Volume 4 Chapter 72

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Volume 4 Chapter 72: Sudden Change

In Zhang’s hidden sanctuary, shortly after Number One went to investigate the cause of death of Number Four, Zhang gathered everything with two other subordinates and prepared to move to the backup sanctuary.

Inside Zhang’s sanctuary, Zhang stood quietly with his hands behind his back, facing Number Two and Number Three who stood respectfully. Behind them were dozens of purple-clad cultivators, all of Zhang’s subordinates except for the five numbered members, and among these, two would become the new Number Four.

Seeing the respect of his subordinates, Zhang nodded in satisfaction and slowly said, "Now we will move to the backup sanctuary. Number Two and Number Three, you two take the others and depart in two separate groups. Be cautious on the way. I will follow shortly."

"Yes," Number Two and Number Three responded respectfully.

With a gentle wave of Zhang’s hand, Number Two led half of the purple-clad men out of the sanctuary. After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Number Three also led the other half away swiftly.

After approximately half an hour, Zhang slowly turned around, giving the sanctuary he had lived in for hundreds of years one last careful look. After a long while, he sighed deeply, feeling a little regret for having so easily offended Zhang Xusheng. Although he had now allied with several others who were displeased with Zhang Xusheng to jointly oppose him, Zhang still felt uneasy. After all, Zhang Xusheng had built a formidable reputation in "Ming" for a long time and was closely connected with "Xuan," who ranked just below the two elders "Heaven" and "Earth." Recently, it was rumored that Zhang Xusheng’s cultivation technique would soon be perfected after fusing with the heart method, making him potentially stronger than "Xuan." Facing him would not be easy.

With another slight sigh, Zhang’s gaze turned resolute. Since he had already made his choice, Zhang could only continue down this path.

In this world, some things leave no room for regret.

"Let’s go."

After a moment of contemplation, Zhang softly spoke to the empty mountain cavern.

As Zhang’s voice faded away, four cultivators, each with distinct appearances, silently appeared beside him. These cultivators exuded an extremely powerful aura, all at least at the Golden Core Stage. Their eyes were dull and lifeless, for they were Zhang’s crafted puppets over the years.

With the appearance of the four puppets, Zhang casually walked towards the cave’s exit. However, just as he stepped outside, he froze in shock, his body stiffening in terror, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Outside Zhang’s cave, nearly fifty heads had suddenly appeared at some unknown time. Though lifeless, the expressions of terror remained on their faces, neatly arranged into three concentric circles, startlingly appearing before Zhang.

These fifty heads were from two groups of subordinates Zhang had dispatched earlier.

If it were only this, Zhang wouldn’t be so terrified. Yet, in the center of the three concentric circles formed by the heads stood a single cultivator.

This cultivator was handsome, with a slightly delicate appearance, exuding the aura of a middle-aged scholar full of wisdom and talent. Dressed in white, the hem of his robe fluttered in the wind, his long hair flowing freely, enhancing his extraordinary presence.

Although surrounded by fear-stricken heads, the expression on this white-clad scholar’s face remained composed and elegant, adding an eerie beauty to the grim scene.

The man in white clothes was precisely the person "Zhang" was most concerned about—Zhang Xusheng!

Seeing "Zhang" emerge from the cave, Zhang Xusheng smiled faintly and bowed slightly, chuckling, "Taoist friend ‘Zhang’, we haven’t seen each other for a long time. How have you been these years?"

Previously, when "Zhang" had met Zhang Xusheng, Zhang Xusheng always wore purple clothes. The high, wide collar hid his face, so although "Zhang" clearly knew that Huang from the Ming organization was Zhang Xusheng, he had only seen Zhang Xusheng’s face in pictures. Now, seeing him in person, he appeared even more handsome and elegant than in the illustrations, a demeanor unmatched in "Zhang’s" lifetime.

