106: An old friend is in danger, a temporary farewell.

The panicked sword light fleeing from the Qinglan Sect, and the Evil Qi relentlessly pursuing it, immediately put Lin Xuan and the other three on alert.

"It's a distress signal from the Qinglan Sect, and this sword light's aura... it's a bit familiar." Su Wanqing's icy eyes narrowed slightly, instantly recognizing it, and a trace of solemnity appeared on her cold face. With a fellow Disciple in danger, she couldn't stand by and do nothing.

Lin Xuan's Divine Sense far surpassed those of his peers, and he had already clearly seen the situation. The fleeing person was a young male Cultivator wearing Qinglan Sect Inner Sect Disciple robes, with a cultivation base at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage. At this moment, his clothes were stained with blood, his face was pale, and the spiritual light of his Flying Sword was unstable. Pursuing him were three fierce-looking Cultivators dressed in identical black robes, all at the False Core realm. Their attacks were ruthless, with streaks of black light striking directly at the Qinglan Sect Disciple's vital points, clearly intending to finish him off quickly.

"It's people from Black Fiend Valley!" Qu Feiyan's charming eyes narrowed as she recognized the origin of the three black-robed Cultivators. "A force affiliated with the minor Demonic Path Sect 'Seven Fiends Gate,' specializing in murder and robbery. How dare they openly pursue and kill a Qinglan Sect Inner Sect Disciple?"

The situation was urgent, leaving no time for further thought.

"Save them!" Lin Xuan bellowed, his figure already vanishing like a ghost from his original spot. Although he had just entered the Late Golden Core Stage, his strength had surged, and his speed was astonishingly fast.

The next moment, he appeared between the fleeing Qinglan Sect Disciple and his pursuers. Facing the ruthless attacks from the three False Core Cultivators, he didn't even use the frost silence sword or sin-slaying. He simply pointed his fingers like a sword and casually waved!

A crimson-gold sword aura, incredibly condensed and imbued with the immense magical power of the Late Golden Core Stage, swept out!

"Boom!"

The combined attacks of the three False Core Cultivators instantly disintegrated like paper before this seemingly casual sword aura! The sword aura, its momentum undiminished, slammed heavily into the three of them.

"Puff!" "Puff!" "Puff!"

The three were struck heavily, simultaneously spitting blood and flying backward, their eyes filled with shock and disbelief. They crashed heavily to the ground, severely injured and having lost their combat ability. They hadn't even seen how the newcomer had attacked!

The Qinglan Sect Disciple, having narrowly escaped death, looked at the suddenly appearing Lin Xuan, whose aura was profound, still shaken. Then he saw Su Wanqing, Qu Feiyan, and Gongsun Yu arriving shortly after. Especially upon seeing Su Wanqing's distinctive cold countenance and attire, he immediately became excited: "Senior Sister Su... Su! It's you all!"

"Junior Brother Zhao Ming?" Su Wanqing also recognized him as a rather diligent Disciple within the Sect. "What happened? Why are the Black Fiend Valley people pursuing you?"

Zhao Ming gasped for breath and quickly said, "Senior Sister Su, Senior Brother Lin... Lin (although he didn't know Lin Xuan, seeing him with Su Wanqing and his powerful strength, he addressed him as such), something has happened to the Sect! Several months ago, a mysterious force secretly infiltrated and colluded with some Elders within the Sect, initiating a rebellion! The Sect Master was severely injured and went into seclusion, and many Elders and Disciples loyal to the Sect were imprisoned or hunted down! I was ordered by Revered Master to break through the encirclement at great risk and seek help elsewhere, but unexpectedly I was discovered and pursued by the Black Fiend Valley traitors here!"

Qinglan Sect's internal strife!

This news exploded like thunder in everyone's ears. Su Wanqing's icy eyes instantly gleamed with cold light, and the moonlight around her fluctuated uncontrollably. Qinglan Sect was her Sect, to which she owed her upbringing and held many attachments!

Lin Xuan's brows furrowed, his thoughts racing. Guixu Cult had just shown its fangs, and the Qinglan Sect experienced internal strife. Was this merely a coincidence? Or had Guixu Cult's tentacles already reached into the Qinglan Sect?

"Do you know the origin of that mysterious force?" Lin Xuan asked in a deep voice.

