Chapter 684: Each Has Their Own Plans

The Heavenly Court, the Green Luan Palace.

Hongze Daxian walked slowly into the main hall, looking up at the young immortal general seated high on the main throne; his expression was complex, mixed with a touch of admiration.

He had always thought Green Luan was stubborn in his actions, his ideas seemingly very different from ordinary people; to put it harshly, it was as if his mind was flawed.

But only after returning from Divine Void Mountain did Hongze Daxian suddenly realize why Green Luan could hold the Fourth-Rank Immortal Seal.

The other party had truly pulled that single thread from a tangled mess and followed it to uncover some truth; it was simply terrifying.

"I went to Divine Void Mountain, and it was the leader of Array Peak, Uncle Mu Yang Peak Lord, who received me."

"After chatting for many days, I brought back these things."

Hongze Daxian stepped up the long stairs and handed the jade slip in his palm over: "You guessed correctly; that young man named Shen Yi is not an heir cultivated by Divine Void Mountain from childhood. To be precise, the time Divine Void Mountain knew him might be about the same as ours."

"How would they tell you such things?" Green Luan remained as calm as ever.

"Under normal circumstances, matters within the immortal sects are naturally not told to outsiders, but this Shen Yi's title of Peak Lord was obtained improperly; he snatched it from a disciple of Divine Void Mountain, thus creating a rift among fellow disciples."

Hongze Daxian pondered for a moment: "Are you worried about internal conflict and want to borrow our blade to kill someone, so you fabricated these lies? There is no need to worry, after all, I am not some fool."

Speaking, he looked at that jade slip: "Inside here is the order from that Uncle Mu Yang Peak Lord for the disciples of Divine Void Mountain to go out into the world to investigate information regarding Shen Yi."

"This person appeared as if from thin air; even if the immortal sects investigate, they can find no traces."

"But coincidentally, when the Seven Treasures Bodhisattva gave the Dharma lecture, it was at Crane Mountain; Ye Lan took Shen Yi to attend the meeting, indicating that the two had at least stayed in Da Nanzhou for some time. Furthermore, in the Eight Extremes Valley, Shen Yi was able to arrive with such timely speed; the place where he usually resides is very likely in the several major prefectures surrounding Xishan Prefecture as the center."

Hongze Daxian waved his hand casually, and a topographical map of Da Nanzhou surged onto the table.

His fingertip gently tapped on one of those major prefectures.

Jianyang Prefecture.

"What Divine Void Mountain found is related to this place; due to the impending Great Calamity, many immortal sects withdrew from Da Nanzhou, and one branch among them was related to Divine Void Mountain."

"According to that branch, just before and after the Bodhisattva's lecture, a large group of cultivators of unknown origin suddenly appeared in Jianyang Prefecture, holding recommendations from the Earth Gods to enter the various immortal sects."

"I saw that the timing matched, so upon returning, I casually had my subordinates investigate."

Hongze Daxian waved slightly, and heavenly soldiers and generals came from outside the hall; some held heads in their hands, others dragged in dirty-faced prisoners; there were many people of various identities, including disciples of immortal sects and children serving under the Earth Gods.

"Investigating one person is difficult, but investigating a group is much easier; where they came from, why they gathered in Jianyang Prefecture, and how they obtained the recommendation letters."

"The path formed by these people is one of the reasons."

Hongze Daxian pointed at this group of old friends cultivated over many years by the Eastern Dragon King, his voice becoming much colder: "The direction pointed to by their path is called Hongze."

The moment the two words "Hongze" left his mouth.

Green Luan raised his eyes slightly; this subtle movement instantly added a few touches of a killing aura to the entire temperament of this immortal general.

Everyone present fell completely silent.

Even the heavenly soldier who had just severed another's head did not dare to take a deep breath at that moment.

"What do you plan to do?"

Hongze Daxian broke the silence; this matter involving Hongze also reminded him of that "forgotten" letter from his virtuous nephew Lingyun Shiren:

"That Uncle Mu Yang Peak Lord said that if the Heavenly Court has a need, he will certainly assist with all his might."

Hearing this, Green Luan shook his head and said calmly: "Disputes between sects; as long as Heavenly Laws are not violated, the Heavenly Court does not participate."

Hongze Daxian nodded thoughtfully: "Understood."

Not participating can also be taken as tacit approval.

"Then us?"

"Transfer General General Ganqing to Hongze to investigate."

Green Luan slowly stood up, looking down towards the mortal world: "This General will accompany you."

As the words fell, the eyes of the silent crowd already showed some strangeness.

General General General Ganqing was transferred out of the Imperial Horse Stable; in a short time, he established several great merits consecutively and was even heard to have received the favor of the Zhengshen Sect; just as his future seemed bright, General Green Luan was about to make a move against him!

"This... Qi Feng Xingzhu just borrowed the person from under your command; how much time has passed? It won't be that easy for you to transfer him back."

