Chapter 54: A Single Sword Cleaves Through a Myriad of Troubles

"When facing trouble, blind reconciliation is useless."

"Speaking of which, if your master hadn't conflicted with that river deity in the beginning, we wouldn't have these troubles today."

"However, with a Purple Mansion river deity right by our side, how could your master cultivate in peace?"

As he spoke, Jiang Sheng gently patted Tian Ming's head. "Ming'an, think about it."

"Along this journey, have the opportunities you and I, master and disciple, reaped been few? Could these opportunities ever be obtained through reconciliation and concession?"

Tian Ming'an nodded thoughtfully.

"On the path of cultivation, there is only forward, never backward. The greatest taboo is hesitation and wavering, losing one's footing in advance and retreat."

With that, Jiang Sheng looked toward the surging, eastward-flowing Taiping River, then took Tian Ming'an by the arm and soared into the air, riding the clouds toward the direction of the Embracing Moon Sect.

The Zhaas had given Jiang Sheng a map of Qing Province, marked with the locations of the various counties and prefectures, the courses of the mountains and rivers across Qing Province, as well as the locations of the three major sects.

Relying on this map, Jiang Sheng could easily find the way to the Embracing Moon Sect.

The Embracing Moon Sect was located between Qing Prefecture and Guang Prefecture, making its location extremely easy to find.

As one of the three major Golden Core sects of Qing Province, the most unique feature of the Embracing Moon Sect was that the vast majority of its members were female cultivators.

Especially the current sect master of the Embracing Moon Sect, the Fairy of Cold Moon, Yue Qi, who was a renowned Golden Core master across all of Qing Province.

Countless young talents in Qing Province yearned to take a fairy of the Embracing Moon Sect as their Dao companion.

As for the Fairy of Cold Moon, Yue Qi, she had achieved a middle-grade Golden Core, held prospects of reaching the Nascent Soul realm, and now possessed a cultivation base at the late Golden Core stage, overawing Qing Province and renowned throughout the Qi Kingdom.

An Embracing Moon Sect presided over by such a grand cultivator was the undisputed number one in Qing Province.

Let alone Qing Province, even within the three neighboring provinces, the Embracing Moon Sect was the unassailable number one.

Fairy Cold Moon Yue Qi alone was equal to five Golden Cores.

Recalling the information Cha Liangcai had shared with him, Jiang Sheng journeyed across East Prefecture and Qing Prefecture, finally arriving at Empty Moon Mountain, situated between Qing Prefecture and Guang Prefecture.

Empty Moon Mountain was a rare spiritual vein blessed land in Qing Province, and the Embracing Moon Sect was established right here.

At the welcoming peak of the Embracing Moon Sect, the idle disciples suddenly perceived the aura of a Purple Mansion realm cultivator flying toward them, and each of them instantly perked up.

A moment later, a young Daoist priest in green robes with a jade crown and peerless looks arrived gracefully.

The Daoist's eyes were like stars, his face like polished jade, and his posture stood upright like a green pine and cypress. With a gentle smile on his face, merely standing there made one feel his extraordinary temperament.

The female cultivators of the Embracing Moon Sect were well-accustomed to seeing young talents, yet they had never laid eyes on such a peerlessly handsome young Daoist priest.

The affairs officer in charge of the welcoming peak was a Foundation Establishment female cultivator.

Upon seeing Jiang Sheng, her mind drifted into a brief trance, but fortunately, she still remembered her duties and recognized that the newcomer was a Purple Mansion cultivator.

She simply wondered when Qing Province had gained such a jade-like, graceful Daoist priest.

With a flurry of chaotic thoughts, the female cultivator stepped forward and bowed gracefully. "Greetings, senior. This junior is Qingyun, the affairs officer of the Embracing Moon Sect's welcoming peak. May I ask the purpose of senior's visit?"

Jiang Sheng smiled. "Daoist friend, greetings."

Jiang Sheng's smile caused these female cultivators' minds to wander once more.

His clear, warm voice sounded again as Jiang Sheng said, "This poor Daoist has come seeking an old friend. Please trouble Fairy to announce to Fairy Xu Xiao that Jiang Sheng has come to pay a visit."

Xu Xiao was the personal true disciple of Elder Konglan of the Embracing Moon Sect.

Currently possessing a middle Foundation Establishment cultivation base, she was a prime candidate for the Purple Mansion realm within the sect and was deeply favored by Elder Konglan.

