Chapter 101: No Need to Say More

“Such a relief…”

After clearing out the monsters in the Ghost Valley, many elders brought out all the surviving disciples of their sect. Seeing their disheveled and dust-covered appearances, some elders exclaimed with great relief.

Each sect had sent numerous disciples into the trial, but since this was a trial, none of the sects felt regretful. On the contrary, they felt fortunate—and wiped cold sweat from their brows—grateful that the trial had ended prematurely due to unforeseen circumstances.

Otherwise, no one could say how many would have survived until the end.

Those disciples, now escorted out by the elders, still appeared shaken to the core, as if trapped in a dreamlike state. It seemed they would need careful recuperation. As for what had truly happened inside the Ghost Valley, that would have to wait until their return to the sect.

This was the situation on the sects’ side, but the noble families experienced a starkly different reality. Several family heads, upon discovering that their dispatched members had been utterly annihilated, were struck with such fury and grief that they coughed up blood and nearly fainted from the shock.

Those were their most outstanding heirs! Now all buried in the Ghost Valley—it was tantamount to their lineage being severed! The rise and fall of noble houses depended on the passing of strength from generation to generation; each generation stronger than the last ensured the family’s prosperity, and the reverse spelled their decline.

Meanwhile, the protagonist of this affair, Shen Qingyun, remained inside the Ghost Valley. The five sect leaders hovered behind him, their expressions inscrutable.

“Qingyun, all the disciples have been brought out by the elders of their respective sects,” said the leader of the Azure Cloud Sect, maintaining his usual authority as a sect master.

“Hm,” Shen Qingyun nodded lightly after hearing this, saying nothing further, leaving the five sect leaders unable to discern his thoughts.

“If that’s the case, then let this Ghost Valley vanish,” Shen Qingyun said calmly. His words caused the faces of the five sect leaders to change slightly.

“Impossible!” exclaimed the leader of the Profound Silence Sect.

“Why impossible?” Shen Qingyun tilted his head slightly, fixing him with a gaze.

“If you destroy the Ghost Valley, what will become of the trials held by our five sects?” the Profound Silence Sect leader asked.

“Do these trials truly have any meaning?” Shen Qingyun cast a look of disdain at him. “Each trial costs the lives of the majority of disciples. Which is better: a trial built on sacrificing lives, or one where no lives need be risked? Anyone can tell which is preferable at a glance. Or perhaps, Master Profound Silence, you are a man whose strength surpasses his wisdom?”

“How presumptuous!” the Profound Silence Sect leader shouted angrily, then turned to the Azure Cloud Sect leader with fury. “Azure Cloud Sect leader, are these the manners of your disciples? Disrespecting elders—what kind of teaching is this?”

Suddenly, before the Azure Cloud Sect leader could respond, a golden sword flashed into view before the Profound Silence Sect leader, its tip pointed directly at his nose.

“Master Profound Silence, I am a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect. It’s hardly appropriate to criticize our sect leader in front of his disciple,” Shen Qingyun said coolly.

The sword emitted a sharp hum, and for a moment, the Profound Silence Sect leader found himself subdued by the flying sword.

“No need to be so fearful,” Shen Qingyun continued calmly. “With my strength, a single flying sword is hardly lethal.”

“But ten, or even dozens, would be a different matter.”

“You—” The Profound Silence Sect leader glared at Shen Qingyun, facing the flying sword directly. Only he could truly feel its deadly sharpness. Indeed, one sword might not kill him, but it could certainly make him suffer.

Moreover, many more flying swords hovered nearby, moving so swiftly that he could barely react. With so many attacking at once, the outcome was uncertain.

The Profound Silence Sect leader finally fell silent. The other three sect leaders also grew quiet, their thoughts unknown.

Shen Qingyun turned his gaze to the vast land beneath him. This was the Ghost Valley, originally just a mountain valley. Due to the rampant black smoke, the valley had expanded until its entirety could no longer be seen at a glance.

“The strength of a sect depends not only on how powerful its leader is, but also on the quality of its foundational disciples,” he said. “You hold trials like this regularly. Have you ever calculated how many excellent disciples have perished in the Ghost Valley over the past five hundred years?”

Every word was precise and weighty, his voice ringing with authority.

The five sect leaders’ expressions shifted slightly. They knew well the toll the trials had taken. Since the Ghost Valley appeared, each trial resulted in numerous disciple deaths. But in return, the survivors often brought back valuable and rare spiritual herbs grown within the valley.

Over time, the original purpose of the Ghost Valley trials had altered. No longer was it simply about exterminating fledgling monsters inside; the focus shifted to harvesting the spiritual herbs that grew there.

The initial intent behind the Ghost Valley trials had long since been forgotten—perhaps even by the previous sect masters.

“But if we do not do this, once the monsters inside the Ghost Valley fully mature and break the seals, it will be a catastrophe for everyone within the five sects!” the Azure Cloud Sect leader said, explaining the original purpose of the trials, unaware that the trial had long since lost its original meaning.

“That is why I intend to make the Ghost Valley disappear.”

Shen Qingyun said firmly, “What the five sects cannot accomplish, I will do today.”

The Azure Cloud Sect leader fell silent, understanding that it was precisely because the five sects had failed to eradicate the Ghost Valley and the entities within that they resorted to sealing the area and holding periodic trials to prevent strong monsters from breaking free.

“Any objections?”

Although posed as a question, Shen Qingyun’s tone brooked no dissent.

The five sect leaders remained silent. Shen Qingyun spoke again: “Since there are no objections, then we shall proceed as I say.”

With that, countless flying swords flashed with dazzling golden light, surging forward with unstoppable momentum. Nothing within the Ghost Valley could withstand their assault.

Clang!

