Chapter 379 : Calamity Without Cause
Chapter 379: Calamity Without Cause
Yuqing Immortal Sect.
Qiyun Residence, One-Peak Cave Dwelling.
Xue Tianyi slowly opened his eyes. Surging spiritual fluctuations roared around his body, churning wildly.
“Attaining the Dao as a True Monarch… how difficult it is!”
Turning his inner vision toward the radiant Embryonic Yang Spirit within his sea of consciousness, Xue Tianyi ended his cultivation and let out a long sigh. Unbidden, the figure of Chen Beiwu surfaced in his mind.
Although he ranked among the top five prodigies on the Yuxu Rankings, there was still an enormous gap between him and Chen Beiwu.
For him, without the sect’s preferential allocation of resources, the probability of forging a Yang Spirit in the future, harmonizing Yin and Yang, and attaining the Heavenly-Gang Nascent Soul was no more than thirty percent. As for attaining the Pure Yang Nascent Soul, the probability was almost zero.
But Chen Beiwu was different. As a prodigy highly valued by the sect, his assumption of the Chief Disciple Position was practically certain. His probability of attaining the Pure Yang Nascent Soul in the future was likely as high as eighty percent.
“Talent, comprehension, companion beast—all mediocre. Vast heavens above, why are you so unfair to me!”
Xue Tianyi sighed inwardly, a trace of confusion flashing in his eyes.
Losing to peers was one thing. But watching a latecomer surpass him step by step and become the most dazzling new star of the sect—this left him increasingly unwilling to accept it, even though he knew full well that Chen Beiwu was more than worthy of serving as the sect’s chief.
‘Should I try once more?’ Thoughts raced through Xue Tianyi’s mind, his expression wavering with hesitation.
He had been stuck at the peak of Golden Core for many years. The reason he had managed to advance further before the Immortal Sect Exchange Conference began was entirely due to cultivating a fragmentary cultivation method he had once picked up by chance.
Its name was 《God-Stealing Method》. The introduction claimed it to be a supreme secret art. Once mastered, it could plunder the origin of all things, devour the Dao’s rhythm of heaven and earth, and rapidly achieve Nascent Soul and even Divine Transformation.
But Xue Tianyi knew that spirit stones would not fall from the sky for free. This God-Stealing Method was very likely connected to the infamous Ancient Demon Sect.
Thus, he had previously only tasted it lightly. After condensing the Embryonic Yang Spirit, he had voluntarily ceased cultivating the God-Stealing Method and, upon emerging from seclusion, publicly declared that he had broken through by consuming a precious pill.
‘Time waits for no one. If I cannot raise my divine sense to the level of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, then even when the Law-Heaven Realm opens soon, I will be unable to condense a Dharma Aspect successfully, gain the attention of the sect’s upper echelons, and enter under a Divine Transformation True Venerable.’
Xue Tianyi’s gaze sharpened as he quickly made his decision.
His talent was decent, but his background was ordinary—born of a maidservant and not valued by his family.
Even though he had carved out some reputation within the Yuqing Immortal Sect through his own efforts, it had only elevated his mother’s status from maidservant to secondary consort, slightly above that of a concubine. He could obtain some family resources, but not the resources required for forming a Nascent Soul.
The God-Stealing Method was abstruse and sinister, containing three entirely different cultivation paths, each directly pointing toward Divine Transformation.
The first was the Divine Invocation Orthodox Method.
The second was the Divine Transformation Reversal Method.
The third was the Proxy Deity Theft Method.
The fragment in his possession was severely incomplete. The Reversal Method and Theft Method were absent. Only a portion of the Orthodox Method remained—seemingly fragmentary, yet in truth capable of independent cultivation—named 《Divine Seed Visualization Method》.
This method was of moderate difficulty. It required the cultivator to visualize within the sea of consciousness a “Primordial-Origin Ancient God.” Using the phantom image of this ancient god as a guide, one would continuously temper and compress one’s own divine sense, condensing it into a Divine Seed.
According to the fragment, once a Golden Core True Person formed an initial Divine Seed, it could autonomously inhale and refine the Dao’s rhythm of heaven and earth from the unseen depths, causing the cultivator’s divine sense to skyrocket at a rate far beyond common sense—tenfold, even a hundredfold stronger than the orthodox divine-nourishing secret arts of the Immortal Alliance.
‘It shouldn’t cause problems.’ Xue Tianyi inhaled deeply.
He was not foolish. The Ancient Demon Sect was infamous. The fact that it had survived the Immortal Alliance Law Enforcement Bureau’s suppression proved its deep foundations. The cultivation methods circulating externally likely contained hidden contingencies.
