Chapter 125#

Xuan Fang was stunned for a moment, doubting his own ears.

As a grand Xianzun, was being scolded something worth being happy about?

He couldn’t help but glance back at the disciples not far away.

If these disciples were placed outside Luoyue Peak, each would be a master capable of guarding a territory or founding a sect. Yet right now, they were nervously waiting for Chu Han Xianzun to give orders first.

Xuan Fang: “…”

Fortunately, Chu Han Xianzun’s authority and prestige were usually very high, and the disciples didn’t dare use their divine sense to listen in. Each of them had a serious expression, head bowed and ears attentive, assuming Xuan Fang was discussing official business with the Xianzun.

“…Xianzun?”

Xie Zhefeng did not answer him. He only turned his head slightly and looked toward the Cold Plum Courtyard.

The paleness remained on his face, and his heart was still aching.

The years that couldn’t be grasped in the past were a hole he could hardly mend. The moment he broke the Unfeeling Curse and woke up, he saw An Wuxue quietly closing his eyes, immersed in the memories of his life and death.

The other person rarely sat before him so peacefully, but he didn’t have time for joy, only panic.

Did his senior brother find out about his Slaying the Self for ascension back then?

Would he be blamed for falling short at the last moment—ascending to protect the common people but failing to protect his senior brother?

Would he be resented for being such a waste that he couldn’t even stop a single inner demon?

But even if he was resented or hated, it was his own fault.

What he feared most was something he hadn’t said earlier—he was afraid his senior brother, being kind and soft-hearted, would see those past events and not resent or hate him, but pity him instead.

His senior brother’s personality was always to keep everything in his heart. If he pitied him, he would most likely hide the unhappiness in his heart and satisfy his desires.

Xie Zhefeng didn’t want An Wuxue to pity him.

He truly hoped his senior brother could forgive him and that he could stay by his side forever—even if it was just as a junior brother or a servant watching him find love and joy with others.

But that was on the condition that An Wuxue was willing.

He didn’t want the price of this to be his senior brother’s endurance and grievance.

He would rather be hated by An Wuxue.

But he hadn’t expected An Wuxue to scold him without even giving him a chance for another word.

Even back when they were youths practicing swordsmanship, and Xie Zhefeng’s hands were rubbed raw by the hilt, his senior brother only felt self-reproach and never truly scolded him.

This was truly the first time in Xie Zhefeng’s life and death that spanned over a thousand years.

Only now did he react.

His senior brother actually scolded him.

His senior brother was actually willing to scold him.

With Luoyue disciples by his side, he also maintained his composure, so he only turned his head and smiled unnoticeably.

He was panicked and dazed just now, but now he was anxious.

Xie Xianzun was thinking about finishing these important matters of the two realms as quickly as possible and rushing back to hear his senior brother continue scolding him.

If Xuan Fang and the others hadn’t had something to report, his senior brother might have said even more just now…

Thinking of this, his expression instantly became solemn and stern. He asked coldly: “What is it?”

One moment he had an unexpectedly joyful look on his face, but now his voice was suddenly wrapped in a chill.

Xuan Fang’s surprise hadn’t faded when he was scared nearly to his knees.

Hearing this, the other disciples saluted with their swords, standing bolt upright, waiting for the orders of the Xianzun and the Peak Lord.

Xuan Fang hurriedly said: “It’s about the puppet technique.”

Without him saying it, Xie Zhefeng already guessed: “It can’t be suppressed at all?”

“Yes…” The disciple responsible for the matter stepped forward and reported on the situation in the two realms and four seas, thousands of sects, and even the mortal world. “At this rate, this technique…”

That person’s face turned pale, and he suddenly knelt.

“Xianzun, please forgive me. This disciple is incompetent and cannot stop the spread of this technique. After Northern Ming was unsealed, Luoyue Peak, with the help of cultivators from Northern Ming City, Lihuo Sect, and Zhaoshui City, still couldn’t curb the spread of the puppet technique. If we continue to try and control it now, I’m afraid the Cangu Tower won’t even be able to hold the offending immortal cultivators…!”

Xie Zhefeng’s brow furrowed slightly as if in deep thought.

The greatest sect in the world couldn’t even suppress a technique of unknown origin. On a small scale, it meant the puppet technique was too special; on a larger scale, it meant Luoyue was incompetent.

Xuan Fang saw that the disciple’s hand holding the sword was shaking from Xie Zhefeng’s suddenly darkened expression, so he intervened: “Besides the puppet technique matter, there are also some rumors about the First Disciple. These two things might be related…”

Xie Xianzun had been through the Immortal Calamity; what storms had he not seen?

With just this one sentence, he understood: “The puppet technique can’t be suppressed because of Senior Brother.”