A flying sword sliced through a mountain peak, instantly leveling it. The cut surface was smooth and polished as if mirrored.

A monster, hiding and having narrowly avoided the elders’ purges, heard the thunderous noise outside. Curious, it crawled out to see. Just as it poked its head out, a golden light pierced through its body.

The poor creature was slain before it could even react.

...

“It’s over. Let’s go!”

Shen Qingyun looked down at the devastation, clapped his hands, and the flying swords circling in the sky transformed into golden specks of light and vanished. Now, the Ghost Valley was completely erased from the records of the five sects.

The five sect leaders bore complex expressions, their estimation of Shen Qingyun rising several notches. He was no ordinary disciple.

“Hm?”

“Is what you say true?”

The head of the Feng family snapped his iron fan shut with a sharp sound, staring at Feng Xingzi. “Feng Chuxun is a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect?”

“That’s right. I personally confirmed it,” Feng Xingzi nodded.

“Unbelievable. I thought that bastard fell off a cliff and died. Never imagined he actually became an inner disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect. Remarkable indeed,” the Feng family head said coldly, a chill flashing in his eyes as he sneered.

“Master, how shall we decide on this matter?” Feng Xingzi asked respectfully.

“Decide? How else?” The Feng family head smiled coldly. “He is one of our Feng family, so naturally he should return with me! Does the Azure Cloud Sect leader really think he can stop me?”

The five surviving Feng family members exchanged uneasy glances.

They had learned from Feng Xingzi who Feng Chuxun truly was, so they understood everything.

But what unsettled them was not the Feng family head’s words, but the thought of the terrifying top disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect.

Regardless of whether the Azure Cloud Sect leader would interfere, Shen Qingyun’s attitude made it clear he would never allow this.

...

At the Sha Kui Sect, Wu Shi hurried to greet the returning sect leader, bowing respectfully. “Sect Leader.”

The Sha Kui Sect leader nodded slightly and asked, “What is it?”

“Sect Leader, there is a matter I remain uncertain about and must leave quickly to seek verification. I fear I will be unable to attend the upcoming gathering.”

The sect leader pondered briefly, then nodded. “Very well, but do it swiftly. We are not yet ready to clash with the other four sects—especially now that the Azure Cloud Sect has produced a Shen Qingyun.”

Wu Shi was momentarily stunned, thinking the sect leader’s meaning matched his own, but also puzzled about how the sect leader had come by this knowledge.

“I will go…”

...

“Sect Leader, the Feng family head has come to pay respects.”

At the Azure Cloud Sect’s gathering place, the sect leader and Shen Qingyun walked one behind the other when an elder respectfully approached.

“What does the Feng family head want?” the sect leader asked, puzzled.

“I do not know.”

Nearby, Shen Qingyun raised a brow, seemingly guessing the reason for the Feng family head’s visit.

“Sect Leader, since he has come, it would be improper not to receive him,” Shen Qingyun said.

The sect leader thought for a moment. “You have a point. Let’s go meet the Feng family head together.”

Shen Qingyun smiled slightly. “Very well.”

The elder watched in disbelief. Shen Qingyun was just a disciple, yet seemed to share a camaraderie with the sect leader as if they had known each other for years.

...

“Head of the Feng family.”

The Feng family head waved his iron fan, flanked by Feng Xingzi and a line of disciples.

Upon hearing the Azure Cloud Sect leader’s voice, the Feng family head quickly donned a smile. “Azure Cloud Sect leader!”

Then he noticed the young man in white robes standing beside the sect leader and paused. “This is…”

The noble family heads had not seen Shen Qingyun during the rescue, so they did not recognize him.

“This is a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect who came to report a matter to me. When I heard the Feng family head was visiting, I came along,” the Azure Cloud Sect leader explained.

“I see,” the Feng family head said with sudden comprehension, unaware of the expressions on the faces of the Feng family juniors behind him. Had he noticed, his expression might have changed again.

“So, what brings the Feng family head to our Azure Cloud Sect’s base?” the sect leader cut to the chase.

The saying goes: one does not visit the imperial court without reason. The Azure Cloud Sect leader would not believe the Feng family head came merely to make a friendly visit.

“Azure Cloud Sect leader, you are truly astute,” the Feng family head said. “Actually, I come with a request.”

“Please, state it.”

“I am ashamed to admit it, but a junior of the Feng family somehow evaded the Azure Cloud Sect’s investigation and became a disciple,” the Feng family head said. “The noble families and the five sects have long agreed that noble family members may not train within the sects unless they abandon their identity and become common mortals.”

“For years, I have sent people searching for this junior, but received no news. I thought he had met with misfortune, but unexpectedly, another junior of ours found him within the Azure Cloud Sect.”

“Therefore, I have come, somewhat shamelessly, to request the Azure Cloud Sect to return him.”

After hearing this, the Azure Cloud Sect leader looked at him calmly. “I have heard of the person you mentioned, but the story I heard is quite different from yours.”

“Tell me, should I believe your version?”

The Feng family head’s face changed, hesitating before saying, “Perhaps that is a fabricated excuse so the Azure Cloud Sect won’t expel him!”

“Your words have some merit,” the Azure Cloud Sect leader replied, eyes narrowing. “However, how does the Feng family head intend to prove your claims are not fabricated?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean exactly this: no person, no matter who, will be taken without proof. To join the Azure Cloud Sect is to become one of us! Feng Cì, you cannot just demand someone based on unproven claims.”

“Azure Cloud Sect leader…”

Before the Feng family head could speak further, the sect leader cut him off. “No need to say more. There is no such person here. Feng family head, please take your leave.”

Nearby, Shen Qingyun blinked. So much for my chance to step forward—this isn’t how I expected it to go!