Su Hongzhen had no sect affiliation; he was a rogue cultivator.
The reason he was able to burst onto the scene and obtain the qualification for the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry eight thousand years ago was because he had received an invitation from the Mirage Palace that year.
Although Su Hongzhen's status was that of a rogue cultivator, his relationship with the Mirage Palace was quite close.
This was because he was on very good terms with the Dao Sect Wanderer of the Mirage Palace at that time.
It was precisely because of this that after Su Hongzhen reached the summit at the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry, he wasn't viewed as a thorn in people's side.
Later, that Mirage Palace Dao Sect Wanderer unfortunately perished while campaigning against a Great Demon of the Dao Union Realm at the ninth stage.
From then on, the relationship between Su Hongzhen and the Mirage Palace gradually cooled.
Until they became complete strangers.
However, by that time, Su Hongzhen was already a cultivator at the late Divine Ability Realm, getting closer and closer to the Dao Union Realm.
Time returns to the present.
"For this Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry, don't exert yourself too much. Focus on protecting yourself."
Lin Qifeng shook his head and said:
"Originally, your martial uncle and I wanted you to use this opportunity to build up some reputation in front of the entire Chenping Continent's cultivation world. Now that your Aunt-Master Liu has also returned to the sect, it's time for you to start competing for the position of the next Dao Sect Wanderer of Kongshan Sect."
"Compete for the Dao Sect Wanderer position?"
Chen Yan was slightly taken aback.
"Correct, this is also the real reason we wanted you to become the Chief Disciple of Kongyuan Mountain."
Yue Chi said:
"Becoming a Chief Disciple is a necessary condition to compete for the Dao Sect Wanderer position."
"But, if I become a Dao Sect Wanderer, I would have to leave the sect..."
"Break through to the Passable God Realm as soon as possible, then return to the sect. We will arrange an elder position for you on Kongyuan Mountain."
Lin Qifeng said.
"The position of Scripture Hall Elder is quite suitable. After all, the Purple Mansion Kongshan Art is Chen Yan's achievement. Moreover, the current Scripture Hall Elder, Wang Shicheng, has mentioned more than once in the past ten or so years that he no longer wishes to stay in the Scripture Hall and wants to become a leisurely Offering Elder. It would be best if he could also cultivate another strand of innate true energy and advance to the Myriad Transformations Realm."
Elder Zhong Yin, who had been silent on the side, spoke up.
Chen Yan looked at Zhong Yin somewhat dumbfounded. He hadn't expected that even Martial Uncle Zhong had joined Yue Chi and Lin Qifeng in planning for his future.
Could it be that Elder Zhong had also boarded this pirate ship?
Lin Qifeng saw through the confusion and thoughts in Chen Yan's mind and hurriedly coughed twice:
"I didn't expect Eldest Senior Brother to also be so concerned about Yan'er's future."
"Naturally."
Zhong Yin smiled and said:
"Chen Yan is a rare, excellent seedling encountered by our Kongyuan Mountain. His talent is no less than that of Yuanhua Mountain's Li Haowen or Qingchan Peak's Chu Xiyao. Since his master and his Second Uncle-Master are so invested, then I, as his Eldest Uncle-Master, must also find a way to pave the path for Chen Yan."
The topic was thus casually glossed over with a light laugh.
Afterwards, Zhong Yin's expression suddenly darkened again:
"However, the current situation on Heavenly Summit Mountain is still very unclear."
That was indeed true.
Qin Yue's death was originally just a murder, but with the involvement of Supreme Imperial Law Elder Huo Mu, everything began to become complicated.
The situation on Heavenly Summit Mountain began to become turbulent, and a rift also emerged between Kongshan Sect and the other four great sects.
Elder Zhong Yin was completely stripped of power. Although the person nominally in charge of the overall situation was Elder Wen Hongli.
But the Supreme Imperial Law Order was in He Furen's hands, meaning He Furen's say was definitely greater than people imagined.
"He Furen suspects that there might be a problem within our Kongshan Sect's envoy group itself."
Zhong Yin said:
"It is precisely because of this that he seized my authority and is not allowing us to leave the Slaying Heaven Pavilion."
"That guy He Furen is truly insane..."
Yue Chi said.
Right at that moment, the door was suddenly knocked from the outside.
"Elder Zhong."
A voice sounded from outside. For some reason, this voice felt somewhat familiar to Chen Yan.
It seemed he had heard it somewhere before.
However, this thought only flashed through his mind for an instant. After all, the Kongshan Sect envoy group only had a little over seventy people. It was quite normal to hear a voice that sounded familiar.
"Please enter."
Zhong Yin said clearly.
A disciple walked in, bowed towards Zhong Yin's direction, then lifted his head and glanced twice towards where Yue Chi and Lin Qifeng were. His eyes then lit up:
"What a coincidence, Elder Yue and Lin Personal Disciple are also here. Elder Wen is summoning the three of you over there, saying there is important business to discuss."
"Important business?"
Zhong Yin slightly furrowed his brows, then stood up, wanting to walk outside.
As mentioned before, Wen Hongli was the True Dharma Elder of Kongyuan Mountain, while Zhong Yin was the Dignity Elder. Additionally, Wen Hongli was very close to Yun Yichen, so Elder Wen and Zhong Yin also had a very good relationship.
Zhong Yin harbored no suspicion towards Wen Hongli.
Seeing Zhong Yin start walking towards the main hall, Yue Chi and Lin Qifeng in the room both followed Zhong Yin's steps.
"Can I go?"
Chen Yan asked the disciple who came to relay the message.
"Replying to Chief Disciple Chen, Elder Wen only summoned Elder Zhong, Elder Yue, and Lin Personal Disciple."
The disciple replied respectfully.
"Chen Yan, you wait here for us."
Yue Chi said:
"I still have some matters regarding the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry that I haven't finished telling you."
"Yes, Martial Uncle Yue."
Chen Yan replied.
After Elder Zhong and the others went far, heading in the direction of the main hall, only Chen Yan in the room and the disciple standing at the door remained.
The disciple didn't seem to have any intention of leaving, which made Chen Yan grow increasingly vigilant.
But on the surface, he remained calm and simply said indifferently:
"Is there anything else?"
"No."
The disciple replied, but his feet still showed no sign of moving.
Immediately after, the room fell into an eerie silence again.
The situation was wrong.
Chen Yan suddenly began to realize something.
Just as he had previously guessed and as Martial Uncle Zhong Yin had said, it was very likely that there was a problem within Kongshan Sect itself.
If the previous target was Qin Yue, then why couldn't the second target be me?
Moreover, ever since the moment that disciple at the door spoke, Chen Yan felt his voice was familiar.
It was a very unique voice, cold and somewhat effeminate.
...He remembered.
Chen Yan remembered who the person in front of him was!
He was the man from the night Song Mingde was killed, the one who ambushed Chu Xiyao and killed him with the Kongshan Finger!
True energy surged from Chen Yan's Martial Spring, then quickly concentrated through his meridians into his palm, striking out towards the man's direction—
Strike first to gain the upper hand!