Looking at Chen Yuyang’s bowed head and solemn expression, Yan Dangmo couldn’t help but feel a sense of doubt.
He had followed along this time primarily to see Chen Yuyang off, intending to visit the Hehuan Sect and perhaps find a good opportunity to scout this “good seedling” for the Yan family.
He never expected to stumble upon something as significant as Tai Lingxuan going missing the moment they arrived.
‘Did this boy sense something in advance, which is why he rushed back from the Dan Sect so urgently?’
Yan Dangmo nodded to himself, thinking this was likely the case.
Geniuses always possessed certain intuitions that ordinary people lacked—and they were often hauntingly accurate.
Chen Yuyang, with his extraordinary talent for Alchemy and terrifying proficiency in formations, was undoubtedly a genius.
Nearly one month had passed since the end of the Alchemy Convention.
As a cultivator in the Soul Integration Realm, even if Tai Lingxuan had taken her time to enjoy the scenery on the way back, she should have arrived by now.
Since there was still no word from her, something had almost certainly gone wrong.
Had she encountered demonic cultivators on the road?
Or…
An image involuntarily surfaced in Yan Dangmo’s mind, one that overlapped with the person Chen Yuyang suspected.
Long Zhizheng!
There was no helping it; he was the one who had previously clashed with the Hehuan Sect.
Now that Tai Lingxuan had met with trouble, suspicion naturally fell on him first.
‘Could he have done something?’
Yan Dangmo’s brow furrowed into a tight knot.
Long Zhizheng had always been extreme.
Even previously, while Tai Lingxuan’s breakthrough speed was indeed irrationally fast, one couldn’t just suspect the Hehuan Sect without any evidence.
If everyone acted that way, wouldn’t every cultivator live in constant fear?
Having not seen him for so many years, who knew how much his temperament and character had changed, or what he had experienced?
Yan Dangmo also felt a faint, lingering sense of foreboding.
Given Long Zhizheng’s personality, it was entirely possible he would do something out of line!
If Tai Lingxuan’s disappearance was truly related to him…
A sharp glint flashed in Yan Dangmo’s eyes.
If that were the case, even if the man was his old friend, he would not tolerate it!
Besides, from another perspective, there was Chen Yuyang…
Yan Dangmo glanced at the boy.
He had already decided that this kid was going to be the grandson-in-law of the Yan family!
At that thought, his mind began to race once more.
When he thought about it carefully, the Hehuan Sect’s crisis didn’t necessarily seem like a bad thing for him.
Yan Dangmo narrowed his eyes, beginning to calculate.
With Tai Lingxuan missing, the Hehuan Sect had lost its most vital support.
Although Chen Yuyang was impressive, he was young and lacked experience.
Faced with such a major event, he would surely be unable to make a decision.
Regardless of who had made a move against Tai Lingxuan, the opponent must at least possess strength comparable to her Soul Integration Rank 9.
To put it bluntly, even if the boy knew who did it, did he have the ability to go and demand an explanation?
If Yan Dangmo helped him now—providing help when it was most needed—the boy would owe him a massive favor.
At that time, what could he possibly use to repay it?
‘Heh…’
As he thought, a barely perceptible smile curved at the corners of Yan Dangmo’s mouth.
‘If he can’t pay it back, wouldn’t he have to offer himself up, obediently follow me back to the Yan family, and join us as my grandson-in-law?’
The more he thought about it, the more he felt there was significant room to maneuver.
His mood, which had been heavy due to his suspicions of Long Zhizheng, suddenly lightened, even becoming somewhat expectant.
Stepping forward with a deep frown, Yan Dangmo spoke to Chen Yuyang in a heavy voice, “This matter is of no small consequence. Sect Master Tai’s cultivation is not weak. For someone to pose a threat to her, it is either the demonic cult… or… it is very likely the Great Elder of the Qiankun Sect, Long Zhizheng. After all, he was the only one who had a conflict with your Hehuan Sect recently.”
Chen Yuyang looked up, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes as he looked at Yan Dangmo.
He remembered clearly that when Long Zhizheng first appeared outside the Dan Sect, he was with Yan Dangmo.
“Old Yan, what exactly is your relationship with Long Zhizheng?”
Chen Yuyang asked, taking a soft breath.
“Hmph. To put it one way, we were once comrades who fought side by side,” Yan Dangmo said, his tone turning complex.
“However, since we joined forces to wipe out the demonic cult in the North Domain decades ago, I haven’t had much contact with him during these last 30 or 40 years.”
Since Yan Dangmo wanted to win Chen Yuyang’s favor, he naturally didn’t hide anything and spoke frankly.
Chen Yuyang remained silent for a long moment before speaking again, asking solemnly, “Then, Old Yan, if… if it truly was Long Zhizheng who detained or even harmed my Master, how do you intend to handle it?”
At this moment, Chen Yuyang realized something.
If this truly was Long Zhizheng’s doing, and with the entire Qiankun Sect backing him, he could not oppose them with his current strength.
If his Master had already been killed, he could take his remaining Senior and Junior Sisters into hiding and endure.
It wouldn’t be difficult to wait 10 or 20 years until he had enough power to destroy the Qiankun Sect.