Thus, every time he cultivated the Divine Seed Visualization Method, he left himself room. He never fully visualized the Primordial-Origin Ancient God nor completely entered the method. After repeated study and experimentation, he merely used it to temper and enhance his divine sense.
In this way, by not truly visualizing the ancient god, the enhancement effect on his divine sense was far weaker than described—but it was safe and stable.
With that thought, Xue Tianyi formed hand seals and began cultivating.
“Buzz!”
At that moment, his expression changed drastically. His eyes shot toward the cave dwelling’s entrance. Several sharp figures clad in silver robes instantly came into view.
The leading silver-robed cultivator’s gaze was like lightning. Raising a recording jade slip in his hand, he spoke in a deep voice:
“Xue Tianyi, you are suspected of cultivating forbidden techniques of the Ancient Demon Sect. By order of Immortal Alliance law, you are to be arrested immediately. If you resist, you will be executed without mercy!”
‘How is this possible!’
Sensing the oppressive aura of a True Monarch, Xue Tianyi’s face paled slightly as he suppressed the fear in his heart.
He had always acted cautiously.
As far as he knew, although the Immortal Alliance prohibited cultivation of Ancient Demon Sect methods, as long as one did not visualize the Primordial-Origin Ancient God or walk the paths of the Divine Transformation Reversal Method or Proxy Deity Theft Method, they would usually consider the reputation of the Thirteen Immortal Sects and turn a blind eye, rather than make a public arrest.
…
Meanwhile, Taiyuan Heavenly Realm.
“Ying.”
The Seven-Tailed Purple Fox suddenly opened its eyes, looking to the right with vigilance.
It had cultivated for only a short time and possessed shallow cultivation years. It could not detect the divine sense of a Nascent Soul True Monarch. But the Heart-Eye Mystic Ability hidden deep within its bloodline allowed it to sense malice.
Just moments ago, it had sharply perceived a gaze filled with ill intent—directed straight at Chen Beiwu.
Chen Beiwu opened his eyes, withdrawing from his state of contemplating the Supreme Scenic Stele.
The reason was simple. Aside from the little fox’s warning, his own divine sense had also sensed three fairly powerful True Monarch auras heading directly toward him.
Lifting his gaze, he saw three cultivators clad in silver robes of the Immortal Alliance Law Enforcement Bureau pushing through the crowd and walking toward him.
The leading silver-robed cultivator was a refined-looking Nascent Soul True Monarch with unfathomable aura. On his chest was embroidered a golden insignia representing an Inspector Censor.
The surrounding Yuqing prodigies’ expressions shifted slightly. They began discussing through divine sense transmissions.
Some troublemakers even revealed expressions of keen interest.
Taiyuan Heavenly Realm was the territory of the Yuqing Immortal Sect.
Though the Law Enforcement Bureau was one of the Immortal Alliance’s three major institutions, and its Inspector Censors were True Monarchs at or above peak Nascent Soul, before the Yuqing Immortal Sect they were but slightly larger ants.
Even if a Yuqing prodigy were at fault, the sect would typically handle it internally before handing it to the Law Enforcement Bureau—not have the Bureau directly come to arrest someone.
‘Unless there is tacit approval from the sect’s upper echelons.’
Some sharp-minded cultivators’ eyes flickered. They understood that Chen Beiwu was either too dazzling and had become entangled in internal power struggles among high-level figures—or he had committed a grave crime that even the Yuqing Immortal Sect could not shield.
Between the two, the latter was almost negligible in probability.
But the problem was this: Chen Beiwu was not only the face of this generation of the Yuqing Immortal Sect, but also the direct disciple of True Venerable Changqing of Dongming.
What backing did the Law Enforcement Bureau have to dare risk offending the Dongming Changqing lineage? Were they not afraid of Chen Beiwu settling accounts afterward?
“This must be Chen Beiwu, Young Friend Chen?”
To everyone’s surprise, the Inspector Censor did not appear stern. His tone was gentle—hardly like someone executing official duties.
“Indeed. And you are?”
Chen Beiwu remained calm. He understood that those who came were not benevolent.
From the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox’s vigilance, it was clear that though the man spoke gently, he concealed malice.
“This old man is Jin Zhaoyang, Inspector Censor of the Tianyuan Prefecture Law Enforcement Bureau. Here is my identification.”
Jin Zhaoyang displayed a jade slip as proof before continuing:
“There is a major case requiring clarification from Young Friend Chen. Please cooperate with routine questioning.”
