Chapter 72: If Only You Were Here
The conflict between the Grand Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall and the Sect Master was essentially a power struggle.
After the sect rebellion hundreds of years ago, the four peaks became independent, almost unrestrained, which caught the attention of the Soul Transformation ancestors.
Thus, the Law Enforcement Hall was established, answering only to the Soul Transformation ancestors, and tasked with supervising the four peaks of the Peerless Summit Sect.
But… it had no right to interfere in the sect’s affairs.
The important position of leading the Law Enforcement Hall fell to the previous Sect Master’s Senior Brother, Zou Junxin’s Martial Uncle, the current Grand Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall.
He had originally been the top candidate to succeed the previous Sect Master, but the crucial Law Enforcement Hall was created, and he was the almost irreplaceable candidate for its leadership.
Moreover, the decisions made by the Soul Transformation ancestors couldn’t be disobeyed.
And so…
The position of Sect Master slipped through the Grand Elder’s fingers.
His ambitions, his aspirations to revive the Peerless Summit Sect, his ideals, were all stifled by this sudden appointment.
Because the Law Enforcement Hall’s duty was supervision, it couldn’t participate in the decision-making of important sect matters. This was a deliberate check and balance created by the Soul Transformation ancestors.
More importantly, the new Sect Master, Zou Junxin, had different ideals from the Grand Elder and wouldn’t implement the Grand Elder’s policies.
Therefore, the Grand Elder seized every opportunity to pull Zou Junxin down from the position of Sect Master and exchange positions with him.
Doing so required the collective decision of the Soul Transformation ancestors.
Only if the Soul Transformation ancestors deemed Zou Junxin unfit to be the Sect Master would the Grand Elder have a chance.
Luo Xue’s incident was a good opportunity. If she was taken away, in a few days, the Law Enforcement Hall would publicly try her before the entire sect.
At that time, Zou Junxin… would definitely lose face in the eyes of the Soul Transformation ancestors.
In fact, Zou Junxin had already considered stepping down as Sect Master, which was why he had initially intended to let the Law Enforcement Hall take Luo Xue away.
But seeing Bai Zhanying’s persistence, he wavered.
Thus, this conversation with Luo Xue.
“If I’m handed over to the Law Enforcement Hall for trial, can I survive?” Luo Xue asked.
“…Not necessarily.” Zou Junxin said in a low voice.
“But I want to live,” Luo Xue said softly, “I… just want to live.”
“Go to the Demon Abyss.”
Zou Junxin said directly.
Luo Xue looked up, her eyes wide with surprise.
She could understand Senior Sister having such thoughts, as it would at least allow her to survive.
But for the Sect Master of an Immortal Domain sect to actively send a disciple to the Demon Abyss…
Even if it was for Senior Sister’s sake, wasn’t this decision a bit too bizarre?
“Of course, I’m not asking you to defect to the Demon Abyss,” Zou Junxin saw Luo Xue’s reaction, a playful smile appearing on his lips. “I’m asking you to infiltrate the Demon Abyss as a spy for the Immortal Domain.”
This overly mature child also had such expressions…
“Uh…”
Luo Xue was even more confused.
What was this operation?
“In the Falling Flower Peak trial, the Kong Lianbin you encountered was a spy sent to the Immortal Domain by the Demon Abyss.” Mentioning this, Zou Junxin’s expression turned serious. “He was from the Sha Master lineage of the Temple of the Nether Spirit. The Sha Master lineage always likes to kill Immortal Domain cultivators and holds the most hostility towards the Immortal Domain.”
“The pro-war faction? Like Underworld Water Ravine?” Luo Xue raised an eyebrow.
“Like the Underworld Water Ravine of hundreds of years ago,” Zou Junxin corrected, “The current Underworld Water Ravine has almost no say in sect affairs. This is their punishment for the rebellion.”
“Oh.”
“In short, whether it’s the Immortal Domain or the Demon Abyss, sending spies to each other is a well-known fact.” Zou Junxin continued, “Not just the Peerless Summit Sect, all nine major sects of the Immortal Domain have spies in the Demon Abyss—some even deeper than Kong Lianbin.”
“You’re saying…”
Luo Xue subconsciously lowered her voice.
“That’s right, even some of the geniuses in the Demon Abyss are spies for the Immortal Domain.” A hint of sharpness and pride flashed through Zou Junxin’s eyes. “At the right time, they will naturally play their role.”
“Could that Holy Maiden of the Temple also be one?”
Luo Xue asked curiously.
When she had entered the arena, there were Peerless Summit Sect disciples discussing the prodigy of the Temple of the Nether Spirit.
It was said that she was extremely cruel, eating hundreds of children every day…
—Luo Xue knew there were exaggerations, but it shouldn’t be… completely baseless, right?
