CHAPTER 60

— The Storm Rises —

Surrounded by beasts and encircled by birds, the legendary followers of the Beast God, born with the innate talent to communicate with spiritual beasts and command them in battle—this was the Qianyu Sect.

"Reporting to the Sect Master, a letter has arrived from Chonghua." A young man clad in a few shabby scraps of cloth, with a tuft of yellow hair atop his head, knelt with a thud before the main seat, speaking respectfully.

On the seat, draped in pure white beast fur, sat a robust man similarly dressed in only a few pieces of cloth—his bronze skin rippling with strength, a thick beard extending from his temples and covering most of his face, leaving only a pair of bright, sharp tiger-like eyes that concealed an overwhelming presence. He was the Sect Leader of the Qianyu Sect, Zhu Ligang.

Upon hearing the report, he pushed aside the enchanting concubine in his arms, straightened his posture, and boomed in a voice like thunder: "Present it."

After casually glancing over the plain letter bearing the emblem of Chonghua, a gleam flashed in his eyes, and he threw his head back with a hearty laugh: "Unite against the Demon Sect? Excellent! That woman Ye Zhiqiu has finally crawled out of her turtle shell! I've been suffocating all these years!" As he spoke excitedly, his beard trembled slightly, and his chest rumbled, his thunderous voice echoing throughout the hall. "Summon the Young Sect Master and all disciples of the Green Feather [Qingling] rank and above!"

"Yes!" The messenger disciple, enduring the pain in his eardrums, hurried off to relay the order.

"Sect Leader, uniting against the Demon Sect is no trivial matter. Why are you so delighted?" The concubine who had been pushed aside gracefully lay on the golden brick floor, striking a seductive pose as she blinked her charming eyes and asked in a sweet, coquettish voice.

"Woman, what do you know! As the saying goes, fortune favors the bold. This is our chance for the Qianyu Sect to take the lead! With the Beast God's blessing, I, Zhu Ligang, will surely elevate our sect to greatness! Hahaha..." Pulling the woman into his arms and roughly groping her without a hint of tenderness, his words were wild and unrestrained, yet his eyes remained clear and rational.

And the letter from Chonghua had long since turned to dust between his fingers.

...

Amidst swirling mist and fluttering butterflies, a pure land far removed from the mortal world—the Nichang Valley.

"Little Qinglian, have you hidden yourself yet? I'm going to start looking for you~" A woman with a white veil covering her face closed her eyes, her hands confidently clasped behind her back as she silently used her spiritual sense to search for familiar fluctuations of spiritual energy. After a moment, the corners of her lips curled into a confident smile.

"Three, two, one! Time's up. Little Qinglian, I'm~ coming~" Her tone was playful, like that of a frivolous young noble, but her suddenly opened eyes, clear as autumn water, were bright and captivating, like ripples stirring the depths of one's heart.

Luqiu Fuyi lifted the hem of her skirt and walked slowly but resolutely in a certain direction, her steps light as if afraid to startle her "prey," the smile in her eyes growing more pronounced—suddenly, a young girl in a similarly white dress, with delicate features, hurried over, bowed, and presented a plain letter, saying softly, "Young Valley Master, a directive has been sent from Chonghua. The Valley Master has instructed you to handle it with full authority."

"Mm, I understand. You may leave." Her smile faded slightly as Luqiu Fuyi took the plain letter from the girl and waved her hand dismissively.

Her beautiful eyes glanced at the corner of a robe peeking out from behind a nearby rockery, her brows and eyes curving into a smile. She casually opened the directive, but after reading it, her expression turned grave: Unite against the Demon Sect? It seems the events of that Abyssal Secret Realm were indeed no small matter... Is the cultivation world about to be swept up in another storm of bl0odshed?

But, Master's condition...

The furrowed brow was smoothed by a small, pale hand, and a gentle, soothing voice whispered in his ear, "Young Valley Master, do not worry. No matter what happens, Qinglian will always support you from behind."

