Order of the Azure Sky

At first, no one believed it. How many years had it been since the Immortal Clan disappeared? Where would they even find an heir?

But as the rumors intensified and more details were revealed, the major sects could no longer sit still.

They sent people to search everywhere, making countless heavy promises and offering all sorts of conditions.

Yet, after all these years, the only true heir of the Immortal Clan to ever appear was Gu Chengyin.

Only him.

Because of this, the five managing elders of the Qingjian Sect received recruitment offers from countless factions.

Just as they thought that once Gu Chengyin arrived, they could control this heir of the Qingyun Immortal Clan in the palm of their hands—just as they had marginalized Jiang Qingshan—

Reality slapped them hard in the face. Because the one who arrived was not Gu Chengyin, the heir of the Immortal Clan.

Rather, it was Gu Chengyin, the head of the sect's inspection group, who couldn't be bothered to play political tug-of-war and directly crushed everything in his path.

The five Qingjian Sect elders could never have imagined that in less than a day's time,

Five grand experts at the Great Perfection of the Foundation Establishment Realm would be sent packing without even making a splash.

"To be honest," Gu Chengyin's voice was unhurried, "as a junior who has just arrived, I also don't know what this inheritance is all about."

"So as for the specifics, Sect Master Jiang will have to explain it himself."

Saying this, his gaze passed over the crowd and landed in a certain direction.

Everyone followed his line of sight, only to realize that Jiang Qingshan had arrived nearby at some unknown time.

"Sect Master Jiang."

Several Golden Core enshrinements nodded in greeting. No matter what, to be able to cultivate the Qingjian Art to the Golden Core Realm,

And to be the sole Golden Core Realm expert in the Qingjian Sect, Jiang Qingshan's strength was still something they acknowledged.

Jiang Qingshan returned the nod. His gaze paused on Gu Chengyin for a moment before he slowly spoke:

"The Qingjian Sect has records stating that as long as one is of the Qingyun Immortal Clan, they can communicate with the Qingyun Token and obtain the Qingyun Art for cultivation."

Qingyun Token.

Qingyun Art.

When these two terms came out of Jiang Qingshan's mouth, the pupils of the Golden Core enshrinements contracted in unison.

What was the Qingyun Art?

It was a top-tier Heaven-rank cultivation technique.

It was the Heaven-rank technique of the Qingyun Immortal Clan.

And now, Jiang Qingshan was saying it was possible to obtain the complete Qingyun Art?

Elder Qiu's fingers tightened slightly. As the person in charge of the Luodu Celestial Master Mansion, he had seen at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, cultivation techniques.

But a top-tier Heaven-rank technique was something he had only heard of in legends.

A technique of this caliber was enough to make even Golden Core Realm experts fight tooth and nail for it.

If it was the complete version... Elder Qiu's breathing involuntarily grew heavy.

It wasn't just him; the other four Golden Core enshrinements reacted the exact same way.

The way they looked at Jiang Qingshan changed, and the way they looked at Gu Chengyin changed as well.

So the rumors were true.

There really was an heir to the Immortal Clan.

The path of immortality really could be reconnected.

Gu Chengyin didn't seem to notice those gazes.

He simply turned slightly to face Jiang Qingshan, his tone as humble and polite as ever:

"Then may I ask, Sect Master Jiang, where is this Qingyun Token now?"

This question was crucial—so crucial that it made the hearts of the Golden Core enshrinements clench.

Exactly, where was the Qingyun Token?

As the key to obtaining the Qingyun Art, if it wasn't here, what was the point of saying all this?

Jiang Qingshan fell silent for a breath. With a hint of melancholy in his voice, he slowly said:

"The Qingyun Token is the proof of identity for the direct lineage of the Qingyun Immortal Clan. It disappeared along with the Immortal Clan."

Disappeared?

Looks of dissatisfaction appeared on the faces of the Golden Core enshrinements.

If it disappeared, why were you talking about it for so long?

Were you playing them for fools?

