The Celestials exclaimed in shock, "The receding sea refers to the Sea Fall? What year was this recorded? There was no mention of the Sea Fall back then? What about the records before and after?"
The Celestial sighed, "These ancient artifacts have long been scattered and damaged. I've gone through all the old bamboo scrolls in the library, and none mention this event. I heard that thousands of years ago, our sect faced a catastrophic disaster and was nearly wiped out. Most records were likely lost in that calamity. What a pity, what a pity."
Cuixuan Xianren pondered, "That woman absorbing spiritual energy from mountains, rivers, and seas—indeed shares similarities with Jiang Li Fei. It seems she truly is something Azure City brought back from overseas. How infuriating that Azure City died without revealing anything! Since she needs to absorb spiritual energy, she must return overseas! Enough—waiting here like a fool is pointless. Let us set off for the Eastern Sea at once!"
The ten elder Celestials readily agreed. These veterans who had weathered countless storms harbored both hatred and fear toward the overseas realm, yet also an irresistible longing. Capturing Jiang Li Fei alive would undoubtedly be the greatest achievement of their lives.
Noticing Guangwei Zhenren's lingering reluctance, Cuixuan Xianren said, "Guangwei, it's not wrong to cherish talented disciples, but excessive favoritism is unwise. Keep the person confined in the Contemplation Tower. All matters will be dealt with upon our return—no leniency from you."
He then turned to the two elders Qing Le and Bai Fu, "Qing Le, Bai Fu, you two will take turns supervising the Contemplation Tower. Aside from daily food and water, no one is allowed inside!"
The three assented in unison. Still uneasy, Cuixuan Xianren thought for a moment before suddenly adding, "Guangwei, we owe Jiang Li Fei's capture to someone's assistance. I've already made a promise to that junior. Go to Duantuo in Yue Kingdom. During the Sea Fall period, we mustn’t let opportunists take advantage."
The capital of Yue Kingdom? Guangwei Zhenren's thoughts raced. He suddenly recalled that the disciple of Wuzheng Zi from Star Rectitude Hall was a member of Yue's royal family? With Xuanshan Zi secretly killed by someone from Long Mingzuo, Yue Kingdom was likely on the brink of collapse... And that disciple seemed to be an old acquaintance of Jiang Li Fei?
After a brief contemplation, he understood the underlying reason and sighed inwardly before accepting the task.
The Contemplation Tower stood at the very center of the ordinary disciples' training grounds beneath the Cloud Sea. Over a dozen stories high, the entire tower was painted in vivid, dripping vermilion, making it impossible to miss. Any disciple punished here for wall-facing couldn’t escape the prying eyes of others. No Moon Court's punishments were notoriously harsh—one mistake, and a person could never hold their head high again.
Lei Xiuyuan was tightly bound by the Dragon Imprisoning Lock as countless ordinary disciples watched. This genius, who had risen to prominence in No Moon Court in recent years, was now being unceremoniously hauled into the Contemplation Tower. The crowd didn’t know whether to gloat or lament the severity of the discipline.
The heavy doors creaked open, and Lei Xiuyuan was carried into a small room inside the tower. Soon, the room's door shut, followed by the outer doors, cutting off all noise and light. After a while, Lei Xiuyuan could finally see that the room was extremely narrow—barely enough for three people to stand. The door was forged from black iron, without a single gap, and the walls were also cast in black iron. Being locked inside was like being sealed in a coffin. Anyone with weaker resolve would likely go mad within days.He closed his eyes for a moment, and two slender horns slowly emerged from the sides of his head. In that instant, the spiritual energy fluctuations of countless individuals within the vast No Moon Court were effortlessly captured by him. He could sense that above the Cloud Sea, hidden in higher realms, were several extraordinarily powerful spiritual energy fluctuations—were they the four sect leaders of No Moon Court?
