Chapter 339 - Coming Together and Separating in Sorrow and Joy

Qingluan and Ziyun’er noticed their Master’s solemn expression but didn’t think it was the right time to ask questions. Xiao Chen said, “Let’s go!” He took out his flying sword and flew toward the main peak of the mountain.

Lingtai Mountain comprised of numerous smaller mountains shrouded in clouds and mist. Out of its five main peaks, its main Black Dragon Peak was home to the Sect Leader and First Elder Yan Li. Star-picking Peak was home to Second Elder Xingzhen Zi, Moon-watch Peak to Third Elder Bai Ying, Pine Crane Peak to Fourth Elder Cang He, and Misty Peak to Fifth Elder Tian Yuanzi. The Outer Gate on Sunset Peak wasn’t on any of the main peaks.

Xiao Chen was somewhat absent-minded looking at the scenery below as he sped on his flying sword above the clouds, so much so that he nearly fell. The ruined halls, collapsed buildings, rocks that blocked the mountain path, and the large bloodstain on them…

“Master!”

Qingluan and Ziyun’er immediately steadied Xiao Chen with their hands when they saw how dazed he looked. Feeling his heart twist painfully, Xiao Chen shook his hand and landed on the Black Dragon Peak. The sudden descent of three sword lights frightened the light out of the disciples who were clearing up the aftermath. These people were so spooked that they immediately made a run for it without even seeing who had come.

Of course, some of them recognized Xiao Chen. “Don’t be scared! It’s Junior Brother Xiao!”

The rim of Xiao Chen’s eyes turned red as he looked at what a terrible mess the public square had turned. The entire Three Pure Hall on the east had collapsed. He could see the disaster playing out on his mind: the sudden arrival of Nascent Soul Realm cultivators in the sky beheading the people here before they could react, countless Sword Qi turning the halls into dust in an instant, untold number of people running in horror and pleading for their lives on their knees but all unable to escape death…

“Argh…!” Xiao Chen faced the sky and let out a drawn-out howl of despair and fear. It was he who brought this fate upon the Three Pure Sect.

“It’s Junior Brother Xiao! Junior Brother Xiao is back!” More disciples recognized Xiao Chen by then, and those that were running stopped in their tracks, hesitant as to whether they should return.

Calm finally returned to Xiao Chen’s eyes. He asked, “What about Third Elder? Where is she?” His most pressing concern was whether Bai Ying, Xiao Han, and the rest were still alive.

“Elders are recuperating in the rear of the hall,” a disciple replied in a quiet voice.

Xiao Chen felt a shred of relief after hearing that Bai Ying was safe. He continued to ask, “When did this happen? Who’s the culprit?!”

Quite a few disciples trembled and turned pale after hearing his questions. It was evident that what had happened traumatized them. One of them replied in a trembling voice, “Two people came here yesterday morning. We didn’t get a clear look at their faces. Only Elder Qing, who opened the Illusory Formation, knows…”

“Lead the way!” Xiao Chen clenched his fists so tightly that his bones creaked in protest. He wouldn’t be human if he didn’t get his revenge!

The disciples said nothing and led him to the rear of the hall. Xiao Chen noticed many parts of the sect turned into ruins along the way. The cultivation spot that Luo Shangyan risked her life to win for him, Spiritual Qi Valley, was completely destroyed. The arena had crashed onto the floor of the valley, broken into countless pieces. The entire Lingtai Mountain had lost its former luster with its birdsongs and fragrant flowers, leaving only its wounded self.

When they arrived at the rear hall half an hour later, all they saw were the tightly shut doors and seven or eight disciples guarding outside. The pale-faced and shivering disciples got a fright when they saw people approaching. One of them asked, voice shaking so hard that it was hard to make out the words, “Wh-Wh-What’s wrong? Did something happen again?”

The survivors of the disaster had been reduced into frightened shadows of their former selves. Xiao Chen walked up to them and asked the disciples, “Is the Elders inside?”

The disciple’s voice was still trembling with fear. “Wh-Wh-Whether they’re inside or not… Who are you?” His companion was stunned when he recognized Xiao Chen and said, “Don’t be scared. It’s Junior Brother Xiao.”

Suddenly, the doors opened with a creak. It was pitch-black inside, making it impossible for them to see what was going on inside. A young woman stood at the opened doors, her white dress tainted with bloodstains all over. There was a visible sword injury on her left arm. Her face was pale and her eyes were swollen from crying. She stared at Xiao Chen tearfully without speaking.

Xiao Chen lowered his head. “I, Disciple Xiao Chen, have wronged the sect!”

The woman was Third Elder Bai Ying. No longer as carefree as she had once been, she sniffled and said in a choked voice, “When did you come back?”

“Just now…” Xiao Chen fell into momentary silence before asking, “Uncle Master Xingzhen Zi… is he safe?” Back when he was in the Three Pure Sect, Second Elder was the one most protective of him after Bai Ying. Judging from Bai Ying’s expression, he feared…

Everyone lowered their heads in silence. Bai Ying’s tears threatened to flow once again. She looked up, bit her lip, and then shook her head.

A sharp pain pierced Xiao Chen’s heart. He walked into the hall and saw First Elder, Fourth Elder, and Fifth Elder inside. There was a man lying on the couch with his eyes closed, a face utterly devoid of color, and a still chest. His left arm was severed seven inches from his shoulder. It was Second Elder Xingzhen Zi, Bai Ying’s closest Senior Brother. Without salvation from this hopeless situation, he ended up sacrificing himself to save his people.

Considering both his and Bai Ying’s injuries, he must have blocked the attack for her.

