Under One Person, your rebellious life has reached the heavens?

"What?! That thief is Zhou Sheng?!"

Tang Miaoxing's face turned ashen as she realized the seriousness of the situation.

The Tang Tomb was secretly infiltrated by outsiders, who remained hidden for two months without the disciples realizing it. This means that the intruder might even possess the ability to kill each and every disciple silently.

Just thinking about it made him break out in a cold sweat.

However, Xu Xin did not give a direct answer to his question; instead, he continued talking to himself:

“Senior brother, I have lived half my life and regretted my mistakes countless times... I don’t have much time left. I know my own body. Even without the deal with him, I will only have a few years left at most.”

"Before leaving, I really wanted to leave a great gift for the Tang Clan as an atonement for my sins."

Yang Lie had said something similar 12 years ago. Tang Miaoxing immediately sensed something ominous and reprimanded him:

"Don't forget the lessons of those who came before you. Who among those who got involved with this stuff ever came to a good end?"

“Unlike Young Master Yang, who didn’t get it, I did.”

Xu Xin recalled this gatekeeper and smiled meaningfully.

"The speculation at the time that the Qi Source Flow could restrain Dan Shi was based on your own observation that Zhang Huaiyi was afflicted by Dan Shi but did not experience any symptoms for a long time."

"After I personally repaired the Wind, I knew its power, which made the cultivation of the Pill Devouring technique less demanding, and it could even be said to be a natural process."

"I never intended to die peacefully, but Feng Hou is of great benefit to the Tang Clan, and neither of us can refuse."

Tang Miaoxing roared, "Dan Shi is our sect's unique skill, why should we rely on this unorthodox method!"

"stupid."

"You're inflexible and cling to your outdated rules and regulations. The Tang Clan's legacy will be destroyed in your hands sooner or later."

Seeing his agitation, Xu Xin's tone turned cold, and he retorted:

"Open your old eyes and look around. How many strange and eccentric people are running rampant in this world today?"

"Do you really think that Dan Shi works on every single one of the tens of millions of people? Arrogant, ignorant, and haughty."

"It's only a matter of time before the Dan Shi is broken. Every awakened one has different abilities. Who knows, there might be those with discerning eyes who can see the Dan Shi's trajectory and those with indestructible bodies who are immune to its poison."

"At that time, you, Tang Miaoxing, will be left with only the empty name of Dan Shi, watching it decline and eventually be lost, won't you?"

"And then there's the Academy of Extraordinary People. Once they're built, how many sects will face the prospect of having no successors? Is it more important to have your own abilities or to learn outdated techniques from various martial arts sects? You may not know, but the world does."

A series of cruel and realistic words silently shattered Tang Miaoxing's psychological defenses. He was also aware of these hidden dangers, but he was unwilling to face them because he could not find a solution.

Tang Miaoxing felt as if her throat was blocked by a heavy object. Her eyes widened, showing a mixture of anger, fear, and unease.

"Do you know how high the mortality rate is for those who cultivate alchemy? If the sect declines in the future, and the younger generation is not up to par, even the few alchemists who are most capable will die. Who will support the sect and continue to go far?"

"Such risks could have been avoided by taking action. Now, you're still clinging to formalities. I ask you, if even a sinner like me can figure this out, can't your sect leader understand it?"

Xu Xin's words became increasingly sharp, showing no mercy to Tang Miaoxing. His words pierced Tang Miaoxing's heart like blades. Unfortunately, Tang Miaoxing was the only sect leader in recent generations who did not know how to use the Dan Shi technique, and his weakness was exposed.

"......"

"........"

Both remained silent; the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

In the clash of ideologies regarding the succession of the sect, Xu Xin insisted on his own opinion and refused to back down in any way. Tang Miaoxing was unsettled and wavered. Several times, he was about to speak but then swallowed his words, unable to find a reason to refute him.

"Senior brother, just watch carefully."

Xu Xin used the Seventy-Two Transformations Technique to transform his appearance into that of many of his fellow disciples, with identical body types and clothing, leaving no room for doubt.

Then it transformed into birds, beasts, and insects. Its agility and lightness left Tang Miaoxing unable to calm down for a long time, and his expression was one of astonishment.

"In all honesty, isn't this method better than the Illusionary Body Barrier?"