"Qinglian..." Luqiu Fuyi stared intently at her delicate, palm-sized face. A flicker of emotion passed through her eyes, but the corners of her mouth slowly curved into a playful smile. "You lost!"

"Huh?" Ning Qinglian, now pulled into someone's embrace with her hands firmly grasped, bit her lower lip in frustration, her face filled with regret as she helplessly accepted a series of unfair terms, sighing inwardly.

Stroking the smooth, jet-black hair beneath her hand, Luqiu Fuyi smiled contentedly: Even if a storm is brewing, I will protect this peace and never let go...

...

Amidst curling incense smoke and the rhythmic tolling of morning and evening bells stood the ancient temple—Tianyin Temple, standing tall through the years.

"Amitabha, Martial Grandmaster, the Abbot requests your presence." A young novice chanted a Buddhist invocation, addressing the old monk who sat on the meditation platform with an air of solemnity.

"Zzzz..." The old monk wore a serene smile like the Buddha holding a flower, yet he remained motionless, seemingly oblivious to the novice's call.

"Martial Grandmaster Yuangui! Martial Grandmaster Yuangui! Martial... Huh?" After calling several times with no response, the young novice's heart sank: Could it be that Martial Grandmaster had passed away and ascended to heaven without their knowledge?

This was no small matter!

In his panic, he disregarded propriety and hurried forward, extending a hand to test the breath of the old monk, who sat as still as a statue—thankfully, he was still breathing.

At that moment, the motionless old monk suddenly opened his eyes wide, staring directly at the novice who had approached him. An overwhelming aura emanated from him, startling the novice so much that he stumbled backward... only to trip over the doorstep with a thud, trembling in fear, his expression utterly defeated.

—Oh my Buddha, that was truly terrifying!

Buddha protect me, this disciple will never dare to be careless again...

"Amitabha, so it's Jueqi. What has you so flustered?" Master Yuangui withdrew his imposing aura and spoke with a gentle smile, showing no trace of embarrassment at having been caught sleeping during meditation.

"Uh, the... the Abbot requests your presence in the council hall," the young novice stammered, wiping cold sweat from his forehead, clasping his hands together and bowing his head low, refusing to meet the old monk's gaze.

"Mm, understood." Yuangui nodded, rubbing his bald head, then flashed a toothy grin at the novice that sent a chill down his spine. "By the way, did you see anything earlier?"

—Falling asleep during meditation is only human, after all! Buddha would not blame me! But if Senior Brother Abbot finds out, he'll surely lecture me endlessly... He must not know!

"N-no! This humble monk saw nothing at all!" The young novice bowed his head so low it nearly touched the ground, yet he still felt a chill enveloping him.

—Wuwuwu, isn't Grandmaster Yuangui known as the kindest master? Why is he so intimidating and terrifying?

"Amitabha, Senior Brother." Having "instructed" the innocent young novice, Grandmaster Yuangui strode leisurely into the council hall of Tianyin Temple. Unfazed by the gathering of senior and junior monks, he bowed respectfully to the most venerable Abbot, Master Yuanshu, and calmly awaited his words.

"Yuangui, you're late again." Abbot Yuanshu cast a faint glance at his most carefree and unpredictable junior brother, but unlike usual, he didn't say much more. Instead, he raised the plain letter sent by Chonghua and said slowly, "Karma and retribution, fate is hard to defy..."

"Amitabha..." All the senior monks, including the indifferent Yuangui, bowed deeply toward the golden Buddha statue in the hall, murmuring prayers.

—Ah, it seems there's more work ahead!

May the Buddha have mercy... This disciple only wishes to stay idle in the temple. Why is it so difficult?

Master Yuangui gazed sorrowfully at the expressionless Buddha statue in the hall and sighed.

...

Exotic flowers and rare grasses, jagged rocks—all arranged in harmony with the principles of geomancy—this was Bingyan Island.

At its center lay the largest main island, surrounded by over a dozen smaller auxiliary islands, forming a protective formation that was difficult for ordinary intruders to breach.

