Chapter 12: The White-Clad Stranger Strikes

The entire cultivators' assembly was thrown into chaos.

No one had expected such an event to occur.

Many of the prodigies from the Kaoshan Sect were dumbfounded.

Long Chen was their number one talent. Was he really this easy to eliminate?

And then there was Qin Changsheng—he was so powerful, so why bother using a shield? Why not just confront the sect leader directly and declare himself the Holy Son? Why not simply marry Nangong Ruoxi?

Wasn't this utterly absurd?

...

Only Nangong Ruoxi, after everyone had left, noticed the engraved stone tablet beside Long Chen.

His name was inscribed upon it.

Her mind involuntarily recalled the young man's earlier words—that instead of constantly seeking a shield, they should have dealt with the root cause, Long Chen, directly.

At the time, she thought the youth was joking, but soon after, she witnessed him take care of Long Chen.

She also remembered how the youth offered to sell the tablet to her at a discount, but when she declined, he gave it to Long Chen, who then died.

She recalled the youth asking her if a thousand layers of Qi Refinement could kill a Golden Core cultivator...

So much, it sent chills through her entire being.

Perhaps the youth had considered killing her.

Perhaps it was because Long Chen lost his patience that the youth refrained.

Now that the youth was gone, would he return?

Nangong Ruoxi's feelings were complex—fear mingled with anticipation.

But...

So many were hunting him down; could he really escape?

"Qin Changsheng, if I had known you possessed such strength, why would we ever have pretended to be Dao companions?"

...

Within less than a day, the news that the Holy Son of Kaoshan Sect had been killed by a youth named Qin Changsheng spread throughout the cultivation world.

Countless people were stunned!

This youth had started as a mere servant, officially recorded as having only reached the Qi Refinement stage, unable to break through for a long time, and thus never admitted to the inner sect.

Later, he was brought in by the Holy Maiden Nangong Ruoxi as a shield, but within days, he killed Long Chen.

This news even reached the Xuanyuan Sect.

On that same day, Yu Yan, the immortal beauty of Xuanyuan Sect who had secluded herself for a long time and never left the sect, hurriedly descended the mountain, clutching a sword, appearing anxious—this news left countless people bewildered.

Yu Yan was known for her reluctance to descend, dedicating all her time to cultivation, progressing at a terrifying pace, refining each realm to its utmost.

She once declared she would not descend until she became an immortal.

Yet now, barely at the peak of the Golden Core stage, she had inexplicably come down.

For what purpose?

Could it be for Qin Changsheng?

...

No one was willing to believe there was a connection.

But it was too coincidental.

Wang Yuyan hurried down the mountain, and the white-clad sword immortal of Xuanyuan Sect also emerged from seclusion.

She stood coldly atop the mountain of Xuanyuan Sect, her gaze piercing through the vast distance, settling on the fleeing youth.

"Never thought there would be a day when I, the White-Clad, would misjudge someone..."

"Qin Changsheng, even if you possess the strength to kill Long Chen, you are unworthy of Yu Yan."

"Leaving you alive was a mistake; it will only cause Yu Yan's love tribulation to become insurmountable."

Heh.

The White-Clad Sword Immortal then stepped out of Xuanyuan Sect, heading toward the youth.

The entire Kaoshan Sect was hunting Qin Changsheng.

Yet no one could find him.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

The youth seemed to have vanished into thin air, disappearing from everyone's sight.

At a place five hundred miles from Kaoshan Sect, a white-clad sword immortal stood before the youth, who was at the edge of a cliff...

The youth was Qin Changsheng.

The White-Clad Sword Immortal was Wang Yuyan’s master, known simply as White-Clad.

Now, these two old acquaintances, having met only once before, stood together again, just as five years ago, when Qin Changsheng escorted Wang Yuyan to Xuanyuan Sect, and White-Clad stood before him in this very posture.

The cultivation hierarchy was as follows: Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformation, Sage, Saint King, Saint Emperor, Tribulation Crossing, Immortal, Immortal King, Immortal Emperor...

