Chapter 60: A Sudden Upheaval in the Profound Truth Sect!

"What an interesting young man. It’s just a pity that old man won’t get to see him..." Second Senior Sister murmured, though who exactly she meant by "the old man" remained a mystery.

"Old man, rest assured. I, Nangong Mingyue, will avenge you, to repay the kindness you showed me all those years ago!" Determination flashed in Nangong Mingyue’s eyes, and a murderous intent flickered across her beautiful gaze, as if swearing the certainty of her words.

When Ye Jiuyao entered the Tongxuan Pagoda once again, he suddenly realized that the tower was not merely a place for cultivation. A scorching aura surged up from below, flowing ceaselessly from the base of the tower.

"Earthfire?"

Earthfire referred to subterranean magma and the like—intensely hot, yet it could also be something even more potent, such as the legendary Earth Flame. Earth Flame was a higher form than ordinary earthfire, an optimal flame for refining pills and forging weapons, capable of greatly increasing the success rates of alchemists and artisans.

"It shouldn't be just earthfire. The fire here contains pure vital energy, something earthfire lacks. So, it must be... Earth Flame!" Ye Jiuyao opened his senses, and immediately noticed the difference. His brows knit, then a look of excitement appeared on his face.

"Perhaps, in this place, I truly can master the Sleep aspect of my Food and Sleep Technique." With that, Ye Jiuyao gathered his energy, focusing on his dantian. The Canglang Diagram hovered within, vital energy swirling endlessly.

He began to circulate the Food and Sleep Technique. His eyes slowly closed, and streams of vital energy surged around him. In an instant, storms of energy formed, radiating outwards from his center.

Suddenly, Ye Jiuyao’s eyes burst open, as though stars revolved within them. An overwhelming power coursed through his body. The Food and Sleep Technique kept creating whirlpools, each one absorbing vital energy and sending it into the Canglang Diagram.

The Canglang Diagram, in turn, released a misty aura, feeding energy back into Ye Jiuyao. In a flash, tremendous vital energy condensed within him. He savored the sensation, feeling the energy flow like a mountain stream.

"What a marvelous feeling. Can this Earth Flame also temper the body and expand the capacity for vital energy? But why does my perception feel different—could it be the Canglang Diagram?" Doubts rose within Ye Jiuyao. When faced with the inexplicable, he could only attribute it to the mysterious Canglang Diagram—a relic of such enigmatic origin that, although he was its master, he knew almost nothing of its true nature.

"Perhaps I still haven’t found the right way to use it..." Ye Jiuyao muttered to himself, then ceased his speculations. With a thought, his awareness entered the Canglang Diagram, while his Food and Sleep Technique continued to operate swiftly.

He entered the Diagram to see if Xuanniang and the others had returned, but finding no one, he quietly exited again.

Ye Jiuyao cultivated within the Tongxuan Pagoda for seven days. When he finally emerged from his trance, it was because Mo Lishou, one of the four Mo brothers, had come calling loudly.

"What happened?"

"The... the Sect Master..."

"The Sect Master is dead, isn’t he?"

"Y-yes... yes..." There was not the slightest trace of surprise on Ye Jiuyao’s face. He had known all along, so he remained calm, without a flicker of shock.

"Let’s go. We’ll see him off properly."

Mo Lishou watched Ye Jiuyao’s departing figure, finding it all the more unfathomable. It was as if Ye Jiuyao knew everything in advance and met every event with unshaken composure.

"Old man, he’s here." Nangong Mingyue, holding Emperor Scar’s hand, spoke softly as she saw Ye Jiuyao approaching.

"Yes, I see him." At this moment, Emperor Scar had lost all the vigor of a middle-aged man, his former healthy complexion replaced with the pallor of death.

"Silly child, don’t be sad. I’ve lived a hundred years, always showing myself as a young man. But now, there’s no need to keep up the pretense..." Emperor Scar said, looking at Nangong Mingyue.

"Hmph. Always showing off. Can you really defeat Qin Yu? He’s the Supreme Elder of the sixth-grade sect, the Flowing Sands Sect, and even has ties to a fourth-grade sect. Aren’t you just throwing your life away?"

"Heh... Some things must be done by someone, especially now that he’s come..."

Nangong Mingyue wanted to protest further, but when Emperor Scar spoke those last words, he suddenly fell silent, though the stubbornness in his eyes did not fade.

"Everyone is here. Then I’ll make my announcement. A sect cannot go without a master, so I wish to choose someone to be the new sect master..." Emperor Scar spoke weakly, his breath coming in fits and starts. When Ye Jiuyao saw the deathly aura clinging to the old man’s face, a trace of sorrow emerged in his eyes.

"Are you dying?" Ye Jiuyao knew Emperor Scar had been waiting for him. Under everyone’s gaze, he stepped forward, his tone commanding.

Everyone was taken aback by his words—even Zhong Shaoshan and the others. Nangong Mingyue and her peers, however, merely remained silent. They all knew the truth, but no one spoke of it, waiting tacitly for this day to come.

"Yes, I am dying. So, have you decided?"

"Yes. Though I’m not very accomplished, with Senior Sister here, I’ll accept for now. But isn’t there a Senior Brother? Why choose me?"

"Hahaha... That boy—you know, don’t you..."

Suddenly, Emperor Scar burst out laughing. Seeing this, Ye Jiuyao’s expression darkened, as did those of all present.

"Speak. This is your last burst of energy—you won’t last much longer. If we act quickly, perhaps you can still be saved..."

"It’s alright... I’ve lived a century already; I have no regrets. Take care of the sect for me. Don’t let our ancestors’ legacy be destroyed..."

Before Emperor Scar could finish, he released his grip on life and passed away. Ye Jiuyao fell silent, mist gathering in his eyes as he looked at the old man.

Though their acquaintance had been brief, this elder had entrusted him with an entire sect—a trust he could not betray.

"The rest of you, bury the old man. I have something to discuss with Junior Brother."

Zhong Shaoshan’s mind went blank for a moment. Hadn’t Ye Jiuyao just been struggling to accept the truth, tears glimmering in his eyes? And now, with the Sect Master’s last breath barely gone, he was already arranging the burial?

Zhong Shaoshan and the others were utterly bewildered, their minds in chaos, even wondering if they had come to the wrong place.

A few days ago, the Sect Master had been full of life. Now, he was suddenly dead, Ye Jiuyao had become the new sect master, and the senior disciples of Tongxuan Sect were calmly preparing the burial.

Everything was so contrary to expectation that it overturned Zhong Shaoshan and the others’ understanding.

"Senior Brother, the Newborn World—its master?"

"Qin Yu, the one in black robes?"

"The Sect Master, all for Senior Brother?"

"......"

Ye Jiuyao raised one question after another, but Nangong Mingyue did not answer. Instead, she uttered something cryptic.

"Perhaps the age of chaos has come, and it’s time for the Sealed Lord to take up his responsibilities..."

With that, Nangong Mingyue departed, leaving Ye Jiuyao bewildered. But as her words echoed in his mind, he was suddenly struck by realization.

"The Sealed Lord?!"

Ye Jiuyao was extremely sensitive to this term. Sun Qigang had mentioned it before, though never fully explained. Yet he’d always had the sense it was about this very thing.

For a time, Ye Jiuyao fell deep into thought.