Chapter 20

Zhang Yuanshan's mind was a mess, filled with images of Qi Xia introducing Tanghua and talking about mechanisms and hidden weapons on the "Reincarnation Square." He originally thought that if anyone could take the risk to expose the "Reincarnation World," it would be either himself or Jiang Zhwei, not Qi Xia, who seemed to have achieved her long-desired goals in the "Reincarnation World"!

Who knew that while he was still hesitating, she had already made up her mind, no, she seemed to have made up her mind a long time ago!

Could her joy before and after the exchange have been just an act?

No, it didn't seem fake, perhaps her joy couldn't overshadow her determination to escape danger!

As soon as Qi Xia spoke, Kongwen looked at her and said, "Please speak, Miss Qi."

"What do you know?" Daoist Shouzhuo, filled with anger towards the real culprit, looked at Qi Xia, waiting for her to provide clues.

For a moment, Su Wuming, Xuan Yuanzi, and Qi Xia's father, Qi Yuan, all turned their gaze to Qi Xia, puzzled as to why she, who was several layers away from the Xuantian Sect's courtyard, could discover something related to Qingjing's death. What she could encounter at night, they, as experts, would also sense in their sleep, or to put it another way, what could escape their senses would not be something a young girl like Qi Xia, who had yet to open her enlightenment, could accidentally stumble upon.

Zhang Yuanshan instinctively hid behind his uncle Xuan Yuanzi, his left hand unconsciously gripping tightly, while his right hand touched the hilt of his sword. The cold sensation slightly alleviated his inner tension and worry, but the dryness in his mouth and throat did not subside. He secretly glanced at Jiang Zhwei, only to see her right hand also on the hilt of her sword.

After blurting out those words, Qi Xia had no room for retreat. She looked at the senior figures and the "Dragon Subduing Arhat" Kongwen, secretly hoping that the Dharma Body-level expert could震慑 and stop the "Master of the Six Realms." Even if Abbot Kongwen was the mastermind, under the watchful eyes of everyone, to avoid exposure, he would protect her, even personally escort her back to the Great River Gang. Once back, her father and other elders, who would be on guard due to her warning, would surely summon the sect's divine weapon, the "Sea Treading and River Reversing Staff," ensuring her safety.

"Reporting to the Venerable Abbot, Qingjing and I were both... by the... Six..." Qi Xia organized her words, trying to quickly raise the elders' vigilance.

The moment the word "Six" was uttered, Qi Xia suddenly felt her heart pounding violently, a surge of blood rushing to her head, her throat dry, and she couldn't catch her breath.

Bang!

Qi Xia seemed to hear a crisp cracking sound in the distance, her vision turning red. She vaguely saw a large hand, radiating solemn Buddhist light, reaching out to her with a gentle and stabilizing aura, trying to save her. A sword light, like a flash from the heavens, appeared and pointed at the void three inches behind her.

"The 'Master of the Six Realms' actually dared to act in front of a Dharma Body-level expert..."

"Unfortunately, they were a bit too late..."

Qi Xia, filled with bitterness, regret, shock, and unwillingness, fell into endless darkness, her body softly collapsing to the ground.

"Xia'er!" Qi Yuan, like a white-haired fisherman in a poem, called out in sorrow, his movements swift as he caught Qi Xia, his palm emitting true qi, pouring it into her body without restraint, but to no avail.

Jiang Zhwei's expression was a mix of confusion and shock. Su Wuming sheathed his long sword, his left hand caressing the blade, his half-closed eyes opening, revealing a sharp and piercing gaze, but his expression was unusually solemn, deep in thought.

"Amitabha, this old monk was a step too late." Kongwen clasped his hands together, the solemn and sacred Buddhist light no longer visible on his face, which for the first time showed shock and surprise.

Pretending to be caught off guard, a step too late... Pretending to be caught off guard, a step too late... Zhang Yuanshan's mind was bombarded with thoughts, a mix of shock, fear, relief, and self-reproach, making it hard to sort out.

