Chapter 683 - 513: Judging Crimes

In June of the 393rd year of Jia Shen, Xiao Tianci and Li Da led more than eighty Inner Sect Disciples back to Minglong Mountain.

The group returned travel-worn, faces marked by grief and a hidden anger, which startled the disciples on guard. They silently mused that something significant must have happened.

Affected by the group's heavy mood, the guarding disciples dared not ask questions. Only after everyone had entered did they start inquiring among themselves.

"Um, did you see Elder Yang?"

"No. Hey, why isn't Senior Brother Tan here either? Did he succeed in Foundation Establishment?"

"...Hiss, something major happened..."

Upon reaching the mountainside where the disciples' lodgings were, Li Da instructed everyone to disperse and rest.

"For now, rest as you like, but until the sect officially pronounces on the matter, you must keep all that happened during this mission absolutely confidential. Tell no one! Anyone who speaks without permission will be severely punished by the sect!" Li Da sternly warned, "Junior Brother Xiao, let us go see the Sect Leader together."

Xiao Tianci nodded, and all the disciples understood the gravity of the situation, following the order.

Li Da and Xiao Tianci moved upward, learning from the rotating disciples that the Sect Leader was currently resting in his courtyard, they headed straight there.

Lu Qian, upon receiving the message about Li Da and Xiao Tianci's visit, felt a jolt in his heart, his expression suddenly stern.

"Quick, send them in!"

Li Da had thought that after ten or so days, he could finally keep his emotions in check and had barely digested the tragic news.

But in the instant he saw Lu Qian, grief, bitterness, and guilt surged up within him. He fell to his knees with a thud, tears streaming down. Xiao Tianci held his longsword tightly, his expression full of sorrow.

"Sect Leader! Elder Yang... perished, and Junior Brother Tan is missing!"

With a bang, Lu Qian sprang to his feet, his sleeve brushing a teacup off the table, shattering it on the floor.

"What did you say?!"

Li Da kowtowed heavily and repeated himself. At this moment, Lu Qian felt as if the world had gone dark, needing to hold onto the table to steady himself.

He took a heavy breath, feeling his voice coming from a very distant place.

"Explain the circumstances quickly!"

Moments later, at the peak of Minglong Mountain, the bells rang urgently, seven times in succession, causing the Communication Disciples to hustle in all directions. The disciples in the mountain raised their heads in shock and suspicion, for this was the emergency Elder Council meeting bell of the Yunshan Sect.

Seven rings of the bell signified grave urgency, prompting even the Elders in seclusion to gather immediately in the Council Hall.

Within the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, all the Elders and Acting Elders of Yunshan Sect had gathered, even Jiang Qingfeng paused the Blood Fusion Secret Technique to exit seclusion and attend the meeting.

What surprised them slightly was the sight of Li Da and Xiao Tianci, who typically would not have been qualified to attend, standing silently in the Council Hall, both looking grief-stricken. Their eyes moved upward, causing everyone's hearts to sink.

Lu Qian sat enveloped in shadow, eyes closed, brow tightly furrowed, gripping the armrest so hard that veins stood out on his hands.

Junior Brother... Jiang Qingfeng worried in his heart and started to step forward, only to hear Lu Qian utter two words in a voice so soft, as if it took all his strength to speak.

"...Speak."

Li Da choked back tears, succinctly recounting the events.

"...Elder Yang activated the Blood Burning Secret Technique, charged forward, single-handedly holding back the Golden Core in that carriage so we could escape, but Elder Yang..."

"Elder Yang, he sacrificed himself!"

Jiang Qingfeng felt a bone-chilling coldness spread through her body, as tears welled in her eyes. In her daze, she watched Zheng Duan collapse to his knees, uttering a cry of agony.

Wang Yu's body trembled violently, his once calm Sea of Consciousness now turned turbulent and shaken! Things he had long suppressed and extinguished, those unfamiliar elements called "affection," threatened to erupt like a volcano.

However, in his Divine Soul, ninety-nine intricate and strange Talismans silently appeared, flashing with purple light. Layer upon layer of radiance fell upon his Sea of Consciousness, suppressing his Divine Soul. The surging emotions were forcibly suppressed bit by bit.

This time, however, the emotions were completely different from before. Upon hearing the word "sacrifice," the decades of companionship and mutual support with Yang Jiye flooded up, transforming into a torrent that surged forth once more!

The Divine Soul Talisman's purple glow intensified. Created by Corpse Ancestor Ying Kuo, inherited from the Undying Emperor Corpse Celestial Monarch, its mighty power was unparalleled and could not be defied.

Wang Yu's eyes widened, his dark pupils shimmering with unshed tears, as he let out a silent, anguished scream.

Yang Jiye... Senior Brother Yang!

The two forces clashed within him, with the rushing emotions being suppressed once again by the Divine Soul Talisman.

Wang Yu felt a tightness in his chest, then suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood!

Simultaneously, his originally Dao Rhyme-enveloped Divine Sense penetrated through, its power greatly reduced. The already crack-riddled Divine Soul Talisman dimmed further, the fissures widening.

Wang Yu wiped the blood from his mouth, stumbling, eliciting exclamations from the crowd who wanted to support him, causing Li Da to pause his story.

Yet Wang Yu stood straight abruptly, his face returning to its expressionless state. He gently wiped away the blood from the corner of his mouth, signaling that he was fine, and said coldly, "And then, what about Tan Yunxing?"

"We were in a state of frantic retreat, daring not to tarry. Junior Brother Tan was silent all the while, extremely fearful," Li Da said, bowing his head. "On the night we passed through Qingzhou, everyone was exhausted and weary, with defenses outward but not inward, and seeing the Mountain Gate in sight, they relaxed slightly. Junior Brother Tan slipped away from the group and never returned. We searched for two days to no avail, and could only return to report."