Chapter 161: True Disaster 160 – 52K

Although Yao Qing now feels very complicated emotions toward her junior brother, her love for him has never changed, since she watched him grow up.

However, this love is clearly not the kind of love that Yao Qing's junior brother wants.

Although Yao Qing had previously promised Li Tianxuan that she would marry him after he grew up, after meeting Wang Wu, Yao Qing finally realized something, namely:

The love she has for junior brother Li Tianxuan is not romantic love, but familial affection.

However, this love is now gradually fading, not because of Wang Wu, but due to the personality change in Li Tianxuan after Yao Qing devoted herself to Wang Wu.

He began to become irritable and quick‑tempered.

But that is not the issue; the biggest problem is that he is no longer as kind as before.

He has become radical, vindictive, and indifferent toward anyone and anything.

If it were only these, it wouldn't be a problem, but this junior brother is clearly drifting farther from the image Yao Qing remembers.

He is no longer kind, not even gentle and refined.

It is not only Yao Qing; Master Li Shangxuan is also very dissatisfied with this disciple and is even considering transferring Li Tianxuan to his senior brother's tutelage.

The Sword Palace has two masters, one is Li Shangxuan, the other is his senior brother. Unlike Li Shangxuan, his senior brother is not so particular.

Through later education, even a naturally brutal person can become good; Li Shangxuan originally thought he had succeeded.

Unfortunately, when certain matters arise, Li Tianxuan's brutal nature still awakens.

After that day, the junior brother never met Yao Qing again. Moreover, Yao Qing had already stopped actively seeking him, so she did not worry about it.

Until other disciples in the Sword Palace told Yao Qing that Li Tianxuan was in the Deadly Closure, she suddenly began to refocus on her junior brother.

It was not concern, but worry.

After all, the Deadly Closure, as the name implies, means one does not emerge without breaking through the realm.

There's nothing wrong with that, but given the junior brother's current mindset, even a Deadly Closure within the sect carries a high chance of danger.

She also approached her master, but his attitude was indeed very indifferent.

"This is Tianxuan's choice; you should not interfere with him."

"B‑But…"

Seeing the worry on his disciple's face, Li Shangxuan sighed, "I know you worry about your junior brother, after all you watched him grow up; he is like a younger brother to you."

"But you also know his feelings toward you are not the same as yours toward him."

"The relationship between you and your lover greatly stimulates him, so there's no need to deliberately be with your lover in front of him; better to keep some distance."

"B‑But I didn't do it on purpose, Master. That day I was out strolling with Wu Lang, and he suddenly appeared." Yao Qing explained.

"The Qingping Sect isn't much to wander around; it's best not to bring your lover here to loiter, after all this place is so small." Li Shangxuan laughed, rubbing his disciple's head.

Li Tianxuan's name was also given by Li Shangxuan; saying he has no feelings for this young disciple is impossible, since he, like Yao Qing, also watched the other grow up.

If Yao Qing looks at Li Tianxuan as if he were a brother, he looks at Li Tianxuan as if he were a son.

However, Li Tianxuan's current behavior and change make Yao Qing feel he is becoming increasingly unfamiliar, and she likewise feels this young disciple is growing farther away.

The nearly ten‑year master‑disciple bond does not fade easily, but Li Shangxuan has already begun trying to do so.

If ten years fails, then twenty; if twenty fails, then a hundred.

He has ample time; if Li Tianxuan continues unchanged and refuses to change, their relationship will eventually become that of strangers as time passes.

"Master, master! Something's happened!"

At that moment, a panicked disciple's voice echoed from within the Sword Palace; Li Shangxuan and Yao Qing both abruptly turned their gazes to the doorway, their hearts suddenly jolted.

"Is it… is it about Xuan'er…"

"No, it's not." The entering disciple shook his head sharply, "Yes, it's the Seventh Peak Elder's side, that side."

"Elder Yi Xuan… he… he failed his breakthrough!!!"

The moment he heard this, Li Shangxuan's eyes widened sharply.

