"Is it because of the inner traitor?"
An Jing wasn’t surprised by Chenyinzi’s serious tone. He asked, and Chenyinzi nodded, but then shook his head, "Yes and no. With me here, even if the inner traitors are colluding with the enemy, they won’t be able to stop me from sending you back to the Sect."
When he said this, Chenyinzi’s tone was calm, exuding immense confidence.
He had received the nourishment of the Mysterious Primordial Qi which greatly improved his physical condition. Although his lifespan had not increased by much, his combat strength had significantly improved, nearing the heights of his youth.
Back then, Chenyinzi was not unbeatable within the Sect, but he was among the first tier. Now, as everyone ages or falls sick, he was in good condition and truly confident.
"The biggest problem lies with the people lured in by the inner traitors."
Chenyinzi glanced at Virtuous King, who politely withdrew to the side. Without using any Heavenly Listening Divine Power, the elder transmitted his voice to An Jing via Divine Sense, "The Annihilation Sword Intent that you showed me last time, I already know its origin... and I have communicated with the Ancient Ancestor about it."
The last time Chenyinzi visited Linjiang City using Divine Sense as a mirror, An Jing had shown him the sword blade fragment containing Annihilation Sword Intent, hinting that it might be related to the Shangxuan Sect.
At that time, Chenyinzi took it very seriously, instructing An Jing to keep it a secret and discuss the matter with Cheng Guang Ancient Ancestor.
It seems the results are now out—however baffling or unbelievable it feels, the truth is the truth.
The one targeting Mingguang Dust was indeed the Shangxuan Sect.
Furthermore, having confirmed this, Chenyinzi felt somewhat relieved—being a spy for the Shangxuan Sect was surely better than being one for the Tianyi Demon Sect or the Taiming Sect, right? At least it was the strongest Heavenly Ancestor he was serving as a hound to, and that was normal. Why would past Sect traitors have to collaborate with the Taiming Sect and the Tianyi Demon Sect?
But no matter how strong the collaborative enemy is, it is intolerable.
"Inside the Sect, a major cleansing of high-level traitors is in preparation."
Chenyinzi cautiously said to An Jing, "Both I and Cheng Guang Ancient Ancestor will be away, and there will certainly be some who will be tempted to make moves within the Sect, little do they know the Ancient Ancestor has already activated the Haotian Mirror Fragment for surveillance, and this time we will surely catch them in the act."
"When the time comes, and the Ancient Ancestor returns, it will be a sudden thunderous change, and bringing you back now... would not be ideal."
Upon hearing this, An Jing also nodded in understanding.
Without clarity on why the Shangxuan Sect wanted to act against Mingguang Dust, it was best for him not to return to the Sect heedlessly, who knows what the Shangxuan Sect might do to him.
Even if they weren’t planning anything, during such a tense and charged moment of internal scrutiny, why should he, who had already become the master of Da Chen, intervene unnecessarily? It would inevitably lead to tiresome questioning by the native elders of Dust Li, damaging his dignity in the process.
Better wait and slowly return to Dust Li later. At that time, with the inner traitors in Bright Mirror Sect dealt with, he would be much safer, joining Bright Mirror Sect in a peaceful environment – how perfect...
Could it be so simple?
—It seemed there would be lingering troubles.
An Jing had great confidence in Chenyinzi and Bright Mirror Sect’s ability to handle matters, but he had even more confidence in his own Heavenly Mandate.
"But I can’t stay in Da Chen either."
Thinking this, An Jing couldn’t help but feel a headache, "I can’t go back to Bright Mirror Sect for the time being, and it’s best not to stay in Da Chen, what should I do?"
He wasn’t genuinely worried about this issue because he could simply stay in the Tianyuan Realm for an extended period, study diligently, strengthen his foundational knowledge of the Immortal Path, and when Chenyinzi informs him that it’s safe to return to Bright Mirror Sect, he would head over.
The question, however, was how should he vanish from everyone’s sight?
Endless Heavens? Hide and travel slowly? It was doable but surely a bit troublesome...
Chenyinzi patted An Jing’s shoulder. He indeed couldn’t linger in Da Chen for long and also believed in An Jing’s abilities, "When everything is settled, I will contact you again."
"If you’re in danger, call for me again."
Although An Jing had the legal procedures to request help from his Grandmaster, a Manifest Saint True Monarch couldn’t stay long in foreign land, but with Chenyinzi’s abilities, he could descend whenever needed. Thus, after respectfully seeing his Grandmaster off, An Jing did not feel like he was truly alone.
With that, the incident around Broken Blade Mountain Range came to a close.
An Jing returned to the group of refugees in Linjiang City, while Virtuous King reunited with Hang Mofeng, who was escorting the refugees and prisoners in retreat.
Upon seeing Virtuous King personally arriving at the Military Formation, Hang Mofeng, who was using the Water Mirror to discuss some prisoner arrangements with Xu Tai across the distance, promptly put aside the Water Mirror, stood up, and saluted, looking quite anxious, "I failed to welcome you from afar, please forgive my oversight!"
"Please forgive my oversight!" Many officers and soldiers in the camp also kneeled on one knee to salute.
Virtuous King smiled and raised his hand to lift everyone up. He was genuinely pleased, "General Xing, you are a great hero. I saw your report with Mountain Master An; you withstood several of the enemy’s most threatening assaults. If not for that, the Iron Li army misled by the Heavenly Demon might have released the Great Heavenly Demon prematurely."
"And your subsequent actions are also impeccable, escorting civilians, taking prisoners, leading both the army and the civilians to towns for refuge, and maintaining discipline within the army... General Xing, I have also reviewed your military merits against the Demon Disaster in Han South, your accomplishments are enough to receive the Granting Talisman or even the honors from a General."