Chapter 783: Chapter 782 Yang Fei: I’m Not the Only Successor of Taoist?
"Helian Zhan was indeed the strongest opponent I have ever faced in my life,"
Zhuge Cang reminisced about the previous brutal battle and still felt residual fear, his face finally showing traces of sorrow, "If it weren’t for my elder brother Zhuge Qian blocking him for me, I would never have made it down the mountain."
Wang Changchun coughed violently and said, "Yes, Helian Zhan and Wang Chunyang, both are indeed the most talented and adept fighters in the Hidden Sect World. Wang Chunyang gave up the blade to follow the Sword Dao, and even found his own path to the Supreme Sword Dao. If it weren’t for my junior brother’s help, I wouldn’t have escaped either, but even so, these sword wounds on my body were left by Wang Chunyang."
With tears emerging in his eyes, Zhuge Cang suddenly looked up fiercely and stared at Sect Master Zhang, saying, "Today’s defeat is not my fault, but yours. Had it not been for the betrayal of the Zhang and Ji Families, our alliance of five families would still have held a steady winning hand.
"Sect Master Zhang, you once betrayed the Taoist sect, and now you’ve betrayed us. You are a true three-family slave, a complete scoundrel. With your character, they will surely not tolerate you. Once Huang Chengcheng reorganizes the Taoist sect, the Zhang Family will be the first they strike down."
Hearing this, Sect Master Zhang smiled and shook his head, "At this point, what purpose does it serve to say these things?"
Wang Changchun asked unwillingly, "Sect Master Zhang, when did you betray us? Were you and Ji Bangying pretending to collaborate with us from the beginning?"
Sect Master Zhang smiled and nodded, "Master Wang is indeed smarter."
Zhuge Cang, incredulous, said, "Why? You have a feud with the Taoist sect, so why collude with them? Wouldn’t collaborating with us have been more beneficial for both of your families?"
Upon hearing this, the smile disappeared from Sect Master Zhang’s face, and a look of hatred emerged as he looked at Zhuge Cang and said, "The Zhang Family has historically been a branch of the Taoist sect, mutually dependent. Without the Taoist sect, there wouldn’t be a Zhang Family as it is today.
However, your ambitious ancestor had united various forces to annihilate the Taoist sect.
By the time my family received the news, it was too late to send warnings, so my ancestor made a painful decision to conspire with you and destroy the Taoist sect, merely to preserve our branch’s lineage."
Zhuge Cang gave a bitter smile, "Heh, those ancestors who participated in the siege of the Taoist sect were ultimately too kind, sparing your Zhang Family."
Wang Changchun chuckled, "Who would have thought that the Zhang Family, who personally took countless lives of the Taoist sect, harbored such deep thoughts?"
Zhuge Cang sighed deeply and nodded, "Yes, in the end, the Taoist sect’s fate was not sealed."
Regaining his smile, Sect Master Zhang said, "Exactly. The Hidden Sect was established by the Taoist sect. Over a thousand years, the Taoist sect has led various forces of the Hidden Sect to protect the Divine Continent, never suppressing any family or sect, truly winning people’s hearts. Such a sect, how could it truly end its lineage?
Heh, do you know why you failed today?
The instigators of today’s internal chaos in the Hidden Sect World, whether it’s you or other factions like Qingtian Sect and Poison Sect, anyone acting against the unity of the Hidden Sect World would fail.
The Taoist sect might have been extinguished over eighty years ago, but its lineage has never vanished from the Hidden Sect World.
Do you know why that lady from the Duanmu Family was so exceptionally talented? Have you ever wondered who truly taught Helian Zhan to become the top genius of his time after he was taken in by Wu Zheng? And why did Wang Chunyang, who gave up the blade, choose the path of a Sword Cultivator?"
Zhuge Cang and Wang Changchun stared in astonishment, speechless."
