Chapter 240: Chapter 235 Pre-Sword Discourse
Jiang Li waited at the foot of the mountain for about two quarters of an hour before he saw Elder Tianxuan descending the stone stairs with hands crossed in front of her.
But strangely, there was no sign of Gongsun Qingyue.
"Senior Sister must have encountered trouble," Jiang Li guessed in his heart.
Gongsun Qingyue was incredibly bold today, confronting Elder Tianxuan head-on and even gaining the upper hand, which really made Jiang Li take a fresh look at her.
However, taking advantage requires paying a price.
Elder Tianxuan was caught off guard, but once she calmed down, it was likely that Gongsun Qingyue would suffer.
As expected, upon sighting Jiang Li approaching, Elder Tianxuan gently extended her right arm, and with her palm facing upward, spread her fingers, white as jade, revealing an Array Plate with five overlapping layers within, where the light and shadow swirled, seemingly forming another world.
The figure of Gongsun Qingyue emerged within the Array Plate, with eyes closed as if in meditation, sitting cross-legged.
"Qingyue had a sudden insight and urgently needed to enter seclusion. Using the Sleeve Universe technique in conjunction with the Wind Queen’s Qimen, I created a place for her to break through," Elder Tianxuan explained.
Is this really entering seclusion?
No matter how Jiang Li saw it, it looked more like a disciple reflecting on their mistakes.
Sure enough, being bold comes at a price, and now Gongsun Qingyue was paying for it.
What comes next...
Elder Tianxuan, with a kind smile, gazed at Jiang Li and softly asked, "My disciple, do you know any insider information? Like... why would Qingyue dare to confront me?"
Next up, it was indeed Jiang Li’s turn.
"Disciple does not know," Jiang Li’s head shook like a rattle-drum.
"Do not know?" Elder Tianxuan’s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, "Is it truly that you do not know? Or is it that you pretend not to know? Or perhaps... did the news about Qingyue come from you?"
Having kept the secret for so many years without being discovered, it was hard for Tianxuan not to suspect that it was the recently initiated Jiang Li who had uncovered it, especially since it was Gongsun Qingyue who had brought it to light.
"Disciple does not understand what you mean, Master," Jiang Li continued to feign ignorance.
He lacked the courage of Gongsun Qingyue to speak out boldly. His previous statements were completely in line with his status as a disciple, so he still had room for argument.
No matter what Elder Tianxuan would ask, Jiang Li’s answer was always the same: he knew nothing. Surely she couldn’t search his soul, could she?
"Do you know now?" Elder Tianxuan’s lips curled into a smile; even through the veil, it made Jiang Li’s heart beat a little faster.
He couldn’t help but think back to the stunning imagery of large spheres colliding with small ones.
Jiang Li was still a virgin and such stirring images truly tested his endurance.
"Disciple does not know," was still Jiang Li’s response.
With the capabilities he had displayed, even if he could not figure out what Elder Tianxuan was hinting at, he absolutely could guess Gongsun Qingyue had found some leverage. This "I do not know" was actually a promise to his master, assuring her that he would definitely not disclose or investigate; he would always maintain his ignorance.
"I hope so."
Elder Tianxuan looked deeply at Jiang Li, moved ahead, and said, "Return to the Jiang family’s ancestral land and call together those who are leaving. Tomorrow, I will take you back to the Sect. Ji Lingguang is in Yong Province, so there won’t be chaos here; you also don’t need to worry about the Jiang family’s ancestral land being in danger."
In fact, if not for the need for Jiang Li to appear at the ancestral land, Elder Tianxuan would have also confined him to a few days of seclusion.
Even if he knew nothing, cooperating with Gongsun Qingyue as he had, he deserved punishment.
"Disciple understands," Jiang Li respectfully replied.
"There’s also the matter of the Daoist Dao Fruit. After you reach Seventh Grade Perfection, don’t rush to advance. Inside the Divine Capital Iron Pillar Temple, there’s a Sixth Grade Unique True Man Dao Fruit. I will take you to the Divine Capital in time to seize the opportunity," Tianxuan added.
’Sixth Grade Unique True Man Dao Fruit...’
Upon hearing this, Jiang Li looked towards the Karma Collection.
He had been using Karma Collection to transform his Dao Fruits all along, each rank containing a Unique Dao Fruit. In theory, he would not need to go to the Divine Capital to encounter fortune.
But after reaching Sixth Grade Perfection, the Dao Fruit to be advanced to would all be unique, without mass production available.
