It was clear that the young man did not want to dwell too much on those memories.
Yu Xiyi furrowed his brows slightly and asked, "What kind of heretic techniques are those people in Sublime Bright Sect cultivating?"
In this world of cultivators, there were various schools and sects, Many daoist techniques cultivated by heretic path cultivators were not accepted by other cultivators because they were overly malevolent. Most of these techniques involved sacrificing living beings or absorbing others' cultivation. In any case, they were not accepted by people. Therefore, some sects could only cultivate such techniques in secret and not let outsiders know about it.
Hearing this, Yu Xiyi naturally assumed that Sublime Bright Sect was researching heretic techniques.
But, Chen Chao did not react much to this and said, "Continue"
The boy took a deep breath, then continued his story.
Those of them without cultivation or even aptitude for cultivation, were deceived into joining Sublime Bright Sect. They were hoodwinked into that mist-filled cave from time to time. Many people could not adapt, and thus, would soon die. The survivors would obtain a single medicinal pill to make up for their bodies' damage.
All in all, their situation was very grim.
Those who survived did not know when they might die next, and the bodies of those youth who died were buried in some random place.
To outsiders, the Sublime Bright Sect might seem like a daoism site for cultivation, but for them, it likely was not.
Yes, for them, it was more like purgatory, it was the abyss of death.
The boy also knew that if he continued to stay, he would definitely die in that cave someday. So, on a certain night, he discussed with a few other youths and chose to escape under the cover of darkness. However, they were just ordinary youths, how could they escape as easily as they hoped?
That night, the other youths who escaped with him were quickly captured and executed, while only he managed to escape, vanishing into the vast forest.
Benefiting from his years of survival in that forest since young, he managed to avoid being captured and ran around in the forest all night. In an accident arising from many causes, he actually shook off those Sublime Bright Sect cultivators due to several demons, and returned to Rainwater Commandery.
But how could those cultivators let him go so easily? After all, he carried that secret, it was impossible to let him leave no matter what.
So, today, he was captured again to be brought back to the Sublime Bright Sect.
Except, he encountered Chen Chao.
When the boy talked up to this point, he suddenly grabbed Chen Chao's hand with great agitation and shook it non-stop, "Sir, you must help us, you must help us..."
Seeing the despair in the boy's eyes and the hope that was hidden even deeper, Chen Chao did not speak. He just reached out and patted the boy's shoulder gently.
The boy immediately fainted.
He lay on the table.
Chen Chao looked at Yu Xiyi.
Yu Xiyi said, "It seems I've gotten into trouble."
Based on what the boy had said, it was undoubtedly a major secret of the Sublime Bright Sect. As someone who learned the secret, Chen Chao was bound to be hunted down by the Sublime Bright Sect, and Yu Xiyi would not be able to escape either.
Chen Chao said indifferently, "Anyway, I'm the local warden, I can't run away either."
He could tell what Yu Xiyi was thinking.
Yu Xiyi asked with some puzzlement, "How come a Divine Trove Realm martial artist like you doesn't seem even a bit frightened by this?"
Chen Chao grinned and said, "Who said I'm still at the Divine Trove Realm?"
Only when he heard this, did Yu Xiyi realize that this young man's aura was already slightly different. Earlier, he had not paid much attention because he was thinking about other matters. But now, he could clearly tell that Chen Chao's aura had changed.
He broke through...
The battle on the street looked easy, but no one would have thought that Chen Chao was actually able to rely on that battle to break through the threshold of the Divine Trove Realm and enter the Bitter Sea Realm.
This realm was Song Changxi's cultivation realm back then.
However, Song Changxi had always been a genius of daoism who cultivated for many years. He also had countless treasures and was guided by famous teachers, allowing him to enter the Bitter Sea Realm at such a young age. But the young man before him had taken the most difficult path of a martial artist, it was the most challenging path out of all the cultivation paths. Logically speaking, he should not have progressed so swiftly.
