If, at the moment of life and death, Elder Jiu Wu cried hard enough to move one or two true Renjiao powerhouses to action, the sect wouldn’t just be saved today—it would be secure for the long term.
But…
Li Changshou carefully checked for signs and frowned.
Elder Jiu Wu’s cries were genuinely heart-wrenching—but there was no divine aura, no sign that anyone was listening…
Was the crying not intense enough?
Not enough people?
Or maybe the speech wasn’t stirring enough?
Li Changshou quickly weighed his options, still tracking the battles and directing the paper puppets.
Elder Jiu Wu tried again—but the portrait remained completely unresponsive.
Then, Li Changshou made up his mind.
He used a high-level Wind Whispering Spell and discreetly sent a message to Youqin Xuanya, who was standing at the entrance to the hall:
“Youqin, come outside for a moment. I need to speak with you.”
Youqin Xuanya blinked in surprise, then turned and stepped outside without hesitation.
Li Changshou’s voice followed in her ear:
“I heard Elder Jiu Wu’s plea, and a thought struck me—this might be our only hope of saving the sect.”
“It’s just… the way Uncle Jiuwu was crying for help—it wasn’t quite right,” Li Changshou’s voice said softly.
“I may not be someone of influence, but you, Junior Sister, are the chief disciple of Du Xian Sect. Would you be willing to give it a try?”
“If you are… just nod.”
Youqin Xuanya nodded immediately, her eyes scanning the surroundings, but she couldn’t spot Li Changshou anywhere.
Just then, a thunderous boom erupted from above. The disciples instinctively looked up to see brilliant lights flashing among the clouds, bolts of lightning bursting across the sky, and waves of primordial energy sweeping downward.
Around the grand hall, over two hundred Earth Immortals released their power, forming a protective barrier using a simple formation to shield the disciples from the aftershocks of the battle.
Suddenly, a furious roar rang out, and a divine beast wreathed in purple flames burst through the clouds!
It let out a sky-shaking bellow, fire flaring in all directions. The masked enemy Golden Immortal before it was forced into a hasty retreat!
Majestic and awe-inspiring—it radiated a peerless might.
But dark mist coiled faintly around its body, giving it an air of weakness.
It was Elder Qiling of Du Xian Sect—he had revealed his true form!
Meanwhile, in front of the Hall of All Matters, Youqin Xuanya was quietly receiving further instructions from Li Changshou. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly.
“Did you memorize the words I just told you?” Li Changshou asked via voice transmission. “If so, nod firmly.”
Youqin Xuanya gave a sharp nod.
“Good,” Li Changshou said. “Not a single word can be forgotten. Burn them into your soul. And later, don’t say I gave them to you—just say they came from your own heart.”
Youqin Xuanya gave a small nod. She already deeply admired her senior brother’s selflessness and integrity.
Li Changshou continued, “Next, you need to find a genuine emotional trigger. Something from deep inside—think of something that fills you with grief and anger.”
Grief and anger…?
Youqin Xuanya hesitated, confused. Under Li Changshou’s guidance, she tried to find that feeling.
But she didn’t have much to be sad about—her family was safe, her cultivation path smooth, her master treated her well…
“I… I can’t think of anything,” she said softly.
Her voice rose slightly, drawing a few curious glances from nearby disciples. She quickly turned toward the hall to avoid attention.
Li Changshou’s calm voice echoed in her ear again. “Don’t panic. The more you rush, the harder this becomes. Hmm… Okay, think of something—or—someone—you love the most. It could be a pet.”
Youqin whispered, “Can it be the spirit beast you gave me, Senior Brother?”
“Perfect,” Li Changshou replied. “Now, picture it in front of you, tail gently wagging. And then…
It suddenly gets crushed by a falling boulder. It dies. Its head cracked open, bleeding… tragic. You bury it with your own hands.”
Youqin Xuanya bit her lip. The image of burying that small spirit beast filled her heart. Her eyes glistened with guilt and sadness.
But to Li Changshou, her emotion was too purely sorrowful, lacking the rage he needed.
So he added, “Then, while you were still grieving, someone stole its body.
You followed the trail, slowly, carefully, searching step by step…”
Youqin Xuanya unconsciously took a step forward, walking back into the hall. Li Changshou’s voice rang again like a devil’s whisper:
“They dug it up and roasted it.”
Fury and heartbreak flooded her eyes instantly.
“Yes! That’s it!” Li Changshou urged. “Hold onto that feeling! Now go to Uncle Jiuwu’s side!
Light three incense sticks, kneel, bow three times, and speak the words I gave you!”
Youqin Xuanya took a deep breath and stepped forward without hesitation. Li Changshou immediately dispelled his Wind Whisper spell; he dared not send his senses into the hall and could only observe from afar.
There she was—Youqin Xuanya, the most prominent disciple of her generation—walking past the weeping Jiuwu. She picked up three violet incense sticks, lit them, and placed them in the burner.
She took two steps back, knelt beside the sobbing elder, and bowed three times.
Jiuwu glanced at her, puzzled.
Her hair was slightly disheveled. Her icy-blue robe flared out like a blossoming lotus. Her expression—utterly sorrowful.
She spoke:
“Disciple Youqin Xuanya of the Daoist path now invokes the source of our sect’s teachings—the Grand Supreme Elder Lord, Sage of the Three Pure Ones!
Du Xian Sect was founded upon the Wu Wei Scripture passed down by the True Immortal Duer, and built upon the foundation of the Grand Pure Dao. We honor the Grand Supreme Elder Lord as our ancestral teacher and uphold the orthodox Daoist lineage.
Now, dark forces from outside the sect seek to sabotage our teachings. These evil plots have no cause and no enmity with us. We did not provoke them!
We beg the Sage to see this!”
With that, she prostrated once more and began to recite the first volume of the Wu Wei Scripture.
Jiuwu blinked.
Why did it feel like… her words were way more impressive than his just now?
Then—something changed.
As Youqin Xuanya spoke the second verse of the scripture, the painting before them gently trembled.
A subtle, indescribable wave of Daoist resonance—the kind that defied perception and language—rose from the painting… then vanished back into it.
wannaberecluse On SRTT Chapter 50.1