Sword Sect Outer Sect

Chapter 365 The Curtain
Song Yan had quite a strong impression of the person in front of him.

During the banquet at Jiangtian, he easily defeated Jiang Ming, and when he fought me, he clearly didn't use much of his strength.

Most importantly, he was one of the cultivators who left the banquet early on the night Master Xuantong of Huadu Temple died.

Most of the other cultivators came from sects, and even the independent cultivators had their own factions.

Only his origins cannot be traced.

“You are a cultivator from the Demon Ruins.” Song Yan stared at him coldly.

Huadu Temple is the oldest of the six major Buddhist sects today. It started as a secular temple and has been established for eight thousand years.

Only the cultivators of the Demon Ruins could render them helpless.

"Of course." Shi Yunhao did not deny it at all.

Song Yan continued, "So you killed Xuan Tong?"

However, Shi Yunhao seemed somewhat uncertain about this issue.

A genuine look of doubt crossed his face: "Xuantong? Who is that?"

Song Yan was taken aback.

However, before he could ask any further questions, Shi Yunhao shrugged and said, "I kill a lot of people every day, and I don't know the names of most of them."

"Which one are you talking about?"

"..." Song Yan frowned slightly and said, "Buddhist disciples, the night of Jiang Tianye Banquet."

"what!"

Shi Yunhao suddenly slapped his forehead, a look of sudden realization appearing on his face, and that playful smile reappeared.

"That monk!"

He seemed to have finally remembered something insignificant, his tone tinged with helplessness and a hint of mockery: "There's nothing I can do, that monk was quite perceptive, he chased after me all by himself to cause me trouble."

"That's when I killed him."

"So, actually I didn't kill him; he killed himself."

In fact, the moment Song Yan saw him, he had already prepared for a fight to the death.

Because this place belonged to the Nangong family and it was the eve of the wedding banquet, they did not act immediately.

Moreover, he wasn't actually absolutely certain he could kill his opponent quickly.

It's strange, really. I've already fought against cultivators at the Pseudo-Core Realm, but I still feel a great sense of danger when facing this person.

Suppressing his murderous intent, Song Yan asked, "Shi Yunhao, you've been acting suspiciously, changing your appearance to sneak into the Nangong family's territory. What exactly are you up to?"

If the other party's goal was to sabotage the wedding banquet and cause bloodshed, then he had no choice but to take action!
"Song Yan, you're really wronging me."

"I'm not here to cause trouble. On the contrary... I'm here to give you a heads-up."

Song Yan frowned: "What?"

Shi Yunhao said, "On the ninth day of the third month, which is tomorrow, the Qin family will make a move against Nangong."

Song Yan remained outwardly calm, his gaze lowered.

It's the Qin family again.

It's never going to end.

However, what truly puzzled him was the source of Qin's confidence in taking action.

Although the previous Jiangtian Night Banquet did not openly mention the so-called senior, it was almost as if it was telling the Chu Kingdom's cultivation world that the Nangong family had a Golden Core cultivator in charge.

Given these circumstances, the fact that the Qin family still intends to take action against Nangong suggests that the Qin family also has its own trump card.

Another Golden Core cultivator, or perhaps the Demonic Ruins behind the Qin Clan?
"But……"

Song Yan suddenly raised his head: "Why are you, a cultivator from the Demonic Ruins, telling me about the Qin family's plan? Aren't you all in cahoots?"

"In the same group?"

Shi Yunhao's expression turned somewhat bewildered, then he suddenly burst into wild laughter: "Hahahaha..."

Laughter echoed in the quiet courtyard, filled with undisguised contempt.

"I don't think I ever said that I was in cahoots with those Qin bastards."

He stopped laughing and didn't offer any further explanation, seemingly finding it somewhat boring.

He waved his hand and said, "I'm telling you this for no other purpose than to think it will be more interesting."

“Those people from the Qin family all think they are extremely intelligent and believe they are in control of everything.”

"Last time at the Jiangtian Night Banquet, they even dared to plot against me..."

Song Yan raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.

It seems there are still some personal grudges involved.

"I've told you all of this, believe it or not."

"The banquet is tomorrow, and it's too late to call for reinforcements now. I just want to see what you can do under these circumstances."

"I don't care about anything else."

Shi Yunhao's figure faded away: "Let's stop here for now, goodbye."

After saying that, he disappeared into the night.

The courtyard was deathly silent.

Song Yan turned around and walked towards the quiet room where Xiao Ju was. The restriction had been broken, and he went straight inside.

Xiao Ju lay sprawled on the ground, her body slightly curled up, her brows furrowed, and her face pale.

His breathing and the spiritual energy around him seemed somewhat disordered.

The Insightful Sword Eye had not yet faded, and Xiao Ju's condition was fully visible.

