The Supreme Being Against Heaven

“I’m afraid… I may not live to see that day…”
Daoist Nun Bingqing sighed softly before continuing,

“Qingfeng, let Tan Yun remain a miscellaneous disciple and stay in Lingshan Herb Garden.”

“If within 2 years, he can reach Level 9 of the Nascent Soul Realm, I want him to participate in the ‘Grand Competition of the 9 Branches’ as a miscellaneous disciple—so that the chief disciples of the other 8 branches will realize that the geniuses they are proud of… may not even compare to a miscellaneous disciple of our Alchemy Line!”

“Of course, from now on, Tan Yun no longer needs to tend herbs. Let him focus solely on cultivation.”

After speaking, Daoist Nun Bingqing looked meaningfully at Shen Wende.

“Qingfeng has served as the steward of Lingshan Herb Garden for many years, yet I have never found an opportunity to promote him. Therefore—Tan Yun cannot be given to you.”

“No matter what happens in the future, even if I am no longer here, as long as Tan Yun can enter the Hidden Dragon List within 2 years and achieve outstanding merit, Qingfeng will have a chance to be promoted to Elder. Do you understand?”

Her words sounded like final instructions, leaving Shen Wende and Shen Qingfeng stunned.

Looking at her frail face, an ominous feeling arose in their hearts!

“Young Lady… is something wrong?”
Shen Qingfeng asked with concern.

“It’s nothing,”
Daoist Nun Bingqing replied with a faint smile.
“I’m just a bit tired. You may leave.”

“We take our leave,”
Shen Wende and Shen Qingfeng responded before turning to go.

But just then, Bingqing’s voice, carrying a trace of hope, sounded again from behind—

“Wende… regarding the notices posted at the 2 major auction houses in the city to search for the spiritual herbs—has there been any progress?”

Shen Wende turned back and sighed.

“Young Lady, over the past 10+ days, although many people have come to inquire, there has been no news of the Turtle Breath Ice Grass, Nether Soul Spirit Lotus, or Blazing Soul Fire Grass.”

“As for the Jade Revival Grass, I only posted the notice 4 days ago, and there is still no news.”

After speaking, he paused slightly before asking with concern,

“Young Lady, have you become so frail because of this matter?”

Daoist Nun Bingqing nodded lightly.

“That’s enough. You may leave.”

After the two departed with heavy hearts, a final glimmer of hope appeared in Daoist Nun Bingqing’s dim, beautiful eyes—

She hoped… that the elders could find those 4 types of spiritual herbs within the various secret realms.

Not long after—

A handsome old man around 60 years old, with a stern expression, descended on a flying sword onto Bingqing Immortal Mountain.

He was—Qiu Yongming, an Enforcement Elder of the inner sect.

After his beloved son, Qiu Qilin, was killed outside Huangfu Square, he seemed to have aged several decades in just a few days.

“Is Sect Master Bingqing present?”
Qiu Yongming stopped before the hall and cupped his hands in greeting.

The hall doors slowly opened, and Daoist Nun Bingqing stepped out gracefully with a faint smile.

“Elder Qiu, what brings you here?”

“Sigh, it’s a long story…”
Qiu Yongming sighed before continuing,
“But may I ask, Sect Master, are you well? Your complexion does not look good either.”

“There have been some troublesome matters concerning my disciples lately, so I’ve been a bit fatigued,”
Daoist Nun Bingqing replied with a sigh.
“Elder Qiu, please come inside.”

“No need,”
Qiu Yongming said, shaking his head.
“I came to request that you instruct the elders of the Alchemy Line to cooperate with me in a certain matter.”

Suddenly, his expression twisted with anger.

“Not long ago, my son was murdered. My disciples used a Soul-Tracking Beast to follow the trail and traced it to the territory of the 9 branches.”

“In the end… we found traces of the killer at the mountain gate of the Ghost Branch!”

“Therefore, in the coming period—whether it lasts several months or as short as 1 month—my enforcement disciples will lead the Soul-Tracking Beast to search throughout a radius of 80,000 li within the Ghost Branch territory. I hope the Sect Master will not take offense.”

Hearing this, Daoist Nun Bingqing frowned slightly.

