Chapter 476: Are You Afraid? (6K, Posting Early as There's No Time)

"Zhu Shixiong Nie..."

Li Qingfeng stood behind, glaring at Nie Jun, nearly biting his tongue.

"Sigh."

Seeing Shen Zongzhu had already activated the sect formation, he instinctively sighed, then quickly produced a jade slip: "Everyone come quickly! Follow the Sect Master on a mission!"

At the same time.

The jade slips of numerous cultivators within the Nanyang Nanyang Baodi lit up simultaneously.

In the next moment, nearly twenty figures darted over at once.

Among them were familiar elders of the Chen family, the crowd from Qinghai Prefecture, and seven slightly unfamiliar faces—precisely the Foundation Establishment Level Seven Elders Wen Qiujin had brought back.

This nearly encompassed all high-level combat power within the Nanyang Sect.

Barely enough to create the spectacle of other Meng Sects going out on a mission.

Looking at these senior cultivators with profound cultivation.

The worry in Li Qingfeng's eyes still had not diminished by half.

He knew the Great Qian was a taboo Shen Zongzhu could not touch, but the problem was, where was the opportunity to act at Peach Blossom Manor? Why did Zhu Shixiong Nie have to bring it up at this time?

Given the current situation of the Nanyang Sect, no one would commit such a demonic cultivator's act.

Even if they pretended not to know, it would have no impact whatsoever.

The most urgent matter currently was the Seven Masters Assembly.

As long as Shen Yi solidified the title of Sect Master, he could then simply notify four Bai Yujing vassals; no matter which one acted, they could annihilate Peach Blossom Manor.

Conversely, acting rashly would be an effort yielding half the result.

Those vassal factions had only just been brought to heel, and among them was the merit of Wei Yuanzhou from the Lingyun Sect coming forward to intimidate them.

To punish Peach Blossom Manor at this moment.

Would inevitably cause others to develop many ulterior motives.

Leaving aside the question of whether they even possessed the strength to punish them.

Even if they did.

If the evidence was insufficient, it would mean the Nanyang Sect disregarded old ties and indiscriminately slaughtered its own supporters.

If the action was not decisive and clean, it would only make it easier for people to see the Nanyang Sect's hollow foundation.

To take a step back ten thousand paces, if Peach Blossom Manor insisted that the search for Zhu Shixiong Nie was merely a private decision by subordinates, and they produced a few scapegoats, they could simply bluff their way through.

Not only would it fail to achieve any effect, but it would also cause Peach Blossom Manor to become alert prematurely.

Truly a case of working hard for no reward.

As numerous figures successively darted out of the Nanyang Sect.

Li Qingfeng slowly withdrew his gaze, a hint of helplessness appearing on his lips. But then again, if Shen Zongzhu were not of such a character, he and the others would still be hiding on Mount Wutong now; perhaps their lives would be in danger, and there would be no chance to experience the scenery outside.

Outside the Nanyang Sect.

Numerous stewards, their faces varying, quietly passed along the news.

Upon learning this expedition was to hold Peach Blossom Manor accountable, even the seven Foundation Establishment Late Stage Elders under Wen Qiujin's command found their gazes becoming much solemn.

They had heard the Old Master had crossed the watershed from Foundation Establishment Late Stage to Perfection many years ago.

In their understanding, the opponent was the image of a senior expert.

Possessing a certain reputation throughout the entire Southern Hong.

To hold accountable a senior of such cultivation? That Old Master might not necessarily grant them face.

The magnificent aura fluctuation of the Nanyang Sect.

Was clearly impossible to hide from the ears and eyes of the Meng Sects, and soon attracted many gazes.

A full seven cultivators equivalent to Outer Sect Elders had mobilized.

What could they be going to do?

Currently, news regarding Shen Yi was the hottest topic among the Seven Masters of Southern Hong; before long, this commotion spread into numerous cave dwellings.

"Yo, I thought he wouldn't leave his place for these two months."

"What new trick is our new Sect Master pulling?"

"..."

Amidst the transmission via Dao Tablets, those hearts that had barely settled down suddenly became lively again.

Based on their understanding of the Nanyang Sect, these cultivators likely required the full effort of the entire sect to assemble; the spectacle was even greater than when they faced General Dao Hai's Water Python last time.

