"..."
Chen Ye fell silent.
Susu, disappeared?
How is this possible!
By her side, there were two Golden Core True Men from the Lingyin Sect.
Not to mention, given her status, the Lingyin Sect would definitely send a Fake Pill True Master to guard her.
If she had disappeared after an intense magical battle, Chen Ye might reluctantly accept it.
But...
Why did she vanish without a trace?
Chen Ye furrowed his brows, his tone heavy:
"Could it be that even the True Masters didn’t notice anything?"
"It’s not that they couldn’t, but there wasn’t time. The Emotion Crossing Sect also has True Masters, both sides were restraining each other. By the time our sect’s True Masters noticed, Bai Susu was already gone. Unexpectedly... Normally, apart from the True Masters, no one in the Emotion Crossing Sect could possibly have such means."
The Elder’s withered hand emerged from his robe sleeve, holding a semi-transparent jade tag with flickering light.
This was the soul tag used in the cultivation world to confirm life and death.
However, Bai Susu’s soul tag was somewhat special.
Besides confirming life and death, it also had a tracking function.
Of course.
Since Bai Susu was said to be missing, this jade tag’s tracking function naturally became ineffective.
The Elder gazed at the jade pendant in his hand, narrating slowly:
"Five days ago, she disappeared in the Celestial Abyss, after which the soul tag lost her ethereal presence."
"The terrain of the Celestial Abyss is peculiar, and it lies within the Qi Kingdom, extremely troublesome."
The Celestial Abyss?
As far as Chen Ye could recall,
this place was located at the border of Qi Kingdom, east of the Cang River, north of the Black Cliff.
Years ago, this place wasn’t named the Celestial Abyss.
But later on, when cultivators from the Songyang Sect and other forces fought a war here, they forcefully split the boundless plains into an unfathomable abyss.
Moreover, due to numerous cultivators clashing there, the various ethereal presences became entangled, resulting in unusual celestial phenomena, drawing clouds and mist in, hence named Celestial Abyss.
After listening, Chen Ye understood the sect’s predicament, and spoke solemnly:
"The sect doesn’t dare to send people on a large scale for rescue, fearing it would alarm the Emotion Crossing Sect?"
"Indeed."
The Elder nodded,
"Old and True Man Zhang need to sit in Lingyin to prevent the Emotion Crossing Sect from reckless actions... Thus, we can only choose a strong supporter from within the sect."
"Though the sect has several Fake Pill True Masters, their path is a shortcut to enlightenment, ultimately falling short."
"The Fake Pill method involves seizing the secrets of heaven to achieve creation, rather than genuine golden mercury formed by life and cultivation. This method forcefully compresses ethereal energy into a pill, inherently flawed, unable to achieve true harmony and completeness."
"As time passes, when the heavenly cycles weaken, not only does the Fake Pill fail to replenish the body, it also generates erysipelas and virtual fire, constantly backfiring on the Divine Soul and meridians. Only those with flourishing vitality and high cultivation can barely suppress it."
"Currently, within our Lingyin Sect, there are only three Fake Pill True Masters who can suppress the backlash."
"Firstly, the current Sect Master. He is in prime, vitality like a furnace, flourishing unprecedentedly, thus in condition to manage the situation."
"Secondly, Bai Liuyue. During the Yan and Qi confrontation, the sect originally sent him secretly to protect the path, ensuring Bai Susu’s safety. But who would have thought... he too disappeared in the Celestial Abyss, his life and death unknown till now."
"As for the last person, he is currently overseeing the frontline camp at the Yan and Qi border, coordinating forces, intimidating the demons of the Emotion Crossing Sect, unable to pull away."
Although Chen Ye felt impatient, he could only restrain his temper and listen to the Elder’s explanation.
As for the drawbacks of the Fake Pill True Masters, Bai Susu had explained to him long ago.
Presumably, due to this, the Elder could only select from among the late Foundation Establishment cultivators, previously probing Chen Ye’s profound foundation, powerful Divine Soul, and proven capabilities through various achievements.
And..... Chen Ye’s close relationship with Bai Susu, he would certainly do his utmost to rescue her.
Therefore,
rather than choosing those veteran strong practitioners at the eighth and ninth layers of Foundation Establishment, did the Elder pick him, a seventh-layer Foundation Establishment?
Reflecting on this, Chen Ye’s mind suddenly cleared.
"Then what about the other Fake Pill elders in the sect..."
Chen Ye tentatively asked.
Needless to say.
The strength of the Lingyin Sect was beyond his imagination, no wonder Huayue Mansion could easily meddle in the Spirit Treasure Sect but dared not act rashly towards the Lingyin Sect.
"All have worn out vitality, year-round staying in the back mountain in closed meditation, resisting the night-to-night backlash of the Fake Pill."
The Elder shook his head, his hunched body leaning slightly forward, looking directly at Chen Ye,
"The Celestial Abyss’s ethereal presence is mottled, obstructing Divine Sense. Ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators would grope like blind men there, just like in the Songyang Cave Heaven, their ethereal presence disturbed by Great Cultivators. But you’re different, back in the Songyang Cave Heaven you navigated smoothly."
"How about it, are you willing to take the task?"
To go, he must go!
Previously.
Chen Ye had planned to assist Susu in Qi Kingdom once he reached the late Foundation Establishment.
Now she is missing.
Even without the Elder’s words, without this so-called core inheritance as leverage, upon learning she is in crisis, he would absolutely venture through fire and flames!
"Elder, you’ve overstated. True Inheritor Bai has shown Chen kindness, and bonded through life-and-death. As one lineage of the sect, both emotionally and rationally, this matter is Chen’s undeniable responsibility."
Chen Ye spoke firmly, his expression grave.
"Good, good, good!"
Seeing Chen Ye agree so decisively, without hesitation, a faint smile finally appeared on the Elder’s face, resembling tree bark.
"Old hasn’t misjudged you. As long as you successfully bring Bai Susu back safely, the entire Lingyin Sect owes you a great favor! In the future, if you form your Core, the sect will certainly provide full support!"
After saying this, the Elder extended his trembling hand, pushing a Jade Scroll toward Chen Ye,