When the words "Cause of Calamity" came from the white-haired elder's mouth, Chen Yan's heart sank slightly.
Cause of Calamity.
He had heard this term before, and the impression was quite profound.
In one of Chen Yan's reincarnation cycles, just before his death, he had heard the shadowy figure standing by his bed mention this term.
That shadowy figure had regarded him as the "Cause of Calamity."
"Senior Uncle, may I ask, what is the Cause of Calamity?"
Chen Yan inquired.
"The Cause of Calamity is a lock."
The young man wearing the yellow robe answered from the side:
Su Hongzhen, the first sword cultivator of Chenping Continent, and also the last sword immortal.
Once, when Chen Yan's lifespan was about to run out, he went to the Fallen Sword Mountain Range specifically to seek Su Hongzhen's opportunities, hoping to grasp a slim chance of survival.
But in the end, he found nothing.
After Su Hongzhen, no one from Chenping Continent had ascended to immortality.
"But this is just baseless rumor."
The white-haired elder waved his hand.
"No one knows why no one from Chenping Continent has ascended to immortality over these seven thousand years. It might simply be because Chenping Continent's talent has withered."
After saying this, the white-haired elder paused for a moment:
"The Cause of Calamity theory is merely an unproven speculation and hypothesis. Because this viewpoint carries too much conspiratorial undertones, it cannot be openly discussed.
"However, Elder Fu Qian's lineage has always been staunch supporters of the Cause of Calamity theory from beginning to end. As for him personally, he's even somewhat obsessive about it."
"So, what exactly is the Cause of Calamity..."
Chen Yan continued pressing for answers.
"They are beings hidden among the masses, yet different from ordinary people."
The white-haired elder explained:
"According to legends, twelve hundred years ago, there was a sect in the southwest of Chenping Continent called the Orthodox Pivot Sect. This sect was quite renowned in the southwestern part of Chenping Continent at that time, even showing signs of approaching the status of the five great sects.
"At that time, the Cause of Calamity theory had not yet gained widespread acceptance among the major sects of the world. The fact that no Immortal Ascension Realm cultivators had appeared for nearly six thousand years also made cultivation practitioners increasingly anxious.
"Against this background, the Orthodox Pivot Sect launched a massacre called 'Eliminating the Cause of Calamity.'
"Under the influence of the Orthodox Pivot Sect, not only various cultivation sects, but even secular dynasties in southwestern Chenping Continent, and even common people joined this massive slaughter.
"Dwarves, eunuchs, deaf-mutes, and later even widows, orphans, and disabled people all became targets of people's hunting.
"Later, the fundamental purpose of Eliminating the Cause of Calamity was no longer about eliminating the actual cause, but simply about removing dissidents."
"Cultivators began attacking each other, accusing enemies or competitors of possibly being the Cause of Calamity. The entire cultivation world of Chenping Continent fell into chaos because of this.
"Finally, the chief disciple of the Star Heaven Sect's leader was treacherously murdered during the Eliminating the Cause of Calamity chaos, making the leadership of the five great sects realize that this farce could not continue."
"Ultimately, the Star Heaven Sect's leader personally led a team to the southwest, annihilating the Orthodox Pivot Sect and its affiliated small and medium-sized sects. Only then did the Eliminating the Cause of Calamity farce finally come to an end."
"After that, the Cause of Calamity theory ceased to be mainstream in Chenping Continent."
The white-haired elder's words greatly shocked Chen Yan.
This reminded him of the medieval witch hunts.
The Eliminating the Cause of Calamity chaos was essentially a witch hunt in the cultivation world, born from people's panic about no one ascending to immortality in Chenping Continent for thousands of years.
Although over ninety-nine percent of cultivators in this world had no chance whatsoever of breaking through to the upper three realms, the scenario of no one ascending to immortality still caused panic.
Because this likely represented that the path to immortality had been severed.
The atrocities of Eliminating the Cause of Calamity were born from this fear of the unknown.
