Chapter 978: A Coincidence of Fate?

As soon as Bai Qingming arrived, the sword cultivators at the foot of the mountain grew visibly more agitated. One of them cupped his fist and said, "Senior Brother Bai, we are not trying to rebel. We just want to seek justice from Sword Leader Fang!"

"Yes! We want to seek justice for Senior Brother Qin!"

"Justice? What justice? The headmaster of the Desolate Academy is also aware of this matter. In addition to Qin Hucheng's death at Li Xiao, Instructor Ji died there. Who would have thought that even the respected Instructor of the Alchemy Department in the Desolate Academy was a disciple of the Spirit Blood Sect?"

Bai Qingming snorted coldly. "Now, Fang Chen is standing here completely unharmed. Have you all already come to a clear conclusion in your hearts? If you're upset, then challenge him to a one-on-one sword duel. The Void Immortal Sword Sect will only gang up on outsiders. Since when did we start ganging up on our own?"

The crowd fell silent. Deep down, they already had their own judgments, but they were reluctant to accept that Qin Hucheng had died so easily.

Bai Qingming ordered sharply, "What are you all still waiting for? Disperse!"

The sword cultivators looked at each other, and after a few breaths, they each left.

Seeing that, Jing Xu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. He stepped forward with Jing Yuehan and the others to greet Fang Chen, while also trying to learn more about the details of the incident at Li Xiao.

"So, according to you, Gai Wu is a disciple of the Spirit Blood Sect too? Did Senior Brother Qin join forces with him... just to provoke a conflict between our sword sect and Heavenly King Manor?"

Jing Xu's expression grew serious.

Bai Qingming answered indifferently, "This is a common tactic of the Spirit Blood Sect. There's nothing to be surprised about. If we were to look into all the recent conflicts in various places, we'd undoubtedly find traces of the Spirit Blood Sect."

Fang Chen had previously thought along the same lines as Jing Xu, but from what he had learned from Gai Wu, he had received more information.

Through mutual corroboration, it seemed that the matter wasn't just about sowing discord between the Heavenly King Zhen Manor and the Void Immortal Sword Sect—it was also related to the Inverse Immortal Demonic Embryo.

Bai Qingming said, "Junior Brother Fang, I missed your Sword Questioning, but this time, I plan to go with you to the Prison Wind Lands. It's a good thing you've returned just in time. We should leave in about half a month."

Jing Xu asked in puzzlement, "Prison Wind Lands? What is that place?"

Bai Qingming waved his hand dismissively. "It's a place that isn't very welcoming of sword cultivators like us. You don't need to ask more."

After a few more words with Fang Chen, he left.

Fang Chen made his way back to the Extreme Sword Peak. After bidding farewell to Jing Xu and the others, he went alone to his cave dwelling. Immediately, he projected his soul out of his body and flew toward the main peak.

Fifteen minutes later, he found the cave dwelling of the sect leader. Ignoring the various protective formations along the way, he easily reached the depths of the cave.

"Wang Chongsong, with Old Ji's death, I suppose the position of the middle continent's administrator will fall to you, right?"

The speaker, a man in his fifties, concealed his aura so well that even Fang Chen, whose Primordial Soul could leave his body, could barely detect him. The man's cultivation level was most likely at the Immortal King Realm.

In front of him stood a figure with his back turned. It was none other than the sect leader of the Void Immortal Sword Sect, Wang Chongsong.

Wang Chongsong said lightly, "Huang Chan, stop catching straws on matters you have no news about. Speak your mind—what is your purpose for coming today?"

Huang Chan smiled and replied, "Isn't it about Old Ji's matter? He's dead, and the one at Li Xiao is also dead. That second-grade pill needs to be recovered, but I've heard... that it seems to have fallen into Fang Chen's hands. This kid has repeatedly disrupted the Spirit Blood Sect's plans. How long are you going to endure this?"

Wang Chongsong waved his hand dismissively. "The reason Old Ji died is because this kid found a Loose Immortal to intervene. Do you think with our strength we could recover this second-grade pill? If this is the reason you've come, you may leave now." Huang Chan furrowed his brow and said, "With your strength... you can't recover it? Your sword is sharper than that old sword immortal's ever was. Others may not know, but I certainly do. Second-grade pills are very precious. Over the years, the number of second-grade pills we've refined is limited, and losing one would cause a great disturbance.

"You're the sect leader of the Void Immortal Sword Sect, and Fang Chen trusts you deeply. Think of a way to get him to spill the truth. If the pill is in his hands, you can easily recover it."

Wang Chongsong sneered. "Get him to spill the truth? Why don't you try? This kid was able to call a Loose Immortal to help. Before we fully understand the situation, I wouldn't dare act rashly. You're so worried about this second-grade pill. From what I know, it won't fall into your hands. Did you make some deal with Carefree Immortal Monarch privately?"

Huang Chan replied indifferently, "You also know that Carefree Immortal Monarch's business dealings with various powerful factions on the Ancient Desolate Region's Chaotic Star requires a lot of Blood Spirit Pills. It would do us no harm to build a good relationship with them. Don't you want to exchange a few Immortal Crystals from them? Without Immortal Crystals, neither you nor I can ascend to Loose Immortal."

At this point, Fang Chen couldn't help but look at Wang Chongsong a few more times. From their conversation, it was clear that Wang Chongsong was concealing his true cultivation. His real cultivation level was likely already in the Ascension Realm, an Immortal King.

This person said Wang Chongsong's sword is sharper than the old sword immortal's... Does this mean that the most powerful person in the Void Immortal Sword Sect wasn't the old sword immortal, but Wang Chongsong?

Realizing this, Fang Chen's soul moved. He directly approached Wang Chongsong. As he looked at Wang Chongsong's face, he saw a very ordinary appearance—ordinary to the point that after a single glance, one would easily forget it.

Fang Chen had an epiphany; this must be related to Wang Chongsong's sword intent. His appearance was not truly ordinary, but rather, it was difficult to remember at first glance due to the peculiar way he had cultivated his sword art.

"Coincidence? Do you also think it was a coincidence that the oddity transmitted the sword arts to the old sword immortal?" Wang Chongsong smiled. "The Void Immortal Sword Sect is so strict. How could a mere sect disciple from the Incense Cult manage to infiltrate and steal a sword fetus? Do you really think that's possible?"

Huang Chan asked, "What are you implying...?"

Wang Chongsong elaborted, "This was a business deal. I suspect that the oddity and this child have a close relationship. It was he who ordered the theft of the sword embryo, then passed the sword arts to the old sword immortal as a way of repaying the favor. This child has such a background, and his methods are quite strange.

"I advise you not to target him. Moreover, he is planning to go to the Prison Wind Lands to participate in the Long Family and Sun Family's wager. In my opinion, it's very necessary to maintain stability here. The Long Family cannot lose, or this place will certainly descend into chaos."

"So, you mean this junior has connections with two oddities?" Huang Chan's expression grew more serious. "Fine, we'll put aside this matter about him for now. Let's talk about the Inverse Immortal Demonic Embryo.

"Our sect has a clear rule that forbids disciples from delving into such forbidden arts. To repay your favor, I sent this woman to the Creation Star. From what I know now, she has completely fallen into demonic ways, devouring the lifespans of cultivators. What exactly are you trying to do?"