Volume 5 Chapter 91

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Volume 5 Chapter 91: Success Seems Close, but Hidden Currents Surge (Part 2)

The establishment of the Righteous Alliance, for the small sects, is to unite their strength against the devastation, while for large sects like Qingxu Jiuhua and the hidden masters, the establishment of the Righteous Alliance is even more aimed at resisting the hidden force behind the devastation-"Ming."

Although Xu Qingfan does not know what the true purpose of "Ming" is, he judges from the clues he has gathered over the years from his encounters with those masters that they take the "Ming" organization very seriously. For many years, they have allowed the devastation to run rampant with little intervention, instead focusing their efforts on constantly searching for traces of "Ming." Over the years, these masters either remain in "Ronghua Mountain" doing unknown things or go out to seek certain items and investigate the "Ming" organization, only acting against the devastation when it is absolutely necessary.

Such behaviors make Xu Qingfan feel that these masters seem to know some extremely important secrets about "Ming," but for some reason, they have not shared this knowledge with the other members of the Righteous Alliance.

For example, teams like Xu Qingfan’s, made up of elites from various sects, are told each time they go on a mission to pay special attention to news about the "Ming" organization, even if it means they might not complete their assigned tasks.

Otherwise, if these masters fully exerted themselves, whether it be the "Eight Wilderness Hall" or the "Beast Madness cultivators," they would be easily defeated, and there would be no need for a cultivator like Xu Qingfan to struggle so hard.

Back then, after Xu Qingfan killed "Ying," a core member of "Ming," he was summoned by those masters and interrogated for over a day. It seemed the masters were unhappy that Xu Qingfan did not capture "Ying" alive or notify them before dealing with "Ying." Although at that moment, those thousands of cultivators were about to be infected by "Ying" with "Beast Madness," leaving no time for Xu Qingfan to alert them, judging by the expressions of the masters, they believed that the lives of thousands of cultivators and the destruction caused by becoming "Beast Madness cultivators" were of little importance compared to any trace of the "Ming" organization.

Over the years, the masters have allowed the devastation to grow. Besides maintaining their status and refusing to act against lower-level cultivators, they may also have reasons to use the devastation to find traces of "Ming," even if it means significantly harming the entire cultivation world and letting their own sects decline without any complaints.

However, Xu Qingfan cannot understand what reason could lead these masters to willingly make such sacrifices.

Before Xu Qingfan’s recent mission, the masters seemed to have discovered something and moved together. This matter was very secretive, and Xu Qingfan learned about it by chance.

Hearing Xu Qingfan’s question, Qinglingzi was slightly surprised, then shook his head and said, "The elders still have not returned; it has already been a month."

Upon hearing Qinglingzi say this, Xu Qingfan became even more puzzled. What could be so important that these masters would join forces and take more than a month without completing it? Could it be that these masters have already gone to war with the "Ming" organization without anyone knowing?

Just thinking about this possibility, Xu Qingfan shook his head in denial. Such an important matter as fighting the "Ming" organization, the masters would never keep quiet about it.

But besides that, what else could be important enough for the masters to unite?

After Xu Qingfan reported the events before and after his mission to the leaders of the sects, they each went their separate ways. At this time, the "Beast Madness cultivator" had gradually been wiped out, and what remained was the task of eliminating the remnants of the "Eight Wilderness Hall," making the leaders’ work much easier.

Just as the sect leaders were dispersing, Xu Qingfan hurried to Qinglingzi’s side and shared the situation about Xu Xiurong with him.

"This time, Taoist friend Xu made a mistake, which caused the deaths of seven Taoist friends; therefore, I believe she should be punished. I suggest that she goes into seclusion at ‘Ronghua Mountain’ to reflect."

Upon hearing Xu Qingfan’s decision, Qinglingzi first glanced at Xu Qingfan, then quietly nodded and slowly said, "Indeed, over the years, as casualties have increased, our numbers have become very scarce. It was manageable before, but during the fight against the ‘Beast Madness cultivator,’ those cultivators below the Condensed Core Stage were completely useless. I knew well that she was not suited for combat, yet I had no choice but to let her participate. Now that the disaster seems to have come to a temporary pause, letting her go into seclusion for a while is quite appropriate."

Hearing Qinglingzi say this, Xu Qingfan knew that his caring for Xu Xiurong because she was not suitable for fighting had been seen through by Qinglingzi, but he did not say much more, just nodded slightly and took his leave.

After leaving, Xu Qingfan walked towards the foot of "Ronghua Mountain." Seven years ago, in the battle that caused great casualties for Jiuhua, Ting’er and Little Black were both seriously injured while protecting him. After seven years of recovery, they had gradually healed, and the last time Xu Qingfan came down the mountain for a mission, both of them were close to recovery. At this moment, they should have fully recovered, right?

