Liu Lianyi was their little junior sister and they essentially watched her grow up. Due to the years they spent together, they were naturally aware of the knot in her heart.
Many years ago, Liu Lianyi had fallen in love with their master, and he may have subsequently realized it. He no longer allowed Liu Lianyi to stay at his side and often sent her away for training.
Liu Lianyi also understood the meaning behind patriarch Cangxuan’s actions but she naturally did not wish to give up. She had read about the influence of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp from ancient texts, and felt that the reason patriarch Cangxuan treated her coldly was because of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. This led her to engrave the ‘Clear Mind Divine Rune’ on the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, hoping to shield master Cang Yuan from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp’s influence.
Sect master Qing Yang brows knitted together. “But the Cangxuan Saint Stamp is always with Master, how did you get close to it?”
Liu Lianyi clenched her teeth, “I stole it when master was in secluded cultivation.”
Old man Bai Mei shook his head as he said, “Nonsense, even if Master went into secluded cultivation, the Cangxuan Saint Stamp would still be under the protection of a boundary. Even us disciples can’t get near this boundary, except...”
He stopped abruptly, and everybody, including sect master Qing Yang, slowly turned their gazes towards peak master Ling Jun, who had been silent all this time.
Back then, only Ling Jun, who was their master’s personal servant, could enter and exit the boundary.
Sect master Qing Yang took a deep breath and slowly asked, “Ling Jun, did you do it?”
Peak master Ling Jun’s handsome face stiffened. He did not deny and directly admitted, “This matter was caused by me, I am willing to accept punishment.”
“You took the Cangxuan Saint Stamp out of the boundary because little junior sister told you to?” The Hongya Peak master coldly snorted.
Peak master Ling Jun didn’t respond and instead shut his eyes.
When he was very young, he had wandered about hopelessly and almost starved to death. It was then that a little girl in a colorful dress had crouched down and carried him up the mountains and begged their master to accept him as a servant.
The master was reluctant, and told him to head down the mountain after he filled his stomach.
He didn’t want to leave, not because he wanted to achieve great things, but because the little girl in colorful dress was the only feeling of warmth that he had felt in his heart in years. As such, he knelt at the bottom of the mountain for an entire month.
Although the little girl secretly gave him some food, he nearly starved to death.
In the end, the patriarch accepted him as a personal servant.
It was the happiest day in his life, because it meant that from then on, he would be able to see the girl in a colorful dress...
The little girl of the past was of course the peak master Lianyi of the present.
So, when Liu Lianyi asked him to help remove the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, he didn't hesitate at all....even if he already understood her feelings at that time.
But he didn’t want to see her disappointed face.
He had not exposed this secret all these years, but Liu Lianyi seemed to have realised something following patriarch Cang Xuan’s death. She began to become more and more extreme, and even seemed to grow somewhat angry at him.
Perhaps, she was angry at his stupidity for not stopping her back then.
As a result, she had always been incredibly cold towards him for many many years.
But Ling Jun's heart only ached even more, because he knew how much regret Liu Lianyi was suffering. He knew that she would even willingly sacrifice her life to kill palace master Sheng Yuan....
She had lost the will to live.
Looking at the quiet peak master Ling Jun and Liu Lianyi, sect master Qing Yang could only scold through clenched teeth, “Both of you are truly foolish!”
These two fools even had the courage to tamper with the Cangxuan Saint Stamp!
They had also become the spark that caused the death of patriarch Cangxuan.
Old man Bai Mei suddenly said, “But although the Clear Mind Divine Rune is an extremely ancient Genesis Rune, it shouldn't have much of an impact on the Cangxuan Saint Stamp.”
Sect master Qing Yang narrowed his eyes as he turned in the direction of palace master Sheng Yuan.
Palace master Sheng Yuan grinned, “That’s right, although it’s almost exactly the same, it wasn’t the Clear Mind Divine Rune...”
Liu Lianyi was taken aback. In the next moment, her red eyes shot towards palace master Sheng Yuan, her trembling voice filled with endless killing intent. “As I thought, everything was part of your plot?”