Fortunately, it was just a disturbance of spiritual energy caused by the forced interruption of cultivation, resulting in the sword energy flowing in reverse.

With a casual flick of his finger, Song Yan summoned countless streams of spiritual energy, which flowed slowly into his fingertip and gently regulated it.

Shi Yunhao had temporarily shut down her five senses and six perceptions, which were now slowly recovering.

After ensuring Xiao Ju's safety, Song Yan pondered for a moment before resolving the matter without further hesitation.

With a swift movement, he left Xuanhe Villa.

As Shi Yunhao said, it's better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn't.

Although this person is a demonic cultivator and acts eccentrically, what he says may not be false; at least the Qin family does have the motive and ability to do so.

Whether it's true or false, we should at least inform Senior Zhang Cheng about this.

As for how the Nangong family should respond, that's a decision for him, a Golden Core cultivator.

Ultimately, Song Yan was just an outsider; all he could do was issue a warning.

He concealed his presence and, following his previous memories, hurried toward Zhang Cheng's residence.

……

The ninth day of the third lunar month is an auspicious day.

It is auspicious to take on apprentices or become a disciple, and it is also auspicious to get engaged or married.

On the banks of Lingyuan Marsh, lies Dongyuan Sect.

Longshou Mountain Forbidden Area.

Chen Linyuan calmly brewed tea and drank a cup.

"What's the matter with me?"

Beside him, Qin Ying bowed respectfully to him, her posture humble and courteous.

"metropolitan,"

Her voice was not as cold as usual, but instead revealed a kind of enthusiasm: "Disciple Qin Ying, since entering the sect, has never stopped worrying about the rise and fall of the sect, and has never stopped being grateful for the sect leader and the sect's cultivation."

“I am foolish and know that the road ahead is long and arduous. Without a guiding light, I will eventually lose my way.”

"I dare to humbly request the Sect Master to accept me as his disciple! I am willing to dedicate my entire life to serving you, protecting the Dongyuan lineage, and I would not hesitate to die for you!"

The bamboo hut was completely silent, except for the sound of water boiling in the ceramic kettle on the stove.

Chen Linyuan slowly picked up the ceramic teapot and refilled the empty cup in front of him with tea.

After a moment's hesitation, Chen Linyuan slowly raised his eyes, his gaze finally landing on Qin Ying. "Hmm." Chen Linyuan's voice remained calm, revealing neither joy nor anger. "Since you have this intention..."

He casually raised his left hand, and a faint light flashed at his fingertips.

A pale golden sound transmission talisman materialized at his fingertips.

"Then let me inform my fellow disciples."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Linyuan flicked his finger.

The pale golden transmission talisman transformed into a stream of light, passing through the bamboo hut's restrictions and flying out of the forbidden area of ​​Dragon Head Peak.

Qin Ying was taken aback at first, but then relaxed.

She had thought Chen Linyuan would make many more demands, but she didn't expect him to agree so quickly.

A fleeting hint of barely suppressed pride and ambition flashed in the depths of his eyes.

The sound transmission talisman suddenly split open the moment it burst out of the forbidden area of ​​Dragon Head Peak, scattering countless tiny golden light points in all directions.

Many even flew into the sky and left the sect in all directions.

Several peak masters are already within the sect.

Each peak master who received the transmission talisman showed expressions of surprise and unease.

Two figures, a man and a woman, emerged simultaneously from Lingquan Peak and Lianyou Peak and landed on Shijian Peak.

"Old Luo! What exactly is going on?"

The female cultivator asked somewhat anxiously, "Why do you say that, Sect Master?"

This woman is none other than Huang Manming, the master of Lianyou Peak.

Even the usually composed Elder Yu Tian looked somewhat uneasy at this moment.

How could I possibly know that?

Luo Xiaming was completely at a loss, and a puzzled look appeared on his face: "Let's just go and ask him directly!"

However, when the three of them arrived outside the forbidden area, they found that Zhang Guangyuan and Xu Ziqing were also there.

Everyone learned from Sun Zhenglun that the sect leader had closed the restrictions here after meeting with Qin Ying.

Even he couldn't get inside at this moment.

At the same time, countless disciples and elders who were traveling outside the sect, as long as they were members of the Dongyuan Sect, even if they were just outer disciples, all received a transmission talisman at this moment.

“The demonic cultivators are approaching, and our sect is likely to be destroyed.”

"With the disbandment of this sect, if you do not wish to die at the hands of demonic cultivators, then all elders and disciples, please depart now."

……

Some disciples of the sect have not yet received the message for various reasons.

For example, Song Yan and the others who are still within the sound transmission restriction at this very moment.

The Nangong family home is currently brightly decorated and filled with guests.

The cultivators of Dongyuan Sect, as well as the cultivators of the Yan and Wu clans of Longquan Prefecture, were all present. In the center of the square, a large red brocade carpet was laid out, with spiritual flowers blooming on both sides and cranes calling softly.

