Chapter: 200
Chapter 200: Disciple Chen An, Requesting an Audience with Master
The events in the Nether Prison quickly spread throughout the Inner Sect.
For a time, everyone felt a shared sense of unease.
Mu Sanniang’s name entered the sights of many inner sect disciples for the first time.
Before that, it was only those who paid special attention to Chen An who would also inquire about her.
However, the explanation provided by Lu Ning was soon questioned by others.
The reason was that his words could not withstand close scrutiny. Not to mention that the Sect Master had already stated that the truth of the matter was not yet determined, just a little thought would reveal the issue.
How could a disciple who had only recently entered the Inner Sect defeat Feng Xiang Song, who far surpassed her in both realm and swordsmanship?
Moreover, Feng Xiang Song had cultivated in the Nether Prison for no less time than Mu Sanniang.
If their roles were reversed, perhaps there would be a shred of credibility.
Besides, there were numerous other suspicious points.
Both of them had very solitary and reclusive routines within the sect and had no past grievances, so there was no motive for ‘harming’ fellow disciples.
Why didn’t they activate their life tablets in a moment of crisis, and how did they both descend to the seventh level?
All of this was like looking at flowers in a fog, unclear.
It was known that even Lu Ning could only descend to the underground smoothly after obtaining a special life tablet from the Nether Hall. Otherwise, even an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator should not have had this ability.
The truth of the matter was a subject of much speculation, and it seemed to be becoming more and more mysterious.
Even the Peak Master of Shang Xuan Peak, who had been furious earlier, became much more subdued after a visit to the Sect Master’s cave mansion.
Although his expression was as grim as ever, he had, for the time being, suppressed his emotions.
Thus, the gazes of everyone inevitably focused on a certain young man.
The deep affection between the siblings was no secret in Tai Xuan Sect.
So, everyone was also wondering where that genius young man had gone and how he would handle this situation.
Unlike what most disciples thought, Chen An actually knew more.
For instance, Mu Sanniang’s cultivation had progressed very rapidly, and she was not lingering at the fourth or fifth level of Qi Refining as rumored.
Before her last entry into the Nether Prison, her cultivation had already reached the peak of Qi Refining.
She was only one step away from Foundation Establishment.
So, what kind of fortunate encounter could have allowed the girl to overtake others?
Looking at the white, snow-covered mountain forest ahead, Chen An lowered his head slightly, remaining silent.
He simply continued walking.
Beyond this stretch of forest lay a cave mansion, shrouded in spiritual energy, carved into the rock face.
In front of the cave mansion was a wide platform, with a welcoming pine tree on each side, exuding an ethereal aura. They stood in elegant, slender poses.
However, as snow fell, it covered their branches, hiding their green hues and adorning them with the same snowy white as the heavens and earth.
Upon seeing the young man arrive, their trunks swayed, shaking off a pile of snowflakes onto the ground.
Chen An knew that this was because they had long been bathed in spiritual energy and enlightened by an Immortal, thus developing spiritual sentience.
They recognized the newcomer and were expressing their welcome and happiness.
However, the young man did not, as he usually did, stride directly into the cave mansion.
Instead, he slowly stopped his footsteps before the cave mansion.
The snow continued to fall, as if it would never stop, nearly engulfing the young man’s figure.
He stood quietly, lost in thought.
After a long while, the young man finally raised his head and spoke loudly.
“Disciple Chen An requests an audience with Master.”
His clear voice slowly carried away.
Upon hearing this, the two welcoming pine trees trembled, appearing quite perplexed.
As Dao Xuan Zhenren’s most beloved personal disciple, the young man had never needed to go through such perfunctory gestures before.
He would enter directly, and no one would blame him.
But today, something seemed different?
What felt even more bizarre to the two spirits was that the cave mansion remained silent, its stone door still tightly shut, showing no signs of opening.
Although he did not reply, the meaning was clear:
The door is closed to visitors.
He will not see anyone today.
***
Within Tai Xuan Sect’s Inner Sect, several hundred miles north of the Nether Prison, there is a mountain peak.
