Chapter Seventy-Seven: A Series of Interlinked Schemes

Over the past six months, Danxia Sect, a century-old school of alchemy on Mount Cangyun, had endured countless tribulations. Ever since Sect Master Lu Qingxuan’s mysterious disappearance and the fierce battle atop Qingyang Peak, Elder Mo Zhanpeng had ultimately succeeded as the new leader of the sect.

Earlier, in the main hall of Danxia Sect, the Xuan Zhen Temple had nearly brought about the sect’s annihilation when one of their disciples, in pursuit of demonic cultivation, fell into madness. The Grand Master, Daoist Cangsong, perished tragically beneath Chu Yanran’s supreme sword technique.

Now, even the Seven Absolutes Gate, cowed by the pressure of the Young Marquis, dared not covet Danxia Sect’s foundation. After so many hardships, Danxia Sect was left in ruins, all in need of restoration.

Mo Zhanpeng’s first act as sect master was to strip the traitorous elder Yang Zheng, who had defected to the Xuan Zhen Temple, of his cultivation and imprison him at the foot of the Cliff of Repentance.

Betrayal was a capital offense, yet Elder Sun, unwilling to see brothers turn upon each other, pleaded for mercy. Most disciples of Qingyang Peak thus had their cultivation abolished and were driven off.

In recent days, Zhuo Jin’er and Qi Fei were inseparable, working alongside the remaining disciples to restore the sect’s rear mountain herbal garden, which had been devastated by the Xuan Zhen Temple.

At noon, sweat-drenched disciples rested against massive stones in the rear mountain. Jiang Yifan wiped his brow, gazing sorrowfully at the ruined herbal fields. With bitter resentment, he said, “The Xuan Zhen Temple, disregarding a century of friendship, has stolen our sect’s foundation. It is unforgivable that they also destroyed our medicinal gardens.”

Most of the rare herbs in these thousand-acre gardens had been gathered by outer disciples, who braved treacherous wilds throughout the Nine Counties of Yongzhou to bring them back. Now, thanks to the Xuan Zhen Temple’s villains, all was lost, and Xu Yi and the other outer disciples were plunged into grief.

Beside them, Luo Dingshan sighed, “What century-old friendship? This world is survival of the fittest. What’s truly strange is that the Xuan Zhen Temple coveted our herbal gardens and alchemical arts—so why destroy them? Why lay so many arcane restrictions across the rear mountain?”

Qi Fei, equally bewildered by the Xuan Zhen Temple’s actions, shook his head and splashed mountain spring water over his face.

The droplets sprayed onto Zhuo Jin’er’s robes, prompting a mild annoyance. “Hey, Qi Fei, do you not know how to treat a lady with care?”

This witch of the Yin-Yang Path had successfully framed the Xuan Zhen Temple in the main hall that day, and now, unexpectedly, she clung to him. Remembering Chu Yanran’s unfathomable martial prowess, Qi Fei was astonished. His injuries had not yet healed, and Zhuo Jin’er wished for his help in her plot to kill Chu Yanran—a daunting task.

Turning these thoughts over, Qi Fei gazed at the devastated herbal gardens and asked, “Miss Zhuo, you are well-traveled and wise—might you resolve a doubt in my heart?”

Zhuo Jin’er followed his gaze and replied slowly, “You wish to know why, once the Xuan Zhen Temple controlled Qingyang Peak, they went to such lengths to destroy the Danxia Sect’s herbal garden, and why they laid so many arcane restrictions in the rear mountain?”

“Exactly so. You are indeed clever, Miss Zhuo.” Qi Fei marveled inwardly at her sharp mind—no wonder she dared plot against Chu Yanran.

Zhuo Jin’er glanced at Luo Dingshan and the others, rose, and walked toward the ruins of the herbal garden. “Come with me.”

Seeing her intent to avoid prying ears, Qi Fei immediately sensed a hidden story. He stood and said to Luo Dingshan, “Senior Brother, I’ll be back shortly. Rest for a bit, and when I return, we can resume repairing the garden together.”

A strange expression flickered across Luo Dingshan’s face. He glanced at Zhuo Jin’er’s graceful figure nearby and urged Qi Fei to hurry after her.

Qi Fei could only smile wryly. He now fully understood Sima Yan’s helplessness and sorrow on that day. With a sigh, he set off after Zhuo Jin’er.

She led Qi Fei over the pitted ruins to a secluded spot in the rear mountain. Seeing no one around, Qi Fei pressed, “Miss Zhuo, can you tell me now? Why did the Xuan Zhen Temple, seeking our alchemical arts, destroy the herbal gardens? What use are all these arcane restrictions?”

Zhuo Jin’er did not answer directly, instead asking, “Qi Fei, let me ask you—what is the most essential thing in the path of cultivation?”

Qi Fei thought: Zhuo Jin’er would not ask such a question without cause; it must relate to the Xuan Zhen Temple’s destruction. Yet how could the most essential thing in cultivation be tied to their villainy? He pondered deeply, hoping Zhuo Jin’er’s hint would dispel his doubts.

