Chapter 54: The Zhaoyang Sect

Xu Liang had once been responsible for watching over their group of Zhaoyang Sect outer disciples in the Frozen Abyss.

He didn't look up, nor did he pay it much mind. Since he dared to come, whether it was the people of the Frozen Abyss or familiar faces like Xu Liang, he had already prepared himself mentally for such encounters.

First, the color of his skin was no longer a concern. Second, his appearance had undergone a tremendous transformation since his time in the Abyss. At seventeen or eighteen, it was the age of growth; back then, malnourished, he was as thin as a bamboo pole, his vitality weak. Now, his figure was upright and well-proportioned, and as his cultivation advanced, an extraordinary aura emanated from him.

Clothes make the man; even in simple martial attire, he bore little resemblance to the boy from the Frozen Abyss. Even if Xu Liang sat opposite him and scrutinized every detail, it would be difficult to recognize him as the unfortunate criminal dragged away by the water fiend.

The two sat at a table by the window; it seemed the outer disciple was eager to treat Xu Liang to a meal, his manner especially enthusiastic. He ordered several signature dishes and a pot of the finest wine.

“Brother Xu, could you tell me how you managed to get those criminals to willingly cultivate better ice lotuses? I heard there’s no real method—just beat them, and if they’re scared enough, they’ll comply. Is that true?”

Xu Liang smiled, lowered his voice, and said, “Brother, if someone beat you every day and made you do something, would you do it willingly?”

The other man was momentarily stunned, then shook his head. “Of course not! I’m not stupid.”

“They’re not stupid either!” Xu Liang raised his cup, took a sip, and smacked his lips. “Nothing tastes quite like our wine. After all those years in the Abyss, I nearly forgot what good wine is!”

The man across from him laughed, “I can’t afford the sect’s wine, but this is fine. From now on, I’ll pay for all your drinks, brother!”

Xu Liang waved it off. “We’re all brothers here; no need for such gestures. Since you’ve applied to take the next rotation, you must be prepared. That place never sees sunlight—it’s no place for anyone.”

“Only those who endure hardship rise above others. Who in the outer sect doesn’t envy you, brother? The number of applicants to the Abyss has skyrocketed. If I hadn’t applied early and had your help, I might not have gotten the chance.”

He winked and quietly asked Xu Liang, “By the way, are there any pretty girls there?”

Qin Yue, sitting in the corner, his gaze cold, picked up a dish and chewed it slowly.

“What are you planning? The people of the Abyss are ominous. Remember Li Ye from our outer sect?”

The man nodded, “I remember. Didn’t he go to the Abyss with you? I heard he died?”

Xu Liang lowered his voice. “That guy, relying on his connection to an outer sect elder, became our supervisor in the Abyss. He acted recklessly, ignoring the rules. He secretly slept with Abyss women, thinking he was flawless, but we all knew. Just as we were about to return, he suddenly died!”

The man was puzzled. “I heard he was dragged away by a monster from the lake. What does sleeping with women have to do with it?”

“If your mind is only on that, you’d better go to the city brothel, not there!” Xu Liang frowned. “After he died, two other disciples who’d done the same were also dragged away by lake monsters while fishing. This had never happened before!”

“That scary? Are you sure it was a lake monster?” The man was frightened.

“Definitely. The scene looked like a giant serpent. Many say a terrifying being is suppressed beneath the Abyss. I didn’t believe it before—nothing happened in those two and a half years—but now, I’m certain!”

Xu Liang spoke earnestly, “Never touch Abyss women. When you go there, listen to me: treat them well, and they’ll work hard in return. Just focus on cultivation, treat your time there as a retreat, and you’ll have a chance to change your fate!”

“Thank you so much, brother. I’ll toast you—bottoms up!”

Qin Yue listened quietly in the corner. He guessed his master hadn’t considered this before. After Li Ye’s incident, he must have investigated quietly and then had Xiao Bai deal with those scum.

Just then, the other man said, “Speaking of which, the Abyss women you brought back to the sect this time—aside from their pale skin, which is a bit unsettling—they’re truly beautiful, especially when wearing those ‘black mirrors,’ so enchanting!”

Xu Liang laughed and cursed, “So you got ideas just from seeing them, huh?”

The other man chuckled sheepishly, admitting it.

“Brother, put those thoughts away!” Xu Liang truly regarded him as a friend and spoke earnestly, “I heard those girls were specially requested by an inner sect elder, all untouched maidens.”

The man whispered, “Do you think the elder wants to use them as cauldrons, practicing dual cultivation techniques?”

Xu Liang's expression changed dramatically. “Watch your words! Are you looking to die? How dare you speculate about such things?”

He glanced toward Qin Yue in the corner.

Qin Yue, turned sideways, calmly sipped his wine, as if he hadn’t heard.

Just then, the door swung open, and Tang Qingxuan, the sect leader’s personal disciple, entered with several others.

“Mr. Qin!”

Tang Qingxuan, a striking and elegant woman, was no social butterfly, yet she possessed a natural affinity. Her appearance and manners perfectly embodied the style of the “World’s Number One Sect.” Seeing Qin Yue, her brows arched in a smile, warmly enthusiastic.

