CHAPTER 1894: CHAPTER 1895: CATCHING A TURTLE IN A JAR

Bei Tang Qian Xiao blinked at the oddly speaking Chen Mengmeng, unable to help but murmur softly.

"How long has it been, why has everyone become like this."

These unreserved words reached Chen Mengmeng’s ears, who embarrassedly scratched his head and said shyly.

"A lot has happened during this period."

Upon hearing this, Bei Tang Qian Xiao let out a long sigh and ultimately did not pursue further inquiry. Instead, he turned his head to glance at the group of Demon Clan accompanying Xu Nanzhi and Chen Mengmeng.

"Is it you all?"

Because they arrived with Chen Mengmeng and the others, Bei Tang Qian Xiao had not looked carefully, only now realizing the visitors were indeed Long Ao Tian and Bai Qiu from when he was at Qinling.

"We meet again, little one." Long Ao Tian, noticing Bei Tang Qian Xiao’s gaze, took the initiative to speak. After sizing up Bei Tang Qian Xiao for a moment, he continued.

"You’re not doing great. Last time we met, you were a Nascent Soul, and you’re still a Nascent Soul now? At this rate, you’ll fall behind the main group, be careful, next time we might not take you along."

Bei Tang Qian Xiao instantly felt indignant at these words: "Senior Azure Dragon, what you said isn’t right, we are but mere mortals, how could our cultivation speed be so..."

Halfway through speaking, Bei Tang Qian Xiao suddenly realized something and turned to look at Chen Mengmeng, then exclaimed in surprise.

"Mengmeng, have you entered the Hollow Void Realm?"

Chen Mengmeng nodded at these words: "Yes, just recently. When the people from Mount Longhu came."

"Ji Yuguang?"

Bei Tang Qian Xiao immediately understood, and hearing Chen Mengmeng’s affirmative response, promptly asked: "Are you alright? How could you not mention such a significant event in the group?"

Chen Mengmeng shook his head and said: "Rest assured, it’s all in the past. Plus, with the Holy Artifact my elder brother sent me, I can unleash the full power of the Qingcheng Sect’s Grand Array even in my Hollow Void Realm. At least I haven’t let my master down."

Bei Tang Qian Xiao sighed: "Daoist Cang Qing would surely be gratified to know. It’s a pity that Qingcheng Sect was ultimately excluded from the Four Major Taoist Sects."

The already unfazed Chen Mengmeng smiled: "It’s alright, it’s just the way of the world. Even the Quanzhen and Wudang recognized it, what reason would there be now for Qingcheng Sect to say much?"

"That’s different! At least you resisted a bit, keeping the foundational Dao Tong of Qingcheng Sect, while they, despite having Immortals watching over them, almost..."

"It’s not the same because the Imperial Court’s initial demands on them were different. Since my master is no longer here, the State Preceptor’s implication was that there’s no need for Qingcheng Sect either."

Chen Mengmeng’s tone was somewhat aggrieved, clearly recalling the tragedy when Qingcheng Sect was nearly wiped out.

Bei Tang Qian Xiao paused, then understood why only Qingcheng of the Wudang, Quanzhen, and Qingcheng trio resisted in the end.

"That Ji Yuguang is truly aggressive; even with Qingcheng Sect facing such calamity, she still had to take advantage of the situation, especially with Qingcheng Sect’s Grand Array present."

Chen Mengmeng, upon hearing this, shook his head with a bitter smile.

"You can’t blame Lord National Master for this either, and... Sister Qian Xiao, do you really think our Grand Array could stop Lord National Master?"

Bei Tang Qian Xiao was taken aback and said, "Didn’t you stop her?"

"That’s because Lord National Master did not genuinely wish to break the array. With the aid of external artifacts, I could indeed use the Grand Array to stall Lord National Master for some time, and if she wanted to break the array, she’d have to pay a certain price. But given our sect now lacks a resident Earth Immortal, once the array is breached, how could we have any power left to resist?"

Bei Tang Qian Xiao immediately understood: "So she let you go?"