Currently, on the surface, the only one capable of influencing the Seven Masters Assembly was Shen Yi himself.

Surely there wouldn't be anyone in the world so stupid?

Southern Hong has Peach Blossom Mountain.

When the morning light turned faintly white, peach blossoms covering the mountain ignored the changing seasons, blooming with extreme beauty.

Called a manor, it actually occupied a vast area.

And at this moment, within the dense clouds, a ferocious lion head suddenly appeared and disappeared, its massive body emitting a green radiance in the sky.

A full three Green Lion Spirit Puppets arrived at Peach Blossom Mountain.

Upon the Spirit Puppets, Shen Yi, dressed in a black robe, stood upon a dark-glowing treasure sword, silently looking down at the area below.

No words were needed.

Since the incident with the Shuiyueshang Alliance, nearly half of Southern Hong knew which faction the Green Lion Spirit Puppets served as mounts for.

The Xian Sect of Nanyang has arrived in person!

Soon, several figures darted out from the peach blossoms covering the mountain, rising to the sky, and responded loudly: "Peach Blossom Manor respectfully welcomes the Zhu Sect's inspection! Esteemed Immortals, please come inside!"

Upon hearing the words "Zhu Sect."

Several Shuiyueshang Alliance enshrined cultivators quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

At the very least, this attitude was far more resolute than the Wen Alliance master's had been back then.

The Qinghai Prefecture cultivators, however, felt no surprise.

After all, when they had come last time, Taoyuan Shanzhuang had voluntarily offered up tribute.

That was why, upon hearing what Nie Jun had said, they had been so shocked—even now they were still half in disbelief.

Such an obedient vassal was an enormous asset to Shen Zongzhu, especially in such a complicated situation.

"..."

Nie Jun stared silently downward, then turned his gaze sidelong toward Shen Yi.

He saw that the other showed nothing out of the ordinary.

Shen Yi gave a slight nod of his chin, his face revealing neither joy nor anger, then immediately rode his black-glowing flying sword toward the manor.

Under the guidance of the Taoyuan Shanzhuang cultivators.

The group soon saw, amid the peach blossom thickets, an extremely spacious yet not ostentatious mountain manor—resembling a farmer's village, possessing a certain reclusive beauty.

"Esteemed guests, please this way."

Several Taoyuan Shanzhuang disciples respectfully welcomed the group into a great hall.

Several figures had long been inside the hall.

Clearly, apart from Nanyang Sect, there were other guests within Taoyuan Shanzhuang.

"I am Zhong Guangde, the young manor master of this place. My apologies for failing to greet you from afar; I beg the immortal lords above to forgive me."

The middle-aged man in Bai Shan stepped forward briskly, cupping his hands in salute toward the Nanyang Sect group. Even facing such a hostile posture, his face still bore a smile.

As he spoke, he raised his hand to introduce the several people behind him: "These are several immortal lords from Tianjian Sect, Qingyue Sect, and Wushuang Sect, who came to the manor to admire the peach blossoms. What a coincidence today—truly, so many immortal lords gathered in one place fills Guangde with pleasant surprise."

Before he could finish his polite words.

The several cultivators of distinguished bearing behind him, upon seeing that figure in ink-black robes, paused briefly. Then two of them—Qingyue Sect and Wushuang Sect cultivators wearing deacon robes—dropped to one knee without the slightest hesitation.

"Disciple greets the Nanyang Sect master!"

The old man from Tianjian Sect clearly held a higher status, wearing an outer-gate elder robe.

His realm was also Return-to-Void seventh layer.

He did not kneel, but bowed with cupped hands: "Tianjian Sect's Xie Chaoyu, greets the Nanyang Sect master."

In truth, among the Yu Nanhong Seven Sons, there were not many regulations regarding disciples' etiquette upon meeting the sect master.

Because many disciples, from birth until their lifespans were exhausted, might never see the sect master even once. Even the statues within the Ancestral Founder Hall would only open their eyes when facing true elders and personal disciples.

After Harmonization, one was the heaven of the treasured land.

Heaven and man were separated—how could ordinary mortals easily glimpse the true form?

This Shen Zongzhu was truly one of a kind.

Seeing the attitude of those Xian Sect cultivators, Zhong Guangde visibly froze for a moment. Then, under the astonished gazes of the Nanyang Sect group, he dropped to both knees without the slightest hesitation and performed a full kowtow.

