"It’s been about five years, right? Ti flies..."
On the other side, Situ Jiang got confirmation from Qi Chuan and couldn’t help but show a look of amazent.
He rembered that Qi Chuan broke through to Foundation Establishnt in his own Cave Mansion’s quiet chamber.
All told, it’s only been five years.
In five years, breaking from Foundation Establishnt Early Stage to Middle Stage, who would believe such feats?
But Qi Chuan managed to do it.
And not only in cultivation, even his Divine Soul broke through to the Late Stage.
For a mont, Qi Chuan’s innate talent in his eyes was once again refreshed.
At this rate, his Core Formation is quite possible.
He might even break through to Core Formation before the Sect’s crisis, ensuring peace for the Wind Moon Sect for hundreds of years.
This thought was previously unimaginable for him.
But now, it seed to beco a very likely future reality.
"You... are you actually Qi Chuan? Moreover, have you already reached Foundation Establishnt Middle Stage cultivation?"
At this mont, Yun Qingyue, listening to the conversation between Qi Chuan and Situ Jiang, was bewildered.
An endless stream of questions filled her mind.
Wasn’t Qi Chuan supposed to have fallen in the Secret Realm Space?
Wasn’t Qi Chuan just recently breaking through to Foundation Establishnt Early Stage, even later than !
How does Qi Chuan have such a strange face?
Despite having countless questions in her heart, the more they talked, the more she felt that the person before her and the Qi Chuan she rembered had many similarities in their aura.
Though the questions were nurous, for so reason, it increasingly aligned with Qi Chuan’s behavior.
Because before, Qi Chuan was just like this; the things he did seed bizarre to others, yet he could accomplish them.
"Let’s head back. We’ll explain slowly on the way, but this matter needs to remain confidential," Situ Jiang said with a smile.
Actually, now that Qi Chuan has advanced to Foundation Establishnt Middle Stage, faking his death or not is no longer that important.
Earlier, having Qi Chuan fake his death was due to his insufficient strength at Foundation Establishnt Early Stage, which would lead to many dangers.
However, things are different now.
With his Foundation Establishnt Middle Stage strength, he could hold a position as a Powerful Elder in Wind Moon Sect. Considering Qi Chuan’s recent achievents in defeating Qi Shang, it’s uncertain if anyone in the sect at Foundation Establishnt Middle Stage could surpass him.
In such cases, unless a Foundation Establishnt Late Stage cultivates makes a move, it’s hard to pose a real threat to Qi Chuan.
In most cases, he can protect himself sufficiently, so the matter of faking his death isn’t as important anymore.
However, keeping things concealed for as long as possible and hiding so information is always beneficial.
Even if his strength is sufficient for self-protection, there’s no need for direct exposure, right?
Let the Celestial Soul Hall keep guessing.
Thus, the three of them headed back to Wind Moon Sect.
Before leaving, Qi Chuan collected Qi Shang’s Qiankun Bag as his trophy, and Situ Jiang didn’t intend to take it from him.
As for Yun Qingyue, she wasn’t bold enough to ask Qi Chuan for a share of the winnings.
Qi Shang was slain solely by Qi Chuan; she didn’t help at all.
On the way back, she occasionally conversed with Qi Chuan, and her gaze was still filled with various surprises.
Qi Chuan had unexpectedly returned!
His na as a prodigy was even more prominent than before; unless a Foundation Establishnt Late Stage intervenes, no one in the sect might suppress him.
...
anwhile, five hundred miles west of Luoxia Stream.
On a desolate mountain peak, amidst chaotic stones, Luo Jinshen revealed himself, looking towards the east with a very unpleasant expression.
"It really was Situ Jiang plotting in the shadows!"
Due to a lingering suspicion in his heart, after much consideration, he decided not to go to Luoxia Stream but to observe using a Talisman he’d placed there in advance.
His true self hid over two hundred miles away.
When he saw Yun Qingyue accompanied by a strange Inner Sect Disciple, he realized his cautious approach was correct.
Initially, the plan was only for Yun Qingyue to co alone, but now there was an extra person, creating a variable that couldn’t be ignored.
Later, when that Inner Sect Disciple displayed strength equivalent to Foundation Establishnt Early Stage, he imdiately destroyed the Talisman spying on Luoxia Stream and retreated five hundred miles away.
