Chapter 245: Candid Mutual Respect

Elder Li?

Xiao Zhangqing finished clearing the battlefield, approached Li Yuan, and asked, "Is there anything else you need me to do?"

Li Yuan finally came to herself, steadied her thoughts, hesitated a moment, then, with a complicated look, said, "Should I continue to address you as Elder Fang, or… as some senior?"

Lady Minghe's final words before death "exposed" Xiao Zhangqing's identity.

But in Li Yuan's view, Lady Minghe wasn't actually slandering Xiao Zhangqing.

Of course, that person must have ill intent, thinking that even in death she would expose Xiao Zhangqing's identity, causing him to be suspected by the San Yang Sect and even have his enemies uncover his identity to hunt him down…

Because a Nascent Soul True Lord's fall, the Nascent Soul's escape, and body‑snatching rebirth cannot be a natural death.

When the lifespan is exhausted, the Nascent Soul also perishes, making body‑snatching rebirth impossible.

Only when forced by enemies with no way to ascend to Heaven nor descend to Earth, compelled beyond choice, must one abandon the mortal body and let the Nascent Soul detach, signifying an invincible life‑and‑death foe.

Therefore, once a Nascent Soul True Lord is discovered to have rebirthed via body‑snatching, it is actually very dangerous.

If his enemies hear the news, they will readily come after him.

Lady Minghe's scream before death was meant to spread the news that Xiao Zhangqing is a Nascent Soul Old Monster who rebirthed through body‑snatching.

At this moment.

Li Yuan clearly also has suspicions about Xiao Zhangqing's identity, roughly the same as Lady Minghe's.

If Xiao Zhangqing is a Nascent Soul Old Monster reborn via body‑snatching, the various odd events surrounding him become explainable.

Why, only a year ago, he was at the Early Foundation Establishment stage, severely injured by Lady Minghe's Soul Transformation secret technique yet did not die, and instead used the opportunity to breakthrough.

It seems that Fang Yuan, after being gravely wounded, was on the brink of soul‑flight, and at that moment an old Nascent Soul spirit body encountered him and seized the chance to possess him.

It also explains why today Xiao Zhangqing could almost single‑handedly turn the tide and slay Lady Minghe.

Crushing the Nascent Soul aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, his magical arts can merge with the power of Heaven and Earth…

These are methods only a Nascent Soul True Lord possesses! "Naturally, still call me Elder Fang…"

Xiao Zhangqing said helplessly.

Although he too rebirthed via body‑snatching, he is not some Nascent Soul Old Monster.

On the contrary, by his count he is still under a hundred years old; what senior? Even the relatively young Elder Li before him is far older than him.

"I understand," Li Yuan nodded.

She believes Xiao Zhangqing does not want the outside world to know his body‑snatching rebirth, and wishes to conceal it.

It seems this Nascent Soul Old Monster indeed has terrifying enemies outside, forced to have his Nascent Soul flee; if the news leaks and his enemies learn of it, it would bring mortal danger.

One should know a Nascent Soul True Lord can only rebirth via body‑snatching once.

If after body‑snatching rebirth the news spreads and he is caught, death is inevitable.

"Lady Minghe has been slain; thereafter Blood Crystal Island should be safe for a short time, and the Fu Hai Sect won't send cultivators to besiege…" Li Yuan thought and said, "If Elder Fang doesn't wish to stay on Blood Crystal Island and wants to return to the sect, I can help you finish the mission here."

Xiao Zhangqing nodded satisfactorily, "Then please, Elder Li, report to the sect and arrange my transfer back. However, having already slain a Fu Hai Sect elder comparable to a Late Foundation Establishment level and the famed Lady Minghe, how should my contribution value be counted? I hope Elder Li reports truthfully."

"Alright, I'll report to the sect immediately."

Li Yuan's mind became clearer about Xiao Zhangqing's plan.

It seems.

Although this person does not wish the outside world to know his body‑snatching rebirth, within the San Yang Sect he still does not intend to conceal it.

At least, to the San Yang Sect's upper echelons, he does not plan to hide it.

He does seem to have a good calculation.

If it were in the past, when the San Yang Sect was flourishing with music and dance, an incoming Nascent Soul Old Monster would be accepted, but still rigorously investigated, its origins probed, and certain safeguards imposed.

After all, nothing falls from the heavens.

A Nascent Soul True Lord, even at the Initial Stage, is an absolutely renowned figure in the Qingxu Realm, enough to intimidate a region, and cannot easily join a sect's forces.

