Chapter 52 – It Hits the Fan
The days following Jun De’s return to the Sect passed in a strange and heavy quiet.
He resumed his cultivation, dedicating more time than usual to it, and Jun De felt the barrier preventing him from reaching the 6th Level of Qi Condensation. If he weren’t distracted by current events and could focus better, he might have been able to break through.
Unfortunately, even though his courtyard was peaceful, Jun De himself was uneasy.
His thoughts kept drifting back to the Ren Clan and what he had seen there. The look of hatred and bloodlust in Ren Sihan’s eyes, the dark swell of Qi that had occurred at the end of the duel, and the actions of the Patriarch.
After his conversation with Elder Shen, Jun De expected to hear news about the Ren Clan. But no messages came, or summons to speak to the Elders. Even Lin Yue didn’t hear any whispers about it, and he could only warn her to stay within the Sect for a little while.
Until one morning when Jun De stepped out of his cultivation chamber and saw that he wasn’t alone in his courtyard.
Elder Mu was standing there.
She stood with her hands behind her back, not looking at him at all. She appeared to be studying the Warflag of Dominion that he had mounted on the bridge over the pond. The morning sun caught on her blue robes, while the silk material shifted like water over her frame, and her dark hair flowed freely down her back.
Even standing still, she possessed a presence that controlled everything around her.
‘She really is absurdly beautiful.’
The thought came to Jun De immediately, and he had to crush it just as quickly as it had arrived. She was Mu Yanyu, a Core Formation powerhouse and the second-highest-ranking member of the Tranquil Mountain Sect.
Even as talented as Jun De was, a mere 5th Level of Qi Condensation Disciple like him had no business staring, much less thinking anything vulgar about such a person.
He schooled his expression and bowed respectfully to the Elder.
“Disciple Jun De greets the honoured Elder.”
Elder Mu glanced at him, her eyes calm and unreadable, before she turned back toward the Warflag. It was fluttering in the wind, revealing the ‘Dominion’ symbol embroidered on the cloth.
“You have made quite a name for yourself, Jun De. In the short time you have been with the Sect, you have obtained an inheritance, conquered the Tower of Tempered Will, and now you have uncovered something troubling.” Elder Mu said lightly, her voice clear and elegant.
“It seems you have a talent for being a part of interesting events.”
Jun De shook his head and grimaced slightly at the idea that he was trying to be a part of anything.
“I don’t try to seek out trouble, Elder. If it were up to me, I would happily cultivate within the Sect.” Jun De admitted truthfully, although he overstated his interest in cultivation.
Elder Mu smiled slightly at the response, and he knew she didn’t believe him.
“Perhaps. But sometimes it is a person’s fate to be caught in events beyond their control. I believe you are such an individual, Jun De.”
The wind shifted, tugging gently at her sleeves. Eventually, Elder Mu turned toward him fully, and Jun De was once again struck by her appearance.
“Shen Weifeng has communicated your account regarding the Ren Estate.”
Jun De’s posture straightened immediately, but he didn’t interrupt. If Elder Mu was seeing him personally regarding the Ren Clan, it had to be serious.
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‘I just hope I don’t have to become any more involved than I already am.’
“It is a grave matter, one that cannot be handled carelessly. The Ren Clan is prominent within Tranquil City, and they have connections with many within our Sect. I investigated the Clan myself. As of three nights ago, Ren Tianyou has disappeared from his estate.”
“There has been no word regarding his departure from the estate, and no trace of him can be found. Ren Sihan has also vanished.” Elder Mu informed him, and Jun De felt a shiver crawl down his spine.
“The Patriarch is missing?”
Elder Mu nodded before continuing.
“Normally, this would not require the intervention of the Sect to resolve. Ren Tianyou’s late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, while significant in Tranquil City, is nothing of concern for the Sect.”
“A cultivator seeking unorthodox methods to break through, while disturbing, is also not uncommon. We would normally post a task for the Inner Sect Disciples to investigate, or coordinate with others until he is found and dealt with.”
“However, there is a larger concern. One that we fear is connected to Ren Sihan.”
