Chapter 27: The Sect of Six Paths

Three days before Jiang Ning was captured.

At that time, Jiang Ning was still wandering around the Idle Cloud Sect with Lin Qian.

Beyond the Idle Cloud Sect, past the bustling cities and into the neighboring forests—this place lay much closer to the Six Paths Sect.

The entire continent of Nanling was vast beyond measure; even the journey between sects would take ordinary mortals more than ten days to traverse, crossing mountains and ridges. Even cultivators, traveling on streaks of rainbow light, could not arrive in an instant.

Moreover, the lands south of Nanling, bordering the Tianshan Mountains, were called the Wildlands of the continent. Yet even here, many immortal sects and sacred lands could be found.

Within the forest, silence reigned. Occasionally, a mountain breeze would send the leaves rustling.

Moments later, the light in the area twisted suddenly, and two figures appeared out of thin air—a man and a woman.

The man wore Daoist robes and held a cattail fan. At a glance, anyone could sense his air of a transcendental cultivator, ethereal and remote.

The woman was clad in a violet gown. Her features were lovely, her graceful figure barely concealed by her flowing dress. A faint fragrance seemed to surround her, giving her a touch of otherworldly grace.

Suddenly, the man spoke, his words startling in their bluntness.

“Damn it, before leaving, I really wanted to give that brat a beating. He infuriates me.”

“You truly have your eye on Lin Qian?” the woman replied.

“There’s a great secret about her. If I weren’t worried that old monster might see through my disguise, I’d have long found a reason to get close.” The man spoke resentfully. “Why does that boy get all the benefits?”

These two were Li Zhenyu and Li Qiaochan.

“The secret she carries isn’t as important as you think,” Li Qiaochan shook her head. She seemed to know much more than Li Zhenyu.

“Would Miss Li be so kind as to enlighten me?” Li Zhenyu grinned, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.

“If you knew, it might spell disaster for you,” Li Qiaochan replied with a light laugh, glancing at him.

Li Zhenyu shuddered. “Forget it, then. Forget it.”

While they conversed, an old man in coarse clothes appeared silently, his presence unnoticed. He stood in midair, blending with the mountain forest as though he were part of it. Anyone relying on their senses alone would have thought he was nothing but air—mysterious and profound.

“Old Wu pays his respects to Miss Qiaochan.”

The old man bowed with a fist salute, surprisingly showing deference to Li Qiaochan.

“There’s no need for such courtesy, Elder Wu,” Li Qiaochan replied, shaking her head. She produced a jade slip and handed it to the elder.

“Miss Qiaochan, what is this…” The old man probed the contents and discovered the portrait of a young man in white.

“This person came out of the Tianshan Mountains. He may know some secrets from back then. Information on the Idle Cloud Sect is included as well; just return it to the clan. My true body is still in seclusion, deep within the Sea of Chaos. There’s no danger for now, so the family need not worry. At most, three years; at shortest, a few months—I will return home,” Li Qiaochan explained.

“Has something happened to your true body, Miss Qiaochan?” the old man asked in shock.

“No, I’ve found an opportunity and wish to see if it bears fruit.” At this, the old man nodded in understanding.

“I must focus entirely on this opportunity now. The secret realm of Nanling is due to open in about a month. Our family’s disciples will likely arrive then. You may investigate the Idle Cloud Sect further at that time—this incarnation of mine lacks the strength.

“By the way, the one in the portrait will likely be targeted by the Idle Cloud Sect. Elder Wu, stay here in secret for now. If necessary, step in and save him. We may need his help to uncover the secrets of the past one day.”

With these words, Li Qiaochan dissolved into a wisp of clear light and vanished into the silent forest.

As she’d said, this was not her true form; the Li Qiaochan within the Idle Cloud Sect was merely an incarnation at the Initial Enlightenment Realm.

Li Zhenyu coughed awkwardly once or twice.

Only then did the old man shift his attention to him.

“Um…” Li Zhenyu dared not act haughty now; this old man knew his origins.

“You understand the matter between you and the Li family?” the old man asked.

“We all share the surname Li—no need to make things difficult for each other.”

The old man remained silent.

“You’re not trying to trick me, are you? I brought your Miss Li into the Idle Cloud Sect. I found the clues, too,” Li Zhenyu protested.

“The Patriarch said that once this matter ended, all would be forgiven. That promise stands. But it is not yet concluded,” the old man said quietly, his eyes fixed on Li Zhenyu.

“You old fox, you’re cheating me!” Li Zhenyu snapped.

“We don’t need you to do more for the Li family. This youth—you know him, don’t you? Tell me everything you know of him, and our karmic ties will be settled,” the elder said, drawing Jiang Ning’s likeness in midair with spiritual energy.

Seeing Jiang Ning’s face made Li Zhenyu bristle with irritation, but he managed to recall the details and recounted all he knew of Jiang Ning to the old man.

“A Dao Mark…” the old man muttered, stunned. “Failed to usurp the body? That makes no sense. One wouldn’t need such complexity for a simple body snatching, and no one would imprint their own Dao upon another simply to teach a junior.”

“I don’t know the specifics—I’m just a loose cultivator,” Li Zhenyu replied, shrugging. “By the way, that jade slip might contain secrets about this. You can check it yourself. I’m surnamed Li too—call me half a Li clansman. Old man, don’t make this hard for me.”

At the mention of “half a Li clansman,” the old man was speechless.

Li Zhenyu’s surname was Li, but he had nothing to do with the clan. A year and a half ago, this fellow had barged into the Li family, altered his appearance with the power of heaven and earth, and posed as their patriarch, plunging the clan into chaos.

Li Zhenyu, recalling that unfortunate episode, coughed awkwardly again. “So… may I go now?”

The old man pondered a moment, then nodded.

Li Zhenyu gazed into the distance, toward the Six Paths Sect, as if lost in thought.

“Forget it—perhaps that boy will help me in the future. I might as well lend him a hand now…”

With that, his body crackled and shifted, transforming directly into Jiang Ning’s appearance.

The old man felt a wave of distaste—memories of past disgrace resurfacing.

“Is this how all your so-called Seeker Alchemists conduct themselves, forever scheming and deceiving?”

“Heh, I’ll take my leave. Until we meet again,” Li Zhenyu called, striding away.

The old man did not stop him. Watching him depart, he merged with the world, vanishing into the forest.

Half a day later, word spread that a female disciple of the Six Paths Sect had been teased at the sect gate by a handsome youth claiming to be Jiang Ning, a personal disciple of the Idle Cloud Sect.

A day after, a party of Six Paths Sect disciples was ambushed; their belongings were thoroughly looted.

Three days later, another female disciple was insulted by someone who again claimed to be the Idle Cloud Sect’s personal disciple—words spoken with utter disrespect: “Flat in front, nothing behind. Such a silly little girl, how ridiculous…”

The entire Six Paths Sect was abuzz; every disciple wanted to confront the infamous Jiang Ning themselves.

At that very moment, the real Jiang Ning was actually being held in a secret chamber within the Idle Cloud Sect’s great hall, wholly unaware of the chaos unfolding outside.