Chapter 58: Master, Senior Brother Gao Xian Is Dead

After regaining his composure, Zhou Qing still couldn’t resist opening the box.

Inside lay a highly pure prismatic stone, its surface shimmering with flowing light.

“Top-grade spirit stone!” Zhou Qing exclaimed in shock.

One top-grade spirit stone equals a hundred mid-grade spirit stones—ten thousand low-grade spirit stones in total.

Zhou Qing never expected the sect’s reward to be this generous.

His earlier disappointment instantly turned to joy.

The spirit egg of the old hen, the top-grade spirit stone, and the supreme-grade spirit stone in his hand—these alone were enough to sustain his cultivation for the foreseeable future.

Especially now, with his talent being top-tier.

After changing clothes, Zhou Qing decided to seek out his Master first, to see if he could use his methods to dig deeper into the fake Gao Xian.

He simply didn’t know how much time remained before this man acted.

What if he slipped in at night and killed him silently—who would notice, let alone suspect him?

That’s it—do it this way!

After formulating his words, Zhou Qing headed straight for Mo Xingjian’s residence.

“Little Four, where are you rushing off to?”

No sooner had he stepped out than Yan Xiao Hu greeted him from afar, then ran up grinning, looking embarrassed: “Did you also get a top-grade spirit stone?”

Zhou Qing nodded: “Yes, Third Brother. I have urgent business to discuss with Master—but no, you must come with me. You’ll serve as a witness.”

“Witness? What kind of witness? You nearly distracted me—top-grade spirit stones are rare. Use them wisely for cultivation; their low impurities allow better absorption by the body...”

“I know, Third Brother—let’s go now!”

Zhou Qing grabbed the bewildered Yan Xiao Hu and hurried toward the mountain peak.

Soon, they spotted their Master preparing to leave.

After the Sect Master’s morning commendation, he’d said the elders had matters to discuss.

“Wait until I get back!” Mo Xingjian glanced at his two disciples impatiently.

Zhou Qing pleaded urgently: “Master, it’s a matter of life and death!”

Yan Xiao Hu nodded vigorously: “Yes, Little Four is truly desperate.”

Seeing they weren’t joking, Mo Xingjian halted: “You have ten breaths. Speak quickly.”

Zhou Qing glanced around, then stepped forward, speaking in hushed tones: “Master, Gao Xian Senior Brother is dead.”

At these words, Yan Xiao Hu froze.

He instinctively stepped back two paces, ready to flee.

How careless—I’m so smart, yet I actually believed Little Four had urgent business.

And I followed him into this mess.

Gao Xian Senior Brother is dead?

Then who was standing among the crowd this morning—a ghost?

Look, look—Master’s expression has changed. Oh no, oh no—he must think we’ve gotten arrogant again after just earning some merit?

Mo Xingjian stared at Zhou Qing’s serious face, his expression shifting repeatedly, then sighed softly.

“Are you still not fully recovered from your injury? Or did this morning’s excitement unsettle you? Men, what’s the big deal? Even scratching your butt isn’t worth mentioning—I once saw your Senior Brother sneak his toe-picking residue to his nose and sniff it.”

Zhou Qing and Yan Xiao Hu both widened their eyes.

Could that cold, decisive Senior Brother really have done such a thing?

Mo Xingjian gently patted Zhou Qing’s shoulder: “Don’t worry. In the core disciples’ circle, your reputation has been ruined so many times no one cares anymore—they’ve long grown used to it. Perhaps they’ve always assumed you’re exactly like this.”

Zhou Qing felt like crying.

You’re truly my wonderful Master—the first time I’ve ever heard such an “encouraging” words of comfort.

No, I’m talking seriously!

Seeing his Master about to leave, Zhou Qing grabbed his arm: “Master, I’m telling the truth. It all started when we entered the mountain range assigned to us and discovered a cave...”

Zhou Qing quickly summarized the events. At first indifferent, Mo Xingjian’s brow gradually knitted tighter as he listened.

“Ask Third Brother—he saw the bloody stone,” Zhou Qing pointed urgently at Yan Xiao Hu.

Yan Xiao Hu, now pale with alarm, blurted: “I wondered why you kept staring at that stone, and why you’ve been in a daze ever since we left!”

Zhou Qing nodded vigorously: “I only brushed it by accident—then suddenly, Gao Xian Senior Brother’s voice echoed in my mind. He said he couldn’t accept dying like this, and begged whoever came after him to avenge him.”

“The voice was fragmented—the residual energy must be nearly spent. I couldn’t tell if it was real or not, so I decided to tell you, fearing that if it was true, then the one on Golden Sun Peak now...”

Zhou Qing trailed off. Mo Xingjian’s face darkened.

Yes—if true, this was terrifying.

Seizing the moment, Zhou Qing voiced his suspicions.

“If you don’t believe me, we can secretly return to the cave to investigate further. And I’d like you to check whether Gao Xian Senior Brother ever left the sect before, and what routes he took.”

“After he returned, what did he do? What secret sect matters did he participate in? Did he accompany other Senior Brothers on missions? And which Senior Brothers who recently interacted with him have now cut off contact with others?”

He couldn’t investigate these himself—he lacked the means. Only his Master could.

Hearing Zhou Qing’s chilling theories, Mo Xingjian felt a chill run through his bones.

Yes—if Gao Xian Senior Brother was an imposter who deceived them all, who could say he hadn’t also deceived other Senior Brothers?

Now that he thought about it, over the years, two or three Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters had remained in long-term seclusion, their interactions with others drastically reduced.

“Gulps~”

Mo Xingjian involuntarily swallowed.

“Let’s go now!” Mo Xingjian grabbed both of them and hurried out of the sect.

…………

Inside the ruined cave, Mo Xingjian stared at the bloody stone on the ground, frowning as he touched it with his fingers.

Too bad the blood had long dried, and who knew how many years had passed.

“Perhaps... you’re telling the truth.”

After a long silence, Mo Xingjian studied the remnants of battle scars in the cave, then spoke heavily:

Time may erase all traces—but some things remain unmistakable.

Mo Xingjian closed his eyes and traced the scars with his fingertips.

“I sense Gao Senior Brother’s Ancient Buddha Blade intent, and Xuan Yin Sword Qi here—but they’ll vanish in another year or two. Clearly, he fought a life-or-death battle in this very place.”

Mo Xingjian spoke slowly, each word deliberate.

Zhou Qing fell silent. Yan Xiao Hu swallowed hard.

“Master, if Gao Xian Senior Brother truly died, then who is the one now...?”

Mo Xingjian remained silent—he didn’t know.

Zhou Qing stepped forward. Now that he had clear clues, he must voice them to guide everyone.

“Master, after this incident, I believe it’s either the Cangyan Dao Palace, or some other faction’s long-term infiltration and setup—and they’re likely preparing a major move soon. We must be on guard.”

Mo Xingjian’s eyes lit up as he turned to Zhou Qing, filled with approval.

How had he never noticed? This boy, besides his habit of sneaking peeks at baths, possessed such meticulous thinking.

Excellent! Excellent!

“Very likely. Remember—don’t speak of this to anyone. I must inform the Sect Master immediately and uncover the truth. For now, don’t wander off. Act as if you know nothing.”

Mo Xingjian gave them a solemn warning.

(End of Chapter)