Chapter 86

Chapter 86: Liu Xuan Goes Missing, Essence Condensation Stage Results

On the way back, Zhao Chun walked beside Zheng Chen Qing. They didn’t encounter another Ren Yang Sect disciple.

“Senior Brother, you weren’t attacked?”

By reputation alone, Zheng Chen Qing should have been a far more tempting target than she was. If the Ren Yang Sect were striking at Ling Zhen Sect disciples, he should have been first on their list.

Zheng Chen Qing’s expression stayed heavy as he shook his head. “No.”

“Then we’ll ask the others when we return. If no one else was attacked either, we’ll know he acted alone.”

Zhao Chun had only begun to reveal her strength to outsiders when she debated the Dao with the Chang Yuan Sect. If the Ren Yang Sect truly intended to eliminate her, they would have learned of it from the sects watching that day.

“I’m inclined to believe it was his own decision,” Zheng Chen Qing said in a low voice. “The Ren Yang Sect is cautious. Without absolute certainty, they won’t strike. Even though you’re only at Qi Refining Stage, if they wanted to guarantee success, they would have sent a late Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator—someone who could make it foolproof.

“From what you described, that man had only just entered the Foundation Establishment Stage and hadn’t even learned Incarnation Art. The Ren Yang Sect would never send someone with such an unstable foundation to attack an Entry Realm sword cultivator whose Qi Refining Stage cultivation is complete.”

Zhao Chun agreed. The Ren Yang Sect had brought 10 late Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators this time. If she had run into any one of them today, she would have died without the slightest hope of turning the tables.

As they spoke, she learned something else: Zheng Chen Qing had also carried a spiritual item and, within his secluded cave, had already built his Spiritual Foundation. He had completed his breakthrough.

They had entered the sect together. Now he had stepped into the Foundation Establishment Stage, while she was approaching it. Yet the spirit-testing scene from the day they joined still felt painfully recent, like something from yesterday.

Jiang Yun had once mentioned that Ling Zhen Sect disciples had been dying outside the sect. Zheng Chen Qing filled in the details—and the trail stretched back years, to not long after they had first entered.

At the beginning, the victims were low-level Outer Sect Qi Refining Stage cultivators. As time passed and the disciples grew stronger, the deaths rose with them. By the time the sect began patrolling, even Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators were being killed, and elders’ Qi Refining Stage disciples were repeatedly targeted.

They called it death, but there were no bodies. Only the life candles kept within the sect extinguished—an unmistakable sign that a cultivator’s life and Dao had ended.

After patrols were deployed, the situation improved. When the sect ordered a deeper investigation, they finally found traces of gu on the few corpses they could recover. Only then did the Ren Yang Sect’s conspiracy begin to show its face.

“To dare act like that inside our territory,” Zheng Chen Qing said, his voice tight with restrained fury. “They truly have no fear.”

He knew more than most, because he was Junior Brother to Qiu Silhouette. He had access to the inner story—and with so many fellow disciples harmed, grief and rage burned all the hotter.

Zhao Chun sighed, doubt stirring. The Ren Yang Sect was careful by nature. Why would they leave bodies behind to be found, with traces of gu still on them? It felt wrong—like something deeper was hiding underneath.

She set that aside. In her hand was a fragment of metal, half of a small sphere.

When Chen Song Shi had thrown that object earlier, it had forced her to give ground and given him the chance to swallow the life gu. After his self-destruction, she had picked up this piece from the ground. It looked unsettlingly similar to something crafted by Chang Hui Gate—but she didn’t dare confirm it on her own.

Among those she knew, Liu Xuan was the most well-informed. Better to put it in her hands and ask her judgment before reporting upward.

When they returned to the Ling Zhen Sect lodgings, the room was already full. The disciples hurried to pull them inside and seat them.

At a glance, Du Fan Zhi sat with his brows knotted, fists clenched. Beside him, Jiang Yun’s face was pale, his breathing unsteady—injured.

“Senior Brother Du—what happened?” Zheng Chen Qing asked, alarm cutting through his composure.

Du Fan Zhi’s jaw tightened. “Three days ago, Senior Brother Jiang was attacked on his way back from the Martial Arena. Three Ren Yang Sect Foundation Establishment Stage disciples surrounded him. He killed one to break through, but he barely escaped. He was badly wounded—only today has he recovered enough to sit up.”

Worry darkened his eyes further. “And from what those Ren Yang disciples said… others went after Senior Sister Liu. She still hasn’t returned.”

“Senior Brother Jiang and Senior Sister Liu were attacked too,” Zheng Chen Qing said.

“Too?” Du Fan Zhi snapped his head up.

Zheng Chen Qing nodded. “Junior Sister Zhao Chun ran into a Ren Yang disciple on her way back as well. He was only early Foundation Establishment Stage, and he fell to her sword. But when we tried to capture him alive, he triggered his life gu and blew himself apart.”

“A close call… a close call…” Du Fan Zhi muttered, shaken. He was clearly stunned that Zhao Chun had defeated a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, but with Liu Xuan missing, there was no time to dwell on it.

Zhao Chun didn’t hesitate. “Right now, we find Senior Sister Liu. The Ren Yang Sect is watching our people. Anyone traveling alone is asking to die. We have to move in groups so we can cover each other.”

“Agreed.” Du Fan Zhi forced himself into calm. “The Qi Refining Stage disciples and Junior Brother Zheng stay here and wait for the elders. The late Foundation Establishment Stage disciples will go—eight of us, split into two teams. Senior Brother Jiang is injured and stays as well. If Senior Sister Liu hasn’t returned by sunset, we go out together and search.”

Du Fan Zhi was Elder Li Shu’s disciple, and he had assisted with the Hundred Sects Assembly from the side. In strength, he was second only to Liu Xuan and Jiang Yun. No one questioned his judgment.

The plan was set. All that remained was waiting—and waiting was torture.

Dusk deepened. No one appeared.

When the sun had sunk halfway behind the mountains and Du Fan Zhi rose at last, ready to go search, a slender figure approached from outside.

“Senior Sister Liu?” he called, hope tugging at his voice.

The figure drew nearer—and it wasn’t anyone they recognized.

She wore a black robe threaded with silver patterns. Her features were refined like a portrait, her posture graceful. Smiling brightly, she stepped into the doorway and offered congratulations. “Congratulations to Elder Qiu of your sect for taking third place in Skyrise Duel Meet, and to Elder Huo for taking 157th!”

Skyrise Duel Meet was the elegant name for the Essence Condensation Stage matches. Qiu Silhouette had crushed countless opponents to seize third—an astonishing result.

The messenger disciple clearly expected cheers. Instead, the faces in the room twisted into something complicated, joy and dread tangled together.

She clasped her hands again. “Skyrise Duel Meet has ended. Your sect’s Essence Condensation Stage elders will return soon. I still have other sects to notify, so I’ll take my leave!”

Du Fan Zhi returned the salute and saw her out. After she left, a Foundation Establishment Stage disciple spoke, voice strained. “Senior Brother Du, if the elders are returning soon, this is too serious for us to handle alone. Better to report it and let the elders decide than rush out blindly.”

It made sense. Du Fan Zhi had everyone sit and wait again.

By the time the moon climbed high, three elders finally descended from the sky.