Ch 121: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Xuan Yang was displeased with the commanding tone of Fang Dehai, snapping, “Are you doubting my capabilities? You’re free to find someone more capable if you’d like.”

Fang Dehai had tried seeking other masters before, but none matched Xuan Yang’s abilities. Swallowing his frustration, he pleaded, “I wouldn’t dare, Master. Please don’t misunderstand. I’m just anxious and scared. These past two days, I’ve started to feel some misfortune. Could it be that losing those ungrateful brats has weakened my fortune?”

“I warned you before: to maximize their fortune’s effect, you needed to ensure they saw you as family. But you mistreated them, and now that someone has incited them, they’ve turned their backs on you and left. This weakened the bond, significantly diminishing their impact on your fortune.”

Fang Dehai felt a stab of guilt. How could he have predicted that his secret would be exposed? For so many years, they had treated him like a father—wasn’t that enough? Yet, seeing their innate blessings while his own life was riddled with bad luck filled him with jealousy. If not for the necessity of keeping them close, he wouldn’t have wanted to see them at all!

Fang Dehai avoided further excuses and humbly said, “I beg you, Master, save me. I promise to listen to your advice and avoid further mistakes after this. Your reward is ready. As soon as this is resolved, it’ll be transferred to your account. I assure you, you’ll be satisfied.”

Xuan Yang was pleased with his cooperative attitude and casually responded, “Rest assured. I’m on my way to investigate the situation and will take care of that Shen Yunxuan. She’s just an insignificant girl—daring to challenge me is courting death.”

Fang Dehai, thinking of Xuan Yang’s affiliation with the Xuantian Sect, felt reassured. He expressed his gratitude profusely before ending the call.

Xuan Yang, recalling Fang Dehai’s concerns, opened Shen Yunxuan’s live stream and frowned. He had already tampered with the siblings’ familial bonds, making it so that most people would only perceive them as wealthy heirs of Fang Dehai. Yet, Shen Yunxuan had managed to uncover their true familial ties.

Still, that was the extent of her ability, he thought. He had deliberately severed their parental lines—there was no way they would reunite so easily.

What puzzled him was Shen Yunxuan’s current condition. According to online rumors, she should have been seriously injured, yet she appeared perfectly fine during the stream. Could she really have survived a tribulation, or was she putting on a show?

He was increasingly annoyed with his disciples, Ling Xiao and Ling Yun. How had they been discovered by the government? He resolved to discipline them properly upon their return.

Though Xuan Yang felt a twinge of unease, decades of smooth sailing had made him dismissive of such feelings. Surely, he thought, there was no way he’d fall to a mere slip of a girl.

Meanwhile, SAD held a high-level meeting to strategize against Xuan Yang, ensuring that if a confrontation occurred, he wouldn’t escape.

In Shen Yunxuan’s live stream, Dominating Tycoon and his siblings continued gathering leads provided by viewers. Though progress was slow, their hope inspired viewers to pour their efforts into the search. It felt like a collective mission, with Shen Yunxuan’s stream igniting a wave of enthusiasm for this massive online search. Other missing persons even began joining the stream, seeking the community’s help.

Through her “lucky draw” giveaways, Shen Yunxuan provided some general directions for finding missing individuals, further energizing her audience.

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Xuan Yang arrived at SAD’s headquarters just before nightfall, accompanied by two disciples. Seeing other sect representatives present, he scowled. “Minister Zhou, gathering so many people here for a no-name novice—what exactly do you mean by this? Or is there something extraordinary about this girl’s identity?”

Taoist Bai He frowned. “We’re simply curious and wish to clarify the destruction of Idle Cloud Temple. Xuan Yang, must you be so temperamental?”

Other sect members chimed in:
“Idle Cloud Temple had some fame three hundred years ago. Now that it’s reappeared and faced such an incident, naturally, we’d like to know more.”

“Indeed. We should figure out who has a vendetta against such a young practitioner. I heard this girl is quite talented, capable of creating talismans in a single stroke. She’s a promising talent—we can’t let her be ruined like this.”