Hongze Daxian hesitated a bit; even though the Sanxian Sect and Puti Sect were already powerful now, no longer like in the past when they could only act as little assistants helping the Zhengshen Sect.

But as the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao, the Zhengshen Sect still held residual power in the hearts of ordinary cultivators, and one dared not offend it lightly.

"Then transfer him by force."

Green Luan's voice left no room for negotiation; only at this moment did the spirit of a favorite of the Heavenly Court finally show through.

"Understood... I will go handle it immediately."

Hongze Daxian fell silent for a moment, then respectfully clasped his hands and withdrew obediently.

Although he was not an immortal general under Green Luan's command, his current attitude was obviously no longer simple help or wanting to make friends; it was more like serving as an official for him.

Many things in the world are actually judged solely by results.

If that Bi Ma Wen really had no issues, Green Luan would be the one with a swollen head and confused mind, and it would be best for me to stay away from him as soon as possible.

But if the guess was truly correct.

Then it could only prove that Immortal General Green Luan had a meticulous mind, courage, and strategy, and was worth relying on.

Judging from the evidence currently possessed, there is a ninety percent probability that the other party is the latter.

Such a person will surely have a place in the Great Calamity!

Divine Void Mountain of Venerable Bihai, the Sixth Peak.

"Father! Did the Heavenly Court reply?"

In the main hall of the peak, Liu Ruifeng rushed over nervously and excitedly, speaking in a hurry: "How is it? Is that surnamed Shen kid an imperial criminal wanted by the Heavenly Court? I knew it; where are there so many unparalleled geniuses with all sorts of skills yet remaining unknown? It clearly means they have something to hide!"

"What a good Ye Lan! Divine Void Mountain treated her well, even giving her the heavy position of Peak Lord, yet this wretch repays the sect this way; hiding an imperial criminal wanted by the Heavenly Court and bringing the person back to the mountain gate, letting that boy become the Lord of the Alchemy Peak; this is clearly wanting to drag the entire Divine Void Mountain down into the water."

"If Father had not been so wise and righteous, I'm afraid that by the time the heavenly soldiers and generals surrounded Venerable Bihai, we would all still be in the dark!"

The more Liu Ruifeng spoke, the more excited he became, almost seeing the glory of when he would once again hold the reins of the Alchemy Peak.

However, Daoist Uncle Mu Yang remained silent, gazing at the letter in his hand.

The reply from the Hongjing Immortal General was somewhat ambiguous, and its content was extremely brief.

Although Uncle Mu Yang did not serve in the Immortal Court, he was quite knowledgeable about affairs in the heavens; if Shen Yi were truly a criminal wanted by the Immortal Court and the charges were confirmed, the attitude from above could absolutely not be like this.

It now appeared that the other party was at most implicated in some matter, and was not the mastermind; the attention of that Qingluan Immortal General was not focused on this person at all.

This differed greatly from Daoist Uncle Mu Yang's expectations.

Which young genius of an immortal sect hasn't made a few mistakes? Moreover, Shen Yi's status now, strictly speaking, could no longer be summarized as that of a young genius, but was that of a true, prominent great cultivator.

Relying solely on these few things, there was no way to bring this person down.

"..."

Seeing the situation was wrong, Liu Ruifeng leaned over to examine the letter's content carefully; the excited joy on his face gradually faded, and he stood motionless, soul-stricken.

Another round of empty joy!

"Heh heh—" He clenched his fist tightly.

Just as Liu Ruifeng was filled with disappointment, he saw his father carefully fold the letter and say indifferently, "The heavens did not explicitly state he was innocent."

If they did not state it explicitly, that meant there was still room for maneuvering.

That young man surnamed Shen was originally like a rootless duckweed; apart from Ye Lan, he had not a single acquaintance within the Divine Void Mountain.

"What if the Immortal Court arrests and interrogates him?"

"What if, during the arrest, he resisted fiercely and was beheaded on the spot?"

Uncle Mu Yang asked a few questions in a low voice, his gaze growing increasingly cold and harsh, murmuring, "Ruifeng, opportunities cannot be waited for while sitting; often, matters must be handled by oneself. Having an excuse and a reason is enough."

"Father..."

Liu Ruifeng was stunned for a long time before finally grasping his father's meaning, and wild joy surged onto his face once more.

"Counting the days, those two should be returning soon to refine pills for the Master." Daoist Uncle Mu Yang stood up and walked toward the outside of the main hall.

"I will go with you!" Liu Ruifeng strode after him; if he could not witness those two wretches perish with his own eyes, even sitting on the position of Peak Master would not dispel the resentment and unease in his heart.

Daoist Uncle Mu Yang hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Very well."

Ruifeng had grown up within the Divine Void Mountain since childhood, never having gone out to temper himself; his nature was too pure and childish. It was time to let the other party grow up.

The rich scent of pills gradually faded from the courtyard.

In its place arose a new fragrance, so rich it made one's mouth water, making one wish to swallow it in a single bite.

Yet it vanished in an instant, as if the pill refiner had also discovered the preciousness of this object and hurriedly concealed it.