Thinking about the concern hidden behind Ting’er’s indifferent expression and Little Black’s unwavering loyalty over the years, Xu Qingfan’s heart, which had gradually grown cold from endless battles, felt a slight warmth.

※※※※

Meanwhile, Xu Qingfan did not know that some events concerning his future fate were unfolding.

Far to the east of the Eastern Sea, there was still an endless ocean, and the sky and sea were a shade of blue that made one easily lose their way. Here, the waves crashed violently, the weather changed unpredictably, and even a Condensed Core Stage cultivator would find it hard to withstand the might of nature. Combined with various high-level demon beasts, this area had become a place where no humans had ever set foot.

At this moment, there were fourteen figures quietly floating in this blue world. Although the sea breeze was wild, these fourteen figures did not even stir, forming a circle that spanned several miles, their expressions tense as they fixed their gazes on the sea before them, seemingly waiting for something to appear.

Among them, there was a Spiritual Herb gleaming with a faint green light, floating in mid-air. This small herb was only the size of a finger, but its Spirit Qi could be felt clearly from miles away.

The fourteen individuals were the fourteen masters of the Righteous Alliance, the place Xu Qingfan had previously guessed they might be. With their cultivation levels and status, it was unclear what could make them treat something so seriously.

"Taoist Friend Zizhen, has that thing really appeared in this area? This ‘Azure Green Grass’ is a treasure of heaven and earth, and it is also something that that thing loves very much. With the allure of ‘Azure Green Grass,’ why have we waited for three full days, but that thing still has not shown up?"

The one asking was the Venerable Deaf Mute Blind from Penance Valley.

"It has indeed appeared here before, but we do not know if it has been moved. Yet we must give it a try, after all, this spirit has not been seen in the cultivation world for thousands of years. Besides here, we have nowhere else to look…"

Immortal Zizhen stopped suddenly in the middle of his answer, his expression changed dramatically, and Mr. Liu and a portly-looking master also turned pale at the same time as Immortal Zizhen.

Moments later, the other eleven masters also changed in color one after another.

"It’s coming."

Mr. Liu murmured, his face tense but with a hint of hope, while the expressions of the other masters were similar to his.

Just after Mr. Liu finished speaking, a powerful aura that changed the colors of the heavens and the earth suddenly rose from the seabed. As this aura grew stronger, the originally clear sky turned dark in an instant, dark clouds gathered, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, and the sea breeze became more violent. Then, a whirlpool gradually appeared on the sea surface beneath the ‘Azure Green Grass.’ As time passed, the size of this whirlpool grew larger, expanding to several miles in just a moment, as if the entire world could be swallowed by it.

Seeing this tremendous force, even the masters couldn’t help but change their expressions slightly.

After a moment, a distant yet powerful roar came from the depths of the sea. Even through the thick water, it shook the heavens and the earth. This single roar had a majesty that made all things bow down in submission.

Then, at the center of the whirlpool, a gigantic creature suddenly burst through the water, swiftly heading for the "Azure Green Grass" in the sky. Its body was long and endless, and even after rising a hundred feet from the water surface, it had not completely left the sea.

They saw that this gigantic creature carried an overwhelming presence, with antlers like deer, a head like a camel, eyes like a rabbit, a neck like a snake, legs like a deer, and claws like an eagle, its body covered in shimmering green scales. It was the legendary top among the four great Mythical Beasts—the Azure Dragon!

Even these masters, who were normally calm and prepared for this, momentarily froze upon seeing such a divine creature.

Just then, Mr. Liu’s voice suddenly rang out.

"What are you old folks doing?! Why are you just standing there? Quickly, use your powers to capture it! That ‘Azure Green Grass’ is my treasure! If this beast eats it, I will not let you off easily!"

The incredibly powerful Azure Dragon was seen by Mr. Liu as just a beast, as if he were talking about a mere poultry.

With Mr. Liu’s shout, the masters finally reacted. They formed hand signs, and the originally majestic Azure Dragon flying towards the "Azure Green Grass" began to slow down. Its body seemed to be trapped in an invisible cage. Despite its struggles and roars, causing the sea to churn and the world to shake, it could not resist.

However, the Azure Dragon was still the Azure Dragon. Even as fourteen masters combined their powers, their faces gradually turned pale, feeling their Spirit Qi deplete at an alarming rate.

In the end, although the Qinglong was incredibly powerful, it was still no match for the fourteen masters working together. After resisting for ten whole days, it finally had no strength left to continue fighting. With an unwilling roar, it was captured by a master, who used a shining golden flag.

Once all of this was done, the masters did not care about anything else and floated in place, quietly recovering. It was not until three days later that they opened their eyes one after another.