"Yes, if Master were still around, there’d naturally be no such concerns, as even if Lord National Master is more powerful than Master, with the array’s protection, unless three or more Earth Immortals come, Master could still ensure mutual destruction when the array breaks. But the same feat is beyond my capabilities. Barely stalling Lord National Master was already my limit. Thus, at that time, it puzzled me as to why Lord National Master would relent when she was so close to breaking the array."

"Because that’s not her real intention to annihilate Qingcheng, right."

At this moment, Bai Qiu, standing behind Long Ao Tian, also spoke up.

Chen Mengmeng turned to glance at Bai Qiu and said: "No wonder you’re Senior White Tiger, you figured out what took me a long time in an instant."

Hearing this, Bai Qiu did not speak further, shifting her gaze to the side. After all, she never preferred engaging in such polite conversation, even though she wasn’t particularly averse to these people, she still favored Su Chengyu’s way of interacting with her.

"Then what was Ji Yuguang’s play here for?"

Still not understanding, Bei Tang Qian Xiao continued to ask.

Chen Mengmeng smiled and said: "I was also confused at first, until I learned that among the three sects, only Qingcheng Sect was required to hand over all the Dao Tong, which made me realize."

Bei Tang Qian Xiao thought for a moment but still shook her head; she still couldn’t grasp what was problematic.

"Not to mention, what’s the difference between Wudang, allied closely with the Capital City, and Qingcheng?"

"Daoist Chongxu of Wudang is a renowned Land Immortal."

"Exactly. The issue lies here. Initially, I thought Lord National Master was merely kicking Qingcheng when it’s down, but this can’t reconcile with her pulling back. Once putting it together, I understood that it’s true Lord National Master wishes to reclaim Qingcheng’s Dao Tong, but it’s also true she showed mercy after confirming we could at least fend off an average Earth Immortal."

"You mean, she’s worried Qingcheng, without Daoist Cang Qing, couldn’t fend off outside attacks?"

"That’s right, which is why she relented in the end."

Upon hearing this, Bei Tang Qian Xiao furrowed his brow and said: "Besides her, who else would target Qingcheng Sect?"

Chen Mengmeng did not answer and merely blinked, looking toward their destination.

Bei Tang Qian Xiao suddenly understood: "No wonder you’re leaving Qingcheng this time, heading to Southern Xinjiang!"

Unlike others, Chen Mengmeng is now the young Sect Leader of Qingcheng Sect. Although his strength is still at the Hollow Void Realm, under normal circumstances, he shouldn’t leave Qingcheng Sect, given it just went through hardship and no one knows if something else might occur.

"Before Master departed, he didn’t leave me with many tasks, but there was one line he repeated several times."

Chen Mengmeng’s expression grew solemn, his eyes gazing into the depths of Southern Xinjiang.

"A century-long hibernation, triumph in one moment."

Written with divine grace.

In a secluded pavilion on a lone peak in Southern Xinjiang, Cui Manlou penned these eight characters with divine grace on the rice paper.

After carefully admiring it for a while, he revealed a satisfied smile.

"Sir, what do these eight characters mean, and why have you been copying them ever since your return?"

A woman with half of her face masked couldn’t help but ask from the side.

Cui Manlou glanced at her, chuckling lightly.

"I, too, was confused about the meaning of these words when I stepped out from Dadao Mountain. But have you ever wondered, with my strength, how could I command all of the Demonic Path without question?"

The woman looked up in astonishment, looking at the eight characters.

"Sir, did you recruit the Lords of Three Mountains Nine Caves with these eight characters?"

"Three Mountains Nine Caves?"

Cui Manlou laughed softly: "Your perspective is still too limited."

The masked woman was stunned and shook her head, clearly not understanding Cui Manlou’s implication.

"Indeed, my Xia Country’s Demonic Path largely consists of those under the Lords of Three Mountains Nine Caves. But who said the Demonic Path exists only within Xia Country’s borders?"

As he said this, Cui Manlou drew a turtle next to the rice paper, then looked at the black turtle and sneered.

"Xia Country has long been a turtle trapped in our jar."