Chapter 33: Hanging by a Thread
In the hall, jade floor tiles reflected cold light. Hall Master Zhang Guangyuan sat at the head, flanked by elders with grave expressions.
Song Yan’s gray robes were dusty, his spiritual energy fluctuating weakly.
“Outer disciple Song Yesheng…”
Zhang Guangyuan spoke slowly, his voice devoid of emotion.
“Present, Elder.”
“With all the elders gathered, you shall recount everything that happened in the secret realm, from beginning to end.”
Xu Ziqing had already returned from Silent Valley with Qin Ying and Lu Ziye upon receiving the news.
His expression was calm as he added, “In the secret realm, Wang Xi of the Profound Abyss Sect died, and two disciples of the Lingfu Sect perished.”
“All of our Eastern Abyss Sect disciples involved survived.”
“Shao Sichao had already returned to the sect beforehand, but knew nothing of what occurred in the secret realm.”
“You must tell us everything you saw and heard, truthfully.”
“Otherwise, when the Profound Abyss Sect elders come demanding answers, we won’t be able to protect you.”
Xu Ziqing’s early return would certainly attract attention. It was only a matter of time before news of Song Yan’s survival leaked.
“Yes.”
Song Yan paused slightly, his thoughts shifting.
He had originally believed the sect wouldn’t risk offending the Profound Abyss Sect over an insignificant outer disciple like himself.
But now it seemed the situation was different than expected.
Perhaps it was because the Eastern Abyss Sect was already destitute and unwilling to concede resources over minor matters?
Gritting his teeth, he decided to tell a half-truth about his life-and-death struggle with Wang Xi.
Song Yan lowered his eyes.
He slowly recounted the Profound Abyss Sect’s plot, Wang Xi’s pursuit, Wan Songran’s ambush, and their final desperate battle, omitting the secrets of the Taotaili and the Sword Dao seed.
With slight embellishment, in his version, Wang Xi’s primary target had been Wan Songran of the Lingfu Sect, and he himself had become a minor figure in the battle that killed Wang Xi.
“Wan Songran of the Lingfu Sect is a disciple of the Wan family. Though his cultivation is only at the sixth level of Qi Refining, he possesses a secret technique that can temporarily boost his combat power.”
“He joined forces with this disciple, and together we barely managed to slay Wang Xi.”
At the end, he coughed lightly, his voice weak: “To protect myself, I had no choice but to forcibly channel my spiritual energy, damaging my foundation. I was also gravely injured by Wang Xi, and my cultivation… has fallen to the first level of Qi Refining.”
“Wan Songran originally wanted to kill me to silence me, but he was also heavily injured at the time, exhausted. So we both retreated and went our separate ways.”
“As for how he died, this disciple does not know.”
“…”
The hall fell into an eerie silence.
The elders exchanged glances, their expressions varied.
“Hmph!” An elder Song Yan had never seen before snorted angrily, breaking the silence, and immediately cursed: “The Profound Abyss Sect—these bastards born of mothers who raised them without care!”
“Elder Luo! Watch your words.”
Zhang Guangyuan stopped Elder Luo Haonan’s outburst.
“That Wang Xi was at the eighth level of Qi Refining. As you say, he also had powerful magical artifacts and talismans. Killing you should have been effortless…”
Yang Wenxuan’s gaze was piercing: “How did you assist the Wan family disciple in slaying Wang Xi?”
Song Yan’s heart tightened, but he remained composed.
“This disciple did not contribute much, only assisted from the side.”
“Moreover, this disciple’s divine sense is slightly stronger than average. Before losing my cultivation, I had some insight into a few techniques.”
Now that he had “lost all his cultivation,” what had happened before was his word alone.
This was one advantage of being an unimportant outer disciple.
“Divine sense…”
Yang Wenxuan pondered, but Xu Ziqing spoke.
“Indeed. Although outer disciple Song Yesheng’s spiritual root talent is ordinary, his divine sense is exceptional. He has also shown promise in alchemy.”
Song Yan wondered how this elder knew these details, but having someone speak in his favor at this moment, he couldn’t be happier.
“Elder Zhang!”
An disciple outside the hall requested an audience.
“Shen Yu, Elder of External Affairs of the Profound Abyss Sect, along with Executive Elders Zheng Xinzhi and Chang Ziyi, have arrived with several disciples!”
Zhang Guangyuan and Xu Ziqing exchanged a glance.
“They’ve come quickly indeed…”
…
Zhang Guangyuan and several elders left Dragon Head Peak, flying to the sect entrance’s Arrival Platform.
