Chapter 234: Female Disciple Hu Li

234. Chapter 234 Female Disciple Hu Li

"If you want to leave, then leave; I won't stop you. I definitely won't depart until my master emerges from seclusion."

The female cultivator surnamed Hu, faced the man's persuasion without wavering at all.

The female cultivator is named Hu Li; in the later stage of Foundation Establishment, she is the sole surviving seed among the few disciples taken by Fang Yuan, the others having fallen in this battle with the Fuhai Sect.

This time Fang Yuan, severely injured, fled back to the Sanyang Sect, entered seclusion to heal, and ordered this woman to guard outside.

"I said, Elder Fang was gravely wounded by the renowned Lady Minghe of the Fuhai Sect; given Elder Fang's cultivation and strength, merely making it back to the sect was already miraculous, his injuries cannot heal!"

"You want to wait until his seclusion ends—until when must we wait?"

The male cultivator's voice was urgent, continuously urging.

Listening to the male cultivator's voice and his relation to his own disciple Hu Li, Xiao Zhangqing briefly searched his memory and confirmed the person's identity.

This person should also be one of the inner‑door disciples of the Sanyang Sect, named Zhou Tong, whose cultivation is slightly stronger than Hu Li's and has fully completed Foundation Establishment.

He is also a disciple of the law‑enforcing elder Jinmu Zhenren.

He and Hu Li entered the Sanyang Sect together; they got along well during the Qi Refining Realm, and after successfully completing Foundation Establishment they were both promoted to inner‑door disciples.

According to rumors, he harbors affection for Hu Li.

However, regarding the junior's private life, Xiao Zhangqing, in this body as an elder, has not paid much attention.

It now indeed seems true.

The Sanyang Sect is about to fall apart; he discerned the situation early and intends to escape ahead of time.

Such treasonous conduct should, in principle, be carried out secretly, without anyone knowing; if it spreads, even his master, law‑enforcing elder Jinmu Zhenren, could not protect him and would have to personally cleanse the sect.

Yet before leaving, he was forthright with Hu Li, wanting her to go with him.

"When will my master emerge from seclusion, when shall I wait?" Hu Li said resolutely.

Zhou Tong, seeing persuasion useless, hurriedly said: "Since that's the case, you could try sending a message into the cave dwelling to see Elder Fang's condition. What if Elder Fang is already beyond help? Perhaps he even perished during seclusion?"

"Shut up! My master will not be in trouble!" Hu Li scolded angrily.

"I was only speaking of a possibility, not certainty. Junior sister Hu, your reaction is so strong—do you secretly think what I said is reasonable and quite possible?"

Zhou Tong, without waiting for Hu Li's rebuttal, immediately added: "If junior sister Hu thinks probing the master is improper, you can try another way. In the past six months the Fuhai Sect has been tightening pressure on our sect; more than half of the Core Formation elders have perished, the situation is far worse than before. Junior sister, convey the current situation to Elder Fang, ask what to do, and see if Elder Fang responds… If he gives no response at all, the situation becomes crystal clear."

Hu Li, though still angry, wanted to refute.

But in her heart, she could not help but admit Zhou Tong's words were reasonable.

Her master's injuries were indeed too severe.

When she returned to the sect half a year ago, she could already see how dire the situation was.

Secluded for half a year with no sign at all—what if…

Hu Li shook her head, discarding the inappropriate thought, and issued the final ultimatum: "Senior brother Zhou, leave. Regardless of my master's condition, I will stay here. Either my master emerges from seclusion, or the Fuhai Sect storms the sect gate; otherwise I will not depart…"

Zhou Tong wanted to speak but stopped.

Unexpectedly, a resonant voice suddenly came from the mountain cave dwelling: "Well done, disciple, well spoken."

Hearing that, both Hu Li and Zhou Tong were startled, then, unable to believe it, looked toward the summit.

But in the next instant, a middle‑aged cultivator's figure had already appeared before them, timing unknown.

"Master!" Hu Li, seeing the newcomer, hurriedly asked: "How is your Soul Transformation injury? Has it recovered?"

Xiao Zhangqing chuckled and nodded: "Recovered. Not only recovered, but also turned misfortune into fortune, making slight progress…"

Compared with the former Fang Yuan, his strength has greatly increased; not only has his cultivation broken through to mid‑stage Core Formation, but he also now possesses a Primordial Spirit. Though this is not something to boast about to outsiders, if he wishes to make a mark in the Qingxu Realm and gather treasures, he must display a more formidable power.

