Chapter 604: Goddess Shen Ji

Fang Chen patted Li Daoye on the shoulder. “For now, the best course of action is to stay temporarily in the Immortal Qin Manor. Qin Nie won’t dare to openly act against us here, especially since the Immortal Qin Clan’s ancestor wouldn’t want to see any internal strife while preparing for war.

“There are still unstable factors within the Immortal Qin Clan. If you don’t believe it, try using your Divination of the Stars.”

Li Daoye agreed to test it. After a moment, he relaxed and nodded. “Indeed, it’s safest for me to remain in the Immortal Qin Manor.”

“Then go back to your cultivation,” Fang Chen said with a smile.

Feeling a little better, Li Daoye turned and returned to his meditation room.

Fang Chen considered the situation and went back to his meditation room to send a message through Killing Spiritual Division’s communication token.

Azure Dao Manor, the Immortal Qin Clan’s ancestor intends to go to war with the Langya Clan. The Spirit Blood Sect’s Qin Nie is involved, backed by the Radiant Sun Spirit Lord. Is there anyone who can communicate with the Immortal Qin Clan’s ancestor? A gentle persuasion would be appreciated.

After a short while, a reply came

I am one day’s journey away from the Immortal Qin Clan. I will try, but I cannot guarantee that the Immortal Qin Clan’s ancestor will listen to me.

Thank you, friend.

It is my duty as a member of the Killing Spiritual Division. No need to thank me.

Aside from this reply, there were no further messages, suggesting that this might be the only Killing Spiritual Division member within thousands of miles. However, the fact that the responder could speak to the Immortal Qin Clan’s ancestor was reassuring.

The next day, early in the morning, Chu Lan sent a maid to invite Fang Chen over.

“Fang Daoist, there is something... I’ve been thinking about all night and can’t quite understand,” Chu Lan said, rubbing her temples.

Her eyes were filled with confusion.

“What is it?”

“Yesterday, Qin Nie clearly stated that the Three Solar Fruit was indeed the one from the Immortal Qin Clan's medicinal garden. With the ancestor’s means, he would certainly recognize it. Why did he kill Langya Yu without further investigating the matter? Did he not suspect the real reason behind the theft of the Three Solar Fruit?” Chu Lan asked softly.

“Do you truly wish to know, First Lady?” Fang Chen replied thoughtfully.

“I knew that you were aware of this matter, Daoist Fang. Please enlighten me,” Chu Lan said with a serious expression.

Fang Chen smiled softly and explained, “The real person who wants to go to war with the Langya clan is the ancestor of the Immortal Qin Clan. The Spirit Blood Sect became aware of this and took advantage of it, with Qin Nie carrying out this plan while also testing whether Qin Feng could shoulder significant responsibilities.

“If Qin Feng had not been deceived at that time and had placed the family’s interests first, he might have gained favor and been nurtured by your family’s ancestor. Unfortunately, he failed the test. The Immortal Qin Clan’s ancestor thus used him to set an example to the Immortal Qin Clan’s younger generation.

“From the beginning, he knew that the Three Solar Fruit came from the Immortal Qin Clan’s spirit herb garden. However, because you managed to find a glimmer of hope for Qin Feng from a dire situation, the Immortal Qin Clan’s ancestor chose not to kill him.”

“Indeed... this aligns with my suspicions...” Chu Lan murmured to herself. Her face hardened into a cold smile. “These old, immortal beings can even use their own family as pawns. Qin Feng’s father is no exception! The Immortal Qin Clan has long lost its sense of kinship. Cultivation, cultivation... all they care about is cultivation. They have lost their humanity!”

Fang Chen was about to explain a few things about the Immortal Qin Clan’s patriarch when he saw Chu Lan standing right in front of him, looking at him with deep, affectionate eyes.

“Daoist Fang, if it weren’t for your help, Feng’er would certainly be dead. I am at the Nascent Soul Realm and have a dual cultivation method I have never used before. It might be able to help you advance a small level,” she said, her cheeks flushed with a faint pink.

Chu Lan's embarrassment was palpable.

