Chapter 446 - 244: Counterattack
Chapter 446: Chapter 244: Counterattack
「Purple Sun Sect, Task Hall.」
After Xu Yang and Gao Lin reported the incident to the Task Hall, they both received their contribution points for the mission.
On top of the base one hundred points, Xu Yang received eight hundred contribution points for the Blood Lotus Sect disciples he killed, while Gao Lin received four hundred.
In truth, Gao Lin wouldn’t have received nearly that many if Xu Yang hadn’t credited him for helping with the three disciples at the mine.
After collecting their contribution points, the two headed straight back to Li Fire Peak.
Xu Yang returned to his courtyard, while Gao Lin went to report the deaths of Lu Chuping and the others to Elder Huoyun and the Peak Master.
’Another cycle of revenge is starting!’ Xu Yang thought with some concern.
The Purple Sun Sect had lost so many disciples this time; they would never let the matter rest. Once the fighting began, people like him would once again be forced to charge onto the front lines.
He still needed some time to break through to the Celestial Essence realm. He could only hope that he would be granted a little more of it.
After carefully hiding the Jade Water Saber and quickly washing up, he left his courtyard and went to the dining hall.
Before long, all of Li Fire Peak was in an uproar. Everyone had heard about the deaths of Lu Chuping, Xiao Yu, and the others.
Some were clamoring for revenge, but many more looked worried.
Seeking revenge could get you killed, and who wanted to die?
Xu Yang followed the matter closely, though for the time being, he didn’t know how the Purple Sun Sect would handle it. He only heard from Gao Lin that new disciples had already been dispatched to stand guard at Camel Peak.
As for any subsequent retaliation, they would likely have to wait for Lu Tianchen’s return to the Purple Sun Sect.
With no immediate resolution in sight, he left Li Fire Peak that evening to find Xu Qing.
...
「The Song Family Estate!」
"Xu Yang came back alive? Are you certain you weren’t mistaken?" Song Shirong asked, his brow furrowed.
’What is the Grand Elder doing? He didn’t even kill Xu Yang. Could it be that after lying in wait for so many days, he never managed to ambush him?’
"Reporting to the Patriarch, I was not mistaken. It was definitely Xu Yang. Many others saw him as well. The news he and Gao Lin brought back has already sent the entire Purple Sun Sect into an uproar," said Song Wendeng.
He was a disciple of Li Fire Peak and the very man Song Shirong had secretly planted in the Purple Sun Sect to monitor Xu Yang.
"What news did they bring back?" Song Shirong asked.
Song Wendeng immediately relayed the story of how the Blood Lotus Sect had killed several Purple Sun Sect disciples, and how Xu Yang and Gao Lin had narrowly escaped with their lives from a Lotus Envoy. Throughout his report, he made no mention of the Song Family.
’So, the Grand Elder never managed to ambush Xu Yang?’ Song Shirong thought, a seed of doubt planted in his mind.
If the Grand Elder had found Xu Yang and the assassination attempt had failed, Xu Yang and Gao Lin would have certainly reported it. Since they mentioned nothing, it meant the two of them never encountered someone trying to kill them with a Spiritual Soldier.
’I’ll just have to wait for the Grand Elder to return and ask him then.’
Song Shirong waved a hand. "Go back and continue to watch him. The moment he leaves the Purple Sun Sect, report to me immediately."
Song Wendeng departed.
Song Shirong waited and waited. An entire week passed, but there was still no sign of the Song Family’s Grand Elder, Song Shixian.
’Perhaps he’s still in the Yunling Mountain Range, searching for traces of Xu Yang!’ Song Shirong forced himself to remain calm.
In its current state, the Song Family could not afford to lose an Elder, let alone one carrying their heritage Spiritual Soldier.
If something had happened to Song Shixian, it would be a true disaster, as the Spiritual Soldier would be lost along with him.
Another week passed, and still, Song Shixian did not return. Song Shirong started to panic, realizing that something must have happened to the Grand Elder. Otherwise, it was impossible that he would have stayed in the Yunling Mountain Range for so long.
"Who did this? Was it the Lotus Envoy or Lu Tianchen?" Song Shirong was so furious his eyes felt like they would split from their sockets.
The loss of the Grand Elder, along with the Spirit Soldier Jade Water Saber, was a devastating blow to the Song Family. Song Shirong concluded that Song Shixian must have had terrible luck. While lying in wait for Xu Yang, he must have stumbled upon the two Celestial Essence experts who happened to be in the Yunling Mountain Range and been killed by them.
After all, Song Shixian had been wielding a Spiritual Soldier. Other than a Celestial Essence expert, no one could have possibly killed him. Even seven or eight masters at the Great Success of Marrow Cleansing attacking together wouldn’t have stood a chance.
"You little bastard! You’ve cost my Song Family another master at the Great Success of Marrow Cleansing and a Spiritual Soldier. I will have you cut into a thousand pieces!"
Song Shirong’s killing intent boiled over as he once again placed the blame for this blood debt squarely on Xu Yang’s head.
...
Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, a month had passed since Xu Yang’s return to the Purple Sun Sect.
Besides his daily, routine cultivation, he also caught up on some news.
Lu Tianchen had still not returned. It was unknown whether something had happened to him or if he had simply failed to track down the Blood Lotus Sect’s stronghold.
Ten days ago, Lu Ren had reached the Minor Achievement of Marrow Cleansing, surprisingly getting ahead of Han Feng, who was ranked higher than him on the Ten Heroes List.
Half a month ago, Du Chuan had reached the Great Success of Marrow Cleansing.
Even before Li Chuyang and Jiang Fan reached the Great Success of Marrow Cleansing, Ye Qiuling, Zhang Hanzhou, and Qi Xuancheng—ranked sixth, seventh, and eighth on the Ten Heroes List—had long since achieved it.
In fact, although these three were ranked lower, in the eyes of many, they were actually the ones most likely to succeed in the Dragon Ascension.
They were older and had started cultivating earlier. So even though their talent wasn’t on par with Jiang Fan’s or Li Chuyang’s, their head start was a greater advantage, making it possible they would break through to the Celestial Essence realm sooner.
At this point, among the top eight on the Ten Heroes List, Xu Yang was ostensibly the only one who had yet to reach the Great Success of Marrow Cleansing.
Xu Yang paid it no mind. Right now, all he wanted was to keep a low profile and avoid attracting the attention of Celestial Essence experts like Liu Qingyuan or anyone from the Song Family.
Another month went by. Han Feng also reached the Minor Achievement of Marrow Cleansing, but there was still no sign of Xu Yang reaching Great Success. Many people began to whisper that the former genius’s star had fallen.
[Fuyue Bear Scripture·Great Success (5651/12000)]
[Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture·Minor Achievement (7025/10000)]
[Bright King Unmoving Body·Minor Achievement (6715/8000)]
[Remaining Lifespan: 107]
[Martial Arts Longevity Points: 863]
After two months of arduous cultivation, every aspect had improved steadily. His Bright King Unmoving Body and Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture were both on the verge of Great Success, and the Fuyue Bear Scripture was only halfway to reaching Perfection.
’Has Tao Hujin gone back on his word?’
He recalled his agreement with Tao Hujin, who had promised to apply for a share of Dragon Ascension Resources on his behalf. But two months had passed, and the resources from the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion had yet to arrive.