Chen Beiwu’s brows furrowed faintly, unease rising in his heart.
An Inspector Censor held extraordinary status, primarily overseeing Immortal Alliance officials and adjudicating earth-shaking cases.
Under such circumstances, for an Inspector Censor to personally enter Taiyuan Heavenly Realm to seek him out carried obvious implications.
Yet recently, Chen Beiwu had either been in seclusion or contemplating Scenic Steles. He had had little contact with the outside world. It was impossible for him to be involved in a case serious enough to alarm an Inspector Censor.
Unless the investigation itself had ulterior motives—specifically targeting him.
With that thought, Chen Beiwu’s gaze turned cold as he recalled divine sense transmissions from Luo Zheng and Xu Xiu.
He generally treated others kindly and rarely made enemies.
The only plausible opponent he could think of was True Monarch Breaking Law Xiao Yu.
Of course, other Yuqing prodigies of this generation who had hopes of becoming chief were also within his reasonable suspicions.
“I can cooperate with the investigation. But I need to make a call to my master and inform them of my whereabouts.”
This request both signaled that he was not without backing and applied subtle pressure.
“Apologies. This matter concerns a major Ancient Demon Sect case and is of great importance. Until the matter is clarified, to prevent leaks and complications, under Immortal Alliance emergency regulations, suspects may not contact the outside world.”
“This is merely routine questioning. We hope Young Friend Chen will understand and not make things difficult for us.”
Though Jin Zhaoyang’s words were courteous, he had subtly placed Chen Beiwu in the unfavorable position of a suspect.
Hearing this, the surrounding Yuqing cultivators’ pupils contracted sharply.
Ancient Demon Sect!
This heretical cult was a tumor the Immortal Alliance sought to eradicate completely. Its followers were synonymous with madness, calamity, and taboo.
They were not ordinary demonic cultivators, but fanatics who believed in the “Ancient God Path to Immortality,” calling themselves the Ancient God Sect.
In the Immortal Alliance’s early days, these lunatics had even attempted to steal divinity and ascend as immortal gods through plunder, devouring, experimentation, mutation, and blood sacrifice.
Though evil could not triumph over righteousness, and they had been driven into the outer domains by the combined suppression of the Immortal Alliance’s three major institutions, remnants still lingered within the Alliance.
If Chen Beiwu truly had ties to the Ancient Demon Sect, then even as the brightest new star of this generation of the Yuqing Immortal Sect, he would face severe punishment and supervision from the Immortal Alliance—losing any chance at the sect’s chief position.
The atmosphere froze.
Chen Beiwu gave a faint smile.
“Very well. I will accompany you.”
He no longer looked at Inspector Censor Jin Zhaoyang.
The innocent need not argue.
In his current disadvantageous position, the more he spoke, the more mistakes he might make. Silence was better.
As for being smeared—he did not fear it.
If a mere splash of dirt could frame him, the Dongming Changqing lineage would not have prospered as it had.
“Please.”
Jin Zhaoyang gestured politely. He did not use the Law Enforcement Bureau’s shackles, his tone still amicable.
The sky of Tianyuan Prefecture belonged to the Yuqing Immortal Sect—not the Immortal Alliance.
As Inspector Censor of Tianyuan Prefecture, Jin Zhaoyang’s position allowed him to request Chen Beiwu’s cooperation—but not to publicly humiliate him.
Rules had to be followed.
If he placed shackles on Chen Beiwu, that would publicly brand him a major criminal and break precedent.
Chen Beiwu nodded and stepped forward.
Let the soldiers come, and the generals will block; let the water come, and the earth will dam it. He wished to see what game they intended to play.
As for Jin Zhaoyang—
Very good. He had remembered the name. There would be repayment in the future.
‘Interesting. Senior Brother Yu, what do you think?’
Han Zhongli transmitted through divine sense.
‘What is there to think? Naturally, we watch while seated.’
Yu Yuanlong replied calmly. ‘No matter how they stir things, it is the same old sordid affairs.’
‘Indeed. History always repeats itself. Every power has its struggles.’
If Jin Zhaoyang had not possessed a Yuqing Token, he would not even have passed Han Zhongli to enter Taiyuan Heavenly Realm—let alone meet Chen Beiwu.
‘What, Junior Brother, do you intend to interfere?’
Yu Yuanlong glanced at him.
‘For such a trivial matter, my intervention is unnecessary.’
Ancient Demon Sect? What a joke.
At their level of cultivation, one glance was enough to determine whether Chen Beiwu had any entanglement with the Ancient Demon Sect.