The peak soared into the clouds, its body straight and extending upwards, as if reaching the heavens.
Even cultivators could only stand at its foot, filled with awe.
This was the Tianshan Mountain, a masterpiece of nature and the result of the Tai Xuan Sect’s founder cleaving it with a single sword.
Over the following millennia, it gradually became the place where Tai Xuan Sect confined people.
At this moment, a tall figure stood at the summit of the peak.
His face was composed, his spirit vigorous, and his long beard swayed in the wind. He was the Sect Master of Tai Xuan Sect, Dao Xuan Zhenren, who had been avoiding seeing people.
The man’s expression was solemn, his brow furrowed, as if troubled by something.
His blue daoist robe rustled loudly in the fierce winds.
This place was at least several thousand zhang above the ground; even a Golden Core cultivator would find it difficult to climb to the summit alone without external assistance.
Furthermore, the summit was perpetually covered in snow. This year, with heavy snowfall, the snow piled upon snow, making the temperature here increasingly frigid, the cold almost seeping into the bones.
Fortunately, the summit was protected by a formation, preventing people from freezing to death.
However, for anyone attempting to climb, the sheer, steep rock face offered no such protection.
After a moment, the standing man seemed to sense something, his gaze slightly condensing as he looked in a certain direction.
He pondered for a moment, then spoke, “According to sect regulations, your cultivation should be crippled, and you should be expelled from the sect. However, considering you did not harm anyone innocent, you are now punished with a hundred years of confinement on Tianshan Mountain. Do you have any objections?”
A hundred years?
Behind him, upon hearing this cold pronouncement, a slender figure trembled slightly.
She knew that she could not escape punishment once her actions were revealed.
However, she had never expected that Dao Xuan Zhenren’s retribution would be so severe.
She had clearly not harmed anyone, and the sustenance used to strengthen herself was all from malevolent demonic beasts.
A hundred years…
How many hundred years could a person have in their lifetime?
Perhaps cultivators had longer lifespans than mortals.
But that was still a full hundred years.
Most importantly, if she had to remain on Tianshan Mountain for such a long time, how would she see her younger brother?
Was a single broken promise to cost her a hundred years?
The girl bit her lip, stubbornly raising her head, her dark hair obscuring much of her beautiful face.
“I did not harm anyone.”
She had never been good with words, and her defense at this moment felt so pale and weak.
Dao Xuan Zhenren was slightly startled, then his brows furrowed even tighter.
His expression was somewhat vexed, and he said coldly, “You are so stubbornly deluded. If you are not confined for a hundred years, how can you regain clarity?”
“Moreover, this matter must ultimately be explained to the rest of the sect.”
After speaking, the man did not want to waste more words. He turned to leave.
From behind him came the girl’s soft plea.
“Wait, can I… can I see him one last time?”
Dao Xuan Zhenren’s footsteps paused, but he did not turn around.
After a long silence, he waved his hand.
A faint green light screen appeared out of thin air.
Within it was reflected the figure of a somewhat slender young man.
The vast snow dyed his blue robe white.
He stood before the Sect Master’s cave mansion, his voice transmitted through the light screen to Tianshan.
“Disciple Chen An requests an audience with Master.”
The young man’s call naturally received no response.
Apart from the rustling sound of the wind and snow, there was nothing else.
Yet, despite this, he continued to call out, again and again.
As if tireless, and as if very patient.
Mu Sanniang watched this scene intently, feeling her heart clench fiercely, her eyes misting over.
She knew that the young man was not patient, nor did he not know how foolish this was.
He simply had no other choice.
Dao Xuan Zhenren stood by silently, finally feeling that enough time had passed, and prepared to retract the spell.
But the next moment, the young man’s tall figure suddenly knelt straight down.
His knees sank into the snow, and the spiritual energy that protected him dissipated.
His hair and brow were soon stained by the wind and snow.
But his clear voice continued.
“Disciple Chen An requests an audience with Master.”
