Chapter 1729
Chapter 1729. Having Already Put Life and Death Aside, What Secret Plot Did She Stumble Upon Again
The woman stood there quietly. Her figure was graceful and slender; her brows were like thin willow leaves, her phoenix eyes bright as black gemstones, her delicate nose refined and lovely, her skin pale and smooth like fine porcelain, and her bosom full.
“Elder Chen Yi, how about this time you accompany the envoys of the Zhengyi Alliance and head to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance together?”
The Sect Master of the Slanted Moon Sect looked at the woman and, after seeming to deliberate for a moment, spoke with a tone carrying slight helplessness and guilt.
The many elders and disciples on the plaza were all startled upon hearing this.
Quite a few elders who had been holding their breath in fear of being chosen immediately let out long sighs of relief, then all turned their gazes toward the woman named Chen Yi.
A woman in a green dress with outstanding looks could not hide the mockery and schadenfreude in her eyes.
Elder Zhou, who carried a long sword on his back and usually wore an indifferent expression, also had not expected this outcome. Shock and disbelief were written across his face.
“Is it actually Elder Chen Yi?”
Many disciples could not help but whisper among themselves, clearly astonished by the result.
Some male disciples did not bother hiding the regret and pity on their faces.
Elder Chen Yi was very famous in the Slanted Moon Sect, though not because of her cultivation, but because of her beauty.
Quite a few elders had pursued her, hoping to become Dao companions with her, but all had been firmly rejected. Her attitude was as unmovable as stone.
Privately, many elders and disciples even called her the “Stone Beauty.”
That the person chosen to go to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance with the Zhengyi Alliance’s envoy team this time would be her was beyond the expectations of many people, including numerous elders. Although it allowed them to completely relax, their hearts still held some regret and pity.
“Master… How could this be?”
Among the disciples, Lan Xin almost suspected she had misheard.
Her beautiful eyes widened, her body trembled, and she nearly lost her footing. Her face quickly turned deathly pale.
This was sending her master to her death. At that moment she suddenly understood why Xu Hui had worn such a mocking expression earlier—she had already known.
A wave of powerlessness and grief surged in Lan Xin’s heart.
“Senior Sister Lan Xin, are you alright?” Gu Xian’er was also somewhat surprised and had not anticipated this result. She reached out to steady Lan Xin.
The stunningly beautiful Elder Chen Yi was Lan Xin’s master.
“The sect is sending the Master to die at the Heaven-Slaying Alliance…” Lan Xin’s voice trembled, her face pale, her once bright and graceful eyes now dim and powerless.
Gu Xian’er looked at her expression and did not know how to comfort her. However, Lan Xin was the only senior sister in the sect who truly cared for her and treated her well, so seeing her like this made Gu Xian’er feel distressed. She softly said, “Senior Sister Lan Xin, maybe you’re worrying too much. The Heaven-Slaying Alliance shouldn’t be as dangerous as you think. It’s not necessarily a dragon’s den or tiger’s lair…”
“Elder Chen Yi should be fine…”
But before she could finish, Lan Xin hurriedly shook her head and interrupted her.
Fear and dread seemed to flicker in her eyes, as if even mentioning it made her uneasy. Her face remained pale as she said, “Junior Sister Xian’er, you don’t understand. You’re still too naïve. You haven’t truly experienced those brutal and tragic wars. You don’t know how terrifying the Heaven-Slaying Alliance is—the one that has destroyed countless civilizations and nations during this period.”
“Do you even know what its name represents? In the Boundless Expanse, daring to take such a name so recklessly is already a taboo beyond imagination.”
“Even the Dark Beings don’t dare attack the Heaven-Slaying Alliance. That alone should tell you how frightening it is…”
Gu Xian’er hadn’t expected Lan Xin—who had always appeared dignified and elegant before her—to react so strongly when the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was mentioned.
Although she was now unsure whether the Heaven-Slaying Alliance that inspired such fear throughout the Boundless Expanse was the same one she knew, she still could not help but softly argue,
“But I also heard that the Heaven-Slaying Alliance has indeed provided shelter for many living beings and cultivators, protecting their homes and lands.”
“Those are just rumors. Besides, does a bad person become good just because they did one good deed?” Lan Xin shook her head, her face still pale.
Meanwhile, Chen Yi herself at the front of the plaza was equally shocked and surprised that she had been chosen.
Her brows furrowed slightly. Noticing the green-skirted woman wearing a look of schadenfreude in the distance, she suddenly understood.
For the Sect Master to announce this in front of all elders and disciples meant it had been planned long ago, not a spur-of-the-moment decision. And some elders must have known the result in advance.
“Chen Yi, didn’t expect it, did you? This trip to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance will be your death day.”
The green-skirted woman sneered through voice transmission, not bothering to hide her delight.
Chen Yi glanced at her coldly and ignored her.
