Volume 4 Chapter 52

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Volume 4 Chapter 52: Secret Struggle

"Dear taoist friends, this is my first visit to the ‘Qingxu Gate.’ Could you kindly tell me about the current situation of ‘Qingxu Gate’? It will help me prepare for the upcoming lecture."

After the long-winded Elder Deng took his leave, Xu Qingfan let out a relieved sigh. He then turned to the two Qingxu disciples responsible for hospitality and asked with a smile.

Upon hearing Xu Qingfan’s question, the two disciples did not sense anything amiss. They respectfully replied, "Please feel free to ask, senior. We shall answer whatever we know."

Xu Qingfan gave a slight smile and asked, "Since beginning my cultivation journey in the Southern Wasteland, I’ve been isolated and remain ignorant of the current masters in the cultivation world. Although I happened to meet Senior Xuan Ling and was honored to be invited to give a lecture at ‘Qingxu Gate,’ I know nothing about it. Can you, dear taoist friends, tell me about the renowned masters within ‘Qingxu Gate’?"

When Xu Qingfan posed this question, the two Qingxu disciples visibly perked up and eagerly began describing the current masters of "Qingxu Gate" to Xu Qingfan. It was evident that, like Elder Deng, these two disciples were immensely proud of their lineage as Qingxu cultivators, and their words were filled with pride. Being raised under the prestigious "Qingxu School," pride in their sect seemed to be a common trait among all "Qingxu Gate" cultivators.

Thus, under the guise of flattery, Xu Qingfan’s question made these two eager to share all they knew. They nearly tried to place the top ten cultivators of the cultivation world within ‘Qingxu Gate.’ Although they didn’t know specifics regarding the personal secrets of individual cultivators, such as their levels of mastery, the most famous names in ‘Qingxu Gate’ were widely known, so they did not conceal this information from Xu Qingfan.

Originally, Xu Qingfan wasn’t truly a Southern Wasteland rogue cultivator. As a Deacon Elder of Jiuhua Mountain, he probably knew more about the experts within the "Qingxu Gate" than the two Qingxu disciples in front of him. So, this question was intended by Xu Qingfan to be a conversation starter.

However, from the introductions by these two Qingxu disciples, Xu Qingfan gathered some different information. It seemed that their admiration for an elder named Liu Ziqing ranked just below Xuan Ling and Huanlingzi. Yet, in the information Xu Qingfan had previously gathered, Liu Ziqing was simply an ordinary elder in the "Qingxu Gate." He hadn’t expected Liu Ziqing to be held in such high regard within the "Qingxu Gate."

At this thought, Xu Qingfan’s interest piqued, and he asked, "I’ve already heard about the esteemed Xuan Ling and Huanlingzi. But who is this Senior Liu Ziqing? It seems from your words that his status is not below that of Xuan Ling and Huanlingzi. Yet, during the ‘Qingxu Preach,’ I hadn’t heard of him."

While Xu Qingfan asked this, he suddenly felt a sweep of Divine Sense, but it was fleeting. Assuming it to be the routine inspection of the Qingxu elders, Xu Qingfan wasn’t concerned and continued listening to the disciples with a smile.

One Qingxu disciple named Dai Guan answered, "Martial Uncle Liu is a very low-key person, so he isn’t well-known in the cultivation world. But in terms of both reputation and skill, he is among the best in our ‘Qingxu Gate.’"

Another disciple named Zhang Pei said, "Indeed, especially Martial Uncle Liu’s strategic mind; it’s the best in the sect. Take the last Qinglingzi incident, for instance. Without Martial Uncle Liu, no one would have noticed…"

Hearing Zhang Pei’s words, a flash of anger crossed Dai Guan’s eyes. He glared at Zhang Pei, who realized he had said too much and quickly fell silent.

Xu Qingfan seemed suddenly very interested in this Liu Ziqing, asking several questions about him. Gradually, he shifted the topic towards Qinglingzi.

Yet, it was a wonder how Zhang Pei became a hospitality disciple of the Qingxu Gate. As a hospitality disciple, caution and vigilance should have been his first priorities, but Zhang Pei was quite the blabbermouth. Despite Dai Guan’s constant attempts to signal him to stop, Zhang Pei pretended not to notice. With just a few questions, Xu Qingfan gleaned a lot of useful information.