Jun De’s mind raced as he tried to think about everything that had happened recently. If Ren Sihan was using an unorthodox method to increase his cultivation, and Patriarch Tianyou desired to learn it, that wouldn’t require Elder Mu’s intervention.
But, what if it were worse than unorthodox? What if it were a demonic cultivation method?
A cold knot settled in Jun De’s stomach.
Everything he had heard about demonic cultivation methods made him terrified. Demonic cultivators were beyond ruthless; they were downright evil. They would kill without a thought, and worse, use those deaths to their advantage.
“Wait…the disappearances?” Jun De muttered. He felt like pieces were falling into place. He had heard about them from Lin Yue and had seen the tasks on the task board. There were even warnings to the Outer Sect Disciples to be wary when travelling alone.
“While investigating the Ren Clan Patriarch, I have found that there have been more people reported missing over the last few days. Not just mortals, but Qi Condensation cultivators throughout the entire region.”
“We were unaware of how widespread this had become. A few missing from Tranquil City could go unnoticed, but when they are all added together, it becomes concerning. ” Elder Mu trailed off.
“If Ren Sihan’s advance came from a demonic or unorthodox method, it is possible that it requires sacrifices to fuel his advancement. A Qi Condensation Cultivator could refine the lives of mortals to achieve this, but for someone of Ren Tianyou’s cultivation, stronger sacrifices are required.”
Jun De looked at Elder Mu in alarm.
“If Ren Tianyou has been taught this method by others, then he would target stronger cultivators in his desperation to reach Core Formation.”
“To say nothing about whoever taught Ren Sihan this method in the first place. This is a potential threat to the entire region.” Elder Mu finished.
“Elder, I don’t want to sound ungrateful to you for sharing this information. But, why have you told me this?” Jun De asked, and he was secretly praying that she wouldn’t ask him to assist in any way.
“The Sect is mobilizing to begin searching for Ren Tianyou, Ren Sihan, and whoever is assisting them.” Elder Mu’s gaze sharpened, and Jun De felt like the weight of a blade had pressed against his neck.
“I believe that fate will draw you into the conflict, regardless of the Sect’s desire to shield you from it. We are forbidden from assisting you too much, but in recognition of your contribution in bringing this to my attention, I have brought you this.”
Elder Mu reached into the sleeve of her robes and pulled out a small jade talisman. It glowed with intense spiritual energy, and Jun De felt his hand tingle when she placed it in his palm.
“This is a Nine-Seal Spirit Guard Talisman. It will block a single strike from a cultivator in the Core Formation Realm.” She said calmly.
Jun De bowed his head and placed the talisman in his storage bag.
“Thank you, Elder.”
Page Break
Far beyond Tranquil City, where even the spiritual senses of the Tranquil Mountain Sect Elders couldn’t reach, there was a gorge that pulsed with sinister energy.
Ren Tianyou, the former Patriarch of the Ren Clan, stepped into a circle of hundreds of other cultivators from all across the region, while thousands more inhabited the area. The air around the gorge hummed with dark spiritual energy, and the smell of blood pervaded everything.
Before the Patriarch was an old man, emaciated and wrapped in heavy black robes, his eyes glowing with a red light, and his cultivation pressed down heavily on everyone around him. His cultivation was so vast that Ren Tianyou couldn’t determine what stage he was in.
“You come to us seeking the Path of Ascension through Flesh. You will rise over the bones of the weak.” The old man said as he extended a thin, claw-like hand.
Ren Tianyou bowed his head in submission.
“Teach me. I no longer believe in the path of righteousness. I will not die forgotten at the edge of Core Formation. I will step into immortality regardless of the price!”
A pleased smile stretched across the emaciated old man’s face.
Soon, a foul light rose into the sky like a beacon, and Ren Tianyou’s cultivation, which had been stagnant for decades, began to churn with new life.
In the days that followed, the number of disappearances grew. No longer satisfied with collecting weak mortals, they expanded their abductions. Small towns vanished overnight. Patrols from minor Sects disappeared without a trace.
Soon, even mighty cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Stage were vanishing.
And the number of demonic cultivators grew as more people were drawn to them, seeking a new way to progress in their cultivation.
When the orthodox Sects finally became aware of the threat, it was too late to stop.
