Chapter 247 : Informing
Chapter 247: Informing
After the three Elders of Jin Yutang left the main hall, their expressions varied.
The First Elder’s face was as heavy as water, the Second Elder’s eyes held a trace of excitement, while the Third Elder furrowed his brows in thought, his expression tinged with worry.
No one spoke. As if they had agreed beforehand, they arrived at a study, shut the door, and began a secret discussion.
The Second Elder could not wait and asked, “Elder Sun, do you think this woman surnamed Yuan spoke from the heart? Or is she deceiving us?”
The First Elder said coldly, “That is the Sect Master. Mind your manners.”
“Yes, but how much of what the Sect Master says can be trusted?”
Sun Chuxian said, “Listen to her words, watch her deeds. In time, the truth will reveal itself.”
The Second Elder gave a low laugh. “If she behaves honestly and doesn’t meddle in sect affairs, we can let her live for a while longer.”
Sun Chuxian glared at him, reproaching him for being so indiscreet.
But the Second Elder did not care.
A young girl who had appeared out of nowhere, who had contributed nothing to Jin Yutang, wanted to be Sect Master just because she had obtained Elder Jin’s divine weapon and then sit above his head? Of course, he was not willing.
If she was sensible, she could live for two more years. If not, she could be made to die silently at any time.
For Jin Yutang to be counted among the Four Great Sects, it relied not only on Elder Jin’s prestige. In these years of Elder Jin’s seclusion, if they had not had enough methods, they would already have been swallowed by other powers.
Sun Chuxian turned to the Third Elder. “Elder Yu, do you have other thoughts?”
The Third Elder said gravely, “Jin Yu colluded with the Blood Demon Sect, forcing us into a passive position. With no other choice, we had to put this woman forward as Sect Master. This was a necessity. She is of no concern. What I worry about is that the Jiang Family may use this chance to extend their hand into Jin Yutang.”
Sun Chuxian said calmly, “When soldiers come, we block them; when water comes, we dam it. We will handle it carefully. As long as that one takes the next step, the crisis will resolve itself.”
When he mentioned “that one,” the other two Elders became solemn.
The Third Elder asked, “Then this Sect Master…”
Sun Chuxian said, “As long as she doesn’t hinder our grand plan, what harm is there in letting her hold the title of Sect Master? With her around, the pressure on us lessens.”
“Yes.”
…
In the following days, Chen Ming stayed in the main hall, studying the 《Mysterious Earth True Art》. At night, he had to attend banquets, where he would show his face.
Those who came to the banquets were small and mid-sized powers from all over Jiangzhou who had ties with Jin Yutang. After hearing Jin Yutang had a new Sect Master, they came to offer congratulations.
Chen Ming merely attended, replied with a few polite words regardless of what others said, and when it came to actual matters, he either feigned ignorance or kept silent, letting others handle it.
In Jiangzhou, Jin Yutang was undoubtedly a colossus.
There were many powers and interests involved. He treated them like worn-out shoes, yet countless people pursued them zealously, many even breaking their heads just to seize such authority.
But he was clear about the dangers within and would not stain himself with it.
Power, reputation, and status—once he reached the Divine Repository Realm, he would naturally possess them. To pursue them now would be mistaking the branch for the root.
His attitude reassured the three Elders.
But at the same time, it made some ambitious people restless.
That night, after Chen Ming returned to his hall from the banquet and had just sat down, he suddenly sensed something. He had already gripped the Taiyue Sword, and shouted coldly, “Who’s there?”
From outside came a man’s voice: “Subordinate Tang Yaoyang, steward of Dai Prefecture, requests audience with the Sect Master.”
“It is late at night. This is not a convenient time to meet.”
“What I have to say concerns the life and death of Jin Yutang, and also the Sect Master’s life.”
Oh?
Chen Ming became interested. This man was clever—he knew exactly what he cared about. “Enter.”
The door opened silently. A middle-aged man in black robes walked in and shut the door again.
Chen Ming remembered him. He had seen him at the banquet a few days ago—steward of Dai Prefecture, with a Second Grade cultivation.
Normally, stewards of Jin Yutang in the prefectures were at least Fourth Grade, at most Third Grade. To send a Second Grade there was already unusual.
The man was about to kneel, but Chen Ming waved his hand. “No need for empty formalities. Speak.”
Yet Tang Yaoyang still knelt on one knee and said gravely, “Does the Sect Master know you are already facing great calamity and are not far from death?”
Those words were meant to shock.
Chen Ming was not frightened, only stared at him. “Oh? And from where does this calamity come?”
Tang Yaoyang declared loudly, “Sun Chuxian colludes with outsiders to seize Jin Yutang’s foundation. The first one he’ll eliminate is you!”
“Impudence!”
Chen Ming’s face darkened. “Tang Yaoyang, how dare you frame the First Elder before me! Do you want to test if my Taiyue Sword is still sharp?”
He suddenly stood, drawing the Taiyue Sword with a metallic ring. Its cold light filled the hall, lowering the temperature within.
This hall was built with special materials. Once doors and windows were shut, no sound or movement could escape, no matter how intense. After all, its previous master was a Divine Repository Realm expert whose cultivation made great disturbances.