Zhao Ming shook his head, his face filled with resentment and fear: "I don't know, they act secretively and are extremely powerful. Especially the few leaders, their Cultivation Techniques are strange, definitely not ordinary Demonic Path Cultivators. Revered Master only vaguely mentioned that it might be related to an organization called 'Guixu'…"

Guixu!

It really was them!

Lin Xuan, Su Wanqing, and Qu Feiyan exchanged glances, all seeing the solemnity in each other's eyes. Guixu Cult's actions were faster and more ruthless than they had imagined!

The situation was clear: Qinglan Sect was in imminent danger, and Su Wanqing had to return immediately! But the internal situation of Qinglan Sect was unclear, fraught with danger, and her returning alone would be like a sheep entering a tiger's den.

"Senior Sister Su, I will return to Qinglan Sect with you," Lin Xuan said without hesitation. Publicly, Guixu Cult was a common enemy; privately, he absolutely could not stand by and watch Su Wanqing venture into danger alone.

Su Wanqing looked at Lin Xuan, the chill in her icy eyes softening slightly, a hint of warmth flashing through, but she slowly shook her head: "Lin Xuan, I understand your intentions. But the Sect's situation is complex right now, and you are not a Qinglan Sect Disciple. Rushing in rashly might arouse suspicion, which would be undesirable. Moreover, Guixu Cult is powerful; we need more strength and assistance." Her gaze turned to Qu Feiyan and Gongsun Yu, "Junior Sister Qu has a special identity and should not be involved in the Qinglan Sect's internal strife at this time. Junior Sister Gongsun also has Family concerns; she has been away for a long time and should return to report her safety, lest her Family worry."

Her thinking was clear, and her analysis was reasonable. Qu Feiyan was a Saintess who had defected from the Blood Lotus Sect (an original Demonic Path Sect), making her identity sensitive. Her appearance in the internal strife of a Righteous Path Sect could easily cause misunderstandings. Gongsun Yu came from a Cultivation Family and had been away from home for a long time; she indeed needed to return.

Lin Xuan remained silent for a moment, knowing that Su Wanqing's words were reasonable. Although his strength was formidable, facing a Sect's internal strife and Guixu Cult's infiltration, individual power was ultimately limited, requiring a more comprehensive plan.

"Since that's the case, let's act separately for now," Lin Xuan decided. "Senior Sister Su, you return to Qinglan Sect first, secretly contact trustworthy individuals, and ascertain the internal situation. You must prioritize your own safety. I will go to the largest Cultivation City nearby, Tianshu City, where information is abundant. Perhaps I can gather more intelligence about Guixu Cult and seek Opportunities to enhance my strength. Senior Sister Qu can accompany me, or conceal herself and wait for an Opportunity. Junior Sister Gongsun, return to your Family first, comfort your Family members, and at the same time, you can pay attention to any signs of Guixu Cult activity around your Family."

He looked at Su Wanqing, took out several high-grade Medicinal Pills he had refined for healing and restoring magical power, and a communication jade talisman containing a trace of his Divine Sense imprint, and handed them to her: "Senior Sister, be careful in everything. If there's an emergency, immediately crush the jade talisman, and I will rush over at the first possible moment."

Su Wanqing took the Medicinal Pills and jade talisman, feeling the concern within them. Her icy eyes moistened slightly, and she nodded gently: "You too, be extra careful."

Qu Feiyan looked at Lin Xuan, then at Su Wanqing, and her red lips curved slightly: "Alright, I, your Elder sister, will follow Junior Brother Lin to Tianshu City to see the excitement, and it'll be good to have someone to look out for." She naturally preferred to stay by Lin Xuan's side.

Although Gongsun Yu was reluctant, she also knew this was the best arrangement for now, and she nodded obediently: "Big Brother Lin, Senior Sister Su, Sister Qu, all of you take care. After I go home and report my safety, I'll find a way to meet up with you."

With the plan decided, everyone no longer delayed. Su Wanqing, taking Zhao Ming, transformed into a cool sword light and headed straight for the Qinglan Sect.

Lin Xuan watched her leave until the sword light disappeared into the sky before retracting his gaze. He looked at Qu Feiyan and Gongsun Yu beside him and said in a deep voice, "Let's set off too. This Tianshu City, I presume, will not disappoint us."

A new journey, accompanied by separation and unknown challenges, thus began. And the mist surrounding Guixu Cult, as well as the respective destinies of the protagonist group, will gradually intertwine and collide in this chaotic world.