Chapter 410 Peach Blossoms and People Are Not Seen, So What If We Know Each Other…

“Sect Master Lu, there’s no need to search anymore. The Heavenfall Banner has already shattered.”

“What did you say?!”

Lu Yuncong shot up from his seat, the table and chairs sliding back half a foot with a grating sound. He stared intently at Lin Che, his voice filled with disbelief, shock, and fury.

“That is a supreme treasure of the Divine Sect! Even if it were damaged, it could never shatter so easily! Fellow Daoist Lin, are you perhaps making fun of me?”

Lin Che raised his gaze to look at him, his eyes calm but carrying an undeniable power.

“Lu Hai used the Heavenfall Banner to harm cultivators on the Moruo Continent and even attempted to use the malevolent energy within the banner to slaughter the Guiyuan Sect. When I intervened, to threaten me, he forcibly activated a forbidden art of the Heavenfall Banner, causing the banner’s spiritual power to backlash.”

“Ultimately, the banner couldn’t withstand the power of the forbidden art, collapsing on its own. Even the fragments were devoured by the malevolent energy, leaving not a single trace.”

Lin Che paused, and a faint wisp of black energy condensed on his fingertip. This energy carried the unique chilling fluctuations of the Heavenfall Banner, yet it was also mixed with chaotic spiritual power from its destruction.

“This is the residual energy from that time. If Sect Master Lu doesn’t believe me, he can perceive it himself.”

Lin Che did not tell Lu Yuncong that he had destroyed the Heavenfall Banner in a single strike. After all, if that news got out, the Divine Sect would definitely not let it go.

Lu Yuncong stared at the wisp of black energy, his face gradually darkening. He extended a thread of spiritual power, and as soon as it touched the wisp, he felt the familiar fluctuations of the Heavenfall Banner.

But those fluctuations were already shattered, lacking the solid feel of a complete magical artifact. This was indeed a sign of a magical artifact collapsing.

Lu Yuncong stumbled back into his chair, his hands clenched into fists, knuckles white.

The Heavenfall Banner was gone. The Zidao Sect’s greatest reliance was gone. No matter how angry he was, he couldn’t find any reason to refute.

The atmosphere in the bamboo pavilion instantly dropped to freezing point. Only the rustling of the wind through the bamboo forest made Lu Yuncong’s silence seem even heavier.

Lu Yuncong lowered his head, his eyes swirling with unwillingness and frustration, his knuckles turning blue-white from the force, almost crushing the teacup in his hand.

After a long while, he suddenly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over Lin Che and Li Qianmei, finally resting on Lü Yanfei. Though his tone still carried a chill, it no longer held its previous arrogance.

“Since the Heavenfall Banner has shattered, this matter… can only be accepted.”

As these words left his mouth, a large weight finally lifted from Lü Yanfei’s heart, and she quietly let out a sigh of relief.

She knew that Lu Yuncong’s concession was entirely out of respect for Lin Che and Li Qianmei. If it had only been the Guiyuan Sect, today would likely not have ended well.

Seeing this, Li Qianmei spoke at the opportune moment to ease the atmosphere: “Sect Master Lu is reasonable.”

“Although the Heavenfall Banner shattered, it was due to Lu Hai forcibly activating a forbidden art, which has nothing to do with the Guiyuan Sect. From now on, why don’t the Zidao Sect and the Guiyuan Sect cast aside past grievances and each guard their own territory?”

Lu Yuncong did not answer immediately. He simply picked up his teacup and drained it, the warmth of the tea unable to suppress the gloom in his heart.

He looked at Lin Che, seeing that his expression remained calm, and that unfathomable aura made him dare not entertain any thought of provocation.

To be able to casually condense the aura of a supreme treasure of the Divine Sect, Lin Che’s strength was likely far more profound than it appeared on the surface.