It’s absurd—a single Inner Sect Disciple appearing made him suspicious, but an appearance of a Foundation Establishnt disciple confird it was a sche by Situ Jiang.
No wonder Qi Shang’s investigations yielded no valuable information; Situ Jiang’s shadow covered it all.
"So cautious..."
Luo Jinshen mused.
He was referring to Situ Jiang.
Regarding Qi Shang, his actions were concealed enough, yet he was detected from the start, indicating Situ Jiang had been wary the entire ti.
It’s beyond what would typically be done for the stability of the sect.
Clearly, Qi Chuan was alive, and Situ Jiang acted this way solely to protect Qi Chuan.
"Even the Foundation Establishnt Early Stage may have been Qi Chuan."
Luo Jinshen speculated.
Before Qi Chuan revealed his Foundation Establishnt Middle Stage strength to slay Qi Shang, Luo Jinshen destroyed the Talisman watching Luoxia Stream, so he was never aware of Qi Chuan’s true power.
He assud Qi Chuan was the Peak of Foundation Establishnt Early Stage, which fit better with his imagination of Qi Chuan’s strength.
After all, breaking through to Foundation Establishnt Middle Stage in five years was sothing he wouldn’t consider possible.
The Peak of Foundation Establishnt Early Stage might be unlikely, but considering Qi Chuan’s consistently extraordinary talent and the opportunities gained in the Secret Realm Space, it was quite plausible.
"Hiding within the Inner Sect?"
Luo Jinshen thought of the Inner Sect Disciple attire Qi Chuan was wearing with a light scoff.
Unfortunately, with Qi Shang, the Practical Elder of Wind Moon Sect, gone, leaving Luo Jinshen without an alternative ally, he lacked a plan against Qi Chuan, even knowing he was within the Inner Sect.
Using ordinary Inner Sect Disciples or Stewards for investigation was limited in capability, making it impossible to discover Qi Chuan’s Cave Mansion within the Inner Sect.
Thus, knowing Qi Chuan was alive and currently within the Inner Sect, the opposite party was incredibly safe, leaving him helpless.
"I can only return without success and report back."
Luo Jinshen resignedly thought.
He didn’t wish to return this way, but there was no choice.
Situ Jiang had discovered him, and any plans within the Sect’s Domain would yield little.
Causing minor disturbances in the Sect’s Domain wasn’t worth involving the first elder of the Celestial Soul Hall.
Targeting Qi Chuan justified his actions, but...
Even at the cost of facing Tian Hunzi’s wrath, he had to accept it.
Soon, Luo Jinshen returned to the Celestial Soul Hall.
Within a cold, desolate hall, Tian Hunzi summoned him.
"Did you return empty-handed?"
On the main seat, Tian Hunzi, dressed in a blood-patterned black robe, gazed at Luo Jinshen, eyes ice-cold.
"Yes, discovered from the start by Situ Jiang, and even Qi Shang was killed..." Luo Jinshen looked helpless, revealing the full story without concealnt.
After hearing it, Tian Hunzi frowned deeply.
He was highly disappointed in Luo Jinshen’s results.
The first elder of the Celestial Soul Hall, after years of lying low, returned empty-handed.
The outco deserved severe punishnt.
Yet, Luo Jinshen had used Qi Shang, a Foundation Establishnt Middle Stage Practical Elder of Wind Moon Sect, and still ended with this result, indicating Situ Jiang’s high level of vigilance.
In such circumstances, he could possibly cause so destabilization within Wind Moon Sect Domain, weaken Wind Moon Sect’s strength sowhat.
However, targeting Qi Chuan would surely fail, not due to Luo Jinshen’s incompetence but because the initial target was wrong.
Yet, all was not lost; at least Qi Chuan’s survival was confird, with Peak Foundation Establishnt Early Stage cultivation, capable of contending with Foundation Establishnt Middle Stage Qi Shang for so ti.
"Situ Jiang, whether it’s open Sect warfare or covert control over Wind Moon Sect, you’ve been so dominant; is Profound Sword True Master unhindered, or are you hiding weakness?"
Tian Hunzi raised his gaze towards Wind Moon Sect, his expression icy, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
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