Daoist Longshan looked at Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua, their hands clasped together, and sighed inwardly.
Two people from completely different, even opposing backgrounds had come together like this—it was a special kind of fate. He didn't want his disciple to be caught in an impossible choice someday.
Daoist Longshan asked solemnly:
"You two are truly in love and willing to face hardship together, to be bound for life?"
Jiang Baishan turned and looked gently at Lin Ruhua, then respectfully knelt before Daoist Longshan:
"Please judge for yourself, Master. In this life, I will marry no one but Ruhua!"
Lin Ruhua also knelt down:
"Please judge for yourself, Master. In this life, I will marry no one but Baishan!"
The two shared a mutual understanding, their eyes locked with unwavering determination.
Luo Wentian, watching this, was filled with joy. Among all the junior brothers and sisters, this was the first who had found someone to call their own.
Just from the way Lin Ruhua had revealed all those secrets about the Demonic Sect, he could tell his Fifth Junior Brother hadn't chosen wrong.
Daoist Longshan stroked his beard and laughed heartily, then grinned and asked Lin Ruhua:
"In that case, why won't you call this old Daoist 'Master'?"
Lin Ruhua blushed, her heart filled with joy and sweetness. She softly said:
"Master."
Daoist Longshan laughed even louder, thoroughly pleased.
After the laughter faded, his expression gradually turned serious.
"By rights, since you two wish to become husband and wife, I should help arrange a wedding for you—make it a lively celebration. But given the current circumstances, everything must be kept simple. We'll make it up later when the time is right."
He was so serious that even Jiang Baishan grew nervous.
Then came the words that left him completely stunned.
"Baishan, Ruhua—from today onward, you two are to leave the mountain. For the next three years, go to some remote place, hide your names, and ignore everything that happens in the outside world."
Jiang Baishan panicked.
"Master, why?"
"I won't go! Zhenwu Sect is in danger—how could I abandon the sect at a time like this? I can't be someone disloyal and unfilial!"
Luo Wentian stayed silent, sighing inwardly. He had already guessed what his master meant.
Daoist Longshan asked in return:
"Then let me ask you—if one day Ruhua's mother and I stood on opposite sides, who would you help? And what about Ruhua—who would she help?"
Both Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua turned pale.
They had both avoided that question, or perhaps subconsciously suppressed it. But now that Daoist Longshan had pointed it out so bluntly, their hearts grew tangled and conflicted.
"I... I..."
They hesitated, torn with pain.
Jiang Baishan's eyes turned red.
It was an age-old dilemma—family on both sides. There was no right answer.
"If that day really comes, I'll atone with my life!" Jiang Baishan said firmly.
He turned to look at Lin Ruhua, who also looked at him tenderly. She didn't speak, but the message in her eyes was clear.
Perhaps if that moment ever came, dying together would be the best choice.
Daoist Longshan sighed in his heart but scolded loudly:
"Nonsense!"
"If the two of you are truly in love, then you must live well. Dying is the most cowardly choice. I taught you to grow strong, not to go seeking death!"
Luo Wentian spoke gently:
"Xiao Wu, for you and Ruhua, what Master said is the best choice. You and Ruhua should go into hiding for three years. When everything settles—no matter who wins or loses—that will be the will of Heaven. You don't need to carry the burden."
Daoist Longshan added:
"Don't think that you're running away and betraying the sect. You brought Ruhua here and shared crucial information—that alone is a huge contribution. The matters ahead don't require you two to get involved."
"Besides, you're only in the White Mist Realm—what can you even do? With or without you, it changes nothing."
"Go. That's an order. Refuse it, and from this day on, you no longer have me as your Master!"
His tone had turned stern.
Jiang Baishan's eyes were brimming with tears. He buried his head low, prostrating himself before Daoist Longshan, unable to argue.
Lin Ruhua's nose stung with emotion.
She could clearly see how much Daoist Longshan cared for Jiang Baishan.
She had heard about it from Baishan before, but only now did she understand what it meant when people said that a master was like a father.
She had never seen such a thing in the Demonic Sect. Maybe, in the beginning, the sect only aimed to overthrow the Great Yan, but over the years, it had already lost its way.
Her respect for Daoist Longshan grew even deeper.
