Chapter 605: Hero Among Women, Sect Protector

On the other side, while Wei Tu was locked in battle with Yin Mozi, Hall Master Luo had already slain several Nascent Soul cultivators of the Yin Ghost Sect who tried to block him. He successfully rescued Luo Mingzhen from Venerable Master Xinggu’s cave.

Seeing the corpses of their fellow sect members lying about, the Yin Ghost Sect cultivators grew more and more fearful. None dared approach the father and daughter again, leaving a stretch of over a hundred zhang of empty space between them.

The wrath of a Nascent Soul giant was not something low-ranked Nascent Soul cultivators could withstand.

“What do we do now?”

A few Yin Ghost Sect cultivators wanted to beg Yin Mozi to intervene. But watching him fight Wei Tu so fiercely, they had no choice but to abandon the thought.

Yet bound by Yin Mozi’s orders, they also couldn’t simply stand by and watch Hall Master Luo and his daughter slip away unhindered. They were caught in a dilemma.

Just then, a cold, detached voice reached their ears.

“‘Lady Ru’? So your true goal was Luo Mingzhen? That means your real identity is none other than Luo Guzhu, Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall of Jishan Sect.”

As soon as the words landed, shock spread across the Yin Ghost Sect cultivators.

They might not know the name Luo Guzhu, being cultivators of the Outer Sea, but the reputation of Jishan Sect, one of the Six Sects of the Profound Dao, was not something they hadn’t heard.

And anyone who could serve as Hall Master of a Divine Transformation sect’s Law Enforcement Hall was undeniably among its top tier of combat power—not a figure to be underestimated.

The strength Luo Guzhu displayed tonight proved that beyond doubt.

What stunned them even more was that the concubine of Xinggu, “Lady Ru,” was tied to such a figure.

Had Xinggu lost his mind? How dare he offend such a man?

“First a staged battle, and now, when everything is already irreversible, openly exposing Hall Master Luo’s identity…”

“Could it be… Yin Ghost Sect was part of this? Acting on orders from You Shen Sect?”

Off to the side, Wei Tu also paused in surprise when he saw Yin Mozi withdraw and speak such words aloud before everyone. Doubts swirled in his mind.

From what he knew, the Yin Ghost Sect still had another late Nascent Soul elder, “Ancestor Wu.”

Yet only Yin Mozi had appeared tonight, and Ancestor Wu remained absent. Without Yin Mozi’s words, Wei Tu would have assumed Ancestor Wu was either out or in seclusion, unable to intervene.

But now… he realized another possibility: Ancestor Wu was deliberately holding back, letting their top combat strength appear lacking, giving Luo Guzhu and his daughter an open path to escape.

“All to fuel Jishan Sect’s internal strife?” Wei Tu speculated.

He couldn’t be certain of the Yin Ghost Sect’s true motives, but the outcome of their actions clearly favored his side and Lüqiu Qingfeng’s mission.

The reason he and Lüqiu Qingfeng had refrained from rescuing Luo Mingzhen themselves and instead pushed Hall Master Luo to act was precisely to force the matter into the open. They wanted to cut off Luo Guzhu’s retreat, so he could no longer swallow the insult in silence. He would be forced into conflict with Jishan Sect’s higher-ups, buying Lüqiu Clan the breathing space it needed and ensuring Lüqiu Qingfeng’s envoy mission ended in success.

In other words—Yin Mozi’s sudden words had played right into his hands.

Wei Tu did nothing to stop it. Even if he wanted to, he had no power to silence Yin Mozi, much less seal his mouth.

As Yin Mozi’s words echoed out, Hall Master Luo’s body stiffened slightly. But he said nothing. He seized the chance, broke through the Yin Ghost Sect’s blockade, and shouted “Go!” to Wei Tu at the mountain gate before fleeing in the opposite direction of the sect.

…

“Don’t chase cornered prey.”

Watching the twin streaks of light of Wei Tu and Hall Master Luo vanish into the distance, Yin Mozi raised his hand, halting the pursuers rushing out from Yin Ghost Sect.

“These two are no ordinary cultivators. Even I alone cannot easily subdue them. Now that Ancestor Wu has yet to emerge, we’ll let them leave.”

“Besides, this matter was indeed our sect’s fault.”

Yin Mozi’s tone was calm and dismissive.

The Yin Ghost Sect cultivators had no real desire to pursue anyway. Hearing their ancestor’s command, they all felt as though a weight had been lifted, letting out sighs of relief.