After an unknown amount of time, the spiritual energy fluctuations of Cuixuan Xianren and the other ten elder Celestials departed from No Moon Court and could no longer be felt. He stirred slightly, about to break free from the Dragon Imprisoning Lock, when suddenly the door of the Contemplation Tower was opened again. A woman’s voice seemed to be pleading desperately.
"Master, we’re just here to deliver food and water. Could you let us in to see them?"
Qingle Zhenren, responsible for overseeing the Contemplation Tower, looked helplessly at the two disciples before her—one was her beloved disciple Le Cailing, and the other was Deng Xiguang, a disciple of Elder Bai Fu. The moment Jiang Li Fei’s expulsion order was issued, the entire No Moon Court was shaken. Then, Lei Xiuyuan was imprisoned in the Contemplation Tower, causing chaos above the Cloud Sea. Le Cailing’s reaction was intense, beyond her expectations. Having cultivated the Mute Immortal Technique for less than a year, she was now voluntarily breaking it again.
"The matter of Jiang Li Fei has already been decided by Cuixuan Xianren and the other elders. It’s not something we can interfere with," Qing Yue Elder sighed. Naturally, she didn’t want to believe that the well-behaved girl was some kind of heinous villain, but Cuixuan Xianren’s grand display clearly had ulterior motives. Juniors like them had no room to intervene. "What good will it do for you to see them inside?"
Deng Xiguang was on the verge of tears. "I just want to see Junior Sister Su! I miss her so much I can’t even eat!"
Qing Yue Elder was both amused and exasperated. She turned her gaze back to Le Cailing. This child had never escaped her fear of men, yet somehow she had come here with Deng Xiguang to deliver food and water. Her legs were trembling with fear, but she gritted her teeth and stood firm. A sense of warmth suddenly filled the elder’s heart. The fact that Cailing was willing to do this proved she still remembered Li Fei’s kindness in her heart. Those who are grateful will surely achieve great things in the future.
With this thought, she flicked her sleeve, and the door of the Contemplation Tower slowly opened.
"You may stay inside for only two ke. If you don’t come out in two ke, I will have to punish you. Go."
The two of them rushed in joyfully. The Contemplation Tower had countless rooms, and those with lit doors indicated someone was imprisoned inside. Deng Xiguang eagerly blurted out, "I’m going to find Junior Sister Su!" and disappeared in an instant.
Le Cailing didn’t know where they were being held, so she had to search room by room. Suddenly, she heard Lei Xiuyuan’s voice from a nearby room: "Over here."
She took a deep breath, pressed the dagger against her chest, and quickly walked over, pushing open the black iron door. Sure enough, she saw Lei Xiuyuan bound by the Dragon Imprisoning Lock. Without waiting for him to speak, she pulled out the dagger and stabbed fiercely at the chains. Yet, despite her efforts, the seemingly delicate chains remained completely unmoved. Le Cailing’s eyes reddened with frustration.
"Human strength cannot sever these chains," Lei Xiuyuan said calmly. "Don’t waste your effort."
She remained silent, still stabbing relentlessly. As the two ke were about to pass, the chains didn’t even bear a scratch—her trip had been in vain. Le Cailing let out a long sigh, sheathed the dagger, and whispered, "Wait for me. I’ll come back in a few days to try again."
Lei Xiuyuan studied her for a moment. "Is this why you came?"Le Cailing said coldly, “Don’t misunderstand. I’m doing this to repay Jiang Li Fei’s kindness. She saved me, and now she’s killed Qin Yangling for me and rescued you. Consider this debt repaid.”
She turned and pulled open the iron door, slipping outside. “I’ll come back in a couple of days.”
Before the door could close, a hand suddenly gripped the edge. Le Cailing stared in horror as Lei Xiuyuan walked out as if nothing had happened. Her mouth fell open as she gaped at him, then back into the room at the Dragon Imprisoning Lock’s cross-shaped earthen frame. The chains that no dagger could sever had somehow been torn into pieces, scattered across the floor.