"This minor cultivator did not know the sect master had come in person—punishment unto death!"

"..."

With this move, not to mention the Qinghai Prefecture cultivators, even the several Shuiyueshang Alliance enshrined cultivators were dumbfounded.

If they hadn't seen wrong, this young manor master—who was so humble as to call himself a minor cultivator—was at least several tens of thousands of years old, a Return-to-Void eighth layer powerhouse.

How... how could he possess not a shred of immortal dignity?

"Huu."

Nie Jun closed his eyes and slowly released his grip on the sword hilt.

He simply disliked participating in worldly affairs; that did not mean he couldn't read the situation.

Such a sizeable and utterly loyal force—its usefulness to Shen Zongzhu at present was, needless to say, self-evident.

At this moment, even Nie Jun began to suspect he might have done something wrong.

Really... was it necessary?

If he had kept this matter to himself, would that have been the greatest help to Shen Yi?

"Rise."

Shen Yi remained in that same calm manner, stepping past the crowd and walking to the seat of honor to sit down.

The several Meng Sect cultivators straightened their backs at once.

Zhong Guangde also scrambled up, dismissed the maidservants, and personally brewed tea for Shen Yi.

He cast a fawning smile toward the seat of honor as well.

And just at this moment, the atmosphere within the simply furnished great hall subtly tightened.

Shen Yi looked calmly at Zhong Guangde. In his palm, which lay flat upon the table, a storage treasure had appeared at some unknown moment.

"This."

The young manor master slowly set down his tea cup.

A few traces of puzzlement appeared on his face: "It looks somewhat familiar. Isn't this the tribute I had prepared for the Zhu Sect earlier... no, wait, it seems a bit smaller. Tsk! These damn things!"

His face showing indignation, he roared toward the doorway: "Investigate! You dare embezzle the tribute I prepared for the Zhu Sect—you've truly grown tired of living!"

The disciples outside wore odd expressions, then quickly retreated into the distance.

The several Meng Sect cultivators quietly eyed that storage treasure, instinctively looked away, then in unison hid their hands behind their backs and produced transmission jade slips.

The Nanyang Sect deacons wore helpless expressions and cast a subtle glance at Nie Jun.

They hadn't expected that, despite Taoyuan Shanzhuang's such courteous reception, in the end it still couldn't compare to a few words from this Return-to-Void first layer minor cultivator.

If this matter truly blew open, no one's face would hold up.

Especially with the Meng Sect present.

Fortunately, Taoyuan Shanzhuang did not keep everyone waiting long.

Soon, several pale-faced disciples were dragged in; they shot a venomous glance at Nie Jun, then hurriedly knelt before Shen Yi, banging their heads repeatedly.

"We were blinded by greed and neglected the Zhu Sect—we deserve to die!"

"You certainly do deserve to die!"

Zhong Guangde's face twisted in fury as he stepped forward, spiritual light gathering in his palm.

At last, he revealed the aura of a Cultivation Realm: Killed Fanxu, Level Eight.

He raised his hand and slammed it toward the disciples' foreheads without the slightest hesitation.

At that moment, a faint *pat* echoed through the hall.

Zhong Guangde instinctively turned his head.

He saw Shen Yi calmly watching him; beside the original storage artifact, another slightly larger storage pouch had been placed down.

"..."

The spiritual light in Zhong Guangde's palm slowly dissipated.

The ferocity on his face vanished.

He stared silently at Shen Yi for a long while, then let out a faint sigh.

As the young master of Taoyuan Shanzhuang, he had handled all social exchanges over the years.

But even now, he still did not fully understand what this young Zongzhu truly wanted.

Face? He had already given enough.

Rare treasures? After this matter was settled, the other side could name his price.

Why... would he refuse to offer a face-saving way out for both sides?

No one is a fool; most could guess why Nanyang Sect had come.

When Shen Yi threw out the second storage pouch, it was clearly his intent to not let this go, to bring it fully into the open.

"Shen Zongzhu, our peach blossoms here are beautiful—why not stay a few more days? I, Guangde, will surely give you a full explanation."

Zhong Guangde bowed again, but when he lifted his head, he met those same calm black eyes.

Since sitting down, Shen Yi had not spoken a single word.

He merely watched the scene quietly, as if observing a ridiculous monkey show.