Although the reporting disciple spoke of Qingping Sect's Seventh Peak Elder Xiao Yixuan, Li Shangxuan immediately realized upon hearing the news that his own disciple Li Tianxuan had also encountered trouble.

The Qingping Sect has a dedicated Deadly Closure area, because although a True Dao cultivator's breakthrough is said to be less dangerous than a demon cultivator's, it indeed is lower.

The damage from a failed breakthrough is also lower than that of a demon cultivator, which is indisputable.

But that does not mean there is no threat at all.

Especially for a top‑tier True Dao cultivator like Xiao Yixuan.

Xiao Yixuan, Qingping Sect's Seventh Peak Elder, Head of the Law Hall, a late‑stage great cultivator of the Law Realm.

He began his Deadly Closure twelve years ago; although this place is undergoing a True Dao power system update, because Xiao Yixuan is also attempting to open a new realm, no one chose to disturb him now.

As a result, a problem suddenly arose.

The Qingping Sect also obtained True Dao techniques above the Law Realm from the Extreme Heaven Divine Palace, and their strength now matches that of former demon cultivators, with the hazards of cultivation failure greatly reduced.

Unfortunately, the sect had planned to notify Xiao Yixuan this year, but no one anticipated an accident at this moment.

Only twelve years? Less than fifty—how could it go wrong so quickly?

The longer the Deadly Closure, the more likely problems arise; generally, if a closure lasts thirty years without breakthrough, one emerges, and at fifty years there is a chance of accident.

The sect's various measures can reduce the probability of such accidents, but they cannot bring it to zero, nor even significantly lower it.

Nevertheless, theoretically these have nothing to do with Xiao Yixuan; his chance of trouble at this moment is comparable to the probability of Wang Wu's transmigration.

Calling it almost zero would be an exaggeration.

But just as Wang Wu truly transmigrated to another world, Xiao Yixuan indeed suffered a breakthrough failure.

Now the event has occurred, regardless of how small its probability.

Therefore, for the entire Qingping Sect, the first thing they must do is set out immediately to handle this accident.

A Law Realm cultivator's breakthrough failure will cause extremely severe contamination at this level.

Although not as severe as a demon cultivator's breakthrough failure causing a Demon Disaster at the same level, if not dealt with properly it will still cause enormous trouble.

And a "True Disaster", while its scope is smaller than a Demon Disaster, is equally, if not more, bizarre.

After all, "anomalies" only began to appear after the True Dao power system emerged.

"Master, his junior brother?!"

At that moment, Yao Qing also realized the situation was unfavorable. She suddenly looked at her master, whose expression was likewise solemn.

"I'll go check first; you should stay with your husband or your master's wife for a while."

After glancing at his disciple, Li Shangxuan patted her shoulder, then hurried out, leapt into the air, and rushed toward the distance.

Yao Qing didn't tell Wang Wu about this, nor did she choose to seek refuge with her lover, yet Wang Wu still came.

Because the Qing Ping Sect had transmitted news of its incident to Tian Mang City, Wang Wu immediately made a phone call there.

At this time Yao Qing was staying at her master's wife's house; the master's wives did not live in the Qing Ping Sect but in a county town not far from the sect.

In fact, for ordinary people, living in the sect's mountain range is certainly an excellent choice; although prices are indeed high and housing costly, it is safe.

Actually, for locals the cost of living isn't that high; as for housing, if one is willing to work for the sect, land and homes can be provided for free.

Simply put, one becomes a tenant farmer for the sect, cultivating spirit fields and raising innate demonic beasts; based on the annual harvest, the sect rewards them.

It is more like a professional farmer than a tenant, because they don't need to lease the sect's land; they merely assist in farming, and the sect regularly pays them wages and provides lodging.

In other words, a house.

After thirty consecutive years of work, they gain permanent residence rights to the house, and from then on put down roots here.

"What happened?"

When Wang Wu arrived at the Qing Ping Sect, a sizable area of the Qing Ping Sect mountains had been completely cleared; the major cities within were deserted, with not a single soul in sight.

