Qingzhou is the territory of the Chen Clan, located on Huangyun Mountain.
They are the only Immortal Sect that has maintained the Worldly Family form since ancient times. All their Disciples must forget their origins, change their surnames, and join the Chen Clan.
And in the early years of Taiyuan, as spring approached and winter receded, the grand formation of Huangyun Mountain was suddenly lifted, and the immortal mist that had shrouded the mountain gradually dispersed with the Celestial Book Institute Head Teacher's wave of his sleeve.
At this time, heavenly light surged, and the Inner Courtyard and Outer Courtyard Disciples lined both sides of the mountain path, whispering among themselves.
“Are Disciples from another Sect coming to pay a visit?”
“The Sect-protecting grand formation has been lifted, this is clearly not a visit, but an inquiry.”
“What's the difference between a visit and an inquiry?”
“No matter who they are, even if they are a contemporary Personal Disciple, Disciples from other Sects must first submit a visiting post to be called a visit. Only when the Head Teacher of another Sect comes for a matter can it be called an inquiry. To show respect, the visited Immortal Clan must lift their Sect-protecting grand formation.”
“Why have I never heard of a Head Teacher from another Sect leaving their mountain?”
“Yesterday, a Senior Brother saw Lingjian Mountain send someone over. It is said that the one who came this time is the young Master Jian, a Personal Disciple of Lingjian Mountain.”
On the peak of Huangshan, where clouds stretched for ten thousand acres, three people stood amidst the wind and waves. At their feet were the myriad golden rays of the rising sun, dyeing the surging sea of clouds with white waves and floating gold.
Among the three, two were young men and women, one named Chen Luo and the other Chen Xi, siblings of the main family's Bloodline.
Although young, both of them were already at the Integration Realm Middle Realm, Personal Disciples of this generation of the Chen Clan.
Behind them was an old woman, a Wujiang Realm expert, and also their Dao Protector.
The three looked down from the sea of clouds and saw the Chen Clan Disciples lined up all over the mountain, with immortal cranes flying alongside the clouds, their expressions full of confusion.
“Last autumn, my sister and I also went to Lingjian Mountain, bringing a visiting Thank you. This Yan Shuyi is only a Personal Disciple of Lingjian Mountain. How dare she come to inquire, and even alarm the Old Ancestor?”
Chen Luo spoke coldly, looking at the old woman behind him.
The white-haired old woman heard this and said, “Young Master is absolutely right, but this young Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain is different from other Personal Disciples.”
Chen Xi couldn't help but ask curiously, “Granny Wu, how is she different?”
“Among the Seven Great Immortal Sects in the current era, except for Tianshu Academy, which has not yet appointed a Personal Disciple, the other six great Immortal Sects all have Personal Disciples, but the young Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain is the only one who is different.”
The old woman put her hands behind her back and said, “Because among the six Personal Disciples, only she has already taken control of a Heavenly Dao Sacred Artifact. Although she is not the Head Teacher, she already has the status of a Head Teacher.”
Chen Xi and Chen Luo exchanged glances, a hint of surprise appearing in their eyes.
In fact, they also knew that even becoming a Head Teacher's Personal Disciple did not necessarily mean one would become the Head Teacher.
Just like Chu Xian of Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion, his profound Cultivation Technique was invincible and his talent was extraordinary, but Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion ultimately belonged to the Ji family.
So, whether the current Xuan Yuan Head Teacher would pass on the Legacy to Chu was still an undecided matter.
It is true that the Immortal Dao in Qingyun World is prosperous, but it ultimately shares a commonality with the secular Dynasties, which is that the world belongs to the family.
There are often plays in the Great Xia folk tales that tell of a Disciple whose talent astounded the ages, who was valued by the Head Teacher after ascending the mountain, who was taught Cultivation Techniques and even married the Head Teacher's daughter, as if everything was given to him.
But just thinking about it, one knows that in an Immortal Sect that has been passed down for thousands of years, who would truly be willing to hand over such a large clan and the power of its rise and fall to an outsider?
Even if they are of the same surname, the internal power struggles are protracted and fierce.
For example, the three main branches of Lingjian Mountain—Tianjian Peak, Xuanjian Peak, and Wenjian Peak—have been contending for thousands of years, and finally, Tianjian Peak monopolized the power, producing five generations of Head Teachers in a row.
But with the mysterious disappearance of the previous generation's Master Jian, who was from Tianjian Peak, the spirit mirror subsequently lost control.
Until that day, it fell to Xuanjian Peak.
Therefore, the young Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain is different from all other Personal Disciples in the current era.
Because she, who controls the Heavenly Dao Sacred Artifact, is destined to be the next Head Teacher of Lingjian Mountain, even the current Head Teacher has no right to interfere.
The Sacred Artifact represents the Dao Lineage. Only when the Dao Lineage Legacy remains can Disciples within the Sect have the opportunity to enter the Linxian Realm from the Upper Five Realms.
And if the Seven Great Immortal Sects lose the recognition of the Dao Lineage, they can only be considered larger Worldly Sect.
Therefore, none of the other six great Immortal Sects truly treat her as just a small Personal Disciple.
Even if she went to Tianshu Academy, which ranks first, the Celestial Book Institute Head Teacher would personally lift the Sect-protecting grand formation to show the friendship between the two Sects.
Chen Luo and Chen Xi were full of surprise after hearing this.
