Chapter 320: The Decline of Qingqiu (3000 words, try to avoid chapter breaks)

The Yaksha Dharma Form stood three zhang tall; even seated cross-legged, it resembled a towering building.

It closed its eyes to cultivate its spirit.

It remained the most dazzling presence in the arena.

Yet opposite the Shanfeng, two old foxes with human bodies and beast faces sat calmly playing chess, paying no heed to that Golden Body.

If that Soul Transformation Golden Body cultivator had personally arrived, it would have been different.

Only a single remnant corpse remains, a monkey wearing a crown.

Who cares?

Originally, they had merely sent someone to search for the whereabouts of the clan elders, but unexpectedly learned the true situation of Great Qian from the Profound Light Cave.

A camel that has starved to death still dares to show off its might.

Nowadays, Qingqiu, relying on its neutral status to recuperate for so many years, is long since no longer the existence that could be bullied by anyone.

Since they refuse the face offered, then let them come down from the high and mighty altar.

That position, Qingqiu can also occupy.

The reason both sides are still in a standoff is mainly due to the person standing in the middle.

Tang Yuan's reputation is quite great; both Qingqiu and Great Qian recognize his status, but his face is not enough to control the situation.

The reason lies in the fact that he represents True Person Qingfeng, who arrived a step earlier.

Tang Yuan's words are equivalent to True Person Qingfeng's decree.

"Be patient; once my master arrives personally, he will naturally give both sides a reasonable explanation."

Tang Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, suspended in the air.

Blinding flames circled around him, quietly lying dormant, yet no one dared to underestimate his strength.

A generation's heavenly prodigy, the posture of a strong one.

After his words fell, he quietly glanced toward the Great Qian side, then sighed in his heart.

Although there is a Golden Body remnant nearing Soul Transformation standing guard.

Barely matching the other side in momentum.

In the eyes of those with true vision, this is like a fallen family where an mediocre junior has been forced to hold the ancestor's urn to prop up the scene, looking shabby and helpless.

Actually, according to Tang Yuan's thoughts, if Great Qian could lower its stance and humble itself, it might not be a bad thing.

They no longer possess the strength to support their famous reputation.

They stand out as incongruous within the Sanfangtong Alliance.

If Qingqiu Clan could be allowed to settle in the Nine Provinces, perhaps there would still be a chance to rise again... though by then it might not be called Great Qian, but at least life would be slightly easier.

Qingqiu is said to be demons, but in reality they cultivate the methods of the human race, learn human crafting, and overall have become no different from cultivators.

Plus, with Mount Wutong stepping forward to set the rules, that group of foxes would not dare to go too far.

This is also the intention of his master.

After all, Great Qian nowadays, in the fight against the Thousand Demon Cave, can hardly play any role at all.

However, considering the past friendship.

Great Qian still needs to nod in agreement, after all, there is still a layer of alliance relationship there.

But it seems they are unwilling, as if waiting for something... Could there be reinforcements?

"Senior Brother Zhu Jue."

Wu Daoan held Jin Zhu and approached the Yaksha Dharma Form.

Only the other party's realm could sustain the Golden Body remnant for a long time: "I feel Mount Wutong's actions are somewhat ambiguous... should we discuss it with Tang Yuan again?"

"Continue waiting."

Master Zhu Jue did not open his eyes; he must preserve every bit of his reserve to prepare for the coming battle.

As for communicating with Tang Yuan, not to mention the other party is not familiar with Great Qian.

If pressed, he is actually not even a disciple of Mount Wutong; how could he make any decisions?

At this moment, there is nothing to do but continue waiting.

First, wait for True Person Qingfeng; second, wait for... Yan Shidi Shen.

Great Qian is declining, but not in a state of having no successors; instead, it shows signs of vigorous growth. Let True Person Qingfeng see Great Qian's potential, and considering the alliance relationship, fight for some more time for them.

"Will he return?"

