Chapter 247: Royal Bloodline

"No system, it's truly impossible."

Xiao Zhangqing toyed with the Heavenly Phoenix Tail Feather; although even this avatar could feel its extraordinary nature and could, using his Primordial Spirit and magical power, activate it to unleash terrifying lethality, he could not draw out its deeper, otherworldly effects.

This is a top‑tier fourth‑rank, near‑fifth‑rank great demon's Heavenly Phoenix Tail Feather—if the Heavenly Phoenix itself were to drive it, even a single strand could threaten a late‑Nascent Soul cultivator.

But in Xiao Zhangqing's hands, its value is roughly on par with the sharp blade of his fourth‑tier spirit‑treasure embryo.

It's a case of great talent wasted, a pearl hidden in dust.

In fact, it's not just him; even Chi Xuan Zhenjun or other Nascent Soul cultivators, upon obtaining this feather, could not unleash its proper power—perhaps only in the hands of high‑rank avian‑type demon beasts can it truly reveal its edge.

Otherwise, this feather would be listed in the Hall of Merit as an unexchangeable treasure.

"Cheating feels so good~"

Xiao Zhangqing sincerely sighed, then put the Heavenly Phoenix Tail Feather away.

Half a year has passed since exchanging treasures at the Hall of Merit.

Six months ago, after Xiao Zhangqing declined the invitation of Sect Master Chi Xuan Zhenjun, the latter did not press further and still treated Xiao Zhangqing as an elder of the Three Yang Sect, calling on him when missions arose.

Of course, if Xiao Zhangqing refuses a mission, the sect will not force him.

In the past six months, Xiao Zhangqing took on two missions and earned a good amount of contribution points.

Yet even with an invincible Core Formation master like Xiao Zhangqing, the Three Yang Sect still cannot fend off the ferocious siege of the Oversea Sect.

The Three Yang Sect's situation continues to deteriorate day by day.

For example, the Blood Crystal Island, which Xiao Zhangqing helped defend, was recently recaptured by the Oversea Sect; Elder Li Yuan was gravely injured, nearly losing his life.

It was almost the final step.

Survival versus extinction, stay or leave—now is the time to decide.

Should we abandon the ancestral legacy, take the core inheritance and elite disciples and depart, abandoning the sect?

Or rather break like jade than crumble like tile, and fight the Oversea Sect to the bitter end? The choice rests with Sect Master Chi Xuan Zhenjun.

From what Xiao Zhangqing perceives, Chi Xuan Zhenjun is still rather hot‑blooded, seemingly unwilling to leave meekly and still wishes to clash with the Oversea Sect.

Yet behind the scenes, he is continuously arranging for core disciples to relocate.

It's a two‑pronged preparation.

"Looks like it's time to leave…"

Xiao Zhangqing thought to himself.

He certainly would not throw himself into fire and water for the Three Yang Sect.

After all, he owes the Three Yang Sect nothing; the treasures he took from the Hall of Merit were all exchanged for contribution points. Chi Xuan Zhenjun still refuses to give him any substantive benefit, only trying to coax him into a joint death‑match with the Nascent Soul True Lords, and Xiao Zhangqing feels no belonging to the Three Yang Sect.

But the departure Xiao Zhangqing envisions is not a return to the Qingxu Realm, nor a return to Da Yu's Cultivation World.

He came to this world intending to stay three years before returning; only a little over a year has passed, so it's still early.

After leaving the Three Yang Sect, he can wander elsewhere and seek opportunities.

The Qingxu Realm is vast and boundless; even a Nascent Soul True Lord rarely traverses all twenty‑one states. Xiao Zhangqing plans to spend the next year or so touring the most renowned immortal city of the Eastern Pole State, Radiant Cloud Immortal City.

He also wants to try the "Five Elements Assessment" left by the ascended Five Elements Emperor, to see what evaluation and rewards he might obtain.

According to records, the Five Elements Assessment has existed for nearly ten thousand years; the ordinary treasures left by the Five Elements Emperor have largely been taken by later seekers.

