agree with their statement, and asked casually, "I wonder if the son of your sect's Grand Elder has been buried yet?"
The seven-day mourning period had passed, and several days had passed since the body was placed in the coffin. Yang Tianhui used the excuse of letting Yang Wei rest in peace to transport him back to Yandan Gate, but instead of going through the main gate, he sent him to an unknown place via a teleportation array. His purpose was certainly not for burial.
Rong Yu looked up at Yan Zhihe with a hint of concern, but also with a hint of scrutiny.
Yan Zhihe's answer was bound to disappoint him: "All matters are being prepared. If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have let him leave the sect in the first place."
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