Sect master Qing Yang’s eyes also grew increasingly fierce, “To trick my little junior sister to search the Hidden Scriptures House of the Cangxuan Sect, and to lead her to discover the Clear Mind Divine Rune...
“They knew that only little junior sister could ask Ling Jun to find an opportunity to take the Cangxuan Saint Stamp...
“It seems that you know my Cangxuan Sect too well....or....”
He paused for a moment before he continued, “There is a mole in my Cangxuan Sect?”
When his low voice was still sounding out, and no one had recovered from the shock, a wrinkled hand quietly skimmed through the air. Destructive power brewed around the palm of the hand.
It drifted towards old man Bai Mei’s back.
However, just as the wrinkled palm was about to strike, a hand appeared out of nowhere and grabbed its wrist.
Space rippled as a hunched old figure appeared beside old man Bai Mei. It was old Xuan!
His cloudy eyes stared straight ahead, his wrinkled face overflowing with killing intent. In the end, he let out a long sigh.
“It was indeed you...
“Lei Jun....”
Chapter 724 Jiang Lei Jun
Above Blackwater.
The experts of the various sects watched this scene in astonishment. Who would have thought that before the many sects could even begin competing for the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, the Cangxuan Sect would already put on such a thrilling show....
The dramatic ups and downs of the story made even the many experts present tense up in anticipation.
However, several individuals cast their gazes towards the currently smiling palace master Shen Yuan. It appeared that the fall of patriarch Cang Xuan had been a seamless plot orchestrated by the Sacred Palace.
In the mysterious domain, Zhou Yuan’s face was likewise stretched taunt. The drastic turn of events had also impacted him greatly.
Moments ago, he had nearly believed that the death of patriarch Cang Xuan was connected to peak master Lianyi, but now, it seemed that both peak master Lianyi and Ling Jun were merely being used.
The person who was pulling the strings in secret was unexpectedly peak master Lei Jun!
Zhou Yuan swallowed a mouthful of saliva. Peak master Lei Jun occupied a peak master position within the Cangxuan sect, but had the weakest presence among the peak masters. In fact, Zhou Yuan barely had any contact with him since joining the Cangxuan Sect.
From what Zhou Yuan could remember of him, peak master Lei Jun was the never smiling head of punishment in the sect whom many disciples both respected and feared him. Peak master Lei Jun had always maintained neutrality in the many affairs of the sect. In essence, he was a high ranking senior member of the sect.
Sect master Qing Yang would even seek him out for advice at times.
Who could have thought that this very same individual who seemed to barely have any presence at all would be the culprit that had pushed patriarch Cang Xuan to his death!
Zhou Yuan was not the only one in disbelief, even peak master Lianyi and others all stared at peak master Lei Jun in anger and confusion.
Sect master Qing Yang glared at peak master Lei Jun, whose earlier attempt to attack old man Bai Mei had been thwarted by
Old Xuan and asked, “Wasn’t the Hidden Scriptures House managed by teacher uncle Lei Jun back then?
“Only you who was in charge of the Hidden Scriptures House could guide little junior sister to see what you wanted her to see...even without her realising.
“You, why did you do such a thing?
“Has master ever treated you badly?!”
Peak master Lei Jun’s face remained devoid of expression under their furious gazes. He glanced at old Xuan and gave a faint smile. “Cangxuan was very nice to me.
“But, I wasn’t happy....”
Peak master Lei Jun lifted his head to gaze at the sky. It was quite some time later before he continued in an indifferent voice, “Cangxuan and I had known each since we were young. But all of you perhaps never knew that I was the genius in everybody’s eyes in the beginning, while Cang Xuan was merely a supporting character in the background.
“He saw me as an elder brother and respected me. In turn, I protected him and occasionally gave him cultivation resources.
“But then, everything began to change. He gradually grew and finally bloomed, revealing his dazzling brilliance as he became a top expert of the world. At that time, I was far behind him, and could only look at his back from a distance.