But at his last words, many faces turned odd.

Since when did their demonic sect care about right or wrong?

If there was any “fault” in this, it was that Xinggu had seized the wrong woman and provoked Hall Master Luo, a powerhouse he could not afford to offend.

Still, after thinking about it, they understood.

Yin Mozi hadn’t said those words for them.

He’d said them for Jishan Sect—one of the Six Sects of the Profound Dao.

—This time, the “crime” was shared by the Yin Ghost Sect for shielding Venerable Master Xinggu. But once they learned Hall Master Luo’s true identity, they admitted their mistake and sent no pursuers.

Of course, the Yin Ghost Sect could have used better excuses, like claiming they had no knowledge of “Lady Ru’s” true identity, laying all blame on Xinggu alone.

But sadly, the cultivation world was not a place where reasoning mattered.

Excuses might sound good, but the real problem was that Jishan Sect had the power to decide the Yin Ghost Sect’s survival.

The more Yin Ghost Sect tried to defend itself, the more they would provoke Jishan Sect, making it seem like they were challenging “the authority of the upper sect.” That was the true road to destruction.

On the contrary, admitting fault outright and bowing their heads, while under the protection of You Shen Sect, would most likely mean Jishan Sect wouldn’t push the matter too far. After punishing the Yin Ghost Sect, they would simply stop there.

This was the kind of worldly wisdom the Yin Ghost Sect had accumulated over the years.

…

After escaping the Yin Ghost Sect, Wei Tu and Hall Master Luo, though confident no pursuers would follow, still fled over 10,000 li before stopping to be safe.

They found a cave to rest in, waiting for Luo Mingzhen to use the “Barrier-Breaking Treasure Mirror” to break the restrictions in her body before returning to Jishan Sect.

Otherwise, carrying along a “mortal,” if danger struck, the two of them wouldn’t be able to fight freely.

“Many thanks to Protector Wei for saving me.”

Several days later, deep within the cave, Luo Mingzhen finally broke through her inner restrictions. With a smile, she rose, walked to Wei Tu, and bowed deeply.

“Wei came only for profit. Fairy Luo… there’s no need for such heavy thanks.” Wei Tu waved his hand, telling her not to be so formal.

Although he had truly come to rescue Luo Mingzhen, he couldn’t comfortably accept such gratitude. After all, when he first learned she wasn’t the Luo Ancestor, he had chosen not to act. That blemish weighed on him.

Helping out conveniently was one thing. Saving with full effort was another. The difference between the two was vast.

Yet, as he declined her gratitude, Wei Tu was quietly amazed at Luo Mingzhen’s state of mind.

This woman had been sold by Ruyi Tower, tormented by Xinggu… He could clearly see her primal yin was nearly drained to nothing.

Even so, now that she was free, she acted and spoke like any normal woman. That was not normal. Or rather, it showed a mind far stronger than most.

Only now did he understand what Hall Master Luo meant earlier, when he said, “I trust my daughter.”

Luo Mingzhen’s willpower was not something ordinary people could compare to.

At that moment, Luo Mingzhen seemed to sense what Wei Tu was thinking. Her face calm, she smiled softly and said, “It was just a little external demon. This calamity has only made my Dao heart firmer.”

“At worst, I’ll ascend to immortality and shed this mortal husk.”

Cultivation was the pursuit of becoming an immortal. It was the dream of countless cultivators.

But in truth, aside from some ignorant Qi Refinement juniors, few ever said they would ascend.

The hardships were clear. The higher one’s realm, the clearer it became.

Yet now, Wei Tu felt her words carried no falsehood. They rang as truth. She really did aim for “immortal transformation.”

“What a remarkable woman,” Wei Tu sighed, his respect for Luo Mingzhen growing.

If he had suffered such inhuman torment, he doubted he could carry on so easily, living as if nothing had happened.

“She cultivates our sect’s Reincarnation Profound Art.”

Just then, Hall Master Luo spoke, explaining to Wei Tu.

“Reincarnation Profound Art?” Wei Tu raised an eyebrow, not understanding.

“It is a special technique of our sect, said to come from the Spirit Realm. This art gradually strips away emotions, turning a cultivator into a single-minded ascetic…”

“It was never meant to be her main path, only a supplementary practice. But now… it seems she has cultivated it fully.”

Hall Master Luo’s voice grew heavy as he explained.