Then, Xu Xin slowly raised his hand, and an invisible pill appeared in his palm, saying:

"Senior brother, within the trap I've set, all spatial changes are under my control. I can make Dan Shi appear instantly on the surface of your body, or even inside your body."

"I can also consider you as the object of change. Even if the pills I strike are chaotic and directionless, you can still run into them and be hit without even realizing it."

"Feng Hou has many other uses, but these two are the most suitable for our Dan Shi sect. You should consider them carefully."

Having said all he could say, Xu Xin sighed, slowly stood up, and placed Feng Hou Tu and the yellowed booklet of cultivation insights he had written over the past two months on the table.

"Xu Xin! You...?" Tang Miaoxing frowned, instinctively wanting to call out to him.

"I'm leaving."

"Leave the things here. If it can reduce the number of Tang Clan disciples who die and prolong the lineage, it may not wash away my sins, but at least it will make me feel better..."

Xu Xin turned around, and with a gentle wave of his hand, the Wind After the Diagram and the Cultivation Manual were enveloped by several flames and began to burn.

"Stop right there! Where are you going?! Come back here!"

Tang Miaoxing hurriedly put out the fire and shouted loudly.

"Farewell, senior brother. Don't look for me. From this day forward, I am no longer a member of the Tang Clan. Dying out here like a stray dog ​​is the best and most desired ending for me. Take care."

After speaking hastily, Xu Xin's figure disappeared without a trace.

Tang Miaoxing was left alone, wandering aimlessly in the same spot.

Chapter 343 Attacking the Celestial Master's Mansion

Tang Tomb.

A ghostly figure suddenly appeared. Zhou Sheng sized up Xu Xin, who had returned, and knew that he had passed on Feng Houchuan to the sect. He was not surprised at all, and his tone was somewhat sarcastic as he said:

"You old devil, you're something else. The setup you set up can even block my spying."

"Let me give you a piece of advice: that thing is good, but if it's spread around, your Tang Clan's lineage might be cut off one day because of it."

“…”

Xu Xin's expression was numb. He looked at Zhou Sheng's enthusiastic yet gloating expression and was amused by the fool. Then, his withered lips slowly moved, and his old voice was mixed with fatigue, like a broken phonograph.

"Disciples who can cultivate the Pill Devouring Technique all possess considerable willpower and hold sufficiently devout faith in it..."

"Feng Hou is just a tool to assist; taking that first step is enough."

“I have done what I should write, what I should pass on, and what I should instruct. If the younger generation is mediocre and ignorant and cannot even follow the path I instructed, then the inheritance will be broken and there will be no successor. The responsibility will not lie with me.”

Zhou Sheng's expression darkened, and he changed the subject, asking bluntly, "So, can you leave with me now?"

"Mm," Xu Xin replied.

"Alright...then let me cast a divination."

On a whim, Zhou Sheng shrunk the magic array that originally covered the entire Tang Clan to just cover the Tang Tomb, slowing down time within the array by dozens of times. He swiftly reached into his robes, grabbed several copper coins and tortoise shells, and scattered them to the ground.

"Bang!"

"Da da da....."

With his eyes closed, Zhou Sheng mentally calculated with his fingers, his tightly furrowed brows showing a hint of doubt, which then relaxed slowly.

"..."

Xu Xin looked at his pretentious act, chuckled coldly a few times, and waited silently.

Xu Xin still maintains a clear attitude towards his former sworn brother, current collaborator, and future mortal enemy, even after being expelled from the Tang Clan.

Now that I've acquired someone's unique skills, I must fight to the death when the deal is done, so as not to betray my promise to my master.

After Zhou Sheng finished his divination, Xu Xin saw him beaming with excitement, as if he had obtained some incredible news, and asked in surprise:

"You figured it out?"

"A golden opportunity!"

Zhou Sheng's smile deepened, and he said without hesitation:

"The world has changed drastically. Those Level 4 Awakeners have great power but lowly fates. I was lucky enough to seize a chance. A few of them... Hmph, they will have to fight with that old man Zhang Zhiwei in a while. At that time, he will be too busy to take care of himself, and we can kill that Zhang brat with a wave of our hand."

"What's your opinion?" Xu Xin awaited his arrangement.

"Let's talk to those unlucky bastards first. They're all unruly and don't know that disaster is coming. They'll be beheaded sooner or later. Once I get them all together, it will be much easier to restrain him if Zhang Zhiwei doesn't defeat them one by one."

"Let's go."

