Sect Leader Is Under Great Pressure CH 115 Same Blood, Same Fate; Same Root, Same Vein
The thought of whether or not to continue with Xiao Qing lingered in Ji Yunlai's mind, like a pendulum swinging back and forth. Even if he could not be considered a thousand-year-old monster, in his previous life, he was still an older man. Ji Yunlai couldn’t help but feel guilty thinking about taking advantage of Xiao Qing, who was so young and innocent. But…
When he remembered that he might have promised to marry Xiao Qing in a past life, Ji Yunlai felt even more conflicted. After all, Xiao Qing now knew nothing of the past, and only looked up to him as a mentor. He also seemed to have had a fiancée once—though she had been stolen away by someone else, that didn’t mean Xiao Qing now liked men. Moreover, with Xiao Qing’s pride, if he really married him, the rumors across Kun-Lai would surely embarrass him.
Ji Yunlai’s mind was full of a thousand thoughts, for the first time in his life feeling the anxiety of having romantic feelings for someone. So, until he figured out Xiao Qing’s feelings, he couldn’t act rashly. He needed to slowly cultivate their relationship. After all, time was on their side; Xiao Qing would be by his side for a long time. Besides, he had been single for two lifetimes and had never pursued anyone before.
Ji Yunlai silently calculated his approach, then raised his head.
Opposite him, the Wu clan leader quietly watched him, neither begging nor attacking, as if leaving all the decisions in his hands.
There was no rush to retrieve the Dao Seed. He wasn’t fully familiar with this world yet. Ji Yunlai thought for a moment and then disappeared before the man’s eyes.
Wu Zhan lowered his gaze in thought for a moment, then turned and stepped outside to where a group of concerned clansmen had gathered.
"I’ll head out first." As the clan leader, Wu Zhan had to reassure them. "No matter what, I’ll have more leverage to negotiate with him outside."
This world belonged to him, without any shamanic arts. The other could crush him with a single finger if he wished.
He looked up at the sun in the sky, ignored the clan's pleas, and left. Entering the portal to the Dao Seed, he returned to the darkness of the Nine Abyss.
The Great Xuan Curse was indeed difficult, but he had gained some insights from the Lord of Kun-Lai. Regardless of whether they were friends or foes, without enough leverage, it was too passive to negotiate.
If his guess was right, he might have something to offer as a show of sincerity.
Twenty years ago, this lord had come to the Nine Abyss searching for something. That thing was nearly impossible to find, but after hearing about it, Wu Zhan had kept an eye out and had found a clue a few days ago. The waterfall was too dangerous, though, and he hadn’t made up his mind. But if it was for the clan, he’d have to take the risk.
The Black Wu clan had suffered too much over the years.
Suddenly, there was a noise not far away. Wu Zhan, after years of experience in the Witchlands, easily saw through the fog. He saw a person stretching a hand toward the Dao Seed on the altar.
It wasn’t the woman from before but a foreigner.
Without hesitation, Wu Zhan appeared silently in front of the Dao Seed and struck the intruder with a palm. A seal flashed on the intruder's body, dissipating most of the impact. The intruder only stepped back a few paces, but almost simultaneously, the surrounding wards activated, binding him in chains.
Unfortunately, the Black Wu’s sinister power caused a slight delay in the ward’s activation.
Wu Zhan took the opportunity to break free and engaged the intruder for several moments. The talisman seals were severely restricted in this place, and Wu Zhan, familiar with the terrain, engaged in close combat. Within a few hundred breaths, he was on the verge of luring the intruder into the Abyss Waters when the other suddenly sensed something was wrong and retreated.
...It seemed this person was from the same sect as that Lord.
Wu Zhan recalled the feel of the hand he’d made contact during their fight—so soft and smooth, like silk. Though the waist was a bit sturdier, it was quite strong. That young lady must be a beautiful woman, well-suited for childbirth, right?
***
Above the Nine Heavens, there was a familiar palace.
Ji Yunlai, on this world’s sun, found his work log, filled with familiar notes and scribbled corrections on various seals and wards. A pen continued to automatically write out internal test records on the platform.
Seeing the volume of data the pen had recorded over the centuries gave him a headache.
He opened his work log.
"After infusing Human Immortal spiritual energy, the Dao Seed is growing steadily, generating 96,000 cubic units of rock per second. Spiritual energy resources are sufficient for infinite growth… September 3rd: Added a light system… September 4th: Introduced water source, established cycle... September 16th: Qing took over for ten days, planted 26,300 species, survival rate 10.125%... Released small creatures… Lack of natural predators, uncontrolled population growth... Introduced predators... Predator population out of control… Ecological collapse... Format and restart growth… Adjust settings, reduce survival rate of high-tier creatures… Stopped spiritual energy infusion, reset..."
Bit by bit, the log detailed how many times this world had experienced apocalyptic destruction.
Ji Yunlai took a deep breath to calm himself.
The work log wasn’t long, only a few lines a day, but it had taken him countless hours, distilling his understanding of the Dao into this world, simulating its operations like a 3D online game. The resources were ready, just waiting for someone to play.
But it wasn’t just a simulation of an outer shell—this was the simulation of the world's workings. He had touched the source code of this world—the Dao itself.
Ji Yunlai even realized why he could cast any incantation effortlessly: he had already tested everything countless times in this small world. His understanding of the world’s laws likely rivaled that of the thousand-year-old monsters in the three major sects.
Just thinking about it, he knew how much effort he had poured into this world.
Yet he had given it away so easily.
