Chapter 56: The Liquidation Begins

"Xiao Jiu, how is it?"

Seeing Ning Qi open his eyes, everyone looked on with anticipation.

Ning Qi nodded with a smile

"I have gained some insights."

It wasn't that he was being stingy, but rather that with secret techniques like this, even if he taught them personally, his senior brothers likely wouldn't be able to learn them. Many of the martial arts and secret techniques he created were designed for his use alone; he could only place simplified versions in the Scripture Pavilion.

Everyone was overjoyed.

They knew Ning Qi's character; since he put it that way, he must have made significant progress.

At last, the opportunity brought by his Master's breakthrough to the Heaven-Man Realm had not been wasted.

Just as everyone was about to speak—

At that moment, Daoist Longshan also opened his eyes. The energy of heaven and earth around him began to "dissipate" and "cool" at a visible rate. There was a hint of regret in his eyes; although he had done his utmost to seize this opportunity, his abilities were ultimately limited, and he had failed to achieve a massive breakthrough.

In the years to come, he would have to rely on his own hard work and tempering.

However, Daoist Longshan was still extremely joyful.

He had stepped into the Heaven-Man Realm before reaching the age of one hundred, and he still had over seven hundred years of lifespan left. He wouldn't dare claim he would certainly break through to the Martial Saint Realm, but reaching the higher levels of the Heaven-Man Realm would certainly be no problem.

With a long laugh toward the sky, Daoist Longshan flew like lightning and then slowly landed before Ning Qi and the others.

He had already seen his disciples.

Having not seen them for so long, he felt a sense of longing.

The disciples congratulated him in unison

"We congratulate Master on his promotion to the Heaven-Man Realm! From this day forth, you shall ride the wind and wander freely through heaven and earth!"

Luo Wentian and the others all had looks of joy in their eyes.

For the Zhenwu Sect, this was nothing short of a shot in the arm.

From now on, with a Heaven-Man expert presiding over them, the Zhenwu Sect had officially joined the ranks of the top martial arts sects!

The Zhenwu Sect was already on the path to prosperity. With a Heaven-Man guarding them and an eight-hundred-year lifespan, as long as strong experts appeared in each subsequent generation, the sect would continue to flourish.

On Mount Zhenwu, gazes were burning with fervor. By now, all the disciples were aware of the news, and the boisterous sounds had even reached this area; the atmosphere was even more heated than during the previous New Year celebrations.

"All of you, rise."

Daoist Longshan was also in a very good mood.

"Has everything been alright in the sect during this time?" he asked with a smile.

But immediately, his smile gradually faded.

This was because he had detected a hint of something from the troubled expressions on the disciples' faces.

Daoist Longshan said calmly

"Come, tell your Master slowly. As long as I am here, I will not let you suffer grievances."

Luo Wentian, Jiang Baishan, and the others felt a sudden urge to weep.

Only they knew how immense the pressure had been during this period.

***

Mingwu Pavilion.

Daoist Longshan sat in the seat of honor, while the other disciples sat on both sides.

He listened slowly as Luo Wentian recounted the events of this period. His expression remained calm, but those familiar with Daoist Longshan knew that his heart was likely suppressed by a heavy, simmering rage.

"In other words, during my period of secluded cultivation, the Zhenwu Sect has been under constant attack."

"And the attacks by the Black Sand Poison Elder and the Three Fiends of Iron Ridge were the most significant?"

Luo Wentian nodded

"That is correct. We managed to repel the Black Sand Poison Elder through our combined efforts, but the attack by the Three Fiends of Iron Ridge was the most perilous. If not for the intervention of the Zhenwu Sect's hidden foundation to kill the Flying Eagle, I fear Master's seclusion would have been disturbed."

He still felt a lingering fear.

If Daoist Longshan had been forced to emerge from seclusion that day, it would have inevitably affected his breakthrough to the Heaven-Man Realm, and might even have damaged his origin, potentially depriving him of the chance to reach the Heaven-Man Realm for the rest of his life.