"Let’s go. We have only captured the Zhuque and Qinglong. There are still two main and four special beings waiting for us old guys to face," said Mr. Liu with a wry smile.

Mr. Liu said with a bitter smile.

Hearing Mr. Liu’s words, the other masters nodded slightly and quickly flew towards the west. In the blink of an eye, they disappeared, leaving behind a peaceful blue sky and earth.

※※※※

On the other side, to the west of the Western Desert, there was also a desolate place, with no rain for a thousand years and no lakes or rivers for miles. Under the fierce sun, even the toughest plants like cacti could not survive. The quicksand was everywhere, with storms constantly raging. The sand was dug up to great depths, revealing countless dry bones. Under the wind and sand, a yellow wasteland stretched endlessly.

Amidst this desolation, one day a streak of purple suddenly appeared. It was a purple-clad cultivator flying deep into the Western Desert. Although the person had reached the peak of the Golden Core Stage, they were unlucky and happened to encounter a terrifying storm. The chaotic sandstorm made the whole desert world despairingly fierce, making it very difficult even for someone of their level to move.

After much struggle, this person finally survived the fury of the sandstorm. They paused for a moment to catch their breath and smooth out their disheveled clothing. The ring on their hand, engraved with the character "Ri," seemed to have dulled in color after enduring the torment of the storm.

After finishing all this, the cultivator closed his eyes for a moment, then flew dozens of miles further west. He stopped in mid-air and, without hesitation, called out to the vast, empty desert, "I am ‘Ri,’ a cultivator from ‘Ming,’ seeking to meet my friendly Taoist ‘Bi Xie.’"

After calling three times in a row, the desert, which had finally returned to calm, finally reacted again. Suddenly, the sand beneath "Ri’s" feet started to flow like water in all directions. Moments later, a large dungeon appeared before his eyes. This city looked like a human metropolis; the streets were neat, buildings stood tall, and in the center of the city was a magnificent palace that was dazzling and beautiful.

Seeing that the city’s master showed no intention of welcoming him, "Ri" couldn’t help but frown slightly, feeling displeased with this person’s arrogance. If this person’s abilities were as strong as the forces of nature, that would be one thing, but in reality, this person’s skills were not much greater than his own; he only relied on a strange cultivation method, which was why he had never encountered any rivals among Condensed Core Stage cultivators.

However, the look of dissatisfaction was fleeting. "Ri" came here to invite this person to join the "Ming" organization, so he could not afford to offend him.

"So it is you, Venerable ‘Ri.’ I wonder why, after a hundred years, you have come to my humble dwelling?"

The words were humble, but the tone was filled with great pride. As "Ri" entered the deepest and most splendid room in the palace, a sudden thought came to mind.

"Ri" looked up and saw a person dressed in the robes of a worldly emperor sitting quietly in the deepest part of the room, his gaze heavy. In this vast city, there was only this one person.

"I have come to bring news of a death."

Seeing that this person didn’t even have the intention to stand up and greet him, "Ri" felt another wave of discontent but still spoke politely.

Hearing the words of "Ri," the person dressed in royal robes flashed a terrifying light in his eyes. After a moment of silence, he slowly said, "What do you mean?"

"Ri" sighed softly and said, "The ‘Ming’ organization feels guilty towards you. Your brother joined our ‘Ming’ organization a hundred years after separating from you. However, three years ago, he was killed by someone. Our ‘Ming’ could not protect him. Although we are trying to take revenge, we unfortunately find that the forces behind the killer are too powerful. So, I hope you will cooperate with us and reconsider joining our ‘Ming’ organization."

As they spoke, a ghostly killing intent began to spread throughout the entire city. Even though "Ri" was dissatisfied with this person’s arrogance, sensing the bone-chilling killing aura still made him shudder with fear. He had to admit that although this person was proud, he indeed had the right to be so.

"Who killed my brother?"

After a long while, the killing intent faded away like a tide, and the person in the yellow robe slowly asked.

"A cultivator named Xu Qingfan from the Righteous Alliance."

After a long time, this person finally spoke again, "Alright, I agree. But after avenging my brother, I will leave immediately."

"Ri" smiled gently and bowed, saying, "Thank you, taoist friend, for your understanding."

After a pause, he suddenly took off the ring from his hand and waved it gently towards the person in the yellow robe, saying, "The taoist friend’s strength is above mine, and I shall give my position to the taoist friend."

The person dressed in royal robes was quite rude. After grabbing the ring, he hesitated for a moment and then put it on, officially marking his entry into the mysterious "Ming" organization.

※※※※

To the north of North Iceland is a sparkling world, shining beautifully in the sunlight. The aurora dances across the sky, and the snowstorm on the ground is breathtaking. The whole scene gives a feeling of peaceful beauty.