The green-skirted woman was named Luo Bi, also an elder of the Slanted Moon Sect. Due to incidents from years past, the two bore deep grudges against each other and wished nothing more than to eliminate the other.
Chen Yi did not know whether Luo Bi had meddled behind the scenes in the Sect Master’s decision to send her.
“Sect Master, can you tell me the reason?” Chen Yi then looked at the Sect Master ahead and asked.
She was well aware of what kind of place the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was—elders avoided it like the plague, and no one wanted to go. She was no exception and did not wish to risk her life.
“This is the rule of the Zhengyi Alliance. As a member sect, the Slanted Moon Sect must naturally comply.”
“I’ve thought it through and discussed it with the Supreme Elders and the Ancestors. We believe Elder Chen Yi, with your formidable cultivation, is the most suitable candidate to accompany the Zhengyi Alliance’s envoy team to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.”
“I understand this journey may involve unforeseen dangers, but for the sake of ending the Black Calamity once and for all, we have no choice but to let you take this risk.”
The Sect Master spoke calmly, unsurprised by the reactions of Chen Yi and the others.
Chen Yi fell silent.
“Sect Master, Elder Chen Yi is injured. You and the Supreme Elders all know this. Under such circumstances, asking her to take such a risk is somewhat unreasonable, isn’t it?”
At that moment, an untimely voice sounded. Elder Zhou stepped forward, frowning, clearly displeased.
Some time ago, Chen Yi had been severely injured by an ancient ferocious beast while picking a rare medicinal herb. Since then, she had been recuperating in the sect.
Because of this, she had previously been unable to lead disciples on an expedition, and Elder Zhou had volunteered to go in her stead.
“Does Elder Zhou intend to go in her place then?” Luo Bi sneered coldly from not far away, unable to stand someone speaking up for Chen Yi.
To secure this candidate, she had paid quite a price.
Chen Yi’s injury was no secret within the sect, and it was not an ordinary wound but a poison so troublesome that even the Supreme Elders and Ancestors feared it.
The toxin had seeped into her soul and true spirit, nearly impossible to dispel. It would slowly spread with time, eroding her life essence and corroding her Dao fruit.
No matter how she tried to recuperate over the years, there had been no improvement. Instead, her cultivation had stagnated and even begun to decline.
Compared to other elders in their prime, Chen Yi—who seemingly had no future—was naturally more suitable as a sacrificial pawn.
Chen Yi had already understood all this, so when Elder Zhou spoke up, she politely declined his goodwill.
“I understand, Sect Master. I will make preparations and depart with the Zhengyi Alliance’s envoys. However, I do not wish to bring any disciples with me.”
“And I also have one request. I hope the sect can agree to it.” She lifted her bright eyes and calmly looked at the Sect Master.
The elders all fell silent. Quite a few who were close to Chen Yi sighed, their hearts heavy. Her demeanor clearly suggested she was leaving final words.
“Speak. As long as the sect can do it, we will agree,” the Sect Master nodded, feeling increasingly guilty.
This time they truly owed her, but they had no choice. Her calm acceptance only made them feel worse. But they could not defy the Zhengyi Alliance’s command.
“I hope the sect will treat my disciples well. In addition, since I am going to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, before I leave, I want to take Gu Xian’er as my disciple.”
Chen Yi said calmly, then turned back, her gaze falling on Lan Xin, Gu Xian’er, and the others in the distance.
Previously she had not agreed to Lan Xin’s request to accept Gu Xian’er because she feared being tainted by misfortune and ominous karma.
But now that she was going to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, she no longer cared about such things.
Taking Gu Xian’er as a nominal disciple before leaving would fulfill Lan Xin’s persistent pleas, and the sect would likely refrain from bullying Gu Xian’er out of consideration for her.
The Sect Master and many elders slightly changed expressions. Her first request was not surprising.
But taking in Gu Xian’er—a girl everyone avoided—as a disciple showed she truly no longer cared about karma or ill omens.
After a moment of silence, the Sect Master said, “I agree.”
Chen Yi revealed a faint smile, then turned into a streak of light and departed to prepare for her journey.
Among the disciples, Gu Xian’er had not expected the matter to end up involving taking her as a disciple.
Seeing the complicated gazes cast towards her, her heart was even more complicated. She understood Chen Yi’s kindness, but she did not actually want to become her disciple. Her true masters were in the Daochang True Realm, not in the Slanted Moon Sect.
“Master is finally willing to accept Junior Sister Xian’er as a disciple… yet I just can’t be happy,” Lan Xin said sorrowfully, her mood low.
This should have been a good thing, but it also meant her master had already put life and death aside.
After leaving the plaza and failing to find Elder Chen Yi, Gu Xian’er decided to go directly to her later and politely refused.