But at that moment, "Zhang" couldn’t afford to admire him and was secretly alarmed. Before, when he encountered Zhang Xusheng, he could slightly gauge Zhang Xusheng’s power through the strength of his Original Soul. But now, trying to probe Zhang Xusheng’s cultivation, "Zhang" was horrified to find that the area around Zhang Xusheng seemed like a black hole. Even with his "Art of Annihilation" cultivated to the utmost level and his Original Soul Divine Sense fully condensed, when probing Zhang Xusheng, it was as if the Divine Sense was absorbed with no response. Let alone determining Zhang Xusheng’s cultivation level.

Seeing the trace of astonishment on "Zhang’s" face and his lack of response, Zhang Xusheng wasn’t upset; instead, he smiled and said, "What’s the matter? Taoist friend doesn’t seem pleased to see me. Could it be that I have offended you in some way?"

Zhang Xusheng’s sincere smile ignored the dozens of heads at his feet.

After a long while, "Zhang" took a deep breath, regaining his composure, and coldly asked, "How did you find the location of my cave?"

Zhang Xusheng smiled slightly, pointing to one of the heads below, which belonged to "Zhang’s" subordinate, Number Two. Softly, he said, "Taoist friend, you probably don’t know that this friend, upon meeting me, couldn’t bear the longing in his heart for you and told me the location of your cave."

Hearing Zhang Xusheng’s words, "Zhang’s" eyes flashed with anger. He hadn’t expected Number Two to betray him and coldly retorted, "And yet you still killed him?"

The smile on Zhang Xusheng’s face became more elusive as he softly said, "I am just too timid, fearing that if a friend misses me like this in the future and tells others where I am, what should I do then?"

"Zhang" snorted coldly. Although he felt a bit scared inside, the sight of the four puppets behind him calmed him slightly, and he growled, "Zhang Xusheng, stop pretending. Tell me, what is it you want from me this time?"

Zhang Xusheng sighed slightly and said, "Taoist friend, you must know I am in the process of merging hearts, right? I did not expect it to be more troublesome than anticipated, so I need your help."

"Help with what?"

"I humbly ask if you could lend me your vital essence and Original Soul for a while."

…

After one incense stick burned out, outside Zhang’s cave, chaos reigned. The ground had been blasted down several meters during the battle, and the large rocks and trees within hundreds of meters had vanished without a trace.

Yet Zhang Xusheng still stood in place. Even though the four puppets under Zhang had self-detonated one after another, they didn’t harm him in the slightest. His clothes and hair remained perfectly intact.

In Zhang Xusheng’s hand, a faint blue light kept leaping and struggling, as if trying to escape his grip.

This bluish-green glow was actually the Original Soul of "Zhang."

Seeing the Original Soul in his hand, which was as powerful as a Mahayana cultivator, Zhang Xusheng nodded in satisfaction.

Suddenly, a cultivator silently appeared beside Zhang Xusheng, and it was Bao Qingfang, who had previously fled Jiuhua Mountain.

"Master." Bao Qingfang hesitated for a moment as he looked at Zhang Xusheng, but then continued, "After killing ‘Lie’, ‘Zhang’, and others, will it be difficult to explain to the two elders of Heaven and Earth? It’s usually fine, but now is the crucial time for the organization’s plan…"

Zhang Xusheng glanced at Bao Qingfang calmly, then said indifferently, "The relationship between ‘Ming’ and me is just mutual exploitation. Now that my plan is nearly successful, ‘Ming’ doesn’t hold much value for me anymore."

Seeing the profound look in Zhang Xusheng’s eyes, Bao Qingfang felt a chill in his heart and quickly bowed in agreement.

Zhang Xusheng smiled and nodded, then suddenly soared into the sky, flying towards the distance.

Bao Qingfang was slightly stunned, hurried to ride the clouds and follow, and cautiously asked, "Master, aren’t we going back to the base?"

Zhang Xusheng replied with a smile, "Apart from ‘Zhang’, ‘Lie’ and ‘Yu’ are also part of the plan against me. It’s never good to be targeted, so I might as well meet them in advance."

Little did Liu Ziqing know that the hidden traps he had painstakingly left in the "Ming" organization were so easily eliminated by Zhang Xusheng.