“Take it easy, Xuan Yang. It seems this matter also involves your two disciples. Let’s first understand what happened.”

Xuan Yang snorted coldly, adopting an air of indifference to conceal his unease.

Minister Zhou sent someone to invite Shen Yunxuan, who told Dominating Tycoon and his siblings to continue the live stream and not stop their search. Having recently earned some merit points from helping others and from donations, Shen Yunxuan was confident her bad luck was suppressed and entered the meeting room fearlessly.

The moment Shen Yunxuan saw Xuan Yang, memories of her desperate retaliation in her past life flooded her mind. Her expression turned icy, and she stopped in her tracks, glaring at him with cold, unyielding eyes.

Xuan Yang, displeased, snapped, “Arrogant child! How dare you act so disrespectfully?”

Shen Yunxuan’s tone was frigid as she replied, “What courtesy does a shameless scoundrel like you deserve?”

The two disciples behind Xuan Yang glared at Shen Yunxuan, their expressions filled with anger. “Such audacity!”

The atmosphere instantly became tense, the air crackling with unease. Many in the room audibly gasped, their gazes flickering toward Shen Yunxuan in astonishment. How dare she? Xuan Yang was one of the most influential figures in the Xuantian Sect and ranked among the top in the entire metaphysic community. Even they had to tread carefully when addressing him. Was this young girl simply too reckless to realize the danger, or did she have powerful backing?

Some began to subtly observe Minister Zhou and his associates, speculating whether Shen Yunxuan had the government as her shield.

Others began to wonder: Could it be true? Was the destruction of Idle Cloud Temple really the work of Xuantian Sect? And why would the sect resort to such an act? Could it be that they were aiding Fang Dehai’s immoral deeds? It couldn’t be! If Xuantian Sect, the so-called number-one orthodox sect, was truly engaging in such despicable activities, what would become of the mystical community’s reputation?

Not wanting the situation to escalate further, Minister Zhou sternly ordered everyone to sit down before asking, “Taoist Xuan Yang, why did you send two of your disciples to Idle Cloud Temple? What was your intent in destroying it?”

Xuan Yang replied coolly, “I sent them out to train and gain experience. Where they went is not something they need to report to me. I only learned of their conflict with Idle Cloud Temple after your notification. Xuantian Sect is the premier sect, known for its strict rules. These two disciples have always shown exemplary conduct and would not start trouble without good reason.”

Turning his gaze to Shen Yunxuan, Xuan Yang added, “Temple Master Shen, could there have been some misunderstanding? Perhaps you hold a bias against our Xuantian Sect?”

Xuan Yang unleashed the oppressive aura of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, but Shen Yunxuan, now a Foundation Establishment cultivator herself, immediately countered with her own spiritual energy. Meeting his gaze unwaveringly, she said with icy clarity, “Are you trying to use your authority to twist the truth? So, Xuantian Sect has grown accustomed to such shamelessness, and its so-called position as the number-one sect is built on bullying others, is it?”

“Insolence! How dare you insult Xuantian Sect? I will teach you a lesson today!” Xuan Yang slammed his hand on the table, ready to act.

But Taoist Bai He and others stood up, clearly showing their support for Shen Yunxuan. Minister Zhou waved his hand, and a large screen displayed surveillance footage from Idle Cloud Temple.

All eyes turned to the footage. Xuan Yang’s expression darkened immediately. Idle Cloud Temple had surveillance cameras?

The other attendees were equally astonished. For most sects, cameras and modern technology were rarely used since sect activities focused on cultivation. However, Shen Yunxuan, being young and from the entertainment industry, likely found herself accustomed to life under the camera. Considering her past experiences of being slandered and targeted, her decision to use surveillance now made sense.

“Her precautions seem to have paid off,” someone muttered.

The footage showed Ling Xiao and Ling Yun sneaking into Idle Cloud Temple, launching a surprise attack, and even summoning a ghost servant. The attendees frowned deeply. Ghost servants were considered taboo among orthodox practitioners. Seeing Xuantian Sect disciples engage in such practices shocked many.

