C22 Someone Was Causing Trouble

As the locals near the Immortal Watching Tower were still debating whether there was a connection between two recent incidents, a bombshell announcement was made from the tower itself.

Tomorrow, the Immortal Watching Tower would host a public auction for a High Grade Earth Level Spirit Gathering Pill!

This public auction meant that the opportunity to participate was open to all.

As word of the auction spread, a throng of people surged toward the entrance of the Immortal Watching Tower.

The only other High Grade Earth Level Spirit Gathering Pill was securely held at the Mysteries Pavilion Headquarters in Yongle City. How did Shen Feixue come to possess this one?

Meanwhile, Xuan Qing stood in the corridor, gazing absentmindedly at the door to Shen Feixue's room.

After some time, he gestured to the attendant.

"Spread the word about Shen Feixue being at the Immortal Watching Tower," he instructed.

"But this..." The attendant hesitated, wanting to recite the Profound Moon Sect's regulations, yet unsure of how to broach the subject.

The man before him was the son of the vice master of the Profound Moon Sect, and he undoubtedly knew the Sect's rules better than anyone.

It certainly wasn't the attendant's place to preach.

Catching the attendant's reluctance, Xuan Qing's lips quirked into a smirk as he clarified, "I never said the Spirit Gathering Pill came from Shen Feixue."

He was merely spreading the news of Shen Feixue's return to Qing City, not disclosing the source of the Spirit Gathering Pill. This clever move did not violate the Immortal Watching Tower's regulations.

Grasping Xuan Qing's intent, the attendant acknowledged the command and quickly withdrew.

"With this guy's return, some people are going to be restless!" Xuan Qing's face bore a cold smirk.

While the downfall of the Shen family three years ago was a mystery to many, Xuan Qing knew the truth.

The supposed supporters of Yaen Zhengfeng were merely a smokescreen. The true motive was the Shen family's burgeoning influence in Qing Prefecture, which had impeded the interests of certain powerful clans.

Before the Shen family's arrival, the bottom of Immortal Watching Lake, rich in spiritual sand, had been peacefully exploited by the Profound Moon Sect, Yaoyun Sect, and the two major Qing Prefecture families, Ling and Liang. However, with the Shen family's advanced sand-mining techniques, they had quickly outpaced their competitors.

Over the course of a mere thirty years, the Shen family rose to become a dominant force in Qing Prefecture, even showing signs of surpassing other major powers. Left with no other choice, these powers resorted to covert measures.

Their tactic was to frame the Shen family, using the Mysteries Pavilion as the instrument of their demise.

Several major powers colluded with the Mysteries Pavilion, branding the Shen family as conspirators with a notorious villain.

It's important to note that Yaen Zhengfeng's rebellion was quelled over fifty years ago, while the Shen family's ascent in Qing Prefecture spanned just thirty years. It was implausible for them to be Yaen Zhengfeng's remnants.

Yet, this pretext was convincing enough to deceive other uninformed forces.

Rumors even spread that the Shen family possessed Yaen Zhengfeng's tomb map, which led to an onslaught of attacks from various factions, culminating in the family's utter ruin.

Initially, the Mysteries Pavilion spared the young Shen Feixue for this very reason, redirecting the scrutiny of the uninformed forces towards the orphaned scion of the Shen family.

This maneuver allowed the involved parties to act with apparent justification and to extricate themselves without consequence.

To this day, many in Qing City still believe Shen Feixue carries Yaen Zhengfeng's tomb map.

Should they discover Shen Feixue's return to Qing City, the city would undoubtedly become a hive of activity!

Xuan Qing mused over this with an increasingly pronounced sneer.

He sympathized with those kept oblivious; Yaen Zhengfeng had indeed amassed a fortune in treasures, including spiritual pills, precious medicines, and numerous cultivation techniques before his demise.

Rumors even suggested the existence of a Profound Level High-Grade treasure and a Low-Grade Earth Level cultivation technique among Yaen Zhengfeng's personal effects.

Such thoughts stirred a hint of desire in Xuan Qing.

Nevertheless, he was well aware that such fortunes were a matter of fate, not to be actively sought.

After more than fifty years, who could guess where Yaen Zhengfeng had secreted his treasures?

Suddenly, a raucous clatter of tables and chairs from below, accompanied by a chorus of jeers, snapped Xuan Qing out of his reverie.

What was happening?

Xuan Qing was perplexed. In any other place, such a commotion would immediately suggest a brawl.

But this was the Immortal Watching Tower!

Unlike his father, Xuan Yao, who was a near-constant presence at the Immortal Watching Tower, Xuan Qing had his reasons for being there almost daily. His duty called for it, and the tower was renowned for hosting Qing City's most exquisite performances, featuring dancers and singers of unparalleled beauty.

The Immortal Watching Tower was a haven of gentle delights, living up to its enchanting name.

Xuan Qing hurried to the ground floor and took in the chaos before him. It took him a moment, the time it takes to sip half a cup of tea, to gather his thoughts before he demanded, "Who's responsible for this?"

The first floor was a disaster area. Furniture was overturned, shards of wine cups and rice bowls littered the ground, and a nauseating mix of food and alcohol permeated the air. Among the debris lay five or six individuals dressed in the garb of the Profound Moon Sect.

This was no mere scuffle—someone had deliberately trashed the place!

"Who the hell did this?" Xuan Qing's initial soft inquiry was met with silence, prompting him to intensify his tone. Dropping all pretense, he bellowed with fury in his eyes.