“Nobody remembered me anymore, and would even laugh and mock me. ‘A person like you was qualified to be his big brother?
“Later on, he founded the Cangxuan Sect, and the huge gap between us grew even wider. But he invited me to the Cangxuan Sect and thus I became peak master Lei Jun...
“But within the Cangxuan Sect, no one could compare to his dazzling brilliance. The entire world would always look at him with respect, the same way he once looked at me before. But now, I had become the him of the past.
“Everyone said that I wouldn't have become a peak master of the Cangxuan Sect if not for his kindness.
“I also tried really hard to prove myself, but....he was too dazzling.
“I lost hope, because I knew that I would never catch up to him. I began to think that he was the blazing sun while I was a star that could not be seen under his brightness. I wanted the world to know me, and perhaps that would only happen when the sun fell...”
Everyone looked at Lei Jun with complicated gazes. They too remembered when that person had subdued the entire Cangxuan Heaven. Everyone from that generation could only shrink back under his almighty light.
They finally accepted it, but the person who once shined his light on Cang Xuan couldn't accept the huge contrast between them. Perhaps, the better Cangxuan treated him, the more shame he felt in the depths of his heart.
And it had gradually turned into an unhealthy obsession.
Lei Jun was evidently an extremely prejudiced person. He had merely hid it too well.
Old Xuan’s wrinkled hand tightly clutched Lei Jun’s wrist like an eagle’s claw as he hissed in his gravelly voice, “This is your reason? How much help did master give you when you came to the Cangxuan Sect? How much guidance have you received from him?”
“If it wasn't for master, would you be where you are now?”
Lei Jun smiled, “See, even you think that I am nothing without Cang Xuan.”
He sighed, “That was not what I wanted, so when Sheng Yuan secretly contacted me, I promised to cooperate with him because I felt that it was also time for the blazing sun to set.
“I would prove to the world that I can be even more dazzling without him.”
“You betrayed your sect and spit at your benefactor in the face. Do you really think that you’re very dazzling right now?” Old Xuan thundered. A gush of terrifying Genesis Qi erupted from his body as he launched his palm, causing space to shatter.
Lei Jun swept an indifference glance at old Xuan’s terrifying palm strike. In the next moment, a huge Law Domain emerged from his body.
Old Xuan's palm struck the Law Domain, causing it to shake violently but his attack ultimately failed to break the Law Domain.
“You've reached the Law Domain stage?!” Old Xuan’s eyes were grave as he stared at Lei Jun.
Old man Bai Mei, the Hongya Peak master and others’ expressions changed drastically. Within the Cangxuan Sect, only sect master Qing Yang had truly stepped into the Law Domain stage, while the rest of them were at the peak of the Nascent Source stage.
Although they had begun to touch the power of the Law Domain, they still hadn’t fully taken that important step.
Who would have thought that Lei Jun would be the first among them to enter the Law Domain stage without anyone knowing.
This secret was hidden far too deeply.
Lei Jun faintly smiled, “I stepped into the Law Domain stage when Cang Xuan died, which proved that I was right. Without Cang Xuan, the world wouldn’t know me as peak master Lei Jun, but....Jiang Leijun.”
Sect master Qing Yang’s eyes had turned bitingly cold. “It’s pointless to say any more.”
His body was shrouded in the power of the Law Domain. The Cangxuan Sect had become a laughing stock, but no matter what, Lei Jun had betrayed the Cangxuan Sect and must be punished.
However, just as sect master Qing Yang intended to take action, a wave of terrifying oppressive pressure suddenly enveloped him.
Palace master Sheng Yuan’s silver eyes locked onto sect master Qing Yang with a smile plastered across his face. He obviously wouldn’t sit back and watch sect master Qing Yang and the others deal with Lei Jun. After all, the Cangxuan Sect would be kept busy enough with their own affairs as long as Lei Jun existed.
“Qing Yang, this is a matter of the Cangxuan Sect, why cause a scene here? Also, there are more important things right now.”