Hearing this, Daoist Longshan froze, his expression turning strange.

Luo Wentian noticed the abnormality in Daoist Longshan's expression and asked cautiously

"Could it be... that our Zhenwu Sect has no other experts in the Gangyuan Realm?"

Everyone's hearts tightened. If it hadn't been the Zhenwu Sect's hidden foundation that killed the Flying Eagle that day, it would have been terrifying. In fact, they had wondered during this time if someone else had done it, but there were no answers. Since no one had appeared for so long, they could only assume it was a hidden powerhouse of the Zhenwu Sect.

Daoist Longshan cast an imperceptible glance at Ning Qi. After seeing Ning Qi meet his gaze with an incredibly calm expression, he immediately knew who this so-called "Zhenwu foundation" was.

He said slowly

"Do not worry. It was an expert from our Zhenwu Sect."

The disciples were all invigorated. Only after receiving this affirmative answer from Daoist Longshan could they truly set their minds at ease.

However, they did not know that at this moment, Daoist Longshan's heart was anything but calm.

He naturally knew of the Three Fiends of Iron Ridge; they were all experts in the White Mist Realm.

But his youngest disciple, Ning Qi... had actually killed the Flying Eagle?

He felt as if he were in a dream.

How old was his little disciple?

Only seven years old—he wasn't even seven yet at the time.

And yet, he was already capable of killing a Gangyuan Realm expert. It was simply absurd.

At this moment, Daoist Longshan felt an urgent impulse to know if Ning Qi had already stepped into the Gangyuan Realm. A seven-year-old in the Gangyuan Realm might be an exaggeration, but if he hadn't reached the Gangyuan Realm and had killed a Gangyuan expert with only Neiyuan Realm cultivation, that seemed even more outrageous.

His mind was somewhat unsettled.

But his heart was mostly filled with pleasant surprise and gratification.

Every time he felt that Ning Qi had reached his limit, this monstrous little disciple would deliver another massive shock to him.

He hadn't expected Ning Qi to grow so quickly, already showing the qualities of a protector.

But immediately after, a killing intent began to rise in Daoist Longshan's heart.

If not for the variable that was Ning Qi, the Zhenwu Sect might have suffered a catastrophe that day; his disciples might have even been killed or injured. At this thought, his anger intensified.

The joy of breaking through to the Heaven-Man Realm had vanished completely.

At this moment, he only wanted to vent his fury for his disciples.

Daoist Longshan looked at the disciples, his voice steady and firm

"Rest assured, the Zhenwu Sect will not suffer these grievances in vain."

The disciples were all uplifted.

Daoist Longshan's reputation was not built on empty words, but through real combat. He possessed a sense of justice, but he was equally decisive.

"The Three Fiends of Iron Ridge, the Black Sand Poison Elder, the Purple River Sword Venerable, and those calculating masterminds behind the scenes—I will seek justice for you all."

Luo Wentian said hesitantly

"Master, regarding the Heavenly Person Ceremony..."

Daoist Longshan waved his hand

"I shall use this opportunity to invite our fellow practitioners from Qingzhou. We wouldn't want others to think the Zhenwu Sect is devoid of people!"

His words were calm, but they were saturated with killing intent.

"There is no better day than today. I shall make a trip to the Purple River Sword Sect today. You all stay home and keep yourselves safe."

As he spoke, Daoist Longshan had already stepped out of the Mingwu Pavilion.

Then, he soared directly into the sky.

With the ability of a Heaven-Man to travel through the air, reaching the Purple River Sword Sect would take less than a day.

Watching Daoist Longshan's silhouette disappear into the horizon, the disciples could only smile bitterly. He had just emerged from his breakthrough and hadn't even had time for a cup of tea before rushing off to the Purple River Sword Sect. Such a decisive and swift attitude left them speechless.

But in their hearts, there was an incomparable sense of excitement and pride.

This was their Master, Daoist Longshan.

The reckoning had begun!