Junior sister took first place again

In the southern part of Tianque Realm, in the tent of True Lord Lingyun, Ouyang Zhan sat in front of a stone table engraved with an ancient star map. In front of him was Ji Tang's birth date and time, which was the last clue provided by Ji Shu in order to rescue her granddaughter.

The room was dim, with only a few long-burning lamps emitting a faint light, illuminating his solemn face. Ji Shu stood opposite him, anxiously waiting for the result.

Ouyang Zhan closed his eyes and concentrated, forming seals with his hands as he began to invoke the secret divination techniques of the Xingchen Sect. As he moved, the starlight within the room began to swirl, slowly converging upon his palms.

He whispered the spell, his voice carrying the power of the ancient stars.

"The stars are moving, and the destiny is revealed. In the name of the stars, the door of fate is sealed." Ouyang Zhan's voice echoed in the secret room. At this moment, his eyes seemed to turn into stars, able to see through the past and the future.

As the spell was completed, a beam of light shot out from his palm, covering Ji Tang's birth date and time.

The papers with the birth dates written on them began to spontaneously combust without fire, turning into tiny stars that eventually formed a strange hexagram in the air.

Ouyang Zhan stared at the hexagram in the air, his brow furrowed. After a moment, he slowly spoke, "This hexagram is called 'Fox Shadow Hides'. It's a combination of two different hexagrams. Gen represents mountain and stopping; Xun represents wind and entering. The wind blows through the mountains, and the mountains stop before the wind. It has the effect of a fox borrowing the power of a tiger, and also implies something hidden and hard to find."

Ji Shu hurriedly asked, "'Fox Shadow Hides'? True Lord, does this hexagram have any other implications?"

Ouyang Zhan pondered for a moment, then said, "The hexagram says, 'The first six, using the rescue horse to be strong, auspicious.' This means that although there are dangers, if you can get help, you can turn danger into fortune. And 'The fox's shadow is hidden' also implies that where Ji Tang is now, there must be many signs of foxes around him."

Ji Shu's expression became even more solemn. Given the fox clan's cunning and treachery, searching for someone in their territory was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

"Master, what should I do?" Ouyang Zhan recorded the details of the hexagram on a special star map and handed it to Ji Shu.

"Master Ji, this hexagram shows 'Nine Two, Enclosed with Fish, No Blame, Not Beneficial to Guests.' This means that wherever Ji Tang is, there must be something belonging to the Fox Clan, or a place where the Fox Clan resides. Combined with the hexagram's text of 'Fox Shadows Hidden,' we can infer that Ji Tang is trapped within the Fox Clan's sphere of influence."

Ji Shu took the star map, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes. "Thank you, Master! Once you rescue Tang'er, I will present you with a treasure as a token of my gratitude."

Ouyang Zhan nodded slightly, "Go ahead, I've mapped out the route, just follow the directions and you'll be fine. I won't see you off."

"True Lord, please stay."

Ji Shu bowed, then turned around and headed towards Youzhou again.

Ouyang Zhan waved his hand and relit the lights in the tent, thinking about whether to accept the cooperation that Wei mentioned.

As long as Ji Shu can rescue Ji Tang, with Ji's Phantom Pearl, even if he is accidentally exposed in the future, he will be able to avoid the sect's pursuit for a few days and then enter Jizhou.

However, a fire of anger suddenly ignited in Ouyang Zhan's eyes, and he wanted to destroy Xuanling Sect!

It's not just because he is secretly working for the demon clan, but more importantly, he hates Immortal Jiyun and Cheng Yan.

They, the master and the disciple, were obviously from aristocratic families, but because he was the eldest disciple and was being trained as the successor, it was so easy and natural for him to inherit the position of the sect leader.

And he, clearly, was on the same path as these two people, but his fate was completely different.

His master has now reached the peak of the Tribulation Crossing Stage, but he has not yet officially announced that he will be the next sect leader.

There have been various rumors in the sect over the years, and many people have been saying that after the sect leader ascends to heaven, the next sect leader will definitely be Immortal Yunhua.

Ouyang Zhan was well aware of his master's arrogant personality. He hadn't come to him alone to discuss matters until now, which meant that he must have been excluded by him.

Therefore, Ouyang Zhan would not be polite to them. Since what should belong to him could not be obtained by himself, he would rather destroy it than let others get it.

Xuanling Sect is a good place to practice.

On the second night, Ouyang Zhan gave Wei a reply with only one word "yes".