Xiao Chen walked up to the couch with an incredibly heavy mood. No one said anything. Somehow, a gust of cold wind from the outside entered the hall and made a mess of his hair, as well as his memories.

“I swear I’ll avenge Uncle Master. First Elder, please open the Illusory Formation and let me have a look.”

The pale-faced and injured Elders said nothing after hearing his request. First Elder walked up to a large mirror, cast a spell, and struck the mirror with an orb of white light. The mirror began showing a moving scene.

Two men stood high in the clouds, one dressed in cyan and the other in red. They were Ling Yuanshan and Wan Gufeng of the Order of the Divine Fire. Xiao Chen clenched his fists so hard that his bones creaked. Sure enough, it was them. He knew it…

In the scene, countless golden Sword Qi rained down and obliterated the greenery and destroyed the halls and buildings. Never-ending screaming echoed from Lingtai Mountain. Some ran in horror while others kneeled and begged for forgiveness…

The men in the sky saw them all as ants as they guffawed and massacred wantonly. “If you want to blame someone, you can blame the seed of evil that your sect gave birth to! He had provoked someone that he shouldn’t!

…

The scene ended where Second Elder Xingzhen Zi blocked a Sword Qi for Bai Ying. Xiao Chen took a deep breath and said solemnly, “Is there an Illusory Formation under the mountain? I want to see how they break their way in!”

First Elder replied, “There was, but it was destroyed alongside the Grand Defensive Formation.”

“Then how did they leave?”

“It was a woman in white.” Bai Ying walked in. She still sounded as if she was close to tearing up. “A woman in white came. The two men immediately ran when they saw her…”

Xiao Chen took in a deep breath. If it wasn’t for the woman in white, would the entire Three Pure Sect be exterminated? Suddenly, commotion resounded outside the hall.

“Cousin Xiao Chen! Did you come back?”

Xiao Chen turned around and walked out of the hall, where he saw Xiao Wan’er and Xiao Han running over. He hastily walked up to them and asked, “How is the Xiao family doing? Have you checked on them?” Since Ling Yuanshan and Wan Gufeng were able to find the Three Pure Sect, he knew they would be able to find the Xiao family as well.

Xiao Chen was silent. Xiao Wan’er whispered, “It’s alright… The Xiao family won’t ever be in trouble again. You don’t have to worry about them anymore…”

Xiao Chen felt a shock run through his entire soul. He instantly felt the world around him spin. He grabbed her shoulders and asked in a trembling voice, “Explain yourself! What do you mean that they won’t ever be in trouble again? What do you mean that I don’t have to worry about them anymore?”

Xiao Han glared at Xiao Wan’er. “Shut up if you don’t know how to speak!” He looked at Xiao Chen and said, “Don’t misunderstand. The family is very safe.”

Xiao Chen sighed in relief. Xiao Wan’er’s words made him think that their family was massacred. This made him glare at her. “You’re almost twenty! Can’t you speak properly?”

Xiao Wan’er would typically protest, but she cried this time. “What are you guys doing? Did you think you can scold me just because Senior Brother Cheng Ying isn’t around anymore?” she yelled, sobbing.

Xiao Chen’s heart ached. Cheng Ying was Bai Ying’s eldest disciple and the person who fetched them from the Xiao family. Did the person who spoke up for Luo Shangyan back when Wen Qingyu stole their Octarine Core perish as well…?

No one said anything. Even the wind came to a standstill. The Three Pure Sect had been dealt with a great blow and suffered severe casualties. Even now, no one knew just how many disciples had died. Xiao Chen flicked his sleeves and said, “I’m going to check on Sunset Peak!” He turned into sword radiance and flew down the mountain.

Due to its lower position, the Sunset Peak was left mostly intact. However, it was shrouded with a deathly stillness. Outer disciples, who didn’t feel the same sense of belonging as the inner disciples did, immediately fled the moment the disaster struck.

The curtain of night gradually closed on them. The breeze swept them as they walked along the empty mountain road. Xiao Chen was in a sorrowful mood. From now on, no one would ever fight over Spirit Stones here again.

Before he knew it, he was back at his former home. The courtyard once filled with blooming white flowers now had petals scattered all over the ground. The house was the same as when he had left it, though a layer of dust covered everything because no one had stayed here for a long time.

The pots, bowls, ladles, and basins in the kitchen were still there, though covered with dust. Cobwebs had also formed on the roof beams. It seemed that no one had come here for more than half a year.

Xiao Chen walked out of the courtyard and saw that Xiao Han and Xiao Wan’er came with him. He asked, “Did Junior Brother Zhao, Junior Brother Qi, and Junior Brother Yan leave a long time ago? If they were still around, there was no way they wouldn’t visit this place.

Xiao Han sighed. “They left more than half a year ago. There were changes in Zhao State, so Junior Zhao returned and got himself embroiled in the fight for the throne. The Emperor of Yan State passed away and Junior Brother Yan had no choice but to return to inherit the throne. There was a coup in Qi State and the rebel army seized control of the palace. Several old ministers dragged Junior Brother Qi home and there is still no news of him even now…”

Xiao Chen took in a deep breath as memories flooded his mind. The scenery remained the same, but in just one short year, everyone had changed.

Qingluan stepped forward and saluted Xiao Chen. “What’s your plan now, Master? Will you return to Violet Manor?”

A dangerous glint flashed in Xiao Chen’s eyes. “There’s no hurry. How can I not return the favor after receiving such a tremendous gift from the Ling family? Since I’ll have to lay down an Immortal Incineration Sword Formation on Lingtai Mountain tomorrow, I’ll let them live for another day.”