Chapter 48: The Jian Master Questions the Mountain

Qingzhou is the territory of the Chen Clan Immortal Family, situated upon Huangyun Mountain.

They are the only immortal sect to have preserved their aristocratic form since ancient times; all incoming disciples must forsake their original surnames and join the Chen lineage.

And just at the beginning of Taiyuan, on a bright day when spring was near and winter’s chill receded, the great array of Huangyun Mountain suddenly dissolved, and the immortal mist that had shrouded the peaks gradually dispersed as the sect leader swept his sleeve.

In that moment, celestial light surged; disciples from the inner and outer courts lined both sides of the mountain path, whispering among themselves.

“Are disciples from another sect coming to pay respects?”

“The sect’s protective array has been lifted—this isn’t a visit of respect, it’s a question of the mountain.”

“What’s the difference between paying respects and questioning the mountain?”

“Disciples from other sects, no matter who they are—even the current direct disciples—must submit a formal petition before visiting another sect; that’s called paying respects. Only the sect leader of another sect arriving for a specific reason may be called questioning the mountain, and out of respect, the visited immortal clan must lift its protective array.”

“Why have I never heard of another sect’s leader leaving their mountain?”

“Yesterday, an elder disciple saw messengers from Lingjian Mountain arrive; reportedly, it’s their direct disciple, the young Jian Master.”

At the peak of Huangyun Mountain, where clouds stretched for ten thousand hectares, three figures stood amid the wind and turbulence, their feet bathed in ten thousand golden rays of the rising sun, turning the surging clouds into white waves streaked with gold.

Of the three, two were young man and woman: Chen Luo and Chen Xi, siblings of the main bloodline.

Though young, both had already reached the Mid-Stage of Fusion Dao, making them the direct disciples of this generation of the Chen Clan Immortal Family.

Behind them stood an old woman, a Wujiang cultivator, their guardian.

The three gazed down from the sea of clouds, seeing Chen clan disciples arrayed across the mountain, with immortal cranes flying amid the mist, their expressions deeply puzzled.

“Last autumn, my sister and I visited Lingjian Mountain ourselves, presenting the rites of respect. Yan Shuyi was merely a direct disciple of Lingjian Mountain—how dare she come to question the mountain, and why did she stir the Ancestors?”

Chen Luo spoke coldly, turning to the old woman behind him.

The white-haired old woman replied: “Young Master speaks truly, but this young Jian Master of Lingjian Mountain is unlike other direct disciples.”

Chen Xi couldn’t help but ask: “Aunt Wu, how is she different?”

“Among the Seven Immortal Sects of the present age, aside from Tian Shu Academy, which has yet to name a direct disciple, the other six all have direct disciples—but the young Jian Master of Lingjian Mountain is the sole exception.”

The old woman clasped her hands behind her back: “For among the six direct disciples, she alone has taken control of a Heavenly Dao Sacred Artifact. Though not the sect leader, she already holds the status of one.”

Chen Xi and Chen Luo exchanged glances, a flicker of astonishment in their eyes.

They knew well that even becoming a direct disciple did not guarantee becoming the sect leader.

Like Chu Xian of Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion, whose Xuan Dao was unmatched, brilliant beyond measure—yet Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion still bore the surname Ji.

So whether the current Xuan Yuan sect leader will truly pass the succession to Chu remains uncertain.

Though the cultivation path flourished across Qingyun, it shared the same nature as mortal dynasties: rule by family.

In the lands of Great Xia, folk operas often told tales of disciples of astonishing talent who ascended the mountain, won the sect leader’s favor, received his arts and married his daughter, as if given everything.

But consider: in an immortal sect that had endured for millennia, who would truly entrust the fate of an entire clan and the power of its rise and fall to an outsider?

Even among those of the same surname, internal power struggles raged fiercely.

For instance, Lingjian Mountain’s three main branches—Tianjian Peak, Xuanjian Peak, and Wenjian Peak—had vied for supremacy for thousands of years, until Tianjian Peak seized all authority and produced five successive sect leaders.

But after the previous Jian Master, born of Tianjian Peak, mysteriously vanished, the Ling Jian lost its control.

Until that day, it fell upon Xuanjian Peak.

Thus, the young Jian Master of Lingjian Mountain differs from all other direct disciples of the present age.

For she, who wields the Heavenly Dao Sacred Artifact, is destined to become the next sect leader of Lingjian Mountain—even the current sect leader has no right to interfere.

The Sacred Artifact represents the Dao lineage; as long as the lineage endures, sect disciples may still ascend from the Upper Five Realms to the Threshold of Immortality.

If the Seven Immortal Sects lose the recognition of their Dao lineage, they are merely larger aristocratic clans.

Thus, none of the other six immortal sects truly regard her as merely a lowly direct disciple.

Even if she were to visit Tian Shu Academy, ranked first, its sect leader would personally lift the sect’s protective array to show goodwill between the two sects.

Upon hearing this, Chen Luo and Chen Xi were utterly astonished.

The old woman could not help speaking: “Qingyun has remained stable for a thousand years because the Seven Immortal Sects each guard their own domain. But in recent days, demonic seeds have appeared frequently—it is clear that chaos is coming. The young Jian Master of Lingjian Mountain, on her first journey from her mountain, has come to our Chen Clan. Regardless of her reason, this is a deterrent to other immortal sects and all lurking villains.”

