Chapter 116

Chapter 116: Gathering of the Masters

Yun Xi stood quietly behind Mu Ning Zhu as a silent figure, listening as Mu Ning Zhu spoke on behalf of the Grand Righteous Sect, carefully recounting everything that had occurred—including the tragic death of Zhang Yan before their very eyes.

This time, Daoist Master Feng from the Treasure Blossom City base had arrived. He’d planned to return to the sect for secluded cultivation after handing over responsibilities at the conclusion of the beast tide. Sheng Yu Hong, as Chief Disciple, naturally remained to handle the aftermath. Just as the two of them prepared to set off for the sect, they spotted the distress signals from the Grand Righteous Sect.

However, it wasn’t just their sect signaling for help. Numerous other sects and families had also launched distress signals, prompting both Daoist Master Feng and Sheng Yu Hong to immediately realize something major had happened. They rushed here with utmost speed.

After hearing the entire account, Daoist Master Feng knew they faced a thorny issue. With True Lord Shi Jun from the Famed Sword Sect already here, his own status as a Golden Core Daoist Master paled in comparison. He turned to Sheng Yu Hong, saying gravely, “Nephew Sheng, this matter involves demonic cultivators and implicates nearly the entire city, including the City Lord’s residence. Quickly send a message to the sect master—it’s best if the sect dispatches a Nascent Soul True Lord to preside over this affair.”

“Yes, Daoist Master Feng,” Sheng Yu Hong replied solemnly. Understanding the severity, he immediately sent a message to his master.

Mu Ning Zhu hesitated briefly, then asked, “Senior Uncle Feng, can we leave here first?”

Daoist Master Feng glanced at the trio and finally answered, “You three shouldn’t rush to leave. You’re involved directly and know the details clearly. When our sect’s True Lord arrives, he may have questions for you. Besides, leaving now might not be safe.”

Realizing they had no other choice, Mu Ning Zhu nodded obediently, then took the others to find lodging in the city. Meanwhile, Daoist Master Feng and Sheng Yu Hong headed to pay respects to True Lord Shi Jun.

Yun Xi felt somewhat deflated but understood Daoist Master Feng’s caution was not unfounded. With Qin Tong Shuang, she silently followed Mu Ning Zhu in search of a place to stay.

Upon receiving Sheng Yu Hong’s message, the Grand Righteous Sect took the matter seriously. They swiftly dispatched True Lord Yu Feng, a Nascent Soul cultivator who had guarded the sect for the past century. After notifying the Sect Master True Lord, Yu Feng promptly set off for Twin Peaks City.

Soon after, a Nascent Soul True Lord from the rogue cultivators’ alliance arrived in Twin Peaks City. Another True Lord from the Blossoming Harmony Sect also appeared and was received personally by Zi Jing.

Gradually, Golden Core Daoist Masters from various cultivation families arrived in the city, causing the remaining cultivators within Twin Peaks City to grow cautious and subdued. With so many great masters gathered, it was wise to remain well-behaved.

Since nearly half the cultivators in Twin Peaks City had perished, plenty of courtyards were now empty. Mu Ning Zhu easily rented a small yard this time, allowing the three women each to have their own private rooms.

Having narrowly survived and witnessing Zhang Yan’s tragic demise firsthand, each of them felt uneasy. After retreating into their rooms and activating defensive formations, they began quietly digesting the events of the past few days.

Yun Xi sat in her room, staring blankly into space for a while. Then she carefully took out Dian Dian, inspecting the little creature thoroughly. Confirming that Dian Dian was fine, she turned her mind to reviewing the events in detail.

She couldn’t shake the sense that something wasn’t right. With a gentle sigh, she sat cross-legged, and her consciousness entered her wooden tablet space.

Nothing in the space had changed, except for the Immortal Spirit Herb glowing softly with green luminescence. Seeing Yun Xi’s arrival, it immediately transmitted a greeting:

“Yun Xi, is everything settled?”

“Yes, it’s settled.”

The Immortal Spirit Herb’s leaves trembled lightly as it asked, “Was Dian Dian struck dead by lightning?”

“No, Dian Dian was blessed through disaster, advancing successfully to the second stage and even activating its bloodline inheritance. It’s currently absorbing ancestral memories.”

“Then why do you look unhappy?”

“Do I?” Yun Xi replied absently, “I just have some things I can’t figure out clearly.”

“Oh!” The Immortal Spirit Herb expressed its inability to help. Human cultivators’ thoughts were simply too complicated to grasp.

Yun Xi then glanced toward the chat group. After catching up on recent messages, she typed her first greeting.

Passing Clouds: Hello everyone. Haven’t been online for a while—how have you all been?

Survival is Truth: Doing well enough. Is your crisis over?

Passing Clouds: Yes. Thanks to Star Trek’s help, the danger has passed, and there shouldn’t be any future complications.

Star Trek: How’s your physical training going?

Passing Clouds: I’ve reached the third movement.

Star Trek: Reaching the third movement in such a short time is impressive! When this set of techniques can no longer meet your body’s demands, you can exchange with me for an intermediate Body Refining Art.

Yun Xi’s eyes brightened, and she immediately agreed.

Then she briefly recounted her recent ordeal in the chat group. Drifting with Immortal Grace and Ox Head and Horse Face provided the most insightful commentary.

Ox Head and Horse Face: Demonic cultivators always end up with their souls utterly destroyed—not even the Underworld takes them. You should stay cautious.

Drifting with Immortal Grace: Little Cloud, you’re lucky this time. That Nine Wheel Sacrificial Array seems to have been a simplified version. The real one is terrifying—even a Grand Ascension Dao Venerable couldn’t escape.
There was once a cultivator who used it to sacrifice an entire cultivation world, attempting ascension. In the end, heavenly lightning punishment completely obliterated him, leaving nothing behind.

Yun Xi’s heart pounded rapidly upon reading that. It appeared her survival was truly due to extraordinary luck.

Passing Clouds: Senior, City Lord Li nearly avoided heavenly retribution. He arranged the formation within a separate space, cleverly overlapping with the real Twin Peaks City to trap countless cultivators, causing massive casualties.
If not for Dian Dian’s timely advancement triggering heavenly tribulation, and City Lord Li coincidentally damaging the spatial overlapping formation, I would certainly have perished.

Drifting with Immortal Grace: Indeed, luck favored you. City Lord Li’s goal wasn’t necessarily to save you. It was Dian Dian’s advancement that disrupted the formation’s balance.

Yun Xi’s eyes widened in sudden realization:

“Senior, City Lord Li knew about the formation! He just didn’t expect his son to activate it prematurely, trying to resurrect his beloved while Li was secluded. He’d intended to use the formation later, during his own Divine Transformation, ascending discreetly into the Majestic Spirit Realm—beyond the jurisdiction of the Lofty Cosmos Realm. Done quietly enough, everyone would have blamed the demonic cultivators!”

Drifting with Immortal Grace: You might verify your theory, but I advise against it given your current cultivation. You’d only court unnecessary danger.

Passing Clouds: I understand. I won’t act rashly until my strength grows sufficiently.

This explained her lingering doubts. Cultivators rarely went to extremes against their direct descendants, especially since having children became more difficult with higher cultivation. City Lord Li saving Li Cang Yuan suggested deeper motives.

Resolving her confusion, Yun Xi prepared to leave the space, when Drifting with Immortal Grace casually remarked:

“The other Twin Peaks City is a separate space created by a Divine Transformation Cultivator. With your spiritual strength, you might be able to merge it into your wooden tablet space.”