However, regardless of whether it was out of gratitude or because of the special feelings that had arisen in her heart toward the one who had extended a helping hand when she was most desperate, it was a powerful emotion that she could not easily restrain.

Seeing that Fang Chen did not respond immediately, Chu Lan moved closer to him and whispered, “Daoist Fang, although you cannot see, you can touch my face. I am not ugly...”

Fang Chen opened his gray-white eyes. “You are certainly not ugly, First Lady; otherwise, how could you be the matriarch of the Immortal Qin Clan?”

For some reason, Chu Lan saw a hint of seriousness in his eyes. She was momentarily stunned. Soon, a self-deprecating smile appeared on her face, realizing Fang Chen was politely refusing her.

“The patriarch of the Immortal Qin Clan once planned that if Qin Feng were sentenced to death, he would have his trusted subordinate, Yue Long, help him escape from the Immortal Qin Clan,” Fang Chen said softly.

Chu Lan’s eyes widened with disbelief. She scrutinized Fang Chen carefully and asked in a low voice, “Daoist Fang, is this true? How do you know...?”

“I have my own sources. If I didn’t have some information, how would I dare to oppose the Spirit Blood Sect?” Fang Chen smiled. “This matter is indeed true. The patriarch of the Immortal Qin Clan would rather give up his position than let Qin Feng die. As a father, he has done well in this regard.”

Chu Lan took a while to accept the truth, her face showing a wry smile. “Thank you, Daoist Fang, for telling me this truth. Otherwise, I would regret it for many years...”

“However,” Fang Chen continued, “The man by the Immortal Qin Clan patriarch’s side, Yue Long, is also a person of Qin Nie’s, or rather... He’s a person of the Spirit Blood Sect.”

Chu Lan was shocked. “Yue Long has been my husband’s companion since childhood. How could he be a member of the Spirit Blood Sect!”

“I suspect that Qin Nie’s affiliation with the Spirit Blood Sect might be related to him,” Fang Chen said.

Chu Lan was struck by a wave of shock and horror, realizing that such a high-ranking member of the Immortal Qin Clan could be connected to the Spirit Blood Sect.

“First Lady, you should make early preparations. Once Qin Nie has the chance, he will use the Spirit Blood Sect to deal with you,” Fang Chen advised before leaving for his quiet room, leaving Chu Lan alone to ponder the situation.

Before long, Fang Chen’s spiritual sense returned to the secluded courtyard of the Immortal Qin Clan’s ancestor, waiting quietly.

By evening, a young girl walked slowly into the courtyard, and the Immortal Qin Clan ancestor greeted her with a beaming smile.

At that moment, the Immortal Qin Clan ancestor appeared like an ordinary old man, devoid of any signs of the Dao Union Realm’s aura. The young girl, on the other hand, looked quite peculiar. Her trousers were rolled up to her knees, and she was barefoot. However, her feet were completely dust-free.

“Goddess Shen Ji, what brings you to visit this old man? Did you happen to be passing by the Azure Dao Manor?” The Immortal Qin Clan ancestor asked with a hint of surprise.

Fang Chen stared at the young girl in shock. The visitor was none other than the mysterious woman who had once taught him the Primordial Immortal Eyes. She was the one whom he had suspected of destroying the Profound Void Temple.

Judging by the fact that she arrived after he sent the message, it seemed highly likely she was a member of the Spiritual Killing Division.

“Old Qin, I’ve heard that your Immortal Qin Clan is about to go to war with the Langya Clan?” The young girl spoke calmly.

“You have heard of this matter, Goddess Shen Ji?” The Immortal Qin Clan ancestor was somewhat surprised but then nodded lightly. “The Langya Clan is ambitious and deceitful. They orchestrated the theft of my Three Solar Fruit. This grudge must be avenged, so the battle is inevitable.”

“There is a scheme by the Spirit Blood Sect behind this. The battle should not proceed,” the young girl said calmly.

“Spirit Blood Sect?” The Immortal Qin Clan ancestor was taken aback. His expression grew serious. “How do you know about this, Goddess Shen Ji?”