531: Chapter 532 Yi Qing!

Zhou Yang unconsciously thought of that Senior Han.

It was funny to think about; he had known this Senior for so long, yet Zhou Yang was certain that the other party had never revealed his real name.

Just based on what he knew, the other party had several aliases: the Demonic Cultivator Wu Daoren, the Alchemist Li Qing, the Talisman Master Han Feiyu...

In any case, in Zhou Yang's heart, this Senior was extremely mysterious.

"If only you were here!"

Zhou Yang sighed inwardly; if this mysterious Senior were here, absolutely no one would dare to target them.

Unfortunately, decades had passed, and there was still no news of him.

No one knew where he had gone, or even if he was still alive.

There were only rumors that he had gone to the Outer Regions to pursue a higher Realm.

Others said he had offended someone he shouldn't have and had long since fallen.

Still others claimed he was originally a Disciple of some major power in the Outer Regions, having come to the Southern Wilderness Region only for training, and had now returned.

Opinions varied, and there was no consensus.

Zhou Yang did not know which was true, but he knew that they could only rely on themselves now.

He took a deep breath, and just as he was about to speak, his expression suddenly shifted, and he turned his head to look outside the courtyard gate.

Someone was coming!

Moreover, sensing the fluctuations of Qi, they were heading straight for them.

Zhou Yang's heart tightened instantly, and Dong Pingan, Zhang Li, and the others also stood up.

They looked at each other, their expressions solemn.

As usual, the visitor meant no good.

"Bang!"

Just then, the courtyard gate was forcefully pushed open from the outside.

A middle-aged Cultivator wearing a brocade robe strode in, followed by several Disciples.

The middle-aged Cultivator had a sinister face, a mocking smile on his lips, and his eyes swept over them like knives.

"Oh, you are all here. That saves me the trouble of looking for you one by one!"

Facing this frivolous tone, Zhou Yang's expression remained unchanged.

He recognized this person.

This person was named Qian Guang, a lackey of Yi Qing, who often used the other's name to act domineeringly within the Sect.

Furthermore, various matters targeting the direct line of True Person Tianxing were executed by this person.

Therefore, upon seeing the visitor, Zhou Yang's heart skipped a beat.

However, out of necessity for appearances, he could only cup his hands and say:

"Elder Qian, may I ask what brings you here?"

Facing this lukewarm attitude, Qian Guang just smiled, but the smile did not reach his eyes.

"It's nothing major. I am just acting under the orders of the Acting Sect Master to invite you all to a place."

"What place?" Dong Pingan frowned. "What are you trying to do?"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you."

Qian Guang acted as if he had just remembered something and said with a sudden realization:

"The Acting Sect Master is already in seclusion, charging towards the Golden Core Realm, and will successfully Breakthrough in a few days. Inviting you all to go is naturally to observe the Core Formation phenomenon."

Although the smile on Qian Guang's face was faint, it could hardly conceal his smugness.

Upon hearing this, the group's expressions changed.

Such a major event as a Golden Core Breakthrough, and he just said it out so openly?

Was he not afraid of someone causing trouble?

Although they had doubts in their hearts, they also understood that the other party was likely not afraid at all.

Yi Qing was not a fool; he must have had absolute certainty to act this way.

Moreover, perhaps Yi Qing actually hoped someone would act as a sacrificial lamb, so that he could be forced to counterattack, then suppress everything with the might of a Golden Core True Person, and finally firmly secure the position of Sect Master.

As for observing the Core Formation phenomenon, it was clearly just an excuse. How was inviting them over any different from public humiliation? It was to completely break the backbone of True Person Tianxing's lineage.

Dong Pingan's face flushed red, and just as he was about to start cursing, he was stopped by Zhou Yang.

He signaled Dong Pingan with his eyes to calm down, then turned to look at Qian Guang, saying calmly:

"Elder Qian, the matter of the Acting Sect Master breaking through to the Golden Core Realm is too significant. Making such a big fuss will easily attract unwanted attention, so I don't think it's necessary."