The recorded dialogue further startled the audience. When Ling Yun admitted to helping Fang Dehai and suggested that Xuan Yang was behind it all, someone finally exploded, “Xuan Yang! You were behind Fang Dehai’s schemes? Abducting six children—how despicable!”

“Yes, Xuan Yang! There’s evidence right here. How do you explain this? Did you send your disciples to assassinate Shen Yunxuan to cover up your deeds? Was this your idea, or the sect leader’s?”

“Those two disciples of yours, supposedly the pride of Xuantian Sect, are openly malicious and use ghost servants. What do you have to say about this?”

Xuan Yang surveyed the crowd with a cold gaze and said, “These are merely surveillance recordings. The truth will only come to light when my disciples speak for themselves.”

The footage continued, showing Shen Yunxuan covered in blood and severely injured. Many watching clenched their fists in worry. When Shen Yunxuan suddenly destroyed the barrier artifact, using her own blood to set up a counterattack, there were audible gasps.

“She set up a formation with blood? And succeeded on the first try? What a genius!” someone exclaimed.

Xuan Yang’s narrowed eyes revealed his growing greed. Shen Yunxuan’s talents were extraordinary. If he could seize her skills for himself, Xuantian Sect could ascend even further.

The footage ended with Shen Yunxuan barely escaping, while Ling Xiao and Ling Yun, frustrated and injured, destroyed Idle Cloud Temple with a volley of talismans. Their disregard for the safety of others left many in the room deeply unsettled.

For orthodox cultivators, harming innocents was an unspoken taboo. Ling Xiao and Ling Yun’s actions were a disgrace.

Back in the meeting room, Xuan Yang’s two remaining disciples sighed with relief as the video ended. Only now did they realize their backs were drenched with sweat—this was the greatest crisis Xuantian Sect had ever faced, and they had no idea how to justify it.

Xuan Yang, however, maintained his composure. When Ling Xiao and Ling Yun were brought in, he immediately slapped them across the face with a wave of spiritual energy. “You wretches! Look at the mess you’ve made!”

He had intended to use only a sliver of spiritual energy, but the two, now crippled, were sent flying across the room, crashing into a wall before falling to the ground, coughing blood. Their now-weak bodies couldn’t withstand even the lightest blow from a cultivator.

Recovering slightly, Xuan Yang barked, “Who destroyed your cultivation base? Who dared ruin your spiritual roots?”

Shen Yunxuan’s laughter rang out, cold and disdainful. “What a joke. Your disciples came to kill me, and you expect me to stand idly by? I left them alive, and you still don’t thank me? How audacious.”

The room fell silent as everyone processed her words. While crippling a cultivator’s spiritual roots was considered cruel, Shen Yunxuan’s point was valid—they had come to kill her.

Then, Shen Yunxuan did something no one expected. Borrowing a phone, she transferred 100,000 yuan to Xuantian Sect’s public account. “Here’s compensation for their medical expenses. It’s enough to help them recover to the level of ordinary people.”

The mention of “ordinary people” stung Ling Xiao and Ling Yun. Ling Yun erupted, “You wretch! You should’ve just killed me! My master will avenge me!”

Unfazed, Shen Yunxuan’s lips curved into a mocking smile, as if to say, This is the caliber of Xuantian Sect.

Xuan Yang’s face was ashen with embarrassment. Raising his hand, he struck Ling Yun again, sending him into another coughing fit. “You disgrace! I haven’t even addressed your private dealings with ghost servants! You’ve tarnished our sect’s reputation!”

Shen Yunxuan seized the moment, addressing the room. “Xuan Yang, your deeds will not go unpunished. The same way your disciples face the consequences of their actions, so too will you. Good and evil bring their own rewards, and I am proof of that truth.”

At that moment, the doors burst open. Mao Ximing entered with Dominating Tycoon and two elders. “Temple Master Shen, he’s found his parents!”

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