Thus he will not be overly low‑key, deliberately concealing his strength.

"Turning misfortune into fortune?" Hu Li's eyes lit up.

She is only at Foundation Establishment, naturally unable to judge the true condition and strength of a Jindan Zhenren.

But she could roughly sense that her master's state was indeed fine, showing no signs of illness.

Moreover, he indeed seemed even more unfathomable.

Even now, the feeling her master gave her was akin to that of a senior elder of the sect, even the sect leader—vast as the ocean.

"I've seen… Elder Fang."

Zhou Tong's expression was uneasy, his gaze flickering.

Unexpectedly, this Elder Fang, after being gravely wounded in his Soul Transformation by Lady Minghe, was still truly vigorous!

Turning misfortune into fortune? Is it genuine or a façade?

Seeing his imposing aura, it seems likely to be the latter…

"Little Zhou, the sect hasn't raised you easily. Now the sect faces trouble; instead of thinking how to contribute and help the sect overcome the crisis, you go around sowing discord. What are your true intentions? If I expose this, my master won't be able to protect you and will have to be the first to act to cleanse the sect," Xiao Zhangqing asked coldly.

"I…"

Zhou Tong's expression changed drastically, still trying to argue.

Unexpectedly, the old man had heard their entire conversation! Facing Xiao Zhangqing's cold, sharp gaze, he immediately knelt: "Please, Elder Fang, spare my life! Disciple… I acknowledge my mistake! I was momentarily misguided and would never betray the sect…"

"Enough," Xiao Zhangqing sneered, asking: "You said most of the sect leader's core disciples have already relocated—where did you learn that?"

"This…" Zhou Tong's forehead broke into a rain of sweat, not knowing how to answer.

Although Hu Li stood on her master's side, she still felt some reluctance seeing Zhou Tong like that.

After all, his original intention in coming here was for her benefit.

Thus Hu Li also pleaded: "Master, please spare senior brother Zhou this time; he knows his mistake and will amend it."

Xiao Zhangqing lifted his cheap disciple and said: "Because of Xiao Li's sake, I won't argue further. However, now tell me in detail the major events of the past six months in the sect, how the situation has deteriorated…"

He actually didn't truly intend to punish the person.

The former Fang Yuan might have been an elder fiercely loyal to the Sanyang Sect, willing to risk life and death for the sect.

But Xiao Zhangqing harbors no such strong feelings for the Sanyang Sect. Besides preserving his original persona, his main motive is to inquire about the major events that occurred during his six‑month seclusion.

Zhou Tong breathed a sigh of relief at the news and hurriedly gave a brief recount of the battle situation between the Fuhai Sect and the Sanyang Sect.

The Fuhai Sect and the Sanyang Sect are the two great Nascent Soul sects whose territories border each other, and because of disputes over mineral resources, commerce, and even disciple recruitment, the friction has lasted for several hundred years.

For nearly a hundred years, the newly appointed head of the Sanyang Sect possessed outstanding cultivation talent and worked diligently, developing the Sanyang Sect prosperously; not only did it suppress the Fuhai Sect in every aspect, but it also showed a trend of expanding the Qingxu Realm's Nine Great Sacred Sites into Ten Great Sacred Sites.

Then, after reaching its peak, it declined: first a prodigy within the sect fell unexpectedly, and later the sect head Chi Xuan True Lord was seriously injured, reversing the balance of offense and defense.

In the past six months, the biggest change has been that the Zixia Sect, one of the Nine Great Sacred Cults, has been subtly stirring the waters, assisting the Fuhai Sect in pressuring the Sanyang Sect, with a clear intention to eradicate the Sanyang Sect and wipe out its inheritance.

Xiao Zhangqing listened and nodded.

In fact, when the Zixia Sacred Site went underground, his body Fang Yuan had already received similar information half a year earlier.

But at that time it was mostly speculation; the Zixia Sacred Site had not yet taken any obvious action, and the upper echelons of the Sanyang Sect could faintly sense it.

Now the situation has become clearer.

"There are rumors that the reason our Sanyang Sect has fallen to its current state was actually plotted by the Zixia Sect from the start…"

"The Zixia Sect does not want our Sanyang Sect to grow step by step, eventually ascend to become a Sacred Site, stand on equal footing with them, and divide Dongji State."

Zhou Tong dared not conceal anything and poured out all the events that had occurred or were still uncertain over the past six months in one breath.

The Qingxu Realm is vast and boundless, divided into twenty‑one states.

