Chapter One Hundred and Ten: Against the Tide

  From Tu Ba, I learned that Tianqi County is vast in area and rich in resources. There are three forests, five peaks, and seven mountain ranges. As a result, the entire Tianqi County has four top factions: Wuji Faction, Xuanning Faction, Shuiyun Faction, and Jinyang Faction, which moved in recently. Although Shuiyun Faction's power was previously not comparable to the other three factions, it also had its own resource-rich land, Ling Shi Jingmai, and many masters within the faction.

  But just ten years ago, the Shuiyun Sect somehow had a conflict with the Fenghuo Symbol Tower. In a fit of rage, the three elders of the Shuiyun Sect slaughtered more than a dozen Array Masters. This made things big, and the Fenghuo Symbol Tower was the first symbol tower in Tianqi County, leading all the symbol towers in Tianqi County and gathering almost all the Refiners, Artifact Refiners, and Symbol Refiners in Tianqi County. At ordinary times, such a giant existence would be worshipped by every sect, but you Shuiyun Sect not only didn't worship them but also killed more than a dozen Array Masters.

  This matter was a big deal at the time, and many high-ranking officials from the Fuwen Tower came to investigate. The Shuiyun Sect was almost destroyed, but in the end, the sect leader self-destructed his yuan Shen to apologize for the incident. Three elders of the sect were forced to commit seppuku to apologize as well. After this incident, although the Shuiyun Sect managed to survive, it was subsequently ostracized by the Fuwen Tower and denied access to any array formations, magical artifacts, or talismans. The other three upper sects had always been vying with each other for resources, but now they joined forces to target the Shuiyun Sect, seeking to destroy it and divide its resources among themselves.

  After this incident, the Shuiyun Sect can be said to have fallen from a great height. The families and businesses that previously supported the Shuiyun Sect all severed ties with it. The elders within the sect also saw the trend and left one after another. For over ten years, only the eldest disciple, Ningfeng, has been working hard to support the Shuiyun Sect until now.

  Tou Ba was also just hearsay, as for the true cause and effect of this matter, he could only say roughly. Tang Qing listened to him with a frown on his face. Some things were unclear, and he stared at the bonfire, lost in thought. After Tou Ba finished speaking, he saw that Tang Qing's expression was not very good, and he suspected the relationship between Longhu Tian Shi and Shui Yun Pai, but did not dare to disturb him.

  "Is the Water Cloud Sect subordinate to the Upper Clear Sect? Why hasn't the Upper Clear Sect stepped forward? Are they just going to let the Water Cloud Sect self-destruct?"

  "Dragon Tiger Big Brother, don't you know anything about this great matter under heaven?"

  "What?"

  Tu Ba had originally wanted to use this to mock Tang Qing's ignorance, but he saw that although Tang Qing's expression was still calm, there was a coldness and anger beneath the surface. Tu Ba swallowed his words and said, "As early as twenty years ago, the Upper Clear Sect announced to the world, 'Seal the sect and reflect for twenty years'."

  When he heard this, Tang Jing's heart suddenly stagnated. He knew that if the clan announced to the world that they were sealing off their clan and reflecting on their mistakes, it also meant that someone within the clan had committed a grave error, incurring the wrath of heaven and men. If not for this, no great clan would willingly seal themselves off. After all, once sealed off, they would be completely cut off from the world, which was truly detrimental to the development of the great clan.

  "Why does Shangqing Sect need to seal off the ancestral temple?"

  "Alas..." Tu Ba sighed and said, "This Upper Clear Sect was once the leader of the world's great sects in ancient times. But with the end of the ancient era, although the Upper Clear Sect continued to be passed down and ranked among the eight sects of the world, no one has been able to ascend to immortality for thousands of years, and it gradually declined. Originally, over a hundred years ago, the Upper Clear Sect produced an extraordinary genius named Tang Wu Shang, and everyone thought that the Upper Clear Sect would rise again because of this. However, Tang Wu Shang failed in his tribulation and was destroyed, which may have been due to the exhaustion of the sect's luck. After Tang Wu Shang's failure, another talented member of the sect, Gu Lao Yun, fell into evil ways, causing rivers of blood to flow throughout the world. The Upper Clear Sect spent decades trying to bring Gu Lao Yun back into the fold, and this time, they probably sealed off the sect for that reason."

  As soon as he heard the three words "Gu Ruoyan", Tang Jing's long-sealed heart suddenly trembled violently, muttering the name "Gu Ruoyan". But things didn't end there, Tu Ba continued to speak.

  "In fact, there is another reason why the Upper Clear Sect was sealed off. It's because of a woman, a notorious demoness named Xie Tianyi. This woman was once a legendary figure known throughout the land, but for some unknown reason, over a hundred years ago, she suddenly fell into darkness and began to slaughter indiscriminately. Anyone who dared to defame the name 'Tang Wushang' would be met with her poisonous hand. For this reason, she has stormed through both the Tai Xu Sect and the Huang Tian Sect, her cultivation abilities unparalleled and unmatched by anyone..."

  Unraveling the heavenly garment...

  Tang Qing felt a severe headache upon hearing the name, never expecting that after his failure to cross the calamity, such a huge event would occur. Not only did Gu Ruo Yun fall into the evil path, but also Xie Tian Yi... These two names were what he most wanted to hear and yet most didn't want to hear, as they carried the recklessness and emotions of his youth.

