"After Qing Yu's coffin was returned to the Sect, only Senior Sister Xuanzhen had previously examined Qing Yu's body. The others, including Senior Xuan Lin and Senior Sister Yin, had never seen Qing Yu's face, fearing touching upon a painful memory. As for people like Xuan Chen, it was even less likely for them to have seen it.

They all thought that it was Xuan Chen who caused Qing Yu to suffer such torment. They wouldn't even let Xuan Chen touch the coffin. So you can rest assured." On the mountain path, Xuan Shang walked forward without turning his head.

"As for this matter, it has little to do with me, why should you reassure me so?" Qing Yu said innocently.

Xuan Shang had always been suspicious—or perhaps hopeful—of Qing Yu's identity, never forgetting to probe.

However, his probing remarks also revealed some information.

'On the surface, Xuan Lin and Xuan Yin still seem to be maintaining their original stance, standing on the side of Xuanfa, which means they might stand with the Xuanfa disciples. But in reality, their stance is still up for debate,' Qing Yu thought to himself.

From the information previously obtained, Qing Yu knew that Xuan Lin and Xuan Yin were once part of Xuanfa's old faction. But whether this old faction remained unchanged over the last decade was a big question.

Naturally, because they had supported Xuanfa in the past, these two had a rift with Xuan Chen, but compared to a dead person, a living Sect Leader of the True Martial Sect should be able to garner their allegiance more easily.

After all, Xuanfa had been dead for ten years, and his heir had yet to master any martial arts, having been banished to Qing Province. Even Xuanfa's last disciple had died several years ago.

Under such circumstances, it's hard to guarantee their loyalty wouldn't shift. Human nature is so fickle—who could guarantee their allegiance would remain unchanged?

At this moment, Xuan Shang quickened his pace, stepping into the wind. Feathers of fire fell around him, and his figure suddenly disappeared from view.

The Zhenwu Seven Peaks, towering into the clouds, were a sight to behold. If one were to tread slowly step by step, it is uncertain how long it might take. The slow pace earlier was simply to make good conversation; now that everything that needed to be discussed had been said, it was time to get down to business.

'Vermilion Bird's Wing Flapping.'

Being familiar with the Four Symbols Ultimate Skills, Qing Yu instantly recognized the movement technique employed by Xuan Shang. This technique, on his body, truly possessed the speed of the Vermilion Bird, with fluttering fire feathers, moving vertically up the rock face.

Qing Yu looked upward, only to see the figure above already disappearing into the clouds.

The mountain path was long, but if one were to fly directly upward, the distance for True Core Realm Martial Artists was but a moment away.

Behind Qing Yu, his white hair was filled with Wind Force, spreading like feathers, neutralizing the weight of his body, a whirlwind spun under his feet, and his figure soared up into the sky.

"Whoosh—"

Amidst the howling wind, Xuan Shang only saw a figure sweeping past him, soaring into the sky.

"Flying secret technique?!" Xuan Shang exclaimed in surprise.

To fly in the True Core Realm was a special secret technique that was exceedingly hard to acquire.

"More and more astonishing."

Flames suddenly burst forth around him, the true form of the Vermilion Bird appeared around his body, its climbing momentum growing even swifter.

In a short while, Xuan Shang reached the peak and saw Qing Yu looking at a small thatched cottage not far away.

"Let's go, my Senior Xuanfeng is right here," Xuan Shang glanced at a spot halfway up the mountain and chuckled coldly, "Ever since I indirectly probed him last time, he has neglected the flowers and plants he painstakingly cultivated and spends every day lying on the peak like a wasted person."

Originally, after Xuanfeng came back from Yang City, he spent his days tending to flowers and living a life like a rural farmer, no longer caring about the affairs of the Sect. But after Xuan Shang's return, he had completely abandoned the flowers and simply lay on the peak sunbathing and cloud-watching, appearing just like a dead person.

"Whether it's tending to flowers or playing dead, he's just running away from reality. He dares not face reality, thus allowing scoundrels like Xuan Chen to usurp the Sect Leader position. But what he doesn't know is, initially I was unsure whether he had the Image Stone, but seeing his recent actions, I am now certain without a doubt."

Saying this, Xuan Shang took the lead towards the small thatched cottage.

In front of the cottage, made entirely of straw, an elderly Daoist sat on a lounge chair, staring blankly at the white clouds and dark skies in the sky, watching the ever-changing clouds.

With cloudy eyes and a face full of wrinkles, it was hard for anyone to imagine that this was once the vigorous Xuanfeng.

Qing Yu had seen Xuanfeng before, during his days of house arrest, it was Xuanfeng who occasionally brought him some books, allowing him to accumulate basic knowledge, and preventing him from spending his days in idle speculation.

Back then, Xuanfeng looked to be only in his thirties or forties, but now, ten years later, he had aged so significantly.

Ten years, for ordinary people, is a long time, but for True Core Realm Martial Artists, it was only a thirtieth of a lifetime.

Ten years ago, Xuanfeng appeared in his thirties or forties, and ten years later, he should still appear the same. Or rather, he should have appeared the same.

"Senior Xuanfeng, your junior has come to see you again," Xuan Shang walked leisurely to the lounge chair and spoke indifferently.

His words lacked the warmth of the past, only coldness. Xuanfeng didn't seem to care much, still appearing senile and old, his gaze fixed blankly on the sky.

"Senior Brother, I've already talked to you about the current situation in the Sect. You can't stop it, and it's impossible for you to stop it. Xuan Chen should also pay for his past actions," Xuan Shang continued.

His words seemed to have no effect, Xuanfeng's pupils did not move at all, as if he indeed was an old man whose mind had blurred with age.

But in reality, Xuanfeng, who was only in his fifties now, could still live for at least another two hundred years.

"It seems, Senior Brother, you don't want to speak much, wanting to bury all the secrets in your heart."

The unfamiliar voice caused Xuanfeng's eyes to flicker. In the True Martial Sect, any person who could converse with Xuan Shang as equals was very familiar to Xuanfeng. None of these people included the owner of the voice just heard.

Moreover, the words "your Senior Brother" also revealed that this person was not a member of the True Martial Sect.

"You..." His voice was raspy, as if he hadn't drunk water for many days, Xuanfeng slightly turned his neck and said, "You're not from our Sect?"

"Well, that depends on what you think."

The next moment, the face of the White-haired Daoist entered Xuanfeng's sight, causing a tumultuous wave to rise in his numb and lifeless eyes.

"Your face, your face..."

The wrinkles trembled continuously, and the seemingly frail and powerless arms now manifested incredible strength, pointing straight at that unbelievable face.

It was a face Xuanfeng could not forget, even though there were some changes, Xuanfeng still recognized the owner of this familiar face.

"Who in the world are you?"

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