Chapter 282: Chapter 215: Flicking Sleeves After the Deed, the Roc Takes Flight

The hall was deathly silent, the air frigid.

Jiang Yi stood calmly in the center, his body wreathed in the dense, cold presence of Tai Yin. A hazy, clear light rippled outward, draping him in a cloak of pure, concentrated moonlight.

After completely scattering Luo Qingya’s Primordial Spirit, he glanced at Luo Xuanming. His expression remained serene and peaceful, like a deep, ancient well, without the slightest ripple of emotion.

Luo Xuanming couldn’t suppress a shiver and hastily prostrated himself.

"Luo Xuanming of Dangyin Ridge greets you, Daoist!"

This Foundation Establishment True Master, only recently recalled to the Sect, had never imagined he would feel such fear toward a mere Qi Cultivation Cultivator. His heart pounded with a terror that refused to subside.

Jiang Yi slowly opened his mouth and spoke his fourth sentence.

"Luo Qingya of Nanheng Ridge attempted to murder me and has now been executed for his crime. You are his kinsman from the Luo clan. Do you have anything to say?"

How could Luo Xuanming dare say more? A Grand True Master at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer had just been annihilated, body and soul. ’Could my Merit possibly surpass that of Elder Qingya?’

’Besides, this Daoist dared to come to the lands of the Hundred Rivers and Six Ridges within the Gen Feng Grotto-heaven, and kill someone right under the True Monarch’s nose?’

The more he thought about it, the more terrified Luo Xuanming became.

All the benefits that Elder Qingya had just promised him now seemed like smoke in the wind, completely gone.

’If I can’t even save my own life, what’s the point of discussing my Daoist path!’

A cold clarity washed over Luo Xuanming. His eyes cleared, and his tone became utterly earnest.

"That fiend’s audacity was boundless! To dare plot against the Daoist is a crime tantamount to treason! Death is too good for him!"

Jiang Yi let out a soft sigh, as if regretful, which made Luo Xuanming’s heart pound with even greater terror.

’Don’t tell me Daoist Jiang intends to pursue collective punishment?’

He caught sight of Feng Yuan out of the corner of his eye and suddenly understood. ’Of course! He brought a True Inheritance from Li Feng here, probably to root out any accomplices.’

’If the Daoist proves Elder Qingya’s assassination plot, the entire Luo clan will be doomed!’

Luo Xuanming had spent eighty years tempering himself in the outside world; he understood the stakes perfectly. Many matters seemed trivial on the surface, but a deep investigation could bring a crushing weight down upon them.

’I absolutely cannot let the Daoist investigate this further!’

He quickly took two steps forward but dared not get too close. He bowed and said:

"Please, quell your anger, Daoist! The Luo clan has always served the Sect with utmost loyalty—the sun and moon can bear witness to it! We would never harbor any intent to harm you! Though I am of the Luo clan, I know right from wrong. I am willing to voluntarily submit to an investigation by the Central Hall of Li Feng!"

Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow. ’As expected of someone from a great clan. He adapts quickly.’

He turned and posed the question to Feng Yuan.

"What do you think, Brother Feng?"

"Li Feng presides over punishment, and its Central Hall oversees the Sect’s internal affairs. Now that something so serious has happened, we must naturally give you an accounting, Daoist."

Feng Yuan strode into the hall. Neither he nor Gu Changling had expected Jiang Yi’s visit to be for the purpose of directly executing the perpetrator.

To be so swift and decisive, striking down a Grand True Master of the Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer on the spot...

From this day forward, among the eight peaks of the Sect, who would dare to make a move against the Daoist?

"Brother Gu, what are your thoughts?"

Jiang Yi asked.

"This matter involves Gen Feng. I am willing to help resolve this for you, Daoist."

Gu Changling’s hand, hidden in his sleeve, was tightly gripping a jade key.

Jiang Yi had met with him for a detailed discussion long before coming to Nanheng Ridge.

This True Inheritance of Gen Feng already understood his own predicament: the Luo clan had planned to use him as a disposable pawn.

Jiang Yi nodded. "Then I’ll have to trouble you all to investigate this case thoroughly for me. It saves me the trouble of bothering the Sect Leader."

His words were not meant for Luo Xuanming, Feng Yuan, or Gu Changling.

They were meant for the ears of True Monarch Luo, whose gaze swept across the entire Gen Feng Grotto-heaven.

The presence of Tai Yin gradually faded, and the frozen Qi Mechanism of the Foundation Establishment Grand True Master began to slowly seep outward.

Luo Qingya’s Cultivation had reached the stage of Five Elements Perfection, making him a figure who held considerable sway within the Sect.

A deafening rumble like rolling thunder echoed as a stream of his Qi Mechanism sank downward, merging directly into the earth veins of Nanheng Ridge.

Feng Yuan sighed.

"Luo Qingya was from Gen Feng. Although he couldn’t cultivate ’Earth Virtue,’ he was able to comprehend the ’Mountain Aspect.’ Nourished by this qi, Nanheng Ridge will probably rise by several hundred feet."