The disciples all knelt, not daring to make a sound.

Silence was already as good as an answer to Xie Zhefeng’s guess.

—It was precisely because of An Wuxue.

The reason to ban the puppet technique was that maintaining a puppet for a long time required spiritual energy, which easily tempted people to kill for spiritual treasures or fall into demonhood to maintain the puppet.

Other than that, it was actually just an ordinary puppet technique.

The number of puppet techniques in this world couldn’t be counted with both hands. If one was banned, there were plenty of other righteous puppet techniques available. Why did so many people still risk being pursued by Luoyue Peak to use this specific technique?

Because this technique was related to revival.

It wasn’t a simple puppet technique.

It also carried the hope of revival.

A puppet technique that could be used for resurrection had a different meaning.

In fact, since the person behind the trouble started spreading the puppet technique, no one had ever succeeded.

But An Wuxue appeared before everyone in the two realms, having returned from the dead.

Although the fact that An Wuxue had a puppet mark on him hadn’t spread, An Wuxue returned from Northern Ming, and at the same time, the puppet technique spread from Northern Ming. People with ulterior motives could naturally connect these two things.

Rumors spread from person to person; baseless words are always the hardest to suppress.

In just a few days, many people speculated that An Wuxue’s return from the dead relied on the puppet technique.

An ordinary puppet couldn’t make people take such risks, but a resurrection method that had already succeeded could make people give up everything.

If it were anything else, Xuan Fang wouldn’t have needed to trouble Xie Zhefeng and could have made the decision himself.

Only this matter.

It concerned An Wuxue. He was afraid of bringing trouble to him and didn’t dare act rashly.

Xie Zhefeng pondered for a moment.

In the dead silence, the man’s cool voice finally rang out slowly: “I’ve looked through many ancient books these past few days. This technique doesn’t seem like a resurrection method; it’s more like a master-servant technique in disguise.”

Xuan Fang was shocked: “Does Xianzun mean that the Northern Ming culprit knows this very well? There is no resurrection method in the world, and the rumors in the two realms right now are entirely a situation designed by that person?”

Xie Zhefeng nodded.

Only then did Xuan Fang dare to conclude: “So the culprit deliberately acted under the identity of the First Disciple. That person might not have known the First Disciple would reveal his identity in Northern Ming, but regardless of whether he did, after Qu Wenxin was captured by us, she would surely reveal she was acting under ‘An Wuxue’s’ orders.

“Therefore, on the day the Northern Ming Sword Array blocked the Ascension lightning tribulation, that person deliberately lured Qu Wenxin to the sword array, intending for us to capture her. Even if the First Disciple hadn’t revealed his identity, as long as Qu Wenxin spoke, in the eyes of others, the First Disciple had returned from the dead. This would ‘confirm’ that the puppet technique is a resurrection technique. The current situation would have happened regardless!”

The living beings and cultivators of the two realms and four seas would surely think An Wuxue had returned, and they would also think the puppet technique truly could bring someone back to life.

That person’s goal was to use resurrection as bait to spread the puppet technique throughout the two realms!

What that person’s next step was, and why they went to such lengths to spread the puppet technique, was still unknown.

Any one of these schemes, once uncovered, concerned the two realms. The disciple who had just reported bowed his head and knelt, not daring to speak.

Xie Zhefeng raised his hand and used spiritual energy to help the disciple up.

“Xianzun…”

Xie Zhefeng asked him nonchalantly: “Although it can’t be suppressed, since you’ve been investigating, you should know who has been using the puppet technique in secret, right?”

“There are some lists… but there are too many names on them. There might be many more that the disciples haven’t noticed yet, so…”

“No matter,” he said. “Among those with the highest cultivation, is there anyone in Northern Ming who was involved in the hunt for the First Disciple in the Thorn River back then?”

The disciple didn’t know why Xie Zhefeng was asking for such details, and tremblingly reported a name.

Surnamed Qi, a Tribulation-stage cultivator from the Qi clan of Northern Ming.

Xie Zhefeng said no more.

The others were unsure why the Xianzun asked about the list, and Xuan Fang stood by in confusion, asking: “Xianzun, this person from the Qi family is just one of the many using the puppet technique in secret. There are countless others like him…”

Before Xuan Fang finished speaking.

Suddenly—

A cold wind blew from all directions, and the sharp spiritual energy brought frost and snow, even colder than the accumulated snow of Northern Ming’s deep winter.

A layer of thin frost covered the walls and tiles, and a sword-qi filled with killing intent rose into the sky!

Xie Zhefeng closed his eyes, recalling the location of the Northern Ming Qi clan. His divine sense expanded and found the Qi clan’s Tribulation cultivator.

The next moment.