Wang Lei, Yang Fei, Helian Rong, and Xu Jian also listened with bated breath. Helian Rong couldn’t help asking, "My father... was he also a Taoist Disciple?"
Sect Master Zhang nodded, "That’s right. Although he belonged to the Qingtian Sect, he was actually a Taoist Inheritor."
Wang Lei took a deep breath, "Was my sixth uncle too?"
Sect Master Zhang said, "He might not be considered a true Taoist Inheritor, but at least he benefited from the Taoist cultivation techniques and received the legacy of a Taoist Sword Cultivator. Deep down, he is grateful to the Taoist sect."
Yang Fei’s lips twitched a few times, and he couldn’t resist asking, "Does that mean that within the Hidden Sect World, there are actually many Taoist Disciples, and I am not the only Taoist Inheritor as you mentioned?"
Sect Master Zhang nodded, "Of course, you are not the only inheritor of the Taoist way. But you are the direct disciple of Huang Chengcheng, which, in a sense, means you belong to the true orthodox lineage of the Taoist. Compared to those from other forces, your lineage as a Taoist Inheritor is more pure."
Yang Fei felt much better, and simultaneously, he recalled another matter, speaking to Sect Master Zhang, "Last time I entered the Hidden Sect World, my master said that someone would help me at the critical moment. Was he referring to you guys?"
Upon hearing this, Sect Master Zhang smiled and nodded, "Yes. When we learned that you were deeply troubled, we were very anxious and secretly inquired for a long time. Later, Helian Zhan sent me a message saying that you were safe, so we stopped looking for you."
Was that what you call very safe?
Yang Fei glanced at Helian Rong, who turned her head away with an innocent look.
Yang Fei sighed helplessly.
Indeed, to Helian Zhan, I was truly safe at that time.
This also explained why initially my master confidently promised that I would receive help, yet when big trouble arose, no one came forward to assist me.
These people linked to the Taoist way have really hidden themselves quite deep.
It was exactly for this reason that this time the alliance of the Zhuge, Duanmu, and Giant Sword Manor could deliver a fatal blow.
Yang Fei couldn’t help but inwardly remark on how master was truly secretive and impressive.
If my master is so formidable, then as the purest Taoist Inheritor, wouldn’t I also be incredible in the Hidden Sect World?
Thinking of this, Yang Fei felt somewhat elated, thinking of Huang Chengcheng, and he said to Sect Master Zhang, "Is my master still at the Qingtian Sect?"
Sect Master Zhang smiled and nodded, "Yes, he is."
Yang Fei stood up, his gaze turning towards Zhuge Cang and Wang Changchun, and asked, "Elder, what should be done with these two? Are they still of any use? Should we kill them?"
Sect Master Zhang pondered for a moment and shook his head, "We should bring them back first and then decide."
Actually, he had just felt a strong urge to kill these two men deep inside.
After all, the Zhang Family and the Ji Family had indeed betrayed the Zhuge, Duanmu, and Giant Sword Manor. Certainly, in their hearts, they must utterly despise him and Ji Bangying.
To avoid unnecessary trouble in the future, completely eliminating these two men would be the safest route.
However, Sect Master Zhang ultimately did not do so; he felt it was fairest to bring the two men back to the Qingtian Sect and let everyone discuss how to deal with these defeated elements.
After the great war more than eighty years ago, the Hidden Sect suffered huge losses in overall strength. This recent turmoil involving the three families had implicated many top-level experts, resulting in another significant loss to the overall strength of the Hidden Sect.
With the current changing global landscape, as the powerhouses from both Heaven and Penglai realms extensively enter the mundane world, according to ancient experiences, these two powers are very likely to ally again to confront the Divine Continent. The Hidden Sect needs to retain as much top-level combat power as possible.
With a complex look, Sect Master Zhang glanced at Zhuge Cang and Wang Changchun, wondering how many among these captured would truly realize their mistakes afterward and be able to resist the invasion of foreign powerhouses.