Sudden entry has only two possibilities.

Either one harbors ulterior motives to covet the sect's treasures, or one has enemies and seeks to use the sect as shelter.

Thus, aside from the Nine Sacred Lands, and especially those ranked high among them, it is relatively easier to recruit an external Nascent Soul True Lord as a guest minister, with few reservations, because they have ample backing.

But the current situation of the San Yang Sect is different.

It has reached a life‑or‑death juncture, could collapse at any moment; now a body‑snatching Nascent Soul Old Monster willing to join is a welcome boon, and the drawbacks can be set aside temporarily.

If the San Yang Sect were to be annihilated, who would care about Xiao Zhangqing's origins? They would simply employ him, grant ample benefits, and have him aid the sect through the crisis.

……

Thus, half a month later.

Xiao Zhangqing received the sect's transfer order and that same day returned to the sect with his disciple Hu Li.

His flying vessel had just set its front foot onto his mountain‑peak cave dwelling when the rear foot received a visitor.

And the visitor was not anyone else but the San Yang Sect's sole Nascent Soul cultivator, the sect leader True Lord Chi Xuan!

If it were other sect elders, even a Late Foundation Establishment senior elder, Li Yuan, or some near‑death Supreme Elders, Chi Xuan True Lord would not need to "visit"; a single command would make them come to pay respects.

Only Xiao Zhangqing was different; as a Nascent Soul True Lord and sect leader, he voluntarily lowered himself to visit Xiao Zhangqing's cave.

Some attendants in the cave, upon seeing the sect leader arrive, were so frightened their legs trembled, and they hurried to report.

Xiao Zhangqing, hearing the news, dared not act arrogantly; while he was imparting cultivation insights to disciple Hu Li, he quickly rose to greet.

The Nascent Soul True Lord, whether in his main body or a split form, was, for Xiao Zhangqing, his first genuine encounter.

In the Da Yu Cultivation World, although the main body no longer fears Early Nascent Soul cultivators and, to obtain Su Wushuang's Congenital Jade Liquid, has decided to oppose the Nascent Soul sects, they have yet to clash.

It is the split form that first needs to deal with Nascent Soul cultivators.

True Lord Chi Xuan was rather tall, clad in a blue robe, with sword‑like eyebrows and starry eyes; the moment they met, his aura slightly leaked, bringing a suffocating pressure.

"Fang Yuan has seen the sect leader."

Xiao Zhangqing slightly cupped his hands in a bow, as a salute.

He behaved with great respect, yet showed no sign of anything unusual, no fear or apprehension, appearing rather indifferent.

Having transformed his Soul Transformation into a Primordial Spirit, even with Red Void True Lord's full pressure, he felt no discomfort; such a trivial test was no different from a spring breeze to him.

"Brother Fang, no need for formalities."

Red Void True Lord's star-like eyes flickered with faint flames as he sized up Xiao Zhangqing.

He naturally already knew the entire course of the events on Blood Crystal Island half a month ago, as Li Yuan had told him every detail.

In his mind, he also concluded that Xiao Zhangqing was a Nascent Soul Old Monster who had seized a body to be reborn.

However, hearing a hundred times is not as good as seeing once.

Only after meeting in person and probing can one truly confirm.

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Now, after just a glimpse, he can draw a definitive conclusion: this person is indeed no longer the elder they once had in their sect, but a different individual.

"I've heard all about the Blood Crystal Island incident, Brother Fang; you helped Three Yang Sect a great deal. What do you need?"

Red Void True Lord treated Xiao Zhangqing as an equal, speaking bluntly and asking directly about his purpose.

"It seems I cannot shake off this Nascent Soul Old Monster rebirth identity,"

Xiao Zhangqing felt a hint of helplessness.

He originally only wanted to appear as a rising force with some adventure, just to fleece Three Yang Sect.

Now being mistaken for a Nascent Soul Old Monster reborn isn't bad; the effect is essentially the same.

So after a brief weighing, he simply chose not to explain.

"After all, I am also considered an elder of Three Yang Sect, guarding Blood Crystal Island and slaying invading foes—that's my duty," Xiao Zhangqing first said politely, then added, "However, I now have nothing of value and lack a reliable Magic Treasure. Striving to slay that Lady of the Dark River is indeed to earn some merit points, to later exchange for treasures."