And Zhong Guangde was that monkey leaping and scrambling about.

But this monkey possessed Cultivation Realm: Killed Fanxu, Level Eight—and Taoyuan Shanzhuang was no minor force in Yu Nanhong's region that anyone dared provoke.

"Shen Zongzhu, why not speak plainly?"

Zhong Guangde dropped his smile and flattery, standing with hands at his sides.

In an instant, the entire hall grew tense.

Though the Nanyang Sect disciples felt this was not worth it, they all stepped forward in unison, their vast spiritual pressure instantly engulfing the place.

They had not trained any combined attack technique.

Yet within a single breath, they subtly surrounded Zhong Guangde, leaving him with no escape.

"Shen Zongzhu... what is the meaning of this?"

Xie Chaoyu of Tianjian Sect forced a smile. Technically, even an outer sect elder had no right to interrupt the Zongzhu.

But beyond face-saving matters, he clearly did not regard Shen Yi as the true Zongzhu.

After all, the Seven Sons Assembly had not yet been held—it was not yet settled.

Yet Shen Yi not only ignored the Meng Sect's face, he outright ignored Xie Chaoyu.

He slowly stood up, tossed the smaller storage artifact onto Zhong Guangde, and said calmly: "Take me to see it first—what exactly did your life-money buy you?"

At these words, the Meng Sect cultivators all paled.

The stewards of Qingyue Sect and Wushuang Sect instinctively gripped their transmission jade slips again.

In their brief descriptions,

aside from the so-called life-money, Shen Yi's inquiry into Taoyuan Shanzhuang spread rapidly through the Meng Sect.

Meanwhile,

among the Seven Sons of Yu Nanhong, the connections between their Dao Tokens grew increasingly frequent.

"Is he planning to move against Taoyuan Shanzhuang?"

"Hah, has our Shen Zongzhu forgotten who these Taoyuan cultivators truly support?"

Under the silence of all four Bai Yujing vassals, Taoyuan Shanzhuang was more than enough to count as Nanyang Sect's right arm and left.

Before the Seven Sons Assembly, to sever one's own arm? To force them to break from Nanyang Sect's control?

Is that something a sane person would do?

"..."

Wei Yuanzhou listened to the replies coming through his Dao Token.

He slightly furrowed his brow.

Such internal affairs of a main sect punishing its vassal forces were not for outsiders to interfere in.

Even he could not possibly intervene at this moment—the reason was simple: if the Meng Sect were used to settle Nanyang's internal matters, it would itself be an insult to Shen Yi.

On the other side, Liu Shiqian looked at his daughter across from him: "You seem troubled?"

"No, no."

Liu Qianyun shook her head rapidly, her hand hidden behind her back nearly tearing the sleeve.

She had secretly given the imperial decree to Shen Yi so he might have a lifeline in crisis—not so he would use it openly before all Seven Sons of Yu Nanhong.

I always feel something's going to happen to Dad…

Just as the Seven Sons of Nan Hong began clamoring again.

Inside Taoyuan Shanzhuang.

Zhong Guangde's eyes had turned cold; he stared at the tall, ink-robed figure, remained silent for a long while, then slowly curled his lips: "I'm sorry, I don't understand what you're saying."

To speak such words to the Zhu Sect as a vassal force.

That's definitely insubordination, tearing the mask off completely.

The Meng Sect cultivators wore strange smiles; they were eager to see what Shen Zongzhu could do when Taoyuan Shanzhuang no longer recognized this Zhu Sect.

Aggression requires strength to back it up.

The old Nan Yang Sect didn't gain its one hundred and eighty-two vassal houses through mere words.

"…"

Shen Yi withdrew his gaze and walked slowly toward the hall's exit.

Though nervous, the Nan Yang Sect members quickly followed after him.

Seeing this,

Zhong Guangde stood with hands hanging at his sides inside the hall, his eyes now filled with dark malice.

He too stepped forward, slowly exiting the great hall.

The disciples bound there had their silver ropes fall away; they rose to their feet, and from among the peach blossoms, figures emerged everywhere—on the heights and in the valleys alike, all gazing toward the Nan Yang Sect members.

In an instant, a killing aura spread through the entire pastoral paradise.

Yet no one moved.

The reason was simple: Taoyuan Shanzhuang's complexity was not something a newcomer could possibly comprehend.

