When Zhao Qianqiu hurried back to the city where the Demon Flood Dragon of the Divinity Transformation Realm had perished, Yi Qianyan had already arrived.
Zhao Qianqiu's gaze fleetingly passed over Yi Qianyan, who stood beside the Great Minister of Punishnt.
"Uncle Master."
The previously cheerful, dark-faced elderly man, who had been talking to Yi Qianyan with a smile, turned his head at these words and glared at his senseless junior, then tilted his head to gesture with his chin toward the female Sword Cultivator standing aside.
Zhao Qianqiu's face showed helplessness.
Yi Qianyan felt sowhat abashed; she had arrived early, and the Great Minister of Punishnt had been chatting with her about family matters. It would have been alright if it was just small talk, but he kept ntioning "my Qianqiu" this and "my junior" that, hardly straying from Zhao Qianqiu's na, making it difficult for her to join the conversation.
"Junior Sister Yi Qianyan."
"Senior Brother Zhao Qianqiu."
Yi Qianyan clasped her hands in return, the Great Minister of Punishnt within the Sword Pavilion was always approachable and willing to help the younger generation, everything was fine except for his penchant for playing matchmaker, trying to find partners for the younger ones. She and Zhao Qianqiu had been fellow disciples on good terms, who would greet and chat upon eting, but ever since the Great Minister of Punishnt suggested a match between them, interactions had beco awkward, forcing them to act like strangers.
She guessed that calling her here probably included the intention of making her spend more ti with Zhao Qianqiu.
The Great Minister of Punishnt looked from one to the other, nodding his head as he grew more satisfied with the idea; their nas both contained "Qian," and they were of similar age and matching cultivation levels. He felt as if he had once again done a good deed.
As an old man, he truly worried himself to pieces over the Sword Pavilion's next generation.
"Didn't Uncle Master say that the beast's accomplice was in the Mountain and Water Cave? Why have you summoned back?"
Neither Zhao Qianqiu nor Yi Qianyan asked about the Demon Flood Dragon's Nascent Soul, because they knew that once it fell into the Great Minister of Punishnt's hands, there would be no chance of escape—only to be toyed with at his five fingers' whim.
"Its Demon Core was sealed and it just tried to self-destruct."
The Great Minister of Punishnt spoke cheerfully, his voice kind and his face still smiling, but the words he uttered made both Zhao Qianqiu and Yi Qianyan's complexions turn solemn.
"The situation at the Mountain and Water Cave seems to be a trap; you need not go there. I will take a look myself. You and Qianyan go and notify the disciples in the mansion to lock down Zhi Shui Country. Besides those cunning loaches, there are still small fish that won't escape—catch them all for ."
"As you command."
"As you command."
"Uncle Master, Qianqiu..." Zhao Qianqiu began to say sothing but stopped halfway, glancing at Yi Qianyan.
She raised an eyebrow, bid the Great Minister of Punishnt farewell, and took the lead to leave.
Yi Qianyan didn't mind being treated as an outsider; she ca this ti just to lend a hand. Moreover, from what she had seen and heard so far, the incident was very likely related to cultivators of the Seventh Realm. It would be wise for her not to get too involved.
The gap between the Seventh Realm and the Sixth Realm might only be one realm apart, but the difference between them could only be truly understood by those who had personally experienced this insurmountable gulf, just like her.
To be able to place a seal on a Sixth Realm demon cultivator's Nascent Soul without soone noticing, huh? It was not sothing an ordinary Seventh Realm cultivator could accomplish.
Furthermore, this incident involved the Zhao family... The news of that incident in Kundo from over a decade ago was hard to believe. The Fu Yao, which had stood in the Xuanhuang Realm for seventy thousand years, had just... fallen?
Yi Qianyan left on her sword, her thoughts heavy.
All that remained were Zhao Qianqiu and the Great Minister of Punishnt.
In fact, there were many people around them at this mont, as they stood on a bustling street, but every passerby "ignored" them.
The two seed like boulders in the midst of a great river, with the current flowing around and the fish swooping past.
It was because a aning horse was joyfully weaving through this torrential flow.
