Chapter 231

In the lofty mountains of western Sichuan, the peaks pierce the sky like floating clouds; within the region, mountains stand tall, anciently renowned as the finest among the world's famous mountains.

In the Shu Mountain area there are many spiritual traces; it is said that a sword immortal there cultivates qi and avoids grains, wielding a flying sword to enter the azure void, soar over mountains and rivers, traverse heaven and earth, and roam the human world most carefree.

Upon an immortal mountain hidden in ethereal clouds, as if suspended in air, stand continuous pavilions, terraces, and towers.

This place is none other than the renowned Shu Mountain Sect under heaven; its worldly disciples always prioritize righteousness, perform good deeds, accumulate merit, and if they encounter injustice they must lend aid—subduing demons and upholding the Way is their inescapable duty.

Inside the great hall named Wuji Pavilion.

The four contemporary elders of Shu Mountain—Canggu, Jingming, Xuanyuan, and Heyang—frowned as they watched the red-eyed poisoned person with sharp teeth lying uncontrollably on the couch inside the hall.

Beside them stood two youths in white Daoist robes carrying swords; one was warm and smooth like jade, with an ethereal, graceful appearance that made his looks and bearing unforgettable at a glance.

The other, though ordinary in visage, exuded a steady, reliable aura from within; the two were Shu Mountain Sect's current senior disciples Xu Changqing and Chang Yin.

"According to the classics, they were originally normal people, but after being poisoned with a potent toxin they became like this."

The Heyang elder, most skilled in medicine, spoke:

"At first there was only one; the poison refiner poured the long-refined potent toxin into his body, causing him to lose his nature, like a beast attacking people and spreading the toxin abroad."

Chang Yin said in a low voice:

"If that is the case, the potent toxin has already diffused from the main body; if we cannot stop it swiftly, the world will face a great calamity."

At that moment, four or five poisoned persons sprang up from the couch, about to attack the few inside the hall.

"Be careful!"

Chang Yin, not knowing why his senior brother suddenly froze, immediately stepped in front of him, pinched a seal, and unleashed a corpse‑restraining talisman that immobilized the ferocious‑looking poisoned person.

The impatient elder Canggu waved his hand‑duster, manifesting a shifting, illusory Taiji talisman out of thin air, causing the poisoned person to lie back down on the couch.

"Changqing, what's wrong with you?" Elder Canggu frowned deeply: "You actually zoned out while standing on the brink of disaster, unaware."

The white‑robed youth's eyes flashed a white light, then he clasped his fists and bowed:

"I don't know what just happened; I suddenly felt my memory was lacking, as if I had forgotten many things."

The four elders' pupils contracted slightly, as if they had thought of something; Elder Jingming spoke first:

"Changqing, it should be due to your recent rapid progress in cultivation, causing your mind to be somewhat unsteady."

Elder Xuanyuan nodded:

"Not bad; although our sect cultivates the body to nurture qi, uses qi to command the sword, and transforms sword qi into form to wound the enemy—making our swordsmanship peerlessly superb, with sword strikes like heavenly frost descending—we also excel in the three arts of immortal techniques, qi cultivation, and spirit nurturing."

"Over these years, besides mastering the sword to perfection, your practice of qi cultivation and immortal arts has far surpassed your peers, yet in nurturing the spirit you are still somewhat lacking."

Elder Canggu gave a dry cough:

"Changqing, you must keep in mind what your master Xuanyuan said: in the final stage of cultivation you must devote great effort to nurturing the spirit, so as to achieve the inner gate of a pure mind and ceased thoughts, enabling inner vision and far hearing in all directions, letting your senses reach ten thousand li away."

"Moreover, the essence of our Shu Mountain heart method lies in reaching utmost emptiness, holding stillness firmly, all things arising together, I observe the return—that is, a clear and bright Dao mind attaining utmost emptiness, preserving the innermost stillness to the utmost, whereby we can perceive the essence of the Dao from the laws governing the myriad things' motion."

