C17 The Same Sect's Betrayal

The green shadow appeared to harbor no ill will towards him; it merely wanted to play, circling him in a teasing dance.

Qin Xuan, frustrated, concentrated and held his breath, attempting to trick the green shadow into stopping. However, his adversary was not deceived in the slightest.

Moreover, during a moment of inattention, the colorful smoke began to multiply, soon engulfing the entire stone chamber!

What was happening?

Could it be that this colorful smoke possessed a spiritual sense?

Qin Xuan inwardly cursed his luck. He tried to make his exit, but it was too late.

He suddenly felt the ground beneath him give way to a soft, grassy surface!

How could there be grass in a stone room?

His head spun, and when he looked up again, the stone room had vanished, replaced by an idyllic haven filled with birdsong and the scent of flowers.

In the distance lay green mountains and a picturesque river, while before him stood a quaint wooden cottage, its small courtyard enclosed by a fence and dotted with vegetables and fruits.

An old man sat by the river, fishing, his brows slightly furrowed as if he were already asleep.

"Tap, tap, tap."

A peacock, its feathers shimmering with a dark green luster, emerged from the underbrush and strode elegantly to the old man's side.

The old man seemed to notice the peacock's approach, yawning, "I haven't caught any fish today; I'm just not feeling it."

No sooner had he spoken than the peacock dove into the river and, in the blink of an eye, flung several plump fish out of the water!

The old man shook his head in resignation. Despite his protests, he deftly caught the fish in a basket.

"Enough, enough. I'll play a tune for you, but then you must leave quickly and not return."

The peacock, as if comprehending the old man's words, gracefully preened its feathers.

The old man rummaged in his pocket and drew out a jade flute. He gazed at the peacock for a moment before slowly bringing the flute to his lips.

"Woo-woo~"

The soulful notes of the flute wafted through the air, imbued with a casual, detached charm and an aura of sublime detachment.

Qin Xuan felt an itch in his hands, a yearning to accompany the flute music with a tune of his own.

As this thought crossed his mind, something wondrous occurred: an ancient zither materialized in his embrace!

"Buzz~"

The sound from the zither was astonishingly pure and resonant!

His heart swelled with joy as his fingers danced gracefully, harmonizing with the old man's flute, transforming his innermost thoughts into a melody.

Mountains and rivers seemed to flow in unison, the zither and flute in perfect harmony. Qin Xuan had never experienced such unfettered exhilaration!

When the music ceased, he remained in a trance, wondering if the old man before him was the kindred spirit he had long sought.

The old man appeared to share his sentiment, squinting contentedly at Qin Xuan.

Abruptly, the heavens darkened, and ominous clouds amassed overhead.

A streak of cold light materialized from thin air, grazing Qin Xuan's ear as it lunged for the old man!

Qin Xuan was too slow to evade, and a lock of his hair was sheared off.

Simultaneously, the old man, who had just been in musical accord with him, was now locked in combat with a man clad in gray!

Their movements were a blur, their spirit weapons clashing and sparking in a dazzling display!

Both combatants exhibited martial arts prowess well beyond the great master level!

"Rumble…"

Thunder roared as lightning streaked across the sky, and the dark clouds above swirled into a vortex, threatening to engulf the two fighters!

Qin Xuan longed to intervene, but he was immobilized, as if rooted to the spot.

Squirt had once mentioned that a spiritual energy barrier forms around masters in combat, altering the flow of time within.

Was this formidable force, rendering him motionless, the spiritual energy barrier?

Bang!

A bolt of greenish-purple lightning cleaved the sky, striking the dueling pair. One figure was cast out, tumbling through the air like a leaf in a tempest.

"Awoo~!"

The peacock screeched, its wings beating furiously as it attempted to plunge into the storm clouds to seek vengeance for the old man!

"No! It's certain death!"

Qin Xuan's voice boomed as he suddenly found the strength to leap into the air, desperate to intercept the peacock.

But it was too late. A terrible scream pierced the air as the peacock, shrouded in black smoke, plummeted to the ground.

"Beast, I had no intention of harming you. You brought this upon yourself; I am not to blame!"

The man in grey spoke somberly, his chilling gaze falling upon Qin Xuan, making Qin Xuan's skin crawl with fear.

He feared he would meet the same charred fate as the peacock, but unexpectedly, a sigh echoed from not too far behind him.

"Junior Brother, how can you practice such a sinister cultivation method? Aren't you afraid the Master will cast you out of the sect when he learns of this? Continuing down this path will only bring harm to yourself and others."

"Hmph, once I've eliminated you, there will be no one left in this world who knows my secret! As for that old fool, it's high time he was gone! Under his leadership, the sect has become nothing but a laughingstock! Just wait, when I take over as sect master, I will ensure our sect reaches new heights of glory!"

"Foolish, so foolish! You... Cough, cough..."

"Today, I will strip you of your martial arts prowess but leave you alive. I want you to witness with your own eyes the moment I ascend to sect master! Hahahaha!"

"Junior Brother, please, don't be so obstinate..."

The old man hunched over, wracked by a fit of coughing, while the man in grey laughed heartily, departing with a sense of triumph.

As the clouds cleared, the world returned to its serene state, but though the lush greenery remained, the old man could not be restored to his former self.

Qin Xuan gently supported the old man, attempting to heal his wounds, but the old man refused his aid.

"To have the honor of playing one last song with a kindred spirit before I depart is a regret I do not carry." The old man, his complexion ashen, looked sorrowfully at the charred remains of the peacock. "I have a favor to ask of you. Would you be willing to assist me?"

Qin Xuan nodded eagerly, "Of course, tell me what you need."

"This creature and I were connected by fate. In the moment of crisis, I preserved a strand of its spiritual sense within this feather to prevent its spirit from scattering. If you are willing, Young Hero, please channel some spiritual energy into it daily to aid in its recovery. If that is too much to ask, I implore you to find someone destined to care for it..."

Observing the elder's quivering hand as he offered the dark green feather, Qin Xuan promptly nodded in acceptance.

"Rest assured, I will do everything within my power."

"Excellent, excellent... Truly, heroes emerge from the young!"

The old man's face beamed with satisfaction, his gaze filled with affection, enveloping Qin Xuan in waves of warmth.

"What about you? Shall I escort you to..."

"I'm not at death's door!" The elder gently patted his hand, "Having foreseen that scoundrel's adoption of an evil cultivation method, I've taken precautions. Once I find a place rich in spiritual energy to recover, I'll return to set things right!"

Relieved by these words, Qin Xuan couldn't help but inwardly admire the cunning foresight, recognizing the 'old foxes' had already planned their exit strategies.

"The hour grows late, young hero. Let me guide you from this place."

No sooner had he spoken than Qin Xuan was overcome with dizziness, as though suddenly thrust from a precipice, his head spinning and legs unsteady.