Zhao Qianqiu looked at his Uncle Master, who had always looked after him.
Uncle Master's real na was Chen Zhiyi.
When his master died years ago, and he, Zhao Qianqiu, was still a youth filled with passion, he boldly took his sword alone to Kundo to slay demons. At that ti, Uncle Master was already one of the renowned Sword Immortals in Kundo, serving the Marquis Mansion.
Under the protection of Uncle Master, he had survived death several tis and had not let Uncle Master down. Fighting demons and honing his sword skills, he advanced through the realms continuously, becoming one of the most outstanding young Sword Cultivators in Kundo. His only regret was not stepping into the Seventh Realm of Sword Cultivation in Kundo to stand alongside Uncle Master.
After that drastic change, Uncle Master left Kundo in sorrow.
The grand-uncle could, with his achievents in demon-slaying, have directly returned to the Taia Sword Pavilion's orthodoxy, to stand among the highest ranks of the Human Clan's Great Ancestors, or at the very least, journey to the Tranquility State. Yet, he chose to co to the small Wangque Continent and beca the Great Minister of Punishnt at the Punishnt Mansion, a position even less than that of a branch sect leader.
Zhao Qianqiu didn't understand his grand-uncle's choice, but he still followed him all the way.
And now, that damned beast had actually killed his grand-uncle's Closed-door Disciple!
He knew very well that his grand-uncle, perhaps because he was once a forr mber of the Fu Yao Marquis Mansion, favored the Zhao clan descendants extrely. That young man from the Zhao family in Anling Country, also his junior fellow student, was highly valued by his grand-uncle. He had always been treated as the heir, receiving teachings and guidance right by his side.
Although his grand-uncle still wore a smile, seeming as carefree as a gentle breeze or a soft cloud, and even had the mood to concern himself with his marital affairs, it was because his grand-uncle had an intentional horse! He could sever thoughts and not think about it, but who knew how much anguish lay within his grand-uncle's heart?
Zhao Qianqiu's Heart Lake surged with malevolence, the sword pattern on his face alternating between light and dark.
"Repress your anger," Chen Zhiyi said, his smile fading, his voice grave.
Zhao Qianqiu took a deep breath, aligning with the sword pattern to suppress the malevolence. This was an after-effect of being polluted by the aura behind the Gate of Demon Desolation while slaying demons in Kuntu for an extended ti, but with the sword pattern present, the problem wasn't too severe.
"Grand-uncle, was it those creatures behind the gate that did this?"
"How dare they co here! Are they seeking death?"
This was also the most puzzling matter for Zhao Qianqiu. For them to co here from behind the gate cost too much, and it was likely a one-way trip. Despite their imnse hatred for the Fu Yao Zhao clan, if it was rely to eliminate a few branches of the Zhao family, it would be too unworthy, unless...
Unless there was a colossal benefit driving them.
Was it a person or an object?
What does this have to do with the Zhao branch families on the Wangque Continent?
Chen Zhiyi looked deeply at Zhao Qianqiu but did not answer his questions, just gave him several instructions before letting him leave.
With a flash of sword light, only Chen Zhiyi remained in the original spot.
Alone amidst a sea of people.
The old man turned his head and looked to the north.
There were many things he hadn't told Zhao Qianqiu.
For instance, that his closed-door disciple's return ho for a visit had been his own arrangent.
And recently, the vision he saw in the Heart Lake of the Divinity Transformation Demon Flood Dragon.
Although the person's face was blurred, a faint laugh was transmitted.
In the mory of the demon dragon, that person might have rely smiled casually.
But the old man knew that this laugh was ant for him, Chen Zhiyi.
Mockery, contempt.
That person knew he would see it, and he recognized the blurred individual, only he didn't know what face they were showing to the world now.
Both were once "acquaintances."
One inside the gate, one outside.
Nurous images arose in the old man's mind.
There was the past when he followed the old Marquis in Kuntu and fought demons with swords.
There were the ticulously devised plans over the years.
There was the determined expression of his disciple upon learning of his destiny.
The next second, these were all severed by the intentional horse.
Leaving behind only one thought.
Mr. Bai's expectations were correct; they were still searching for the Young Master.
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