My Whole Class Isekai'd to a Xianxia? Good Thing I Can Do Mind-reading - Chapter 268

Chapter 268: Elder Jiang’s Fate
“Hold on a minute, Xue,” Feng Fan said after they emerged from the hole created by Little Brick.

His hands shimmered with spiritual energy as he moved them in specific patterns, forming two small tier 6 arrays around the hole’s entrance. The arrays weaved together seamlessly.

One array ensured the palace remained invisible to the naked eye, while the other distorted the perception, causing anyone who approached to instinctively avoid the area.

Moments later, it looked no different from the surrounding forest floor. Without prior knowledge of the hidden entrance, finding it would be nearly impossible.

Once satisfied with his work, Feng Fan departed with Huang Xue to the exact spot above ground where the White Crow Sect once stood. Now, it was nothing more than a chaotic mess of shattered rocks and uprooted soil.

“Xue, can you restore the vegetation here to match the surrounding forest? That way, we’ll blend in and avoid being easily discovered.”

Huang Xue nodded and stepped forward, placing both hands on the ground. Green spiritual qi flowed from her palms, bathing the area in a verdant glow. The twisted rocks that had been forced to the surface crumbled into smaller fragments, merging with the soil as if they had never been disturbed.

From the rejuvenated earth, vibrant foliage began to emerge—at first just sparse tufts of grass and creeping vines, but soon saplings broke through, growing at an astonishing rate.

Within minutes, lush bushes and towering trees spread outwards, reclaiming the barren patch left by their escape. The dense forest canopy expanded, seamlessly blending the newly grown vegetation with the old.

By the time Huang Xue finished, the forest had regained its natural beauty, stretching over dozens of kilometers. The lingering traces of their passage had vanished, leaving no sign of their presence behind.

Feng Fan glanced at the transformed landscape and smiled with satisfaction. “Thank you, Xue. Let’s head back.”

He escorted Huang Xue back to her quarters before making his way toward the surface once again. There was still something important he needed to do.

Gripping the communication token Elder Jiang had given him, he muttered, “Elder Jiang, I’ve created a safe haven for the sect like you wanted. Now… let’s see if I can find you.”

Before departing, Feng Fan activated a small array on himself, altering his appearance to resemble that of a typical cultivator from the Shen Empire. With this disguise, I should be safe to move around.

Summoning the Suppression Relic, he stood atop it and soared through the sky, heading toward the last place he had seen Elder Jiang. Thanks to his altered appearance, he encountered no trouble from the Shen Empire’s patrols.

However, to his surprise, he soon realized that while he had been securing the White Crow Sect’s safety and ensuring it had enough spiritual energy for cultivation, the Shen Empire had already taken control of half of the Black Turtle Continent.

‘Damn it! How are they moving so fast?’

As he traveled across the landscape, scenes of brutality unfolded before Feng Fan’s eyes. Mortals and cultivators alike were bound in chains, their bodies bruised and battered, as people from the Shen Empire mercilessly whipped them into submission.

The Shen Empire’s doctrine was clear: Conquer, rob, and grow stronger. Any civilization that fell into their grasp faced the same grim fate—exploitation and despair.

One peculiar detail caught Feng Fan’s attention.

‘Why aren’t there any elderly people? And no cultivators stronger than the Spirit Severing realm…’

Among all the chained slaves, the oldest ones were merely middle-aged humans.

‘Are they imprisoning the elders somewhere else, or killing them outright?’

He couldn’t help but think the latter was more likely. The Shen Empire was ruthless, and eliminating those deemed useless fit their brutal efficiency.

Feng Fan didn’t consider himself a hero, but since the Shen Empire was already his enemy, he didn’t mind saving the people of the Black Turtle Continent when he could deal with the Shen Empire—as long as he received a suitable reward for his efforts.

As he traveled, he continuously sent messages through the communication token Elder Jiang had left him. Yet, no response came from the other side.

‘Did the token get damaged… or is Elder Jiang truly dead?’

Feng Fan continued his journey until he finally arrived at the spot where he had parted ways with Elder Jiang.

‘Alright, Elder Jiang, if you’re alive, you better respond this time, or I’ll have to head back without you.’

He sent one last message through the communication token, and to his surprise, a reply came almost immediately.

“Wait for me there.”

Feng Fan couldn’t help but crack a smile.

‘Damn it, that old bastard’s really alive.’

A few minutes later, a figure appeared before him—dressed in ragged clothes and a hood, moving with caution. Feng Fan immediately recognized the voice that followed.

“Feng Fan, I’m glad you managed to escape.”

Though his voice was unmistakable, it was rougher and more strained than usual. When Elder Jiang pulled down his hood, Feng Fan’s eyes widened in shock. In just a few days, the elder looked decades older—his hair had turned stark white, and deep wrinkles lined his face.

“Damn it, Elder Jiang, what happened to you?” Feng Fan asked.

A bitter smile tugged at Elder Jiang’s lips. “This is the price I had to pay to escape alive. Don’t worry about it. I’ve been wandering around these past days and discovered something really important—”

“Wait,” Feng Fan cut him off. “This isn’t a good place to talk. You could be caught at any moment.”

He quickly formed an array similar to the one he used to hide his own presence, and Elder Jiang’s appearance shifted to resemble a common Shen Empire cultivator.

“Let’s head back to the White Crow Sect,” Feng Fan said, giving him a reassuring nod. “I made sure everyone there is safe. Also, I might not be able to restore your lost life force, but I know a way for you to gain new life force.”

Elder Jiang hesitated for a moment, doubt flickering in his weary eyes. But seeing the confident smile on Feng Fan’s face, he chose to trust him and nodded..