Finally, Lu Yuncong heavily set down his teacup and stood up: “Since Fellow Daoist Li has spoken, this Venerable One will naturally not cling to this matter. But the humiliation of today, my Zidao Sect has noted it down.”

With that, Lu Yuncong glanced at Lü Yanfei again, “From now on, when the Guiyuan Sect acts, I hope you will think thrice before proceeding, and not get involved in unnecessary disputes again.”

As his voice faded, Lu Yuncong said no more. A flash of black energy around him, and his figure vanished outside the bamboo pavilion, leaving only a somewhat disheveled trail of spiritual energy flying towards the Zidao Sect.

Once he had completely left, Lü Yanfei bowed deeply to Lin Che and Li Qianmei, her voice full of gratitude.

“Today, thanks to Senior Lin and Senior Li for your assistance, otherwise the Guiyuan Sect would likely not have escaped this calamity. Words cannot express my gratitude; from now on, if the two of you have any requests, the entire Guiyuan Sect will not refuse!”

Lin Che waved his hand, his tone still calm: “It was merely a small effort. You only need to manage the Guiyuan Sect disciples well, and prevent ill-intentioned individuals from exploiting loopholes again, that would be the best reward for us.”

Li Qianmei also smiled and nodded: “Fellow Daoist Lü, there’s no need to be so polite. We and the Guiyuan Sect have always had dealings, so it’s only right that we assist.”

“It’s just that from now on, this Moruo Continent may face new upheavals due to the shattering of the Heavenfall Banner. You still need to pay close attention.”

Lü Yanfei nodded emphatically, cupped her hands, and bowed: “This junior understands.”

…In the following period, Lin Che and Li Qianmei discussed the Heavenly Dao, and Li Qianmei was also greatly shocked, her admiration for Lin Che growing even stronger.

Li Qianmei extended her slender, fair hand, tidying the strands of dark hair by her ear, and softly whispered: “Brother Lin Che, I must go…”

“Mm.”

Lin Che nodded slightly, also understanding that there was no banquet in the world that didn’t end. Ultimately, he still had to leave here and find his own path.

“I wouldn’t have left so quickly; there are still some things I need to confirm. But yesterday, Master sent a message that the ferocious beasts in the rift at the Demon Sect have suddenly increased… Disciples from all Ninth-Rank Sects must rush to assist as soon as possible. Once I go, I don’t know when I’ll be able to return…”

Li Qianmei was silent for a long time before speaking softly.

“Travel safely.”

Lin Che spoke slowly, with one hand behind his back.

Li Qianmei was silent. After a long while, a smile appeared on her face. She bit her lower lip, stood up, and softly said: “Will we meet again someday?”

Lin Che looked at Li Qianmei in front of him, paused for a moment, and then slowly said: “If there is an opportunity in the future, we will naturally meet again.”

Hearing this, Li Qianmei also nodded slightly. At this point, there was nothing more to say; after all, the Potian Sect needed her now.

As Li Qianmei finally departed, her flowing blue hair fully revealed her identity. In the Cloud Sea, the only one with blue hair was Li Qianmei.

She could have avoided doing this, but she still did.

Li Qianmei gently bit her lower lip, looked at Lin Che’s position, and bowed deeply: “Brother Lin Che, the next time we meet, I believe you will have definitely broken through to the Third Step.”

Lin Che nodded with a faint smile: “The path of cultivation is never smooth sailing. Whether one can break through depends entirely on oneself.”

“I, Lin Che, in this life, bow only to Heaven and Earth, only to my Master, only to my parents. As for others, they do not yet have the qualifications to make me kneel and bow.”

Seeing Brother Lin Che like this, Li Qianmei felt a bitter pang in her heart. Then, she turned gracefully, gazing at the sky as blue as the sea, and murmured to herself: “To forget each other in the Jianghu…”

“The mountains are sentient, the waters are sentient. How can so much love and hate be resolved by a single book?”

“Peach blossoms and human faces are nowhere to be seen; what good is acquaintance… if not to be strangers.”