Chapter 87: The Cloud Ridge Sect

After the turmoil had passed, Bai Feiyu and the others set out once more.

This time, Shi Yuan did not leave. He remained with the group, though he did not ride in the same carriage as Bai Feiyu and the others; instead, he sat in the wagon carrying the supplies.

Yet on reflection, it was understandable. The Dark Gate no longer wanted him, and aside from the Returning Ruins Sect, he had nowhere else to go. More importantly, Bai Feiyu had already said that the matter would not be pursued any further, so leaving in haste would serve no purpose.

After a long journey over mountains and rivers, Bai Feiyu and the others finally approached the small sect near Cloud Ridge City.

The sect was called Cloud Ridge Sect, the only place in this little city where one could cultivate. Anyone who wished to train here had no choice but to enter Cloud Ridge Sect, since most other sects were far away.

And because Cloud Ridge Sect was so distant from the various major sects, it had not been wiped out by them.

On the contrary, after Cloud Ridge Sect declared its submission to the Returning Ruins Sect, the Returning Ruins Sect generally sheltered it.

That day, Bai Feiyu and the others drove their carriages into Cloud Ridge City, and Cloud Ridge Sect came into view.

Qian Shuang sent news of their arrival to the sect master through a message jade slip, and before long, a large contingent from Cloud Ridge Sect hurried over.

“Friends, this journey has been hard on you,” said the sect master of Cloud Ridge Sect, walking at the front and smiling at the four of them. “For the spirit treasures to be delivered safely here, we owe our thanks to the four of you.”

“Master, you are too kind,” Qian Shuang said, stepping forward with a smile.

At once, the people from Cloud Ridge Sect came over to inspect the spirit treasures on the carriages, then took over the wagons.

Bai Feiyu took a glance. Among this small sect’s people, the strongest was its sect master, whose cultivation was likely only at the first or second level of the Shackled Realm. There were only two or three other Shackled Realm experts, while most of the disciples were at the Qi Refining Realm.

If a disciple had cultivation at the Rising Energy Realm, he would probably already be considered a prominent senior brother or a core disciple here.

That alone showed how tiny this place was compared with the Returning Ruins Sect.

“Come, come, friends. This old man will personally host a banquet for you this time, to express our gratitude for your hardship along the way!” The sect master of Cloud Ridge Sect was extremely warm as he came forward and led Bai Feiyu and the others away.

Seeing this, Bai Feiyu and the others found it hard to refuse. Helplessly, they could only follow the sect master toward his sect.

In truth, after such a long and weary journey, they also wanted to rest a little and, at the same time, take a look at the power of this small sect.

A sect like this was far from the Returning Ruins Sect, so it needed to be checked from time to time. Otherwise, if it ever showed signs of rebellion, it would be difficult to detect; even if discovered, the place was too remote to station people there permanently. Thus, one could only make occasional inspections and offer some benefits.

Bai Feiyu and the others entered the sect and looked at the buildings around them.

This sect was not large. Most of its disciples were only at the Qi Refining Realm, and it was difficult to spot a single disciple at the Rising Energy Realm.

Still, that made sense. After all, even in the Returning Ruins Sect, Rising Energy Realm disciples were treasures. How could such a small sect so easily produce them?

However, there was one thing within Cloud Ridge Sect that Bai Feiyu found very strange: why did the disciples here all look as though they had been beaten down by frost, listless and dispirited, like walking corpses?

“Let’s go, friends,” the sect master said, approaching with a smile.

Bai Feiyu and the others nodded and followed him into the great hall used to receive guests. Soon, cooks brought out several dishes.

“You four have traveled far and endured much,” the sect master said. “We do not have anything especially fine here, so please make do.”

Bai Feiyu glanced around. Something here felt off.

Whether disciples or elders, everyone in the hall was watching them.

It did not feel like a natural gaze, but rather as if they were being deliberately watched, almost as though they were on guard against them.

Seeing this, Bai Feiyu set down his chopsticks and said with a smile, “Sect Master, why does your place feel a little strange?”

The atmosphere in the hall truly was odd; even among the disciples, everything felt wrong. Bai Feiyu had an uneasy premonition, as if some dreadful weapon nearby was aimed at them.

At Bai Feiyu’s words, the sect master’s expression stiffened for an instant, though he quickly covered it up and returned to normal, smiling at Bai Feiyu. “Strange? In what way?”

That fleeting change made Bai Feiyu sneer inwardly.

Although the sect master had concealed it very well, Bai Feiyu had still seen it.

Qian Shuang, Yang Fan, and Shi Yuan had also clearly sensed that something was wrong. The atmosphere in the hall was indeed somewhat eerie.

“Please forgive us, Sect Master. On the road, we ate some fruit from along the way and upset our stomachs. We do not have much appetite right now.”

“These dishes are lovely, but we really cannot do them justice. Please reward the disciples with them instead.”

“Before the sect sent us here, it specifically told us to inspect the situation at Cloud Ridge Sect, so we would like to take a look around and then leave. After all, cultivation is what matters most to us,” Qian Shuang said in a cool, even tone.

“Daddy—”

At that moment, a boy of about eight ran over. Seeing the table full of delicious food, he drooled as he said to the sect master, “Daddy, let me have some dishes too. I want to eat…”

As he spoke, he stared hungrily at the food on the table.

The sect master’s expression changed at once. Then he barked at the child, “What are you doing running around here, little brat? Go play somewhere else! Elder Qingtian, hurry up and take the young master away!”

As he finished, he shot a glance at the elder beside him.

“Oh, no need for that, Master,” Bai Feiyu said, seeing the little young master approach. He immediately pulled the child closer and used his chopsticks to place a chicken leg into the child’s hand. “A child’s greed for food is only natural. Don’t be so harsh on him. We all came through that age. I understand the little young master very well—I couldn’t even get what I wanted to eat back then. Come, little brother will give you one!”

“Eat it, eat it. Don’t listen to your father!”

Seeing the child holding a chicken leg, the sect master’s face changed drastically. He darted forward at once and snatched the chicken leg straight out of the child’s hand.

In an instant, Qian Shuang and the others looked at the sect master with cold smiles.

………