Even the sect master, Fairy Cold Moon, had remarked that Xu Xiao had the potential to forge a Golden Core.

Consequently, Xu Xiao held a lofty position within the sect; countless disciples envied her, and countless disciples admired her.

Additionally, Xu Xiao was the eldest legitimate daughter of the Qing Prefecture Xu family, and descendants of aristocratic clans from all over Qing Prefecture desired to forge a Dao companion bond with her.

Now that this Daoist Jiang had come specifically for Xu Xiao, it inevitably made Qingyun feel a pang of jealousy.

Yet Qingyun dared not delay matters and hurriedly dispatched someone to notify Xu Xiao.

Before long, Xu Xiao arrived at the welcoming peak.

Upon seeing Jiang Sheng, Xu Xiao was visibly startled.

"Fairy Xu, this poor Daoist came unannounced and has intruded," Jiang Sheng said with a hint of apology.

"I happened to have some idle time recently, and since Daoist Jiang was willing to come, it shows that Daoist Jiang acknowledges me as a friend. Please accompany me up the mountain, Daoist," Xu Xiao said with a light smile, leading the way for Jiang Sheng.

Along the mountain path leading to the Embracing Moon Sect, Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao walked shoulder to shoulder, drawing the sideways glances of passing disciples.

They were immensely curious about who this graceful young gentleman accompanying Xu Xiao was.

"Come to think of it, we haven't seen each other in two years, and Daoist has already opened the Purple Mansion. Compared to Daoist, these past two years of mine have been spent in vain," Xu Xiao said softly.

Jiang Sheng sighed. "Three parts opportunity, three parts helplessness, that is all. If not driven by circumstances, this poor Daoist wouldn't have reached this point today."

Xu Xiao looked at Jiang Sheng with some surprise. "Daoist is an esteemed expert of Penglai, and your methods are unfathomable. What could possibly make you feel helpless in East Prefecture?"

Jiang Sheng transmitted his voice to recount the entire sequence of events to Xu Xiao. After listening, Xu Xiao fell into silence as well. "So that is how it is. No wonder Daoist feels such a sense of urgency."

Jiang Sheng continued, "Earlier, this poor Daoist went to the Zhaa family and had an in-depth conversation with Daoist friend Cha Liangcai."

"Daoist Cha told me that I could visit the Azure Cloud Sect or come to the Embracing Moon Sect to probe for news."

"That is why this poor Daoist has come to Fairy's place."

Xu Xiao thought for a moment and said, "I can take Daoist to meet my master."

"Elder Konglan?" Jiang Sheng asked.

Xu Xiao nodded. "I am naturally unaware of the events of back then, but my master attended the Azure Cloud Sect's sect master succession grand ceremony on behalf of our sect master."

"Then I must trouble Elder Konglan." Jiang Sheng breathed a sigh of relief; being able to obtain some clues was a good thing.

The Youlan Peak of the Embracing Moon Sect was the Daoist domain of Elder Konglan.

When Xu Xiao brought Jiang Sheng along, Konglan naturally perceived Jiang Sheng's aura.

The arrival of a Purple Mansion cultivator was something Konglan could not afford to take lightly.

After Xu Xiao introduced Jiang Sheng's background to Konglan, the look in Konglan's eyes as she gazed at Jiang Sheng noticeably shifted to something more profound. "So it is Daoist Jiang of Qingping Mountain. Forgive this junior for failing to welcome you properly."

Inside the main hall of Youlan Peak, after listening to Jiang Sheng's request, Konglan pondered for a moment before speaking, "Speaking of that incident back then, it truly was somewhat strange."

"Moreover, that ultimately involved the Golden Core sect, the Azure Cloud Sect. Logically speaking, we should not have disclosed this matter to Daoist."

"However, since Daoist is a friend of my disciple, this junior will not keep it from Daoist."

With that, Konglan transmitted the details of the situation back then to Jiang Sheng via voice transmission.

According to Konglan's description, the former sect master of the Azure Cloud Sect, True Person Qingming Sun Chang, was on his deathbed at the time and ultimately passed the position on to Sun Yu.

Sun Yu was only at the late Purple Mansion stage back then. According to tradition, once the Azure Cloud Sect lost its Golden Core cultivator, it was bound to face decline or even be carved up.

However, for reasons unknown—whether out of fear of shared doom if the lips were gone or due to other considerations—the Heavenly Sword Sect chose to support Sun Yu.

Considering the stability of Qing Province, the Embracing Moon Sect had also dispatched people to attend the ceremony to express recognition.