Leaders of great sects like White-Clad were typically at the Tribulation Crossing stage. Although she had not yet become an immortal, the cultivation world still referred to Tribulation Crossing cultivators as immortals because the tribulation was arduous, and true ascension even more so.

Five years ago, White-Clad had demonstrated her power. Now, five years later, she had returned. However, the difference was that back then, White-Clad told him to keep his distance from Yu Yan; this time, she told him to stay away from her forever.

Qin Changsheng knew White-Clad could never accept him.

On the path of cultivation, ruthlessness and severing attachments was always easier.

...

"After learning of your whereabouts, Yu Yan abandoned her attempt to break into the Nascent Soul realm and came down the mountain to find you. She was afraid you would be harmed and has been searching frantically for you these past few days."

White-Clad spoke to Qin Changsheng as if chatting with an old friend.

"She could have found you, but I interfered with her judgment, so you two passed each other by..."

"Then I brought you here."

"Qin Changsheng, you are intelligent; you should have figured out why."

White-Clad’s expression was calm, looking down on him from above.

Qin Changsheng’s expression was natural as he quietly listened.

When asked by White-Clad, Qin Changsheng shook his head: "Honestly, I cannot understand."

"Why not?"

"The Dao is vast; each walks their own path. I have already handed Yu Yan to you. Why can’t you accept me?"

...

Qin Changsheng truly did not understand.

At first, he sympathized with White-Clad. After all, a poor duck shouldn’t cling to a phoenix that can fly. This was normal. Without a burden like him, Yu Yan could have gone further.

White-Clad thought so; Qin Changsheng agreed.

So they reached an unspoken agreement without argument or dispute.

But today, after merely taking a few steps on his own path, the so-called White-Clad Sword Immortal could no longer tolerate it.

He could not comprehend it.

"The path of cultivation offers no peace if each does not respect the other's path. There is only the unforgiving scythe of cause and effect."

"Yu Yan is destined to seize her heavenly mandate, and you... are the most fatal knot in her karma. To make her flawless and without weakness, I must clear away all obstacles for her."

White-Clad calmly looked at Qin Changsheng: "It’s unfair to you. I know you harbor grievances, but I must do this, for Xuanyuan Sect, for the sect’s first destined Empress..."

"I will be the villain."

"If you have any last words, tell me. I will do my best to help you accomplish more, as repayment."

White-Clad was resolute in killing Qin Changsheng.

"That’s a convincing reason, indeed..."

"But aren’t you afraid Yu Yan will hate you when she finds out?"

"Hate if she must. I don’t care. If she can become Empress, fulfilling the dream I never could, then what does it matter if she grinds my bones to dust?"

White-Clad laughed heartily, pride shining in her beautiful eyes.

"You truly are... a madman."

"But I feel at ease knowing Yu Yan is with you."

Qin Changsheng sighed, "But all karma must be repaid. What will you do in the end?"

"That is why I brought you to Tianji Cliff. Your cultivation and lifespan were burned out to barely kill Long Chen, and now, after fleeing for three days, your spiritual energy is likely exhausted."

"All you need to do is jump from here. Your death will no longer concern me. Even if Yu Yan can reshape karma, it would take her mastering the laws first, and by then, centuries will have passed—who will still remember?"

White-Clad pointed to the abyss behind Qin Changsheng.

Qin Changsheng glanced back. It was indeed very high.

Terrifyingly so.

But who knew if an immortal’s cave lay below?

Or if the imprisoned Empress was there?

"Since the path has been chosen for me, I shall jump myself," Qin Changsheng said, turning without hesitation and leaping into the abyss!

White-Clad remained silent for a long moment.

"A respectable man, indeed. Shame, if you didn’t know Yu Yan, perhaps we could have been confidants..."

"But your personality still makes me uneasy."

With that, she drew a spiritual sword and struck at Qin Changsheng.

Falling, Qin Changsheng was pierced through by a sword.

White-Clad stood there for some time before turning and leaving.