Chapter 421
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Chapter 421: The Mastermind Behind the Qiao Family
"What you say makes some sense, but—-"
The leader of the Great Dao Sect pondered for a moment, making Elder Qingzhuo’s heart skip a beat.
Time passed by, and Elder Qingzhuo felt as if this moment was as long as a whole day before he heard the leader of the Great Dao Sect continue:
"Even starting from the chaos of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, how could a declining family from a small world interpret martial arts to such a degree? How could they produce martial artists capable of rivaling Nascent Soul and Soul Changing cultivators?"
After careful consideration, the elders also found it logical.
Cultivating martial arts cannot lead to immortality like cultivating immortality can. While a martial arts family could pass down their martial arts through generations, the inheritance of these skills and knowledge might not be smooth or complete.
Even if a master teaches a disciple or a father teaches his son with all their knowledge, how much can they truly learn?
Otherwise, after three hundred years since the founding of the Great Yan Royal Family by Emperor Yan, they should have had many skilled individuals of superb rank by now.
Upon hearing this, Elder Qingzhuo’s heart also stirred.
A sect leader is a sect leader, they always consider matters from a long-term perspective.
Even though the elders were discussing it with different opinions, he could still see the flaws in their arguments.
"So…." The sect leader of Great Dao Sect spoke in a deep voice:
"A member of the Qiao family may not necessarily be from the ten blessed small worlds, they might even be from the Nine Caves Heaven Small World."
He looked around at the elders and shared his guess:
"How could a martial arts family like the Qiao family suddenly emerge? Even in declining small worlds, it is extremely rare to achieve such a level."
"But if one of the Nine Heavenly Immortal Gates secretly intervened to help, it would be possible."
"Does the sect leader mean…" Elder Qingzhuo was shaken to the core.
"Could the mysterious figure behind the Qiao family be related to Long Life Gate?" pondered the leader of Great Dao Sect.
The elders were shocked and chilled.
Among the Nine Heavenly Immortal Gates, Long Life Gate is considered a unique one.
They believe in the "end of the world catastrophe" theory of the Soul Predicting Path, where many study the path to immortality in an era of depleted spiritual energy.
Being a pillar of the immortal path, part of the Nine Heavenly Immortal Gates, turning to study mortal martial arts… naturally made them stand out.
However, as the elders of Great Dao Sect pondered further, they sensed something amiss.
"Cultivators from Dong Province Long Life Gate are also cultivators of the immortal path, with broad perspectives. They are not researching mortal martial arts, but the way of martial arts."
"They enjoy meddling with mortals, with the Xue family before them and the Long Life Fist technique rumored to be from Taoist Changsheng."
The elders were extremely worried.
If a member of the Qiao family is not in the mysterious Small World of the Ten Blessings, but instead in the Long Life Gate of the Small World of Cave Heaven, one of the Nine Heavenly Immortal Gates, acting as the mastermind behind the scenes, studying mortal martial arts in secret, things suddenly make a lot more sense.
After all.
It’s unlikely for a group of martial arts experts far surpassing the current level to suddenly appear out of nowhere, even defeating two major Immortal Gates in a row.
If this martial arts family is actually created by the Long Life Gate, just like the Xue family members, or even a secret army hidden in the Cave Heaven Small World… then it makes more sense.
The Long Life Gate, one of the Nine Heavenly Immortal Gates, secretly nurtures martial arts experts within the small world, bearing the name of the Qiao family, and then successively destroying two major Immortal Gates…
Looking at it this way, the ambitions of the Long Life Gate may be quite grand…
"Isn’t the Long Life Fist technique spread by the Long Life Gate the ancestral martial art of the Qiao family members?" Elder Qingzhuo widened his eyes.
"It all makes sense now!"
The elders pondered carefully, feeling a sense of dread in their hearts.
If the person behind the Qiao family is really from Long Life Gate, then Long Life Gate must have planned it meticulously….
"You truly deserve to be the leader of the sect, Brother Gao," Elder Qingzhuo said admiringly.
"If it is the latter, then the so-called struggle between immortals and mortals, and the battle of immortals, is actually just a game between the Nine Heavenly Immortal Gates. It’s just that this time Long Life Gate’s methods are more aggressive."
At this point, two speculations about the background of the Qiao family were discussed.
One is the theory about the origins of the ten great blessed lands.
The other is the theory about the person behind Long Life Gate.
However, as the discussion went on, the elders were almost convinced by the sect leader.
Regardless of which speculation, they all try to explain this martial family that cultivators find hard to understand.
"I need to test Long Life Gate," thought the sect leader of the Great Dao Sect in silence.