In the air beyond the quarantine zone, a large vessel hovered, and several cultivators stood on its deck.

From their expressions, this incident was evidently serious.

"What exactly is the situation now?"

Wang Wu instantly recognized his acquaintance Li Shangxuan on the deck, so he flew over and approached him to ask.

"Elder Xiao Yixuan's breakthrough failed, causing a true disaster," Li Shangxuan said upon seeing Wang Wu; his face first brightened, then showed remorse:

"I'm truly sorry to trouble a young hero like you with such a matter."

Young hero, Commissioner, Chief—these are the titles Wang Wu prefers others to use for him.

"Was it Qing'er who sent you here?"

"Qing'er didn't tell me about this," Wang Wu shook his head. "Given her temperament, unless the matter is utterly unsolvable, she would never call on me."

"Your sect reported this to the court, the court informed Nan Zhou, and Nan Zhou passed it on to me."

"So I came."

"Ah…" Li Shangxuan was speechless, gave a slight nod, then looked back toward the quarantine zone.

"Isn't the Seclusion Area only two hundred square kilometers? Why clear such a vast region?"

After watching that side for a while, Wang Wu asked curiously.

Of course this side doesn't use the term "square kilometer," but that doesn't hinder Li Shangxuan and the others from understanding Wang Wu.

"Because Elder Xiao was a great cultivator entering the Law Realm; if his breakthrough fails, the impact is enormous."

At that moment, before Li Shangxuan could explain, another person on the deck spoke up first.

She was a tall, graceful, spirited woman.

Female cultivators of the Qing Ping Sect share a common aura: their looks are often rather aggressive, and their demeanor is very martial.

Perhaps due to their sect's techniques, the sect primarily practices offensive killing methods, making its attacks generally stronger.

"This is Second Peak Elder Jiang Xinxuan," Li Shangxuan introduced the speaking female cultivator, "the head of our Qing Ping Sect's Wu Peak."

True Dao warriors in this world fall into two categories: one is the "Martial Lineage" families, and the other are the martial divisions within the major True Dao sects.

Jiang Xinxuan is a True Dao warrior of the Qing Ping Sect, and his Jiang family is a highly prestigious clan within the Wu Peak.

Yes, even within a True Dao sect's martial division, there are family groups.

After all, True Dao warriors heavily rely on lineage; the chance that offspring of two True Dao warriors inherit True Dao talents is not low, certainly much higher than that of two ordinary cultivators.

Though it's only about fifty percent, that's already decent.

"Commissioner Wang."

After Wang Wu looked at her, Jiang Xinxuan slightly bowed his head toward Wang Wu and greeted him.

"Companion, no need for formalities," Wang Wu smiled, "How is the situation inside now?"

Upon being asked, Li Shangxuan and the other cultivators on the deck once again wore heavy expressions.

"Below is no longer the human realm."

Looking at the cleared area below, Li Shangxuan said gravely.

Hearing him, Wang Wu also gazed downward; after a careful inspection with his Heavenly Demon Eye, he saw nothing.

But just as he was about to withdraw his gaze, suddenly his eyes snapped toward the Seclusion Area a hundred kilometers away.

"What's wrong, Commissioner?" the others, noticing Wang Wu's stare, asked.

"Why is your disciple inside?" Wang Wu turned his head, asking Li Shangxuan curiously.

Upon hearing that, Li Shangxuan instantly knew which disciple Wang Wu meant, but the remark also left him stunned.

"Xuan, Xuan'er—he… okay?"

"No, there's something." Wang Wu looked again that way, at the spot a hundred kilometers away where Li Tianxuan had vanished.

Li Tianxuan had only appeared there for a moment; despite being over a hundred kilometers apart, Wang Wu could still feel the other watching him.

Staring at him continuously.

Yet, in those eyes there was neither joy nor sorrow, no discernible emotion.

Numb, rigid, mechanical.