“Qiu Qilin was your only son, Elder Qiu. This matter must naturally be taken seriously. According to sect rules, as Sect Master, I will certainly cooperate.”

“Elder Qiu, you could have simply sent a disciple to inform me. There was no need for you to come in person.”

“The rules are one thing, but etiquette cannot be neglected,”
Qiu Yongming said seriously.
“After all, this matter concerning my son will trouble your Alchemy Line. It is only proper that I come personally.”

With that, he cupped his hands and bowed.

“Sect Master Bingqing, I will take my leave.”

“Mm, Elder Qiu, travel safely,”
Daoist Nun Bingqing said, watching as Qiu Yongming rode his sword into the distance—her furrowed brows still unable to relax…

During the Shen Hour (15:00–17:00), as the sun slanted low in the western sky—

After several shichen of rumors spreading, over 60,000 disciples of the Alchemy Line—except those in seclusion—had all learned of Ye Ling’s death.

As 1 of the 3 direct disciples of the 12th Elder, Ye Ling’s death was already a major घटना that shook the sect.

But what shocked everyone even more… was the one who killed him—Tan Yun!

Under normal circumstances, this name might have been unfamiliar.

However, ever since Li Zian’s earlier death, even those who had never seen him had already remembered the name “Tan Yun.”

And now—upon hearing that Tan Yun had officially risen to Rank 160 on the Alchemy Battle Ranking, becoming one of the powerful figures in the Alchemy Line—

Everyone was utterly stunned!

Tan Yun… whose strength was only at Level 7 of the Nascent Soul Realm.

Normally quiet, rarely speaking—but whenever he acted… it shook the entire sect!

With just a single battle against Ye Ling—

His name spread throughout the entire Alchemy Line!

His reputation soared across the whole Alchemy Line!

—

“Whoa… whoa…!”
Da Niu’s excited voice echoed across Changling Immortal Mountain.

“Everyone! Good news! Incredible news! Senior Brother Tan killed Ye Ling! He’s now risen to the upper ranks of the Alchemy Battle Ranking!”

“Senior Brother Tan is the pride of our Lingshan Herb Garden! And he’s also a miscellaneous disciple just like us!”

The disciples tending herbs immediately dropped what they were holding and rushed toward Da Niu.

After repeated confirmations—

The entire Changling Immortal Mountain erupted with cheers and excitement from the miscellaneous disciples!

Those jubilant cries…
felt like slaps across Lu Wu’s face as he continued kneeling!

And even more like blunt hammers repeatedly smashing into his heart!

An unprecedented humiliation surged through every nerve in his body—

Driving him to the brink of madness!

—

At the same time—

On Pengdao Immortal Mountain, inside a cave dwelling—

The 3rd Elder of the Alchemy Line, Peng Siyuan, had just finished reattaching the severed arms and legs of his nephew, Peng He.

Suddenly, a steward entered and reported the news that Tan Yun had killed Ye Ling.

“Mm, I understand,”
Peng Siyuan waved his hand, his expression uncertain.

After the steward left, he looked at his nephew lying on the bed, wailing in pain, his face darkening.

“Remember this! From now on, stop causing trouble in the Alchemy Line!”

“And Tan Yun—stay as far away from him as possible!”

Peng He, his face covered in blood, cried loudly,

“Waaah… Uncle, is this really how it ends? I already told him I’m your nephew, yet he still dared to injure me like this…”

“Shut up!”
Peng Siyuan roared.

“Other than causing trouble, can’t you use your brain for once?!”

“Tan Yun is someone Shen Qingqiu was willing to risk his life to protect! Do you expect me to kill him for your sake? Should I let Shen Qingqiu die from his poison oath? And then have the Sect Master deal with me too?!”

“You useless thing! All you do is create problems! Are you deaf? Didn’t you hear that Tan Yun already killed Ye Ling?!”

“That kid acts without regard for consequences! If you dare provoke him again, once you recover, I’ll personally break your legs!”

Peng He stopped crying, his voice trembling,

“Uncle… I was wrong. I know you care about me the most… but this matter… I just can’t swallow it…”

--Translated by likesnovel--