104: Conspiracy

The cultivator’s expression shifted violently. Facing the rain of arrows, even with his "Spirit-Channeling" level of cultivation, he dared not meet them head-on. His physical body had not reached the level of being indestructible, impervious to fire and water. Setting aside his reluctance, he pulled a bronze plaque from his robe, held it aloft, and chanted a mantra. As he pointed to the ground, the earth surged upward, forming a wall of soil.

Hundreds of arrows struck the wall like the heavy blows of a hundred men, kicking up clouds of dust that hung in the air for several meters. Some arrows, however, soared over the wall and landed nearby, a terrifying display of archery.

Before the cultivator could catch his breath, the general brandished his halberd. "Yuan Feng, I invited you with sincerity, yet you are ungrateful. Not only did you refuse, you insulted me. Today, I shall surely take your head."

He then roared, "Soldiers, hear my order! Whoever strikes down this villain first shall be promoted three ranks, rewarded with a hundred taels of gold, and granted ten beauties!"

Under heavy rewards, there are always brave men, especially when promised by their own commander. In these times, what else did a soldier fight for if not for glory, wealth, and a full belly?

In an instant, morale soared. The soldiers, who had previously been somewhat awed by the cultivator’s supernatural abilities, now looked at him with renewed ferocity.

Yi Fan gripped his hand lightly and glanced at Deng Qian. "Who is this general?"

"This is my master, the eldest son of the Zhong family, General Zhong Zhen," Deng Qian replied with a smile. "Does Daoist Yi know who this Yuan Feng is?"

Yi Fan shook his head. "I do not know him."

Deng Qian waved his hand as if shooing away a fly. "He is a cultivator from the nearby Jiulian Mountains. Greedy for worldly power and carnal pleasures, he used evil arts to help Qian Cheng commit massacres and assassinate rival commanders. After our general beheaded Qian Cheng, he saw that this fellow had some ability and spared his life. Who would have thought he would be so ungrateful, secretly instigating Qian Cheng’s former subordinates and the city’s gentry to conspire to murder our general?"

Hearing this, Yi Fan understood. This cultivator, Yuan Feng, must have hit a wall in his cultivation and turned to the temptations of the world, using his arts to aid Qian Cheng’s villainy, only to fall at the hands of Zhong Zhen.

The fact that Zhong Zhen could resist a "Spirit-Channeling" cultivator suggested he had someone of equal or greater standing by his side. As for sparing Yuan Feng earlier, it was likely an attempt to force him into service.

...

As they spoke, the scene turned gruesome. Under the relentless assault of soldiers who feared no death, one of them finally closed the distance. With a single swing of his blade, a large head went flying.

But the soldier had no time to rejoice. A burst of spiritual light shot into the sky like a sharp arrow, piercing through several soldiers and darting straight toward Zhong Zhen.

A soul leaving the body—he was making a desperate final stand.

Yi Fan felt a stir of interest. He wanted to see exactly who was backing Zhong Zhen. A "Spirit-Channeling" cultivator’s soul was not as easily dealt with as a physical body; ordinary steel could not harm it.

Indeed, just as the light neared Zhong Zhen, a thunderous shout rang out: "How bold!"

As the voice faded, a glow of multicolored light erupted, meeting the spiritual essence head-on. A series of sharp cracks echoed out as the two energies entangled. The spiritual light, unable to prevail, attempted to dive into the earth to escape toward the netherworld.

But it was too late. The multicolored light would not let it escape so easily. With a quick turn, it struck down once more. A shriek pierced the air, and the spiritual light dissipated into nothingness.

After destroying the soul, the glow circled in the air before descending.

Yi Fan saw it clearly: it was a grey-robed old man standing behind Zhong Zhen. If one were not careful, one would easily overlook him.

His cultivation was profound—so high that Yi Fan could not discern it. He must be using a special artifact to conceal his aura. To so easily destroy the soul of a "Spirit-Channeling" cultivator, his cultivation had to be at least at the third level of that realm or higher.

For someone of such high standing to abandon mountain cultivation and involve himself in worldly affairs, there must be a dark conspiracy afoot.

As if sensing Yi Fan’s gaze, the grey-robed elder looked at him and nodded slightly, then whispered something to Zhong Zhen.

Zhong Zhen paused, looked at Yi Fan, and after instructing his officers to handle the aftermath, he rode over. Upon reaching him, he dismounted and bowed. "I apologize for the discourtesy, not knowing a high cultivator from the Shangqing Sect was present."

*The Shangqing Sect again?*

Yi Fan was speechless, but he did not correct the misunderstanding. He could use this to his advantage; it might make them wary of him. Otherwise, who knew if he would end up as the next Yuan Feng?

Although his own arts were stronger than Yuan Feng’s, as Zhong Zhen had pointed out, how many men could he kill if surrounded by an entire army? Moreover, the grey-robed elder was no simple foe; with his immense power, he would not let Yi Fan escape easily.

The misunderstanding about him being a Shangqing disciple must have come from that elder.

Playing along, Yi Fan returned the bow. "I am Yi Fan. Greetings, General Zhong Zhen."

"You are too kind, Brother Yi, no need for such formalities," Zhong Zhen laughed. "Come to think of it, we have some connection; my second sister is a disciple of the Shangqing Sect."

*Then I truly cannot stay any longer,* Yi Fan thought. He was a fraud; he had already gathered enough trouble, and if he became entangled further, he would surely lose his life.

He didn't reply to the comment about the sister and looked instead at the grey-robed elder. "And who might this senior be?"

The elder opened his eyes and bowed. "Ghost-Crying Elder of Feiya Mountain greets you, fellow Daoist."

*Feiya Mountain?*

Yi Fan’s heart jolted. *It truly is a small world.* He had killed a disciple of Feiya Mountain not long ago, and the vengeful spirit of He Buchan was still vivid in his mind.

He suddenly regretted coming here. If he had refused Deng Qian, the man could not have held him, but to leave now would surely arouse suspicion.

Just as he was caught in this dilemma, the elder asked, "Has the fellow Daoist been dispatched by the sect to temper yourself in the world?"

Yi Fan paused, realizing this was the perfect excuse. "Indeed. Monsters are running rampant in the south, harming the common people. My Shangqing Sect cannot sit idly by. We were commanded to lead our junior disciples down from the mountain, and we happen to be passing through."

The elder nodded in understanding. "In that case, I shall not detain you further."

*Is he dismissing me?*

Yi Fan was surprised. He didn't know the elder’s intentions or what conspiracies lay behind his actions, but he was relieved. He didn't want to stay anyway.

Still, he had to play the part. A disciple of a great sect could not show joy at being turned away. His expression dimmed, returning to indifference. He glanced at the elder, ignored Zhong Zhen, and led his old donkey and the resentful ghost away.

A long while later, after Yi Fan had gone, Zhong Zhen asked in confusion, "Ancestor, why did you let him go?"

The elder snorted coldly. "In such a grand endeavor, the fewer people who know, the better. At first, I thought this Daoist was merely an ordinary disciple practicing the basic 'Heart-Cleansing Sutra,' but the more I looked, the more complex he appeared. It was likely a diversion to hide his true identity. A person who acts with such caution must have a formidable background."

Zhong Zhen bowed. "The ancestor is wise."