After several questions, the disciple named Zhang Pei finally sensed something was amiss and gradually fell silent. Seeing the growing unease on the faces of the two disciples, Xu Qingfan knew he couldn’t probe further without arousing suspicion, so he feigned a casual smile and suddenly changed the subject, "I see, this Senior Liu is indeed remarkable. So, about ‘Ronghua Mountain’, where ‘Qingxu Gate’ is located, what are the beautiful scenic spots there, worth visiting?"

Hearing that Xu Qingfan had finally changed the topic, both disciples breathed a sigh of relief and eagerly began to describe the scenery of ‘Ronghua Mountain’. Although Xu Qingfan appeared to be listening attentively with a smile, his mind was deep in thought.

After Zhang Pei and Dai Guan had finished introducing the scenery of ‘Ronghua Mountain’, Xu Qingfan asked, "You’ve both described the scenery of the front mountain; what about the scenery of the back mountain?"

Hearing Xu Qingfan’s question, both Zhang Pei and Dai Guan looked awkward and troubled. After a long hesitation, Dai Guan said, "As ordinary disciples, we don’t know the scenery of the back mountain because only elders can enter there. Therefore, we cannot answer your question, Senior. Please forgive us."

Xu Qingfan smiled gently, indicating he wasn’t concerned, then asked them some other unimportant questions before letting them leave.

However, what Xu Qingfan didn’t know was that as soon as Zhang Pei and Dai Guan were out of Xu Qingfan’s secluded courtyard, Dai Guan immediately turned to reproach Zhang Pei, "Senior Brother Zhang, though I am your junior, I shouldn’t say this, but how could you discuss matters about Qinglingzi with outsiders? Have you forgotten the orders from Martial Uncles Xuan Ling and Huanlingzi?"

Zhang Pei wasn’t bothered by Dai Guan’s reproach but rather showed a peculiar expression. After a while, he said, "Do you think I’m someone who can’t tell the importance of things? It was Martial Uncle Liu who suddenly gave me a message, instructing me to reveal some information about Qinglingzi and Qingxu Gate to Senior Xu."

"What?" Dai Guan asked, startled.

Zhang Pei smiled bitterly, "I don’t know the specific reason, either. We should hurry back to report now. Martial Uncle Liu wants us to recount every question and reaction from Senior Xu just now."

Upon hearing Zhang Pei’s words, a serious expression appeared on Dai Guan’s face as well. He said no more and hurriedly followed Zhang Pei towards the summit of "Ronghua Mountain."

…

Watching the two disciples in charge of hospitality walk away, Xu Qingfan frowned and sank into deep thought.

Just now, after some probing, Xu Qingfan had a general understanding of the current situation at "Qingxu Gate."

Of course, this understanding was quite superficial. Even if Xu Qingfan wanted to ask about deeper information, it was unlikely that these two reception disciples would know. Moreover, if he asked too deeply, these Qingxu disciples would certainly become suspicious.

Even so, Xu Qingfan did learn some very useful information. For instance, through his continual probing, he discovered that during the overthrow of "Qingxu Gate’s" previous sect leader Qinglingzi, an elder named "Liu Ziqing" played a crucial role from start to finish. Liu Ziqing was the one who first noticed that Qinglingzi’s cultivation method differed from the other elders of "Qingxu Gate." It was also Liu Ziqing who united the other elders to overthrow Qinglingzi under the pretext of "hoarding self-interest." After Qinglingzi was overthrown, the two major figures Xuan Lingzi and Huanlingzi stood side by side. However, because their prestige and skills were comparable, it was difficult to decide who should become the next sect leader of "Qingxu Gate." But considering Liu Ziqing’s reputation within Qingxu Gate, as long as he clearly expressed support for one of them, that person’s chances would increase significantly. Given Zhang Pei and Dai Guan’s high regard for Liu Ziqing’s intellect, this Liu Ziqing should not fail to see the harm caused by not having a sect leader and letting Xuan Lingzi and Huanlingzi stand equally. Yet, Liu Ziqing still remained unresponsive, which was quite intriguing.

For this reason, Xu Qingfan couldn’t help but harbor a bit of caution toward Liu Ziqing. If all this was unintentional on Liu Ziqing’s part, it would be one thing. But if it was deliberate, then Liu Ziqing being able to subtly wield such control over "Qingxu Gate," bending situations to his will, would be truly frightening.

