Translator: CinderTL
Endure for a moment, and the winds will calm.
Take a step back, and the seas will widen.
Li Chunjun did not distrust Qin Zhou.
He simply felt that he couldn't follow someone else's arrangements.
Being attacked within the territory of the Chiyang Sword Sect, Qin Zhou's first thought was to seek refuge in the nearest Yandang Mountain. But wouldn't the higher-ups of the Chiyang Sword Sect think of that as well?
If they did, wouldn't they set up an ambush on the way to Yandang Mountain?
Or perhaps, they might simply wait outside Yandang Mountain, resting while preparing for their arrival.
After all, even though Yandang Mountain belonged to the Chiyang Sword Sect, it had been "purchased" by the Taixu Sword Sect.
The Chiyang Sword Sect had plenty of ways to deceive the Taixu Sword Sect and set up traps outside Yandang Mountain, waiting for them to walk right into the net.
However, he didn't share this speculation with Qin Zhou.
On one hand, it was just a guess, with no evidence.
On the other hand...
Qin Zhou didn't know, and perhaps keeping it hidden would yield better results.
So, when he used the Minor Teleportation Talisman, he didn't teleport toward Yandang Mountain.
Instead, he headed toward the direction of the Great Shang Dynasty, within the Chiyang Sword Sect's territory.
According to Qin Zhou, he had already requested aid from the Taixu Sword Sect's leader. If he, as the future Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy, was truly that important, the Taixu Sword Sect would soon take action.
As long as they patiently hid for a few hours, or at most a day, and waited for the situation to become clear, they could rest easy.
All he needed to do was maintain a state of rapid movement, ensuring no one could detect him.
Even someone as strong as a Core Formation cultivator couldn't constantly monitor every movement within a radius of several thousand miles.
Especially when 99% of the surveillance in the area had already been dismantled.
With the help of the Void Jade, which could conceal his aura, he went against expectations, avoiding the areas that were likely being heavily searched. Hiding for a few hours wasn't impossible.
...
Indeed, that's exactly what happened.
Li Chunjun's move caught everyone off guard.
After Qin Zhou had been entangled with Bai Yang, Tian Jian, Yan Wuya, and others for nearly half an hour, spanning thousands of miles, Elder Tian Jian, who specialized in eye techniques, finally managed to detect Qin Zhou's Protective Qi Aura amidst the scattered energy fluctuations of their clash.
"Something's wrong! He's gone! That Flaming Phoenix Sword Cultivator is gone!" Elder Tian Jian exclaimed in a low voice.
Hearing this, the other Elders were shocked.
One experienced Elder immediately said, "A Minor Teleportation Talisman!"
A talisman crafted by a Void Refining Great Power.
Only those who had made significant contributions to the sect could be granted such a treasure.
But Qin Zhou hailed from the Flaming Phoenix Peak, one of the Six Inheritance Peaks directly under the Yan Huang Immortal. Moreover, he had come to search for the Flaming Phoenix Sword Cultivator, so it wasn't surprising that he carried a Minor Teleportation Talisman.
However, even though they guessed that Li Chunjun had used the Minor Teleportation Talisman to escape, the Elders quickly regained their composure, acting as if nothing had happened, and continued their pursuit of Qin Zhou.
This pursuit lasted for over an hour.
Yandang Mountain was already within sight.
But Elder Tian Jian still hadn't received any news.
"What's going on?" Bai Yang couldn't help but ask.
"I asked," Elder Tian Jian replied, his expression grim. "They didn't catch him."
"What do you mean? Li Chunjun didn't return to Yandang Mountain?" Yan Wuya couldn't help but inquire.
"There are two possibilities!" Elder Tian Jian said gravely. "First, there might be more than one Core Formation cultivator from the Taixu Sword Sect in contact with this Flaming Phoenix Sword Cultivator. Or perhaps, by coincidence, a Core Formation cultivator from the Taixu Sword Sect was traveling within the Chiyang Sword Sect's territory. That Core Formation cultivator and Qin Zhou might have secretly worked together to bring the Flaming Phoenix Sword Cultivator back to the Taixu Sword Sect."
He paused, then continued, "Second, the Flaming Phoenix Sword Cultivator might possess a treasure that conceals his aura, allowing him to bypass those fools and sneak into Yandang Mountain."
Hearing Elder Tian Jian's words, the other Elders' expressions turned extremely unpleasant.
Had Li Chunjun really escaped?
Not long ago, they had essentially thoroughly offended this Flaming Phoenix Sword Cultivator. If he managed to reach the Taixu Sword Sect and receive training at the level of a Sword Prodigy...
"We must force him to reveal himself!" Elder Tian Jian said with a ruthless look in his eyes.
He turned to Bai Yang, "Were the things you mentioned earlier about ordinary people true?"
"That much is true, but I doubt it will have any effect other than deepening his hatred for our Chiyang Sword Sect," Bai Yang replied gravely.
Elder Tian Jian, Elder Yan Wuya, and the others didn't doubt this.
They had briefly reviewed Li Chunjun's profile.
Although they hadn't yet figured out how he had become an Innate Martial Master, his ruthless decisiveness made it clear that he was not the type to be threatened.
Even if they slaughtered the entire Guangzhou City, it would only make his future retaliation against them more brutal.
"Regardless, we must try. Otherwise, within a few decades, this traitor will become a major threat to us and our Chiyang Sword Sect!" Elder Tian Jian declared.
Bai Yang nodded, "My disciples have already gone over there..."
Before he could finish, he seemed to receive some news, pausing for a moment.
Then, a hint of fear flashed in his eyes. "The Sect Leader has sent word! The Taixu Sword Sect's leader, Huan Ming, has personally led a large group of cultivators into our Chiyang Sword Sect's territory! All Elders not currently on duty must head to the Dragon Spring Mountain Fortress in the eastern region to discuss countermeasures!"