Chen Xi suddenly understood: “So that’s why the direct disciple of Wen Dao Sect rang bells and beat drums to congratulate her on her breakthrough?”

“Precisely. After all, she is a woman—she will eventually marry.”

“...”

Chen Luo and Chen Xi pondered for a moment, when suddenly the immortal cranes in the clouds raised their heads and cried out.

Then, a woman of peerless beauty appeared upon the sacred mountain path, followed by over a dozen others, walking calmly toward the clan’s grand hall.

Several elder members of the Chen Clan Immortal Family were already seated within the hall; the sect leader, Chen Ruhai, stood at the front, and both sides exchanged formal greetings.

“Your Excellency has traveled far—we are deeply honored. Please take your seat.”

Yan Shuyi smiled faintly: “Thank you, Sect Leader Chen.”

Chen Ruhai stroked his beard and nodded, then gave a glance to someone beside him.

Moments later, a thin, wiry clan member was brought into the hall, first bowing to the Elder, then to Yan Shuyi.

Standing beside Chen Ruhai was the clan’s chief steward, Chen Sheng, who now spoke: “The man you sent up the mountain yesterday—we have confirmed his identity. His name is Chen Qinghe; he was once a disciple of our Chen Clan Immortal Family. This is his former cultivation instructor, Chen En.”

Yan Shuyi raised an eyebrow: “Formerly?”

Chen En immediately bowed: “Respected Jian Master, Chen Qinghe was indeed my disciple, but after reaching fullness in the Lower Three Realms, he stagnated for many years and left the mountain over a year ago.”

“So the disciple lost by Lingjian Mountain has no connection to your Chen Clan Immortal Family?”

“Your Excellency’s insight is correct—Chen Qinghe’s actions were not ordered by our Chen Clan Immortal Family.”

Yan Shuyi turned to Chen En: “Do you know where Chen Qinghe went after leaving the mountain?”

Chen En shook his head: “After five years, the master-disciple bond ended. I know nothing of what he did after leaving.”

Chen Ruhai spoke solemnly: “Since your Lingjian disciple vanished within Qingzhou, our Chen Clan Immortal Family bears responsibility—we have already dispatched outer court disciples to search.”

Yan Shuyi glanced at Chen Ruhai, then turned to Chen En: “He left at fullness in the Lower Three Realms—yet over a year later, he reached Upper-Stage Fusion Dao?”

“Upon receiving your message yesterday, we also found it strange. We ordered our disciples to compile every record of Chen Qinghe’s cultivation methods, elixirs taken, and daily routines. Please follow me to the disciple hall.”

Yan Shuyi rose immediately and followed Chen En to the disciple hall to examine Chen Qinghe’s records.

Chen Ruhai glanced at Chen Sheng; the two left through the rear chamber into a narrow corridor, finally entering a stone chamber.

Chen Qinghe, bound in iron chains, writhed within the chamber—unceasingly since last night, clearly having lost all humanity.

“Have you confirmed it?”

“Confirmed. After leaving the mountain, he went to Qiling Town in Zhongzhou.”

Chen Ruhai spoke without expression: “The largest ancient ruin lies in Qiling—no one has ever opened it.”

Chen Sheng glanced at the Elder: “Is this connected to the demonic seeds suddenly leaving the ruin?”

“Certainly. But that’s not the point. The point is: in just over a year, how did a disciple at fullness in the Lower Three Realms break through to Upper-Stage Fusion Dao? There must be an extraordinary treasure within the ruin.”

“But Chen Qinghe has lost his humanity.”

Chen Ruhai chuckled: “So what? Even if he’s merely a weapon, he cannot fall into another’s hands. Tian Shu Academy sent disciples to investigate the demonic seed incident—not merely for the sake of their sect’s prestige.”

Chen Sheng pondered for a long moment: “Then we must send our own people quickly, lest we fall behind other immortal sects.”

“Indeed.”

“Should we inform the Grand Elder?”

The Chen Clan Immortal Family is a hereditary lineage; even the sect leader, Chen Ruhai, is not the sole authority.

The true controller of the Heavenly Dao Sacred Artifact is the clan’s patriarch, Grand Elder Chen, a present-day Threshold Immortal, who dwells deep in the mountains in cultivation.

Chen Ruhai paused, then waved his hand: “We have no leads yet—how dare we disturb him? First, uncover some clues.”

“Yes.”

“Also, find a way to keep the Lingjian Mountain party here for several more days—prevent any word from leaking.”

Chen Ruhai rolled up his sleeves: “The young Jian Master of Lingjian Mountain is no ordinary person—but she has lived too few years. She focuses only on finding her lost disciple, blind to the greater opportunity behind it.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng immediately turned and secretly sent messages to both inner and outer courts, selecting a group of disciples to quickly change attire and depart from the mountain’s back trail toward Qiling Town.

As the disciples slipped away, Ding Wanqiu and three disciples emerged from behind a thousand-year-old tree on the mountain’s back trail.

“The Jian Master’s guess was correct—follow them.”

“...”

(End of Chapter)