He could clearly feel that his Dao Seed was fully matured and could no longer return to his body, like fruit that had fallen from a tree.
Suddenly, he looked around.
Something wasn’t right. The world was missing something crucial.
With so many things running, he didn’t have time to manage everything manually. There had to be an auxiliary system.
Where could it be?
***
At Zhuiyun Peak. His master had been gone for two days. Feng Qingxiu sat on the cliff for a long time, to the point that Qingnu joked he had turned into a "waiting-for-husband stone."
Feng Qingxiu only glanced at her without responding.
“I don’t understand what you’re worried about,” Qingnu said as she looked out at the distant shadows of massive chasms. Divine consciousness couldn’t penetrate or escape from there, so nothing could be seen. “There’s no need to worry about your master. Besides, the Sect Leader only sent a spirit fragment to investigate. His true body is hundreds of thousands of miles away in Kun-Lai Mountain. To him, a split fragment is nothing.”
"You really do want to mess with my master," Feng Qingxiu said dangerously, scrutinizing her like a lion eyeing a banquet.
"Familiarity aside, words shouldn’t be thrown around carelessly." Qingnu rolled her eyes in disdain. "I admit I’m curious to see the difference between a Human Immortal and a Synthesis cultivator, but that’s with regard to others. My loyalty to the Sect Leader is as clear as the heavens and earth! Besides, the one who wants to mess with the Sect Leader is clearly you."
"Rubbish!" Feng Qingxiu’s fingers crackled with sword energy. "How could I..."
"I’m not the one who said it." Qingnu quickly pulled out her Net Charm to prove her innocence. "See for yourself. The gossip about the two of you has been dominating the headlines recently."
"Not interested," Feng Qingxiu responded calmly. "But Senior Brother Yang, who’s managed the network for so long, allowing such rampant rumors, is clearly at fault."
“Yikes.” Yang Fuyin, who had been quietly watching from the opposite cliff, glanced at him and uploaded the latest ban data to the web, proving that suppressing gossip only made it worse. He also sent the information to Junior Brother Feng.
Feng Qingxiu remained unfazed. "It’s precisely because Senior Brother Yang censors it so recklessly that the rumors are out of control."
"Qing, you’re becoming less cute," Yang Fuyin chuckled softly. "How about I take you there?"
At this, even Feng Qingxiu, as well as the lethargic You Jia beside Qingnu—who had been cut off from the web for a month—perked up.
Feng Qingxiu struggled for a moment before calmly replying, "Master has ordered that I must not go."
Yang Fuyin’s lips curled slightly. This was the Qing he knew.
"Senior Brother Yang, why did you come back so quickly? Weren’t you with Peak Master An and the others?" Across the mountain, You Jia asked with curiosity.
"I got separated from them. I’m afraid of the dark, so I came back early," Yang Fuyin replied calmly. In reality, he had encountered an opponent. That Wu clansman had the advantage of the terrain, and the Nine Abyss’ natural barriers that blocked spiritual senses, leaving everything pitch-black. Although his mastery of seals and wards was superior, his foundation was still too shallow, so he was driven out. He was now calculating a way to set up a ward to allow him to be in the dark Witchlands without being affected, so he could reclaim his honor.
No one believed him, and the others looked at him with disdain.
Feng Qingxiu was feeling melancholic, barely able to make small talk with them before gazing into the distance again. Could it be that his master was displeased with him for being disrespectful last time? Was that why he left without a word and hadn’t returned for so long?
In the future, he would definitely watch his words and actions, reflect deeply, and hope that his master wouldn’t be angry anymore.
...In truth, he actually liked being teased by his master. Seeing his master happy and being the subject of playful remarks, what was there to be upset about?
"The Sect Leader does not despise you," Yang Fuyin said with amusement from his mountain cliff, smiling.
They were all cultivators, so even though they were far apart, they could hear each other without raising their voices. The certainty in Yang Fuyin’s tone was clear to everyone on Zhuiyun Peak.
"Does Senior Brother Yang know some inside story?" You Jia asked expectantly, thinking of a headline, this must be a headline.
"Of course I know," Yang Fuyin responded, somewhat pridefully. When he was studying at Zhaoyue Peak back in the day, what he knew wasn’t just some simple gossip. Faced with You Jia’s eager gaze, he merely smiled and said, "But I’m not telling."
You Jia really wanted to hit him but didn’t dare.
After chatting for a while more, they all dispersed.
Only Feng Qingxiu remained, still staring into the distance.
"I can take you to see him," suddenly, a soft yet unfamiliar voice sounded by his ear.
Feng Qingxiu turned abruptly, releasing his formless sword energy without reservation, sending it out with a thunderous boom.
This person hadn’t left any traces in the great ward. How could they have entered flying peak?
"Don’t be afraid," the man reached out, catching the formless sword energy with his fingers. His features were gentle and serene, resembling a deity. Dressed in green robes with long hair, he exuded the refined air of aged wine, lingering in its charm. His appearance bore a striking resemblance to Feng Qingxiu’s master, at least seven parts similar.
"How did you get in?" Feng Qingxiu frowned.
"Because we share the same blood and origin," the man explained gracefully and then smiled slightly. "The other old peaks are guarded against me, but your new peak is not. Interesting. Come, let’s go see him."
Feng Qingxiu wanted to flee, but he couldn’t.
"I won’t hurt you before you see him," the man’s expression turned cold, and he looked toward the direction of Nine Abyss chasm, sighing softly. "Though the heart hasn’t changed, people can’t resist the passing of time and the shifting of the stars."
If you had heeded my words back then, it would not have come to this between us.