Chapter 748: Longze

Chapter 748: Chapter 295: Longze

Everywhere Chen Qing looked, he saw the Sect’s true upper echelons and elites.

An invisible pressure and solemnity filled the air. Occasionally, a few gazes landed on him, but they only lingered for a moment and didn’t cause much of a stir.

Here, the True Essence Realm was merely the threshold. As the newly promoted Eighth True Inheritor, he was not yet significant enough to draw the attention of the many Elders and senior Stewards present.

Qu River waved at him from the Human Position area not far away.

Chen Qing walked over, cupped his fist, and said in a low voice, “Brother Qu.”

Qu River nodded slightly, gesturing for him to sit in the empty seat beside him. He sent a voice transmission: “Though those in the Human Position can participate in the assembly, for the most part, we only have the right to listen and second motions. Unless you are specifically called upon, do not speak rashly.”

Chen Qing nodded in understanding.

The Human Position was the third tier in the Dubhe Pavilion. Although they were qualified to attend the grand assembly, they had no right to make suggestions or decisions, serving more as a reserve for the Sect’s core power.

As time passed, the hall gradually filled with people.

Chen Qing observed covertly and saw many familiar faces. Among the True Disciples, Luo Chengxuan and Zhang Baicheng were seated in the Mystic Sun Lineage’s area, occasionally whispering to the Elders of their lineage.

Huo Qiushui and Ruan Lingxiu sat in the Jade Celestial Lineage’s section.

But the most eye-catching of all was Nan Zhuoran, who was surrounded by several Earth Balance Elders. His calm and composed demeanor clearly marked him as the focal point of the younger generation.

In addition, other influential figures had also arrived, such as Elder Xiang, who was in charge of the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land, and Elder Luo Ping, the Sect Leader’s eldest disciple.

But even more numerous were the unfamiliar faces Chen Qing had never seen before. These individuals had restrained and profound auras. Although they weren’t deliberately showing off, the occasional fluctuations of True Essence revealed their unfathomably deep Cultivation.

Just then, Chen Qing keenly sensed a gaze lingering on him for several breaths.

He followed the gaze and saw an old man in a gray robe in the front rows retracting his line of sight.

The old man was seated near the front, and the Jade Token before him was engraved with the name “Shan Jiweng,” a clear sign of his high status.

Chen Qing’s heart stirred. He sent a voice transmission to Qu River, “Brother Qu, what’s the story with that Elder Shan Jiweng?”

Upon hearing this, Qu River thought for a moment and replied, “Elder Shan… He came from our True Martial Lineage in his early years, a figure from the generation before last. He’s old now, so he lives in seclusion on Hidden Peak and no longer concerns himself with worldly affairs. It’s said his attainments in the Puppet Path are extremely profound, worthy of being called the best in the Sect. He’s responsible for most of the maintenance and Intention imprinting for the Puppets below the thirty-third floor of the Celestial Treasure Tower. Why do you ask about him?”

“It’s nothing. I just saw that the Elder has an extraordinary bearing, so I asked.” Chen Qing’s expression was calm, but his heart shuddered.

‘He’s responsible for all the Puppets below the thirty-third floor of the Celestial Treasure Tower?’

‘When I challenged the tower, especially after the thirty-third floor, the Purple Light in my mind acted abnormally, and I even obtained the All Heaven Myriad Phenomena Map… Could Elder Shan have noticed something?’

‘But on second thought, if they had really discovered I’d hidden away a great treasure from the tower, the Sect would have held me accountable long ago. How could things be so calm?’

‘Perhaps it’s just a routine check because I’ve been in the limelight recently.’

Chen Qing suppressed the doubts in his heart.

As he was lost in thought, everyone in the hall suddenly rose to their feet in unison, and an intangible, solemn atmosphere spread.

Chen Qing stood up as well. At the very front of the hall, several figures walked out slowly. They were the highest decision-makers of the Dubhe Pavilion—the great figures of the Dubhe Position.

The person in the lead wore a simple, light-cyan robe. It was none other than the Sect Leader, Jiang Lishan.

His aura was as deep as the sea. He appeared peaceful, yet he inspired an involuntary sense of reverence in others.

Following closely behind him was the Master of Ten Thousand Laws Peak, Luo Zhixian.

He wasn’t wearing his usual Martial Attire today, but rather a set of loose, wide robes.

Next were the three Vein Masters. Han Guxi, the Vein Master of the True Martial Lineage, still had his kind and gentle appearance.

Li Yu-jun, the Vein Master of the Nine Heavens Lineage, had a cold and stern face, never smiling, and exuded an air that warned others to keep their distance.

Ke Tianzong, the Vein Master of the Mystic Sun Lineage, was tall and possessed an imposing aura.

The five of them walked directly to the five cattail cushions at the very center of the hall and sat down.

Only after they were seated did everyone else in the hall sit down in turn. The atmosphere was solemn.

Sect Leader Jiang Lishan calmly swept his gaze across the hall but did not speak.

Li Yu-jun, at his side, was the first to speak, her voice echoing clearly into every corner of the hall. “Since everyone is here, let this Dubhe Pavilion assembly begin.”

She wasted no words and cut straight to the point. “The first matter concerns the eastern front and Soul-Breaking Gorge. According to reliable intelligence, since the last conflict, Yanzi Dock of the Thousand Reefs Sea Region has not restrained itself. On the contrary, it has been making frequent, unusual movements. Their experts have been appearing repeatedly in the sea near Dongji City, and there are even figures of Celestial Star Alliance Elders mixed among them.”

“At the same time, an urgent report has come from the Soul-Breaking Gorge front. The Sect Leader of the Infinite Demon Sect—Qi Xun Nan—has been confirmed to have appeared in the Demon Sect’s main camp within the gorge!”

The moment the name “Qi Xun Nan” was spoken, a wave of discussion immediately swept through the hall.

This man’s vicious reputation was well-known. He was a titan of the Demon Path from the same generation as Sect Leader Jiang Lishan. His Cultivation was unfathomably deep, and his appearance meant the pressure on the Soul-Breaking Gorge front would increase severalfold.

Chen Qing’s heart also tensed. He had long heard of Qi Xun Nan’s name; he was one of the top figures in the Demon Sect. Luo Xiangru, who was imprisoned in the Black Water Abyss Prison, was his favored concubine.

‘With him showing up, the situation at Soul-Breaking Gorge is clearly not simple.’

“The second matter.”

Li Yu-jun continued, her voice still steady, but the content of her words made everyone’s expression grow even more solemn. “The Lingxiao Upper Sect has sent a secret message, stating there are unusual movements within their territory. The situation is unclear, and they hope our Sect can dispatch some experts to discuss countermeasures.”

At these words, even the experts at the Earth Balance Position furrowed their brows slightly.

The Lingxiao Upper Sect was once the head of the Six Great Upper Sects. It dominated the Eight Paths of the Southwest and possessed an incomparably deep foundation.