Qingxuan Sect, Sword Cliff
In the secluded Sword Cliff, the former grand elder Song Chaofeng remained in solitude, reflecting on his past actions. His son, Song Junjie, frequently brought meals to his father. Despite his period of reflection, Song Chaofeng's cultivation had not waned; in fact, he had become even more refined and vigorous, a stark contrast to his former self.
Song Junjie had just set out a meal for Song Chaofeng when his father suddenly remarked, "The Azure Scale Eagle has returned."
Song Junjie was taken aback. "Father, did you sense it?"
With a self-satisfied smile, Song Chaofeng picked up his chopsticks and popped a fried peanut into his mouth. "The Azure Scale Eagle is a fourth-level beast. It naturally stirs the spiritual energy of the heavens and earth more easily than human cultivators. Sensing it is not unusual."
"Father, they must have suffered a crushing defeat, just like last time. They probably didn't even make it to the second round," Song Junjie sneered.
Song Chaofeng responded indifferently, "Naturally. Qingxuan Sect is just a second-rate sect. The randomness of the first-round melee often leads to them being targeted by first-rate sects and getting eliminated early."
At that moment, they heard the voice of Murong Yue infused with spiritual power.
"Shen Mo has taken first place!"
The father and son froze in shock.
"Father, did I hear that wrong...?" Song Junjie asked, bewildered.
Song Chaofeng furrowed his brow deeply. "Impossible. How could Shen Mo defeat Zhou Qincang and the others? Go to the martial arena and find out the real results of the Hundred Sect Ceremony."
"Yes, Father."
Song Junjie hurried out and soon returned, looking grim.
"Father... Murong Yue was telling the truth. The disciples in the martial arena are ecstatic. Shen Mo really did win first place in the Hundred Sect Ceremony!" Song Junjie knelt, his tone filled with disbelief and intense jealousy.
Defeating the Five Top Sects of Xuanjiang and winning the first place in the Hundred Sect Ceremony was something he couldn't even dream of. Shen Mo, an outer disciple who had risen through the ranks, had actually achieved it. It was simply unbelievable and deeply envy-inducing.
Song Chaofeng felt unsteady on his feet. The dishes he usually enjoyed lost their flavor. He suddenly seemed to have aged several decades.
"I... I need to contact the Verdant Vine Sect immediately..." Song Chaofeng hastily pulled out a communication tablet.
The tablet, known as the Parent-Child Communication Tablet, consisted of a parent tablet and a child tablet. It utilized a mystical property of a treasure called "Parent-Child Tablet" to communicate over vast distances. A message spoken into the parent tablet could be heard through the child tablet, and vice versa. However, the parent tablet could control and shatter the child tablet, but not the other way around.
Song Chaofeng infused his spiritual power into the tablet, carefully inquiring about the true results of the Hundred Sect Ceremony. Soon, a voice returned, colder and more distant than before.
"Shen Mo won first place. Murong Yue has no reason to lie."
Before they could fully process their shock, the voice continued.
"Additionally, the sect leader has strictly forbidden any further contact with Qingxuan Sect. From now on, we have no ties."
Father and son were stunned.
"What? Father, did we hear that right?" Song Junjie asked, wide-eyed.
Song Chaofeng tried to send another message, but suddenly, he heard a crisp cracking sound from the tablet.
Snap!
The child tablet shattered.
Along with it, his ambitions shattered.
Song Chaofeng collapsed to the ground, his eyes vacant.
"Father! Father!" Song Junjie cried out in despair.
"Junjie, I... I never made amends. I must go and apologize to the sect leader now. Maybe, just maybe, there's still a chance for survival," Song Chaofeng said, his face filled with a grim mix of despair and hope.
Murong Yue detailed the events of the Hundred Sect Ceremony to the gathered elders, concluding with the shocking news of the new Xuanjiang Prefecture Governor, Ji Shilong.
The expressions of the elders were tense. Each advancement in cultivation not only enhances combat abilities but also sharpens the mind. A Core Formation stage cultivator can think and analyze far better than those in the Foundation Establishment stage.
Shortly after Murong Yue finished speaking, the elders quickly grasped the deviousness of Ji Shilong's new ranking system.
As Shen Mo had pointed out, it was a blatant but sophisticated strategy. Its brilliance lay in the fact that even though everyone could see Ji Shilong's intentions, they couldn't avoid the trap.
The choices were stark: either protect themselves and risk being swept up in future conflicts among the sects, or join the sect battles now. Regardless, sect warfare seemed inevitable.
After fifty years of peace, Xuanjiang Prefecture was on the brink of turmoil again.
Elder Li suddenly spoke up, "Sect Master, I believe our first priority should be to secure the Thunder Crystal Mine."
"I've reviewed the deed you received, and that mine isn't far from our sect, just on the other side of the Qingcang Mountains."
"If we can acquire the mine, it will greatly benefit our weapon crafting and disciples' cultivation."
Murong Yue nodded slightly, sharing the same thought.
"However, I doubt the Thunderfire Sect will hand over the mine so easily. Having the deed is one thing, but whether they will honor it is another," another elder added.
Murong Yue turned to Liu Yuanfeng, "Vice Sect Master Liu, among the elders here, you are the highest in cultivation and the strongest in power besides myself. Could you take on this task?"
Throughout the meeting, Liu Yuanfeng had remained silent, almost as if he were an outsider. Now, Murong Yue handed him the difficult task.
Liu Yuanfeng smiled without responding directly, "Sect Master, are you truly asking me to take over the Thunder Crystal Mine alone, or are you pushing me into a trap?"
No one knew what awaited them at the mine. Would the Thunderfire Sect honor their word and hand it over? Or was it a trap?
The start of sect warfare needed only a spark. Perhaps the Thunderfire Sect was waiting for them to make the first move.
"I will go!"
A voice suddenly echoed from the entrance of the hall.
Everyone turned to see Song Chaofeng, the former grand elder who had been in seclusion at Sword Cliff.
At this moment, Song Chaofeng knelt on one knee, bowing to Murong Yue, "Song Chaofeng apologizes to the Sect Master and her disciple. I volunteer to go to the Thunder Crystal Mine, to atone for my sins and prove my loyalty!"
Behind him, Song Junjie was fully prostrated, kowtowing to everyone present, "Sinner Song Junjie greets the Sect Master, Vice Sect Master, and elders."
Murong Yue's expression remained unchanged, but the elders who supported Song Chaofeng looked visibly distressed.
Was Song Chaofeng surrendering to Murong Yue? What about his support from the Verdant Vine Sect's grand elder?
Liu Yuanfeng narrowed his eyes, his expression fluctuating.
Murong Yue spoke calmly, "Elder Song, I appreciate your willingness."
"Do you plan to go alone, or will you take a few others with you?"
Song Chaofeng stood up, his face resolute, "I will go alone. If anything happens to me at the mine, I entrust my son, Song Junjie, to the care of the Sect Master."
Everyone was taken aback by his words.
He was essentially arranging his last wishes and handing his son over as a hostage to Murong Yue.
The message was clear: he was committed to investigating the mine.
Murong Yue finally smiled, "Very well, we bid you farewell, Elder Song."
The elders followed suit, "Farewell, Elder Song!"
Song Chaofeng bowed to everyone, then transformed into a stream of light, disappearing into the horizon.
Song Junjie remained kneeling on the ground, weeping uncontrollably.
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