Chapter 2736 One Bad News After Another

On the seventh month, Jiang Ye, who was dozing off in his rocking chair, was startled awake by footsteps. He jumped to his feet and saw a handsome figure coming out from the depths of the hall. It was precisely Lin Xun.

The moment Jiang Ye laid eyes on him, he was stupefied. Compared to seven months ago, Lin Xun’s cultivation hadn't changed, but his aura had. It was currently as obscure as the darkness and as elusive as impermanence.

Even with cultivation at the Nirvana Spirit Realm, Jiang Ye could not see through Lin Xun! He even sensed an invisible majesty emanating from the latter.

He couldn’t help but ask, “You uncovered some mysteries of the Immortal path, have you?”

Lin Xun casually replied, “The great dao is within my reach.”

The concise response startled Jiang Ye for a second before his eyes brightened. “If you don't mind, could you share with me what you saw in the Chronicle of Epochs?”

Lin Xun pondered briefly and said, “It's too long a story to recount. Simply put, I witnessed the complete cycle of an epoch, glimpsed immortality, saw the wheel of life and death, and also found the path I must pursue.”

Jiang Ye was dumbstruck, and there was a strange look in his eyes. “Do you know, you are the first cultivator in forever to witness a complete epoch?”

He deliberately emphasized the word ‘complete.’

Lin Xun was taken aback, “No one else has done that before?”

“None,” said Jiang Ye with absolute certainty.

Lin Xun thought to himself.

If that's true, then no one before has ever seen the auras of eternity that persisted when the epoch crumbled?

He had kept this finding to himself so that he wouldn't stand out too much, but who could have expected that solely witnessing the complete rise and fall of an epoch was already an unprecedented feat in all of history?

“I know not the path you seek, but I dare say you have fully comprehended all the secrets in the Chronicle of Epochs,” marveled Jiang Ye.

“You flatter me, Senior,” Lin Xun smiled and cupped his fist.

Seven months of researching had allowed him to repeatedly go through the transformations of an epoch like going through epochal incarnations. The profound mysteries and principles therein had captivated him time and again, leaving him utterly engrossed.

Such an experience was exceedingly rare. At the end of it, when he realized the very essence of the Immortal path he sought, it was as though he had seized a key that opened up a world of clarity.

Epochal changes, worldly affairs, the evolution of the almighty dao, the rise and fall of everything, the Five Dao Decays, the Eternal auras... They no longer mattered.

I seek my own path, and that is enough.

“When do you plan to certify your Immortal dao?” Jiang Ye couldn't help but anticipate.

“Whenever and wherever I choose to,” Lin Xun gave a nonchalant answer.

This answer caught Jiang Ye off guard once more. As a Nirvana Spirit expert, he had witnessed countless disciples attain immortality, but never once had he heard such a casual yet confident declaration. It sounded as if becoming Immortal was only a walk in the park.

Taking some time to calm down, Jiang Ye finally said, “Lin Xun, there is something I'm unsure whether I should tell you. But I also fear that if I don't and someone does that during your important breakthrough, it may be detrimental to your ascension.”

Lin Xun revealed a serious look, “Please just give it to me straight, Senior.”

Jiang Ye sighed softly. “You'd best prepare yourself mentally. After all, you're about to certify Immortality. Any disturbance to your state of mind at this juncture could easily compromise your progress.”

Lin Xun could hear the gravity of the situation. After some silence, he said, “My enemies must have done some things against me during these months, all in an attempt to strike at my mental fortitude, is that right?”

Jiang Ye nodded. It could not be concealed anyway. Once Lin Xun certified his Immortal dao, he would inevitably draw the attention of the entire Origin Sect, including his enemies. If they chose that precise time to expose those matters, then the consequences would be unimaginable.

“Please just tell me all about it now, Senior,” said Lin Xun calmly.

Jiang Ye gazed at Lin Xun for a while. Only upon finding no flicker of emotion did he proceed to recount the big events that had occurred in the sect over the past seven months.

“During your first month in Scripture Mountain, Xiang Xiaoyuan, an inner true disciple of the Seventh Peak, was punished by Origin Sky Pavilion. She was stripped of three years' allowance and sentenced to fifty heavy strikes.”

“Fifty heavy strikes?” Lin Xun cut him off, his gaze unfathomable. “What rule did she violate?”

“She wounded someone during an argument,” sighed Jiang Ye. “The whole thing was recorded—it was indeed Xiang Xiaoyuan who initiated violence.”

Lin Xun inquired, “Miss Xiaoyuan is not one to act impulsively. Do you have a record of the incident? I wish to examine it.”

Jiang Ye hesitated briefly before giving a jade slip to Lin Xun.

Buzz!

An energy wave rippled out from the slip, and a series of scenes was projected. Before a cave haven, Xiang Xiaoyuan appeared furious as she suddenly swung her blade at a woman dressed in a pale-yellow dress.

The projection then stopped and disappeared.

“That's all?” Lin Xun frowned.

“That’s already sufficient,” said Jiang Ye. “It happened on the Seventh Peak, witnessed by many. Peak Master Tian Wucuo wanted to settle it peacefully, but Origin Sky Pavilion unexpectedly swooped in, ignored her objections, and took Xiang Xiaoyuan away.”

