Chapter 122: The Righteous Alliance, Ancient Cultivator Emerges from Seclusion

The Righteous Alliance is currently the most powerful force in the Xuan Realm, aside from the Qidaxian Sect.

It governs three major continents, each as vast as the Xiang Jianzong's Jianzhou.

Wuzhou is the most resource-rich continent under the Righteous Alliance's rule.

In ancient times, this land once hosted powerful sects such as the Wanfa Dao Sect, the Damao Dao Gate, and the Tingyu Pavilion, all of which have since been fully absorbed into the Righteous Alliance.

The founders of these three sects were also the original members of the Righteous Alliance's highest council.

Qingqiu City, under Wuzhou's jurisdiction and formerly the headquarters of the Damao Dao Gate, is one of the most developed cities in Wuzhou, far larger than Xuanjian City, and its mayor is himself a Fanxu grand cultivator.

Because it was once the Damao Dao Gate's headquarters, former Damao Dao Gate Hedao experts occasionally return here.

This also makes Qingqiu City one of the easiest places within the Righteous Alliance to encounter opportunities.

At this moment, inside a beverage shop in the city.

"The sword cultivators stationed in the Ancient Cultivator Response Division have caused no small amount of trouble these past years, leaving the Righteous Alliance deeply exasperated."

By a window seat, Xiang Yuanjun sat across from Xu Xing, explaining the current situation within the Righteous Alliance.

Because she had spent years traveling the continent, she was well-informed about the conditions of all major forces in the Central Continent.

"I've seen."

In Xu Xing's eyes, light and shadow flowed, capturing everything that had ever occurred in the city since its founding.

This was no longer the time when he had just emerged from seclusion, still harboring a playful mood—he naturally chose the fastest way to gather information.

But he could only see this far; beyond this, he could not.

The "past" belongs to the domain of the Ancients—the older the event, the harder it is to glimpse—and the Righteous Alliance has also erected protections against such intrusion.

Forcing a glimpse was not impossible, but it might trigger something, which would contradict his goal of traveling discreetly.

Besides, he had only just entered the Righteous Alliance's territory; there was no need to rush.

The light and shadow in his eyes faded, and Xu Xing sighed: "The factional struggles within the Righteous Alliance are even more severe than I imagined."

"Indeed, things were somewhat better when Yuan was still alive."

Back then, whether in reputation or strength, Yuan was unquestionably the number one figure in the Righteous Alliance, and he kept everyone in check, preventing any ulterior motives.

But now…

A coalition formed by multiple factions, once stripped of its supreme power, cannot reasonably be expected to remain united. "And the current Hedao junior in charge of the Ancient Cultivator Response Division is an unbendingly upright man—he draws his sword at every injustice he encounters."

Factional struggles inevitably involve some underhanded tactics.

But encountering someone who won't tolerate even a speck of dirt—especially if that someone is a powerful Hedao sword cultivator—makes it even more infuriating.

"So the highest council has repeatedly petitioned the Xiang Jianzong to replace this Hedao sword cultivator, but all requests were refused."

"Correct." Xu Xing nodded slightly, then turned his gaze outward. "Let's see when they'll realize it—and how they'll handle it."

This place was deliberately chosen by the two of them, precisely to observe how the Xiang Jianzong's junior handles crisis situations.

After all, there is also an Ancient Cultivator who has just emerged from seclusion here.

…………

In a corner of Qingqiu City, a man carrying a large saber maintained a concealment technique, carefully observing this unfamiliar world.

His appearance was ordinary, but the grotesque scar across his face lent him a fierce, ruthless aura.

Watching the crowds passing by, he felt a deep sense of confusion.

"Where is the sect? How has everything changed like this?"

His name was Mo Ruyan, a Fanxu saber cultivator of the Damao Dao Gate, who, a thousand years ago, secluded himself in a hidden location to attempt advancement to Hedao.

As expected, he failed.

He spent many more years healing his injuries, and upon finally recovering and emerging, he found the entire world had changed.

The sect was gone, replaced by a vast city filled with unfamiliar structures.

The Dao calamity he had triggered during his Hedao attempt destroyed his sect communication artifact; he could only use a special sect technique to send a message to his sect—but received no reply. Helpless, he quietly infiltrated the massive city.

But what he saw shocked him further: every person he encountered, except for young children, possessed some level of cultivation.

"Has the sect been wiped out?!" Mo Ruyan couldn't help but think this.

"Could it have been an Xian Sect that did this?"

In his memory, only an Xian Sect possessed the power to annihilate the Damao Dao Gate and cultivate so many cultivators.

"I'll observe further."

Maintaining his concealment technique, Mo Ruyan stepped onto the street.

The vehicles moving along the road, the laughing pedestrians, and the women dressed in revealing clothing—her bare, dazzling thighs left him even more silent.

"..."

From the eastern edge of Qingqiu City to the western edge, he gathered plenty of information, and no one noticed him.

A Fanxu cultivator concealing his presence and moving quietly was truly difficult to detect.

"This place is under the rule of an organization called the Righteous Alliance—the sect hasn't been wiped out, but has instead joined this so-called Righteous Alliance."

It seemed the sect hadn't been destroyed, but absorbed…

"Damn it!"

In Mo Ruyan's eyes, the sect being absorbed was no different from being annihilated! His junior sisters, his master, his senior brothers, and the sect master—they must all be dead!

Boom! He slammed his fist into the wall, leaving a shallow fist-shaped dent. Though furious, he still retained his reason.

He needed to learn the full details first, then leave this place as soon as possible!

The next instant, his figure flashed—he shot forward at high speed, avoiding flight into the sky to prevent detection.

Mo Ruyan moved swiftly through the city like a startled swan; passersby who glimpsed him felt only a gentle breeze brush past.

Yet he failed to notice that a mana-detection device at the intersection had registered an anomaly due to his high-speed movement.

This device had even caught Xu Xing off guard—Mo Ruyan naturally could not avoid it either.

Soon, he locked onto a Nascent Soul–stage teacher leaving school for home.

The female teacher wore a white shirt and a tight skirt, black silk stockings on her legs, and high heels.

Her curves were exquisite, her allure captivating.

"Hmph! Clearly not a respectable person!" Mo Mo Bu Yu sneered inwardly.

The Nascent Soul–stage teacher felt darkness flood her vision; before she could even react, she lost consciousness.

A thread of spiritual soul energy probed into her mind sea, beginning soul-searching immediately.

The information in the female teacher's mind was instantly seized by him.

The Great Transformation Era, the Holy Emperor Abyss, the founding of the True Path Alliance, the mass relocation of the Desert Blade Gate, the current mayor of Qingqiu City.

The founder of the Desert Blade Gate was one of the original councilors of the True Path Alliance's Supreme Council; today, the Desert Blade Gate holds pivotal influence within the True Path Alliance—Principal Zhenkuai is truly swift…

Hmm? There seem to be some messy, irrelevant things mixed in.

But one thing was undeniable—he had misunderstood something.

The information that followed made his face turn pale.

The Ancient Cultivator Response Division, specifically tasked with interfacing with newly emerged Ancient Cultivators and eliminating rogue Ancient Cultivators!

Within the True Path Alliance's territory, the Xiang Jianzong's cultivators oversee the Ancient Cultivator Response Division.

Xiang Jianzong!

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(End of chapter)