  I didn't expect to fail in crossing the tribulation and embark on the path of a loose immortal, but it's only been over a hundred years...

  Cultivation is ageless, it turns out to be so short-lived.

  Actually, after Tang Qing embarked on the path of a loose immortal, he had been in seclusion to cultivate and cross the tribulation. As for how long it had been, whether he didn't want to know or refused to know, it was already somewhat unclear. This wasn't important; what was important was that after his failure to cross the tribulation, Gu Ruo Yun and Xie Tian Yi fell into the evil path, causing the Upper Clear Sect to have no choice but to seal the sect.

  Hehe...... is it me?

  Is all of this because of me?

  Because of me, Gu Ruo Yun, Tian Yi has fallen into the evil path and started killing recklessly, implicating Shang Qing Zong's Feng Zhong Si Guo.

  Hehe, what's the difference between their killings and mine?

  Shangqing Sect was sealed because of them, and this is also due to what difference I have.

  All along, Tang Qing couldn't forget what his master and seniors in the sect said to him before he crossed the tribulation. It was a kind of hope, a hope related to the Upper Clear Sect. However, after failing to cross the tribulation, that hope was shattered. This is the greatest regret of Tang Qing's life. Every time he thinks of his master's words, he feels extremely guilty. Now, upon learning that his failure in crossing the tribulation indirectly led to the Upper Clear Sect being sealed for twenty years, his heart is trembling uncontrollably and can no longer calm down.

  He can let go of the endless heavenly tribulations that belong to the scattered immortals, he can also let go of the legendary four great curses, and even let go of the second origin that is rarely seen in the world, but he cannot let go of the decline of the Upper Clear Sect.

  What should I do?

  Will you return as a free and unconstrained immortal?

  Scattered Immortals are a crime, the Nine Heavens do not accept them, the Nine Underworlds do not want them, and the heavens and earth cannot tolerate them. How can he return as a Scattered Immortal after killing so many immortals and being wanted by the Nine Heavens? Not only will he be unable to help the Upper Clear Sect, but he may even harm it.

  Heaven, are you punishing me?

  Hope, despair, desperation...

  Hahaha!

  No disappointment, no despair, there was none before and there will be none now.

  The Orthodox Church will not decline, never will, you want the Orthodox Church to perish, I just want it to rise.

  You ruined my nine heavenly calamities, ruined my hope, I will ask for it again, and cross it once more to show you.

  At this moment, Tang Qing's state of mind is no longer going with the flow, but against the current. He wants to take back everything he has lost, whether it belongs to him or the Shangqing Sect. Everything must be taken back, mine or not, I will take it all. This mindset, although not selfish, is already close.

  At this point, Tu Ba, who was lying on the ground, was shaking violently all over his body because he sensed a very terrifying aura emanating from the guy in front of him. What this aura was, Tu Ba wasn't clear, but he heard the sound of chains clanking.

  What's going on here?

  This little guy hasn't even condensed his yuan, how can he possess such a terrifying aura? Tu Ba doesn't know, and even dares not to move. At this time, Tang Jing's voice came over, the tone was very calm, but it was precisely this calmness that made Tu Ba feel extremely oppressed.

  "When did Shangqing Sect seal its teachings."

  "Seal, seal of the clan... it seems like... it's already been nineteen years, just one more year until the seal is opened..."

  "Did all the sects of Shangqing decline like the Yunshui sect?"

  "As far as I know... it seems that other sects are all normal, after all, the Upper Clear Sect is only sealed, not yet extinct, and other major sects do not dare to take advantage of this opportunity to seize power. The Water Cloud Sect also fell to today's state because they offended the Beacon Fire Symbol Tower..."

  ……

  The next morning.

  On a rural path, a horse carriage sped by, driven by a young girl whose expression seemed not too good, with worry etched between her eyebrows. Suddenly, a soft voice came from inside the carriage, "Xiao Zhao, stop the carriage first."

  The girl hastily grabbed the reins and stopped the carriage, asking, "Miss, what's wrong?"

  A woman walked out from inside the curtain, wearing a simple white dress. Her three thousand black hairs fell naturally, with two strands hanging in front of her chest. Her elegant face was carved with clear features, and her watery eyes were clear and bright but also had a hint of coldness, as if they could see through everything. Her small nose was delicate, and her cherry-like lips were thin and light. The worry between her eyebrows seemed to be more than Xiao Zhao's.

  Xiao Zhao helped the woman down and saw that her face was slightly pale. With concern, she said, "Miss, are you..."

  The girl gently shook her head and said softly, "No, maybe I'm just a bit tired. I'll be fine after a rest."

  "Miss, don't lie to me. For the past few months, we've been searching for a willing Array Master to help us, but no one is willing to lend a hand. The merchant guild's deadline is almost up, and if we can't find an Array Master by then..."

  "Hehe...... Didn't Master Chang agree to consider it for us?"

  "Master Chang just said to consider it, what if he doesn't agree when the time comes?"

  The woman did not respond, but instead gazed at the mountain forest in front of her. Xiao Zhao fell silent for a moment before speaking again, "Master's health is deteriorating by the day. If we return this time without inviting an Array Master, he may... may not be able to withstand it."