The five immortal elders' appearance didn't alert the White Immortal sect's leadership. But their mere presence produced mystical changes that put the sect on its toes. Throughout sect territory and beyond, the Qi Density in the atmosphere intensified. Spiritual flowers bloomed, the Dao resonated with myriad lives, prompting breakthroughs and enlightenment opportunities for all that stood in the vicinity of the Liberation Temple.
The closer they were to Xinzi's temple, the more intense the phenomenon was. So to prevent the White Immortal sect's leadership from noticing the origin of this change, the five elders set up a pre-prepared formation that redirected their Immortal Rhythm and harmonized its effects, so that regardless of where they stood, all received the same benefits.
"Eh…what's the meaning of this?" Standing vigil by Dong Ling's door, Guang Fanghu noticed this change and spread his Spiritual Sense out, eager to find out the origin of this opportunity. Celestial Phenomena were not in short supply. Even the Dongli capital—Purple Wind city—took its name from one. But a phenomenon that could overnight change the trajectory of a sect at best occurred once in 1,000 years, and most often spelled disasters.
"Have 100 disciples of the Pill Refining hall harvest all the plants. The Spirit Formation hall's elders follow me to activate a concealment formation and seal the sect's gates. Other disciples enter secluded cultivation to make the best use of this opportunity. Those that miss good fortune due to my directives will be rewarded accordingly." Zi Yao gave prompt orders. After all, if the sect didn't act fast and allowed this matter to spread, another coalition could form within a day—perhaps even luring in Burning Spear supercity's powerhouses.
Pinching her temple, the matriarch stomped her foot, annoyed by the gathering of so many strange events in her turf. The demonic presence especially rattled her, threatening to lead the Demon Slaying hall to the experiments that she kept hidden. A part of Zi Yao even wondered if this phenomenon had not been triggered by Xinzi's foundation—heightening her dislike for our impious monk.
Still, at a glance, this opportunity merited all dangers, and Zi Yao wouldn't let it go out of fear for the greedy wolves of other states—or worse—supercities. The White Immortal sect went into action mode, with elders assembling at the sect gates—carrying materials to set up the formation alongside Zi Yao.
Meanwhile, Xinzi turned into an oriole and flew towards Dong Ling's chambers. Be it through the Five Elements Transmutative Technique or Silkshifter Heart, our monk could rely on seamless shapeshifting abilities but didn't have the opportunity to use them till now.
'The Armored Lion King has reached Burning Spear supercity and is now battling their defensive formation. Although he's only a rank-seven beast, that buffon's demonic battle-prowess should enable him to run amok under the Void Tribulant realm. To kill or not to kill…' The Armored Lion King's life couldn't escape Xinzi's control, making its death a painful waste.
At the same time, Xinzi had to consider Hengye Yuemi and the Demon Slaying hall.
'On the surface, that crazed woman sending five immortals to pick me up is a show of respect. But knowing her, it's more of a distraction meant to reduce my level of alertness. And regardless, others must have been dispatched to investigate Dongli. That being the case…'
Xinzi sent the Armored Lion King a mental order, then rushed towards his target.
…
"Abbot, I've always treated you as a man of high principles, but I must have been blinded by the golden light you use to mystify the people. If junior brother has gone astray, as his seniors, it is our lotus-given duty to bring him back to the righteous path. How could you toss him out without giving him a chance to mend his way?" Led by Fahai, eldest disciple of the Clear Heart monastery, young and old monks alike crowded Qingxin, demanding answers.
So far, the abbot kept his eyes shut, pretending to not hear their queries. But more they spoke, the more rattled he felt. His nerves pulsed, and his eyelids twitched.
"At the end of the day, the master is to blame for the disciple's mistakes. Abbot, perhaps it is because, at the root, you are as much a scoundrel as junior brother, that's why you kept indulging him to the point of no return. Now you realize that you messed up, but take the easy way out. Shame on you." With a disdainful sneer, Fahai turned from Qingxin. Aware that their senior had crossed a line, the other monastery disciples stepped back. Alas, Fahai's words were the icing on that send Qingxin on a rampage.
"Roll!"
"AAAAAAAARGH!"
Leaping from his seat, the abbot kicked at all the disciples' buttocks, sending them all flying out of his study, and leaving human-sized holes in the walls.
"The nerves of the bastards. What was I supposed to do? Bind him to a chair and whip him till he swore on all the Lords of Heaven to abandon his impious ways? If he doesn't want to be our kind of monk, isn't it better for all parties that he follows his own path? How is that still a mistake? Damn, I've enabled these scoundrels to take too many liberties. From now on, see how I discipline you all!" Qingxin grumbled the words, but again his arms turned limp, and he fell back in his seat.
A long sigh crossed the abbot's lips, but as he wondered how Xinzi was holding up, the temperature in the room sank. Time seemed to slow down, as moonlight rays pierced through the holes all around to gather by Qingxin's table. A tall and lithe figure took shape. Dressed in a long-sleeved black dress, with her face covered by a black mourning veil, the woman smiled at Qingxin, whose eyes widened at her appearance.
"You. You? How…dare you?" Driven by frenzied impulses, Qingxin rose to his feet, his massive hands pulsing with the need to choke the woman to death. But the monastic training took over, preventing him from letting hatred control his actions.
As Qingxin stood up, Hengye Yuemi sat—unfazed by Qingxin's outburst. Xinzi couldn't imagine that, after Baxian rejected Yuemi's order, the Lord-Regent of the Eternal Night would dispatch an immortal avatar to get the job done. In fact, throughout the Evernight Palace, none was aware of this.
After all, per the Thousand-Faced God's orders, Yuemi didn't have the right to seek out Qingxin—at least not until Xinzi recovered the Records.
"Sit, have a cup of Immortal Tea. I've had one brewed especially for you since I'm pretty sure that this backwater region doesn't have the ingredients to produce tea of this quality," she said. Unlike the five immortals, Yuemi's presence didn't induce any phenomenon. Immortals had ways to restrain their mystical effect on low-level territories. The five Hengye elders didn't because they hoped they could make the land slightly more comfortable for their lord. Yuemi, however, found no reason to let the mortals she despised profit from her presence.
Yuemi stretched one hand out, and a warm cup of tea appeared on Qingxin's table. The abbot didn't spare it a glance, but sat regardless—at first staring at Yuemi with unconstrained killing intent. However, the longer Qingxin stared, the softer his eyes became.. Pity replaced hatred, and the standoff went on.