Some of the slightly larger states are estimated to be comparable to the Cultivation World of Da Yu.

Both the Sanyang Sect and the Fuhai Sect are located in Dongji State.

Although these two great Nascent Soul sects are top‑tier in Dongji State, there is an unsurpassed giant there: the Zixia Sacred Site, whose inheritance exceeds three thousand years! The Zixia Sacred Site openly has three Nascent Soul True Lords, and there may be others hidden, but among those three, one is a Nascent Soul Middle Stage.

"Zixia Sacred Site..."

Xiao Zhangqing's expression was solemn, but he was not feeling worried or troubled.

What he thought of was that a super‑large sect with over three thousand years of inheritance had produced nearly twenty Nascent Soul True Lords and had even seen a Nascent Soul Late‑stage great cultivator!

Such a sect likely possesses many fourth‑tier treasures, and perhaps even some fifth‑tier treasures!

"If the sect I were to transmigrate into were the Zixia Sect, that would be great."

Xiao Zhangqing thought regretfully in his heart.

But after stripping the Sanyang Sect's treasury, he would see whether there is a chance to fleece the Zixia Sect.

"Let's go quickly."

Xiao Zhangqing glared at Zhou Tong and waved his hand.

Zhou Tong, as if granted a pardon, hurried away.

…

…

Sanyang Sect.

Feilai Peak.

This is the cave residence of the law‑enforcing elder Jinmu Zhenren.

Although Jinmu Zhenren's spiritual root talent is not top‑tier, his Core Formation quality is impressive; his Golden Core is relatively pure with few impurities, so in less than fifty years after Core Formation he had already advanced to Core Formation Mid‑stage, progressing remarkably fast.

Although the chance of reaching Nascent Soul is essentially zero, it is highly likely that he will become a Core Formation Late‑stage cultivator in the future.

Core Formation Late‑stage, in non‑Sacred Site sects, is already a pillar‑like presence, reliably ranking within the top ten.

"Master..."

Zhou Tong respectfully waited outside the cave for over an hour; only when the formation opened did he nervously step inside.

"What? Did the mission fail? Then Hu Li didn't want to leave with you?"

Jinmu Zhenren opened his eyes, glanced at his disciple's hesitant demeanor, and immediately guessed the outcome.

Zhou Tong nodded and helplessly said, "Originally my disciple had a chance to persuade successfully. But who could have known that Elder Fang had not ascended, and after emerging from the barrier his condition was excellent; he claimed not only to have fully recovered but also to have turned disaster into fortune, with his strength increased."

"He withstood the attack of the Mist River Lady's 'Wangchuan Crossing', not only survived but fully recovered within half a year… Could it be that Fang Yuan possesses a Soul Transformation Treasure?"

Jinmu Zhenren frowned.

That Mist River Lady is a Core Formation Late‑stage cultivator; her direct combat power is not outstanding, but her Soul Transformation attack methods rank among the best of all Core Formation cultivators in Dongji State.

Even for him at Core Formation Mid‑stage, if he were to withstand a Wangchuan Crossing attack without a Soul Transformation defensive treasure, the result would be grim.

It was unexpected that Fang Yuan, merely a Core Formation Early‑stage cultivator with no outstanding traits, suffered no serious injury.

As for Fang Yuan's claim that he turned disaster into fortune and improved his strength, Jinmu Zhenren paid no heed.

"Surviving is already good luck, and then turning disaster into fortune?"

"Stop the nonsense."

"Do you think you are heaven's pride, a person of great destiny? 'Hu Li must be kept in hand, otherwise the upcoming major events will be jeopardized.'"

Jinmu Zhenren was scheming in his mind.

Years ago he had already begun plotting this, sending his most outstanding disciple to approach Hu Li and secretly lay the groundwork.

Then, in this great battle between the Fuhai Sect and the Sanyang Sect, all of Fang Yuan's disciples except Hu Li fell, and even Fang Yuan's encounter with the Mist River Lady was caused by his covert interference!

Otherwise, six months ago the two sects' conflict had not escalated to today's level; Fang Yuan, an early‑stage Core Formation cultivator, would not have been pursued by a Core Formation Late‑stage cultivator.

He thought that now, with Fang Yuan and several disciples all dead, Hu Li isolated and helpless, it would be easy to lure her away.

"Who could have thought Fang Yuan would survive."

Fang Yuan and Hu Li have an excellent master‑disciple relationship; with Fang Yuan still alive, it becomes harder to win over Hu Li. (End of chapter)