But Jiang Qingshan suddenly changed the subject:

"However..."

His gaze swept over the crowd, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly to reveal a meaningful smile:

"Our Qingjian Sect searched for many years and ultimately managed, by a stroke of luck, to obtain a fragmented Qingyun Token."

The Golden Core enshrinements were stunned.

A fragmented Qingyun Token?

But Jiang Qingshan did not explain. He merely reached slowly into his robes, seemingly to take something out.

The Golden Core enshrinements narrowed their eyes in unison, trying hard to see exactly what it was.

Elder Qiu even took half a step forward, the spiritual energy within his body faintly circulating as he tried to sense the aura of the Qingyun Token.

Then they saw it.

Jiang Qingshan took an object from his robes and rested it in the palm of his hand.

It was a token made of neither gold nor jade. It was completely azure-green, with cloud-like patterns flowing across its surface.

Engraved on the front of the token was an archaic character for Cloud, while the back bore a fragmented depiction of mountains and rivers.

It looked as though it had endured some violent impact, leaving behind a series of fine cracks.

Yet even so, the token still exuded an indescribable aura.

Archaic.

Profound.

As if it had slumbered for millions of years and had just awakened.

The Golden Core enshrinements stared at the token, their brows slightly furrowed.

This was the fragmented Qingyun Token?

This was the proof of direct lineage that could grant the Qingyun Art?

Right at this moment, Lin Qingyan, who was standing beside Gu Chengyin, suddenly widened her eyes.

From beginning to end, she had remained very quiet.

Lin Qingyan didn't speak, not because she had nothing to say, but because she knew what kind of occasion this was.

This was Gu Chengyin's stage.

He wanted to swallow the entire Qingjian Sect, he wanted to win over Jiang Qingshan, and he wanted to complete the Immortal Clan's inheritance.

Although Lin Qingyan didn't know why Gu Chengyin wanted to complete the inheritance at this specific time,

She didn't care, nor did it matter to her.

All she had to do was protect Gu Chengyin.

That was it.

So Lin Qingyan had just stood there quietly, watching quietly.

Watching Jiang Qingshan's explanation, watching the stirred emotions of the Golden Core enshrinements, and watching Gu Chengyin's forever calm and composed face.

Until Jiang Qingshan took out the so-called Qingyun Token, until she saw what the token looked like clearly.

Lin Qingyan's eyes suddenly widened.

Because she recognized that token!

No, not just recognized.

She had seen it before.

During that morning court session when the Xiao faction was brought down.

That day, out of curiosity—curious about what methods Gu Chengyin would use to turn the tides and manipulate the situation—

She had hidden on the sidelines and watched the entire process.

She had seen with her own eyes how Gu Chengyin maneuvered around the Xiao clan officials in the imperial court, watching him clash with those old foxes.

She watched as, in order to prove he was the heir of the Qingyun Immortal Clan,

He had also taken out a proof of direct lineage, also called the Qingyun Token.

And that Qingyun Token was exactly the same as the token Jiang Qingshan was holding right now.

Exactly the same.

Not only that, but even the cracking patterns and the direction of the scratches on it...

They were completely identical without the slightest discrepancy!

Lin Qingyan's breath hitched slightly.

She subconsciously turned her head to look at Gu Chengyin beside her.

Gu Chengyin stood there, his expression as normal as ever.

He was also looking at the token, his gaze tranquil, showing no emotion whatsoever.

But Lin Qingyan noticed a flicker of light flash deep in Gu Chengyin's eyes.

It was like the gleam of a hunter spotting their prey, just like when he found out Gu Xiaoli was a Half-step Nascent Soul expert.

Although it flashed by in an instant, Lin Qingyan saw it.

Because she was too close—close enough to hear Gu Chengyin's breathing, close enough to feel the warmth of his body.

Although Lin Qingyan didn't know if Gu Chengyin was plotting something again,

Based on her understanding of this wicked man, she could be certain of one thing.

This fragmented Qingyun Token.

Was the exact same one belonging to Gu Chengyin.