He repeated himself once more.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter: 200 Disciple Chen An, Requesting an Audience with Master
The events in the Nether Prison quickly spread throughout the Inner Sect.
For a time, everyone felt a shared sense of unease.
Mu Sanniang’s name entered the sights of many inner sect disciples for the first time.
Before that, it was only those who paid special attention to Chen An who would also inquire about her.
However, the explanation provided by Lu Ning was soon questioned by others.
The reason was that his words could not withstand close scrutiny. Not to mention that the Sect Master had already stated that the truth of the matter was not yet determined, just a little thought would reveal the issue.
How could a disciple who had only recently entered the Inner Sect defeat Feng Xiang Song, who far surpassed her in both realm and swordsmanship?
Moreover, Feng Xiang Song had cultivated in the Nether Prison for no less time than Mu Sanniang.
If their roles were reversed, perhaps there would be a shred of credibility.
Besides, there were numerous other suspicious points.
Both of them had very solitary and reclusive routines within the sect and had no past grievances, so there was no motive for ‘harming’ fellow disciples.
Why didn’t they activate their life tablets in a moment of crisis, and how did they both descend to the seventh level?
All of this was like looking at flowers in a fog, unclear.
It was known that even Lu Ning could only descend to the underground smoothly after obtaining a special life tablet from the Nether Hall. Otherwise, even an ordinary Golden Core cultivator should not have had this ability.
The truth of the matter was a subject of much speculation, and it seemed to be becoming more and more mysterious.
Even the Peak Master of Shang Xuan Peak, who had been furious earlier, became much more subdued after a visit to the Sect Master’s cave mansion.
Although his expression was as grim as ever, he had, for the time being, suppressed his emotions.
Thus, the gazes of everyone inevitably focused on a certain young man.
The deep affection between the siblings was no secret in Tai Xuan Sect.
So, everyone was also wondering where that genius young man had gone and how he would handle this situation.
Unlike what most disciples thought, Chen An actually knew more.
For instance, Mu Sanniang’s cultivation had progressed very rapidly, and she was not lingering at the fourth or fifth level of Qi Refining as rumored.
Before her last entry into the Nether Prison, her cultivation had already reached the peak of Qi Refining.
She was only one step away from Foundation Establishment.
So, what kind of fortunate encounter could have allowed the girl to overtake others?
Looking at the white, snow-covered mountain forest ahead, Chen An lowered his head slightly, remaining silent.
He simply continued walking.
Beyond this stretch of forest lay a cave mansion, shrouded in spiritual energy, carved into the rock face.
In front of the cave mansion was a wide platform, with a welcoming pine tree on each side, exuding an ethereal aura. They stood in elegant, slender poses.
However, as snow fell, it covered their branches, hiding their green hues and adorning them with the same snowy white as the heavens and earth.
Upon seeing the young man arrive, their trunks swayed, shaking off a pile of snowflakes onto the ground.
Chen An knew that this was because they had long been bathed in spiritual energy and enlightened by an Immortal, thus developing spiritual sentience.
They recognized the newcomer and were expressing their welcome and happiness.
However, the young man did not, as he usually did, stride directly into the cave mansion.
Instead, he slowly stopped his footsteps before the cave mansion.
The snow continued to fall, as if it would never stop, nearly engulfing the young man’s figure.
He stood quietly, lost in thought.
After a long while, the young man finally raised his head and spoke loudly.
“Disciple Chen An requests an audience with Master.”
His clear voice slowly carried away.
Upon hearing this, the two welcoming pine trees trembled, appearing quite perplexed.
As Dao Xuan Zhenren’s most beloved personal disciple, the young man had never needed to go through such perfunctory gestures before.
He would enter directly, and no one would blame him.
But today, something seemed different?
What felt even more bizarre to the two spirits was that the cave mansion remained silent, its stone door still tightly shut, showing no signs of opening.
Although he did not reply, the meaning was clear.
The door is closed to visitors.
He will not see anyone today.
***
Within Tai Xuan Sect’s Inner Sect, several hundred miles north of the Nether Prison, there is a mountain peak.