Moreover, Xu Qingfan gathered from the demeanor and tone of the two Qingxu disciples some extremely important information – the mysterious Ronghua back mountain.

According to the information Xu Qingfan had gathered from Jiuhua Mountain, "Qingxu Gate," although claiming to be a genuine orthodox sect, still had a place of imprisonment called "Quelan Jail" within its domain. It incarcerated either traitors from within the sect or the scum of the cultivation world. While those two Qingxu disciples described the scenery of Ronghua Mountain’s front side in detail, Xu Qingfan found no place that matched "Quelan Jail." However, the back mountain, where regular disciples were not allowed to enter, was the most likely location for "Quelan Jail."

Qinglingzi’s power level is just a step below the Mahayana Stage, even higher than that of Xuan Ling and Huanlingzi. To safely detain Qinglingzi, the "Quelan Jail," with its numerous restrictions and personally set by Immortal Qingxu, is the most suitable place.

There’s also Immortal Zizhen’s cave. When Zhang Pei and Dai Guan described the scenery of the foothills of "Ronghua Mountain," they didn’t mention any taboos. Given Immortal Zizhen’s status, no one should approach during his seclusion. Zhang Pei and Dai Guan didn’t mention this, suggesting that Immortal Zizhen’s retreat is likely in the back mountain.

"So, my next actions should focus on the back mountain of Ronghua?"

Xu Qingfan thought to himself quietly.

Although he had a target, Xu Qingfan couldn’t feel excited. The back mountain of Ronghua is taboo for the entire "Qingxu Gate," meaning it is likely guarded by Qingxu elders. These elders have cultivated for centuries and reached at least the Real Golden Core Stage. For Xu Qingfan, at the middle stage of the Fake Golden Core Stage, sneaking in silently is nearly impossible. Despite having the "Transform into the Wind" ability, the "Wind of Desolation" is of such a unique nature that it’s difficult not to be noticed.

More importantly, after his conversation with the two Qingxu disciples, Xu Qingfan learned a lot but still felt something was off.

After thinking long and hard, Xu Qingfan’s body suddenly trembled slightly as he realized the crucial point.

Zhang Pei and Dai Guan were clearly Qingxu Gate disciples responsible for welcoming guests. While their cultivation level might not be high, they must be very cautious and vigilant, and speaking carelessly is a big no-no. As one of the six Holy Lands, the Qingxu Gate would certainly not choose a talkative person as a welcoming disciple. Therefore, Zhang Pei’s frequent slips in speech seemed very unusual.

Recalling the sudden sweep of Divine Sense before Zhang Pei’s slip, Xu Qingfan originally thought it was a routine check by a Qingxu elder. But now it seemed that during the brief sweep, someone might have instructed Zhang Pei, causing his sudden lack of caution.

Thinking of this, a slight bitter smile appeared on Xu Qingfan’s lips as he softly murmured, "I was so cautious, yet in the end, I was still schemed against. As a rogue cultivator with no ties, my sudden interest in Liu Ziqing and Qinglingzi’s affairs must have raised suspicions in Xuan Ling and others’ minds."

"Though I was plotted against, there’s a silver lining. At least I’m certain that there’s something fishy about the Qingxu elders overthrowing Qinglingzi, especially regarding Immortal Zizhen. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be probing me at this moment."

After a gentle sigh, Xu Qingfan shook his head slightly, casting aside his frustration. Since the situation was already unfolding and frustration couldn’t turn back time, the only option was to set it aside and do his best to find a solution. Besides, for Xu Qingfan, he had come to Qingxu Gate already under suspicion. Gathering some useful information was worth the increased suspicion.

A technique learned from Liu Huaxiang was to focus on three points when analyzing matters: thoroughly examining known information, evaluating one’s advantages and disadvantages in the current situation, and putting oneself in the opponent’s shoes to understand their mindset. This approach allowed the devising of various strategies and assessing their likelihood of success.

It must be said that Liu Huaxiang greatly influenced Xu Qingfan; many lessons from Liu Huaxiang had unconsciously become part of Xu Qingfan’s habits.

