Chapter 898: Yuanchen Records

Douniu Peak! At those words Qin Sang’s heart tightened, and he fixed his gaze on the three newcomers.

He had never imagined that, by coming to Dongming Island to observe the ceremony, he would run straight into the main target themselves.

From the sound of it, Douniu Peak and Landou Sect have a grudge so deep they could not even return to Landou Island. Landou Sect has kept all matters concerning Douniu Peak shrouded in secrecy. No wonder my incarnation has been unable to uncover anything.

A dozen thoughts turned over in Qin Sang’s mind, though his face betrayed nothing.

Standing beside the burly man was a gaunt cultivator of comparable strength. Behind them stood a youth with his head slightly lowered, keeping deliberately inconspicuous.

Qin Sang’s eyes swept over the three from Douniu Peak, and a trace of doubt flashed in his gaze. For some reason, the young man felt faintly familiar, even though they had never met.

He did not stare. It might simply have been an illusion, and Core Formation cultivators had keen spiritual senses.

Keeping to an inconspicuous spot at the rear, Qin Sang decided to find a chance later to approach the trio. For now, he would avoid any move that might be misread.

Abbot Lu said coldly, "Things? What things? Landou Sect has never owed Douniu Peak anything."

The burly man’s eyes sank. "Junior Brother Lu, do not play the fool. Our grandmaster discovered that item back then. Since when did it become yours? Or shall I lay all your secrets bare here before everyone?"

"You..." Abbot Lu’s expression changed.

Cultivators from the other sects began to look uncertain.

What item is he talking about? Does it involve some unspeakable secret?

Ignoring Abbot Lu’s anger, the burly man glanced around. His tone shifted, steady and unhurried. "Since we are fellow disciples, will you really receive us out here in the wilds? Are you not going to invite us in for a drink?"

Abbot Lu’s expression flickered hot and cold. At last he snorted, turned, and flew toward the bamboo lodge. The burly man chuckled, swaggered through the crowd, and followed him in.

Daoist Huayang and the other Landou Sect cultivators wore unusually grave, complicated looks. The rest showed all kinds of expressions, their curiosity about the day’s events only growing. Everyone hurried to catch up, and Qin Sang followed as well.

But once inside Dongming Island, Abbot Lu paused slightly before the lodge, turned, and cupped his hands. "Today’s matter concerns the internal affairs of Landou Sect. It would be inappropriate to invite you all in. I ask for your understanding."

With that, he activated the lodge's barrier and flashed inside. Daoist Huayang and the others went in right after him.

Landou Sect had brought five Core Formation cultivators in total; the other three were somewhat weaker than Daoist Huayang. Together they could easily suppress the three intruders.

The burly man only snorted and stepped in without hesitation. An azure light flared. The barrier sealed the bamboo lodge completely, and not a sound emerged.

Shut out, the onlookers could not pry into the Landou Sect’s secrets and were all disappointed.

So was Qin Sang. Inwardly he weighed his options. Now that it was clear Douniu Peak had fallen out with the Landou Sect and no longer dwelled on Landou Island, perhaps he should summon his incarnation back.

Remaining within Landou Sect would likely yield little and carry needless risk. Approaching the Douniu Peak cultivators himself might be safer. However, the bearing of these three suggested they would not be easy to befriend.

"What is this Douniu Peak? I have never heard of it. Does Landou Sect actually have a Douniu Peak branch, and is it at daggers drawn with Abbot Lu? Daoist Hu, you looked as if you knew something. Could you enlighten me?"

Unable to enter the lodge yet unwilling to leave, the group gathered on a nearby bamboo platform to wait. The cultivator surnamed Qi could not hold back and asked the man beside him.

The Hu-surnamed cultivator gave a slight shake of the head. "I only know a little. I once heard my master mention that, aside from the Five-Elemental Branch and the Yin-Yang Branch, the Landou Sect had another branch that was very mysterious. As for Douniu Peak’s origin and what handed-down art it cultivated, my master did not know. Do any of you?"

Hu looked around. Some shook their heads.

Others echoed, "I do not know much either. Landou Sect never publicly acknowledged a Douniu Peak. Since you are not often on the island, it is normal you have not heard of it..."

***

Speculation swelled, and scattered rumors began to converge.

Even sects close to Landou Sect, like Yanmiao Pavilion, knew little of Douniu Peak and had assumed the branch had simply died out.

Only now did they learn that Douniu Peak still had successors and had fallen out with Landou Sect, expelled from Landou Island.

"Does anyone remember when Landou Sect suddenly sealed its mountain with no warning and raised its protective array for months? I was still at the Foundation Building Realm then, and it left a deep impression. Everyone on the island feared a powerful enemy had come."

A cultivator let out a soft cry as more memories clicked into place. His face grew more startled. "Not long after that, the other Spiritual Infant grandmaster went into seclusion and has not appeared since. Could it be..."

"That was more than a hundred years ago, was it not? It is a little strange..."

More and more recalled the events, and the sense that something was amiss only deepened. Listening to their talk, Qin Sang’s eyes flickered.

Inside the bamboo lodge, the fellow disciples faced one another in a heavy silence.

Abbot Lu’s expression had returned to calm, not a trace of anger visible. After a brief pause, he broke the deadlock. "Senior Brother Gao, why have only the three of you come? Where are Senior Brother Qiyunzi and the other senior brothers?"

"So you still remember Senior Brother Qiyunzi? No wonder he favored you from a young age."

The burly man’s manner eased, no longer quite so forceful. "Do you not know his lifespan was nearly spent, and he was gravely injured that time? Not long after leaving Landou Island, he sat and passed away. As for the other senior brothers, their situations are not good. Some are no longer among the living. Some, in order to suppress the stellar malevolence, dare not leave their cave dwellings for long. The Douniu Peak can only be propped up by me."

"I remember, of course. Senior Brother Gao, Senior Brother Hong, you both instructed me before... And this one is?" Abbot Lu’s gaze shifted to the young man at the back.

"This is Junior Brother Fang. He is quite gifted and formed his core at a young age," the burly man introduced.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Lu." The Fang-surnamed youth cupped his hands.

"Has he also cultivated the

Yuanchen Records

?" Abbot Lu frowned as he glanced at the youth.

The burly man shook his head. "No. How could we let the juniors repeat our mistakes?"

Abbot Lu sighed softly. "Since Senior Uncle Wu finally led you away from Landou Sect, there was no need to continue practicing the

Lightning Control Technique

. Why do you still persist with that art instead of switching to another?"

The burly man sneered. "You think the

Lightning Control Technique

is something you can simply stop? Back then, when Landou Sect supported us in cultivating the

Lightning Control Technique

, it had already prepared to cast us aside. Do not tell me you were unaware."