The one who went to the Azure Cloud Sect was Konglan.

When Konglan arrived at the Azure Cloud Sect at the time, she discovered that the atmosphere throughout the sect was extremely gloomy, and there were lingering traces of spell battles in many places within the sect, which were difficult to conceal even after cleanup.

Sun Yu explained this by claiming that following the ascension of True Person Qingming, many within the sect felt that the Azure Cloud Sect was in decline and wished to carve up its assets, forcing him to resort to thunderous methods.

Konglan didn't think much of it at the time; after all, once the pillar of a sect fell, it was only human nature for disloyal elements to emerge.

Less than ten years after Konglan returned from attending the ceremony, Sun Yu forged his Golden Core and became known as True Person Qingyu.

After listening to Konglan's description, Jiang Sheng finally gained a clear understanding of this piece of history.

Konglan looked at Jiang Sheng's thoughtful expression and smiled. "Has Daoist Jiang reached a decision?"

Jiang Sheng asked, "If this poor Daoist wishes to take the life of the Taiping River Deity, what would your esteemed sect do?"

"And if this poor Daoist were to join forces with that Taiping River Deity to deal with the Azure Cloud Sect, what would your esteemed sect do then?"

Konglan smiled. "My Embracing Moon Sect has our sect master presiding over it, standing firmly upon this Empty Moon Mountain to watch the winds and clouds surge across Qing Province. As long as the situation in Qing Province remains stable, it makes no difference to our Embracing Moon Sect."

Jiang Sheng nodded; he understood Konglan's meaning.

In the eyes of the Embracing Moon Sect, maintaining the stability of Qing Province was of the utmost importance.

For all these years, Qing Province had been co-ruled by three sects, and the Embracing Moon Sect had never harbored ambitions to monopolize Qing Province; otherwise, they would have directly swallowed the Azure Cloud Sect back then.

Killing a Taiping River Deity was no big deal to Qing Province, since the three sects were currently still tending toward stability.

However, if the Taiping River Deity were to stir up any major storms, the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Azure Cloud Sect would likely be plunged into turbulence.

Yet, was the stability of Qing Province important to Jiang Sheng?

Whether it was the Heavenly Sword Sect or the Azure Cloud Sect,

even the Embracing Moon Sect—were the attitudes of these sects important to Jiang Sheng?

Clearing his mind and perceiving his true nature, Jiang Sheng suddenly felt his spiritual platform become incomparably clear.

"It seems Daoist Jiang has already made up his mind," Konglan smiled and said.

Jiang Sheng smiled faintly. "Thank you, Elder Konglan, for sharing such secrets."

Konglan, however, gave a calm smile. "Xiao'er may not have told Daoist, but this junior also shares the surname Xu; my name is Xu Lan."

Jiang Sheng was slightly startled, glanced sideways at Xu Xiao sitting upright beside him, let out a soft sigh, paid his respects once more, and departed.

Having left the Embracing Moon Sect, Jiang Sheng picked up Tian Ming'an at the welcoming peak and flew straight toward East Prefecture.

Tian Ming'an was still somewhat dazed. He had been surrounded by the babbling female disciples of the Embracing Moon Sect on the welcoming peak inquiring after his well-being, only to be suddenly snatched up by his master to catch the wind, leaving his mind in a fog up to now.

Looking at Jiang Sheng's solemn expression, Tian Ming'an hurriedly asked, "Master, have you made up your mind?"

Jiang Sheng's voice was calm yet forceful. "Indeed, your master has reached a decision."

"Recently, your master's mind has been cluttered and confused by all sorts of matters."

"Fretting over the origins of the Taiping River Deity, worrying about the perspectives of the various sects in Qing Province, and maintaining suspicions toward the Zhaa family..."

"Come to think of it, it's quite laughable. I didn't hesitate nearly this much during Foundation Establishment, yet having reached the Purple Mansion, I've begun to waver and hesitate, looking before and after."

With that, Jiang Sheng let out a cold snort. "Amidst a myriad of disturbances, sever them with a single sword."

"Upon our return, your master will go seek out that Taiping River Deity and settle things once and for all."

Tian Ming'an quietly watched Jiang Sheng, seeing that Jiang Sheng's eyes were filled with absolute resolution.

The ethereal, warm-as-jade aura had vanished; at this moment, there was only a piercing,鋒芒畢露 sword intent radiating from Jiang Sheng.

No matter the thousands of disturbances, to sever them was all that mattered!