“You—” She was at a complete loss for words.
Lei Xiuyuan said calmly, “Consider your debt repaid. I’ll let Li Fei know.”
Le Cailing only felt him lean closer before an icy fragrance suddenly sprayed from his mouth. The scent invaded her lungs, and her head spun instantly. She collapsed limply to the ground, unconscious.
Lei Xiuyuan swiftly headed east, pushing open another iron door. The room beyond was slightly larger than the one he had been confined in. Two Dragon Imprisoning Locks restrained Chongyi Zhenren and Zhaomin. Even Chongyi Zhenren couldn’t hide his astonishment at the sight of Lei Xiuyuan entering.
The chains were effortlessly torn apart. Just as Zhaomin was about to speak, Lei Xiuyuan said softly, “Save the words for later. There are still others to rescue.”
The three hurried north and soon found a half-open iron door. Inside, Deng Xiguang was muttering tearfully, though his words were unclear. Lei Xiuyuan pushed the door open to see Su Wan looking exasperated while Deng Xiguang clutched her sleeve, eyes brimming with tears. The sudden intrusion made Deng Xiguang leap in shock, but before he could cry out, his mouth was covered, stifling the sound.
After snapping the chains binding Su Wan, Lei Xiuyuan glanced around and said, “Senior Brother Deng, are you coming with us, or would you prefer to stay here like Le Cailing and take a nap to avoid suspicion of aiding our escape?”
Deng Xiguang flailed excitedly. Though he had no idea how Lei Xiuyuan had suddenly become so formidable, now wasn’t the time to ask. He stammered, “I’ll come! I’ll come! I can’t let Junior Sister Su fall into their clutches again!”
Chongyi Zhenren suddenly spoke, “If we leave now, the charges against us will only worsen. This won’t benefit any of you—or Li Fei. Don’t act rashly. Xiu Yuan, how is Li Fei now?”
Lei Xiuyuan replied, “Staying here will do more harm than good. We’ll discuss everything once we see her.”
The group watched in shock as two slender black horns extended from the sides of his head. Chongyi Zhenren reacted the fastest, stepping back several paces with an expression of utter disbelief. “...Yaksa?!”
Lei Xiuyuan leapt upward. Outside, Qingle Zhenren, who was overseeing the prison, heard a thunderous crash. The Contemplation Tower’s walls, forged from black iron, had been shattered by a massive breach. Stunned, she instinctively drew her guqin, ready to attack—only to see several figures darting out through the gap. It was Chongyi, Su Wan, and the others who had been imprisoned over the Jiang Li Fei incident. Her fingers froze on the strings for a split second.
That brief hesitation was all it took. The group had already flown far beyond sight. Qingle Zhenren, who had never encountered such a situation, was momentarily flustered. She glanced around frantically before giving chase, but it was too late. As she ascended above the Cloud Sea, urgent bell tolls rang out. The gatekeepers were shouting in panic through voice transmission: “Someone has forcibly broken through the gates and left No Moon Court!”In the blink of an eye, numerous elders and Celestials who had remained in the sect gathered before the gates of No Moon Court. Baifu Zhenren flew over in a furious rush and, seeing Qingle Zhenren's bewildered expression, immediately bellowed in his loud voice, "Didn't Senior Cui Xuan instruct you to oversee the Contemplation Tower before leaving? How could you let them escape?! Where did they go? Why aren’t you chasing them?"
Qingle Zhenren gave a bitter laugh. Chase them? For some reason, not a trace of spiritual energy remained from them—how could they pursue? And where would they even go?
As Baifu Zhenren continued his loud, endless ranting, she suddenly felt a wave of irritation. Frowning coldly, she retorted, "So what if they left? Chongyi and those disciples were merely innocent bystanders caught up in this. Frankly, it’s better that they’re gone!"
Without waiting for Baifu Zhenren to respond, she flew straight toward the Contemplation Tower.
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