Xu Liang and his companion were startled to see the leader’s disciple and quickly stood to greet her.

“In unison: “Greetings, Sister Tang!”

Tang Qingxuan nodded and walked briskly toward Qin Yue in the corner, radiant as spring. “There was some sect business, so I’m late. Please forgive me, Mr. Qin.”

Mr. Qin?

Xu Liang and his companion were stunned. Lately, that title had been ringing in their ears. Word had spread through the sect that Sister Tang and others had recruited an extraordinary young man from the Beast Valley, connected somehow to the famed Bamboo Garden.

Xu Liang couldn’t help but glance curiously at the young man in the corner, inwardly impressed—such handsome youth, no wonder Sister Tang was so cordial...

Qin Yue stood and greeted Tang Qingxuan and her companions with a cupped fist. “You’re too polite, Sister. I just arrived myself.”

Tang Qingxuan glanced at the dishes before Qin Yue and smiled. “My oversight—I didn’t let you know in advance. I was preparing a welcoming banquet for you. Come, let’s return to the sect. The young master is waiting!”

Everyone with Tang Qingxuan was warm and friendly toward Qin Yue. Together, they left the town, where a magical flying vessel awaited.

It was Qin Yue’s first time aboard such a craft—remarkably quiet, nearly silent, though not as comfortable as the commercial airliners he’d ridden before.

The vessel ascended swiftly toward the great mountain. Qin Yue had always assumed Zhaoyang Sect was atop it, but the craft climbed ever higher, soaring above snow-laden peaks, finally reaching nearly ten thousand meters.

Ahead, a misty portal of energy appeared, leaving Qin Yue awestruck.

The vessel passed slowly through the gate, and the view suddenly opened wide!

Lofty green mountains sprawled like sleeping dragons, the main peak piercing the sea of clouds. Snow atop the summit glistened like glass under mysterious rays, as if an imperial jade crown had fallen to earth.

The rock faces were a deep blue-green, layered like overlapping scales. Ancient pines grew from the cracks, their gnarled branches like dragon claws, and beads of ice on their needles refracted rainbow light, falling and striking the black stones below with a sound like bronze bells.

Mist swirled in the valleys, and giant eagles and pure white cranes soared through the cloud sea.

Qin Yue gazed out the small window of the vessel: what a secluded haven for cultivation!

A pity it was occupied by a bastard sect!

Tang Qingxuan laughed softly, explaining, “I didn’t mean to keep it from you, brother. The sect is a sacred place, and unless you’re one of us, it’s not easily revealed to outsiders.”

Someone beside her smiled, “Our sect’s little world has the richest spiritual energy in the realm!”

Tang Qingxuan replied, “Don’t exaggerate. Compared to those immortal sects on overseas fairy mountains, we’re still lacking.”

“Sister, you’re too modest. That’s the Immortal Realm; outside is the Mortal Realm. We’re in the Spirit Realm—no comparison between them.”

Qin Yue had thought Zhaoyang Sect, no matter how grand, was merely a huge palace complex deep in the mountains. Instead, it was an independent world.

Thus, finding the tribe members brought in this year became exponentially more difficult.

The conversation between Xu Liang and the outer disciple left him not only angry, but deeply worried.

There weren’t many unmarried Abyss women considered beautiful by outsiders—Ye Yu, Fourth Sister Qin Xin, and little sister Qin Zi, their only flaw being unnaturally pale skin, but otherwise beauties by any standard.

He now understood the inner workings of Zhaoyang Sect all too well; whether Tang Qingxuan and her group knew, he couldn’t say, but the cultivation of evil arts was absolutely real.

If the elder Xu Liang mentioned was one of the evil cultivators he’d learned of from the “contact,” then this matter was certain.

If the ones brought in this year were indeed Ye Yu, Qin Xin, or the others, he would have to protect them at any cost.

If not... he could only do his best.

The world was vast; the vessel flew for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea before a massive plain appeared below, revealing a majestic palace complex.

On the square, a crowd was already waiting.

Zhaoyang’s young master Ling Chen, Chu Wanqing, Little Uncle Xuan Xiao, and the two elders seen last time were all present.

Many unfamiliar faces were among them—men and women, young and old alike.

They truly valued the arrival of “Mr. Qin,” giving him considerable honor.

Tang Qingxuan’s introduction confirmed it; she first presented Qin Yue to the crowd—

“This is the Bamboo Garden’s heir Qin Yue, the talented Mr. Qin I told you about!”

“Qin Yue, this is Yue Mingxi, Uncle Yue, our sect’s vice leader!”

“This is Yang Yidong, Uncle Yang, an inner sect elder. This is Dongfang Qingyu, Aunt Dongfang, also an inner sect elder, and this is…”

She rapidly introduced a vice leader, four inner elders, and two outer elders.

“The young master, Wanqing, and these two uncles you already know, so I won’t repeat myself.”

Qin Yue greeted each of them. Everyone looked upon him with kindness, even warmth.

Such a welcome was clearly not for a debt collector, but as if he were one of their own.

—When one bows to another, they must have a request.