Chapter 242: Yaochi's Objective
The three Sword Pavilion core disciples were found in Daha's den.
To be honest, without the Heaven's Calculation divination, Chen Huaian would never have imagined the three core disciples would be in Daha's foul-smelling doghouse.
The three disciples now lay at the edge of Sunset Peak's cliff.
Despite their stench, no one showed any disgust.
"Spiritual Roots and Dao Bodies destroyed, dantians crippled - these Holy Land bastards have no humanity!" Su Qinian's eyes reddened as he gazed at the three core disciples reduced to such pitiful states. The four Sword Pavilion elders also wore expressions of hatred.
Li Qingran had already explained the full story.
Though there was no concrete evidence to verify Li Qingran's account.
Su Qinian and the four elders believed immediately—not just because Li Qingran represented the Ancestor's will, but also because of Yue Qianchi's transmitted message. If demonic cultivators were responsible, why did Yue Qianchi's message say to kill Song Chiyue?
From the Ancestor, they learned the soul within Song Chiyue wasn't hers at all, but rather belonged to Jade Qing Zhenren, a long-absent elder from Yaochi Holy Land.
After eliminating all other possibilities, the most improbable answer remained.
The masterminds behind the disappearance of sect geniuses were Yaochi and Burning Purity Holy Lands—whether True Martial Holy Land was involved remained unclear.
"Pavilion Master, Ancestor, Yue Qianchi must be trapped in one of the three Holy Lands. We should prepare to rescue her immediately!" Elder Li from Hidden Sword Peak bowed solemnly, his voice grave.
He'd practically watched Yue Qianchi grow up.
The girl had suffered tragedy—her parents perished in a fire, leaving her an orphan at a tender age.
Had the Pavilion Master not passed by coincidentally, she might have been snatched by traffickers.
Thus the Sword Pavilion elders doted on her excessively, and Yue Qianchi never disappointed them.
Reaching Golden Core stage before thirty, she displayed extraordinary talent, becoming the perfect senior sister in disciples' hearts.
How could they stand idly by now that she was trapped?
"Sit down!" Su Qinian shot Elder Li a glare. "Rescue how? Don't you think things are chaotic enough already?!"
"Pavilion Master, that girl is your disciple!" Elder Li knelt, voice trembling with sincerity.
Su Qinian turned away, taking deep breaths to steady himself. As sect leader, he tried maintaining composure but couldn't suppress his choked voice: "Do I not know she's my disciple? But you're all my Sword Pavilion disciples too—you mean as much to me as Yue Qianchi does. The Holy Lands teem with Void Fusion experts—I won't risk your lives!"
"But Pavilion Master—"
"I'll bring the girl back myself."
"Enough silence!" Chen Huaian rapped his sword hilt.
He'd already used Heaven's Calculation to locate Yue Qianchi.
But celestial secrets were obscured—with his current depleted fortune, pinpointing her location proved impossible.
However, judging from Heaven's Eye's direction, Yaochi Holy Land seemed likely.
Except Yaochi Holy Land didn't reside within Cangyun Realm, but hid in subspace—somewhat like Sword Pavilion's current state within his minor world.
All three Holy Lands occupied their own minor worlds of unknown origin, sealed off with spiritual energy barriers, drawing continuous energy from Cangyun Realm through arrays—thus their spiritual density far surpassed the outside world.
Entering these minor worlds posed extreme difficulty.
But the main obstacle remained insufficient strength—with Great Ascension stage power, rescuing Yue Qianchi would be trivial.
"Qingran, do you have any of Yue Qianchi's personal garments? Bring one here."
Yue Qianchi often visited Li Qingran, sometimes sleeping in her bed to absorb spiritual energy.
Thus she likely left personal items there.
Absolutely not because he'd seen them before.
Li Qingran rummaged briefly before producing a bundled breastband.
"Master, this is senior sister's..." Li Qingran carefully rolled the garment, leaving onlookers puzzled.
As she leaned closer to whisper explanations, her master snatched the cloth bundle.
"I know what it is!"
Li Qingran: "???"
Wait—how did master know?
Could he really tell just from a cloth bundle?
Chen Huaian placed the fabric near Yang Soul Mirror. Normally he only observed Li Qingran, but when Yue Qianchi visited unaware of his presence—given her careless nature—she occasionally provided... benefits.
Like how she disliked wearing traditional undergarments because they'd just stretch uselessly.
Instead preferring restrictive cloth strips that stayed put during movement.
Not that Chen Huaian sought such views—he wasn't that kind of person.
Yang Soul Mirror quickly activated, displaying Yue Qianchi's image.
Currently meditating cross-legged, her surroundings remained obscured, but she appeared unharmed.
"Ancestor, how is Qianchi?" Su Qinian hesitated to approach.
"Fine." Chen Huaian reassured him: "Yaochi needs Yue Qianchi alive—they won't harm her soon, likely pampering her instead.
We face two dilemmas.
First: Holy Land pursuit is inevitable—Sword Pavilion disciples must cultivate within my minor world, abandoning external missions. I'll handle resources.
Second: Rescuing Yue Qianchi requires patience—we can't confront those two Great Ascension experts.
First we must discern Yaochi's purpose for her—understanding their goal guides our strategy!"
From Yue Qianchi's good condition, Chen Huaian deduced Yaochi's intentions exceeded simple talent extraction.
Otherwise they'd have acted already—why keep her captive?
Su Qinian recognized his impulsiveness too.
A Nascent Soul cultivator storming Holy Lands was suicide.
He'd die pointlessly without saving anyone.
But how to uncover the Holy Lands' true objective...
"Master, that demonic-cultivating girl I rescued in the secret realm seemed hostile toward Holy Lands—perhaps she knows something?"
Li Qingran recalled details—the girl had immediately exposed Monk Huikong's true nature during combat, suggesting prior encounters.
As these words left her mouth,
Demonic Energy erupted from Sunset Peak's cabin.
Everyone turned to see a demonic-blade-wielding girl silhouetted in the doorway.
Her robes billowed violently as killing intent condensed into blood mist around her, distorting the very air.
Those crimson eyes locked onto them.
"Kill..."
A bestial growl escaped her lips.
"Kill kill kill! Hehehe!"
"All who stand in my way—DIE!!!"