Every city in Northern Ming saw the Chu Han sword light come from the distant sky and descend into the courtyard of the Northern Ming Qi clan.

The immortal’s spiritual energy cut through the wind and snow, breaking through the clouds.

The Qi clan’s defensive array was instantly forced to open with all its might.

But the defensive array that exhausted the foundation of an immortal sect was like a staggering toddler before the irresistible Chu Han sword-qi, falling over at a single push.

The Chu Han sword-qi didn’t stop for a moment, charging directly at that person.

In the blink of an eye.

A scream rang out.

The Northern Ming Qi clan was scared out of their wits!

The Sword Sovereign’s decree passed through divine sense transmissions into the souls of all cultivators in Northern Ming First City.

“Any others who secretly practice forbidden arts shall have their souls destroyed, just like this person.”

An Wuxue didn’t know that Xie Xianzun had drawn his sword against an immortal cultivator for the first time in a long while.

The Chu Han sword-qi illuminated all directions, and the immortal’s divine sense shook the four seas, yet it specifically bypassed this remote and quiet Cold Plum Courtyard.

While all living beings were in fear, An Wuxue noticed nothing, only hearing someone ring the soul bell outside the door.

His junior brother had just left, and Upguan Liaoliao, Qi Xun, Qin Wei, and others had already departed and wouldn’t come to bother him again. Who else could it be…?

He put on his outer robe and walked out.

“Fellow Daoist Jiang?”

Jiang Qing first smiled, then showed disappointment.

“It seems Suxue is at home. Why didn’t you respond to the transmission I sent you?”

An Wuxue recalled—there indeed seemed to have been one.

“I was busy dealing with other things then and forgot. Sorry.”

“No matter. Has your important business been handled properly?”

Had it been handled properly?

An Wuxue didn’t know either.

His junior brother’s curse was broken, and he also knew why that sword strike happened.

But what would happen next…

He only remained silent for a moment, and Jiang Qing said good-naturedly: “If it’s not convenient to say, then don’t. I’m just asking casually to get closer to you.”

“Fellow Daoist Jiang…”

“I mainly wanted to ask you, I’ve seen Luoyue Peak disciples investigating the puppet technique recently. Do you know how the progress is? I know Luoyue Peak is likely busy and I shouldn’t bother you, but… I’m ashamed to say, do you remember in the Leaf-Viewing Formation, I told you that all the Spiritless Womb Stones in the Underworld Sea were stolen?”

An Wuxue nodded: “Still not found?”

“Yes,” Jiang Qing was quite worried. “My clan are spirits of heaven and earth. Our bodies can carry all techniques and create all things. That’s why I was being hunted back then. I’m safe now, but I don’t know if those womb stones were taken by the culprit to make puppets.

“Although I’m currently the only one left in the Womb Stone clan, those womb stones might have been able to develop intelligence and become human in the future. My failure to protect them caused their theft, and if they were made into puppets and lost their chance at cultivation, it would be truly…”

An Wuxue understood: “I see. If Luoyue Peak finds anything related, I will inform you.”

“Thank you.”

Jiang Qing seemed to want to come in and sit for a bit.

But An Wuxue just stood there silently, without inviting him in. Jiang Qing was always very good at reading the room and immediately understood that An Wuxue wasn’t receiving guests.

He gave a bitter smile and took out a jar of Winter-Harvested Hansang.

“It’s truly dull to drink fine wine alone. After you left that day, I brought back this jar, but I haven’t been in the mood to drink it.”

An Wuxue took it: “If I’m in the mood, I’ll drink this wine when I’m drinking alone under the moon.”

Jiang Qing didn’t even enter the door; he came and went quickly.

Just as he left, An Wuxue held the wine and stood by the door, dazing for a while.

He seemed to see a snowy light in the distant sky, very much like the sword-qi of the Chu Han sword.

“This young master?” Someone gradually approached the courtyard and called to him.

An Wuxue turned around and saw four or five men and women who could be called beautiful.

The clothes they wore were immortal cultivator robes, yet they were also a bit…

Hmm, a bit like the demonic cultivation furnaces he killed in Zhao Duan’s mansion.

“You have the wrong path,” An Wuxue didn’t care who these people were. “The people living here are not from the City Lord’s Mansion, and we are not receiving guests.”

The blue-robed youth with the highest cultivation among them frowned and said unhappily: “The person we came to see is not from the City Lord’s Mansion. City Lord Pei sent someone to bring us to see First Disciple An. You standing at the door, are you First Disciple An’s gatekeeper disciple? Not informing him and being so rude here…”

City Lord Pei.

First Disciple An.

Just now he let Pei Qian send over the “thank-you gift” left by the Xue family…

An Wuxue: “…”

Was the Xue family sending a gift or a death sentence?