Chapter 542: Then Simply Don't Hide It Anymore
Chapter 542: Then Simply Don't Hide It Anymore
...
"Master, it's truly wonderful. Real Person Jade Compassion has finally succeeded in her ascension, achieving her lifelong wish."
Li Qingran stood with her hands clasped behind her back, gazing at the sweet rain falling over Dragon Spring Mountain, the corners of her lips slightly upturned.
Chen Huaian opened an oil-paper umbrella.
He didn't know why he did it—he could easily block the rain with his True Essence—but he felt the atmosphere called for this gesture.
"Indeed, her virtue is complete. Surviving such a perilous Heavenly Tribulation is what Jade Compassion deserved." Chen Huaian took Li Qingran's hand, both of them offering sincere blessings to Jade Compassion ascending to the heavens.
"Master, do you think my future Heavenly Tribulation will be that terrifying too?" Li Qingran fluttered her butterfly-wing-like eyelashes, unable to conceal the worry in her voice.
"Would it dare!?" Chen Huaian glanced at the sky and snorted coldly.
The Electronic Girlfriend system and the Heavenly Dao of Cangyun Realm were practically in cahoots.Li Qingran might as well be the daughter of both systems.
What kind of father would make things difficult for his own daughter?
"If this accursed heaven dares trouble you, I'll tear the sky apart myself!"
Li Qingran was startled by his words and hurriedly moved to cover Chen Huaian's mouth, scolding him: "Master! What are you saying! Be careful with your words! You mustn't speak ill of the heavens!"
Chen Huaian took a deep sniff of Li Qingran's small hand.
Though he couldn't physically touch it, that didn't stop him from performing an epic lungful.
"So fragrant. Did my disciple apply scented ointment to her hands?"
"I did no such thing!" Li Qingran withdrew her hand, blushing as she hid it behind her back, pouting: "Master is bad. Every time I try to discuss serious matters, you always change the subject!"
"Alright, alright. This master won't curse the accursed heavens anymore."
Chen Huaian laughed it off.
"You're doing it again!" Li Qingran fumed, turning her back to him: "If you keep this up, your disciple will ignore you!"
Just as Chen Huaian was about to properly console his pouting disciple—
"Ahem..."
A light cough sounded behind them.
Unnoticed by either, Zhang Mengchu had appeared behind them.
"Elder Zhang." Chen Huaian's face darkened. "Are you part cat? Walking without a sound? I sentence you to walk again!"
Zhang Mengchu sighed, retreated behind a rock, then stomped out noisily with exaggerated steps.
"Speak. What is it?"
"Sect Master, Ancestor." Zhang Mengchu flicked his sleeves and cupped his hands. "This old man detected traces of the Demon Race's aura from the western peaks—likely those Great Ascension Stage demons. They seemed to have retreated during the intense Heavenly Tribulation."
"But this old man worries... while our flying vessel is indeed majestic, it's also highly conspicuous. If those demons return—"
Chen Huaian's heart tightened.
He was right.
Not only were there traces of demons nearby—
A Buddhist aura lingered in the area too.
All those old foxes at the Great Ascension Stage had come to witness the ceremony!
They were probably still immersed in comprehending Jade Compassion's Dao Rhythms.
This was indeed the perfect time to lead Moon Shadow Sect back.
"Elder Zhang, order all disciples to return to the flying vessel immediately. We're heading back to Moon Shadow Sect now!"
"Yes!" Zhang Mengchu cupped his hands and left.
"Qingran, let's return too. There's much to handle afterward."
"Mhm." Li Qingran nodded obediently.
Though somewhat embarrassed at being seen by Zhang Mengchu,
She didn't release Chen Huaian's hand.
Witnessing Jade Compassion's ascension had clarified many things for her.
Her mind was made up.
Since you can't hide fire with paper—
Then simply don't hide it anymore!
...
"Set the power core to minimum output!"
"Can't you unfurl the sails more quietly? Must you announce how big our sails are?"
Despite Chen Huaian's best efforts to minimize the flying vessel's movements,
The sheer size of the vessel made quiet operation impossible.
"BOOOOM—!"
A thunderous roar like a mix of gongs and thunderclaps echoed across Dragon Spring Mountain.
Every cultivator took notice.
"Oh? Moon Shadow Sect's flying vessel is returning?"
"How magnificent! With the three great holy lands gone, Moon Shadow Sect is now the leading orthodox sect! I wonder if there's any chance to join them..."
"Didn't they announce they'd be accepting new disciples soon? It should be in a few days."
"Really? That's wonderful news! We must go witness it!"
"Let's go together!"
The cultivators chattered excitedly.
Meanwhile, on a mountain peak where demonic energy subtly fluctuated—
Xiao Feng, ancestor of the Heavenly Demon Sect, burned with fervor: "This aura... this familiar presence! My senses never deceive me!"
A fellow cultivator of the Heavenly Demon Art was aboard Moon Shadow Sect's vessel.
Yet Moon Shadow Sect remained Cangyun Realm's foremost orthodox sect.
Any Great Ascension Stage expert would be an ancestor or supreme elder in any faction.
Could this mean...
Moon Shadow Sect was actually a demonic sect in orthodox disguise?
Perhaps they were simply biding their time?
"Ancestor, y-you're trembling! What's wrong?"
Young Master Yinyu paled seeing Xiao Feng's shuddering form and feverish, flushed expression, fearing a demonic backlash.
As a Heavenly Demon Sect disciple, he'd witnessed fellow demon cultivators lose control before.
The results were...
Utterly indiscriminate slaughter.
He subtly retreated half a step, only to hear his ancestor burst into maniacal laughter.
"Kekeke! Heaven smiles upon our Heavenly Demon Sect!"
"Thousands of years of planning pale before this demonic ally's infiltration! Marvelous!"
Young Master Yinyu stared in shock—never had he seen the ancestor so elated.
"Yinyu!" Xiao Feng suddenly turned, grinning viciously: "Tonight, you accompany me to visit Moon Shadow Sect!"
"What?!" Yinyu's already pale face whitened further as he waved his hands frantically: "Impossible, Ancestor! Moon Shadow Sect is orthodox! With three holy lands absorbed, their strength is terrifying! And... they have Great Ascension experts! We're no match!"
"Useless coward!" Xiao Feng kicked Yinyu to the ground: "No guts to be a Heavenly Demon elder? You'll take point tonight!"
"Please no, Ancestor!" Yinyu's legs gave out: "I truly can't!"
"Can't?" Xiao Feng pressed his sword against Yinyu's neck: "Now?"
Yinyu shuddered: "C-can! This disciple can now!"
"Still feeling deficient?" Xiao Feng narrowed his eyes.
"Not deficient anymore."
Yinyu had a premonition—
Disobeying the Heavenly Demon Ancestor meant instant decapitation.
"Pathetic! On your feet!" Xiao Feng snorted: "We prepare gifts—one doesn't visit Great Ascension experts empty-handed!"
...
Meanwhile.
In a shadowy corner of Dragon Spring Mountain.
The woman disguised as Taoist Nun Qingci—Real Person Yuyao—gazed toward the departing Moon Shadow Sect vessel.
Her eyes glimmered as she vanished into the void, silently giving chase.