"If this is true, Long Life Gate would never admit it…"
"Even if Long Life Gate’s Supreme Elder wants to protect the Qiao family member, they will all die."
The Nine Immortal Gates each occupy a territory to seize incense offerings, and the Great Dao Sect being able to control the densely populated Zhong Province where the Great Yan Imperial Capital is located, is not without reason.
However, the confidence of the Great Dao Sect leader actually lies not in themselves, but in their own sect.
The rise of the Qiao family member is built on the bones of cultivators.
The Great Dao Sect has long wanted to uproot the Qiao family member.
Attempting to trace the roots of the Qiao family member is just a way to find ways to deal with them, regardless of who supports them, it does not affect the determination of the Great Dao Sect leader.
……………………….
Nan Province, Tiger City.
A handsome swordsman in a white robe, with a long sword at his waist, walked on the street.
Tiger City is the place where the brothers Earth Sword Immortal fought side by side before.
Southern King Wang Songhe burned a Taoist temple here, and later the brothers Earth Sword Immortal teamed up to kill a Xuantian Sect Nascent Soul Immortal, causing a stir in the whole city.
Even though the incident has passed, the streets and teahouses are filled with discussions about the matter.
Jiang Chen, a handsome young man in a robe with a sword, listened quietly, feeling emotional inside.
"Returning to my hometown, I didn’t expect so many big events to happen in my old town."
Jiang Chen was originally a low-ranking martial artist from Tiger City. He once traveled with his wife, and met Guo Yan father and son and Qiao Mu in Yan City.
Later, he gave up his sword and became a storyteller at the Tide Listening Building, traveling with Clairaudience who led him into the building over the years.
However, the recent events in Nan Province were too shocking to hear, so Jiang Chen and others traveled from Zhong Province to come here.
He followed the crowd and arrived at the ruins of the Taoist temple in Tiger City.
The Taoist temple had been completely destroyed due to the Southern Army’s actions of cutting down mountains and destroying temples.
The original temple had turned into ruins, with the statues inside collapsing in the courtyard, split in half.
At that moment, a group of brave soldiers struggled to lift a tall stone stele.
""
"Hmm? Is this a stele recording deeds and praising merits?" Jiang Chen wondered.
In ancient times, it was common to erect steles to record achievements like victories in battles and successful disaster prevention efforts.
Before the Southern Army destroyed the temple, and after the Earth Sword Immortal brothers killed the Nascent Soul Immortal here.
Such deeds in a small city like Tiger City were indeed worth commemorating on a stele.
"Get up, it’s standing up."
"What does it say on top?" Jiang Chen squeezed into the crowd and saw that the inscription on the stone stele was not about deeds, but…
"Human Path Sutra?"
Jiang Chen was surprised.
As a storyteller at Tide Listening Building, he had naturally heard of the "Human Path Sutra" and knew about the Peach Blossom Villa that spread this practice.
"In the ruins of the ancient Taoist temple, erecting a stone stele to record the ‘Human Path Sutra,’ to preserve such a practice…"
Jiang Chen stared at the curious crowd surging around him, deep in thought.
Coming from a background as a martial artist in the martial world, he had keen senses. At this moment, he suddenly turned back and saw some elderly people at the end of the street pointing in their direction, muttering curses under their breath.
"Look up three feet, there are gods and immortals; show no respect for gods or immortals. Nowadays, young people really…"
"Not listening to the advice of the elderly will lead to problems sooner or later… sigh."
"…."
Jiang Chen stopped listening further, as he was tired of hearing those words already.
"Even though Xuantian Sect has been destroyed, there are still many devoted believers…." Jiang Chen fell silent.
Just then, someone gently tapped his shoulder from behind.
"Jiang Chen, what do you think?"
When he turned around, he saw that it was Clairaudience, one of the main pillars of Tide Listening Building.
"In my opinion…" Jiang Chen pondered for a moment, then looked at the elders in the distance and said:
"Easy to break a fairy in a ruined temple, difficult to break a fairy in a broken heart…"
"Stop, stop!" Clairaudience frowned.
"Who asked you that? Don’t forget our identities. I mean, this time in Nan Province, where do you think we should start our investigation?"
The storyteller at Tide Listening Building is a listener chasing after worldly waves.
Clairaudience wasn’t asking for Jiang Chen’s personal opinion, but considering how to spread the Nan Province tide as much as possible.
"Honestly, after following me for so long, you still don’t understand my meaning. Next time, just go talk to ‘Clairvoyance’." Clairaudience complained.