Luo Wentian gently helped Jiang Baishan up and patted his shoulder:
"Master, the Zhenwu Peach Blossom Festival that Xiao Jiu is hosting is just a few days away. Why not let Xiao Wu and Ruhua attend before they leave?"
Jiang Baishan looked up with hope in his eyes.
Daoist Longshan paused in silence, then gave a small nod.
"Go on then. Take Ruhua and get some rest."
Jiang Baishan let out a small breath of relief. He and Lin Ruhua respectfully bowed several times, then left together.
Watching their backs, Daoist Longshan let out a long sigh.
Luo Wentian said in comfort:
"For Xiao Wu to find happiness is a good thing. Master needn't worry so much. The two of them have their own fate."
He could tell—
In some way, his master was making a contingency plan.
If the Demonic Sect and Southern Alliance really did bring Martial Saints to attack, then even if Zhenwu Sect fell, they would need to preserve some spark of life. Jiang Baishan would be one of those sparks—to one day rebuild Zhenwu when the time came.
Of course, as Zhenwu's Sect Leader, Luo Wentian wasn't just going to rely on a single backup plan.
The moment Lin Ruhua brought up the Martial Saint threat, he had already started devising multiple escape routes.
Zhenwu's foundation couldn't be abandoned, but they also couldn't put all their eggs in one basket.
However—
Neither Daoist Longshan nor Luo Wentian had lost all hope.
And that was because of Ning Qi.
Only they knew just how heaven-defying Ning Qi really was. Any miracle was possible when it came to him.
They both turned toward the screen—Ning Qi had silently appeared behind it.
When Jiang Baishan had mentioned important news, they'd brought Ning Qi over as well.
"Xiao Jiu, what do you think about the Demonic Sect and Southern Alliance producing a Martial Saint?" they asked, eyes filled with hope.
Ning Qi's expression remained calm, which made them slightly more at ease.
He sat down and, after a moment of thought, slowly said:
"To my knowledge, the path to Martial Saint has been lost."
Both the Northern Suppression King and Wu Jianghe had confirmed this—it wasn't baseless.
Luo Wentian's eyes lit up:
"Then it's false?"
Ning Qi shook his head:
"No. It's most likely true. Fifth Senior Sister-in-law wouldn't lie to us. But the Martial Saints from the Demonic Sect and Southern Alliance must be forcibly created using external means."
He had listened carefully to what Lin Ruhua had said—there would be a Martial Saint born within three years at the latest.
That meant the two sects already had some foresight, perhaps even long-standing plans.
If they were walking a self-created Martial Saint path, there would be no timeline—it would depend on sudden insight.
But Ning Qi wasn't just guessing.
What truly convinced him was what he had discovered when he destroyed the Southern Alliance's Qingzhou base—
the existence of the Blood King Gu.
"Southern Alliance is almost certainly relying on the Blood King Gu to break through to the Martial Saint Realm. As for the Demonic Sect, they must have their own method. They only recently allied, so even if they help each other, success won't come quickly."
That was why he remained calm.
His progress in Mind Tempering was going smoothly. In about half a year, he'd reach the Heaven-Man Realm.
By then, even facing a Martial Saint from either sect, he wouldn't be completely powerless.
"Created through external force? Does that mean such Martial Saints might be weaker?" Luo Wentian's eyes lit up.
A reasonable guess.
In the Martial Path, breakthroughs made using external force often had weaker foundations.
They were usually less powerful than their peers, and correcting that required lots of time and effort.
Back when Luo Wentian and others used Condensed Qi Pills to break through to the White Mist Realm, they had this exact issue.
Ning Qi later created a new stabilizing technique for them, and his alchemy had minimal side effects, allowing them to recover fully.
Daoist Longshan said:
"But even the weakest Martial Saint is still a Martial Saint. Even the top of the Heaven-Man Ranking—Old Man Tingfeng—might not be a match."
Ning Qi nodded slowly:
"Give me half a year—I'll reach the Heaven-Man Realm."
Luo Wentian froze, his eyes widening. He had always thought Ning Qi had already reached that level.
Only now did he learn Ning Qi was still in the Qi Origin Realm. That shocked him even more than hearing Ning Qi could ascend.
He already had power close to Heaven-Man Realm invincibility.