The secret palace, once belonging to the owners of the Treasure Pavilion, was now occupied by Zhang Xusheng. Ever since he came to North Iceland and killed the owner of the Treasure Pavilion, Zhang Xusheng often visited this place, standing quietly for days, lost in admiration of the dazzling beauty around him.

At that moment, Zhang Xusheng was not gazing at the wonders of North Iceland as he usually did, but was flipping through a book in his hands. This book recorded the various events in the cultivation world over the years, including information about "Ming" and the Righteous Alliance. Behind him knelt three men and women, exuding an extraordinary presence, yet they did not dare to raise their heads and look at Zhang Xusheng.

When Zhang Xusheng saw the information about Xu Qingfan, his hand suddenly paused while turning the pages, and a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes.

After a moment, a charming smile appeared on his lips as he said softly, "Xu Qingfan, this little fellow is quite interesting. In just seven years, he first expelled the ‘Eight Wilderness Hall’ from the bustling Middle-earth and three years ago personally killed ‘Ying.’ Now, these little ones are becoming more impressive."

After a pause, Zhang Xusheng suddenly turned to the three people behind him and asked, "Do you have more information about this little fellow?"

The three were slightly taken aback, not understanding why their all-powerful master was so interested in this seemingly insignificant person. However, they did not hesitate and promptly reported all the information they had gathered about Xu Qingfan.

In these years, Xu Qingfan has indeed been very bright, but compared to Zhang Xusheng, he can only be considered unremarkable.

"Is it really Deacon Elder from Jiuhua? This makes me even more curious," Zhang Xusheng said with a smile. But then he suddenly changed the subject and asked, "Do you have any news about the Southern Wasteland rogue cultivator Xu Fan that I told you to look into ten years ago?"

The three first shook their heads, but then one of them cautiously asked, "Master, do you mean that Xu Qingfan is Xu Fan? I had suspected that too, but according to what I’ve learned, Xu Qingfan is now at the peak of the Real Golden Core Stage, while Xu Fan was only at the Fake Golden Core Stage before he disappeared. Although they both have a Dark Crow as a spirit pet, Xu Qingfan’s Dark Crow is Earth level high, while Xu Fan’s is only Earth level middle class. There is a big difference between them, and it seems unlikely that such progress could happen in just over ten years."

Zhang Xusheng sighed, looking very disappointed, and asked, "How many years has Xu Qingfan been cultivating?"

"One hundred and ten years."

"What was his level when Jiuhua Shut Down?"

"Early stage of the Lingji Stage."

"How many years ago was Jiuhua Shut Down?"

"Less than seventy years."

Hearing these answers, Zhang Xusheng sighed again and slowly said, "Why do you all know this, yet cannot think of it? Since Xu Qingfan can raise his skills from the early stage of the Lingji Stage to the late stage of the Real Golden Core Stage in less than seventy years, then why can’t someone break through from the middle stage of the Fake Golden Core Stage to the late stage of the Real Golden Core Stage in less than twenty years?"

When Zhang Hualing said this, the three of them were slightly stunned. They had only thought that achieving such a breakthrough in over ten years was impossible, but they had not considered what Zhang Xusheng was saying.

This is the truth: some things are very obvious, yet under subjective views, the vast majority cannot see them. And those few who can see, we call them wise ones.

Zhang Xusheng added, "As for the Dark Crow’s increase in strength, it’s easier to explain. Did you forget why the Zhong family sought out Xu Fan? With that item, it would not be strange for Dark Crow to raise its rank by a lot."

After a pause, Zhang Xusheng thought for a moment, a faint smile appearing on his face, and slowly said, "Do not alert him yet, but also do not miss any of his actions during this time."

After the three left, Zhang Xusheng murmured, "Another very interesting little fellow, but I wonder if he can reach a point that makes me anticipate?"

※※※※

To the south of the Southern Wasteland is still a human forbidden zone, not only because the land is barren but also because there are countless powerful demon beasts roaming around. Earth-level demon beasts are everywhere, and heavenly-level demon beasts also appear from time to time. Even a Condensed Core Stage cultivator cannot safely leave if they carelessly enter.

However, although there are many demon beasts here, they have always remained in the southern part of the Southern Wasteland and rarely step into the Southern Wasteland itself, and the bustling Middle-earth to the north of the Southern Wasteland has not been entered for thousands of years.

But at that moment, suddenly, the southern part of the Southern Wasteland, which had seemed calm overall, was filled with an unsettling vibe for some unknown reason. Powerful demon beasts roared in anger, their cries becoming more and more intense, and soon echoed through the sky without any pause, millions of furious roars merging together, shaking the heart.

Finally, led by the strongest demon beasts, countless demon beasts rushed quickly towards the north. The ground shook under their thousands of hooves!