Meanwhile, deep within the mountain where the "Ming" gatherings were held.

Since there was no gathering at that moment, only the organization’s founders, the two elders Tian and "Di," were present inside the mountain.

Suddenly, Tian said calmly, "’Zhang’ is dead, and ‘Huang’ is on his way to ‘Lie’s’ cave."

"Di" remained silent.

Tian slowly sighed and said, "’Huang’ is being too reckless, and he and Xuan are starting to show signs of losing control. Based on ‘Huang’s’ temperament this time, we need to find at least four people to join the organization."

"Di" still remained silent.

Tian, however, seemed to have grown used to Di’s attitude and muttered to himself, "Do you think we should warn ‘Huang’? His actions are having too great an impact on our plans."

Finally, "Di" slowly opened his mouth, his voice seeming to contain the passage of countless years, ancient and worn.

"’Ming’ is just a tool we organized to achieve our goals. This is the last catastrophe. After it’s completed, our purpose will be fulfilled, and then there will be no need for the ‘Ming’ organization. It’s good that ‘Huang’ is taking action. It saves us some trouble."

Listening to "Di", it turns out that after this disaster ends, they want to personally destroy the "Ming" organization.

"Yes, just let them do as they please, as long as they don’t interfere with our plan."

‘Tian’ slowly said.

…

Meanwhile, with Xu Qingfan.

"Now that I am sealed, could you take me to meet your family master?"

Even after being sealed, Liu Ziqing’s expression remained unchanged, and he asked with a calm smile.

"Taoist Friend Liu, you were too careless."

After sealing Liu Ziqing, Xu Qingfan let out a sigh of relief and no longer concealed his voice, speaking calmly.

As Xu Qingfan spoke, the Spirit Qi within him circulated. Suddenly, a purple glow flickered around him, and the purple robe vanished, revealing Xu Qingfan’s true appearance and clothing.

The moment Liu Ziqing saw Xu Qingfan, his face changed drastically but quickly returned to calmness, with a slight bitter smile on his lips as he murmured, "I didn’t expect to end up in Zhang Xusheng’s hands after all."

Xu Qingfan explained calmly, "You misunderstand. I am not Zhang Xusheng’s subordinate, I just accidentally underwent his secret transformation."

After a brief pause, Xu Qingfan continued, "Compared to Zhang Xusheng, perhaps you should worry about how to face Immortal Zizhen and the Qingxu Gate cultivators in a while."

Hearing Xu Qingfan’s words, Liu Ziqing knew Xu Qingfan would no longer lie at this point. A hint of relief flashed across his face before it returned to its enigmatic smile. He asked softly, "So you killed the real ‘Zhang’s’ operative? And it was indeed with your help that Immortal Zizhen escaped?"

Xu Qingfan nodded slightly in agreement and then, without further hesitation, held Liu Ziqing and prepared to fly towards the Qingxu Gate.

Just as Xu Qingfan was about to take off, Liu Ziqing suddenly smiled and said softly, "Someone else is coming, another low-ranking member of the ‘Nether’. It’s strange, how is it that the usually low-key ‘Nether’ keeps appearing today?"

Xu Qingfan was slightly stunned and realized moments later that a cultivator not weaker than himself was indeed approaching rapidly. He was filled with surprise, not because a cultivator was coming, but because Liu Ziqing, who had been fully sealed by him, had noticed the arrival before him. Could it be that Liu Ziqing had another hidden trick?

Thinking of this, Xu Qingfan placed Liu Ziqing on the ground, with a flick of his finger, a small wisp of "Withered Qi" shot into Liu Ziqing’s neck, rendering him unable to speak for a short time. Then, Spirit Qi flowed through him, and a robe of purple once again wrapped around him.

At that moment, a short figure dressed in purple flew swiftly towards Xu Qingfan’s position.

As Xu Qingfan looked up at the approaching figure, most of his attention was still focused on Liu Ziqing beside him, feeling a slight sense of unease since Liu Ziqing had detected the newcomer before he did.