His decision was like a stone dropped into calm water, causing ripples. His response was simple and firm, yet it concealed a deeper intention and plan.

"Since the sect won't give me a chance, I will create one myself."

Ouyang Zhan stood up, walked to the door of the big tent, looked up at the starry sky and whispered.

The disciples of the Xingchen Sect believe that every star represents a destiny, and he, Ouyang Zhan, is determined to become the star that controls his own destiny.

He stood at the door and watched for a while. Just as he was about to go back, his eyes suddenly became stern and his figure flashed to a clearing in the nearby forest.

"come out!"

Ouyang Zhan stood on the ground with his hands behind his back and said coldly.

Footsteps were heard in the shadows of the woods. A moment later, Xue Wuying walked out from behind the bushes with his two siblings.

Ouyang Zhan narrowed his eyes and looked at him for a while, "Someone from the Xue family?"

Xue Wuying walked slowly out from the shadows of the trees, with a cynical smile on his face, but his eyes revealed a sharpness that could not be ignored.

He was dressed in black clothes, blending into the night, as if he himself was a ghost born from the darkness.

"That's right." Xue Wuying's voice was calm. "I've long heard of Master Lingyun of the Xingchen Sect."

Ouyang Zhan looked at Xue Wuying, who was just in the Spirit Transformation Stage. The two half-demons behind him were a little more troublesome.

"Mr. Xue, you are visiting me so late at night. What brings you here?"

Ouyang Zhan asked directly without any expression.

Xue Wuying smiled slightly, his eyes swept behind Ouyang Zhan, as if wanting to see if there was anyone else.

"I heard that Master Lingyun is looking for someone recently. Perhaps we have the same goal."

Ouyang Zhan raised his brows slightly, remembering that after he had used the technique of seeing the same thing on Ji Tang, it was this person who came in and almost disrupted his plan.

"Oh? Are you interested in Ji Tang too?"

Xue Wuying shook his head. "No, it has nothing to do with Ji Tang. What I want to talk about is the matter of the natural chasm."

Ouyang Zhan's eyes flashed with danger, and he said coldly: "I don't understand what you are saying."

Xue Wuying didn't care about Ouyang Zhan's indifferent attitude. He still kept smiling and seemed full of confidence in the topic that was about to be discussed.

"Master Lingyun, why are you so quick to make a decision? I came here today with sincerity and a proposal that will benefit both parties."

Ouyang Zhan looked at Xue Wuying. He knew that Xue Wuying couldn't appear here for no reason, but the mention of the natural barrier made him alert.

Cheng Yan is now on the Tianqian battlefield. He had just agreed to something, and this person came to him. It seems that he has bad intentions.

Ouyang Zhan's eyes became sharp. He stared at Xue Wuying closely, trying to find a clue from the other's expression.

"You came to visit me late at night and mentioned the natural barrier. What exactly do you want to do?"

Xue Wuying smiled slightly, took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Ouyang Zhan.

"Master Lingyun, this is a secret letter from the Wei family. It details the plans and conditions for our cooperation."

Ouyang Zhan took the letter and scanned it. The content of the letter made his brows furrow even more.

The letter mentioned Xuanling Sect, Cheng Yan, and even the Sect Master, Immortal Jiyun. The Wei family's ambitions were clear; they wanted more than just Cheng Yan's life; they wanted to destabilize the entire Xuanling Sect.

"You're overreaching." Ouyang Zhan's voice carried a hint of threat. "When will it be your turn as a small Wei family to meddle in the affairs of the three great sects?"

In Ouyang Zhan's eyes, the Xue family didn't even have the qualifications to enter.

Xue Wuying remained calm, seemingly anticipating Ouyang Zhan's reaction. "Master Lingyun, matters in the world of immortal cultivation are ours and yours alone. The Xuanling Sect's increasing dominance has already caused widespread discontent. We are simply stepping forward to offer everyone an opportunity."

Ouyang Zhan was silent for a while, quickly weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

Finally, he nodded. "Okay, I agree to cooperate, but I'll only do that one thing."

Xue Wuying smiled contentedly upon hearing this. "Of course. Our primary target is Cheng Yan."

The two reached a preliminary consensus. Xue Wuying did not stay for long and disappeared into the night with Nan Xu and Qianhan.

Ouyang Zhan stood there, watching them leave, his eyes flashing with complex light. He knew that cooperation with Xue Wuying was a dangerous game, but for his own ambition, he was willing to take the risk.