Yet, Chen Chao still crossed that threshold. Furthermore, it was seemingly effortless.
Chen Chao said calmly, "You don't know how much hardship I've endured."
Tempering his body time and again, he endured pain beyond what others could bear each time.
If it were anyone else, they probably could not have persevered as he had. Only he had persevered time after time, ultimately achieving his current results.
When he fought with that demon previously, he gained insights. After that, he had been waiting for this day.
And this day finally arrived when he was fighting with that daoist in green robes.
Now, he could truly be considered a genius among the younger generation.
Yu Xiyi could not help but sigh as he said, "What kind of freak are you?"
Chen Chao waved his hand modestly and said, "I'm just a martial artist."
Yu Xiyi said, "Even if you're at the Bitter Sea Realm, it won't do either."
Chen Chao nodded, "Of course I know. But I suppose you won't just watch indifferently without lending a hand when encountering this sort of thing, right?"
Yu Xiyi frowned slightly, but was not in a hurry to speak.
Through these days of interaction, Chen Chao had already figured out Yu Xiyi's character. Although he was talkative and proud, he was indeed a very upright person. Since he knew that the Sublime Bright Sect was doing such things, he naturally could not look on with folded arms.
"But that Nepenthe cultivator is really hard to deal with."
Yu Xiyi's sword path cultivation was naturally unmatched within the younger generation. But he was still a young cultivator after all. How could he be a match for that Nepenthe powerhouse?
Chen Chao said, "He's very difficult to deal with."
That Nepenthe cultivator from the Sublime Bright Sect was presently the Sublime Bright Sect's sect master, known by the daoist title "Iron Cloud."
Outsiders called him "Daoist Master Ironcloud"
In the daoism lineage, this Daoist Master Ironcloud had quite a reputation, especially in Cang Prefecture, where he was virtually unrivaled.
There were not many cultivators in the world who could beat him.
Every one of them should be a Nepenthe powerhouse.
Moreover, the Sublime Bright Sect still had many powerhouses apart from him.
Yu Xiyi asked, "When do you think they will react?"
Chen Chao answered as a matter of course, "If it were me, after learning the news, I'd come to kill tonight."
"A so-called warden of Rainwater Commandery, no matter how great my background, it wouldn't matter much. Either way, if I'm killed, that's it. Those secrets will naturally be buried. No one will get the real answers."
Chen Chao continued, "A moonless and windy night like tonight is indeed a good opportunity to commit murder."
……
……
The Sublime Bright Sect was located on that Sublime Bright Mountain.
It had a continuous expanse of buildings that seemed to stretch endlessly.
As one of the major sects under the Longevity Dao lineage of daoism, the Sublime Bright Sect held a high position.
At the mountaintop, there was an observatory where Daoist Master Ironcloud cultivated year-round.
The Sublime Bright Sect's daoist techniques were rather special, it involved the absorption of starlight for cultivation. Therefore, Daoist Master Ironcloud always cultivated here. The observatory was specially constructed and had the effect of condensing starlight.
Back when the green-robed daoist died in Rainwater Commandery, a longevity lamp extinguished in the main hall of the Sublime Bright Sect. They already knew the outcome.
A daoist in gray robes arrived here. Looking at the figure sitting cross-legged on the observatory, he said softly, "Sect Master, Liu Shui has died in Rainwater Commandery."
While speaking, the daoist was also somewhat puzzled. Within Cang Prefecture, logically speaking, there should not be anyone who dared to do such a thing. Yet, the reality laid before them.
Daoist Master Ironcloud did not get up. Hearing this, he merely sneered and said, "He was a good-for-nothing in the first place, he couldn't even guard a young boy. The result was that he ventured out and got himself killed instead."
"The news that came from down the mountain says that a new warden has arrived in Rainwater Commandery. He was the one who did it."
The daoist added, "He's a martial artist."
Daoist Master Ironcloud suddenly laughed, his voice extremely cold, "When did those uncouth martial artists from the Great Liang Dynasty dare to do such a thing?"