But Tang Yaoyang, facing the edge of the Taiyue Sword, remained unafraid. He lifted his head and said firmly, “This humble life, if the Sect Master wishes to take it, take it. I only lament that Jin Yutang’s two hundred years of foundation will be ruined by a traitor’s hand. And that Sect Master, blessed with supreme talent, will die in vain at the hands of petty men.”
“Hmph.”
Chen Ming said coldly, “You claim Elder Sun colludes with outsiders. Do you have proof?”
Tang Yaoyang said, “If I had proof, would I still be alive?”
“So this is only your one-sided story?”
“Why not hear me out before you judge?”
“Very well.”
Chen Ming sheathed the Taiyue Sword. “Then tell me, why would Elder Sun, the highest Elder, second only to one, collude with outsiders to seize Jin Yutang’s foundation? What benefit is there for him? If you cannot explain, I will hand you to the First Elder.”
Tang Yaoyang, still kneeling straight, looked at him with blazing eyes. “Sect Master, have you heard of Elysium Island?”
Elysium Island?
Chen Ming was stirred. How could Jin Yutang be related to Elysium Island?
“I have heard a little.”
“It begins thirty years ago…”
Tang Yaoyang began recounting.
Thirty years ago, Elder Jin, the founder of Jin Yutang and a Divine Repository Realm expert, knew his end was near. He could only retreat into a Secret Realm to prolong his life.
Without his protection, Jin Yutang’s upper ranks grew restless. How could they contend with other major powers without a Divine Repository Realm guardian?
From then, undercurrents began.
Originally, Elder Sun was loyal to Jin Yutang. Until, among his grandsons, one emerged a martial prodigy who took as master an obscure First Grade expert. Everything changed.
Within Jin Yutang, only one cultivation method led directly to the Divine Repository Realm.
The seven founding Elders—whether from poor families or small sects—had only reached First Grade thanks to Elder Jin’s guidance.
But their potential was spent. None of them could hope to reach the Divine Repository Realm in this lifetime.
Elder Jin’s 《Xuanwu Divine Art》 was too dangerous.
So, when Sun Chuxian’s grandson apprenticed to a mysterious First Grade expert and was taught a method that could reach the Divine Repository Realm, his heart wavered.
On one side, Elder Jin, who had been like a mountain of grace to him.
On the other, his beloved grandson, who could raise his clan into the ranks of top aristocratic families.
When his grandson broke through to First Grade, and Elysium Island promised to let him one day become Sect Master of Jin Yutang, Sun Chuxian chose betrayal.
Over the years, Sun Chuxian eliminated rivals. Of the seven founding Elders, only three remained. To say it wasn’t his doing was hard to believe.
Chen Ming interrupted, “And the other four Elders?”
Tang Yaoyang gritted his teeth. “Two went missing. The other two entered death seclusion. Most likely, all were murdered by that villain.”
So now, Jin Yutang was entirely under Sun Chuxian’s control.
Chen Ming asked, “And how do you know all this?”
“It was my master, Elder Wang…” Tang Yaoyang’s voice choked. “He noticed something amiss, secretly investigated, and discovered the truth. He intended to report it to the Sect Master. Before leaving, he told me everything. He warned me that if he did not return, I must hide the secret and leave Jin Yutang.
“As expected, he never came back. Those villains accused him of betrayal, expelling and demoting our disciples. I endured humiliation, staying in Jin Yutang, only waiting for the chance to avenge him!”
Chen Ming thought: such declining great sects are even messier than he had imagined.
“Since Elder Sun has allied with Elysium Island, why not place his grandson as Sect Master already?”
Tang Yaoyang said, “They are still waiting.”
“Waiting for what?”
“For Elysium Island to produce a Divine Repository Realm. Only then would powers like the Qin Family and Jiang Family recognize them. When that day comes, it will be your death!”
Chen Ming smiled. “Killing me won’t be so easy.”
Tang Yaoyang said, “Sect Master is peerless, slaying a First Grade while still at Second Grade, your swordsmanship unmatched. But in this world, there are sinister tricks. Elder Sun holds poisons that can kill a First Grade without taste or color.
“And the Third Elder possesses a strange treasure and masters curse-killing arts. Anyone weaker than her, if she gets a strand of their hair, their life is hers. Sect Master must not underestimate them.”
Chen Ming finally grew serious.
At his level, his hair no longer fell off naturally. These past days, none could have obtained it.
But—
In the Secret Realm, during his battle with the Blood Demon Sect’s First Grade, some of his hair had indeed been cut. If someone had taken it, it would be trouble.
He said slowly, “You came to tell me this, hoping I would deal with Elder Sun? You think too highly of me.”
Tang Yaoyang said earnestly, “With Sect Master’s talent, within five years, men like Elder Sun will be mere chickens and dogs before you. I only came to warn Sect Master not to be harmed by traitors.”
Chen Ming snorted. “Do not treat me like a three-year-old. You expect me to believe you risked your life just to warn me? Tell me—what is your real purpose?”
Finally, a smile appeared on Tang Yaoyang’s face. “Sect Master is indeed wise. To be frank, my master once told me that the former Sect Master left behind a strange treasure. With it, one could temporarily possess the power of Peak First Grade. But to obtain it, one thing is required.”
Chen Ming noticed his gaze and looked at the Taiyue Sword in his hand. “You mean… this?”
“Precisely!”