"Junior Brother Zong, have you ever heard of Helian Tiezhan?" As the two descended the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion together, Han Fang's expression turned intensely grave.

Zong Shou frowned.

Helian Tiezhan? That name felt vaguely familiar.

After a moment of thought, he recalled an incident from when he first arrived in the Cangshan Celestial Realm.

He had overheard this location mentioned at the Hall of Seeking Truth and the Hall of Empirical Evidence that very day. "I know a little.

It seems to be a mining vein occupied by the Central Dynasty.

I heard the innocent civilians exiled near Yancheng Pass are the ones currently forced to work there?" As he spoke, Zong Shou's mind raced.

Could this matter Senior Brother wanted to discuss be related to this Helian Tiezhan? The next moment, he heard Han Fang nod, "Precisely! As expected, Junior Brother Zong is extremely well-informed.

But do you know that the general who rebelled at Yancheng Pass back then was actually an inner disciple of our Cangsheng Dao?" The moment this was uttered, Zong Shou froze.

His first thought was how deeply the Cangsheng Dao had infiltrated the Central Dynasty.

His second thought was that his fellow sect members seemed perpetually drawn to rebellion.

It was a pity they failed, implicating three million innocent civilians in the process.

He was now certain that Han Fang must have plans regarding those three million people connected to Helian Tiezhan. "Junior Brother, the innocent civilians of Yancheng Pass were implicated due to our Daoist disciples, and we absolutely cannot stand by.

Unfortunately, despite several attempts to provide aid, we have failed, only managing to delay and exhaust every means to improve their circumstances.

Yet, over these twenty-plus years, their numbers have only dropped from the original four million to three million.

Our Cangsheng Dao truly bears a heavy sin this time.

This time, we must succeed—there is no room for failure—" Han Fang let out a bitter laugh, his eyes filled with guilt. "There is another matter: the current general of Yancheng Pass.

He was once a disciple of our Cangsheng Dao, named Yuan Jiuchen.

However, twenty years ago, he betrayed his fellow sect members and earned the favor of Prince Han of the imperial court, who promoted him to the new General of Yancheng Pass.

I hear this man is close to a further promotion." "Yuan Jiuchen?" Zong Shou whispered the name softly.

He seemed to have heard it before.

Then, his consciousness snapped awake as he remembered an event from his past life in the game Shenhuang.

He mused that this was the first super-large-scale group mission players would undertake twelve years later! At that time, Yuan Jiuchen was already an Eighth-rank powerhouse, commanding a region within the Central Dynasty.

The Cangsheng Dao sought to execute the traitor, clashing with various sects and forces, resulting in an enormous cost.

According to historical records, that battle claimed the lives of seven Heaven-rank powerhouses from the Cangsheng Dao just to kill Yuan Jiuchen.

This directly led to a decline in the Cangsheng Dao's power afterward; even though they preserved some strength after the Spirit Tide, their status was greatly diminished.

At that time, over a hundred thousand players participated in that mission.

Afterward, they excitedly uploaded their experiences and spectral recordings of the battles to the virtual network for others to view.

He had observed the clashes between the powerhouses at the time while studying swordsmanship, though he gained little insight.

However, he remembered the general flow of the mission perfectly clearly. "So, the death of the previous rebel general at Yancheng Pass was due to this man's betrayal? The Sect's intention is that this person cannot be allowed to live?" "Exactly!" Han Fang nodded gravely. "But you made one mistake.

Your fellow disciple did not rebel.

That person was a hidden seed planted by our Cangsheng Dao, intended for seven years later—when the Spirit Tide began and the Cataclysm struck the heavens and earth—to infiltrate the Central Dynasty army.

He would never expose his identity unless absolutely necessary; how could he rebel at that time? That fellow disciple died solely because Yuan Jiuchen falsely accused and betrayed him!" As he reached this point, his voice carried a chilling murderous intent: "Therefore, our Cangsheng Dao absolutely cannot allow this person to continue living freely.

This time, I will select the most outstanding disciples of the younger generation from the Sect to resolve this matter.

The civilians of Helian Tiezhan are one issue, and Yuan Jiuchen is another.

If both matters can be resolved, all participants will receive two hundred thousand merit points—" Zong Shou felt a sudden clench in his heart and said helplessly, "Senior Brother, among the most outstanding disciples of the younger generation, surely I am not one of them? If you want this person killed, wouldn't it be more convenient for you to act directly?" "Junior Brother is indeed clever.

That is precisely Senior Brother's intention: to have you lead the team for this task.

The few selected this time have excellent innate talent but lack experience, and their temperaments are somewhat unruly.

I must trouble Junior Brother to look after them." Han Fang nodded, then gave a self-deprecating smile. "It is inconvenient for someone like me to come forward.

Disciples beyond the seventh generation within the Cangsheng Dao are also unable to intervene.

However, the various sects of the Central Plains naturally will not dispatch forces above the Eighth Rank to participate either.

As for the powerhouses of the Central Dynasty, the Sect will handle them for you." Zong Shou’s complexion shifted between shades of blue and white.

This task was not easy.

This assassination planned by the Sect must have been an event that occurred historically.