She watched with interest, chin resting on her hand, as Qi Fei wrestled with the question.

His thoughts raced. Suddenly, he remembered the words Chu Yanran spoke to Sima Yan in the main hall: “each takes what they need.” Chu Yanran, with her unfathomable martial prowess, was a powerful asset for the Seven Absolutes Gate against the Xuan Zhen Temple. But what did the Seven Absolutes Gate possess that would entice Chu Yanran to act?

The most essential thing in cultivation was the endless spiritual energy flowing through the world. The thousand-acre herbal garden had been planted with rare herbs brought by disciples from far and wide, nourished by the spiritual veins of Qingyang Peak. Over time, the herbs absorbed spiritual energy, becoming the very treasures used in sect alchemy.

Could it be that the Xuan Zhen Temple and the Seven Absolutes Gate sought not the alchemical arts or the medicines, but the spiritual vein beneath Qingyang Peak?

Qi Fei, grasping the key, asked hurriedly, “Was Chu Yanran willing to help the Seven Absolutes Gate against the Xuan Zhen Temple because they gave her the spiritual vein of Moonwatch Peak for cultivation?”

A look of satisfaction crossed Zhuo Jin’er’s face. “Indeed. Though the world’s spiritual energy is vast, it is concentrated in mountains, rivers, and lakes—nurtured by spiritual veins. The alchemy of Danxia Sect may not impress the Xuan Zhen Temple, but they used it as a cover to seize Qingyang Peak’s spiritual vein.”

Qi Fei was secretly shocked, never imagining such hidden motives. Still, more doubts lingered. He asked, “Why did Sima Yan risk joining forces with someone from the demonic path, even giving up his sect’s spiritual vein just to destroy the Xuan Zhen Temple? Even with the Xuan Zhen Temple defeated, the Seven Absolutes Gate is weakened and cannot seize Danxia Sect’s spiritual vein. If Sima Yan merely wanted self-preservation, he would not take such risks.”

“True. Sima Yan was forced by circumstances. With the Xuan Zhen Temple occupying Qingyang Peak’s spiritual vein, their power would surge. Following my advice, the Seven Absolutes Gate gave up Moonwatch Peak’s vein to Chu Yanran for her closed-door cultivation, thereby securing her assistance against the Xuan Zhen Temple.”

“Martial Master realm? Didn’t you say Chu Yanran’s cultivation was at the peak of the innate stage? How did she reach the Martial Master realm in just a few days?” Qi Fei was astounded—he himself had only barely reached the innate stage, and Zhuo Jin’er’s target was already a Martial Master.

Zhuo Jin’er laughed lightly. “Didn’t you see Chu Yanran’s abilities that day? Standing in midair, driving her sword with spiritual energy—those are the divine arts of a Martial Master at the ninth heaven.”

“Then why insist on teaming up with me to kill her? Are you, with your arcane cultivation, truly unafraid of a Martial Master’s power?” Qi Fei could not fathom the depths of Zhuo Jin’er’s abilities.

“I am certainly no match for her. But Chu Yanran’s rapid advancement, relying on Moonwatch Peak’s spiritual vein, owes much to me.”

“How so? Did you tamper with something?”

Zhuo Jin’er drew a deep breath and explained, “I came to Yongzhou for the sole purpose of killing Chu Yanran. She was secluded in the Marquis of Might’s residence, her martial cultivation at the peak of the innate stage. I knew I could not defeat her. So, to set my trap, I infiltrated Mount Cangyun, displayed my arcane abilities before Sima Yan, and he, cornered by the Xuan Zhen Temple, followed my plan: using my Yin-Yang Path techniques to frame the Xuan Zhen Temple with demonic arts. Afterwards, I triggered a disturbance in Moonwatch Peak’s spiritual vein with my secret arts. Sima Yan invited Chu Yanran, who, obsessed with martial progress, was drawn by the abundance of spiritual energy. Thus, she agreed to help him against the Xuan Zhen Temple.”

Hearing this, Qi Fei marveled at the witch’s cunning, but questioned, “You couldn’t defeat Chu Yanran before, and now, after she’s advanced to Martial Master, how can you hope to kill her?”

Zhuo Jin’er smiled coldly. “Had Chu Yanran not used Moonwatch Peak’s spiritual vein to advance, she would be difficult to kill. But now, it is no longer hard. The secret arts of the Yin-Yang Path draw out spiritual energy rapidly, depleting the vein and even leaving hidden afflictions within the unwitting. Chu Yanran, I suspect, already bears such a hidden injury.”

Qi Fei was secretly alarmed at the intricacy of Zhuo Jin’er’s schemes. But why was she so intent on killing Chu Yanran? Previously, Zhuo Jin’er had said that to deal with the Yin-Yang Path’s leader, Chu Yanran must be eliminated first. Did Chu Yanran have some connection to the sect master of the Yin-Yang Path?