Gu Changling also sighed at the sight. When a Qi Cultivation Cultivator dies, their Spiritual Energy dissipates into the world, affecting the atmosphere for Cultivation across hundreds of miles.

But when a Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s Life Essence is extinguished, their Dao returns to the heavens. It might merge with the earth veins, give rise to a Spiritual Spring, foster a dense forest, form a pool of fire, or gestate Copper Essence and Iron Mother.

All of their painstakingly accumulated Daoist Cultivation is given back to the world.

Luo Xuanming, ever the opportunist, raised his hand and collected two streams of the purest Qi Mechanism, sealing them in a long-necked, narrow-mouthed jade purification bottle.

"In your future Cultivation, Daoist, you will surely have use for spiritual water and spiritual fire. This bottle is called an ’Essence-Gathering Vial.’ It’s specifically designed to collect the Life Essence qi from a fallen Foundation Establishment Cultivator and preserve it as usable Spiritual Resources."

Jiang Yi gave him a long look before smiling faintly.

"True Master Luo, when you have the time, you are welcome to visit me at the Changming Heavenly Pool."

With that, he accepted the jade purification bottle.

He stood there quietly for a moment. The majestic voice that had abruptly cut off before did not sound again.

Clearly, the True Monarch Dongtian whose gaze enveloped the Gen Feng Grotto-heaven had decided to swallow his pride and accept the outcome.

"I must go to Kan Peak to pay my respects to Master Lu."

After a cupped-fist salute, Jiang Yi summoned a Profound Light and soared away through the sky.

Behind him, Nanheng Ridge rumbled, sending up billowing clouds of dust and smoke.

...

...

「A short while later」

Jiang Yi arrived at Kanshui Palace and sat across from True Monarch Lu.

Tucked into his robes, True Master Xuanmiao remained curled in a ball, refusing to poke its head out.

"So, the Six Harmonies Great Medicine has truly condensed into supreme-grade True Qi. It was worth giving up the Dragon Subduing Gorge for this."

A look of approval surfaced in True Monarch Lu’s eyes. This Daoist’s fortune was truly profound. Even for a top-tier Dao Material in the Sect, with the full backing of the descendants of the Eight Monarchs, refining the Six Harmonies Great Medicine was a task that required immense effort and willpower.

Take the Tai Yang True Lead and the Tai Yin True Mercury, for example. The conditions for refining these two Great Medicines were exceptionally harsh. If Jiang Yi hadn’t formed an Innate Fire Virtue Body, completed the dual-fire refinement, and earned the favor of Lady Xuan’nv, it would have been impossible to gather them so easily.

Not to mention the Void Primordial Qi and the Essence from the Spirit; his success with those was only so efficient because of the Qi Cultivation General Outline: "Mixed Refining Origin, Commander of Ten Thousand Truths."

"Thank you, Master Lu."

Jiang Yi said solemnly.

The Dragon Subduing Gorge had been set up specifically for him to gather the ’Water Below Kan,’ and it contained the lingering imprint of Ji Fuyao slaying the dragon.

This perfectly corresponded to the great Daoist concept of Tai Yang being a difficult trial for Shao Yang to overcome.

Now that he had finished gathering the Water Below Kan, the treasure known as ’An Inch of Time’ was completely spent. Furthermore, he planned to bring the descendants of the Jiao and Chi out into the world and move them to the Changming Heavenly Pool, rendering that minor realm essentially useless.

Only a Daoist of an Ancestral Sect could enjoy such lavish support.

"The attainment of supreme-grade True Qi is something the Innate Sect hasn’t seen in ten thousand years. It must be exceedingly rare even in the entire Yanfu Vast Land."

The corners of True Monarch Lu’s mouth curved into a faint smile. By taking this step, Jiang Yi had made a deep impression on the Sect Leader, bringing him one step closer to the position of Crown Prince.

"As for the Gang Sha materials needed for the eleventh and Twelfth Layers of Qi Cultivation, the Ancestral Master set them aside long ago, specifically for the Daoist’s use. You need not worry about it."

Jiang Yi nodded slightly.

"I will engrave the Ancestral Master’s grace in my heart and never dare to forget it, not even for a moment."

True Monarch Lu gave a rare smile.

"The Ancestral Master predicted you would say that. He specifically asked me to tell you there’s no need to put on such a subservient act."

Jiang Yi was taken aback. ’Ancestral Master Mingxuan really is a blunt, straightforward person.’

He cupped his hands again and asked,

"Does the Ancestral Master have any other instructions for me?"

True Monarch Lu’s expression grew solemn, and he said in a level voice:

"The Ancestral Master said that if the Daoist succeeds in gathering the Six Harmonies Great Medicine and condensing supreme-grade True Qi, then you are qualified to become the master of the Changming Heavenly Pool. You no longer need to worry about schemes from the shadows.

Your path ahead will be fraught with peril. But as long as you can cut through your challenges and overcome every obstacle, the Innate Sect will be your greatest backing."