Chapter 95 Part 2

Yun Zong: "..."

Wasn't that process a bit too smooth?

He glanced at Zhou Yin, who didn't say anything.

The formation wasn't easy to break, but after finding the flaw it wasn't difficult either. Besides these four disciples, there were no other guards around the alchemy room. It couldn't be ruled out that this was to avoid attracting too much attention. In the end, regardless of whether it was a trap or not, they had to make this trip.

The alchemy room door was locked from the inside, but with the abilities of the two, breaking the lock and opening the door was a piece of cake.

Yun Zong pushed open the door. The layout inside was the same as when he had come before. There were no restrictions or seals around, only a person sitting behind layers of curtains, their silhouette extremely familiar.

"Who is it?" A familiar voice came through.

He's still alive? The two were a bit surprised and didn't make a sound for a moment.

In their expectations, if Qinghe Zhenren wasn't seriously injured and imprisoned, then he had already met with misfortune.

"Is it Yun Zong?" Qinghe saw the two people at the door through the half-draped curtains.

"Master, it's me." Yun Zong said, closing the door behind him and walking forward with Zhou Yin.

"Why have you come?" Qinghe Zhenren looked normal and didn't seem to show any signs of being restrained.

Yun Zong said: "Some changes occurred in the sect, so we were a bit worried and came in to take a look."

Qinghe Zhenren said: "You shouldn't have come."

Yun Zong asked: "What exactly happened?"

Judging from his tone, something must have happened during the time they were away from Shangxuan Sect. But after returning, all the undercurrents were concealed beneath a calm surface. Even Qingying had been sidelined. Besides coming here, they really didn't know where to start.

Qinghe Zhenren didn't answer, instead saying: "Hurry and leave, go far away before you're discovered, and don't come back again!"

Yun Zong frowned: "Master!"

Qinghe Zhenren rarely spoke sternly: "If you still acknowledge me as your master!"

Yun Zong fell silent, just looking at him without speaking.

Qinghe Zhenren sighed: "Even now, have you still not noticed the abnormality about me?"

Zhou Yin suddenly said: "Your cultivation is gone."

Yun Zong was shocked.

When he entered, he only saw that Qinghe Zhenren was safe and sound, so he didn't think too much. Now taking a careful look, he discovered that the faint aura unique to cultivators originally lingering around Qinghe had already dissipated without a trace.

The current Qinghe was no different from an ordinary old man in his sixties or seventies. The corners of his eyes had a few more wrinkles, a manifestation of gradually aging without cultivation.

His gaze sharpened: "Was it Qingyan, or the six great elders?"

The smile on Qinghe Zhenren's face was slightly bitter: "Qingyan is only at the early Core Formation stage, how could he scheme against me with just his own power? The six great elders are even less likely to aid a villain."

Yun Zong said: "Then exactly..."

Qinghe Zhenren stopped his next words, saying: "Forget it, I'll speak and you listen. After I'm done, hurry and leave, it's not suitable to stay here for long."

The matter started from ten years ago.

The continent had always had a saying of "resonance between heaven and man", believing that the heavens could intervene in worldly affairs, and people could also sense the revelations from the heavens. For cultivators, this was even more so.

In many major sects, because there were predecessors who had ascended to the upper realm, sometimes a person of high virtue and prestige in the sect could occasionally enter a mysterious state while meditating, even receiving one or two revelations from the heavens, naturally benefiting the sect's development.

Ten years ago, Qinghe Zhenren also received a revelation from the Upper Realm during cultivation.

Although he was the sect leader of Shangxuan Sect, in terms of cultivation, he wasn't the highest in the sect. Being able to receive information from the upper realm was naturally a very rare occurrence, especially since the content of this revelation was even more strange.

The general meaning was that currently, wars were starting everywhere and the world was unstable. Sooner or later, there would be a day of great chaos.

It told him to take the opportunity to devour the surrounding small sects, then use the strategy of befriending the distant and attacking the near to gradually swallow up the major sects. Then find a chance to burn all the cultivation texts besides those of Shangxuan Sect.

In this way, the other sects would lose the foundation for long-term development and survival, having no choice but to rely on Shangxuan Sect. As time passed, not only would Shangxuan Sect become the true number one sect in the world, but when the continent was united in the future, the new emperor would also certainly have to revere Shangxuan Sect and honor it as the state religion.

Shangxuan Sect was bound to be passed down for thousands and millions of years, never perishing because of this.

Moreover, if Shangxuan Sect decided to do this, the heavens would also follow the way of heaven and provide assistance. Even Qinghe himself could receive the benefits of enhancing his cultivation and even ascending to the upper realm.

When Qinghe first received this message, he was shocked at first, then countless doubts surfaced.

He had long passed the age of unquestioningly believing in anyone or anything, even if this revelation came from the supreme heavens.

Why did the heavens send down this message?

As the sect leader, Qinghe naturally knew more than others. He not only knew that the immortals in the upper realm included ancestor cultivators who had ascended from the continent, but also immortal races originally belonging to the upper realm.

He also knew that since Shangxuan Sect was established, despite producing two founding grandmasters who ascended to the upper realm, it had never received any special favor from the heavens, let alone having any relationship with the upper realm.

In that case, the starting point of the heavens was worth questioning.

If not, then what is its purpose? Could it be for the long-term development of the Taichu Continent, to prepare for a future unification?

This makes even less sense. The upper realm and the human realm are clearly separated. Humans respect the heavens and revere the gods for their ability to summon the wind and rain, bringing favorable weather to the masses.

Gods have their way, and humans have theirs. Each follows their own path. Even if the gods are high above, they cannot interfere with the rise and fall of the continent, disrupt the laws, or destroy the balance of the three realms.

Moreover, the upper realm ordered the Shangxuan Sect to take this opportunity to burn the cultivation scriptures. Although on the surface it seems to be for the good of the Shangxuan Sect, in reality, this undoubtedly severs the root of cultivation that has been passed down on the continent for tens of thousands of years.

Without the contending cultivation sects, even if only the Shangxuan Sect remains standing alone, how long can it exist?

Thinking of this, Qinghe felt a chill down his spine and didn't dare to think deeper. He suppressed this decree and never mentioned it to anyone again.

Time passed bit by bit. Ten years is not long, but not short either. He did not receive any more decrees and almost forgot about this matter.

But only almost.