Suddenly, a flash of insight came to him: "No, Abbot Kongwen didn't reveal his Arhat Golden Body just now. If he really was pretending to be caught off guard, a step too late, he should have exerted his full strength to prove his innocence, not just go through the motions! Perhaps he really was caught off guard? Even I, who knew the inside story, didn't expect the 'Master of the Six Realms' to act so quickly, so ruthlessly, and so mysteriously..."

Looking at the lifeless Qi Xia in Qi Yuan's arms, he felt as if his heart was being squeezed by a large hand, heavy and sorrowful, almost unable to breathe.

Daoist Shouzhuo, who also failed to rescue her in time, first glared at Kongwen, as if about to scold him for his lack of effort, suspecting him of being involved with the real culprit. But his expression suddenly changed, as if recalling something, and he gradually calmed down. Xuan Yuanzi, Qi Yuan, and others also did not step forward.

"Venerable Masters, Miss Qi's encounter just now reminds this old monk of several similar incidents." Kongwen spoke slowly. "It was this old monk's oversight not to connect Qingjing's incident with these other events, otherwise, Miss Qi could have been saved."

Several similar incidents? Zhang Yuanshan felt that tonight's events were too much for him to handle. He looked at Kongwen with tension and shock, noticing that Jiang Zhwei's expression and actions were very similar to his own.

Fortunately, the others had similar reactions, so they didn't stand out.

"Please enlighten us." Xuan Yuanzi bowed, and Qi Yuan, with slightly bloodshot eyes, also looked at Kongwen.

Kongwen sighed, "Have any of you heard of the mysterious organization 'Immortal Traces'? If any of their members try to leak internal secrets, they will die mysteriously like Miss Qi. This old monk suspects that they may have some kind of curse in their bodies that triggers a mysterious force."

"Immortal Traces? This poor Daoist once fought with their 'Doumu Yuanjun,' nearly losing my life." Xuan Yuanzi said with a self-deprecating laugh. "But I never caught any of their members or seen similar mysterious deaths."

"What? You nearly lost your life? And what's this 'Doumu Yuanjun'?" Daoist Shouzhuo, with his quick temper, asked in disbelief.

Xuan Yuanzi, the head of the mundane affairs of the Zhenwu Sect, though not the top-tier expert in the sect, was a well-known figure on the Earth List, with strength comparable to Daoist Shouzhuo. The fact that he was defeated by a member of an unknown organization was hard to accept.

"According to this old monk, the official members of 'Immortal Traces' are few, no more than twenty, each using the name of a famous Daoist or immortal from ancient mythology, without revealing their real names. 'Doumu Yuanjun' is one of them." Kongwen explained to those present who had not heard of the 'Immortal Traces' organization.

Xuan Yuanzi smiled bitterly and shook his head, "Abbot, you know more than this poor Daoist. I met 'Doumu Yuanjun' by chance, fought a fierce battle, and fled in a sorry state. I only knew about 'Immortal Traces' and her title. Ten years ago, 'Doumu Yuanjun' should have already reached the peak of the Outer Realm."

"Using the names of immortals and not revealing their real names? How can there be so many unknown experts in the world! It must be a secret organization formed by ambitious people from various sects! Xuan Yuanzi, can you identify the origin of 'Doumu Yuanjun's' martial arts?" Daoist Shouzhuo snorted, not believing that so many experts could remain unknown, and that they must have prominent identities in the martial world besides their 'Immortal Traces' titles!

Therefore, he still suspected there was a traitor in Shaolin!

Xuan Yuanzi laughed, "If I could identify it, I would have traced it back to the person long ago. Our 'Zhenwu Sect' is the lineage of the Great Emperor Zhenwu and is not so easily bullied. 'Doumu Yuanjun' used a technique similar to the 'Star Deity Descent Technique' of the 'Mother of All Stars' from ancient mythology, but both the 'Star Deity Descent Technique' and the 'Mixed Essence Reversion Technique' have been lost for tens of thousands of years. How would I know who accidentally obtained the lineage?"

"The 'Mixed Essence Reversion Technique'... 'Star Deity Descent Technique'..." Zhang Yuanshan's face turned slightly pale because he remembered that these two divine techniques were listed on the 'Master of the Six Realms' exchange list, the former worth 500,000 good deeds, the latter 80,000. "Is this 'Immortal Traces' organization really related to the 'Reincarnation World'?"