If he truly broke through—
he might be able to fight a Martial Saint!
Hope burned brighter in Luo Wentian's eyes.
Daoist Longshan also felt reassured.
"In that case, we must give it our all to stop the Demonic Sect and Southern Alliance. Give Xiao Jiu the time he needs."
Luo Wentian's mind raced.
"Southern Alliance relies on the Blood King Gu—so we need to uncover the Demonic Sect's method. That's the only way to counter them and stall their progress."
"Of course, Zhenwu alone can't manage this. We need help."
"If the Demonic Sect and Southern Alliance really produce Martial Saints, the last thing the Great Yan Court would want is for that to happen. They must be worried too. We should inform the Northern Suppression King and have him coordinate with the court to strike first."
"We can also spread the word through the martial world—make other sects wary. That alone could delay their plans."
"As long as we stall for half a year and Xiao Jiu ascends, then we'll have a chance to turn things around."
He finished in one breath—he had found the key.
"It's not a dead end for Zhenwu Sect. There's still hope."
But the core of it all was Ning Qi.
He had to be strong enough.
Daoist Longshan took a deep breath and asked:
"Xiao Jiu, once you reach the Heaven-Man Realm, will you be able to stand against a Martial Saint?"
Ning Qi thought for a moment and replied:
"I don't know how strong a Martial Saint is—but if I do break through, being ten times stronger than now will be easy. Maybe even more. I don't think their power will be beyond reason. Even if I lose, I won't be helpless."
He was being honest.
With his solid foundation, the power he could draw from the heavens and earth after reaching the Heaven-Man Realm would far exceed expectations.
Daoist Longshan and Luo Wentian knew Ning Qi's nature.
If he said this, he had some confidence.
If the Demonic Sect took longer than six months, Ning Qi would only grow stronger.
"But we still need a fallback. Xiao Jiu, promise me—if Martial Saints really come, and you can't win, you must escape with everything you've got. I know you have the ability. Don't throw your life away meaninglessly.
With your talent, give it a few more years—and you'll be able to kill them like chickens and dogs."
"When that time comes, rebuilding Zhenwu Sect will be your responsibility."
Daoist Longshan's eyes were grave, even a little pleading.
Ning Qi was silent.
He couldn't imagine watching his master and senior brothers die in front of him, while he could only flee.
That pain...
He exhaled slowly and said softly:
"That day will never come, Master."
Daoist Longshan insisted:
"Promise me."
Meeting his master's gaze, Ning Qi sighed inwardly and finally nodded:
"I will."
He thought—
if that day ever came, he would wipe out the Demonic Sect and the Southern Alliance to avenge Zhenwu.
But he refused to let that day arrive.
A new kind of drive surged in his heart.
Ning Qi had always trained steadily—perhaps under some pressure, but never anything like this.
One wrong move now and everyone he cared about could die.
Escape?
Impossible.
Zhenwu Sect was too big, with too many people. They couldn't all go into hiding.
Daoist Longshan smiled.
He patted Ning Qi's shoulder and said:
"With you here, Zhenwu's legacy won't end. I'm at ease now."
He turned to Luo Wentian, a trace of battle spirit gleaming in his eyes:
"In that case, we disciples and masters shall face them head-on!"
"Yes, Master!"
Fighting spirit surged in all their eyes.
If the Demonic Sect and Southern Alliance insisted on pushing them, then so be it.
They'd fight to the death if needed.
Ning Qi thought—
if he could find the very base where they were trying to birth Martial Saints, maybe he could strike first.
He wasn't ready yet,
but once he reached the Heaven-Man Realm—
and if they hadn't succeeded yet—
then maybe he could.
…
The next day.
Daoist Longshan wrote a personal letter detailing the Demonic Sect and Southern Alliance's Martial Saint plot, and personally delivered it to Chen Xing and Chen Yue:
"You two—deliver this to the Northern Suppression King as soon as possible. This is of the utmost importance. It must not go wrong!"
Chen Xing and Chen Yue's expressions turned serious as they nodded firmly.
They didn't even ask what the letter contained.
Chen Yue stayed behind in Zhenwu City, while Chen Xing rode off overnight toward the Northern Wastelands, where the Northern Suppression King was currently stationed.