The butterfly effect caused by his arrival in this era was far from being able to influence this matter, which was destined to end in failure, otherwise, it would not have been delayed until twelve years later.

And over a decade later, the Sect suffered heavy losses trying to kill Yuan Jiuchen, even losing one Eighth-rank powerhouse.

How could he, with his current standing, eliminate Yuan Jiuchen ahead of schedule? After pondering for a long time, Zong Shou finally took a deep breath. "I heard that Yuan Jiuchen has long broken through to the Heavenly Rank? The Central Dynasty will not stand idly by either.

To participate in this matter, one needs at least Seventh-rank strength.

Your junior brother here is still only at the peak of the Huanyang stage—" Before he could finish, Han Fang looked at him with a knowing smile, his eyes holding profound meaning.

Zong Shou could not continue his protest.

Others might not know his true strength, but Han Fang was perfectly aware of it.

The Thunder Wyvern was one asset, and the Hanxi, along with the six flying ants, were equivalent to seven Seventh-rank spirit beasts.

With such strength, ordinary Seventh-rank powerhouses were indeed no match for him.

Even Long Ruo, when he hadn't lost his physical spirit beast, was comparable.

Zong Shou realized this was likely a test from the Cangsheng Dao for him.

Yet, he still felt hesitant about getting involved in internal Sect affairs; he hadn't fully decided.

Moreover, what use was a mere two hundred thousand merit points to him? However, the next moment, Han Fang’s expression became placid as he added a significant bargaining chip: "I know Junior Brother Zong probably scoffs at those merit points.

But, I can add one more condition.

If the task is successfully completed, I can assist you in deducing and perfecting your World-Shaking Spirit Art up to the Eighth Layer! What does Junior Brother think?" Zong Shou’s eyes brightened slightly.

His physical body, aided by several spirit pills and the Dragon Essence power, had already been tempered to the peak of the Martial Ancestor realm.

Progress was halted only by his cultivation level, not by his physical conditioning.

What he lacked now was the continuation of the World-Shaking Spirit Art.

If Han Fang could help him perfect it, that would be ideal.

It just so happened that he needed to travel soon anyway, and the destination was only a thousand li from Yancheng Pass—he could handle both matters together.

After a brief contemplation, Zong Shou no longer hesitated. "Deal! But it must be perfected to the Ninth Layer.

Furthermore, the Sect must provide me with a Ninth-rank spirit artifact inner armor, and help me refine a few other items—" Han Fang smiled, not attempting to haggle, as if he had already tacitly agreed.

Then, Zong Shou suddenly stopped, testing the waters once more: "But if, this time, only one of the two matters can be accomplished, how should this disciple choose?" Hearing this, Han Fang’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he immediately resumed pacing down the steps: "If that is the case, then prioritize saving the people of Helian Tiezhan first! When Master Xizi founded the Cangsheng Dao, it was to save the masses from calamity, not to implicate them.

Since the matter of Yancheng Pass is our Cangsheng Dao's fault, we must atone for it.

Those three million people must be kept safe and sound." Zong Shou remained rooted to the spot, his gaze flickering.

This was truly troublesome.

While Yuan Jiuchen was certainly difficult to provoke, in his view, the Helian Tiezhan affair was a hundred times more significant.

He had clearly taken on a massive headache this time— At almost the exact same moment, in a quiet meditation chamber within the Cangshan Celestial Realm, Li Zhe sat on a cushion, his face ashen.

Opposite him sat another person: square-faced with slightly chubby features that nonetheless possessed sharp angles, giving him an air of intense acuity.

Before this youth, a long sword hovered, constantly circling.

Every few moments, the youth would strike a talisman onto the sword's body, utterly focused and ignoring Li Zhe's presence entirely.

After waiting for a long time, Li Zhe finally grew impatient and spoke: "Senior Brother Xie An, this junior brother has been bullied, and all my belongings were seized.

Are you just going to watch idly by? This person, without reason, having only Sixth-rank strength, occupied the number one courtyard in the Jia-rank, and you can tolerate this insult? That Tan Qiu is utterly arrogant! He clearly shows no respect for our Xuanyang Sect! Senior Brother, are you truly going to stand by and watch the identity of this Hall's direct disciple fall into another's hands?" Xie An continued to ignore him until several more talismans were integrated into the sword.

The rage in Li Zhe's eyes intensified.

Only then did Xie An speak, his expression cold and detached: "What does it matter to me, Xie An, that your possessions were stolen? Since this person could defeat you in the span of a breath, he clearly possesses the strength required to occupy the Jia-rank number one courtyard and has the right to be arrogant.

Our Sect should rejoice in having such a talent.

As for the identity of this Hall's direct disciple, I have my own plans; you need not interfere." Li Zhe’s breath hitched, followed by a cold sneer. "Senior Brother Xie An! Don't forget that your master was once a disciple under my grandfather.

Has your lineage become so ungrateful? To sit by and watch a fellow sect member be humiliated, you, Xie An, are the chief among the Fourth-generation disciples of our Xuanyang Sect.

If not for my sake, you should at least consider our Sect's reputation—"