"After coming out of the Hundred-mile Desert, even Clairvoyance has changed a bit, maybe you two will get along better."
Clairaudience is a pillar of the Fantastic Faction, emphasizing the word ‘fantastic’. The more shocking the news, the more excited and happy he becomes.
Jiang Chen felt a bit embarrassed and after thinking carefully, he said:
"In my opinion, let’s start investigating from Peach Blossom Villa."
"The storm that destroyed the mountain and temple in Nan Province started with a member of the Qiao family. I heard that the Qiao family member now lives in the mountain village spreading teachings. Wouldn’t it be better to visit them directly?"
"Visit them directly?" Clairaudience was taken aback.
He really hadn’t expected this twist.
Mainly because he often said that storytelling involved a lot of fabrication, the more fantastical the better, which often angered those involved in the events. As his reputation grew, it became harder to easily connect with those involved.
"Paying a direct visit to Peach Blossom Villa is indeed a good idea." Beside him, Storyteller Clairvoyance also spoke up.
His third eye on his forehead was tightly closed at this moment, looking like a shallow scar that didn’t attract attention.
"Clairaudience and Clairvoyance have traveled a long way to Nan Province, which is quite rare in the Tide Listening Building," Jiang Chen thought silently.
After coming out of the Hundred-mile Desert, Clairvoyance became the pillar of practicality, often at odds with Clairaudience.
Therefore, their joint action now was quite rare.
In fact, if Landlord Nian Chao Sheng wasn’t always careful, this big incident might have attracted Landlord himself to come over..
…………………………….
Inside Peach Blossom Villa.
"Transform!"
Lord Qiao Xin turned to the side and raised his hand, using his long spear to flick away a fireball that came towards him.
The intangible flames swiftly moved around in the air as he wielded his long spear, then returned back, narrowly missing Li Changshi’s shoulder.
"Do you understand now? Mastering the Hua strength isn’t so difficult, it just requires practice." Qiao Xin stood with his spear in hand, calmly saying:
"Just practice according to the method I’ve taught, and you will eventually master it."
The group of martial artists looked puzzled.
This move of Hua strength kung fu, no matter how many times they see it, they all find it unbelievable. It’s like a complete overturn of their understanding of martial arts.
Wu Mingkong’s reaction was even more intense.
"No, Mr. Qiao Xin, how did you also learn Hua strength kung fu?"
"On that day, were you intentionally deceiving me? Is this actually a Qiao family’s inherited martial art? Is Qiao Jinyin really a Qiao family member?"
She couldn’t help but exclaim.
Qiao Xin pondered silently for a while before slowly shaking his head:
"It’s not."
"Wasn’t it you who taught me this Hua strength kung fu before?"
"This Hua strength kung fu is indeed not an ordinary martial art, it is really difficult to practice. I didn’t grasp the key points at the beginning."
"Later on, they meditated together with cousin Qiao Qijin for three full days before having a breakthrough."
Wu Mingkong suddenly choked up.
If Qiao Mu claimed that she taught him the Hua strength technique, she found it even more unbelievable than believing Qiao Jinyin was real.
He managed to master the Hua strength in just three days, making him feel proud.
However, Qiao Xin and Qiao Qijin were able to excel in the Hua strength technique to a level that even Qiao Mu, the instructor, found astonishing.
"Could there really be exceptional geniuses in this world who surpass me?"
Wu Mingkong suddenly felt extremely defeated, her mouth slightly open, looking somewhat dazed.
She had always been able to outshine others directly, but now seeing Lord Qiao Xin display an unmatched talent in martial arts, she felt inferior.
"I don’t believe it. If he can master the art of teleportation in combat, then I can too…" Wu Mingkong stood in the crowd, closely observing Qiao Xin demonstrate the movements of the Hua strength technique.
This was the first time she felt so defeated in her understanding, and the first time she focused all her attention on listening quietly to Qiao Xin’s storytelling..
"This little girl… is a bit too easy to understand." Qiao Mu, on the other hand, stood on the side, finding it hard to hold back his laughter.
He deliberately had the flesh clone speak in that way, but didn’t expect it to work so well.
"Simple provocation tactics, but very effective." A stone sword quietly floated nearby, commenting.
"In this world, exceptional talents like me are generally proud, and she is no exception."
"Right now, she’s just being driven by a competitive spirit."
Despite the Earth Sword Immortal talking nonsense and looking out of place, he was actually quite arrogant.
After losing to Elder Qingzhuo from the Great Dao Sect, he spent thirty years within the Hundred-mile Desert.
It may seem like giving up, but in reality… it truly is giving up, however, this is also a form of resistance.
…