"The Taixu Sword Sect!? Didn't they already take him!? How dare they invade our Chiyang Sword Sect's territory!? This is beyond insulting! Do they not hold our Chiyang Sword Sect in the slightest regard!?" Yan Wuya roared in anger.
"Taking advantage of the situation and pushing their luck—haven't they done this enough? Yandang Mountain is the perfect example! Clearly a mineral deposit within our Chiyang Sword Sect's territory, yet they forcibly occupied it! How tyrannical!?" Elder Tian Jian said coldly. "But this time, we absolutely cannot tolerate it any longer! A talent born and raised in our Chiyang Sword Sect—whether he lives or dies, it should be up to us to decide! Even if he rots in our pot, what does it have to do with the Taixu Sword Sect? Yet they not only barged into our Chiyang Sword Sect and took him away, but they also dare to invade our territory! This has crossed the bottom line of our Chiyang Sword Sect's interests on Blue Star! If we don't strike back with thunderous force, we might as well withdraw from this small realm!"
"The Sect Leader shares this sentiment. This matter concerns our bottom line, and we absolutely cannot allow the Taixu Sword Sect to bully us with their might again. That's why he's ordered all available Elders to head over as soon as possible," Elder Bai Yang said. "He has already contacted the other sects... Blue Star is not the Taixu Sword Sect's to rule alone."
"Let's go!"
"I want to see how the Taixu Sword Sect plans to play this act!"
"Do they really think we're afraid of them!?"
One by one, the Elders, with fierce expressions, abandoned the nearby Yandang Mountain and rushed toward the Dragon Spring Fortress.
...
The Taixu Sword Sect occupied a third of the landmass and bordered the Chiyang Sword Sect, sharing an extremely long boundary line.
Apart from Great Chu, both Great Shang and Great Li were nearly half-bordered by the Taixu Sword Sect.
For instance, Guangzhou City, where Li Chunjun currently was, lay to the south. Beyond Xuanzhou and crossing Lake Province, it was less than a thousand miles to reach East Province, one of the nine regions under the Taixu Sword Sect's jurisdiction.
For Li Chunjun, who had already learned to drive, this distance was just a few hours' journey.
He had already tested this.
After using the Minor Teleportation Talisman to cover a thousand miles into Great Shang, the remaining two thousand or so miles were traversed in a luxury car he "borrowed" from a reckless young speedster, taking him just over ten hours to arrive.
...
Outside the Guangzhou City garrison, Li Chunjun, wearing the Void Jade, approached silently.
At this point, he had made some slight disguises, making himself appear more mature.
He was well aware of what his return to Guangzhou City meant.
But...
He was equally aware of the consequences if he didn't return to Guangzhou City.
To the lofty cultivators, ordinary people were like weeds, easily eradicated.
A single bad mood could lead to the downfall of countless mortals.
They cared not whether that mortal was someone's child, the pillar of a family, or a father to a child.
But when killing mortals might provoke a vengeful and infinitely potential cultivator, leading to their own deaths, they would consider the consequences.
The weak cry out in vain, unheard.
The strong whisper softly, shaking the world.
Some pains can only be understood through personal experience.
Currently, he couldn't kill Bai Yang.
But killing the disciples who carried out his orders would at least serve as some form of retribution.
And it would also buy him some time.
Following his perception of the flow of Primal Qi in the surroundings, he arrived at one of the buildings.
However, as he approached the structure, he seemed to sense something.
He crouched beside a wall, carefully examining it.
A formation.
Though Li Chunjun didn't understand formations, his keen perception and judgment of Qi flow allowed him to roughly determine that this formation had alert and trapping functions.
After a moment of thought, he quickly turned his attention to the Storage Bracelet Qin Zhou had given him.
Inside were various miscellaneous items.
Soon, a talisman appeared in his hand.
"Third-grade, low-tier Restriction-less Talisman."
It could suppress formations and neutralize restrictions.
He didn't know the level of this formation, but for a city garrison...
A second-grade formation would be the limit.
Activating the talisman, a circle of flowing light enveloped his body.
He took a step forward, entering the courtyard.
As soon as he crossed the formation, he heard the clamor of voices inside.
There were quite a few people, perhaps over a dozen.
Li Chunjun moved closer, already catching snippets of the conversation.
"Senior Brother Xing, don't worry. Since Senior Brother Xing has come down the mountain, I will ensure you feel at home and thoroughly satisfied."
"Haha, Senior Brother Chang hasn't been back for two years either. As the host, I should do my part. Guangzhou City has gained quite a few interesting things in the past two years."
"Play as much as you want, but don't forget the main task. I want to see the list by tomorrow morning! Before nightfall, everyone on the list must be captured. As for how to handle them... we'll wait for further orders. Be careful not to alert them."
"Don't worry, even if it's hundreds of people, or even thousands, we have plenty of ways to make them disappear without a trace. Times have changed. With our crackdown, those who cause trouble under the guise of heroism have been mostly eliminated. We can do as we please, very conveniently."
"Come, come, Senior Brother Xing, try this. Though it's mundane, it has its own charm."
From the chatter, it was clear this was quite the welcoming feast.
Li Chunjun took out another talisman.
A third-grade, mid-tier Law Suppression Talisman.
It had a powerful effect on the circulation of Mana, causing it to stagnate and be sealed.
Without further ado, he stepped forward and pushed open the door.
Without a word, as more than half of the dozen or so people in the room turned their gazes toward him, the ripples from the Law Suppression Talisman spread out, instantly enveloping every corner of the room.
(End of the Chapter)
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