Chapter 381 - 59: Pei Jingque’s Core Formation

Ten spots.

Some didn’t want to go, willing to live and die with the Sect.

Some wanted to go but couldn’t get a spot.

Some got a spot and were overjoyed, yet had to feign an attitude of utter reluctance.

But most people couldn’t leave even if they wanted to, and could only await the arrival of their fate.

「Three days later.」

After a rigorous selection process, Xi Chen, Xi Youyue, and a few of the Sect’s most outstanding younger disciples would follow Hong Kan to the Profound Clarity Sect.

Though he was unwilling, for the sake of Xi Youyue and the Sect’s legacy, Xi Chen ultimately agreed.

"Zhu Ju."

Clad in a golden Magic Robe, Hong Kan summoned a Flying Ship with a wave of his hand, then turned and asked again:

"Are you sure you’re not leaving?"

"If you come with me, I can make an exception and add a few more spots for the Bright Void Sect."

A Mid-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator who had mastered the Sword Qi Thunder Sound Divine Technique was exceedingly rare, even during the golden age of the Righteous Dao.

If he could join the Profound Clarity Sect, he would surely become a pillar of the Sect in time.

And if he reached Golden Core...

With his sharp Sword Dao skills, he could become a deadly blade for the Righteous Immortal Alliance.

"Thank you for your generosity, Elder."

Zhu Ju clasped his hands.

"I am willing to live and die with the Bright Void Sect."

His tone was calm but left no room for argument or negotiation.

Hong Kan raised an eyebrow.

He inwardly gave up on the idea of taking Zhu Ju away. Such a person, even if his life was saved, would make it his mission to revive the Bright Void Sect. He would never switch allegiance to the Profound Clarity Sect, so saving him held little meaning.

"For a Sect’s legacy to continue, it needs Disciples like you among its ranks."

He gently patted Zhu Ju’s shoulder, his voice thick with complex emotions. With a sigh, he took out an object and handed it over.

"This is called a Mixed Element Thunder Bomb. It was forged by a Nascent Soul True Man using Celestial Thunder Fire. Once activated, it will reduce everything within a ten-li radius to chaos. Within this range, even a Late-Stage Golden Core cultivator would face certain death."

"Of course..."

He said in a low voice:

"The one who activates this treasure will not escape their fate, either."

Zhu Ju’s expression flickered as he cautiously accepted the Mixed Element Thunder Bomb and nodded at Hong Kan.

"I understand!"

’He wants me to take that Demonic Golden Core down with me?’

’It’s a viable plan!’

As long as he escaped to the Otherworld in the instant before the Mixed Element Thunder Bomb detonated, Zhu Ju could save his own life.

"Whether you use it or not is up to you."

"We’re leaving!"

Hong Kan turned, strode onto the Flying Ship, and soared into the sky with the ten people from the Bright Void Sect.

***

The Grand Hall.

Everyone gathered once more.

There was one less Dao Foundation Cultivator, Xi Chen, and one more, Dong Yuelan.

She had arrived with the disciples of the Hundred Flowers Sect following Hong Kan, but when he left, they all stayed behind.

"Sister Dong."

Liuu Huang’er’s voice was filled with gratitude.

"You didn’t have to come. The Bright Void Sect is fated to face this tribulation; the Hundred Flowers Sect shouldn’t have gotten involved."

"Without Zhu Ju, I would have died long ago," Dong Yuelan said, shaking her head.

"And without the Bright Void Sect’s help, the Hundred Flowers Sect would have been wiped out. No matter what, we couldn’t just stand by and do nothing."

"Besides..."

She turned, giving Zhu Ju a dazzling smile.

"I’m more than willing to die alongside Junior Brother Zhu."

Liuu Huang’er looked astonished, while the other junior disciples wore strange expressions, their gazes darting back and forth between the two.

Only Shui Qianning frowned.

She knew that the relationship between Pei Jingque and Zhu Ju was special; in her heart, she already saw them as a Dao-companion couple.

’This Dong Yuelan...’

’What the hell is she doing?’

’Trying to steal a man from my master?’

’And even if she is, could she have picked a worse time?’

Zhu Ju tilted his head. For a moment, he couldn’t tell if the Dong Yuelan before him was herself or Zhou Yuantong.

’A Heart Demon Seed subtly changes a person’s temperament. Could it be that under Zhou Yuantong’s influence, Dong Yuelan has developed feelings for me?’

’The Methods of the Joyful Sect...’

’Truly bizarre!’

"Hmm..."

Zhu Ju sniffed the air, a puzzled look on his face.

"Do you guys smell a fragrance? It’s faint, but very fragrant."

"A fragrance?" Liuu Huang’er took a deep breath and shook her head gently.

"I don’t smell anything!"

"Nothing."

Shui Qianning and the others shook their heads as well.

An illusion?

With a Physical Body at the Body Refining Fourth Realm and having Linked Four Spirits, it was impossible for him to be mistaken!

Zhu Ju’s heart sank. He pressed one hand down, and the Bright Void Sect’s Mountain Guardian Grand Array began to operate at full power.

Immediately after, he forcibly pulled a wisp of Qi from the void, and a rich fragrance instantly filled the entire hall.

"Moonlight Immortal Fragrance!"

Dong Yuelan’s eyes narrowed.

"This is the work of Shi Fengxiao, the Golden Core Grandmaster from the Celestial Corpse Sect!"

"Shi Fengxiao?" Liuu Huang’er’s face turned pale.

"I heard that man has a corpse fetish. He likes to sleep on top of corpses and even applies heavy makeup to his Refined Corpses, dressing them up like brides. He’s considered an oddball even in the Celestial Corpse Sect."

"But when he appears, he’s usually preceded by a foul stench. He possesses a bizarre Divine Technique of overwhelming odor. Why would it be so fragrant?"

A corpse fetish?

The crowd’s expressions twisted in disgust.

"Demonic Demon People..." Jir Mingxi snorted coldly.

"Every last one of them is a monster devoid of humanity!"

"Not all of them," Dong Yuelan said unhurriedly, glancing at him.

"Shi Fengxiao is not only a Golden Core Grandmaster but also a Tier Three Alchemist. He has mastered a Secret Technique for extracting fragrance from the bodies of Refined Corpses and even comprehended a Divine Technique from it."

"The fragrances he concocts are very popular with the disciples of the Joyful Sect, and he has an excellent relationship with them. That’s likely why he was invited to move against the Bright Void Sect. After all, Yinn Bingtong is one of the few in the Joyful Sect with the best chance of reaching Golden Core..."

"Wait a minute!" Shui Qianning raised her hand.

"Refined Corpses and fragrance?"

Do those two even go together?

In her mind, she simply couldn’t connect the two things.

"That’s right." Dong Yuelan pressed her forehead and sighed.

"It’s hard to understand, but it’s true. An extreme fragrance is, in essence, a type of stench."