Atop the Heavenly Summit Palace.
Wen Hongli stood at the palace's peak, hands clasped behind his back, gazing down from thousands of *zhang* high in the sky at Heavenly Summit Mountain and the vast, boundless land of the Chenping Continent.
The fierce, cold wind at high altitude swept past the hem of Wen Hongli's daoist robe, yet it didn't stir the fabric even a hair's breadth.
Immediately after, Wen Hongli suddenly raised his right hand, then slammed it heavily onto the palace roof beneath him.
"Open!"
Wen Hongli roared, and thousands of strands of innate true energy overflowed from his palm.
Subsequently, these thousands of strands of innate true energy began to attract each other, weaving together to form a massive semi-circular barrier that completely enveloped the entire Heavenly Summit Mountain.
This was the barrier created by Wen Hongli.
Under these circumstances, not even a single fly or a fallen leaf could possibly escape Wen Hongli's barrier.
"Elder Zhong, what is the meaning of this?"
The envoy elder of Lingxiao Temple and the envoy elder of Mirage Palace arrived with aggressive momentum, directly seeking out Zhong Yin to demand an explanation.
The Kongshan Sect's act of sealing off Heavenly Summit Mountain with a barrier had not been discussed with the envoy elders of the other four great sects present on the mountain.
This was a sign of disrespect.
Zhong Yin turned around to face the several envoy elders who had come to demand answers, but before he could even open his mouth, someone took a step forward ahead of him.
"Fellow Daoists, I am He Furen, the Dignity Elder of Kongshan Sect's Yuanhua Mountain."
He Furen said with a smile:
"By order of Kongshan Sect's Supreme Imperial Law Elder, Huo Mu, I have come to Heavenly Summit Mountain to take full charge of investigating the case of the death of our Kongshan Sect Qingchan Peak disciple, Qin Yue. If you have any objections..."
He Furen took that ancient, simple wooden token from his waist and waved it before the envoy elders of Lingxiao Temple and Mirage Palace:
"You can file a complaint against me with the Kongshan Sect's Supreme Imperial Law Court."
When Huo Mu's token was displayed before the envoy elders of Lingxiao Temple and Mirage Palace, the words of complaint they originally intended to voice instantly stuck in their throats.
Huo Mu?
Having risen to their positions within the Five Great Sects, it was impossible for them not to know who Huo Mu was.
A Divine Ability Realm great power, of which there were not many across the entire Chenping Continent.
While both were among the Five Great Sects, the strength of Lingxiao Temple and Mirage Palace was not inferior to the Kongshan Sect; in fact, they were both considered slightly superior to Kongshan Sect.
But a matter that had alarmed a Kongshan Sect Grand Elder left the envoy elders of Lingxiao Temple and Mirage Temple momentarily unsure of how to proceed.
"I will send someone back to my sect to report this matter."
The envoy elder of Lingxiao Temple said.
"I will do the same."
The envoy elder of Mirage Palace promptly followed.
"Please do as you wish. However, each sect may only send one person back to their respective sect."
He Furen stated.
"What?"
The envoy elder of Lingxiao Temple said angrily, a disbelieving sneer appearing on his face:
"Elder He means to say that you not only intend to seal off Heavenly Summit Mountain with a barrier, but also restrict the freedom of movement of us, the other four great sects?"
"Has the Kongshan Sect overstepped its authority, becoming far too arrogant and looking down on everyone else!"
The envoy elder of Mirage Palace also said sternly.
He Furen's statement had thoroughly enraged the envoy elders of Lingxiao Temple and Mirage Palace.
"Moreover, judging by Elder He's words, does your Kongshan Sect suspect us of murdering Qin Yue?"
The envoy elder of Lingxiao Temple continued.
"No, you misunderstand."
He Furen smiled and shook his head:
"I do not suspect your Lingxiao Temple, nor do I suspect Mirage Palace. What I am saying is that everyone currently on Heavenly Summit Mountain is a potential suspect in the murder of Qin Yue. Naturally, this includes people within my own Kongshan Sect as well."
Hearing this, the envoy elders of Lingxiao Temple and Mirage Palace were slightly taken aback.
