Chapter 718: Reminiscing About the Past

Naturally, Chu Xiyao did not reveal even the slightest fluctuation of emotion on her expression. Even the spiritual energy surging through her meridians and Martial Spring showed no ripple whatsoever.

But when she heard what Du Chong had just said, her heart had indeed been stirred.

Whether it was the Heavenly Summit Mountain Cataclysm or the Outer Court Cataclysm, both had occurred over three hundred years ago.

And now, with Chenping Continent already on the brink of collapse and the end possibly arriving at any moment, Chu Xiyao had never imagined that someone would suddenly bring up those past events.

She had assumed that even if some people still remembered those old matters, they would merely treat them as long-buried history, never to be mentioned again.

Yet today, Du Chong's appearance and the words he had just spoken caused Chu Xiyao to become vigilant once more.

Over three hundred years ago, within Caijun Tower on Qingchan Peak, the Demon Suppression Stone that sealed the Black Flood Dragon Remnant Soul was stolen.

Given Chu Xiyao's current position within Kongshan Sect's Supreme Martial Pacification Court, she was of course privy to many secrets from back then.

For instance, the role Li Haoran had played behind the scenes of both the Heavenly Summit Mountain Cataclysm and Kongshan Sect's Outer Court Cataclysm.

Though Huo Mu was the culprit responsible for the calamities that befell Heavenly Summit Mountain and Kongshan Sect's outer court over three hundred years ago.

Yet if Li Haoran had not given his consent and tacit approval, none of those disasters would have unfolded so smoothly.

Chu Xiyao understood very well that the choice Li Haoran made was to resolve the cause and effect left behind when True Person Caiyun slew the Black Flood Dragon all those years ago.

The Black Flood Dragon razing Kongshan Sect to the ground was an inevitability, something that had been destined the moment True Person Caiyun glimpsed Heaven's mechanism nine thousand years ago.

If the Black Flood Dragon failed to raze Kongshan Sect to the ground, then it would mean that the "inevitable event" had been denied.

Which would mean an even more terrifying catastrophe would occur.

Therefore, all the efforts made by Patriarch Kong and Supreme Pivot Elder Li were aimed at minimizing the impact of the "Black Flood Dragon Sect Annihilation" calamity.

In a sense, they had indeed completed their mission, at the cost of their own lives.

But the "Black Flood Dragon Sect Annihilation" calamity was still an "inevitable event," even if Li Haoran had finally brought it to a close at the price of his life.

Yet the "backlash" it brought would ultimately descend upon the mortal world.

Now, Realman Lingxuan Gu Jing, Realman Sun-Eroding Liang Huan, and even True Person Xuzhou Lou Ye, who had fallen decades ago, had all conducted research and investigations into the tenth-realm "Great Demon's Egg" in the Fallen Sword Mountain Range over three hundred years ago, and had ultimately reached a conclusion.

That is, the reason this Great Demon's Egg had been corrupted by Heaven's Dao was most likely connected in some way to Kongshan Sect's "Black Flood Dragon Sect Annihilation" calamity.

Of course, Chu Xiyao had only heard about all of these things.

Because she was merely a seventh-realm, Unity realm cultivator.

Below Dao Union, there was no possibility of comprehending or understanding so-called "Heaven's mechanism" and "cause and effect."

And among Dao Union realm cultivators, only an extremely rare few with extraordinary talent could glimpse a certain level of insight.

Some Immortal Ascension cultivators had still failed to glimpse the workings of cause and effect.

For example, the third-generation Ascended Steward of Wind Ravine Valley, Realman Shuangyu, Yin Xia.

As for what Du Chong had just asked, how exactly the Demon Suppression Stone that sealed the Black Flood Dragon Remnant Soul within Caijun Tower on Qingchan Peak had been stolen over three hundred years ago...

At the time, Qingchan Peak held accountable the six inner disciples who had been assigned to guard the Demon Suppression Stone during the three days it went missing, demoting their stipends and treatment to the lowest level and exiling them to the inner affairs hall of the outer court to do menial work for sixty years, barred from promotion.

But aside from these six inner disciples, there was one other person connected to the loss of the Demon Suppression Stone.

That was the biological daughter of the then-Chief Disciple of Qingchan Peak and Sword Master Elder Chu Chen, Chu Xiyao.

Within Caijun Tower, a total of one hundred and thirteen Demon Suppression Stones were stored, of which seventy-two were for sixth-realm great demons, twenty-eight for seventh-realm great demons, twelve for eighth-realm great demons, and one for a ninth-realm great demon.

At that time, as the Chief Disciple of Qingchan Peak, Chu Xiyao held a nominal position as "Manager of the Demon Suppression Hall in Caijun Tower." Her only daily duty was to count the number of Demon Suppression Stones located on the fourth floor of Caijun Tower, within the Demon Suppression Hall.

In other words, the loss of the Demon Suppression Stone that sealed the Black Flood Dragon Remnant Soul had a significant connection to Chu Xiyao. If someone wanted to target Chu Xiyao and slap a few more charges on her, her reputation within Kongshan Sect and even the entire Chenping Continent cultivation world would not have been much better than Li Haowen's.

But Chu Xiyao had been completely overlooked during the reckoning that followed Kongshan Sect's Outer Court Cataclysm.

The reason behind this was, of course, the small maneuvers made by the then-Qingchan Peak Sword Master Elder Chu Chen and Qingchan Peak Solemn Martial Elder Fu Qian.

And True Dharma Elder Bai Qiming, who knew the truth behind everything and was contending for power with Fu Qian on Qingchan Peak, had also completely turned a blind eye to the matter.

Though if Chu Xiyao had been burdened with stains and charges, then in the future power struggle on Qingchan Peak, the Qingchan True Dharma lineage would have gained more initiative.

Because Qin Yue was a "victim" of the Heavenly Summit Mountain Cataclysm, and Chu Xiyao could to some extent be regarded as a "perpetrator."

But everything had two sides.

Chu Xiyao was Chu Chen's daughter.

The relationship between Chu Chen and Fu Qian was extremely close. It could even be said that the vast majority of affairs on Qingchan Peak were handled single-handedly by Fu Qian, while Chu Chen was completely a hands-off manager. Yet this Sword Master Elder of Qingchan Peak had never once tripped up the True Dharma lineage of Qingchan Peak.

But if Bai Qiming truly dared to move against Chu Xiyao, then what would Chu Chen do?

After weighing the pros and cons, Bai Qiming did nothing.

And now, over three hundred years later, these past events had suddenly been brought up again, which Chu Xiyao found rather unexpected.

"Now, Chenping Continent's situation is precarious, and the 'final chapter' could arrive at any moment. What is the point of discussing these long-buried matters?"

Chu Xiyao's demeanor was completely calm.

Upon hearing this, Du Chong smiled slightly, then continued:

"I already explained earlier, Supreme Elder Chu. It's because I, Du, owe a favor to an Offering Elder of the Vast Dome Gate under Star Heaven Sect, and that's why I came to inquire about this matter on his behalf. I hope Supreme Elder Chu can give me an answer, so that I, Du, can repay this favor."

Chu Xiyao was silent for a moment, then replied calmly:

"Because the several guard disciples responsible for watching over the Demon Suppression Hall in Caijun Tower neglected their duties... But if a Divine Ability realm cultivator wanted to obtain that Demon Suppression Stone, it would be no difficult task either."