With nothing to hide, Xiao Zhangqing calmly stated his purpose.

Red Void True Lord nodded.

It does make sense.

A Nascent Soul True Lord who seizes a body to be reborn discards the mortal body, and all former treasures and Magic Treasures are naturally gone, so new spiritual treasures are indeed needed.

If this mysterious Nascent Soul Old Monster only needs spiritual treasures, that would be wonderful for Three Yang Sect.

"Spiritual treasures are easy to discuss. If Brother Fang truly wishes to join Three Yang Sect and become one of its members, the Hall of Reward's treasures can be chosen at will by Brother Fang!" Red Void True Lord said generously.

Xiao Zhangqing's eyes lit up at the words.

"But..." Red Void True Lord's tone shifted, "I wonder if Brother Fang can accept my 'Heart Inquiry'? You should also know the current state of Three Yang Sect, so I won't hide anything. The sect's situation is not ideal and requires extra caution. If Brother Fang bears no hostility and has a clean background, the entire Three Yang Sect would warmly welcome your joining!"

"Heart Inquiry" is a special spell of the Nascent Soul True Lord.

It forces the counterpart to speak truthfully, unable to lie.

It is somewhat similar to an oath.

Xiao Zhangqing thought for a moment and said, "Heart Inquiry is fine. However, for some questions I may choose not to answer."

"That is natural," Red Void True Lord nodded in agreement.

A Nascent Soul Old Monster, especially one forced to seize a body and be reborn, surely harbors many secrets he cannot reveal.

But he had no intention of probing too many of Xiao Zhangqing's secrets; he only needed to determine whether Xiao Zhangqing harbored hostility toward Three Yang Sect, whether he was a spy sent by Fuhai Sect, and whether he would bring a greater enemy to the sect in the short term...

Knowing these three points would be sufficient.

Next, Red Void True Lord cast the spell and asked Xiao Zhangqing many questions.

Xiao Zhangqing did not answer some of the questions.

For example, his former identity, origin, and previous cultivation level—Xiao Zhangqing chose to remain silent.

However, the three questions Red Void True Lord most wanted to know were answered by Xiao Zhangqing to his great satisfaction.

Relatively speaking, his background is clean, with no ties to Fuhai Sect, and he poses no danger to Three Yang Sect... That means Xiao Zhangqing's arrival simply adds a powerful combatant with Nascent Soul threshold strength to Three Yang Sect!

"Brother Fang, from now on we are compatriots! Come, I will personally take you to the Hall of Reward!"

Red Void True Lord suppressed his excitement and said decisively.

Since a windfall has suddenly fallen from the heavens, he cannot be stingy and must show ample sincerity! Otherwise Heaven will withdraw such a good opportunity! Therefore, as long as Xiao Zhangqing's request is within his or Three Yang Sect's capability, Red Void True Lord will not be parsimonious.

Originally, regarding this crisis of Three Yang Sect, he had already prepared for the worst.

As Zhou Tong previously said, to preserve Three Yang Sect's Dao tradition from extinction, core disciples have begun to be covertly relocated, preserving the sect's fire seed.

But now with Xiao Zhangqing's joining, he sees a glimmer of hope.

Three Yang Sect may indeed have a chance of rebirth from desperation! Although Xiao Zhangqing disclosed no information about his background or cultivation, Red Void True Lord has his own deductions.

A Nascent Soul True Lord can indeed seize a body to be reborn, even with Nascent Soul Initial Stage cultivation.

However!

For Nascent Soul Initial Stage cultivation, someone like him, after the Nascent Soul leaves the body and seizes another, cannot retain much of his former strength! Yet after the seizure, cultivation becomes easy, and the rate of advancement far surpasses the Heavenly Spirit Root, allowing a rapid return to his former peak.

And after Xiao Zhangqing's body seizure rebirth, in less than a year his cultivation rose from Early Core Formation to Late Core Formation at a fairly normal pace.

Yet his Soul Transformation has already become the Primordial Spirit possessed only by Nascent Soul cultivators, capable of channeling heaven and earth's forces into divine arts...

Red Void True Lord has reason to believe that this unknown-old monster's original cultivation could not have been at the Nascent Soul Initial Stage!

At least it must be Nascent Soul Middle Stage, and perhaps even a Nascent Soul Late Stage great cultivator is possible!

Such an old monster's body seizure rebirth, aiding Three Yang Sect, offers great hope of reversing the crisis! (Chapter End)