Even geniuses with Heaven‑spirit Roots, Exotic Spirit Roots, or Nascent Soul Seeds find it hard to gain any substantial benefit from the Five Elements Assessment.

Yet truly extraordinary talents who rank high in the Assessment's history, even breaking records, receive benefits that make many Nascent Soul True Lords envious.

Xiao Zhangqing admits that, although this avatar lacks system support and is weaker than his original self, thanks to his Primordial Spirit advantage and the spatial talent from the Longevity Stone, he may not break Qingxu Realm's historical records, but ranking near the top of Core Formation gives him some hope.

The senior members of the Three Yang Sect think he is a Nascent Soul old monster reborn by body‑snatching, but in fact he is merely at Core Formation!

Unlike genuine Nascent Soul cultivators who, after body‑snatching rebirth, enter the Five Elements Assessment and are immediately classified as Nascent Soul level—thus gaining no advantage and even suffering setbacks.

Xiao Zhangqing's entry should be assessed according to Core Formation standards.

……

Another month flies by.

Xiao Zhangqing has arranged everything, then goes to the Hall of Merit to spend all his contribution points, ready to slip away from the Three Yang Sect at any moment and head to the largest immortal city under the Purple Mist Sacred Land, Radiant Cloud Immortal City.

Yet before he can act, Chi Xuan Zhenjun unexpectedly contacts him again.

Xiao Zhangqing feels a slight unease, wondering if the other party sensed his intent to flee and now wants to keep him.

If so, it becomes more troublesome.

Because he does not plan to leave alone; he intends to take his disciple Hu Li with him.

Facing Chi Xuan Zhenjun, he is fairly confident he can retreat unscathed, but with a companion the situation changes completely.

When Chi Xuan Zhenjun arrives, his expression is grim, his eyes carrying a faint killing intent, starkly different from his previously friendly demeanor.

Moreover, in his hand is a severely wounded, spirit‑drained Core Formation elder.

This elder was not gravely injured in battle with the Oversea Sect, but was wounded by Chi Xuan Zhenjun himself!

He is Jin Mu Zhenren, the enforcement elder of the Three Yang Sect!

He and Xiao Zhangqing share a considerable "connection."

When he first crossed into this world and emerged from seclusion, he met Jin Mu Zhenren's disciple Zhou Tong, who tried to lure his disciple Hu Li to defect from the sect.

At the time, Xiao Zhangqing thought Zhou Tong acted on his own, fearing for his life. Later, during the Blood Crystal Island incident, the Oversea Sect elder mistakenly believed Xiao Zhangqing had been persuaded by Jin Mu Zhenren to betray the Three Yang Sect; Xiao Zhangqing then learned that Jin Mu Zhenren, once the most loyal enforcement elder, had already become a traitor like his disciple.

It is even highly possible that Jin Mu Zhenren turned traitor first, pulling his disciple along.

Afterwards, Xiao Zhangqing made no public accusation.

Because he lacks evidence proving Jin Mu Zhenren has already defected to the Oversea Sect.

Acting rashly would only make him a scapegoat.

He has always been curious why the Oversea Sect thinks he and Jin Mu Zhenren rebel together; according to his memory, the former incarnation Fang Yuan had virtually no connection with Jin Mu Zhenren, nor any private interests.

In the more than a year since crossing over, Jin Mu Zhenren has never approached him.

"Sect Master, what's up with Elder Jinmu?"

Xiao Zhangqing asked knowingly.

He couldn't help but suspect in his heart that this might be a case of killing a chicken to warn the monkey?

Reading the original!

Jinmu True Person's traitorous identity was uncovered, and after subduing him they deliberately brought him before (the sect master) to give a warning.

"Elder Fang, where is your disciple Hu Li?"

Chi Xuan True Lord did not answer, but instead asked in a deep voice about Hu Li's whereabouts.

Xiao Zhangqing heard that and felt a sudden thump in his heart.

So they really aren't friendly, huh?

A multitude of thoughts surfaced in his mind; Xiao Zhangqing quickly calmed down, snorted coldly and said, "Sect Master, are you suspecting me of colluding with Elder Jinmu?"

Being discovered is just being discovered; it's not a big deal.

