In other provinces where martial artists were still solely practicing Blood Dao Martial Arts and causing slaughter, adherents of the Blood Demon Sect had already appeared in Ji Province.

Their emergence also made the world aware that the Blood Demon Sect was making a fierce comeback.

"Just yesterday, monks at Shanfa Temple in Ji Province were slaughtered, their essence blood vanished without a trace. It has been confirmed, this was the work of the Blood Demon Sect. Choosing Ji Province to hold the Debating Conference might also be an attempt to curb the rampant advance of the Blood Demon Sect," Xuanzhen speculated.

A group of Taoist heavyweights all gathered in Ji Province, perhaps even Heavenly Master Zhang from Dragon Tiger Mountain would make a personal appearance; with such figures present, even the audacious Blood Demon Sect wouldn't dare to wreak havoc at this time.

After all, the reason why the Blood Demon Sect could dominate the world a thousand years ago was mainly because they had an invincible Sect Hierarch. The current Sect Hierarch of the Blood Demon Sect, Xue Ya, clearly did not possess such formidable power.

Although he had crippled the Demon Lord with the collective strength of the Four Demonic Sects, the Demon Lord was only fifth on the Heavenly List, far from being the first. Xue Ya's strength, at most, was comparable to that of Yin Tianxia.

"Changing the location is the first matter. The second matter concerns you, my nephew."

Xuanzhen lightly traced his fingers around the rim of his teacup, smiling but not quite smiling, "The True Martial Sect is preparing for the Debating Conference, and at this critical moment, I'm afraid they can no longer accommodate you."

"Is it the True Martial Sect that cannot accommodate me, or is it that Sect Leader?"

"What do you think?" Xuanzhen chuckled lightly, "Soon, Xuanming will personally come to escort you."

This statement practically made it clear who wanted Qing Yu to leave. Xuan Shang's influence wasn't significant enough to have the Peak Master of Chi Ming Peak personally see him off.

"I truly can't wait even a moment longer," Qing Yu replied helplessly.

"There's no choice, after all, every extra moment you, an outsider, spend here, exposes more of True Martial Sect's disgrace," Xuanzhen commented, though his face betrayed no emotion.

However, Qing Yu's keen senses still detected a very subtle trace of sorrow on his uncle.

Whether it's the Sect Leader Faction or the Anti-Sect Leader Faction, neither wanted this internal strife to be exposed. Because whether the reasons were right or wrong, exposing it would only invite ridicule.

After all, in this world, what is right or wrong? If the True Martial Sect couldn't survive this ordeal, members of both factions in the eyes of the public, were merely culprits of the True Martial Sect.

However, Wanfa Peak has already been infiltrated to the core; there's hardly anything left worth keeping secret.

"Alright, that's enough. It's time for you to leave, my nephew," Xuanzhen stood up and said.

"Then let's go."

Qing Yu picked up a booklet from the table and tucked it into his chest. He didn't have much luggage; the only things he needed to take were Qiuli and this booklet of Martial Arts insights from Xuanfa.

"Xuanfa's insights," Xuanzhen unexpectedly recognized the unmarked cover of the booklet, "Nephew, you must delve deeply into it. If you return to the True Martial Sect one day and someone discovers you're unversed in our sect's Martial Arts, that really won't do."

"There's no need for Uncle to worry about that."

Qing Yu's hand flickered with a four-colored brilliance, and then black and white hues emerged.

'I will indeed delve deeply into it.'

During this period, Qing Yu hadn't just been idly passing time.

····························

On Chonghe Peak.

Xuanming entered the Taiji Palace and bowed to the figure with his back turned to him, "Greetings to you, Sect Leader Senior Brother."

"Ah, you've arrived."

Xuan Chen slowly turned around and said, "When you escort Daoist Qingyu later, try to test his skills."

"What does senior brother mean..." Xuanming was somewhat puzzled.

The issues caused by Daoist Qingyu warranted his removal, but just testing his Martial Arts skills seemed unusual. Could it be...

Xuanming suddenly thought of a rumor that had circulated among the disciples.

Years ago, Xuanfeng had brought the corpse of the nephew Qing Yu back to the sect, reminding the disciples of Qing Yu's existence, as well as Xuanfa's.

Moreover, in the past two to three years, due to deliberate targeting by the disciples of Zhengyang Peak, those targeted had harbored resentment against the Sect Leader, giving rise to a new hypothesis.

What if Master Xuan had been the Sect Leader initially?

This conjecture, unbeknownst to when, began to quietly spread within the True Martial Sect. Not only the targeted disciples from Tianxu and other peaks but even those on Xuanming's governed Chi Ming Peak had contemplated this scenario.

Now, another Daoist with the same Daoist name as the deceased nephew Qing Yu had appeared, leading many disciples in the sect to wonder if this was some kind of omen.

"Junior brother, are you aware of the unrest among the disciples recently?" Xuan Chen asked with an equanimous tone.

"Yes, senior brother," Xuanming replied, "This is definitely the doing of those people. I will join hands with brother Xuan Zheng later to rectify the order within the sect."

"There's no need to rectify the order."

Xuan Chen slowly walked up to Xuanming, speaking solemnly, "I want you to find out who is spreading these rumors."

"Isn't it Xuan Shang and the others?" Xuanming said, taken aback.

"If it truly were Xuan Shang and the others, that would be for the best..." Xuan Chen's expression grew even graver.

"Over the years, I've already arranged measures to counter Xuan Shang, Xuan Yin, Xuan Lin, and others. Even if they attempted the palace coup of ten years ago, they wouldn't succeed. However, I never anticipated that there would still be an undercurrent hidden within the True Martial Sect, an undercurrent that has recently begun to show traces..."

"What... what exactly is going on?" Xuanming was bewildered.

He knew that this so-called undercurrent was not referring to Xuan Shang and the others.

To outside observers, the undercurrent within the True Martial Sect might seem turbulent, but for Xuanming and others, this undercurrent was not much different from an overt current. Both sides had long been silently preparing for one another, just waiting for the contradictions to ignite.

But now, Sect Leader Senior Brother Xuan Chen was informing Xuanming that there was still another undercurrent hidden within the True Martial Sect. Who was stirring this undercurrent?

Was it an individual or a force?

Almost everyone in the upper echelons of the True Martial Sect had made their positions clear, either standing with the Sect Leader or the Anti-Sect Leader, except...

Xuanzhen.

"Senior brother, is it Xuanzhen?" Xuanming asked outright.

"Xuanzhen has been devoted to Martial Arts in recent years and has no interest in wielding power."

"Then..."

"You need not concern yourself with that for now," Xuan Chen interrupted, "You just need to probe the Martial Arts skills of Qingyu. Test whether..."

Here, Xuan Chen hesitated.

"Senior brother, test whether what?" Xuanming couldn't help but ask.

"Test whether he possesses our sect's Martial Arts, especially his mastery of the Four Symbols Ultimate Skills."

"Our sect's Martial Arts?" Xuanming exclaimed in surprise.

Upon seeing Xuan Chen's serious expression was genuine, Xuanming quietly lowered his head and said, "Yes, Sect Leader Senior Brother."

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