CHAPTER 685: CHAPTER 684 FIFTH ELDER (3/5)

Shangqing Sect.

Yang Chen was completely unaware of the tumult outside.

However, he wasn’t idle in the Shangqing Sect.

Yang Chen had Xuanliang draw him a terrain map of the entire Shangqing Sect.

Despite the large workload, Xuanliang managed it, owing to his exceptional drawing skills. Yet, he was only familiar with the Outer Sect. Although he understood the distribution of some palaces in the Inner Sect, he lacked knowledge of the terrain and mountains within, as he wasn’t qualified to enter the inner mountain; it was forbidden for Outer Sect disciples.

As for the outside, Xuanliang understood it very well.

With Xuanliang’s map in hand, Yang Chen conducted a thorough survey of the entire Outer Sect area, understanding the layout of every location.

Then, around dusk, Yang Chen brought dinner into Yunxin Hall.

"Husband!" Seeing Yang Chen, Ye Xin immediately leapt forward, her hands clasping around Yang Chen’s neck, kissing him passionately.

Perhaps because they had been apart for too long, Ye Xin always felt that the time she spent with Yang Chen was too short, overwhelmed by emotion every time she saw him.

Yang Chen kissed her back.

Their current state was like a young couple in love, never tiring of each other’s affection.

After a while, the two reluctantly separated.

Yang Chen spread out the terrain map and said, "This is the map Xuanliang drew. Look at it carefully. Remember it. When the time comes, we’ll follow this route. If this route doesn’t work, we’ll use this one, or this one, and this one - three alternate routes. Once we’re out, I believe the Shangqing Sect won’t be able to challenge us anymore, and I trust those outside are fully prepared!"

Yang Chen trusted Sun Yue, and more so the Ye family and Elder Zhuo.

Although these modern weapons weren’t a major threat to the Shangqing Sect, they posed a significant deterrent to its structures and lower-level disciples. If the Shangqing Sect dared to fight, Yang Chen wouldn’t mind engaging in a destructive battle!

At worst, flattening these mountains, blowing up these palaces, and then we’ll see who would feel more distressed!

Ye Xin nodded, memorizing the four routes, then held Yang Chen’s hand and said, "Husband, you have to promise me, you’ll leave with me!"

"Don’t worry!" Yang Chen smiled gently.

"No! I want you to promise me!" Ye Xin stared into Yang Chen’s eyes and insisted, "You must leave with me!"

She understood Yang Chen’s nature. If anything unexpected happened, Yang Chen would undoubtedly risk everything to create a chance for her to leave, which is why he had her memorize these alternative routes. Because Yang Chen was likely prepared to sacrifice himself.

"If you don’t leave, I won’t leave! If anything happens to you, I won’t live either! If that’s the case, I’d rather stay here than lose you!" Ye Xin said tearfully.

Looking at Ye Xin’s expression, Yang Chen felt a pang of sadness, held her hand, looking seriously into her eyes, and said earnestly, "Don’t worry, we will always be together, trust me!"

Ye Xin nodded, "I can’t do without you!"

"I can’t do without you either!" Yang Chen softly replied.

Ye Xin threw herself into Yang Chen’s embrace.

Yang Chen held Ye Xin tightly, savoring her warmth.

Time was scarce, Yang Chen picked up his things and left.

Leaving Yunxin Hall, Yang Chen walked out of the patrol circle, about to leave.

An elder, worried about something going wrong, decided to stay guard at Yunxin Hall, walked over, saw Yang Chen’s back, quickened his pace, and called out, "Stop!"

Yang Chen trembled all over, slightly turned his head, glanced at the man, and then in a flash vanished into the black night.

Seeing this, the elder hurriedly chased in the direction Yang Chen disappeared.

Yang Chen’s speed was fast, but the elder’s speed was also swift.

During the chase, the Fifth Elder’s brows furrowed deeper because no matter how hard he tried and accelerated, he could only see a blurred silhouette in the night.

However, after leaving the building cluster and reaching the back mountain, the figure flickered and completely disappeared.

Standing on a giant rock, surveying the surroundings, he couldn’t find a trace of the person.

He was originally unfamiliar with the Outer Sect, and after all these years, he was even less knowledgeable about the back mountain’s conditions.

The Fifth Elder searched ahead but didn’t see any trace of the person.

"Who on earth is this person?" The Fifth Elder frowned deeply.

Although he couldn’t see the person’s face or attire clearly, it was certainly suspicious for someone to linger around Yunxin Hall late at night!

Thinking about this, the Fifth Elder quickly returned to Yunxin Hall, gathering the patrolling guards outside.

"Who came here just now?" He asked.

The captain replied, "Someone bringing supper, he’s been coming these past two days."

"He’s been coming these past two days?" The Fifth Elder raised an eyebrow, anger flickered in his eyes; they hadn’t arranged any supper!

He’s been coming these past two days, so there must be something amiss!

"What did that person look like?" The Fifth Elder asked.

"Well..." The group looked at each other awkwardly.

Because they hadn’t seen Yang Chen’s face clearly, especially since Yang Chen instinctively dodged, making it impossible for them to take a good look at him.

Seeing this, the Fifth Elder felt his teeth itch with anger and shouted, "Don’t tell me none of you even saw his face!"

"Well... We thought he was wearing our patrol uniform too, so we assumed he was one of us..."

"So you didn’t see what he looked like or ask who he was!" The Fifth Elder shouted angrily.

Flared with anger, the Fifth Elder unleashed his aura, causing the group to kneel in fear, not daring to lift their heads.

Looking at them, the Fifth Elder wanted to kick them.

But he knew that he couldn’t get anything meaningful from them now.

Immediately, the Fifth Elder walked towards Yunxin Hall.

Arriving at the door, he reached out to knock.

After a period of knocking, there was still no movement inside.

Standing at the door, the Fifth Elder pondered for a moment, then shook his head and turned to leave.

Tomorrow was the Saintess election; no further trouble was allowed. Ye Xin was likely already resting, and he didn’t want to disturb her.

The Fifth Elder said to the patrol team immediately, "Stay sharp, scrutinize anyone who comes, understand!"

"Yes!" The group quickly responded.

Despite this, the Fifth Elder remained uneasy, calling in another patrol team, having three teams patrol simultaneously, sealing Yunxin Hall so tightly not even a fly could enter.

The Fifth Elder sat on the steps of Yunxin Hall, strategically positioned, he planned to guard here tonight!

With the election imminent, he wouldn’t allow any unexpected incidents.

For over a thousand years, Ye Xin was the only emerging Fire Phoenix, the only hope for the sect’s revival.

Moreover, his cultivation had reached its bottleneck. Without hope of a breakthrough, he’d eventually end up like the Supreme Elders, entering closed seclusion, waiting to die!

That wasn’t the outcome he wanted!