In the Guangyuan Hall of the main island, a middle-aged Daoist with a long, elegant beard sat silently on a cloud-patterned grass cushion in the center, his eyes closed.

Below him stood two rows of young Daoists, their expressions far from pleasant.

"Master, according to your meaning..." The first man on the left, dressed in an earth-yellow robe embroidered with the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, bowed respectfully and spoke gently.

—His features were unremarkable, easily forgotten at first glance, but his gaze was profound, his voice steady. Skilled at discerning his master's intentions, he enjoyed the Island Master's trust and was one of the few figures of real authority on Bingyan Island. While others remained silent, he was the first to speak.

"Hmph, is there even a question? Of course, we must join the battle! And we must seize this opportunity to slaughter far and wide! The demonic sects, Chonghua—all will become dust beneath my feet! Ahahaha..." A sinister, arrogant male voice suddenly cut in, echoing loudly in the vast, quiet hall—yet, aside from the Island Master, who remained meditative on his seat, the others wore expressions of accustomed calm, as if such disrespectful behavior were nothing unusual.

Indeed, on Bingyan Island, only one person dared to act so recklessly in front of the Island Master—Jia Siwen, the "Bingyan K!llng Star," renowned as the strongest of the younger generation alongside Chonghua's fearsome Su Yan.

Like Su Yan, Jia Siwen possessed a handsome face that could easily be underestimated, but he exuded an indescribable malevolence. If Su Yan's icy silence and stunning beauty felt like the oppressive weight of a mountain, Jia Siwen's frivolous, wicked smirk and sharp, deathly gaze were like a pool of dark, viscous mud, suffocating and binding.

Both were notorious for their bl0odshed, yet people would rather face the former.

—As Tong Tong put it: "To die beneath the peony is to be a ghost of romance! To be k!lled by such a handsome senior brother is a blessing earned over lifetimes! Why not give thanks?"

"Junior Brother Jia, do not act rashly. This matter requires careful consideration..." The man who had spoken earlier feigned earnest persuasion.

"*Shangguan Yi, since when do you get to lecture me? Hmm?" Jia Siwen shot him a cold, disdainful glance.

"You!" The slighted man clenched his fists, maintaining a strained smile on his face, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes.

"Silence, all of you." The middle-aged man on the main seat spoke sternly, his tone not overly harsh, yet even the unruly Jia Siwen obediently fell silent, bowing his head to listen.

"Remember this well: resisting the demonic sect is our foremost duty. All disciples of Bingyan Island must give their all." Stroking his beard, he added, "As for the rivalry between righteous sects, Bingyan Island will surely trample Chonghua beneath our feet!"

"We heed our Master's command!" The two rows of disciples, seeing their master's fervent, spit-flying demeanor, quickly bowed in response.

...

As Chonghua's challenge letters reached the five major sects, a declaration of war was also delivered to a known stronghold of the demonic sect—a branch of the Xiaoyao Sect.

A man with an innate air of wickedness, alluring and seductive, twirled a strand of hair by his ear and smiled meaningfully. "So, it's time to act? Hehehe..." Closing his eyes, he released his spiritual sense to check on the two Chonghua disciples brought in by his subordinates, his smile deepening. "Chilian [Scarlet Viper], gather our people. The show is about to begin."

......

Meanwhile, Tong Tong, who had just been brought to Luoxia Peak and was delighted at the chance to be alone with Su Yan, immediately lost her smile—who could tell her what this group of fierce, white-clad figures were here for? A party?

"Training partners." Raising an eyebrow and glancing at her, Su Yan leaned against the cliff edge, holding Changhong, her thin lips curling into a bewitching smile.

The group of white-clad disciples immediately charged at the outnumbered Tong Tong like a pack of hungry wolves spotting prey.

—D@mn it! Using beauty as a tactic is totally against the rules, okay?! Su Yan, I hate you!!!

Tong Tong roared inwardly as she clumsily parried with her Biling Sword.

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