Chapter 12: Shen Jingze

The Market of the Xuanxin Sect lay at the foot of the mountain, still some distance from Lingyun Peak. Every year during the sect’s recruitment period, the place would be flooded with people, bustling with extraordinary liveliness. Within the market were the sect’s enterprises, alongside shops and stalls run by sect disciples, wandering cultivators, and even relatives of cultivators.

The crowd was a chaotic mix of good and bad, but as long as one abided by the market’s rules and caused no trouble, the Xuanxin Sect treated all equally and made no attempt to expel anyone. Thus, many cultivators from all directions took up temporary residence here.

Half an hour earlier.

At the Chengyang Tower, in an elegant upper chamber, two female cultivators sat around a table while a male cultivator leaned against the window, occasionally peering through the narrow opening to observe the market below.

These three were the very disciples who had pursued Qi An over ten days ago.

The spacious room was enveloped in silence. After a moment, the youngest female, dressed simply in plain robes, spoke calmly: “Ling She is dead.”

Though the room remained quiet, the words stirred considerable ripples in their hearts.

Ling She’s death meant the great formation had been completely broken, signifying their mission’s failure.

The woman clad in a purple gauze robe, her appearance striking and beautiful, made a quick decision: “Leave immediately. This place is no longer safe.”

The three slipped away under the twilight’s dimming light, flying swiftly on their swords for a hundred miles before finally stopping to rest.

“Senior Sister, though the formation is broken, that person must be either dead or wounded. Why not finish him off?” the young man asked, puzzled.

“Killing him was never the goal. That old Taoist spoke with Master about capturing him alive.”

The young man snorted coldly. “In my eyes, killing or capturing him makes no difference. To strike so viciously at a fellow sect member, that old Taoist is truly a disgrace to his sect.”

The purple-robed woman smiled faintly. “He is indeed a disgrace, and what he seeks goes far beyond this matter.”

“More than that, I’m curious about who broke the formation.” The shorter female, barely a head shorter than the others, suddenly spoke.

“Of course, we’re curious.”

They had spent two months studying and creating this formation—a masterpiece comparable to a fourth-rank grand array, capable of trapping even Golden Core cultivators with ease. This mission was more of a training exercise assigned by their master.

“It was only broken on the last day. That person is probably a young array master. We might see him at the Northern Territory’s grand competition.”

—

Shortly after their escape, disciples from the Sword Inquiry Hall traced the Chengyang Tower but arrived too late. The place was deserted, leaving no clues behind.

In the forest, Ji Ning held the trembling little fox tightly, glaring fiercely at a certain person as if willing to flay him alive with her gaze.

That person was far too mischievous, treating matters of life and death as mere play.

Nearby, a youth in yellow robes hung his head, feigning guilt, silently enduring his elder brother’s reprimand.

However, one only had to overlook the laughter flickering in his eyes.

“Jingze, how old are you now, yet you still cause such nonsense?”

“Master sent you to find someone, but you—knock out Ji Sister’s spirit pet and brandish your sword to scare her? Let’s see how Master punishes you when we return.”

Shen Jingze frowned, muttering softly, “Confinement, book copying, sealing cultivation and body refining, locked up with fierce beasts... Master’s punishments don’t seem to go beyond these.”

“Still dare to talk back?” Shen Weifeng shot his younger brother a fierce glare, then added, “Senior Brother Qi said it was thanks to Ji Sister’s help that he barely escaped with his life. If you’re not afraid of Master, aren’t you afraid of Senior Brother Qi?”

Hearing this, Shen Jingze’s heart sank. He recalled those days under Senior Brother Qi’s sword dominance—indelibly painful memories that he now deeply regretted.

Feigning ease under Ji Ning’s murderous gaze, he approached with a bag of spirit stones, the fox’s eyes sparkling as if scheming to bribe Ji Ning into silence.

“Ji Sister, earlier was my sudden impulse. I’ve grown weary of the Sword Inquiry Hall’s daily company of a bunch of men. Seeing you and your spirit pet so adorable, I lost control... Enough said, words can’t make up for it. This bag of spirit stones is my compensation. I’ll go confess and accept punishment later so you can feel at ease.”

This trick never failed him; even his elder brother found it ineffective to resist.

Ji Ning took the bulging pouch, raised an eyebrow at Shen Jingze, and softly said, “Foxes crying? I don’t believe it, but still, thank you for your generosity.”

With that, Ji Ning put away the money bag, propping herself up despite lingering pain, and walked past Shen Jingze toward a certain spot.

He turned to look—it was Master Elder Mingyang, Senior Brother Qi An, and other senior disciples.

Meanwhile, several dozen meters away, two figures concealed their divine senses and cultivation, furtively observing.

Upon seeing all the disciples of the Sword Inquiry Hall gathered, the two lingered briefly before departing.