Elder Heyang also spoke:

"As the saying goes, the highest good is like water: water benefits all things without contention, dwelling in places people disdain, thus it is near the Dao; if you cultivate to this point, when the opportunity arrives you may ascend to immortality."

The white‑robed youth respectfully said:

"Changqing will keep it in mind and surely not disappoint the teachings of the four masters."

Elder Canggu nodded:

"Now we must swiftly avert the poisoned‑person disaster; the Tang Sect has resided generation after generation in Tang Family Fort, Yuzhou City—a single‑surname jianghu clan that dominates Shu region with hidden weapons and poisons, and the poisoned‑person affair is largely tied to them."

Elder Heyang pondered:

"Then I will lead Changqing and the others on a trip to Tang Family Fort."

Having said that, he immediately ordered the white‑robed youth and Chang Yin to lead a batch of Shu Mountain's elite disciples down the mountain.

Soon after, only the four elders remained in Wuji Pavilion, and the atmosphere fell silent.

Elder Canggu suddenly spoke:

"Logically, given Changqing's current cultivation, he should not be able to detect the seal we have placed."

Elder Xuanyuan said softly:

"The seal on Changqing's body can be undone only by the combined strength of us four plus the sect leader‑elder brother; perhaps he occasionally senses it."

Elder Heyang's face grew solemn:

"This seal concerns his great cultivation undertaking; unless absolutely necessary, he must never discover it."

"What necessary moment? No matter what, he must not discover it." Elder Canggu said firmly:

"Changqing inherently possesses an immortal affinity; he has already delayed three lifetimes, and now this is his lifetime closest to attaining the Dao and becoming an immortal—he must not regain his past memories, lest he repeat the mistakes of his two previous lives."

Upon hearing this, the three also felt it reasonable and could not undo the seal on his body.

Not long after, dozens of sword lights flew forth from Shu Mountain, soaring to the exterior of a city built beside mountains and water.

Immediately, Elder Heyang had all the Shu Mountain disciples except the white‑robed youth disguise themselves, first settling in Yuzhou City, then he led the white‑robed youth toward the Tang Sect.

In Yuzhou City the market bustled with drugstores, taverns, and antique shops standing side by side, appearing very lively and prosperous.

"Changqing, do you think the poisoned persons are related to the Tang Sect?"

Zhuang Buran said unhurriedly:

"Before coming down the mountain, I had also heard some reputation of the Tang Sect in Shu region; they usually seldom wander the jianghu, unwilling to ally with orthodox sects and disdainful of mingling with evil cults, giving an impression of being neither wholly proper nor wholly improper, hard to fathom."

"And Elder Canggu never speaks without cause; Changqing feels it is likely inseparable from the Tang Sect."

Elder Heyang spoke gently:

"I am acquainted with Tang Kun, the lord of Tang Family Fort, and know him to be an upright person."

Zhuang Buran said with deep meaning:

"As I know, although the Tang Sect is a single‑surname jianghu clan, the position of sect head has always been passed down the direct line."

"The current Tang Family Fort lord still has a direct granddaughter Tang Xuejian, a concubine‑born son Tang Yi, and a younger brother Tang Tai; moreover, the Tang Sect's poison arts follow the rule of transmission to males only, not females."

"Changqing feels human hearts are hard to fathom, especially for those who practice poison arts—their dispositions inevitably become extreme, they stray onto wrong paths, and give rise to other thoughts."

"It seems you have investigated the Tang Family Fortress quite thoroughly." Elder He Yang reminded with a smile.

"But one must not jump to conclusions; know that right and wrong, good and evil must be judged by the heart, not just by background and martial arts."

Zhuang Buran replied:

"Chang Qing understands, but it's all thanks to Junior Martial Brother Chang Yin that I was able to figure out the situation of the Tang Family Fortress."

Not long after, when the people of the Tang Family Fortress heard that the Shu Mountain Elder had arrived, the fortress's steward, Tang Tai, immediately came out to greet them, and then announced the news that Tang Kun was critically ill.

(End of Chapter)