With no other choice, she temporarily returned to her cave dwelling and recounted the day’s events to the white-robed woman and the big red bird inside.
Even now, Gu Xian’er still did not know the white-robed woman’s name—nor did the woman herself remember it.
When the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was mentioned, Gu Xian’er noticed the white-robed woman seemed momentarily dazed, as if the three words stirred some association. She stood there lost in thought for a long while.
But afterward, she still remembered nothing and only felt her headache worsening.
The big red bird tactfully avoided discussing its and Gu Xian’er’s origins in front of the white-robed woman. Both of them were very clear about matters concerning the Heaven-Slaying Alliance and had discussed it many times before, speculating about its relationship with the Heaven-Slaying Alliance of the Daochang True Realm.
After all, the Heaven-Slaying Alliance’s reputation in the current Boundless Expanse was enormous, as could be seen from Lan Xin’s reaction today.
As for the Daochang True Realm, by Gu Xian’er’s present understanding, it was merely a newly born true realm.
Back then, its strongest expert had only just touched the Dao Realm and passed one or two Heavenly Decay Tribulations.
Placed within the Slanted Moon Sect, such a level would not even count as a central pillar.
Some of the sect’s talented middle-generation prodigies had already crossed that threshold and could easily suppress ordinary Dao-Realm experts.
Only those who had passed three or four Heavenly Decay Tribulations were barely qualified to be called elders.
Although the Heaven-Slaying Alliance in the Daochang True Realm had been established by Gu Changge, its foundation and strength were worlds apart from the Heaven-Slaying Alliance of the Boundless Expanse—completely different dimensions.
The Heaven-Slaying Alliance of the Boundless Expanse had not always existed; it had suddenly appeared several thousand years ago, and that period roughly coincided with the time Gu Changge left the Daochang True Realm.
Gu Xian’er did not know whether it had anything to do with him, nor did she care much. She only knew that she had not heard any news of Gu Changge for a very long time. She did not know where he had gone after silently leaving the Daochang True Realm, nor what he had done.
After leaving the Daochang True Realm, she had also tried to find his traces and follow in his footsteps, but all attempts failed—she could not find even a single clue.
Instead, those efforts had led her into numerous dangers, and she had only narrowly survived each time through her own wit and luck.
One reason Gu Xian’er wanted to find Elder Chen Yi was that she hoped to be taken along.
She wanted to see the Heaven-Slaying Alliance with her own eyes. She had a premonition that she would meet the person she most wished to see.
Time passed quickly. Not long after returning to her cave dwelling, Gu Xian’er noticed night had already fallen.
“I wonder if that old granny will appear in that ruined relic again tonight…”
“I need to ask her clearly why she brought me to the Slanted Moon Sect back then.”
She rose and left the cave without disturbing the resting white-robed woman and without bringing the big red bird.
The mountain range at night was exceptionally quiet. Not even insects or birds could be heard, let alone wild beasts or mountain spirits.
A faint white mist rose among the forest. Gu Xian’er turned into a streak of light and soon arrived at the long-abandoned, shattered ruins.
After last night’s incident, her courage had grown. She knew there were no evil spirits here—only that old granny who cried at the moon.
During the daytime the granny was almost never seen, and Gu Xian’er had not spotted her for a long time, making it impossible to ask her anything. Otherwise she would not have chosen to come here at this hour to try her luck.
She did not know what this place had once been, nor why the granny was so obsessed with wandering here, weeping sorrowfully to the moon at night.
The ruins were vast. Aside from collapsed and broken buildings, there was almost nothing else. If there had once been treasures, they had probably long since been taken by the sect’s disciples and elders.
Gu Xian’er arrived near the small hill where she had seen the granny the previous night. After thinking for a moment, she hid in a collapsed alchemy chamber and used an ancient talisman to conceal her aura.
After all, the granny had noticed her last night and then disappeared. The night grew darker. A cold wind began to blow through the empty ruins, and by midnight even the moonlight dimmed.
Gu Xian’er waited a long time without seeing the granny and felt disappointed, preparing to leave.
At that moment, a conversation suddenly sounded not far away.
Her departing steps halted. She was surprised—who would come to these ruins so late at night?
“Young Master, was your trip to the Yaoguang Ancient Domain smooth? Did you meet that Weiyang Princess?”
In a broken corridor among the ruins, a gray-robed middle-aged man wearing a high crown and carrying a scholarly air walked forward while conversing with the young man beside him.
Gu Xian’er was startled. The gray-robed man looked familiar—he seemed to be one of the Slanted Moon Sect’s elders, the kind with profound cultivation and unfathomable strength.
Yet he was addressing the young man beside him as “Young Master”?
Had she once again accidentally stumbled upon some secret scheme?
When she saw the young man’s face clearly, she was even more shocked.
“The number one figure among the younger generation of the Slanted Moon Sect—the disciple named Song Yu?”