This was actually a blunt refusal, though phrased somewhat tactfully.

But Qian Guang did not seem to understand Zhou Yang's meaning, instead revealing a playful smile.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, you don't need to worry about that. The Acting Sect Master's safety is naturally our responsibility. Moreover..."

Speaking of this, he looked at the group with a playful expression.

"This time is not just about the Acting Sect Master breaking through to the Golden Core Realm, but also about the succession to the position of Tian Xing Sect Sect Master. No one can be absent."

"What! Yi Qing is going to succeed as Sect Master?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yang and the others instantly showed expressions of astonishment.

Although there was only a one-character difference between Acting Sect Master and Sect Master, the meaning they represented was worlds apart.

Even though Yi Qing had now won over a large group of people and could be said to hold immense power.

But without becoming the Sect Master, he could never fully dictate everything.

Not to mention that the people of True Person Tianxing's lineage would not take his orders.

Even some Disciples who joined the Immortal Sect later, having no filter for the Qingxuan Sect, did not entirely obey him.

Even if he wanted to do certain things, he would inevitably be constrained.

Therefore, wanting to become the Sect Master was an inevitable desire.

Regarding this, Zhou Yang and the others had expected it.

Moreover, a country cannot go a day without a ruler, and the Immortal Sect cannot remain leaderless forever.

But who sits in this position, besides the appointment by the former Sect Master, requires a joint resolution of the Council of Elders.

But what they did not expect was that the other party would not even give a heads-up, bypassing the Council of Elders' resolution, and immediately proceed to succeed as Sect Master.

Oh, that's not right; he did give a heads-up, isn't this it!

But this was not a heads-up; this was clearly a notification.

"Presumptuous! How can the position of Sect Master be decided by just your word! Do you want to rebel!"

Zhang Li shouted angrily, his Aura suddenly erupting, looking as if he was ready to fight at the slightest disagreement.

But regarding this, Qian Guang was somewhat indifferent. He glanced sideways at the group and laughed.

"Rebel? May I ask, besides the Acting Sect Master, who else is qualified to sit in that position?

Is it you bunch of Foundation Establishment Cultivators who will manage the Third-Tier Immortal Sect?

If that got out, aren't you afraid of being laughed at!"

Yi Qing's Breakthrough to the Golden Core was almost a certainty; once successful, the overall situation would be set, and it would be useless for anyone to object.

After all, a Golden Core True Person was already the pinnacle of existence in the Southern Wilderness Region.

What kind of waves could a group of lower-level Cultivators stir up?

"You!"

"Enough!"

Zhang Li and the others wanted to say something more, but were interrupted by Zhou Yang. He then looked at Qian Guang and cupped his hands.

"Since it is the order of the Acting Sect Master, we will comply."

Qian Guang was somewhat surprised by Zhou Yang's reaction, having expected this group to whine for a while.

However, since the other party was so sensible, he nodded with satisfaction.

And since he had already delivered the message, he couldn't be bothered to stay any longer.

With a wave of his sleeve, he took his people and swaggered away.

Just as he reached the courtyard gate, he suddenly stopped, turned to look at the three people, and a meaningful smile curled at the corners of his mouth.

"Those who understand the times are heroes. Everyone, we will meet again."

Having said that, he left directly.

As the courtyard gate closed again, the scene fell into dead silence.

After a long time, someone spoke.

"Brother Zhou, I don't understand."

Zhou Yang glanced at that person and sighed.

"If you think about it, you'll know that we actually don't have the power to say no to them."

This time, they could indeed force themselves to refuse and avoid that insult.

But what would be the consequences of doing so?

That would be completely offending Yi Qing!

If a Golden Core True Person wanted to retaliate, there would be no need to find any grand excuse. They could just pin a crime on you, and who would dare to object?

Perhaps going this time would mean being targeted in the future anyway, but not going would definitely lead to a bad end!

Therefore, one has to bow when under someone else's roof.

