Chapter 70: Home is Gone

“Is it really possible?” Ling Kun’s handsome face was alive with excitement and anticipation.

“It is, but it will take time—at least half a year.” Qin Yue glanced at the medicine garden, brimming with treasure aura, silently calculating the reserves of other top-tier gardens in the Zhaoyang Sect before giving his answer.

“Half a year…” Ling Kun muttered, somewhat disappointed.

“Protector, half a year is already swift. Think about it—a single Dao-level treasure herb takes countless years to truly mature,” Qin Yue said calmly. He needed to maximize the benefits from the sect’s gardens to elevate himself. If it were too easy, it would hold no value.

“You’re right—half a year it is!” Ling Kun quickly came around, his smile returning as he looked at Qin Yue. “I’ve already ordered the feast to be prepared. I’m not like my father—he says things he doesn’t mean and means things he doesn’t say. Haha! From now on, Elder Qin, you will be a guest of honor at my table!”

Ling Jinsong, that hypocrite, had failed somewhat—none of his three sons seemed to share his heart.

Qin Yue politely declined, “Protector, your place is full of beautiful distractions, enough to stir the heart. It would be better if you had someone escort me back—when I am ready, I’ll contact you and return.”

He was eager to find a way to relay the news, so that Mu Xingruo’s side could prepare in advance.

Ling Kun felt a bit regretful, but said nothing more. For people of their background, personality mattered little—what mattered was knowing whom one could offend, and whom one could not.

Qin Yue was young, but his abilities commanded respect and attention. He was no fool like Ling Han—when it was time to win someone over, Ling Kun did not hesitate.

When Qin Yue was sent back, Ling Kun deliberately gave him over ten thousand spirit stones and hundreds of high-grade pills.

He extended the olive branch again, “Elder Qin, time reveals true character. I, Ling Kun, most enjoy making friends, especially those as capable as you. In time, you’ll understand me!”

Qin Yue smiled and nodded, waving farewell to Ling Kun.

No sooner had he returned to his cave residence than Vice Sect Master Yue Mingxi quietly arrived alone at Qin Yue’s secluded retreat for a private tea and conversation.

“The people of Tianluo Sect aren’t capable of infiltrating here. Over the years, though we may roughly know where Tianluo Sect’s secret realm lies, sneaking in is nearly impossible,” Yue Mingxi sipped his tea and said quietly, “He merely wants to use this visit by the Immortal Gate as an opportunity to eliminate the sect’s greatest threat once and for all. From the sect’s perspective, it’s not wrong.”

Qin Yue asked, “But won’t this be embarrassing?”

Yue Mingxi smiled, “Compared to the gains, a little pride is nothing. Xiao Qin, remember: often, the words of the powerful must be understood in reverse. When they say not to judge heroes by success or failure, it’s nonsense. History is written by the victors—if not by outcome, then by what? Character?”

Qin Yue nodded, “So this time, it was an inside traitor of the sect?”

Yue Mingxi replied, “Not just a traitor, but an evil cultivator. I misjudged him—a former outer elder with decent talent but a restless mind. I never imagined that after turning to evil cultivation, his realm would soar. He may even still be hidden within the sect.”

As he spoke, he took out a pitch-black suit of armor from his ring and placed it on the table. “This armor, acquired in an ancient underground palace, is a top-tier artifact at the Rift Realm Earth Immortal level. It has served me for years. Now, I give it to you.”

Qin Yue said softly, “This is too precious…”

Yue Mingxi smiled, “You are the sect’s treasure—young, with vast potential, and also my hope. You must not suffer any harm. Wear this beneath your clothes, never take it off. Unless your enemies reach the Light-Tracing Human Immortal tier, you’ll be safe.”

Qin Yue bowed in thanks.

Yue Mingxi did not linger, urging Qin Yue to be at ease and barely mentioning Ling Kun, sensing that Qin Yue, though young and calm, possessed a proud spirit. Ling Kun’s flamboyant nature would hardly win his loyalty.

After seeing Yue Mingxi off, Qin Yue gave brief instructions to his cave attendants and activated the protective array.

It was as good as locking the door from inside—anyone wanting to enter would have to “knock,” and forced entry would be treated as an attack.

…

Late at night.

Qin Yue wore the black armor just gifted by Yue Mingxi beneath his clothes, donned Liu Tong’s exclusive hooded cloak on the outside, and a black mask on his face.

He cast the Earth-Burrowing Art, silently leaving his secluded retreat. He had already memorized the Zhaoyang Sect’s small world—he carried no jade map with holographic images.

That device, with its “positioning” function, could expose him if he left the sect.

To deliver intelligence, caution was essential.

There were two ways to leave Zhaoyang Sect: first, like Tang Qingxuan and the others had done, flying high in the sky with a magic boat and searching for a barrier node to exit; second, the method used by Xu Liang and other outer disciples—descending the mountain for errands, exiting via the “portal,” and leaving the sect’s small world through the mountain Qin Yue had seen before.

Qin Yue, wanting to “smuggle” out, had to choose the second option.

After nearly draining the surplus essence of the Enlightenment Tree in Yue Mingxi’s medicine garden, the core pill within him still showed no sign of taking shape, though its color deepened from pale to dark purple.