Based on information gathered from Wan Yusheng, the "Qingxu Preach," and Zhang Pei Dai Guan, Xu Qingfan concluded three distinct advantages and one absolute disadvantage for himself.

First, according to Wan Yusheng, not all Qingxu elders supported overthrowing Qinglingzi. They believed that Qinglingzi must have had reasons for keeping secrets. After all, Qinglingzi had cultivated connections and reputation at Qingxu Gate for years, which couldn’t be overlooked. Some of these elders escaped Ronghua Mountain with Qinglingzi’s loyal successors, while others fell into silence. What are these silent elders’ current stances? Do they still support Qinglingzi? If so, this might be Xu Qingfan’s opportunity.

Second, while Xu Qingfan was certain there was something amiss within Qingxu Gate, its members still couldn’t ascertain Xu Qingfan’s true intentions, leading to inevitable hesitations in their actions.

Third, although Xu Qingfan knew little about Qingxu Gate’s affairs, they knew nothing about him. For example, Xu Qingfan’s ability to "Transform into the Wind" and his various magical tools could play a significant role at crucial moments.

These three points were exactly what Xu Qingfan could use for his actions in the coming days.

However, compared to these advantages, Xu Qingfan’s disadvantages were more obvious. He was currently at the "Qingxu Gate," where he was at a definite disadvantage in terms of power. If anyone noticed anything amiss, one or two elders from the "Qingxu Gate" could easily suppress him. Moreover, since he was within the "Qingxu Gate," those Qingxu elders could monitor Xu Qingfan freely without any concerns, giving Xu Qingfan no room to maneuver.

Although he had analyzed all the known materials in his hands thoroughly and had identified the pros and cons of the current situation, Xu Qingfan still couldn’t find a suitable countermeasure. Firstly, because he didn’t know Liu Ziqing well, it was impossible to guess Liu Ziqing’s thoughts under the current circumstances. Secondly, faced with such an overwhelming disadvantage in strength, Xu Qingfan suddenly realized he couldn’t think of any strategy to cope.

Xu Qingfan recalled Liu Huaxiang once telling him that strategy is only useful when the strength is relatively balanced. Now Xu Qingfan deeply understood this point and secretly regretted accepting the invitation to the "Qingxu Gate," feeling it might have been a misstep.

"Things have come to this, I might as well take things step by step and adapt as I go. There might still be a chance to see what kind of person this Liu Ziqing is and then find a countermeasure."

With that, Xu Qingfan returned to his room. First, he took out the "Earth Mirror" from his sleeve, and then he moved his fingers in a series of gestures. Moments later, under Xu Qingfan’s control, a faint clear light emerged on the "Earth Mirror." Through the light, Xu Qingfan noticed three light spots in the center, each in green, blue, and gold.

After a while, Xu Qingfan put away the "Earth Mirror" and murmured, "This Qingxu Gate indeed has restrictions everywhere. The ‘Earth Mirror’ originally could observe scenes within a hundred miles, but here it can only reach less than three miles. However, should I feel honored that the ‘Qingxu Gate’ has assigned three Real Golden Core Stage elders to watch over me?"

Then, Xu Qingfan stopped thinking about other things, sat cross-legged on the bed, and slowly closed his eyes to meditate and rejuvenate. Since meeting Xuan Ling several days ago, Xu Qingfan had been constantly analyzing and dealing with schemes, which were not his strong suits, leaving his mind truly exhausted. So, once he realized he couldn’t come up with more ideas, he decided to rest and recharge to better handle the relentless probes that were sure to come.

…

Meanwhile, at the top of "Ronghua Mountain," in the "Qingxu Hall" where the elders gathered.

"Clap…!"

Liu Ziqing gently closed the folding fan in his hand, wearing a gentle smile, and asked the two before him, Dai Guan and Zhang Pei, "Oh? Were those all the questions Xu Qingfan asked at the time?"

"Yes, after Martial Uncle instructed us to come back and report, I made sure to remember all of Senior Xu’s questions one by one without any mistakes," Zhang Pei responded with a bow.

Liu Ziqing’s expression remained unchanged as he continued to play with the folding fan in his hand. His voice stayed gentle as he asked again, "Then, after Xu Fan heard the information you deliberately leaked, were there any omissions from earlier?"

Dai Guan respectfully answered, "There were no omissions. On the way here, I carefully cross-checked everything with Martial Brother Zhang Pei several times."