“…”
Zou Junxin’s expression instantly froze.
Heavens, what was this child thinking? A genius of that level, even the Immortal Domain hadn’t produced one in tens of thousands of years.
If the Immortal Domain had such a genius, they would protect her at all costs, how could they send her to be a spy?
Moreover, the Holy Maiden of the Temple of the Nether Spirit cultivated the legendary Underworld Phoenix Inheritance, a true demonic cultivation technique, requiring a massive amount of Yin energy.
Therefore, she could only be from the Demon Abyss.
However… he had just boasted, wouldn’t it be embarrassing to deny it now?
Zou Junxin’s expression suddenly turned mysterious.
“This… I can’t say too much.”
His words were vague, but hinted at the possibility.
“Wow…”
Luo Xue exclaimed.
The Nine Sects of the Immortal Domain actually had such power…
However, thinking about it carefully, didn’t the Demon Abyss also send a spy to the Peerless Summit Sect, hidden so deeply that he even became one of this generation’s Peerless Four?
It seemed… understandable.
If Zou Junxin knew what Luo Xue was thinking, his expression would probably crack.
How could she compare a once-in-a-millennium prodigy to one of the Peerless Four, who appeared every twelve years…
The Peerless Four weren’t even qualified to be mentioned in the same breath as the Holy Maiden.
Having said that, Zou Junxin composed himself and said in a deep voice,
“Zhanying probably also wants you to go to the Demon Abyss, but the Law Enforcement Hall wouldn’t let a potential demonic cultivator go there. They insist on crippling your cultivation before letting you leave, which is why there’s a stalemate.”
“On the other hand, she’s also worried that you’re still too young to survive alone in the Demon Abyss.”
“Now, these are no longer problems. Your actions today have proven yourself. With me intervening to make you a spy, the Law Enforcement Hall can’t continue to make a fuss about this matter.”
“And… if you can’t even protect yourself with your current strength, the Demon Abyss would be too dangerous.”
Luo Xue nodded repeatedly as she listened to Zou Junxin’s instructions.
When he finished, Luo Xue asked curiously,
“By the way, you keep mentioning the Demon Abyss and the Immortal Domain… Actually, I don’t have much of a concept of these. Senior Sister’s books don’t have much information about them either. Could you explain it to me, Sect Master?”
Zou Junxin’s pupils constricted, and after a moment of contemplation, he suddenly laughed.
“Now I believe you can’t possibly be the reincarnation of a powerful demonic cultivator.”
“Hmm?”
Luo Xue blinked, looking quite innocent.
“Even I overlooked this point,” Zou Junxin smiled. “Due to your physique, you’ve barely left Falling Flower Peak these past twelve years, and few people have talked to you.”
“Zhanying wouldn’t bring back books on such basic common knowledge for you to read, so you haven’t had the chance to learn about these things.”
What Zou Junxin didn’t say was that if Luo Xue truly was the reincarnation of a powerful demonic cultivator, how could she not know such basic common sense?
“…Do you need to confirm it so many times?”
Luo Xue coughed lightly, feeling a little guilty.
After all, she was indeed a reincarnated demonic cultivator… just not a powerful one yet.
“Just a casual remark,” Zou Junxin said cheerfully. “Zhanying can tell you about the Immortal Domain and the Demon Abyss. Let’s just say the difference between the two is not what you might imagine.”
“The Immortal Domain isn’t entirely a paradise, and the Demon Abyss isn’t completely hopeless.”
With that, Zou Junxin stood up, drained his cup of water, and sighed softly.
“This is all I can do for you.”
“From now on… it’s all up to you, Luo Xue.”
Luo Xue’s expression turned serious, and she stood up, bowing.
“Luo Xue understands, Sect Master.”
Zou Junxin stared intently at Luo Xue, a deep meaning in his eyes.
But he didn’t say anything. He just nodded slightly at Luo Xue, turned, and walked towards the door.
Opening the door, Bai Zhanying, with her ear pressed against the door and a worried frown, was startled to find herself face to face with Zou Junxin.
“…Ahem.”
Zou Junxin coughed lightly to ease the awkward atmosphere.
Although he had sent Bai Zhanying away, he hadn’t cast a silencing spell, intentionally letting her hear the conversation.
Some things he couldn’t say directly could be conveyed to Bai Zhanying this way.
But…
Did she really have to eavesdrop like this?
“Sect Master.”
Bai Zhanying bowed calmly.
“…You can talk to Luo Xue now.”
Zou Junxin forced a smile and walked past her.
Bai Zhanying immediately went into the room and closed the door with a click.