Many disciples and executives had gathered nearby, watching from afar.
Zhang Guangyuan said in a clear voice: “Elder Shen, it’s been a while…”
Shen Yu raised a hand, cutting him off. “Elder Zhang, no need for pleasantries. We’ve come today only to seek an explanation.”
Shen Yu was in a foul mood.
As the Profound Abyss Sect’s Elder of External Affairs, for years, which sect hadn’t been at their mercy?
This plan had actually nothing to do with the Profound Abyss Sect—it was purely his own idea to seize a spirit vein from another sect.
As the Profound Abyss Sect’s Elder of External Affairs, this was common knowledge.
Now, after all this effort, before he could extract any benefits from the two sects, one of his own disciples had died first.
He couldn’t understand how that trash Wang Xi had died in the secret realm.
“Our disciple Wang Xi perished, and two disciples of the Lingfu Sect also fell in the secret realm. Yet your two Eastern Abyss Sect disciples survived unharmed.”
Xu Ziqing smiled: “The path of cultivation is inherently unpredictable. When one dies, it’s because their strength was insufficient. They can’t blame others, can they?”
“…”
“Of course. However…”
“A surviving disciple of the Lingfu Sect testified that they saw Eastern Abyss Sect disciple Song Yesheng acting suspiciously in the secret realm, secretly following our disciple Wang Xi.”
“Wang Xi was at the eighth level of Qi Refining. If he had been cautious, he would have been safe…”
“Therefore, we suspect that Wang Xi’s death may be related to Song Yesheng!”
“If you truly have a clear conscience, why not bring him out for a face-to-face confrontation?”
Song Yan slowly walked out from the crowd, bowing to the Profound Abyss Sect elders hovering in the air.
He was about to speak when Xu Ziqing interrupted.
“We have already questioned him and understand the situation in the secret realm.”
Song Yan was surprised, wondering what medicine this Elder Xu was brewing.
Xu Ziqing wore a grief-stricken expression: “Who could have known there would be several late-stage first-tier demonic beasts in the secret realm?”
“Nephew Wang Xi, seeing injustice, fought alone against multiple beasts to cover the escape of Song Yesheng and Wan Songran. He fought fiercely but ultimately exhausted his strength and fell.”
“Rest assured, Elder Shen, we of the Eastern Abyss Sect will always remember Nephew Wang Xi’s righteous sacrifice!”
This…
Song Yan was stunned, momentarily speechless.
“Our disciple Song Yesheng was injured by a demonic beast during the struggle. Though he escaped by luck, he has now lost all his cultivation and can no longer tread the path of immortality.”
“…”
Song Yan said nothing, only mourned silently.
He thought to himself that the story he had fabricated was still too conservative.
“Nonsense!”
“That secret realm is small and shallow—where would late-stage first-tier demonic beasts come from?!”
“Elder Shen, you didn’t enter the secret realm. How can you make such a claim?”
Xu Ziqing countered immediately.
“Could it be that you already knew the situation inside the secret realm?”
Shen Yu was taken aback, his expression darkening.
Sometimes he wondered if he could return to the sect, request a few Golden Core elders to break seclusion, and swiftly destroy the Eastern Abyss Sect.
Such ungrateful small sects were truly infuriating.
“I won’t waste more words with you. Have that Song brat hand over his Qiankun bag. If Wang Xi’s belongings aren’t inside, then there’s no issue.”
“Otherwise… hmph.”
Behind him, another Profound Abyss Sect elder stepped slightly forward.
“Going too far!” Xu Ziqing laughed without anger: “On the path of cultivation, defying heaven—who doesn’t have their own secret treasures and spirit items?”
“You want our disciple to let you inspect his Qiankun bag?”
“Does the Profound Abyss Sect think our Eastern Abyss Sect can be bullied?!”
“Hah…”
Shen Yu’s spiritual energy surged around him, no longer willing to engage with the Eastern Abyss Sect crowd. His spiritual pressure erupted.
“So… what if we do?”
Bang!
Three waves of overwhelming spiritual pressure exploded simultaneously. The might of late Foundation Establishment swept forth like a collapsing mountain, bearing down directly on Song Yan.
“Elder Shen, are you going to start a fight inside our Eastern Abyss Sect?”
Xu Ziqing swept his sleeve, shielding Song Yan behind him.
For some reason, Shen Yu saw not a trace of worry or fear in his expression.
Xu Ziqing’s lips even curved into a feverish smile.
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(End of Chapter)