It was precisely because Zhou Yang saw through this point that he agreed immediately.

"Sigh, forget it, forget it."

Hearing Zhou Yang's explanation, Zhang Li sighed, his whole body looking as if it had lost its spirit, his back even hunching slightly.

"If only Senior were here..."

It was unknown who said this, but the scene immediately fell into silence.

Yes, if only he were here...

...

Deep within the Tianxing Immortal Sect, in a great hall shrouded by layers of Restrictions.

The hall was spacious, its four walls engraved with complex runes, and Spiritual Qi flowed, illuminating the entire hall as if it were daytime.

The ceiling of the hall was embedded with nine Spirit Orbs, emitting a gentle radiance.

That was the place True Person Tianxing had chosen back then where the Spiritual Qi was most concentrated, and subsequently, he had personally set up a Spirit Gathering Array, which could gather the Spiritual Qi within a hundred miles here to help people Breakthrough their Bottleneck.

At this moment, in the center of the hall, on a jade platform, a figure sat cross-legged.

It was a young man wearing a moon-white brocade robe, a jade belt around his waist, hair like ink, with a handsome face but carrying a hint of effeminacy.

His facial features were extremely delicate, his nose bridge high, and his thin lips slightly pursed.

At first glance, he looked like a gentle, jade-like, upright gentleman.

But upon closer inspection, one could find a hidden, imperceptible gloom deep within those eyes.

This person was the current Acting Sect Master of the Tianxing Immortal Sect, Yi Qing.

After the former Sect Master, True Person Tianxing, passed away, several major factions within the Sect fought openly and secretly.

In the end, Yi Qing held high the banner of the Qingxuan Sect, gathered the old lineage, and successfully took this position.

However, this was ultimately just a castle in the air; he still needed sufficient strength to suppress everything.

"Hoo~"

Yi Qing slowly opened his eyes, a flash of essence light passing through his pupils and vanishing.

He had been in seclusion here for half a month, adjusting his own cultivation to the best state.

His magical power was full, his Divine Sense was abundant, and his blood and Qi were vigorous.

Now that everything was ready, he only waited to form the Golden Core.

He took a deep breath, calming his state of mind to a state of ancient well without waves.

Then, he took out a jade box from his sleeve. The jade box was dark red, its surface engraved with strange patterns, and there was a faint flow of blood color.

The box lid opened, and a Medicinal Pill lay quietly inside.

The Medicinal Pill was blood-red all over, with fine patterns on the surface, like blood vessels.

Deep within the Medicinal Pill, one could vaguely see a dark red light slowly flowing, as if a living thing were breathing.

This pill was named "Blood Fiend Barrier Breaking Pill", a Third-Tier Medicinal Pill.

It was refined using a Cultivator's Essence Blood as a guide, supplemented by dozens of rare Spirit Medicines, and taking it could help one Breakthrough the Golden Core Bottleneck.

Yi Qing looked at the blood-red Medicinal Pill in his palm, his eyes complex.

This Medicinal Pill was given to him a few months ago when a group of mysterious people calling themselves the "Tianli Cult" approached him.

Those people's movements were secretive, coming and going without a trace, and everyone wore strange masks, making it impossible to see their faces.

And the leader called himself the "Tianli Cult Protector", preaching the doctrines of the Tianli Cult to him.

Something like "Preserve Heavenly Principle, Eliminate Human Desire"; he listened to it in a fog.

However, he did understand one sentence, which was that the other party said joining the Tianli Cult could help him achieve the Golden Core.

Then, without saying another word, they placed this Blood Fiend Barrier Breaking Pill in front of him.

Yi Qing was still very hesitant at that time.

The Tianli Cult had an improper origin and secretive conduct; no matter how one looked at it, they did not seem like good people.

But when that Medicinal Pill was placed in front of him, he could not remain calm.

A Medicinal Pill that could help one Breakthrough the Golden Core Bottleneck.

In the entire Southern Wilderness Region, one might not be able to find a second one.

