Chapter 6: News of the Sect Leader's Death

In the end, no one increased the bid further. Seventy second-grade spirit stones, minus the auction house's three percent commission, left Qi Xiu with sixty-eight stones.

Qi Xiu had no interest in staying longer. As the bidding for the pill that could enhance Foundation Establishment cultivators' cultivation began, the atmosphere heated up again. With attention focused on the stage, he took the opportunity to slip out quietly.

Collecting his auction earnings, Qi Xiu quickly returned to his lodging. Early the following day, he exchanged for the Foundation Establishment Pill, leaving him with over two hundred fragmented first-grade spirit stones, which he stored in his storage bag.

The route back to the sect had been meticulously planned. Qi Xiu started along the main road, retracing his steps, then suddenly turned back to Qinghe Market. Sensing no pursuit, he switched directions, swiftly following the river until he reached a ferry terminal used by commoners. Paying the fare, he boarded a passenger boat heading to a nearby mortal city.

The boat was filled with farmers and merchants heading to the market. Farmers discussed the weather and grain prices, while merchants loudly exchanged information on city goods and market trends, creating a lively atmosphere.

Before boarding, Qi Xiu had discreetly changed into the attire of an ordinary mortal aristocrat. Upon entering the cabin, the farmers and merchants promptly stood and greeted him, offering him the best seat. Once settled, they resumed their conversations, the cabin bustling with activity again.

The Qing Yun Sect and its surrounding areas were dominated by Daoist influence. Although governed by a strict system, nobles and commoners were expected to "never interact in life or death." It wasn't unusual for commoners to have never seen their lord, leading to a lack of fear.

The boat sailed downstream for over two hours. Qi Xiu disembarked at a small town, found a carriage service, and hired the best carriage, agreeing on the fare with the driver before retreating into the carriage for the journey.

The trip would take three days and two nights. Qi Xiu frequently checked the storage bag containing the Foundation Establishment Pill to ensure the sealing talisman was intact.

Though technically a high-grade first-level pill, Foundation Establishment Pills were beyond the capabilities of Qi Refining alchemists and required spiritual herbs of a certain age, making them comparable in value to low- to mid-grade second-level artifacts.

Artifact prices varied widely. For example, the high-grade first-level flying sword from the auction fetched a higher price than some low-grade second-level flying swords, due to its desirable characteristics and possibly inflated auction prices.

"Twenty days in total. I hope Master hasn't been too anxious..."

Watching the scenery pass by, Qi Xiu reflected. The early summer plains were lush green. The carriage traveled smoothly, fields whizzing by outside the window.

They soon entered the Qing Yun Sect's territory. The sect, ruled by a cultivator at the Transformation stage, had a marquis overseeing the nobles and commoners, using mortal forces to gather cultivation materials and identify talented individuals.

To most mortals, the Qing Yun Sect was synonymous with the Qing Yun Marquisate, or more accurately—the Qing Yun Marquessate.

The marquessate was vast, with Chu Qin Sect occupying a mere corner. The land, mostly fertile plains, was richly cultivated, creating a prosperous and peaceful landscape.

"Commoners like ants, living in peace; cultivators like wolves..."

Qi Xiu attempted a poetic reflection but stumbled over the third line, abandoning his effort. "Forget it. A Daoist shouldn't imitate those Confucian scholars."

Closing the window, Qi Xiu lay down to sleep in the carriage.

Traveling day and night, the carriage drew closer to the Chu Qin Sect's mountain gate. The driver, unfamiliar with the roads past Chu Qin Town, relied on Qi Xiu for directions.

Initially planning to disguise himself as a commoner and sneak into the sect, Qi Xiu learned that several sects had camped directly outside the mountain gate, with even Foundation Establishment cultivators inside.

Unable to find a way to bypass the gate, Qi Xiu donned his red Daoist robe and brazenly approached in the carriage.

"Stop!"

As expected, the carriage was halted by a group of cultivators blocking the road. Seeing their Daoist robes, Qi Xiu felt slightly relieved.

He wasn't blindly throwing himself into danger. Sect conflicts typically maintained a level of decorum, especially among Daoists under the same more prominent sect, like Qing Yun Sect. Open killing was generally avoided.