But if his Master was still alive and needed immediate rescue, his current strength at the Golden Core Realm—even with countless magical treasures—was no match for someone in the Great Ascension Realm, let alone the entire Qiankun Sect.
The reason was simple.
His spiritual energy was limited.
He couldn’t truly drive those high-grade magical treasures to unleash their true power.
Even if he cast aside all restrictions and increased his cultivation level at the fastest possible speed regardless of the consequences, reaching the Nascent Soul Realm was the limit for the short term.
At the Nascent Soul Realm, he could only barely operate those treasures.
In that state, he could manage against the Deity Transformation Realm and perhaps hold his own against the Soul Integration Realm, but he would have no chance against the Great Ascension Realm, which could manipulate the laws of the world in combat.
The gap between the Great Ascension Realm and the Soul Integration Realm was even larger than the gap between the Soul Integration Realm and the Golden Core Realm.
Even with those talismans and the Nirvana Annihilation Array, Chen Yuyang couldn’t guarantee that Tai Lingxuan could kill Long Zhizheng; he could only say that self-defense shouldn’t be a problem.
Therefore, he needed power now—external power.
And before him… the only external power he could borrow was Yan Dangmo.
Hearing the youth’s question, Yan Dangmo didn’t hesitate.
He immediately spoke with righteous indignation, “To attack and detain a sect leader for no reason—even if I were to forgive him, the North Domain Realm of Cultivation would never allow it! Boy, rest assured. If this was truly his doing, regardless of Long Zhizheng’s status, his strength, or our past friendship, I, Yan Dangmo, will absolutely not let him off lightly!”
These words were spoken for Chen Yuyang’s benefit, but they also reflected the principles Yan Dangmo had always upheld.
Cultivators dreaded acting against their own hearts most of all.
Since Yan Dangmo had reached this level of cultivation, his character was naturally as such.
Hearing this, Chen Yuyang’s heart finally settled slightly.
He nodded heavily, his eyes carrying a hint of a plea as he looked at Yan Dangmo.
“Old Yan, the Hehuan Sect may be in danger. I wonder if you would be willing to take action once for me? If you are, I will do one thing for you in return.”
Yan Dangmo slapped Chen Yuyang on the back.
The force wasn’t heavy, but it felt solid.
“What are you saying, kid? I’ll help! Don’t say stupid things about doing something for me; I simply can’t stand such behavior! If you really mean it, then give Luobo more guidance for me!”
Chen Yuyang nodded solemnly.
Regardless of whether Yan Dangmo meant it sincerely or not, Chen Yuyang was willing to accept the favor.
“In that case, Old Yan, I wonder if we could first head to the Qiankun Sect to get some answers?”
Chen Yuyang asked, bowing deeply.
Yan Dangmo immediately nodded.
“That is exactly what I intended!”
Without another word, Yan Dangmo shattered the space with a palm strike and began to open a spatial tunnel.
On the other side, Chen Yuyang turned toward Su Chunshuang.
“Senior Sister Chun Yuyang, stay here at the sect. If anything unexpected happens, take the Junior Sisters and the other outer disciples and leave immediately. Do not linger,” Chen Yuyang said.
Su Chunshuang nodded blankly, looking at the youth’s somewhat thin but undeniably commanding figure.
“Alright, boy, let’s go!”
Yan Dangmo called out from the side after constructing the spatial tunnel.
Chen Yuyang nodded without hesitation and stepped inside.
In just a few breaths, the two of them stepped out of the tunnel and landed steadily before a mountain range shrouded in mist.
A tall mountain gate stood before them, consisting of eight layers stacked one upon another, seemingly reaching the clouds.
On the vermillion plaque at the very front, the words “Qiankun Sect” were written.
After landing, Chen Yuyang took a jade bottle from his storage ring and handed it to Yan Dangmo.
“Old Yan, opening a spatial tunnel consumes a massive amount of spiritual energy. Please use this Grade 7 Spirit Recovery Pill to recover.”
Yan Dangmo took the bottle and swept it with his divine sense.
His face showed surprise as he raised an eyebrow at Chen Yuyang.
“You actually have such a treasure? This Grade 7 Spirit Recovery Pill isn’t easy to refine. Where did it come from?”
“My Master gave it to me,” Chen Yuyang said calmly.
Yan Dangmo nodded at first, but then he realized something.
“Tai Lingxuan… no, that’s not right! Tai Lingxuan isn’t an alchemist. Is your Master someone else?”
“Yes,” Chen Yuyang nodded.
“He is a senior who lives in seclusion. He instructed me not to reveal his name.”
Of course, in his heart, Chen Yuyang told himself, ‘I am that senior, so this shouldn’t count as a lie.’
Yan Dangmo gave him a deep look but didn’t press further, nor did he refuse the pill.
To be able to teach someone as gifted as Chen Yuyang, that secluded senior must be extraordinary.
It was normal for eccentric experts to be unwilling to reveal themselves to the world. In short, one shouldn’t ask questions they shouldn’t ask, lest they offend the person’s taboos.
However, the fact that this boy gave him a recovery pill the moment they arrived… could he already be prepared to start a fight?
Regardless, it was never a bad thing to be well-prepared.
Yan Dangmo took the pill and adjusted his breathing for a moment.
Then, the two of them didn’t linger and descended directly toward the mountain gate of the Qiankun Sect.
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