The aroma of fine wines and delicacies filled the air.

In fact, in the cultivation world, most cultivators form Daoist couples quietly and privately, pledging their lives to each other.

Or it might simply be mutual support, without any wedding banquet at all.

Only disciples from long-established cultivation families like Nangong would hold such a grand celebration under the clan's instruction.

Lu Ziye, dressed in a bright red brocade robe, stood tall and exuded heroic spirit. His smile today was especially sincere and radiant.

Nangong Ling stood beside him, dressed in a phoenix coronet and wedding gown, with a beaded curtain lightly veiling her face. Though her features were partially obscured, one could still glimpse her shy and delicate beauty.

The members of the Dongyuan Sect sat at their seats, all their eyes fixed on the two of them.

"Don't drink yet, don't drink yet, we'll drink one by one later."

As Lu Ziye's only elder, Qin Xijun and Zhang Cheng sat in the main seats at the front, presumably for some kind of performance later.

Although Song Yan was chatting and laughing with Li Yi, Xiao Ju and others beside him, he released his divine sense completely, which almost covered the entire banquet hall.

His intense concentration allowed him to notice that several cultivators were deliberately concealing their auras, and their faces were unfamiliar.

Their locations are scattered, subtly forming a triangular formation.

However, he still couldn't determine whether these people had any problems, because this was actually quite common in the cultivation world.

He is now even considering whether what Shi Yunhao said is true or false.

The other party was, after all, a demonic cultivator...

"The auspicious time has come——!"

A highly respected elder of the Nangong family sang loudly, temporarily interrupting Song Yan's thoughts and suppressing the noise in the square.

The whole place fell silent.

"The newlyweds bow—"

"Worship heaven and earth!"

Lu Ziye and Nangong Ling turned around, facing the sky and the Lingyang River outside the hall, their expressions solemn, and bowed deeply.

I am grateful to Heaven for the fate that has granted us this meeting and acquaintance, and I pray for your protection on my future path to immortality.

"Two thanks to the high hall!"

The two turned to the main seat, facing Zhang Cheng and Qin Xijun, and bowed respectfully.

Qin Xijun's eyes were glistening as she looked at Lu Ziye, as if she were seeing that little beggar on the verge of death in the snow of Yunxi City years ago, and her heart was filled with mixed emotions.

As Zhang Cheng looked at Nangong Ling's appearance, a beautiful figure vaguely overlapped with her in his mind.

It really looks like...

"Couple greetings!"

Lu Ziye and Nangong Ling turned around and stood facing each other. Through the swaying beaded curtain, their eyes locked, a thousand words unspoken.

"The ceremony is complete! Bring them in..."

Boom——!
Before the last two words could be uttered, a deafening and terrifying thunderclap exploded without warning above the Nangong family's residence.

The once clear night sky was now obscured by dark clouds, a cold wind howled, and a chilling, murderous aura swept across the entire Nangong clan territory like a tidal wave.

The guests gasped in surprise and looked up at the sky with disbelief.

Song Yan was startled and subconsciously looked at Zhang Cheng, only to find that Senior Zhang Cheng was also looking at him.

Nangong Ming's face turned ashen. He suddenly stood up and shouted, "Who dares to disturb the Nangong family's celebratory banquet?!"

At the same time, the powerful aura of the Pseudo-Core Formation realm erupted.

But as soon as he finished speaking, dozens of streaks of light appeared from between the dark clouds, their spiritual power surging down relentlessly above the Nangong family.

Any one of their auras could hold its own against Nangong Ming.

Song Yan frowned deeply.

The spiritual pressure emanating from just this one encounter was equivalent to that of at least six cultivators at the Pseudo-Core Formation stage!

The remaining dozen or so auras were all at the late Foundation Establishment stage.

However, no Golden Core cultivators have appeared yet.

Golden light shone in Song Yan's eyes as he looked up at the sky through the dark clouds.

The man at the head of the group had a sinister look in his eyes. He scanned the entire room and finally fixed his gaze on the head of the Nangong family.

"Hehe. Nangong Ming, that's not right of you. Why didn't you invite the Qin family on such a joyous occasion?"

Qin Feiyu laughed and said, "If you ask me, your son-in-law is actually Xijun's apprentice."

Qin Xijun looked at Qin Feiyu in the sky, her eyes filled with disgust.

"Qin Feiyu..." Nangong Ming stared coldly at the Qin clan members in the sky: "What exactly does your Qin clan want?!"

"What are you doing? Hmph..."

Qin Feiyu's smile faded: "It's nothing, I was just upset that you left me behind, so I came uninvited."

"I'd like to ask these two newlyweds for a drink at their wedding!"

(End of this chapter)