Chapter 652: Du Cang Without Du Cang

Li Haowen left Steward Zhang's room, descended the steps, and made his way back toward the main hall of the teahouse.

Regarding intelligence related to Wind Ravine Valley and Du Cang Mountain, even the information network of Yulai Pavilion could only obtain a rough outline, without much in the way of effective details.

It was only the news of Bai Jinye's ambush that left Li Haowen somewhat surprised.

Among the "Three Heroes of Spirit Connection" on Du Cang Mountain, Liang Qianbo's cultivation and talent were actually a notch below Li Haowen's.

As for Chu Xiyao, her cultivation foundation was deeper than Li Haowen's. After all, since Wei Mian's death, Li Haowen's cultivation had suffered significant delays. But when it came to innate talent for immortality, Li Haowen was not necessarily inferior to Chu Xiyao.

And Bai Jinye, the foremost of the "Three Heroes of Spirit Connection" on Du Cang Mountain, was someone whose cultivation realm and talent alike made Li Haowen willingly accept a position beneath him.

In fact, thirty years ago, although Bai Jinye had already gained considerable fame, he was still half a tier below the likes of Chu Xiyao, Li Haowen, or even Liang Qianbo.

It wasn't until after entering the Martial Spring Realm that Bai Jinye seemed to suddenly have a breakthrough in understanding, his cultivation advancing by leaps and bounds. Soon enough, both his reputation and strength had surpassed Chu Xiyao, Liang Qianbo, and the others.

Such a situation was hardly surprising. In the history of the cultivation world on Chenping Continent, there were many examples of those who accumulated steadily before bursting forth, or who suddenly had a moment of enlightenment. Moreover, Bai Jinye's cultivation speed wasn't overly exaggerated.

In fact, quite the opposite. After stepping into the Martial Spring Realm, Chu Xiyao and Liang Qianbo's cultivation speed was actually slower than when they were still cultivators of the Lower Three Realms.

Still, they remained top-tier geniuses of this world.

On the long road of immortality, some sprint ahead early, while others surge forward later. This was all perfectly normal.

Someone like Qin Qingyu, who remained far ahead of everyone else from start to finish, was a monster.

As for being able to gravely wound Bai Jinye, looking across the entire cultivation world of Chenping Continent, even with a sneak attack, there were very few Passable God Realm cultivators capable of such a feat.

It could only be the work of cultivators at the Myriad Transformations Realm or above.

But if someone from a major realm above had made a move, under normal circumstances Bai Jinye should have died without question.

As for why Bai Jinye was still alive, the only explanation was that after Liang Qianbo's ambush and fall, the other Guardians of the Dao on Du Cang Mountain had become more vigilant.

Especially Chu Xiyao and Bai Jinye, who were likewise among the "Three Heroes of Spirit Connection" on Du Cang Mountain.

Li Haowen walked back into the main hall of the Huangquan City branch of Yulai Pavilion and found He Qingling sitting at a table.

"Time to go."

That was all he said.

"Senior Lin, back to the Liaolong Ferry?"

He Qingling asked.

"Mhm."

Li Haowen nodded.

The ambush on Bai Jinye made Li Haowen feel even more strongly that the situation might be more serious than he had imagined.

...

Du Cang Mountain.

A young man clad in the pure white daoist robe of Kongshan Sect, his expression utterly impassive, walked slowly through the corridor leading away from Du Cang Hall.

Just moments ago, True Person Caiyun, Kong Yang, had originally intended to enter Du Cang Hall to see Chen Yan, only to find instead the figure of the Immortal Venerable, lounging rather lazily upon the white jade seat at the far end of the hall.

"Kong Yang, greetings to the Master."

True Person Caiyun respectfully clasped his hands and bowed toward Mr. You.

"What is it?"

Mr. You spoke calmly.

"I have some personal matters I wished to discuss with Realman Du Cang. I wonder if..."

"Chen Yan is not on Chenping Continent at the moment."

Mr. You replied.

Hearing this, Kong Yang was briefly stunned into silence, then continued:

"What does the Master mean by that?"

"He has gone to the Endless Sea."

Mr. You continued.

The Endless Sea.

As an Immortal Ascension cultivator who had governed Kongshan Sect for thousands of years, Kong Yang naturally had a certain level of understanding and knowledge about the Endless Sea.

From ancient times to the present, not a single cultivator who had ventured to the Endless Sea had ever returned.

Of course, no Immortal Ascension cultivator had ever gone to the Endless Sea either.

After all, for cultivators who had already reached the pinnacle of cultivation on Chenping Continent, there was absolutely no need to leave Chenping and risk venturing into unknown territory.

But Chen Yan... why?

Kong Yang couldn't understand. At this moment, Du Cang Mountain was precisely when it needed Realman Du Cang to personally take charge.

Moreover, based on Kong Yang's understanding of Chen Yan, he knew very well that Chen Yan was not the type to be so rash and irresponsible.

There might be hidden reasons behind this.

Very quickly, Kong Yang arrived at a conclusion.

"Might I ask the Master, when will it be possible to see Realman Du Cang again?"

Kong Yang continued.

One had to admit that this third-generation Ascended Steward of Kongshan Sect displayed an extremely humble attitude before Mr. You.

Although Mr. You's current cultivation realm was only at Dao Union, as the only cultivator on Chenping Continent who had once cultivated to a realm beyond Ascending to Immortality, the respect he received was absolutely no less than that given to Realman Du Cang, Chen Yan.

"Hard to say."

Mr. You shook his head:

"He might return. He might never come back... There's also another possibility: that the conversation the two of us just had here today never happened at all."

"..."

Kong Yang remained silent.

Even for him, it was impossible to fully comprehend what Immortal Venerable Fusheng had just said.

What did he mean by "the conversation here today never happened at all"?

Back to the present, walking alone through the corridor on Du Cang Mountain, Kong Yang pondered such thoughts in his mind.

Among the thirty-two Immortal Ascension cultivators on Chenping Continent, True Person Caiyun possessed the deepest understanding of heavenly mysteries and cause and effect, second only to Immortal Venerable Fusheng.

Even so, he still did not dare to calculate the cause and effect of a living Immortal Ascension cultivator.

Because the risk was simply too great.

Moreover, Kong Yang's current dao resonance erosion was quite severe, and his Dao Basis had also suffered considerable damage.

If he forcibly performed a divination calculation, he might even die on the spot.

There was nothing to be done. The only option was to wait.

Kong Yang was not good at waiting.

He was a decisive man of action, swift and resolute.

Often, a decision made one moment would already be executed the next.

This swift and resolute style had brought Kong Yang many successes, though of course, it had also caused him setbacks.

"True Person Kong."

Suddenly, an elegant yet mature voice came from behind Kong Yang.

Kong Yang stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around.

There stood a female cultivator wearing the daoist robes of Wind Ravine Valley, with an impressive figure and delicate features, her gaze calm and composed.

It was none other than the current Ascended Steward of Wind Ravine Valley, Realman Shuangyu, Yin Xia.

"You came to Du Cang Hall today to..."

Yin Xia continued.

"To see True Person Chen."

Kong Yang replied calmly:

"But he is not on Du Cang Mountain right now."

"True Person Chen has already departed for the Endless Sea. As for whether he will return..."

Yin Xia paused briefly.

Judging from her reaction, it seemed that Immortal Venerable Fusheng had said something similar to her as well.

And whether it was Kong Yang or Yin Xia, an identical question could not help but arise in both their hearts—

If Chenping Continent were to lose Chen Yan at this moment, what kind of landscape would it become?