Hearing those words, Wei Tu fell silent. For Luo Mingzhen to willingly give up her emotions and devote herself to cultivating that art, one could imagine how much pain she must have endured.

“But living is what matters.”

“The flaws of Reincarnation Profound Art should be removable.” Hall Master Luo shook his head, let out a sigh, and added.

“They should be. Where there’s will, there’s a way.”

Wei Tu nodded and spoke softly to comfort him.

Then, he shifted the topic, asking about what Hall Master Luo had promised him before the battle—that he would grant him a reward afterward.

“Our sect, aside from its core disciples, also appoints Elders of Offering. If Protector Wei does not mind, I can recommend you for the position of an Elder of Offering.”

“Though Elders of Offering aren’t counted among the sect’s core personnel, in terms of opportunities and authority, they are treated equally.”

“And the benefit I spoke of before is closely tied to this position. Only if you become an Elder of Offering in my sect will you have the chance to obtain it.”

Hall Master Luo explained slowly.

“An Elder of Offering of Jishan Sect?”

Hearing this, Wei Tu’s heart stirred with joy.

Jishan Sect was one of the Six Sects of the Profound Dao, an ancient sect with a complete record of cultivators breaking through from Nascent Soul to Divine Transformation.

The reason he had agreed to serve as an offering for the Lüqiu Clan and aid Lüqiu Qingfeng in her mission was largely to use it as a stepping stone—so he could reach the Divine Transformation sects of the Inner Void Sea, namely the Six Profound Dao Sects.

—He had absolutely no preparation for breaking through to Divine Transformation.

Neither he nor Ancestor Chilong had ever touched that realm.

In other words, once he reached the peak of Nascent Soul, his path would be cut off. There would be no footsteps to follow.

This was different from breaking through to Nascent Soul.

Even as a rogue cultivator, he knew that advancing into Nascent Soul required crossing the heavenly tribulation, passing the Three Gates of Nascent Soul.

After all, in the Dacang Cultivation World, only Shengya Mountain and the Five Devil Sects had ever produced Divine Transformation experts.

“I am willing to become an Elder of Offering in your sect.”

Thinking it through, Wei Tu didn’t hesitate. He nodded and accepted.

Becoming an Elder of Offering of Jishan Sect not only meant he could gain access to complete experiences of breaking through to Divine Transformation, but it also meant he would gain a powerful backer in the Guixu Sea cultivation world.

He had suffered greatly for lacking a backing.

Now, with the chance to stand as a “second-generation immortal,” he certainly would not refuse.

“Though, I wonder—will Hall Master Luo really be able to recommend me successfully?”

Wei Tu spoke openly. Now that they were fighting on the same side, he already understood Hall Master Luo’s character and wasn’t worried about offending him.

Before the battle, he would never have doubted Hall Master Luo’s influence in Jishan Sect. After all, everyone knew the power of the Enforcement Hall’s master.

But now, since their rescue of Luo Mingzhen had been exposed, there was no avoiding a clash with Jishan Sect’s leadership.

In short, when Hall Master Luo returned, he would most likely be isolated by the sect’s high-ranking elders.

Under such circumstances, whether he could recommend Wei Tu as an Elder of Offering was uncertain.

“Two hundred years ago, I helped Venerable Hanyue once. He owes me a favor.”

“If I use this matter to ask him, he will surely speak for me, ensuring Protector Wei becomes an Elder of Offering in our sect.”

Hall Master Luo smiled faintly as he replied.

Venerable Hanyue was a Divine Transformation expert of Jishan Sect, holding supreme authority within the sect.

Wei Tu knew this much.

What he didn’t understand was why Hall Master Luo would use such a precious favor for a small matter like this. It seemed wasteful.

But after thinking it over, he understood.

That favor was like a royal pardon token. It could only be used for small matters. For greater ones, it would be worthless.

At Hall Master Luo’s level and status, there weren’t many things Venerable Hanyue could grant him.

And anything too precious, even if Hall Master Luo asked, Venerable Hanyue might not agree.

Otherwise, this favor wouldn’t have lasted until now, unused.

“My thanks to Hall Master Luo.” Wei Tu cupped his fists in gratitude.

“There’s no need to thank me too much.” Hall Master Luo shook his head and continued, “I want you to join Jishan Sect for two reasons. One is to repay your aid on this journey. The other is to ask that you stand with me against Feng Han and the others.”

“Alone, I would be far too weak.” He spoke with complete honesty.