Yet none of those countless gazes noticed the demonic souls returning from all directions.

As Shen Yi walked deeper into Taoshan.

Even Nie Jun was taken aback; the man seemed more familiar with Taoyuan Shanzhuang than those who had been here before.

Zhong Guangde and the Meng Sect cultivators' faces grew increasingly grim, tinged with disbelief.

They watched helplessly as Shen Yi reached a smooth, mirror-like cliff face.

"Will you open it yourself, or shall I?"

Shen Yi halted, standing above a clear spring, his ink robe gently stirring as he gazed at the cliff.

Dense ranks of Taoyuan Shanzhuang cultivators had already filled the surrounding Gaoshan.

A few Meng Sect cultivators who had come to watch now felt a quiet urge to retreat—they clearly realized Shen Zongzhu had prepared for this, and they didn't know how much more he knew.

"Hu."

Zhong Guangde closed his eyes; black light flickered from his third eye, and an eight-tiered dark Dao Palace rose to dominate the sky.

No wonder he's the heir of such a famed great power.

Each tier of the Dao Palace radiated heavy pressure; even Xian Sect cultivators would admire his heavenly talent.

Though not a direct disciple like Li Yu, with a chance to inherit an Elder's position, he still qualified for personal instruction from an Elder.

"Shen Zongzhu, I advise you to stop here."

He opened his eyes; his deep voice echoed across the heavens: "Think of Nan Yang Sect's current plight, then look around at Taoyuan Shanzhuang's present strength—don't let empty fame cloud your mind, nor let slanderers blind your ears. Stop now, and it's not too late."

"We were meant to be the closest ally to Nan Yang Sect."

"Besides, the cost of taking one more step is beyond what you can bear."

As his words ended, three more eight-tiered Dao Palaces surged forth beside the mountains, and several figures rose into the air.

The overwhelming pressure instantly drowned out the Nan Yang Sect's aura.

"…"

Shen Yi gave a slight nod; all their endless words, when they reached his ears, boiled down to one thing.

He'd have to do it himself.

The next instant, a massive figure of pure jade-green flesh suddenly appeared.

Amidst a boastful, wild laugh, the giant green rhinoceros charged across the sky and slammed violently into the cliff!

Smash it!

Crack—

Dense cracks suddenly appeared on the mirror-like stone wall—the sign of a broken formation.

"Stop him!"

Zhong Guangde formed a hand seal and roared.

Instantly, someone shot through the air—clearly someone who had cultivated a spirit-body technique—and launched a ruthless strike at the green rhinoceros's back!

Yet as he flew halfway,

his entire body was crushed down with a thunderous crash, severing the spring and collapsing the Gaoshan.

When the dust cleared,

a silver-armored figure stood, expression grim, eyes filled with deep terror, gripping the cultivator's throat.

"I'm so scared… I'm really scared!"

It muttered, then slammed a fist into the cultivator's skull, the knuckles soaked in blood.

"How dare you look upon the heavens?"

Another punch shattered the cultivator's eyes.

The silver-armored figure's movements bore unmistakable traces of Tian Yan Si Jiu.

"Aren't you afraid? Why aren't you afraid!"

Under the watchful eyes of all, the silver-armored figure pounded the cultivator's body in a frenzy, slamming him viciously into the mountain range.

In that instant of Zhong Guangde's stunned disbelief.

The Azure Rhinoceros had already shattered the stone wall, revealing the teleportation formation beneath.

It charged in with a sudden lunge.

Shen Yi finally set his steps in motion, treading through the air, his figure vanishing into that formation.

In an instant, Zhong Guangde's face paled slightly.

He instinctively wanted to step forward.

The moment he made any move, he was sent flying back by a blood-soaked, flesh-torn body slamming into him.

After barely pushing that body aside, a twisted yet expressionless face suddenly appeared in his line of sight.

"You... aren't afraid either?"

A hoarse voice drifted by his ear.

Zhong Guangde suddenly trembled all over, his body instinctively darting backward!

"Heh."

The Nanyang Sect stewards instinctively swallowed.

This spirit puppet looks more and more familiar somehow, and it even seems fiercer than that Azure Rhinoceros from last time.

They hurriedly stepped into the air and likewise vanished into the stone wall.

(End of chapter)