Chapter 56: Reckoning Begins |
“Little Nine, how was it?”
Everyone looked at Ning Qi with anticipation as he opened his eyes.
Ning Qi smiled and nodded:
“I’ve gained a bit of insight.”
It wasn’t that he was keeping things to himself, but a secret art like this—even if he taught it step-by-step, his senior brothers likely wouldn’t be able to learn it. Many of the martial techniques and secret arts he had created were ones that only he could use. He could only place some simplified versions in the Scripture Pavilion.
Everyone was overjoyed.
They knew Ning Qi’s character. Since he said so, it must mean he had gained a great deal.
At least the opportunity brought by Master’s breakthrough to the Heaven-Man Realm wasn’t wasted.
Just as they were about to speak.
Daoist Longshan had also opened his eyes, and the force of heaven and earth around him began to “dissipate” and “cool” at a speed visible to the naked eye. There was a trace of regret in his eyes. Although he had done everything he could to seize the opportunity, in the end, his ability was limited, and he hadn’t made any major breakthroughs.
From now on, it would be up to hard work and persistence.
However.
Daoist Longshan was still quite joyful.
He had reached the Heaven-Man Realm before the age of a hundred and still had over seven hundred years of lifespan. While he didn’t dare say for sure that he could break through to the Martial Saint Realm, stepping into higher stages of the Heaven-Man Realm was no problem.
Letting out a loud laugh, Daoist Longshan shot forward like lightning and slowly landed before Ning Qi and the others.
He had already seen the disciples.
After so long apart, he had missed them a little.
All the disciples congratulated him in unison:
“We offer our congratulations, Master, on ascending to the Heaven-Man Realm. From now on, you will ride the winds and roam the world!”
Joy could be seen in the eyes of Luo Wentian and the others.
This was like a shot of adrenaline for the Zhenwu Sect.
From this moment on.
With a Heaven-Man expert holding the fort, the Zhenwu Sect had officially entered the ranks of top martial sects!
The Zhenwu Sect was now on the path to prosperity. With a Heaven-Man expert present and an eight-hundred-year lifespan, as long as future generations produced strong cultivators, the sect would continue to flourish.
On Zhenwu Mountain, gazes were burning with passion. All the disciples now knew the news. Their cheers were so loud they had reached this side. The atmosphere was even more heated than during the year-end celebrations.
“Stand up, all of you.”
Daoist Longshan was clearly in a very good mood.
“How have things been in the sect lately?”
He asked with a smile.
But very quickly, the smile on his face faded.
Because he had already noticed the troubled expressions on his disciples’ faces.
Daoist Longshan said calmly:
“Come, tell me everything slowly. With me here, I won’t let you suffer any more grievances.”
Luo Wentian, Jiang Baishan, and the others suddenly felt a wave of emotion.
Only they knew just how much pressure they had been under lately.
…
Mingwu Pavilion.
Daoist Longshan sat at the head seat while the other disciples were seated on both sides.
He quietly listened to Luo Wentian recount everything that had happened during this time. His expression remained calm, but those familiar with him knew that there was a storm of anger brewing in their master’s heart.
“So, during my seclusion, the Zhenwu Sect was continuously under attack.”
“And the most dangerous attacks came from the Black Sand Venom Elder and the Three Fiends of Iron Ridge?”
Luo Wentian nodded:
“That’s right. We repelled the Black Sand Venom Elder by joining forces, but the time the Three Fiends attacked was the most dangerous. If not for our sect’s foundation stepping in and killing Iron Eagle, we might have disturbed your seclusion.”
He still felt lingering fear.
If Daoist Longshan had been forced to come out early, it could have affected his breakthrough to the Heaven-Man Realm—or worse, damaged his foundation and forever barred him from advancing.
Hearing this.
Daoist Longshan paused, a strange expression on his face.
Luo Wentian noticed something was off and asked cautiously:
“Could it be… our Zhenwu Sect doesn’t have another Qi Origin Realm expert?”
Everyone felt a sudden jolt of anxiety.
If the one who killed Iron Eagle wasn’t a hidden expert of the Zhenwu Sect, that would be terrifying. They had considered the possibility that someone else had done it, but with no answers for so long, they had come to believe it must have been a hidden powerhouse of the sect.
Daoist Longshan cast a subtle glance at Ning Qi.
Seeing the boy’s utterly calm gaze as they made eye contact, he immediately understood who this so-called hidden expert was.
He said slowly:
“No need to worry. It was a strong cultivator from our Zhenwu Sect.”
The disciples were thrilled.
With Daoist Longshan’s confirmation, they could finally put their minds at ease.
But they didn’t know—inside, Daoist Longshan was anything but calm.
He knew the Three Fiends of Iron Ridge well.
They were all White Mist Realm experts.
But his little disciple Ning Qi… had actually killed Iron Eagle?
He felt like he was dreaming.
How old was his youngest disciple?
Only seven—he wasn’t even seven back then.
But he had already killed a Qi Origin Realm expert? That was absurd.
At this moment.
Daoist Longshan felt a sudden urge to find out whether Ning Qi had already stepped into the Qi Origin Realm. Seven years old at the Qi Origin Realm—that would be outrageous. But if he had killed a Qi Origin Realm expert while still in the Inner Origin Realm… that was even more ridiculous!
He felt his thoughts in disarray.
But inside, he was more delighted and gratified than anything else.
Every time he thought Ning Qi had reached his limit, this monstrous little disciple would shake him to the core once more.
He hadn’t expected.
That Ning Qi would grow this fast—he was already starting to resemble a true Guardian of the Dao.
But then.
A murderous intent slowly surged in Daoist Longshan’s heart.
If not for Ning Qi, the Zhenwu Sect might have been destroyed that day. Some of his disciples might have died or been gravely injured. That thought only deepened his fury.
The joy of breaking through to the Heaven-Man Realm had completely vanished.
At this moment, all he wanted was to vent the anger on behalf of his disciples.
Daoist Longshan looked at his disciples and said in a calm but firm voice:
“Don’t worry. The Zhenwu Sect will not suffer this humiliation for nothing.”
All the disciples were exhilarated.
Daoist Longshan’s reputation wasn’t built on empty words—it was earned through blood and steel. He had a just heart but was never lacking in decisiveness.
“The Three Fiends of Iron Ridge, the Black Sand Venom Elder, the Purple River Sword Master, and all those scheming in the shadows—your master will bring them to justice.”
Luo Wentian hesitated:
“Master, about the Heaven-Man Ceremony…”
Daoist Longshan waved his hand:
“This is the perfect opportunity to invite fellow Daoists from Qingzhou—let them know the Zhenwu Sect is far from finished!”
His words were calm, but they radiated killing intent.
“No need to wait for another day. I’ll head to the Purple River Sword Sect right now. You all stay home.”
With that.
Daoist Longshan stepped out of Mingwu Pavilion.
Then, he soared into the sky.
With his Heaven-Man Realm cultivation, it wouldn’t take him a day to reach the Purple River Sword Sect.
Everyone watched as Daoist Longshan’s figure vanished into the horizon, and they couldn’t help but smile wryly.
He had just broken through and hadn’t even had time for a cup of tea before flying off to confront the Purple River Sword Sect. His swift and decisive actions left everyone stunned.
But in their hearts, there was nothing but pride and excitement.
This was their master—Daoist Longshan.
The reckoning had begun!