Since the true self dares not fear Xingyue Palace and dares to clash with the Nascent Soul Sect, this body of his need not fear the San Yang Sect either.

After all, the San Yang Sect's situation is far worse than Xingyue Palace's.

"It seems Elder Fang has long known that Jinmu has already become a traitor…" Chi Xuan True Lord glanced at Xiao Zhangqing with a hint of meaning, then shook his head: "But Elder Fang is overthinking. I have already interrogated thoroughly; this matter has nothing to do with Elder Fang, and Elder Fang has done nothing wrong against the San Yang Sect."

Xiao Zhangqing had originally intended to lay out his forces openly and confront them head‑on, but upon hearing that he was momentarily stunned.

Then Chi Xuan True Lord recounted the main course of events.

It turned out that a few months earlier, several retreat routes and disciples of the San Yang Sect had been surrounded, pursued, and blocked by the Fuhai Sect, likely because a high‑ranking member within the sect had turned traitor.

After investigation, Chi Xuan True Lord listed Jinmu True Person as a suspect.

After a period of probing and setting traps, Jinmu True Person indeed fell for it, and Chi Xuan True Lord secured conclusive evidence.

Before arriving, Chi Xuan True Lord had already employed the Soul Transformation secret technique to interrogate Jinmu True Person, confirming that Jinmu intended to drag Xiao Zhangqing into the plot as a fellow traitor, but had never succeeded.

Among them was arranging his disciple Zhou Tong to lure Xiao Zhangqing's disciple Hu Li, including the incident of guarding Blood Crystal Island, and even the deaths of several of Xiao Zhangqing's other disciples were secretly orchestrated by Jinmu True Person…

Xiao Zhangqing listened and was greatly astonished.

"Why does Jinmu go to such lengths to drag me into the plot? Could it be that he knows my identity and true strength?" Xiao Zhangqing couldn't help but ask.

But he immediately shook his head.

Something's off.

If Jinmu True Person has been scheming for years to drag him down, the deaths of his several disciples are all Jinmu's doing.

Then it certainly isn't because of his current status and strength.

Because a few years ago he hadn't crossed over yet; Fang Yuan was merely an ordinary Foundation Establishment early‑stage cultivator, hardly worth such massive effort to recruit.

"All of this is because of your disciple, Hu Li, Elder Fang!"

Chi Xuan True Lord clarified.

"Hu Li?"

Xiao Zhangqing was taken aback.

The female disciple he liked quite a bit had only just broken through the late Foundation Establishment stage, yet she possessed such great potential that Jinmu would go to great lengths to recruit her?

"Hu Li carries the bloodline of the Five Elements Emperor! She is a descendant of the royal family of the Five Elements Dynasty!"

Chi Xuan True Lord said with a solemn expression.

Whoa! Xiao Zhangqing felt a chill in his heart.

His female disciple's background was so grand? Though the Five Elements Dynasty had perished for nearly ten thousand years, it was no longer the powerful cultivation empire that once ruled the Qingxu Realm and even the Endless Sea.

Yet today, the Five Elements Dynasty still influences every facet of the Qingxu Realm, and many places bear its traces.

Even among the nine sacred sites of the Qingxu Realm today, the Taiyi Sect—ranked among the top three in strength and deepest foundation—actually inherits its lineage from the Five Elements Dynasty! Although the current leaders of the Taiyi Sect are no longer of the royal line, the sect now resembles ordinary cultivation sects, no longer a cultivation family.

Yet anyone bearing the Five Elements Dynasty's royal blood can receive protection from the Taiyi Sect!

Moreover, in today's nine sacred sites, more than half treat the royal descendants of the Five Elements Dynasty with special regard.

Thus, rather than saying Jinmu True Person wants to recruit Xiao Zhangqing, it's more accurate to say he wants to recruit Hu Li!

As long as Hu Li can be recruited, it is equivalent to possessing a 'Death‑Exempt Golden Badge'.

Even if the San Yang Sect is destroyed, it can guarantee one's own safety.

If Hu Li is sent to the Taiyi Sect, many additional benefits can be gained. (End of chapter)