By the time that came to pass, if the Karma Collection had no further functions, the value of this Golden Finger would be reduced to merely consolidating karma and keeping a journal. And what a strange journal it was, not at all capturing Jiang Li’s imposing righteousness.
"Then I shall make a trip to Divine Capital; it just so happens that I can see the effect of the Karma Collection on Uniqueness Dao Fruit, and prepare myself in advance."
Jiang Li made up his mind and looked at the book before him, "Karma Collection, let’s see what your limits are."
Would it end up as an automatic diary, or continue to shine brightly? Only time would tell.
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Dinghu Sect.
Ling Wujue hurried into Tianshu Palace, then turned into a study, and said as he entered, "Senior Brother, we’ve received a message from the Divine Travel Grand Protector."
He handed over a Jade Scroll to Yun Jiuye, who was reading behind a desk. Yun Jiuye’s expression grew serious upon seeing it.
Generally, trivial matters were recorded on specialized scrolls, and only significant events warranted the imprinting on a Jade Scroll with added restrictions. The arrival of this Jade Scroll brought Yun Jiuye an ominous premonition.
He took the Jade Scroll, waved his hand to dispel the restrictions, and infused it with True Qi.
A streak of light detached from the Jade Scroll and hovered in the air, materializing text line by line.
"As expected..."
Yun Jiuye, seeing the beginning, gently shook his head, "The Lu King has indeed failed. When Elder Tianxuan left the Sect the other day, I had a premonition that he might fail; now, it seems it is indeed the case."
For if the Lu King had not failed, Elder Tianxuan would not have left. Her departure could only mean she was going to clean up the aftermath.
But what made Yun Jiuye shake his head wasn’t just the news of the Lu King’s failure.
The Princely Heir Ji Chengye died at the hands of Heluo God of the Devil God Sect, and the Lu King’s ascension also failed due to various obstructions, before being Soul Devoured by Ten Thousand Ghosts thanks to the interference of Heluo God’s incarnation. That was all normal until...
"Jiang Li and Zhong Shenxiu confronted Heluo God’s split soul, and retrieved the bones of the deceased Lu King?"
Ling Wujue widened his eyes, "Jiang Li first defeated a disciple of the Daode Sect, then triumphed over a disciple of Buddha Country’s Chief, and lastly cunningly captured the Fourth Grade Daoist Artifact Ghost Gate?"
Had the times changed too quickly, or was he, Ling Wujue, seeing things? There were so many events involving Jiang Li.
Even if many feats were omitted from the report, it still left Ling Wujue in shock.
Yun Jiuye, however, showed only a fleeting look of surprise on his face, displaying impressive composure.
"The moment I saw him that day, I knew this Jiang Li was not just an ordinary man. Little did I expect that he would rise so rapidly, like a golden scale ascending to the heavens," said Yun Jiuye as he put down the Jade Scroll and spoke calmly. "However, with the master weak and the branches strong, this is not a good sign for our Third Junior Sister."
Jiang Li was already assumed to be the aide to Gongsun Qingyue, but now, his fame had greatly outshone hers, indirectly highlighting her lack of ability.
She couldn’t control Jiang Li.
For Yun Jiuye, this was actually a good turn of events.
After all, regardless of Jiang Li’s progress, he would not be a contender for the position of Sect Leader. Yun Jiuye’s real rival was only Gongsun Qingyue.
"Would it be possible to create an issue out of Jiang Li’s rapid growth in strength?" suggested Ling Wujue.
He still dreaded Jiang Li, or rather, he wanted to suppress him. With Jiang Li’s status, growing too powerful too quickly was not a good thing. Instead, one could create an argument about him being a threat, making those in the Sect who were wary of the Jiang family recognize the danger Jiang Li posed.
This would also serve to further undermine Gongsun Qingyue.
But Yun Jiuye shook his head, "There’s no need. While this move could indeed impact Third Junior Sister and Sixth Junior Brother, it would appear petty. It would make our seniors look down on me."
He stood up, unrolled a scroll, and said, "With Third Junior Sister away from the Sect, the Sword Discussion Conference preparations have been handed to me, and thus, my goal has been achieved. The upcoming Sword Discussion Conference... Junior Brother, it will be our time to advance."
Ling Wujue’s breathing became slightly hurried.
He was currently Seventh Rank, and after advancement, he would be Sixth Rank, while Yun Jiuye... if he advanced, he would be Fifth Rank.
Then, amongst his peers, Yun Jiuye would be the foremost, the first young person to reach Fifth Rank.
At that time, he would rightfully overpower his competitors and become the indisputable Junior Sect Leader.