Yu Qing Hall was vast.
As the meeting place for the heads of the seven peaks, it could easily accommodate nearly a hundred people.
Guided by a Tong Tian Peak disciple, Ji Changfeng arrived at the rear hall of Yu Qing Hall.
There, a secluded meditation chamber awaited.
Dao Xuan zhenren was inside.
"Junior Brother Ji, our master is within. You may enter…" the Tong Tian Peak disciple said.
"Very well." Ji Changfeng nodded slightly.
He gazed at the chamber before him and stepped inside without hesitation.
Whoosh!
Upon entering.
A daoist figure appeared before Ji Changfeng.
The man wore a dark green robe, exuding a faint yet commanding presence. His piercing eyes gleamed with wisdom, and his immortal-like demeanor marked him as a profoundly cultivated elder…
"Disciple Ji Changfeng pays his respects to Sect Leader shibo."
The moment he saw the man, Ji Changfeng bowed deeply without hesitation.
After all…
This was the undisputed leader of the righteous path!
His cultivation was unfathomably deep.
Perhaps he had already broken through to the Tai Qing Realm?
Whoosh!
An invisible force gently lifted Ji Changfeng upright.
Dao Xuan zhenren waved his hand lightly, studying Ji Changfeng with a look of satisfaction. But soon…
He shook his head with a trace of regret.
"Had I known, I would have insisted on taking you as my disciple."
To reach Yu Qing Fifth Layer in half a year.
What kind of talent was this?
Even the legendary Patriarch Qing Ye might not compare.
Ji Changfeng chuckled lightly. "Sect Leader shibo jests. We are all part of Qing Yun Sect. What difference does it make which peak I joined?"
His words gave Dao Xuan zhenren pause.
He shook his head with a wry smile. "It seems I'm the one caught up in appearances, unable to see as clearly as a disciple like you!"
Indeed.
They were all part of Qing Yun Sect.
And he was its leader.
What did it matter which peak Ji Changfeng joined?
He was still a disciple of Qing Yun.
Whoosh!
Dao Xuan zhenren flicked his sleeve, his gaze settling on Ji Changfeng as he spoke softly, "Do you know why I summoned you to Tong Tian Peak?"
Ji Changfeng had his suspicions.
But he dared not assume too much.
"Please, Sect Leader shibo, enlighten me," he said, bowing slightly.
Dao Xuan zhenren smiled faintly. "Your talent is unparalleled in the world, unseen in the history of Qing Yun Sect. Go to the Patriarch Shrine and pay your respects to our ancestors…"
"The Patriarch Shrine?" Ji Changfeng's eyes lit up.
If he had been uncertain of Dao Xuan's intentions before.
Now, he was sure.
The Patriarch Shrine, the one-armed elder, Zhan Gui Shen, Wan Jianyi…
These thoughts flashed through Ji Changfeng's mind.
So, was Dao Xuan intending for him to inherit Wan Jianyi's Zhan Gui Shen?
Perhaps.
"Sect Leader shibo, shall I go now?" Ji Changfeng asked.
"Go." Dao Xuan zhenren waved his hand with a smile.
"This disciple takes his leave…"
Ji Changfeng bowed and exited the chamber.
At that moment.
Dao Xuan zhenren watched Ji Changfeng's departing figure, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.
To reach Yu Qing Fifth Layer in less than half a year.
Yicai, if you cannot break through to the Shang Qing Realm, you may not be able to keep up with this prodigy…
Tong Tian Peak, Rear Mountain
After leaving Yu Qing Hall.
Ji Changfeng asked a few Tong Tian Peak senior brothers for directions to the Patriarch Shrine, then headed straight for the rear mountain…
The Patriarch Shrine was located at the back of Tong Tian Peak.
It was a forbidden area for most disciples, off-limits without permission.
The Tong Tian Peak disciples didn't know why.
Perhaps to avoid disturbing the spirits of the ancestors?
But that wasn't the truth.
Ji Changfeng knew the real reason the Patriarch Shrine was restricted.
It was simply because Dao Xuan zhenren was hiding a secret—Wan Jianyi, a man who was supposed to be dead.
Long ago, the Demon Cult's leader, Qiu Wangyu, led an assault on Qing Yun Sect. The previous sect leader, Tian Chengzi, wielded the Zhu Xian Sword with his Shang Qing cultivation.
Though he repelled the Demon Cult's invasion, the Zhu Xian Sword's backlash overwhelmed him, tainting him with malevolent energy and driving him to madness…
Qing Yun's twin prodigies, Dao Xuan and Wan Jianyi, were forced to slay their master.
In the end, Wan Jianyi took the blame, while Dao Xuan inherited the position of sect leader…
Publicly, Dao Xuan executed Wan Jianyi.
But in secret, Dao Xuan spared him, concealing him within the Patriarch Shrine.
After such a turn of events.
Wan Jianyi survived.
But his spirit was broken.
The vibrant, spirited man he once was had vanished.
In his place was a one-armed elder, sweeping fallen leaves around the Patriarch Shrine day after day.
Like an ordinary old man.
Ji Changfeng arrived at the Patriarch Shrine.
His eyes immediately fell on the one-armed elder holding a broom.
The man's demeanor was ashen, his face devoid of emotion, showing no trace of vitality—as if he might pass away at any moment…
Ji Changfeng stood there, observing him.
The one-armed elder ignored him, continuing to sweep the fallen leaves with his broom.
Swish!
The broom moved lightly.
Each motion carried a subtle, mysterious grace.
Ji Changfeng suddenly spoke. "Senior, are you also a sword cultivator?"
At his words, Wan Jianyi paused.
He had intended to ignore Ji Changfeng.
But…
When he sensed the faint sword intent emanating from Ji Changfeng, he couldn't help but take a closer look.
And that look.
Held him captive.
In Ji Changfeng, Wan Jianyi saw echoes of his younger self.
Back then.
He, too, had been so full of vigor.
Noticing the Mo Xue Divine Sword in Ji Changfeng's arms, Wan Jianyi froze. "You're Ji Changfeng? The Ji Changfeng from Da Zhu Peak?"
At first.
He had assumed some Tong Tian Peak disciple had wandered into the Patriarch Shrine by mistake.
But to think it was Ji Changfeng?
"Senior knows me?" Ji Changfeng feigned surprise.
Wan Jianyi stared at the Mo Xue Divine Sword, a wistful tone in his voice. "Su shimei passed it to you, didn't she?"
"It's fitting…"
His voice carried a trace of melancholy.
The Mo Xue Divine Sword was something he had seized from the Demon Cult and later gifted to Su Ru of Xiao Zhu Peak…
"Senior knows my shi niang?" Ji Changfeng asked, his tone laced with 'astonishment.'
Shi niang… The word pierced Wan Jianyi's heart.
After a moment.
He suppressed his emotions, his sharp gaze locking onto Ji Changfeng. "Was it Dao Xuan who sent you?"
"Indeed," Ji Changfeng nodded.
"In that case, let us discuss the way of the sword."
Wan Jianyi slowly set down his broom and picked up a nearby branch.
Whoosh!
In an instant, a fearless aura erupted.
A razor-sharp sword intent surged toward Ji Changfeng.
"Let's see if you're worthy of inheriting my Zhan Gui Shen."
At this.
Ji Changfeng smiled.
He calmly set the Mo Xue Divine Sword aside and picked up a branch of his own.
Boom!
In that moment, his sword intent flared.
The two stood face-to-face, their auras clashing fiercely.
"I don't know what Senior is referring to, but since Senior wishes to test my swordsmanship, this disciple will accompany you to the end…"
…
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