Given the clear intent to annex Chu Qin Sect, the intruders were unlikely to kill its members openly, as cultivators were valuable resources.

No one knew he carried the Foundation Establishment Pill. If captured secretly, it might be confiscated. But walking openly on the main road, the collaborating sects wouldn't risk open robbery, maintaining their righteous facade.

Surveying the three cultivators—a man and two women—Qi Xiu noted their different robe styles, indicating they weren't from the same sect. Sensing their spiritual power was higher than his, he steadied himself and dismounted.

Ignoring the three cultivators, Qi Xiu settled accounts with the driver, sending him on his way before turning to the trio with a formal greeting. "I am Qi Xiu of Chu Qin Sect. May I ask why you are here?"

"Ha!"

The female cultivator in a white Daoist robe laughed, ignoring his question. "Do you not know?"

Her robe, embroidered with lotus flowers, marked her as a young Daoist, around sixteen or seventeen. Her fresh, youthful voice and blushing round face, along with her ample bosom, exuded a vibrant energy despite her plain looks.

"Know what?"

Qi Xiu forced an expression of bewilderment, but his age and poor acting made it overly dramatic.

The older male cultivator saw through him and without a word, activated a whisk artifact, binding Qi Xiu. "You lazy fool, playing dumb at your age!? Speak! What are you doing at Chu Qin Sect now?"

Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Qi Xiu found himself tied up like a bundle on the ground.

Forced to continue his act, he shouted, "I am a disciple of Chu Qin Sect, returning to my sect as is my right! Are you attacking another sect's member in broad daylight, intending to kill and rob me?"

"Ha! Look in a mirror. Do you look like you have anything worth robbing?" the other female cultivator sneered, stepping forward to kick him.

"We'll tell you the truth. Our sects, Liu Yun Sect, Lotus Temple, and Huang Zuo Zhan Family, have agreed to wipe out the Chu Qin Sect! Cooperate if you don't want to become a rogue cultivator!"

She kicked him again, her tone harsh.

Qi Xiu felt a surge of anger and frustration. This humiliation was unprecedented, fueling his resolve. He turned his head away, refusing to speak.

"The sect is weak and cannot protect its members; the members are incompetent and cannot revive the sect. That's why we suffer such humiliation!" Qi Xiu thought bitterly.

"Playing dead? Hmph! You…"

Before the older male cultivator could finish, a whistling arrow shot up from Chu Qin Mountain, followed by two more.

"Three signals. The old man is finally dead!" the harsh female cultivator exclaimed with delight.

The round-faced female cultivator also brightened. "Great! No more standing guard. It's like being in prison!"

The older male cultivator retracted the binding whisk, saying, "With the old man dead, let's head to Chu Qin Sect's main hall!"

He summoned a flying shuttle artifact and departed.

"Damn, he got ahead!"

With the older male gone, the two female cultivators ignored Qi Xiu, summoning their own flying artifacts—a lotus leaf and a white cloud—and quickly followed.

Freed from his bonds, Qi Xiu lay on the ground, unable to move.

"The old man is dead... the old man is dead..." The words echoed in his ears, paralyzing him.

After a while, he coughed up blood, his stiff body finally moving. With a sudden realization, he screamed, "Master!!"

Tears streaming, he scrambled up and sprinted towards Chu Qin Mountain.

Having spent his childhood and youth on Chu Qin Mountain, every blade of grass and tree was familiar to him. He soon reached the foot of the central peak.

The mountain's protective array and the central peak's illusion array were inactive. The dense spiritual energy, usually shrouded in mist, was exposed. Shouts and the clash of artifacts echoed from the peak.

Using both hands and feet, Qi Xiu climbed the peak, finding it in disarray, crowded with people. No one noticed the low-level Qi Refining cultivator.

Sounds of fighting came from the back mountain. Qi Xiu saw familiar and unfamiliar fellow disciples with the invading cultivators, hurriedly searching buildings.

"Where is Master?" Qi Xiu grabbed a familiar disciple and asked.

"Ah, you're Qi… Master is… sigh! In the west side hall." The disciple recognized Qi Xiu, answering with a guilty expression.

Qi Xiu rushed to the west side hall, finding Master Qi lying cold on the floor, his face covered with a yellow paper, lifeless.