The old woman couldn't help but say, “The reason why Qingyun World has been stable for a thousand years is because the Seven Great Immortal Sects each operate independently. But in recent days, Evil Seeds have frequently appeared, clearly indicating that a chaotic era is approaching. The young Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain came to our Chen Clan on her first outing. Regardless of the reason, it is a deterrent to other Immortal Sects and petty individuals.”
Chen Xi suddenly understood after hearing this: “So that's why the Asked the Dao Sect Personal Disciple went to congratulate her with gongs and drums on the day she broke through?”
“Precisely, because she is a woman after all, and she will eventually marry.”
“……”
Chen Luo and Chen Xi pondered for a moment, then saw an immortal crane in the clouds suddenly cry out to the sky.
Then, a woman of unparalleled beauty appeared on the divine path leading up the mountain, followed by more than ten people, calmly heading towards the clan's main hall.
Several elders of the Chen Clan were already seated in the hall, and the Head Teacher Chen Ruhai stood before the hall. Both sides exchanged courtesies upon meeting.
“Master Jian has come a long way. Our Chen Clan is greatly honored. Please take a seat.”
Yan Shuyi smiled faintly: “Thank you, Head Teacher Chen.”
Chen Ruhai stroked his beard and nodded, then gave a look to the person next to him.
In a short while, a thin clan member was brought into the main hall. He first bowed to the Old Ancestor, then to Yan Shuyi.
Standing beside Chen Ruhai was the clan's Grand Master-in-charge, named Chen Sheng. He spoke now: “The person Master Jian sent up the mountain yesterday, we have investigated him. His name is Chen Qinghe, originally a Disciple of our Chen Clan. This is his teacher during his cultivation in the clan, Chen En.”
Yan Shuyi's eyebrows slightly raised: “Once?”
Chen En immediately cupped his hands: “Replying to Master Jian, Chen Qingquan was indeed once my Disciple, but he was stuck at Junior Third Realm Completion for many years and left the mountain over a year ago.”
“So, the Disciple your Lingjian Mountain lost has nothing to do with your Chen Clan?”
“Master Jian, please understand, Chen Qingquan's actions were absolutely not directed by our Chen Clan.”
Yan Shuyi looked at Chen En: “Then do you know where Chen Qingquan went after leaving the mountain?”
Chen En shook his head: “After five years, the master-Disciple relationship ended. I don't know what happened to him after he left the mountain.”
Chen Ruhai then spoke in a deep voice: “Since the Lingjian Mountain Disciple disappeared in Qingzhou, our Chen Clan naturally bears responsibility. We have already dispatched Outer Courtyard Disciples to search for him.”
Yan Shuyi glanced at Chen Ruhai, then turned to Chen En: “He was at Junior Third Realm Completion when he left, and reached Integration Realm Upper Realm over a year later?”
“Yesterday, upon receiving the message from Lingjian Mountain, we also found it strange. We instructed our Disciples overnight to organize all of Chen Qinghe's Cultivation Techniques, types of medicine consumed, and records of his sleep and meals. Please, Master Jian, follow me to the Disciple Hall.”
Yan Shuyi immediately rose and followed Chen En to the Disciple Hall to examine everything about Chen Qingquan.
Chen Ruhai, meanwhile, glanced at Chen En. The two left the back hall and entered a narrow passage, finally arriving in a stone chamber.
Chen Qingquan was bound by iron chains, struggling in the stone chamber. From last night until now, he hadn't stopped, clearly having lost his humanity.
“Have you found out?”
“Yes, he went to Qiling Town in Zhongzhou after leaving the mountain.”
Chen Ruhai spoke expressionlessly: “The largest ancient relic is in Qi Ridge, and no one has been able to open it to this day.”
Chen En glanced at the Old Ancestor: “Is it related to the Evil Seed suddenly leaving the relic?”
“It must be related, but that's not the point. The point is that in just one year, someone could break through from Junior Third Realm Completion to Integration Realm Upper Realm. There must be an extraordinary secret treasure in the relic.”
“But Chen Qinghe has lost his humanity.”
Chen Ruhai chuckled: “So what? Even if he's just a killing weapon, he cannot fall into the hands of others. The Celestial Book Institute sent Disciples to investigate the so-called Evil Seed incident, probably not just for the Sect's prestige.”
Chen En pondered for a moment after hearing this: “Then we should also quickly send people there, lest we fall behind other Immortal Sects.”
“Indeed.”
“Then… should we report to the Old Ancestor?”
The Chen Clan is a Worldly Family passed down through generations, so even the Head Teacher Chen Ruhai is not the complete authority.
The true controller of the Heavenly Dao Sacred Artifact is the Clan Chief, Old Ancestor Chen, who has been cultivating the Dao in the deep mountains, a Linxian Realm expert of the current era.
Chen Ruhai pondered for a moment then waved his hand: “We don't even have a clue yet, how dare we disturb the Old Ancestor? Let's find some clues first.”
“Yes.”
“Also, try to keep the Lingjian Mountain group here for a few more days, lest the news leak.”
Chen Ruhai rolled up his sleeves: “The young Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain is extraordinary, but she is still young. She is only focused on finding the missing Disciple, but has overlooked the greater opportunity behind this.”
After hearing this, Chen En immediately turned around and secretly sent messages to the Inner Courtyard and Outer Courtyard, selecting a group of Disciples who quickly changed their clothes and left the mountain through a small path in the back, heading towards Qiling Town.
As the Disciples secretly departed, Zhuo Wanqiu and three Disciples emerged from behind a thousand-year-old ancient tree on the small path in the back mountain.
“Master Jian's guess was indeed correct. Follow them.”
“……”
