"Disturbing everyone."
The Qi Sea Realm cultivator from Kongshan Sect bowed toward the members of Beiyuan Sect.
"Senior is too polite."
Zhang Zhuang quickly stood up and returned the bow to the Kongshan Sect cultivator.
Although Zhang Zhuang was clearly older than the Qi Sea Realm cultivator from Kongshan Qingchan, he still respectfully addressed the other as senior.
"I am Zhang Zhuang, an elder of the Great Wei's Beiyuan Sect. May I ask what business you have, senior?"
"Elder Zhang."
The Qi Sea Realm cultivator clasped his fists again:
"Might you have seen a female cultivator around sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a cyan-colored long skirt?"
Zhang Zhuang shook his head:
"Has something happened?"
"Nothing major."
The Kongshan Sect Qi Sea Realm cultivator replied:
"If Elder Zhang, or any fellow daoists from Beiyuan Sect, discover traces of a female cultivator around sixteen or seventeen years old wearing a cyan-colored long skirt, please be sure to come to Slaying Heaven Pavilion and report it to the Kongshan Sect duty disciples. Kongshan Sect will certainly offer a generous reward."
"Certainly."
Zhang Zhuang said.
"Troubling everyone."
The Kongshan Sect Qi Sea Realm disciple bowed once more toward the Beiyuan Sect disciples, then turned and left.
The people from Kongshan Sect were looking for a female cultivator around sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a cyan-colored long skirt?
Ye Xiu frowned, sensing this matter was not simple.
"Hah, interesting."
In Ye Xiu's mind, Elder Mo's voice sounded.
"The people from Kongshan Sect are looking for a little girl around sixteen or seventeen, wearing a cyan-colored long skirt?"
Elder Mo laughed within Ye Xiu's mind:
"Interesting, interesting."
Ye Xiu was utterly confused, not understanding what Elder Mo found so interesting right now.
"Ye Xiu."
Immediately after, Elder Mo's voice called his name within his mind.
"This junior is here."
Ye Xiu responded in his heart.
"You go to Slaying Heaven Pavilion and claim the reward from the Kongshan Sect people. I know where the girl they're looking for is."
"Yes."
Ye Xiu responded, then turned toward Elder Zhang Zhuang:
"Elder Zhang, this disciple will take a look around this area."
"Hmm."
Zhang Zhuang merely nodded.
Immediately, Ye Xiu left the camp and headed toward Slaying Heaven Pavilion.
"Elder Mo, where is that female cultivator now?"
He asked.
"Hahahaha, truly interesting! This Dao Inquiry Assembly is going to have quite a show to watch!"
Elder Mo didn't directly answer Ye Xiu's question, then added, his voice barely suppressing laughter:
"You want to know where that little girl is now?"
"Yes."
Ye Xiu replied.
"Then look up."
Following Elder Mo's words, Ye Xiu raised his head and looked toward the sky.
There was nothing there except the solitary Heavenly Summit Palace.
...
Chen Yan stood on the plaza of Heavenly Summit Mountain, looking up at the Heavenly Summit Palace suspended over two thousand zhang high in the sky above.
Standing here with him were the envoys of the Five Great Sects, all the elders, and the Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry participants.
Everyone raised their heads, gazing up at the Heavenly Summit Palace in the sky.
Perhaps due to factors of light and distance, people often easily overlooked the situation on the Heavenly Summit Palace.
But when cultivators channeled their true qi to their eyes, the situation became quite clear.
On the Heavenly Summit Palace, there was a female cultivator around sixteen or seventeen years old, her face pale, her eyes lifeless, her limbs hanging limply.
Her cyan-colored long skirt and the token at her waist engraved with the four characters "Kongshan Qingchan" both fluttered in the wind.
A sword had pierced through her chest, nailing her to the white jade wall of the Heavenly Summit Palace.
Qin Yue was dead.
Nailed to the outer wall of the Heavenly Summit Palace in an extremely tragic manner.
"Elder, Qin Yue's remains were discovered by a Beiyuan Sect disciple named Ye Xiu."
A Kongshan Sect disciple approached Zhong Yin's side and reported in a low voice.
"Beiyuan Sect?"
"It's a third-rate sect from the northwest of Chenping Continent."
"Hmm, investigate them a bit. If there are no issues, give them the reward we promised."
Elder Zhong Yin's voice was low and heavy.
Chen Yan, standing not far from Zhong Yin, could clearly feel the immense fury radiating from him right now.
A personal disciple of a Kongshan Sect elder, a Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry participant, had died inexplicably at this Dao Inquiry Assembly of Chenping Continent.
And her corpse was even nailed to the outer wall of the Heavenly Summit Palace.
This wasn't just the simple fall of a cultivation genius; it was a slap in the face to Kongshan Sect.
"Yue Chi."
Zhong Yin said quietly.
"Junior brother is here."
Yue Chi took two steps closer to Zhong Yin.
"Return to Kongshan Sect immediately at the fastest speed possible. Inform our master of this news. Then go to Qingchan Peak and also tell Bai Qiming that Qin Yue is dead."
"Yes."
Yue Chi saluted, then his figure flashed, transforming into a streak of flowing light that vanished at the horizon.
"Elder Zhong."
Dai Yuze, the envoy from Wind Ravine Valley nearby, walked over and said quietly:
"I have already ordered the ferry dock to be sealed, prohibiting anyone from traveling to or from Heavenly Summit Mountain, and stationed two Passable God Realm cultivators to guard it."
Zhong Yin nodded:
"Zhong Yin, on behalf of Kongshan Sect, thanks Elder Dai here."
"It's what should be done."
Dai Yuze sighed:
"No one wants to see something like this happen. If Elder Zhong needs any help with anything, please speak freely. Dai will not refuse."
"Thank you for your kindness, Elder Dai."
Zhong Yin said.
"Then I won't disturb you further."
This elder from Wind Ravine Valley said, then retreated to the side.
"Immediately send people to seal all the small paths down the mountain on Heavenly Summit Mountain. Verify the list of all participants in this Dao Inquiry Assembly. If anyone has left, bring them back without exception."
Zhong Yin continued issuing orders.
Kongshan Sect would definitely investigate this matter thoroughly. Qin Yue's status within the sect, especially on Qingchan Peak, was second only to Chu Xiyao.
"Junior Sister Liu."
Zhong Yin called.
"Here."
Liu Yantang stepped forward two steps. Her normally cheerful expression was now quite somber at this moment.
"Go retrieve Qin Yue's corpse from the Heavenly Summit Palace. Don't let that child suffer up there any longer."
Zhong Yin said.
Chen Yan stared for a long time at Qin Yue's corpse nailed to the Heavenly Summit Palace, stunned.
This was a change of fate.
In fact, this wasn't the first time Qin Yue's fate had changed. In previous cycles of reincarnation in Taiyun City, Qin Yue had been poisoned to death several times before.
Those previous incidents were the actions of Elder Lan Wei, under Fu Qian's instructions.
So this time, who would the murderer be?
Chen Yan had no clue, because this incident was far more complex than any previous one.
The Five Great Sects and over eight hundred other sects, totaling more than twenty thousand cultivators, were gathered on this Heavenly Summit Mountain.
Chen Yan exhaled a turbid breath.
He couldn't guarantee this matter had absolutely nothing to do with him, because since Qin Yue was already dead, no one could be one hundred percent certain that Chen Yan hadn't been targeted as well.
Chen Yan and Qin Yue had many similarities.
Both were rising stars, and both were Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry participants for Kongshan Sect.
It seemed this Dao Inquiry Assembly of Chenping Continent might be more troublesome than imagined.