Chapter 393: Chapter 194: Celestial One Void Abyss

There was no Qingcheng Mountain in Gui Xu, but after the Qingcheng Sect took over, they renamed the area as such.

They had been quick to claim the naming rights.

When the group arrived at the mountain gate, Zhao Rui had Zhou Moshu go forward and announce that Zhao Rui of the Qingcheng Sword Sect had come to visit.

The Mountain Guard Disciple at the foot of the mountain was stunned for a moment, but he still immediately headed up to pass on the message.

"The Qingcheng Sword Sect? Zhao Rui?"

Master Weiyang, who was overseeing the Qingcheng Sect, was taken aback. He hurriedly summoned the other few Elders.

"You mean Zhao Rui? The one from Blue Star who disappeared?"

"It must be him. I doubt anyone in this realm would dare impersonate him."

"That kid really has a charmed life. He somehow managed not to die."

According to the stories that circulated, they had been swallowed whole by a colossal beast that blotted out the sky.

To have survived such an ordeal was astonishing.

"The Sect Leader was wise not to rashly sever ties with the Qingcheng Sword Sect. That being the case, Senior Brother, what’s there to hesitate about?"

"What if... what if we were to combine our strength right now and ambush him here..."

Master Weiyang said with a grave expression. He wasn’t suggesting this out of any personal grudge against Zhao Rui.

It was simply because Zhao Rui’s rise had been too meteoric.

In the future, whether the Sword Sect or the Taoist Sect would reign supreme in the Qingcheng Sect was still an unknown.

"Senior Brother, you absolutely must not."

A middle-aged Taoist in a lower seat hurriedly rose and spoke, cupping his hands in a salute toward Master Weiyang on the dais.

"His talent is peerless, and his Power is already on par with Sect Leader Weichen’s. Even if we combine our strength, should we fail to capture him, it would be like releasing a tiger back into the mountains."

"Furthermore, both our sects share the same origin. Senior Brother, if you continue to cling to such factionalism, our Qingcheng Sect will never see the day it surpasses Emei and Shaolin."

"Yes, Sect Leader, Junior Brother Weizhen is right. With the Celestial Secret in disarray and in this age of great conflict, our Qingcheng Sect simply cannot afford internal strife."

Another middle-aged Taoist stood to voice his agreement. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Evidently, the middle-aged faction was more open-minded than these older Taoists.

"In that case, everyone will follow me down the mountain to welcome Zhao Zhenren’s return."

Master Weiyang was a decisive man. He rose to his feet, straightened his Daoist Robe, and strode out of the assembly hall.

The five Elders stationed there filed out behind him and followed him down the mountain.

After all, Zhao Rui was a peerless master, spoken of in the same breath as Sect Leader Weichen himself.

For all of them to go and welcome him was hardly an excessive display of ceremony.

A moment later, a resonant voice, brimming with energy and carrying a long, melodious cadence, drifted down the path of the towering "Qingcheng Mountain."

"I heard that Zhao Zhenren of the Sword Sect has graced us with his presence, and I am overjoyed. The heavens have blessed our Qingcheng Sect! It is a relief to see that the Zhenren’s Dharma Body is unharmed."

The voice boomed like a great bell, powerful and enlightening.

It also seemed to contain a boundless Taoist charm that cleared the mind and revitalized the body.

"I am unworthy of the title ’Zhenren.’ May I ask which Elder I have the honor of addressing?"

Su Wanyun dutifully pulled back the carriage curtain, and Zhao Rui leaned out, dismounted from his Exotic Beast, and replied in a clear voice.

"I am Weiyang, humbly serving as steward of the Qingcheng Sect. Greetings."

As his voice faded, six figures appeared on the mountain path.

"I am Weizhen. Greetings, Zhao Zhenren."

"I am Weiye..."

Each of the men bowed to Zhao Rui in turn.

"As a junior, how could I dare trouble you Seniors to come and welcome me personally? I am truly humbled..."

The two parties exchanged pleasantries for a moment.

Weiyang then walked up the mountain path side-by-side with Zhao Rui.

Those traveling with Zhao Rui also dismounted from their carriages and were dutifully escorted up the mountain, surrounded by the Qingcheng Sect Elders.

"Senior Sister, he really is a senior expert from the Qingcheng Sect! But why is he protecting Su Wanyun? Is he really one of those men who forsakes his principles for a beautiful woman...?"

Luo Yunxi’s expression was strange as she sent a mental message to Zhou Moshu.

"Hush! Junior Sister, watch your words. Have you already forgotten your previous lesson? Just watch and ask fewer questions."

"Oh."

Luo Yunxi pressed her lips together. The slap mark on her face still throbbed with a faint, itchy pain.

"Qingcheng Mountain" was about a thousand zhang high. It didn’t stand out among the surrounding peaks, but it was prized for its beautiful environment, which was like spring all year round.

After several hundred years of logging and tending, the mountain’s forests no longer resembled a primeval wilderness.

With its jagged rocks and verdant trees, it was quite reminiscent of a natural scenic area on Blue Star.

Master Weiyang led Zhao Rui through the mountain gate and into the Three Pure Ones Hall. For a time, host and guest conversed happily.

Zhao Rui didn’t beat around the bush and directly stated his intention to return to the Central Plains of Blue Star.

"To be honest with you, our Qingcheng Sect has no direct passage to Blue Star. We travel there by borrowing a path through the Emei Sect’s secret realm."

Zhao Rui was visibly taken aback by this. "But," he asked, curious, "the Qingcheng Sect’s back mountain clearly has the Spirit Crystal Secret Cave..."

"I’m ashamed to say..."

Weiyang shook his head and began to explain.

It turned out that while the fissure between the two realms allowed Spiritual Qi to seep through, it wasn’t large enough for a person to pass through.

Only by using certain rare and Exotic Treasures native to this world could one prop open a Domain.

And it took a considerable amount of resources to allow people to pass through.

The Song Realm is situated in a remote corner of the Gui Xu Continent and is also the weakest region, so naturally, we possess the fewest Divine and Exotic Treasures.

To this day, sending the majority of our fellow martial artists back to Blue Star has already consumed several hundred years of the entire Martial Arts world’s accumulated resources.

"Is there a way to obtain more?"

Zhao Rui asked quickly.

"Of course. First, one could venture into the depths of the Gui Xu Continent and seize them from the Great Shang, Great Zhou, or even the Mangcang Race..."

"Second, there are certain wondrous realms and secret lands where many Exotic Treasures can still be found, but those places are fraught with danger..."

"When it comes to such things, our Qingcheng Sect still falls far short of Emei Shaolin. Alas!"

Master Weiyang sighed, but a moment later, he smiled. "However, Zhenren need not worry. Our Qingcheng Sect still has some resources set aside. It should be enough to facilitate your return to Blue Star."