Moreover, achieving the Golden Core was something he dreamed of.

He dreamed of becoming a Golden Core True Person, wanted to stand at the top of the Southern Wilderness Region, wanted to possess hundreds of years of Lifespan, and wanted not to be controlled by anyone.

Thus, he agreed to join the Tianli Cult and become a member.

And those people just said they would come back to find him after he broke through, and then they disappeared, just as silently as they came.

Yi Qing sometimes wondered, those people were crazy and their actions were unpredictable; were they really reliable?

Giving him the Medicinal Pill but not imposing any Restrictions; were they not afraid he would regret it after breaking through to the Golden Core?

He shook his head, throwing these distracting thoughts out of his mind.

Things had reached this point; thinking too much was useless.

Only by breaking through to the Golden Core could he possess the right to speak.

By then, only by dealing with those people could he gain the upper hand.

As for the others, he did not care.

He claimed to the outside world that he wanted to recast the glory of the Qingxuan Sect.

That was just an excuse he found for himself, putting on a cloak of righteousness to make it convenient to gather manpower.

What feelings did he have for the Qingxuan Sect?

His "father", the Vice Sect Master of the Qingxuan Sect, actually did not care about him.

Sometimes he even felt that his existence was in the way, and more than once wanted to kill him.

However, it was at that time that Li Qing developed a slick and versatile heart, pleasing this "father" everywhere, which allowed him to survive in the cracks.

Therefore, when True Person Tianxing killed his father back then, for Yi Qing, rather than saying it was the hatred of killing his father, it was more like venting the foul air in his chest.

As for his current targeting of Zhou Yang and that group, did it count as biting the hand that fed him?

Of course not!

One thing is one thing; he was avenging his father, which is justifiable!

Yi Qing felt that his moral bottom line was very flexible.

Whatever was beneficial to him, he would do.

As long as he could achieve the Golden Core, as long as he could stand at the peak of the Southern Wilderness Region, he did not care what price he had to pay.

And now, everything was ready.

"Then let's begin."

Since everything had been prepared to the extreme, Yi Qing did not delay any longer.

He took out the Blood Fiend Barrier Breaking Pill and put it into his mouth; the Medicinal Pill melted upon entering the mouth, and a warm medicinal power dissolved within his body.

At the same time, he circulated his Cultivation Technique, and the magical power around his body began to surge.

The Spirit Gathering Array started, and the nine Spirit Orbs on the ceiling of the hall lit up simultaneously, gathering the Spiritual Qi from within a hundred miles towards the great hall frantically.

The Spiritual Qi swirled above Yi Qing's head, forming a huge Spiritual Qi vortex, shrouding the entire great hall within it.

The vortex spun faster and faster, denser and denser, and the spiritual light illuminated the great hall as if it were daytime.

And in Yi Qing's Dantian, the prototype of a Golden Core was slowly condensing.

At the same time.

Outside the great hall, the Disciples stationed there looked up one after another, gazing at the Spiritual Qi vortex gathering above the sky.

"What is that?!" Someone exclaimed, attracting the attention of everyone.

"What a huge Spiritual Qi vortex! This is a heaven and earth phenomenon."

Someone knowledgeable suddenly widened their eyes.

"This is the Core Formation phenomenon... Someone is breaking through to the Golden Core!"

The crowd looked at each other, their eyes full of shock and confusion.

Shock, that was because in the entire Southern Wilderness Region, Golden Core Cultivators could be counted on one's fingers.

And to become a Golden Core True Person, talent, Opportunity, resources, and luck were all indispensable.

Therefore, each one was an existence standing at the pinnacle, stars they could only look up to.

And the confusion was naturally curiosity about who was breaking through.

"That seems to be the place where the Acting Sect Master is in seclusion; it's the Acting Sect Master who is breaking through!"

Someone with sharp eyes immediately realized something and exclaimed in surprise.

"Hey, what Acting Sect Master, it's clearly Sect Master!"