Daoist Shouzhuo circled around Qi Yuan, nodding lightly, "A mysterious force erupted from within, connecting to a mysterious force. Indeed, it's not something a normal person could do. But since there is a curse or similar mark in the body, we can first investigate each other."

Just as Zhang Yuanshan's hair stood on end, Su Wuming, standing in front of Jiang Zhwei, spoke, "The marks are deeply hidden. If we don't understand their origin and use targeted methods, we may not discover any clues."

"Su Wuming, speculation cannot replace action." Daoist Shouzhuo, being fierce, was not afraid of Su Wuming.

"Su Layman is right. When this old monk investigated the 'Immortal Traces' member 'Taiyi Tianzun,' even with some understanding and preparation, I found no hidden marks..." Kongwen briefly recounted his encounters with the 'Immortal Traces' organization, then looked at Su Wuming, "Layman Su, do you have similar experiences?"

Su Wuming said calmly, "I encountered an organization called 'Myth,' similar to 'Immortal Traces,' but their enemies, using the names of ancient deities."

"Su Layman, did you gain any insights?" As the others were shocked by the existence of another mysterious organization, Kongwen asked with concern.

Su Wuming remained unperturbed, "The 'Dongwang Gong' I encountered was quite strong, and I couldn't hold back."

So, he had already returned to dust and ashes? Many young disciples were sweating.

"And the body mysteriously self-destructed." Su Wuming continued.

Kongwen sighed, "With this old monk watching, 'Taiyi Tianzun's' body did not self-destruct. His true identity is not ordinary, and I will share it with you later."

With so many people present, it was not convenient to discuss further.

"Whether it's 'Immortal Traces' or 'Myth,' they are secretive and suspicious, surely harboring some sinister plot. I propose that all major sects join forces to thoroughly investigate this matter!" Daoist Shouzhuo said loudly.

Kongwen nodded and picked up his nine-ring staff, "If we gain any insights, Shaolin is willing to share with all sects."

"The Xuantian Sect is the same." Daoist Shouzhuo immediately agreed and looked at Qi Yuan, "Please search your daughter's belongings for any clues."

Qi Yuan, with a dark face, nodded and, as expected, found the method for manufacturing "Tanghua." Then, he gritted his teeth and said, "Our Great River Gang does not have such a hidden weapon. Hmph! I will kill the rats of 'Immortal Traces' and 'Myth' to honor Xia'er!"

The method for manufacturing a hidden weapon not seen in the martial world made him think of the 'Star Deity Descent Technique' mentioned by Xuan Yuanzi, further believing that his daughter's death was related to these two mysterious organizations.

Xuan Yuanzi looked at the disciples behind the experts, "This is a serious matter. Please restrain your disciples and do not let this information leak out."

Those who could enter the Great Hall of the Buddha were the future elites of their sects and had the right to know about this matter, so he only asked them not to leak it casually.

"Yes, Uncle." Zhang Yuanshan immediately responded, and the other disciples also agreed.

After the key figures discussed in secret for a while behind the hall, they returned to their respective quarters. Zhang Yuanshan followed Xuan Yuanzi out of the Great Hall of the Buddha, heading to the guest quarters.

On the way, he was troubled and distressed by what had just happened.

As they walked, he heard Uncle Xuan Yuanzi sigh softly.

This sigh seemed to trigger the doubts hidden in Zhang Yuanshan's heart. He quickened his pace and asked in a low voice, "Uncle, why didn't you question Abbot Kongwen? He didn't use his full strength to save Sister Qi, and he didn't reveal his Arhat Golden Body."

At least not the "Golden Body" he had seen in various texts!

Xuan Yuanzi smiled, praising him, "Observant and meticulous."

Then, he looked at the sky, half melancholy and half reflective, "The rumors are not false."

Huh? Zhang Yuanshan looked at Xuan Yuanzi in confusion, but Xuan Yuanzi had no intention of explaining, shook his head, and gestured for him not to ask more.

The night was cool, fine snow falling, and the sky gradually brightening.

Page AD begins

Page AD ends