Wu Daoan looked toward the horizon.

"That depends on whether he knows about this matter."

A smile appeared on the corner of the Yaksha Dharma Form's lips.

At the mountain waist, a total of six Grand Masters from the Jinghunyuan Sect of the upper realm stood with hands at their sides; they had finally returned to Great Qian.

And in the news reported by this group of Grand Masters, Master Zhu Jue heard of Yan Shidi Shen's existence.

The other party... has always been concerned about Great Qian.

"These thief foxes, unknowingly, have already become such a huge calamity."

Wu Daoan withdrew his gaze and looked toward the opposite side.

He still remembers that back then, Qingqiu only had the existence of a Soul Transformation Ancestral Master, and even that was only in the early stage.

Over these years, that Ancestral Master has actually broken through to the mid-stage of Soul Transformation, and even cultivated two more Soul Transformations, collectively known as the Three Ancestors of Qingqiu.

Now they actively come to submit, with full sincerity.

Mount Wutong is obviously somewhat tempted.

But Great Qian's past contributions... who would still care?

"Has Shenxu Laozu regained consciousness?"

"Acting is no problem."

The two stopped talking, for those two fox demons had stood up, as if the game of Go had produced a winner and a loser.

"True Person Tang need not worry; we merely wish to speak."

The slightly taller Qiuqiu Ancestor waved his hand and smiled at the Yaksha Dharma Image: "Qiuqiu and Great Qian are both top-tier powers; friction is inevitable. In truth, we are not the kind to quibble over trifles."

"Previously demanding that thief from you was merely a moment of anger."

"If we can make peace, the past matters can be wiped clean."

Zhu Jue opened his eyes, his voice loud as a bell: "How exactly do we make peace?"

Hearing this, the other Qiuqiu Ancestor laughed: "The Wumiao remains the Wumiao, the Nine Provinces remain the Nine Provinces; only within that temple must a Dharma Image of our Qiuqiu Ancestors be sculpted. You guard the Nine Provinces, Qiuqiu holds the court, each performing their duties to serve Mount Wutong."

Hearing these words, even Tang Yuan subconsciously shook his head.

Fox demons are indeed fox demons; they easily sniffed out Mount Wutong's intentions.

Just look at how they speak.

How can this group of stubborn donkeys from the Wumiao outplay them?

"They have grown tired of cultivating the Slain Hunyuan Dao and wish to taste the flavor of a Yin Spirit."

Zhu Jue sighed; among these foxes, they lived the most comfortably and rose the fastest.

What demons and monsters have, they have; what cultivators know, they know too.

Wait a few more years, and Qiuqiu will probably want to replace another power.

But Zhu Jue did not speak to stir up trouble between Qiuqiu and Mount Wutong; he fell silent again, leaving only one flat remark: "Sit down."

Regardless, before Yan Shidi Shen returns, he is Great Qian's last dignity.

"..."

Tang Yuan looked on with admiration, but alas, he could not help them.

The only thing he was curious about now was: who exactly was Great Qian waiting for?

As if responding to Tang Yuan's thoughts.

Suddenly, purple-gold flames swept across the sky; falling fire rain made the night as bright as day.

Crimson demon clouds filled the horizon.

A blue robe fluttered slightly as that tall figure stood with hands behind his back, looking down upon the mountains and rivers.

His gaze, along with the flames filling the sky, fell upon that group of fox demons.

This familiar scene suddenly made Tang Yuan's heart skip a beat: "Ah?"

Before he could speak, the entire Li Province Qi Sect was already filled with clamor.

"It is True Person Purple Flame!"

"Who?"

"The one who destroyed the Zheng family and beheaded the Green Feather Demon Emperor! He has appeared again!"

Several Great Qian Hunyuan Grandmasters were overjoyed.

Chen Zhong was even more extremely surprised; he never expected Senior Shen to involve himself in Great Qian's affairs.