It reminded Wang Wu of the first anomaly he encountered, that traveling inn.

"The so‑called true disaster should refer to the anomalies, right?"

"Right." Jiang Xinxuan nodded. "After a True Realm cultivator, they break delusion on their own; if the breakthrough fails, there's a chance they'll be devoured by the True Dao."

"On my True Dao path, the danger of a failed breakthrough is much less than on the Demonic Dao, but it's still not nonexistent."

"So the entire seclusion zone has turned into anomalies now?" Wang Wu asked again.

Jiang Xinxuan gave a slight nod and sighed.

"Then what exactly are those anomalies?"

Wang Wu still doesn't know what these anomalies are; he always feels they possess intelligence, yet also feels they lack it.

They seem to act according to certain rules and logic, but what is the source of the power that drives them?

Demons are the result of humans or monsters being completely consumed by chaos; their behavior shows no discernible pattern, but you can think of them as driven by hunger and a desire for destruction.

Anomalies are somewhat different; although they also "eat," for example the patrons of passing inns—their table fare consists of the unfortunate who mistakenly entered.

Of course, only part of them.

The other part of the mis‑entered become members themselves, turning into the diners at that table.

"But there should still be some living people inside, right?"

Wang Wu said this while his feet left the ground.

"There should be," Li Shangxuan nodded, "but under these circumstances, we also…"

He stopped short, because Wang Wu had already flown toward that side.

Watching Wang Wu's figure recede, Li Shangxuan's respect for him deepened further.

"Truly… truly a noble character…"

Beside him, Jiang Xinxuan's voice sounded, her tone equally filled with deep respect; her eyes glittered with radiant light, already filled with Wang Wu's silhouette.

"Then you could consider offering yourself." Seeing his old friend's gaze, Li Shangxuan realized his friend was probably enamored with Wang Wu.

"Birds of a feather flock together; people group with their kind. Those who can hang out with Li Shangxuan are basically people similar to him."

"I, I am already married, and I'm past my prime, Young Hero Wang's future is boundless, and…"

Facing Li Shangxuan's teasing, Jiang Xinxuan not only failed to catch the subtext, but even began to consider it seriously.

"Marriage doesn't prevent you from enjoying him, does it?" Li Shangxuan teased with a smile.

"Um, this, this…"

Here, being a place reminiscent of Wang Wu's ancestral ancient style, the party that 'takes' is naturally far freer in that regard than the party that 'gives.'

Moreover, cultivators are like the scholar class here, so whatever the ancient scholar class did back home, they do it here as well.

Little pages, palace maids, the romantic frolics of brothels, and so on…

"Um."

"Family, let's just keep watching Wang Wu from afar."

When entering the area of the seclusion zone, unlike before, Wang Wu now can clearly feel a fluctuation.

A spatial fluctuation.

This means that at this moment he is no longer on the original physical cosmic plane.

The term "cosmic plane" isn't from his hometown; it's terminology used by the Assassin Brother's side.

Wang Wu doesn't know the exact meaning of the term, but whatever, he'll just use it for now.

And as soon as he entered, Wang Wu saw a truly explosive scene.

Several humanoid figures, appearing to be female, were coiling around a corpse; their bodies twisted in a bizarre posture, writhing and emitting eerie hisses.

Their bodies were curvaceous, yet they had no facial features, only outlines.

At the same time, a strange odor reached Wang Wu's nose, the odd scent that pervaded this area.

An ordinary person might be unable to endure and instantly collapse, but Wang Wu is not ordinary; even though he has already formed a Macedonian long‑spear phalanx, he remains expressionless.

The body on the ground had become a desiccated corpse, only shriveled skin clinging to a jagged skeleton.

At that moment, the female figures on the ground, because of Wang Wu's arrival, also left the corpse they had been coiling around.

They twisted toward Wang Wu in an extremely bizarre posture; their faceless faces split open, revealing a thick, bright‑red tongue like a tentacle.

Wang Wu never refuses a challenge, especially now during his preparation period.

(End of Chapter)