In Qing City, let alone the entire Qing Prefecture, everyone knew the Immortal Watching Tower's rules!

To wreak havoc here was to flirt with death!

"I did!"

"And we're with him!"

Suddenly, more than a dozen figures emerged from the crowd.

"You?" Xuan Qing assessed their attire, recognizing that these individuals hailed from different factions—three sects in total.

"The Skyblade Sect from the city's north end!"

"The Fierce Tiger Gang from the north!"

"The Flame Sect from the north!"

The group made no effort to conceal their affiliations, each declaring their sect proudly.

Before Xuan Qing could respond, one who appeared to be their spokesperson pointed at the downed Profound Moon Sect disciples and spoke up, "We heard the orphan from the Shen family is back. I came looking for him with my men, but they wouldn't let us through!"

"We never intended to be adversaries with the Profound Moon Sect, but regrettably, you've pushed us too far, foolishly believing you could take on Yaen Zhengfeng's treasure by yourselves!"

"Let me be clear today: any sect that thinks they can claim Yaen Zhengfeng's treasure without opposition is engaging in pure fantasy!"

"Very well, very well, very well!" Xuan Qing affirmed emphatically, nodding three times.

He hadn't anticipated these people would confront him so directly, underestimating the significance of Yaen Zhengfeng's tomb map to them. They had recklessly stormed into the Immortal Watching Tower demanding action.

But the Profound Moon Sect wasn't to be trifled with. Today, someone had violated the rules within the Immortal Watching Tower. If he didn't address this breach properly, the precedent would be shattered forever.

Just then, a voice wafted in from outside.

"Enemies? With you lot?"

The voice was soft and seemingly devoid of emotion, yet it caused a stir among those who heard it.

That distinctively effeminate voice belonged to none other than Xuan Tianyu.

Xuan Tianyu, the general leader of the Mysteries Pavilion's Qing Prefecture Branch, had assumed his role two years prior.

Amidst the hush, a man dressed in a red brocade robe entered, hands clasped behind his back. His skin was alarmingly pale, his lips devoid of any color. Each step he took made the black cloak on his shoulders billow, the contrast with his pallid skin sending a chill through those on the ground floor.

Xuan Tianyu approached the group, and by the time he reached them, their complexions had turned ghostly pale.

"Great General Leader, we..."

"Kill!" Xuan Tianyu's lips parted slightly, revealing teeth that blended seamlessly with his pale complexion.

No sooner had the word left his lips than shadows darted through the entrance, heading straight for the group.

Within a single breath, the group lay on the ground, blood oozing from their throats.

"The three northern sects have conspired to rebel and stand against the imperial court—wipe them out!"

"Orders received!" The shadows quickly dispersed.

In the brief time they had appeared and departed, a palpable fear had taken hold of everyone present, leaving them too terrified to even glance at Xuan Tianyu again.

Some were already dining here when word spread that Shen Feixue had been spotted. Naturally, their reasons for coming mirrored those of the three sects.

They couldn't help but feel fortunate; had they arrived earlier, they might have shared the same fate. These few dozen individuals were merely the tip of the iceberg, representing the larger sects behind them.

The Mysteries Pavilion's reputation for ruthless action was well-known. A threat to wipe out an entire sect meant precisely that—no one would be spared.

Indeed, the rules of the Immortal Watching Tower were inviolable, a fact that sent shivers down everyone's spine.

Xuan Tianyu ascended the stairs without so much as a glance at the onlookers, while Xuan Qing followed with trepidation.

Once inside a room, Xuan Tianyu's icy demeanor matched his tone, "Did father instruct you to do this?"

"It was me..."

The sharp crack of a slap cut Xuan Qing off mid-sentence.

"Why?"

Rubbing his burning cheek and tasting the blood on his lips, Xuan Qing remained silent. He wouldn't dare voice his reasons, just as he wouldn't dare confess them to Xuan Yao.

"Is it still about surpassing me?" Xuan Tianyu's voice was as frosty as his expression.

He understood his younger brother all too well. From childhood, Xuan Qing had never conceded defeat—be it over toys, cultivation techniques, or later, positions of power. His relentless drive to outdo his older brother was no secret.

"Even if you instigate conflict among Qing City's sects, you're unlikely to profit from it, much less control them. Today has proven that."

"You always oversimplify matters!"

Xuan Qing had been on the receiving end of such admonishments countless times, yet he never argued back. Instead, he chose to validate his worth through his actions.

Today had been no different. Without Xuan Tianyu's timely intervention, the sects would have had to step in and quell the agitators. He had sorely underestimated the fervor and delusions surrounding Yaen Zhengfeng's tomb map.

The sect has already been in touch with me. I'll keep an eye out for Shen Feixue's return. Stay put in the Immortal Watching Tower and follow father's plans. Make sure the auction for the High Grade Earth Level Spirit Gathering Pill goes smoothly tomorrow!"

Xuan Tianyu gave Xuan Qing a piercing look, brushed off his shoulder, and strode out the door.

As the door was halfway open, he paused and glanced back, "Stop engaging in those childish antics. By staying out of trouble, you'll be making the most significant contribution to the sect!"

The room fell silent, but Xuan Qing was anything but calm. Xuan Tianyu's words reverberated in his mind.

The last sentence, in particular, seared into his memory like a branding iron.

Finally, he lifted his head, his gaze fierce, his face shrouded in an air of malevolence.

"Hmph, an auction?"