He turned back to the tent and began to carefully plan his upcoming actions.

At the same time, Ji Shu took the star map provided by Ouyang Zhan and rushed to Youzhou without stopping.

His heart was filled with worry about Ji Tang, but also with anticipation for the upcoming rescue operation.

On the other side of Zhongzhou, the mountain gate of Xuanling Sect was still solemn and peaceful. The disciples in the sect were still practicing, completely unaware of the changes in the outside world.

They didn't know that a storm against the Xuanling Sect was quietly brewing, and the sect they relied on was about to face unprecedented challenges.

After receiving Ouyang Zhan's reply, the Wei family also began to take action. They knew that this cooperation was an opportunity, but also a risk. They had to act cautiously and not let the Xuanling Sect know of their plan.

The elders of the Wei family began to secretly mobilize the family's strength, preparing to deal a fatal blow to the Xuanling Sect at the right time.

At the Xuanling Sect's headquarters in Tianqian, the atmosphere was tense and serious. Cheng Yan, the Xuanling Sect's senior sister, was not only a role model for the disciples but also a symbol of the sect's strength and wisdom.

However, this swordsman who has always been calm and composed has recently encountered several assassination attempts, causing the entire sect to be on alert.

Cheng Yan stood atop a watchtower, gazing out at the distant land of Youzhou, her eyes gleaming with determination and unyielding spirit. Despite facing numerous assassination attempts, she remained undeterred, instead strengthening her resolve to track down the mastermind behind the attacks.

She knew that behind these assassinations, there must be a conspiracy that was detrimental to the Xuanling Sect. "Big Sister, the Sect Master has ordered you to return to the sect immediately," a disciple hurried over and reported to Cheng Yan.

Cheng Yan nodded. She knew that the sect leader's summons must be related to the recent assassination.

"I understand. You can go down first." Her voice was calm, but her eyes revealed a hint of solemnity. As Cheng Yan left the watchtower and prepared to return to the sect, she was thinking about possible clues in her mind.

She recalled the details of several recent assassinations. Many of them were dangerous, but each time seemed to fall just a little short.

She suspected that these assassinations were not simply revenge killings, but had deeper motives. After returning to the sect, Cheng Yan went directly to the sect master's meeting room. There, the sect master, Immortal Jiyun, was discussing countermeasures with several elders.

Seeing Cheng Yan come in, Jiyun Immortal Venerable showed a trace of relief on his face. "Ayan, you're here."

There was a hint of concern in Immortal Jiyun's voice, "What do you think about recent events?"

Cheng Yan pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Master, I believe there must be someone behind these assassinations. Their goal is not just me, but to shake the foundation of our Xuanling Sect."

Immortal Master Jiyun nodded, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "I share this concern. Recently, there's been a surge of activity in You and Ji Provinces. We must remain vigilant."

Cheng Yan's already exquisite face now looked even more solemn because of her furrowed brows. She knew very well that the complexity of the struggle before her was far beyond her initial imagination.

She stepped forward, clasped her fists and bowed to the Jiyun Sect Master, who sat on the high throne. She said firmly, "Master, I beg you to allow me to personally investigate these assassinations! No matter what, I will uncover the mastermind behind all this!"

Sect Master Jiyun narrowed his eyes slightly, and after a moment of silence, he slowly nodded and said in a deep voice, "Okay, Master agrees to your request. But remember, since the other party has been able to repeatedly sneak past our numerous defenses and carry out assassinations without anyone noticing, it shows how powerful they are and how sophisticated their methods are. We must not take them lightly."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Yan nodded heavily and replied, "Thank you, Master, for your advice. I understand the interests involved. Please rest assured, Master, I will act cautiously and live up to my mission!" After she finished speaking, a ray of incomparable determination suddenly flashed in her eyes as bright as stars.

Cheng Yan then turned and strode out of the meeting room. The sun was shining brightly outside, and the breeze gently blew her clothes.

However, she had no time to appreciate the pleasant scenery. Her only thought was to find out the truth as soon as possible. She knew that the road ahead would be long and full of dangers, but as long as she thought of the innocent victims and the threat faced by the entire Xuanling Sect, she felt that even if the road ahead was full of thorns, she would not be afraid.

Because deep down in her heart she always believed that as long as she persevered and moved forward courageously, one day she would be able to dispel the fog, let the truth come to light, and protect the peace of this land she loved so much and everyone in the sect.