The energy absorbed to advance from the thirteenth to the fourteenth layer of the Void-Peering realm was nearly equal to that of the previous thirteen combined!

Yet, advancing from the fourteenth to the fifteenth layer required even more astonishing energy—Qin Yue felt he had already absorbed double the needed aura, but still couldn’t break through!

Still, his flesh, vitality, spirit, bones, and skin grew exceptionally strong, his aura deeply restrained.

Now, moving with his surroundings, he blended seamlessly. When he activated the Nether Stealth technique, he turned into a faint plume of blue smoke.

Based on ancient sect texts and exchanges with Chu Wanqing, Tang Qingxuan, and others, a movement technique at this level was nearly equivalent to the middle Dao realm, especially for those who specialized in it.

He used the Earth-Burrowing Art, skirting the main hall and speeding toward the outer “Zhaoyang Peak.”

The night was tranquil, moonlight filtering through the world’s barrier, casting a faint mist over the mountains and rivers.

The sect was unusually silent—rare birds and beasts made no sound.

Qin Yue dashed through the forests, moving as fluidly as a fish in water, his spirit peaceful and content.

Between mountains, he even tried running across giant treetops, nearly flying above the ground.

He descended from peaks, gliding like a great bird—graceful and free.

Even after speeding hundreds of miles toward the “exit,” he felt no fatigue.

The portal was always guarded by outer disciples; tonight, the usual five or six had grown to twenty or thirty.

Bright lanterns lit the area like daylight, but these posed no obstacle for Qin Yue.

As a guest elder, he naturally knew the entrance incantations.

Merging completely with his surroundings, he silently passed the guards, reciting the spell, and slipped out with ease.

Outside, more guards watched, but Qin Yue maintained the Nether Stealth, calmly slipping past right under their noses.

The location was halfway up a steep mountain, sheer cliffs dropping thousands of feet below.

Ordinary people could never climb up, and even cultivators at the Qi-Absorbing stage would struggle.

Qin Yue did not descend, but turned and climbed higher, stopping under a windswept cliff near the summit.

He took out a communication stone—advanced, but unable to store messages for long; it was essentially an “instant messenger.”

First, he sent a mental wave to Hu Jiuyan, relaying what had happened.

He did not get a response immediately.

Then he sent messages to Feng Qianning and Mu Xingruo.

Still, no reply.

Qin Yue frowned, an ominous feeling rising in his heart.

It shouldn’t be—these were cultivators, not ordinary people who would sleep like the dead.

As he wondered, Hu Jiuyan’s communication stone suddenly pulsed.

It was a cautious mental wave, asking who he was.

Qin Yue replied mentally: Waiting to dual cultivate with you.

A moment later, Hu Jiuyan’s message came, full of exhaustion and sorrow.

“Qin Yue, something has happened. Don’t contact me again. You can pretend you never joined the sect.”

Hu Jiuyan’s follow-up sent Qin Yue into disbelief.

The Tianluo Sect… had been destroyed!

More precisely, Tianluo Sect’s mountain gate was betrayed by Mo Shang and those defected demon cultivators.

A group from the Immortal Gate, together with Zhaoyang Sect and the top cultivators of the Ten Great Holy Lands, stormed Tianluo Sect.

The former sect master in seclusion—Qin Yue’s unseen mentor—and other elders fought desperately, but were overwhelmed with heavy casualties.

“Feng Qianning, who was cultivating in the sect, is missing; the sect master, Uncle Chi Mingxu, Chen Qianzhang, Wei Jie, and others were ambushed at the Evil Spirit River—their fates unknown. Qin Yue, our sect is basically annihilated…”

“You’re different from us. Only a few insiders know you joined. From now on, you are Qin Yue of Bamboo Garden, with no connection to Tianluo Sect. I beg you—don’t seek revenge. Remember the deep, brief bond we shared, and that’s enough.”

“One more thing—do you remember Starshine Villa? When disaster struck, the sect master sent me a message, saying she left some cultivation resources there for you. Someday, if you escape, seek Lady Starshine. She’ll give you what was left.”

“Take care of yourself. Don’t do anything foolish. Remember my words—don’t do anything foolish.”

Qin Yue felt cold all over. He had thought acting quickly would allow him to warn them in advance, but the enemy moved even faster…

War is ever-changing. This world is in constant flux.

“What about you? How are you now?” After a long silence, he asked.

A long pause, then: “I’m no longer with the Golden Kingdom’s theft bureau. I’ll soon enter the forbidden zone…”

In some distant place, Hu Jiuyan, wounded all over, her beautiful eyes clouded with tears.

Dressed in black, hood framing two furry ears, the hem of her robe trailing three blood-stained, snow-white tails, she gazed longingly south, toward Zhaoyang Sect.

“Qin Yue, I’m glad I met you when I was at my best. My greatest regret is never dual cultivating with you. Someday you’ll find a better girl. Farewell, my beloved little brother…”

Her final words were not sent mentally, but spoken in the gentlest voice she could muster.

Afterward, she looked toward the murderous abyss ahead, her furry palm igniting a white flame that reduced her treasured communication stone to ashes.

Without hesitation, she stepped forward. Her slender figure was quickly swallowed by the ancient, beast-like chasm.

On Zhaoyang Peak.

Qin Yue sat in silence atop a great stone, remaining there for a long time.