The peak soared into the clouds, its body straight and extending upwards, as if reaching the heavens.
Even cultivators could only stand at its foot, filled with awe.
This was the Tianshan Mountain, a masterpiece of nature and the result of the Tai Xuan Sect’s founder cleaving it with a single sword.
Over the following millennia, it gradually became the place where Tai Xuan Sect confined people.
At this moment, a tall figure stood at the summit of the peak.
His face was composed, his spirit vigorous, and his long beard swayed in the wind. He was the Sect Master of Tai Xuan Sect, Dao Xuan Zhenren, who had been avoiding seeing people.
The man’s expression was solemn, his brow furrowed, as if troubled by something.
His blue daoist robe rustled loudly in the fierce winds.
This place was at least several thousand zhang above the ground; even a Golden Core cultivator would find it difficult to climb to the summit alone without external assistance.
Furthermore, the summit was perpetually covered in snow. This year, with heavy snowfall, the snow piled upon snow, making the temperature here increasingly frigid, the cold almost seeping into the bones.
Fortunately, the summit was protected by a formation, preventing people from freezing to death.
However, for anyone attempting to climb, the sheer, steep rock face offered no such protection.
After a moment, the standing man seemed to sense something, his gaze slightly condensing as he looked in a certain direction.
He pondered for a moment, then spoke, “According to sect regulations, your cultivation should be crippled, and you should be expelled from the sect. However, considering you did not harm anyone innocent, you are now punished with a hundred years of confinement on Tianshan Mountain. Do you have any objections?”
A hundred years?
Behind him, upon hearing this cold pronouncement, a slender figure trembled slightly.
She knew that she could not escape punishment once her actions were revealed.
However, she had never expected that Dao Xuan Zhenren’s retribution would be so severe.
She had clearly not harmed anyone, and the sustenance used to strengthen herself was all from malevolent demonic beasts.
A hundred years…
How many hundred years could a person have in their lifetime?
Perhaps cultivators had longer lifespans than mortals.
But that was still a full hundred years.
Most importantly, if she had to remain on Tianshan Mountain for such a long time, how would she see her younger brother?
Was a single broken promise to cost her a hundred years?
The girl bit her lip, stubbornly raising her head, her dark hair obscuring much of her beautiful face.
“I did not harm anyone.”
She had never been good with words, and her defense at this moment felt so pale and weak.
Dao Xuan Zhenren was slightly startled, then his brows furrowed even tighter.
His expression was somewhat vexed, and he said coldly, “You are so stubbornly deluded. If you are not confined for a hundred years, how can you regain clarity?”
“Moreover, this matter must ultimately be explained to the rest of the sect.”
After speaking, the man did not want to waste more words. He turned to leave.
From behind him came the girl’s soft plea.
“Wait, can I… can I see him one last time?”
Dao Xuan Zhenren’s footsteps paused, but he did not turn around.
After a long silence, he waved his hand.
A faint green light screen appeared out of thin air.
Within it was reflected the figure of a somewhat slender young man.
The vast snow dyed his blue robe white.
He stood before the Sect Master’s cave mansion, his voice transmitted through the light screen to Tianshan.
“Disciple Chen An requests an audience with Master.”
The young man’s call naturally received no response.
Apart from the rustling sound of the wind and snow, there was nothing else.
Yet, despite this, he continued to call out, again and again.
As if tireless, and as if very patient.
Mu Sanniang watched this scene intently, feeling her heart clench fiercely, her eyes misting over.
She knew that the young man was not patient, nor did he not know how foolish this was.
He simply had no other choice.
Dao Xuan Zhenren stood by silently, finally feeling that enough time had passed, and prepared to retract the spell.
But the next moment, the young man’s tall figure suddenly knelt straight down.
His knees sank into the snow, and the spiritual energy that protected him dissipated.
His hair and brow were soon stained by the wind and snow.
But his clear voice continued.
“Disciple Chen An requests an audience with Master.”
He repeated himself once more.
(End of Chapter)