"Fellow Daoists, I repeat, if you have any objections, you may lodge a complaint against me, He, with the Kongshan Sect's Supreme Imperial Law Court. Is there anything else you wish to say?"
"...Hmph!"
The envoy elder of Lingxiao Temple snorted coldly, then turned and left with a flick of his sleeve.
The envoy elder of Mirage Palace did the same.
As for the Star Heaven Sect and Wind Ravine Valley, they had yet to make any response to this suddenly appearing barrier.
Gazing at the massive, transparent barrier that had appeared in the sky, the cultivators from all over the Chenping Continent gathered on Heavenly Summit Mountain felt bewildered and confused.
The news of Qin Yue's death had been completely sealed off by the Kongshan Sect in collaboration with the other four great sects.
Although Qin Yue had been nailed to the wall of the Heavenly Summit Palace.
But how many people would look up and notice a small, dark speck nailed to the white jade wall of the Heavenly Summit Palace over two thousand *zhang* high in the sky?
Except for one person.
...
Ye Xiu stood on the streets of Heavenly Summit Mountain, holding the porcelain bottle of medicinal pills given to him as a reward by the Kongshan Sect. Standing beside him were fellow Beiyuan Sect disciples.
At this moment, they were all looking up, staring dumbfounded at the enormous, transparent true energy barrier that had suddenly appeared out of thin air.
It was like a giant bowl, covering an area of a thousand *li* around Heavenly Summit Mountain.
"Even our Sect Leader couldn't possibly achieve something of this scale."
That middle-aged Martial Spring Realm cultivator's voice began to tremble slightly:
"Could this... be the work of a Myriad Transformations Realm cultivator?"
What else could it be?
Ye Xiu tilted his head back, channeling true energy into his eyes, allowing him to see the Kongshan Sect's Myriad Transformations Realm cultivator standing atop the Heavenly Summit Palace with perfect clarity.
One day, he would become like that man...
No, he would surpass him, even surpass Elder Mo.
"Hahahaha, interesting, interesting, truly interesting!"
Elder Mo's voice echoed within Ye Xiu's mind.
Although the combat power Elder Mo's remnant soul could currently exert was only at the Myriad Transformations Realm level, the strength of his divine soul remained at the Divine Ability Realm.
Every flow of true energy on Heavenly Summit Mountain was completely within Elder Mo's perception.
Therefore, finding Qin Yue's corpse was an extremely easy task for Elder Mo.
"She was merely a peak's direct-line disciple. Even if she had some Glazed Pure Body, it shouldn't warrant such a massive mobilization, sealing off the entire Heavenly Summit Mountain. With this move, the Kongshan Sect has essentially provoked all four other great sects at once. If things go badly, the world could descend into chaos!"
Elder Mo's voice was filled with excitement:
"Little Ye, if the world descends into chaos, that would undoubtedly be a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity for you. You must... wait a moment. That person over there seems a bit off."
A bit off?
"Which person?"
Ye Xiu asked.
"To your left, the one wearing the pale white daoist robe with gilded cloud crane patterns embroidered on the cuffs. He's a Kongyuan Mountain disciple of the Kongshan Sect, early Martial Spring Realm cultivation. However, his true energy is far more profound and dense than that of ordinary Kongshan Sect disciples who practice the Kongshan Art."
Elder Mo replied.
Ye Xiu looked in the direction to his left and indeed saw a tall, slender, and handsome young man standing there, smiling as he looked towards him.
"Hey, look over there at that Kongshan Sect cultivator. He's so handsome!"
Near Ye Xiu, some female cultivators from the Beiyuan Sect had also noticed the young man.
"Ah, he's coming over. He's walking towards us."
Those few young Beiyuan Sect female cultivators began to adjust their appearance and attire, trying to accentuate their feminine charm more.
But the young man ignored them, walking straight up to Ye Xiu. He then cupped his hands in a salute and said:
"Dare I ask if this fellow Daoist is Ye Xiu of the Beiyuan Sect?"
The young man's voice was exceptionally gentle and pleasant to hear.
"That is correct. May I ask who you are..."
Ye Xiu inquired.
"I am Chen Yan, Chief Disciple of Kongshan Sect's Kongyuan Mountain."
Chen Yan said with a smile:
"Might I ask Fellow Daoist Ye to step aside for a private conversation?"