In other words, he was killed in that previous reincarnation cycle because someone regarded him as the Cause of Calamity.
Elder Fu Qian, who remained obsessed with the Cause of Calamity theory, also seemed to be making moves in the outer court.
Did this mean, to some extent, that those shadowy figures who killed him were related to Elder Fu Qian?
And how much were Chu Xiyao, and even the already deceased Song Mingde, connected to these matters?
Even the calamity that would descend upon the outer court three years later, causing Cheng Ziying's death...
Chen Yan didn't know, because the information he could currently obtain wasn't sufficient - it was just the white-haired elder's one-sided account.
What was the truth behind it all?
The white-haired elder before him seemed to dislike the Cause of Calamity theory greatly, hence his strong disapproval of Qingchan Peak's Elder Fu Qian.
And it appeared that his junior brother, Outer Court Elder Lin Qifeng, shared similar views with the white-haired elder, which was why he sent Chen Yan to deliver the message.
"Did your master tell you anything else?"
The white-haired elder continued asking.
"Nothing else."
Chen Yan replied.
"Very well."
The white-haired elder nodded:
"So, what elixir did you come here to obtain?"
"Body Forging Liquid."
As for requesting higher purity Body Forging Liquid, Chen Yan couldn't bring himself to make such a demand.
"Zhao Bin."
The white-haired elder called.
"Your disciple is here."
The young man wearing the yellow robe bowed respectfully.
"Take your Uncle Lin's disciple downstairs to get three bottles of superior-grade Body Forging Liquid, and also take one bottle of the Qi Regulation Pills I refined recently."
The white-haired elder continued giving orders.
"As you command."
The young man named Zhao Bin said respectfully, then took two steps back and gestured toward the stairs for Chen Yan to come over.
"Junior Nephew."
Just as Chen Yan was about to go downstairs, he was suddenly called back by the white-haired elder behind him.
"Your disciple is here."
Chen Yan responded.
"Soon, we will meet again."
The white-haired elder said with a smile.
Chen Yan didn't speak, merely bowing toward the elder before following Zhao Bin downstairs.
Probably meaning that Lin Qifeng would send him to deliver messages again soon.
Zhao Bin stood before a shelf on the second floor of the Alchemy Hall, taking three crystal bottles containing emerald green liquid from a tray, along with one small milky-white porcelain bottle.
"One bottle of Body Forging Liquid can be used for three baths, totaling nine baths needed. Bathe once every seven days, just pour the Body Forging Liquid into the bathtub and soak for half an hour. Cold water is best."
Zhao Bin explained the usage of the Body Forging Liquid to Chen Yan:
"As for this Qi Regulation Pill, you should wait until after breaking through to the Qi Circulation Realm before taking it."
"Thank you, Senior Brother."
Chen Yan said.
"What do you think about what my master said?"
Zhao Bin suddenly changed the subject.
"About what?"
Chen Yan asked, puzzled.
"My master's views on the Cause of Calamity, what do you think?"
This seemed to be the young man's way of testing Chen Yan.
Chen Yan recalled Zhao Bin's attitude toward the Cause of Calamity theory back on the third floor of the Alchemy Hall. It seemed he and the white-haired elder held differing opinions about the theory.
But could this be an act put on for his benefit?
Better to remain cautious.
"It's just unfortunate about those innocent beings who died wrongly twelve hundred years ago."
Chen Yan replied.
This was a very vague answer, and Zhao Bin didn't seem to show any particular reaction to Chen Yan's response.
"Focus on your cultivation. Although you're still an outer sect disciple now, your master is Uncle Lin."
Zhao Bin said:
"Do you know what this represents?"
"This junior is dull-witted. Please enlighten me, Senior Brother Zhao."
"This means you're currently considered half a Kongyuan Mountain disciple. If the sect leader forgives Uncle Lin and orders him to return to Kongyuan Mountain..."
As he spoke, Zhao Bin paused for a moment:
"Junior Brother Chen, you would then become a Kongyuan Mountain disciple."