Zhou Sheng patted Xu Xin on the shoulder, then transformed into a black mist that swallowed him up. The two disappeared from Tang Tomb in the blink of an eye and sped towards the end of the clouds.

........

5 month 12 day.

In a port on the Chinese coast, a cold wind howled, and two broken wooden planks suddenly leaped out of the water, creating a large splash.

After a loud bang, several days later, the strange man, who was completely pale and had no facial features, returned to the country with the elder of the Wang family.

Previously, a large number of awakened individuals appeared around the world. In order to maintain order and prevent the awakened individuals from causing greater chaos, almost every country closed its customs and air routes.

The two centenarian monsters had to cross the vast ocean, starting three days ago, and finally returned tonight.

"Make a move now?"

"Let me ask."

The Wang family elder was not in a hurry. He took out a piece of black paper and contacted his juniors. In just a moment, a line of white text appeared in his eyes.

"The direct descendants of the clan have all been safely evacuated through connections and arrangements. The family business and assets have also been transferred overseas and are being managed by several uncles and elders. Please rest assured."

After reading it, the elder of the Wang family folded the black paper again and put it in his bosom.

"How is it?" Ren Liqian pressed.

"That's it."

The Wang family elder controlled his breathing, his sinister eyes filled with a ruthless glint. The opportunity for revenge he had waited seventy years for was now upon him, and he didn't want to wait a moment longer. His voice was like a vengeful ghost as he spoke:

"Let's set off and massacre the Celestial Master's Mansion."

"Hahaha!! Alright, let's go!!"

The faceless monster laughed loudly, its voice sharp and piercing. Then, a thick black mist spread out and engulfed them, carrying them away from the silent harbor at top speed.

.......

The next day, evening.

The afterglow of the setting sun illuminated the pavilions and halls of the Celestial Master's Mansion. Compared to a few months ago, it looked much more desolate now. Many of the senior priests and young disciples in the mansion had gone down the mountain to assist the Security Council in managing the supernatural beings.

The only disciples left behind by the Old Celestial Master at Longhu Mountain were his second disciple Dong Ying, fifth disciple Qian Dahu, and ninth disciple Rong Shan. They were responsible for managing the daily affairs of the sect and looking after the sect members and his uncle Tian Jinzhong.

In the inner courtyard, Xiao Yu, a young Taoist boy with blue eyes and white hair, was massaging an old man's back and bones, asking with great curiosity:

"Master, are you really not going to give it a try?"

"Forget it, forget it, I'm too old, my old bones can't withstand the torment of those foreign gadgets."

Tian Jinzhong has a kind face and speaks tactfully.

He sat in a bamboo armchair, bathed in the glow of the setting sun.

Gazing at the fiery sunset clouds and chatting idly with the little child beside him, Tian Jinzhong's peaceful mood inexplicably turned uneasy, and he felt worried about his senior brother who was away on business.

Thinking of this, he took out his phone, ready to call Zhang Zhiwei. Just as his finger was about to fall, he couldn't bear to disturb his senior's work, so he sent a text message to ask how he was doing.

Soon after, news arrived.

"It's a bit troublesome. If those awakened ones who cause trouble show their faces, we still have a chance to kill them. But if they hide, it will be difficult."

"However, junior brother, don't worry. With me, Lao Lu, and everyone else keeping them in check, these thieves won't be able to cause any trouble for a while."

Looking at the avatar on the screen with its squinting eyes, smug smile, and humor, it felt as if my senior brother was personally telling me the story.

Tian Jin's worries subsided somewhat. He typed on the keyboard word by word, and after a few minutes, he finally pieced together a complete sentence.

"Chu Lan, Ling Yu, have these two children suffered under your care?"

As soon as the message was sent, two voice messages popped up.

"Wow! Look at what you're saying, Lao Tian, ​​how could that be? They can eat as much as the other one, munching on several large boxes of food every meal. They've improved their skills and become more robust by following me on this journey of slaying demons and monsters."

"The two rascals have gotten along a bit since returning from the island. With them accompanying us this time, I specifically assigned them some Level 2 Awakened to handle. The two brothers are working together quite well, unlike before when they were so estranged."

Hearing his senior brother's slightly smug voice, Tian Jinzhong felt very gratified and replied:

"Okay, if that's how it is, I'm relieved. They're both good guys. Just keep an eye on them and make sure nothing goes wrong."