He continued after a brief pause, “As for how it started, someone provoked her by claiming that your days were numbered, that she only got into the Origin Sect by riding on your coattails, and that once you're finished, she'd suffer the same fate...”

Lin Xun went quiet for a good minute after he listened. Finally, he asked, “Miss Xiaoyuan was publicly flogged fifty times in front of everyone?”

Jiang Ye nodded.

Lin Xun breathed in deeply to suppress the urge to kill rising in him.

A single strike from the Origin Sect's punishment rod inflicted bone-piercing pain regardless of one's cultivation level. Fifty of them meant an agony worse than death.

The even more horrible part was the utter humiliation of taking the punishment under the watchful eyes of all disciples of the nine peaks. A blow to a person’s dignity was more brutal than any physical torment.

For a beautiful woman like Xiang Xiaoyuan, suffering such punishment in full view of so many was an extreme disgrace. This stirred an uncontrollable murderous intent within Lin Xun because ultimately, it had started because of him.

“Who took Miss Xiaoyuan away?” he asked.

“The only one Tian Wucuo cannot stop is Deputy Pavilion Master Fu Wenli of Origin Sky Pavilion,” replied Jiang Ye.

“I see,” said Lin Xun. “Is there anything else, Senior? Lay it all out. I can handle it.”

Jiang Ye sighed deeply and no longer hesitated, “Not long after Xiang Xiaoyuan's incident, Ye Chunjun of the Ninth Peak sustained severe injuries while on a mission and nearly lost his cultivation. It's reported that the attacker was a disciple of the Shaman Sect.

“Then, Ninth Peak’s disciple Huang Muji, dissatisfied with the delay in his monthly allowance, argued with someone in the Heavenly Treasure Hall. He was immediately restrained and is currently confined in the Prison of Repentance.

“Ninth Peak Master questioned Origin Sky Pavilion's punishment and clashed with their deputy pavilion master, Qi Xiaoyun. The conflict fortunately wasn't too intense, but Qin Wuyu later was impeached by a group of influential figures led by Qi Xiaoyun. While no final decision has been made, his position as peak master is precarious.”

At this point, Jiang Ye couldn't help but glance at Lin Xun. The latter remained composed, showing no emotional fluctuation except for the chilling frost in his eyes.

“Please continue, Senior,” said Lin Xun.

Jiang Ye voiced his concern, “If you feel distressed, it's best to vent it now instead of letting it affect your state of mind during your breakthrough.”

Lin Xun was calm, “They cannot destroy me, so they resort to despicable tactics to undermine my resolve. I shall not let them succeed.”

After a pause, he continued, “As long as the ninth peak master and my friends are safe, I will help them get their vengeance at some point!”

The determination underneath his composed exterior shook Jiang Ye. He could see that Lin Xun's rage had peaked, yet he remained unclouded. If anything, this young man was as cool as a glacier, his mind terrifyingly steady!

It made sense. Having undergone countless dangers and battles, fighting his way from the Great Thousand Battle Domain to the present, this Fangchun Mountain disciple had faced untold trials of life and death.

The resilience of his spirit had likely reached unimaginable levels, so how could he be swayed so easily?

Jiang Ye took a deep breath and continued, “The final matter is quite recent. Feng Qixi and Liu Yunfeng, disciples of Origin Sky Pavilion, were put in the Prison of Repentance for disobeying Deputy Pavilion Master Fu Wenli's orders.”

Hearing this, Lin Xun fell silent once again. Only after a long while did he murmur, “So, anyone in the Origin Sect with a good relationship with me has gotten implicated? They truly are vile, stopping at nothing to prevent me from attaining immortality.”

“Those are but minor matters. After all, they happened within the Origin Sect. There may still be opportunities for changes.” a commanding voice suddenly resounded, and Dugu Yong appeared out of thin air.

“Deputy Pavilion Master,” Jiang Ye respectfully saluted before introducing Dugu Yong to Lin Xun.

“An honor to meet you, Senior. I am Lin Xun,” Lin Xun also saluted. This was his first meeting with Dugu Yong, who was Dugu Youran’s granduncle.

“Let’s skip the formalities,” Dugu Yong waved dismissively. “I’m here to inform you of matters occurring outside the Origin Sect.”

Lin Xun's pupils shrank as realization struck him. “It can't be that they targeted my senior brothers and sisters? Or the Luo Clan?”

“Precisely.” Dugu Yong nodded.

Instantly, murderous intent shrouded Lin Xun’s face. The hatred building within him nearly spun out of control. Only now did he grasp how utterly despicable his enemies were. Their tactics were much more complex than he had previously imagined.

However, he quickly calmed his anger and met Dugu Yong's gaze, “Since you came to tell me this, those matters aren’t as bad as they seem, am I right?”

“Indeed.” A faint smile alighted on Dugu Yong's lips.

As expected of the successor who the Master of Fangchun Mountain had devoted his entire life to waiting. His temperament and reactions are truly top-tier.

Dugu Yong got straight to the point, “Disciples of Fangchun Mountain are by no means easy targets. Your enemies exhausted everything in their arsenal, even trying to leverage certain forces in the Spirit Sect to deal with your senior brothers and sisters, only for their efforts to backfire on them. Their own forces ended up getting damaged.

“This news was personally sent by your third senior sister, Ruosu, to make sure that you can break through without worries and disturbances from outside.”