Inside the Shen Zhai of Jianyang Manor.

Shen Yi suppressed his aura with all his might, a trace of lingering fear surfacing in his eyes.

The dissipation of the pill scent was because the precious pills refined from the three hundred calamity Imperial Qi Golden Pills had all entered his own belly.

And the newly emerged fragrant fragrance was not because he had refined some other immortal pill.

"..."

Well, it could barely be counted as such.

Only, that immortal pill was Shen Yi himself.

Perhaps the hidden books left by the Pill Peak were too rich and comprehensive.

Shen Yi's process of deducing the Grand Void Pill Dao could be described as smooth sailing all the way.

Counting the remaining six hundred plus calamities from before, plus the three hundred calamities of Imperial Qi, totaling over a thousand calamities, with a loss of about thirty percent, this helped the Grand Void Dao Fruit truly ascend to the fourth grade.

At the moment of breakthrough, Shen Yi felt his entire self was connected to that Jin Dan.

Skin, hair, blood vessels, bones, including the divine soul, all sprouted countless dense, invisible threads that penetrated into the Grand Void Dao Fruit and merged into that Jin Dan.

These threads were like an ancient furnace that never extinguished, refining the Jin Dan in countless ways, at all times.

Previously, when the Dragon and Tiger Fruit Position broke through, it directly transformed a thousand calamities into three thousand calamities.

But as an existence ranked in the top ten, the path Shen Yi deduced from the Grand Void Dao Fruit did not have such an obvious leap.

A thousand calamities remained a thousand calamities; apart from the Dao Fruit becoming perfect, there was nothing miraculous to speak of.

Moreover, there was a downside!

Shen Yi recalled that fragrance that had just overflowed from his body; let alone others, even he felt a strong desire to eat.

Such a human-shaped Jin Dan, if swallowed into the belly, would surely shock gods and ghosts alike.

"Difficult..."

Shen Yi shook his head and continued to examine this Grand Void Jin Dan.

Soon, he discovered something amiss again.

According to reason, the fourth grade represents the perfection of the change in the Dao Fruit or Fruit Position; for instance, the Dragon Subduing and Tiger Taming Fruit Position, after taking shape, could not advance by even a hair's breadth.

Three thousand calamities were the limit of this Fruit Position, and also its final form.

But at this moment, the furnace within the body did not extinguish, and the myriad pill methods were still evolving on their own; this indicated that the Grand Void Jin Dan had not yet been fired from the kiln, and could continue to bear more calamity power inside!

Perhaps it would only reach perfection when all the methods he used to refine this pill were completely exhausted.

Transcending the upper limit—was this the true function of the Grand Void Pill Dao?

"..."

As the creator of this Dao, Shen Yi had no one to ask and could only ponder it slowly himself.

Now that both the Walker and the Qi Refining paths had ascended to the fourth grade, even in this vast world, he possessed the power of self-preservation.

Above that, only the true gods, buddhas, immortals, and venerables remained.

He stood up, feeling completely refreshed; with the Grand Void Jin Dan as an anchor, his body roamed the Grand Void; the whole world was open to him!

Shen Yi walked out of the courtyard and sent a message to Ye Lan.

Before long, a streak of sword-light arrived via escape technique.

Ye Lan had long since detected the fragrance of pills drifting out from Shen Zhai, so she had been keeping watch nearby; fortunately, that sweet scent quickly vanished.

She did not go inquire about the matter of that pill.

With Shen Yi's talent, and having taken away the foundation of the Pill Peak, it was perfectly normal that he would gain something and refine some wondrous immortal pill.

Moreover, at a time of such great calamity, every bit the other party improved was a good thing for Dananzhou; if it were exposed, it would actually be undesirable.

"Do you still have other matters to attend to? If not, let's go quickly and return quickly."

Ye Lan glanced toward the outside of the residence; the current situation was turbulent, and the further along, the more trouble there might be.

It was best to handle the matter of the Void-Origin Treasure Pill first, to avoid being in a flurry when the time came.

"Let's set off." Shen Yi gave a slight nod of his chin.

Although for now the Grand Void Alchemy Dao could continue to improve, and there was no need to worry about the demon-lifespan being wasted, it was still good to learn about the matter of the Great Luo Dao Fruit in advance.

At the very least, seeing with his own eyes what the Great Luo Immortal Sovereign looked like would make it easier to prepare countermeasures.

"Oh right."

Ye Lan, as if remembering something, softly reminded him: "When the time comes to refine pills for Shenxu Laozu, remember to put away the pills you refined earlier, or take them in advance — that works too."

"…"

Shen Yi was silent for a moment; he did want to eat them, but he couldn't very well gnaw on his own fingernails.

"Anyway, be extra careful, but don't worry too much — it hasn't reached that time yet." Ye Lan forced out a smile. When that day truly came, she wouldn't even need Shen Yi to speak; she would definitely drag him as far away from Shenxu Mountain as possible — best if they never returned for the rest of their lives.

(End of this chapter)