Palace master Sheng Yuan’s silver eyes turned towards the Cangxuan Saint Stamp with an unfathomable expression as his voice reverberated across the area.
“With everyone present, it’s a good time to discuss what should be done about the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Isn’t that right?”
Chapter 725 Saint Fire
When Sheng Yuan’s voice rang out again, the atmosphere in this part of the world turned a little strange.
Everybody’s eyes flickered in thought. The Sacred Palace was currently the most powerful sect in Cangxuan Heaven, with the Cangxuan Sect slightly behind them. There was a very deep enmity between the two factions and they were bound to clash whenever they met..
As such, the other experts were able to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight.
No one had expected Sheng Yuan to suddenly toss out such a huge secret that instantly caused the Cangxuan Sect to fall apart. The Cangxuan Sect had lost a peak master while gaining a powerful enemy of the Law Domain stage. They could be said to be in deep trouble now...
On the other hand, the Sacred Palace’s imposing might was now unparalleled.
Within the mysterious domain, Zhou Yuan was also aware of the situation, causing worry to color his eyes. The Cangxuan Sect was his backer. As such, the situation would become extremely unfavorable to him if the Cangxuan Sect couldn’t compete with the Sacred Palace.
In the current situation, a tiny Divine Dwelling expert like himself naturally did not have qualifications to participate and could only watch anxiously by the sidelines.
Above the thunderbolt pool, the silence lasted for a good while.
Cough.
The Heavenly Sword Sovereign of the Sword Seeker Sect suddenly cleared his throat and said in an unhurried manner, “The Cangxuan Saint Stamp is good, but the structure of Cangxuan Heaven is currently stable, and if forced, I am worried it could set off a storm of blood. This would only weaken Cangxuan Heaven’s overall strength.”
In the dark fog that filled the sky, Devil Luo of the Heavenly Ghost Sect patted his bulging belly as he remarked with a smile, “But the Cangxuan Saint Stamp has appeared, we can’t just ignore it, right?”
A smile spread across the honest face of hall master Gu Jing of the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall, “So you want to be the high and mighty heaven master of Cangxuan Hea
ven?”
“The Heavenly Ghost Sect most likely doesn’t have that sort of ability.” remarked palace master Shan Qingzi of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace in an indifferent voice.
Palace master Sheng Yuan chuckled at the inputs from the other representatives of the major sects. “I have a suggestion. Our six sects can form an alliance and take turns to safe keep the Cangxuan Saint Stamp to avoid any conflicts.”
The others pondered this suggestion seriously.
Sect master Qing Yang icily smiled, “Since it’s an alliance, there will be the more important and the less important, and also first and second. With regards to your proposal, don’t tell me you want to be the lord of the alliance and be the first to safe keep the Cangxuan Saint Stamp?”
Palace master Sheng Yuan said in a domineering manner, “My Sacred Palace is the strongest, if we don’t take the lead, do you think your crumbling Cangxuan Sect should?”
He didn't deny that he had such thoughts.
Sect master Qing Yang glanced at the others, “I am worried that your ambition will not stop at the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, but to even annex the other major sects and truly rule over this land.”
The eyes of the Heavenly Sword Sovereign, Shan Qingzi, and other powerful experts flashed. Although they remained silent and did not say anything, they were clearly more vigilant than before.
If palace master Sheng Yuan was the first to take charge of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, he would most likely try to obtain control over it. Once successful, his strength would skyrocket, enabling him to push past the Law Domain and step into the Saint stage. When that happened, nobody in the entire Cangxuan Heaven would be his match.
The chances of him handing over the Cangxuan Saint Stamp would then become very very slim...
Palace master Sheng Yuan naturally sensed the vigilance in their eyes. He smiled and said, “It seems that none of you are interested in my proposal?”
Everybody was silent.
Palace master Sheng Yuan couldn’t help but sigh deeply when he saw this. “I originally thought that this matter can be resolved peacefully. Who would have imagined that it would come to this…”
Dragon Prince Yuan c1-1251 Page 384