“…”
Zou Junxin walked out, holding his forehead, a slight buzzing in his temples.
He had thought this was a serious matter, but now it seemed a bit… comical?
However, the idea of sending Luo Xue to the Demon Abyss as a spy for the Immortal Domain was just a whim.
“I wonder… whether this is a blessing or a curse for them, for the Peerless Summit Sect…”
Zou Junxin sighed deeply.
“Does the Sect Master really think doing this… is appropriate?”
A voice suddenly rang out. Hei Pao had appeared beside Zou Junxin without a sound.
“…But we’ve wronged Bai Qiulin, especially you, and Underworld Water Ravine.” Zou Junxin said in a deep voice.
Hei Pao was silent for a moment.
Although he wasn’t the one who started the rebellion, he had participated as a member of Underworld Water Ravine.
Even now, Underworld Water Ravine was still paying the price for that rebellion. Hei Pao had no say in major sect decisions.
Simply put, the current Underworld Water Ravine was more like the enforcers of the Peerless Summit Sect.
“I have no objections.”
Hei Pao said in a low voice.
“I do.”
Zou Junxin said in a deep voice.
“Hmm?”
Hei Pao was taken aback.
“Next time you appear, can you make some noise… I almost drew my sword and attacked you.”
A helpless expression appeared on Zou Junxin’s face.
Being able to avoid the perception of a Nascent Soul cultivator and appear within striking distance was a terrifying ability. This was the strength of Hei Pao, the Peak Master of Underworld Water Ravine.
It was just that his usual method was a bit… startling.
“…I’ll be careful.”
…
“Wow… they were all utterly defeated. No one within the Innate Realm is her match…”
“That sword, even someone at the early stage of Spirit Condensation would have to avoid its edge…”
“I didn’t expect such a prodigy to exist in the Immortal Domain…”
“What are you talking about? Can she compare to the Holy Maiden?”
“Don’t push, I can’t see…”
On the returning bone ship, the little maids guarding the Holy Maiden’s room whispered and chattered.
They were just slaves and couldn’t go out to watch the excitement like the disciples.
They could only huddle together, taking turns peeking with a recording stone.
Just then, a maid inadvertently looked up and saw a broken dagger flash before her eyes. She was instantly startled.
Without thinking, she knelt down, burying her head on the ground.
“Greetings, Holy Maiden, this servant deserves death!”
The other maids were also terrified and quickly knelt down.
The recording stone rolled and stopped beside a pair of delicate feet.
The Holy Maiden bent down and picked up the recording stone.
This kind of recording stone was one of the most common low-level artifacts in the cultivation world, very cheap, and could be bought with just a few spirit stones.
But these slaves treated it as a treasure, sharing it among themselves.
The Holy Maiden looked at the image on the recording stone. A ghostly figure of a Peerless Summit Sect disciple was challenging the Temple disciples, with several defeated opponents already on the ground.
She was indeed very powerful.
…But it wasn’t Ah Chou.
Nor could she find her figure in the bustling crowd on the square.
“She…”
The Holy Maiden spoke softly, her gaze falling on the terrified, upturned faces.
In a trance, distant memories seemed to surface.
“Here,” the Holy Maiden handed the recording stone back. “Take good care of it, and don’t drop it again.”
The little maids trembled, their heads lowered, not daring to take the recording stone.
The Holy Maiden didn’t say anything. After a moment, she put away the recording stone and returned to her room on the bone ship.
“That was scary… The Holy Maiden was actually standing there watching us…”
“Shh, luckily I reacted quickly and knelt down. Otherwise, we would all be in trouble!”
“Is the Holy Maiden really that scary? I feel like she…”
“Don’t talk about the Holy Maiden casually!”
“At least take back the recording stone…”
“Shut up, do you want to get us killed!”
The maids immediately fell silent, obediently guarding the door, waiting for the Holy Maiden’s orders.
The Holy Maiden leaned against the door, her eyelids drooping, listening to all of this.
She picked up the broken dagger hanging at her waist and walked slowly.
“Ah Chou, do you know? The Demon Abyss… is really boring.”
“Scheming, betrayal, using each other, there’s no one to talk to.”
“Some want to harm Xiao Yao, some want to use Xiao Yao, and most are afraid of Xiao Yao… just like we were afraid of Daoist Ziyang…”
“Xiao Yao is tired.”
She walked to the coffin and gently pushed it open. Inside was a half-sized wooden sculpture of a young girl.
The burn scars on the wooden girl’s face were incredibly lifelike, even her posture was identical, only her eyes were blank.
Because no matter how hard she tried, Su Yiyao couldn’t recreate those beautiful eyes from her memory.
She sat down, resting her head gently against the wooden sculpture.
“If only you were here.”
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