Daoist Master of Qing Xuan

Fang Yanying could somehow understand what Uncle-Master wanted to express. That man in white had kins where their bodies had similar death-defying abilities, maybe some even mastered extraordinary powers.

It was not a big deal when dealing with one or two with similar capabilities but if there was a whole group with the same death-defying abilities as the man in white? It did not matter whether there were some with weaker attacks and strengths than the man in white, it would still be a spine-chilling force.

She could not help but worry because she was clear that Uncle-Master would not be afraid, but behind him was still Qing Xuan — the other pupils of the same sect that she had never met before.

Not all of them were as formidable as Uncle-Master.

Shen Lian smiled at her, those pair of eyes filled with warm mirth and the deep significance that could pierce through Fan Yanying’s inner mind.

Finally, Shen Lian said, “Follow me back to the mountains.”

Fang Yanying could not refrain from being stunned. She asked, “But what about the Temple of Killings?”

The Temple of Killings was the foundation set up by Honored Master, there were the bones of the deceased pupils. As the disciple of the Honored Master, she was duty-bound to guard this piece of land.

Shen Lian simply said, “You live, the Temple of Killings lives.”

Fang Yanying kept quiet. Without Uncle-Master and Honored Master, her enemies would definitely come looking. She was clear that she could not guard the Temple of Killings by herself.

Also, Shen Lian’s meaning was very clear. She was the extension of Chen Jianmei’s orthodoxy. As long she exists, the Temple of Killings will always be here. Even if it got destroyed, it was merely a physical loss.

However, the bones of her senior-brothers were already in the ground. Should she had dug them out or just let them be here?

Finally, she still decided to stay. With a very solemn tone, she said, “My heart is here and I have no desire to go anywhere else.”

Her thoughts were simple. Honored Master left Qing Xuan, established this orthodoxy that was different than that of Qing Xuan and he never went back to the mountains, not even asking once for help from the sect.

No matter how unworthy she was as his disciple, she could not allow Honored Master’s prestige to fall and take shelter at Qing Xuan.

Fang Yanying was clear that her insistence seemed somewhat laughable and naïve, but if she did not do so, she would regret it. If she stayed in the mountains, ground away for ten years, excel at the world-shaking swordcraft and let the people of this world remember once again that there is a peerless sword cultivator as Chen Jianmei. Now, with his successor now appearing in this world again, how wonderful that would sound. Nonetheless, would this be the matter that her Honored Master wished to see?

She respected her Uncle-Master like how she respected her Honored Master. But, no matter what, she was the successor of Chen Jianmei and this would never ever change.

Shen Lian did not urge her again. She was a stubborn child. She did not have the full extent of Chen Jianmei’s abilities, but her inner mind was similar to Chen Jianmei’s.

Chen Jianmei could listen to Zhang Ruoxu and endure ten years of loneliness. That was because he did not know the circumstances after unsheathing his sword. However, Fang Yanying had been following by Chen Jianmei’s side, how could the sword be hidden after imperceptibly influenced by what she constantly saw and heard?

Shen Lian admired Chen Jianmei slightly for having a successor like this that could be passed with the mantle, but he still could not remain here because he was still the Chief of Qing Xuan.

Furthermore, regardless of what Chen Beidou had for him, going back to Qing Xuan was out of the question as it was his home field.

He knew that sooner or later he would meet this so-called Lord of God and he would have an insight of other’s sword when the time comes. Once that person pulled out his sword, he would definitely not hesitate and pull back.

The other really treasured him as his opponent, that was why he did not come looking for him. Shen Lian could almost guess why Chen Beidou was interested in him. Chen Beidou was that sword cultivator who smashed through the Ming Wang Temple and took the Chart of Celestial Extermination. He was also the one who lost to Sword Saint Ziwei’s Dazizai Shapeless Sword Aura and Shen Lian learned the foundation of the Dazizai Shapeless Sword Aura from Mister Su— the Being and Non-Being of Sword Aura.

Furthermore, Chen Beidou wanted to give him ten thousand demon soldiers to slaughter and cultivate his sword will.

Therefore, the biggest possibility was that his opponent thought of him as a blade grinder to perfect his own swordcraft, so that he could once again challenge Sword Saint Ziwei.

What Shen Lian learned was not only limited to the Being and Non-Being of Sword Aura; but he also got the meaning of this sword aura. Even though he did not know how Chen Beidou had come to know him so well, but Shen Lian was clear that he did what he did, because he knew Shen Lian well enough.

Nonetheless, Shen Lian did not confirm whether his guesswork was correct or not with Chen Beidou.

After all, his doubts would be cleared off when the time comes. Shen Lian did not pester further and returned to Mount Qing Xuan.

Along the way, no one stopped him and nothing happened in Qing Xuan. Shen Lian also took the time to have a look at Chen Jianmei’s soul lamp. It was not extinguished. Even though this could not absolutely mean that Chen Jianmei was still alive, but it could give Shen Lian some peace of mind.

At the same time, he also left a mark on Fang Yanying.

Even though this child was stubborn, but she did not lack the seed of Dao cultivation. Shen Lian really did not wish anything bad to happen to her.

What surprised Shen Lian slightly was that Choushi actually attained Huandan.

Even though this fellow entered some celestial’s historical remains with eight other cultivators from overseas, he finally found a spiritual elixir which enabled him to go through the eight transformations of Huandan.

Even though the eight transformations of Huandan was nowhere near the ninth transformation of Huandan but it was still a feat and there was still hope for longevity.

Shen Lian was not sure if he should cry or laugh about it because the other cultivators that went with Choushi on this expedition perished.

Speaking of which, the few times Choushi went on a hunt for treasure or celestial historical remains with other people, he would be the only one to stay alive till the end. If Shen Lian had not seen his birth chart, he would really have thought this fellow was some kind of a walking bad omen.

However, with the series of events, Choushi was becoming more and more unpredictable. Moreover, Choushi had sensed the divine thoughts that Shen Lian left on him.

But he did not act on it.

Shen Lian took back his divine thoughts and stopped looking after him. After all, with Choushi being able to sense it, Shen Lian was worried that Choushi actually had some unknown cards up his sleeves.

Everyone had their own secrets and Shen Lian has no intention to nose into his disciples’ business.

There was no way for a human mind to be devoid of all conscience. Even with the secrets, Choushi had, Shen Lian still trusted that he would not do things that were disadvantageous to Qing Xuan.

The three-year period was approaching. One by one the disciples returned. Some of them were full of energy and spirit, some of them were indifferent. While all of them traveled out, the changes were massive. Also, except for the three disciples that perished, everyone else was safe and sound. The disciples of Qing Xuan did not lack Dao techniques, this trip transformed the resources that they had saved up for half of their lives into the improvements for cultivation.

There was even someone who, like Choushi, outstand amongst the disciples who attained the eight transformations of Huandan. It was truly something worth celebrating.

With the way things went, with the talents emerged in Qing Xuan, there were signs of replicating the story of the Twelve Guangqing Zhenrens.

If Chen Jianmei had not vanished, they were practically thriving.

At this thought, Shen Lian felt more pity about it. He achieved Dao and attained longevity was to stop Qing Xuan’s deterioration. If Chen Jianmei achieved Dao again, Qing Xuan’s impetus would be boosted.

To be able to have two immortal Zhenrens to appear consecutively was such an elating matter.

But all of this became uncertain following the disappearance of Chen Jianmei.