Liu Ziqing nodded with satisfaction, waved the folding fan, and said to Dai Guan and Zhang Pei, "You may leave now."

After hearing Liu Ziqing’s words, Zhang Pei and Dai Guan quickly bowed to each of the elders present and backed out.

As Zhang Pei and Dai Guan’s figures disappeared from "Qingxu Hall," Huanlingzi hurriedly asked Liu Ziqing, "Well? Did Junior Brother Liu discover anything?"

Liu Ziqing’s eyes flickered slightly, then he shook his head and chuckled softly, saying, "It’s just a few conversations, what can really be discovered from them? It only increased the possibility that Xu Fan came here for Qinglingzi from twenty percent to forty percent. However, Xu Fan seems to be quite curious about me, so if I visit Xu Fan after some time and chat with him, I can then solidify the possibilities."

Huanlingzi asked again, "Do you mean you can confirm the purpose of Xu Fan’s visit here?"

Liu Ziqing shook his head and said, "Not confirm it, but I can find out whether there’s more than a fifty percent chance that Xu Fan is here to spy on Qinglingzi, or less."

"Only fifty percent?" Huanlingzi frowned and questioned.

Liu Ziqing played with the folding fan in his hand, opening and closing it, as his voice became gentler, "In dealing with such matters, a fifty percent possibility is enough for us to decide many things."

Xuan Ling, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened his half-closed eyes slowly and asked softly, "Are you saying that the decision is to detain Xu Fan? But Liu, have you considered that Xu Fan might just be acting under an elder’s orders? Once they notice Xu Qingfan hasn’t returned for a while, aren’t you afraid their teachers will come looking? Don’t forget, the Southern Wasteland is very close to Penance Valley."

Liu Ziqing said casually, "Indeed, considering Xu Fan’s age and ability, there’s about a seventy percent chance he’s acting under someone else’s orders, and a thirty percent chance he himself is a Penance Valley cultivator. But once we detain him, we have many methods to make him reveal who his real master is. By then, I will have plenty of strategies to handle it. Besides, uncovering the master behind the scenes is more crucial than the growing suspicion, isn’t it?"

Upon hearing Liu Ziqing’s words, the Qingxu elders sighed quietly. They naturally knew what means Liu Ziqing would use to make Xu Qingfan divulge the one pulling the strings from behind. The Qingxu Gate’s understanding of the Original Soul of the mind is unparalleled in the cultivation world, and they indeed have many methods to torment the Original Soul, causing unbearable pain without leaving any physical marks. But such methods are too cruel to be used lightly by the Qingxu Gate.

However, at that moment, the elders couldn’t think of other methods. Compared to the voice of the sect, they had no choice but to be ruthless this once, thus silently agreeing with Liu Ziqing’s idea.

Liu Ziqing noticed a barely discernible hint of sarcasm in his eyes when he saw the Qingxu elders agree with his approach. He then composed himself, bowed to Xuan Ling and Huanlingzi, and said, "Brother Xuan Ling, Brother Huanlingzi, I will now go and meet Xu Fan. Please wait for my return to make a decision."

Xuan Ling and Huanlingzi both nodded silently.

As Liu Ziqing was heading out of the Qingxu Hall, he seemed to remember something and turned to some Qingxu elders, saying, "Regardless of the outcome of my meeting with Xu Fan, could I request you all not to secretly meet with Xu Fan in the future?"

The Qingxu elders Liu Ziqing addressed were those who had consistently supported Qinglingzi.

Hearing Liu Ziqing’s blunt words, these Qingxu elders all showed signs of anger on their faces, but, noticing the look in Xuan Ling and Huanlingzi’s eyes, they reluctantly agreed.

Seeing the reluctant reactions of these Qingxu elders was almost a pleasure for Liu Ziqing, who chuckled softly before continuing to walk slowly out of the Qingxu Hall.

…

Not long after Zhang Pei and Dai Guan left, Xu Qingfan planned for a while and then began to meditate. Just as his mind was about to enter a serene state, his body suddenly shivered slightly, feeling that someone was approaching his location.

"I am Qingxu Liu Ziqing, seeking to meet Taoist Friend Xu. May I have the honor?"

Suddenly, a gentle voice was heard outside Xu Qingfan’s door.