Zhu Jue and Wu Dao'an both looked up at the sky.

That was clearly the figure they had been waiting for, yet the rumors ringing in their ears did not match at all.

Why were the disciples of the Wumiao the ones they knew least?

Also, why did Yan Shidi Shen appear directly? Where is his Golden Body?

"Impudent!"

The Qiuqiu Ancestor clumsily brushed the fire rain from his clothes; seeing the panicked appearance of his clan members behind him, he grew even angrier and roared: "Who comes, showing such disregard for rules!"

Between heaven and earth, that crimson demon cloud drew everyone's gaze.

The youth stared indifferently at the fox demons, his calm voice echoing across the sky.

"Great Qian, Shen Yi."

As the words landed, Zhu Jue and Wu Dao'an's hearts finally settled; it seemed they had not mistaken the person, only that the other had returned from a trip with new methods.

For a moment, the entire mountain range fell into silence.

Chen Zhong and several Great Qian Grandmasters stood stunned for a long while before finally realizing why the other had treated them so kindly.

It turned out this was their Great Qian True Person.

"Great Qian..."

The Qiuqiu Ancestor's heart panicked for an instant; he clearly sensed only a Hunyuan Realm aura on the youth, yet such a grand display did not seem like that of an ordinary Shen Zongshi.

Thinking thus, he hurriedly looked at Tang Yuan: "True Person Tang, look at this person from Great Qian; he shows no restraint, simply ruining the rules!"

To his astonishment.

Tang Yuan seemed to hear nothing, only clasping his hands toward the sky: "Senior Brother Shen! Long time no see."

What does this mean?

They know each other; is he going to take sides?

The Qiuqiu Ancestor's face became somewhat at a loss; not only him, but even the people from Great Qian began to feel dazed.

Zhu Jue finally stopped tightening his aura and asked curiously: "Yan Shidi Shen's connections seem quite extensive."

"You are focusing on that?" Wu Dao'an opened his mouth, puzzled: "Have you not noticed he does not look like a Yin Spirit cultivator at all?"

"Seems so, huh." Zhu Jue looked up without care.

Yan Shidi Shen has returned; then there is something to discuss.

"Why does it feel a bit off?"

Tang Yuan lowered his palms, and suddenly his heart skipped a beat.

Brother Shen's appearance looks more and more familiar the longer I look... No way?!

In the next moment, violet-gold flames across the sky suddenly surged up, transforming into nine wheels of Li Fire Great Suns, which crashed down toward Shanfeng with a boom!

This scene stunned everyone.

No faction, no matter where it was from, had anticipated Shen Yi's sudden attack.

Among them were even the three from the Xu family standing atop the flying boat.

Xu Hongde looked at his sister in astonishment, and the Sixth Ancestor of the Xu family widened his eyes.

They had planned to use this incident to judge how much truth lay in Shen Yi's previous promise, yet suddenly fighting broke out.

"Habit... just get used to it." Xu Wanyun pressed her hand to her forehead, then drew her long sword and rushed down toward the ground.

If you can act, speak less.

Under the erosion of the nine wheels of Li Fire Great Suns, even Shanfeng was melted away; let alone the many fox demons upon it, how miserable they were.

For a time, they fled in all directions in chaos.

The two Qiuqiu Ancestors' pupils contracted tightly, and with surging anger, they produced their array discs.

They used a sky full of flowing light to block the Li Fire.

"Oh," Xu Hongde perked up: "They really have some skill..."

The Sixth Ancestor of the Xu family nodded in sympathy, but unfortunately, before he could reply.

A figure suddenly swept across the sky.

A whip-kick struck out.

Crack—

The great curtain formed of green light shattered as easily as fragile glass.

They fell like meteors.

Shen Yi hung suspended in the sky, his long robe billowing high.

Beneath him, the two Qiuqiu Ancestors, gripping their array discs, were already plunged into confusion.

(End of this chapter)