sonovelo Chapter 700: Origins
Chapter 700: Origins
Chapter 700: Origins
In the midst of the sea stood a mountain of the immortals, shrouded in ethereal white clouds.
This mountain hidden within the mist was the Mirage Mountain, and it served as the core of the Penglai Supreme Sect. Only those who had reached the seventh realm could officially join the sect and earn the right to establish a residence there. Those below the seventh realm, including disciples training under their esteemed teachers, were considered mere dependents.
Establishing a residence on Mirage Mountain was the ultimate dream for countless young people in Penglai.
On an ordinary day, under gentle winds and sunny skies, a new pavilion quietly appeared in the northwest corner of Mirage Mountain. Compared to the splendid palaces at the mountain's front, this one seemed exceptionally modest.
Clad in black robes, Daoist Xuan Lu approached the pavilion and gently said at the door, "Congratulations, Junior Nephew Yang, on becoming the first of your generation to step into the Dao Attainment Realm."
The pavilion door creaked open, and out came a man with a demeanor as refined as jade and an expression of cool indifference.
He was Yang Shenlong, dressed in a blue Daoist robe and radiating the aura of a powerful cultivator. Compared to his teenage years, he now exuded an air of tempered wisdom and maturity.
In response to Daoist Xuan Lu's congratulations, Yang Shenlong showed no courtesy. He simply stepped aside to let him in and closed the door.
Yang Shenlong then got straight to the point and asked, "Senior Uncle Xuan Lu, was it you who ordered Qi Lin'er to ambush the members of Mount Shu's Red Cotton Peak?"
"Hmm?" Daoist Xuan Lu had just taken his seat when the question reached his ears. He chuckled softly and said, "So, Junior Nephew Yang summoned me here for an interrogation?"@@@@
"Senior Uncle Xuan Lu, are you aware that such an action was highly inappropriate?" Yang Shenlong responded, settling into the seat across from him.
"What do you mean by that, Junior Nephew Yang?"
Yang Shenlong's frown deepened. "The Penglai Supreme Sect is a righteous sect. How could you stoop to such a vile act? Ordinary disciples of Penglai would never aid you in this. You took advantage of Qi Lin'er's old grudge against the Mount Shu Sect. But if this provokes a conflict between our two sects, how do you plan to handle the consequences?"
"You're overstating things, Junior Nephew Yang," Daoist Xuan Lu said, waving his hand dismissively. "Qi Lin'er is on the verge of entering the Dao Attainment Realm. I merely helped him rid himself of inner demons."
Chu Yi's cabin was similarly simple, furnished with only a bed, a table and chairs, a screen, and a few scrolls of calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls.
As Chu Liang glanced at one of the paintings, he suddenly found it somewhat familiar. It depicted noblewomen from the previous dynasty on an outing in the eastern suburbs, with brushwork so vivid it almost seemed to bring the scene to life.
Chu Yi stepped out from behind the screen and greeted Chu Liang with a smile. "Senior Brother."
When he noticed Chu Liang staring at the painting, he said, "I recently became interested in calligraphy and painting and acquired a few masterpieces done by famous individuals."
"That's good. It's about time that we have a cultured individual on our Silver Sword Peak," Chu Liang remarked, returning the smile. "You've already heard about what happened to the Four Extremities Hall, haven't you?"
"Yes, I know about it." Chu Yi nodded solemnly. "But if they have such precise knowledge of the transport routes, it couldn't have come from the buyer. It seems much more likely that there's a mole within the Four Extremities Hall. For now, we have six suspects who might be traitors, and I've already detained them. Once we interrogate them, we'll know who's responsible."
"I have a Mind-Reflecting Candle. We can use it to get a straight answer."
Chu Yi had always been reliable in handling matters. The way he approached this issue was precisely how Chu Liang would have handled it himself.
The two of them made their way to Red Cotton Peak, where the Four Extremities Hall had prepared six rooms. Each suspect, all high-ranking members of the hall, occupied a separate room. Only someone of their position could have leaked such critical transport routes. Since they hadn't been proven guilty, they were treated fairly well.
Years ago, Chu Liang had found a portion of a Mind-Reflecting Candle. Over the years, it had remained unused, as it was ineffective against those with high cultivation levels, and Chu Liang had no need for it with those of lower cultivation. But now, the perfect opportunity had finally arisen for him to put it to use.
He handed the Mind-Reflecting Candle to Chu Yi, and together they interrogated the suspects one by one. As expected, they quickly identified a traitor among the six.
The traitor was a middle-aged rogue cultivator who had once been active in the southeastern regions, known for his vast network of connections. When Chu Yi established the Four Extremities Hall, this man saw its potential and eagerly joined. He was one of the founding members of the Four Extremities Hall, which was why he had risen to such a high rank today.
"I... I never wanted to harm Red Cotton Peak, it's just..." The traitor, seeing the Mind-Reflecting Candle burning, realized that lying was futile and quickly confessed. "He told me that Penglai would be supporting Taotie City in waging war against Mount Shu's Red Cotton Peak. If we keep relying on Red Cotton Peak, we'll be doomed. By helping Penglai pass along information now, we can secure future favors from the Penglai Supreme Sect."
"Penglai..." Chu Liang muttered, his gaze darkening. He asked, "Do you know who did this?"
"Young Hero Chu, it was the child who participated in the same Assembly of Immortal Sects as you. He's now about seventeen or eighteen years old, but his cultivation level is very high..." the man answered without hesitation. "I think his name is... Qi Lin'er."