Chapter 686: The Incident at Hongze

Even as an onlooker, Ye Lan could feel how desperate the father and son were in their final moments.

She herself is currently in the process of exploring her path, so she understands all too well how difficult it is to complete this road.

Although the Dao Fruit and the Fruit Seat do not belong to the same category, both follow the pattern of the number seventy-two; the Profound Heaven Dao Fruit ranks in the top ten, far surpassing the Dragon-Tiger Dao Fruit, which sits at thirty-something.

However, after the path was perfected, Shen Yi's Fruit Seat exerted a divine might that crushed the Profound Heaven Divine Sun Dao of Daoist Uncle Mu Yang.

What kind of genius could possibly comprehend such a profound Great Dao!

"Luck."

Shen Yi was not being modest; the idea of reshaping two demon souls to aid in Tribulation Crossing was not his original intention, but merely a subtle misunderstanding that arose after he saw the two Puti Sect walkers manifest their Dragon-Tiger Arhat Golden Bodies.

Then again, even if other walkers had similar ideas, without the assistance of the panel, reshaping complete demon souls would already be extremely difficult, let alone carrying two demon souls through a thousand tribulations and ensuring they did not scatter into nothingness under the torment of the calamities.

This is almost an impossible feat.

"..."

Hearing this, Ye Lan was somewhat speechless.

After all, she is also a cultivator and has long considered herself a semi-"senior"; even if her impression of Shen Yi was excellent, when she actually saw herself surpassed by him, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of emotion.

If there were truly so much luck in the world, how could she have remained trapped in the fifth-rank realm for so long?

Shen Yi had little time to attend to the petty thoughts of these geniuses.

He casually clenched his hand and drew out a neatly folded letter from the Profound Heaven Realm.

Spreading out the blood-stained letter, Shen Yi glanced casually at its contents.

As expected, it matched his guess almost exactly.

He was not some naive youth fresh from the mountains; how could he be intimidated by a few words from Daoist Uncle Mu Yang?

Judging by the letter's contents, let alone convicting him, Qing Luan probably didn't even have a single piece of evidence and was still purely in a state of speculation.

Of course, the fact that they actually sent someone to Shenxu Mountain to inquire was somewhat unexpected by Shen Yi.

Fortunately, he had little interaction with Shenxu Mountain; even if Uncle Mu Yang wanted to betray his fellow disciples, he likely wouldn't have any useful information to offer.

"Hah."

Shen Yi refolded the letter.

Even so, one cannot let one's guard down.

"How is it?" Although Ye Lan knew this junior brother had gotten into trouble and hadn't asked too much about his background, she still felt some worry at this moment.

After all, if even the background of Shenxu Mountain couldn't cover up the matter, it certainly wouldn't be a small trouble.

Ye Lan had known Shen Yi for only a short time, but from her perspective, his actions throughout this journey, though decisive in killing and ruthless in methods, were all for a reason; he was absolutely not a bad person.

"It's fine; let's finish our business quickly and return."

Shen Yi put away his things; regardless, returning to Jianyang Prefecture first was the right move, so that whether there were problems with Lady Qinghua or with Hongze, he could arrive at the scene immediately.

Having said that, he stepped directly into the void and fled toward Shenxu Mountain.

"Sigh."

Ye Lan clenched her fist, feeling somewhat helpless.

But thinking about it, it was normal; Shen Yi earned the trust of herself and the others because he was inherently reliable.

Looking at herself, what had she done that was worthy of Shen Yi's trust?

It is normal for him not to want to speak; if he truly trusted people so lightly, he probably wouldn't have made it to where he is now and would have died a wretched death on the roadside long ago.

The instant the two figures emerged from the Profound Heaven, all the peaks sensed it.

The peak masters one by one leaped into the air.

"You're back so early; I thought it would be a few days later," Daoist Jinxue said with a smile.

"..." The withered old man, the eldest senior brother of the eight peaks and known by the Dao title Jin Lei, did not speak at this moment, but his attitude was clearly much better.

His requirements for his fellow disciples were not high; remembering the Master's matters and caring so much about them was enough.

"Some time ago, Hong Jing from the Jade Pool Immortal Sect is now an Immortal General in the heavens; he came to Shenxu Mountain to find you, saying that Immortal General Qing Luan felt an instant kinship with you and wished to make friends, but was later welcomed in by Uncle Mu Yang."

Daoist Qianfeng looked at Shen Yi; it seemed like casual chat, but carried a hint of warning.

Even if that Immortal General truly came to make friends, one must be careful of the petty-minded Uncle Mu Yang speaking ill behind the scenes and ruining one's reputation.

"Thank you."

Shen Yi nodded slightly.

Standing behind him, Ye Lan was filled with emotions once again; looking at the young man's calm and normal expression, who could have guessed that only a short while ago, he had personally crushed Daoist Uncle Mu Yang to death?

How exactly was such a big heart forged?

"Enough idle talk; the preparations are all ready, let us attend to the main matter first." Daoist Jin Lei waved his hand, cutting off everyone's conversation.

The Shenxu Dao Fruit is one of the third-rank Great Luo Dao Fruits.

Its profundity lies in the spirit wandering through the Profound Heaven.

Therefore, Shenxu Laozu usually remains in this state, only returning his spirit to heaven and earth and temporarily waking from his slumber when he needs to replenish himself.

The several peak masters wishing to ask about the path of cultivation or report major matters of the mountain sect can only wait until the Master finishes replenishing and has not yet returned to the Profound Heaven.

"You take him there."

Daoist Jin Lei first used his gaze to stop junior sister Jinxue, who was about to move, and then looked at Ye Lan.

"..."

Perhaps having spent so much time with Shen Yi, Ye Lan had now also grown accustomed to keeping her joy and anger hidden.

She nodded: "Good."

Having spoken, Ye Lan led Shen Yi toward the towering Shenxu Mountain nestled among the eight surrounding peaks.

After the two had left.

Master Jinxue finally turned her gaze helplessly to the side: "Eldest Zhu Shixiong, why must it be this way? You clearly know that for Lan'er, that place is one she can never forget..."

Jin Lei's expression remained calm, without the slightest ripple: "Since we have chosen to stay at Shenxu Mountain, we must learn to let go."

The other Peak Masters sighed softly, yet truly found it difficult to say much more.

They only hoped that the events of those years would never be repeated.

At the same time.

Ye Lan also landed before a cave entrance on Shenxu Mountain.

She slowed her pace and led Shen Yi inside.

The cave was dim but not damp, resembling a long corridor leading straight to a vast stone hall.

The stone hall resembled a pill-refining workshop, filled with pill-refining implements arranged with extreme neatness; at the deepest part of the hall stood a tall red-copper archway, tightly shut with no gaps.

From the moment she stepped into this great hall, Ye Lan's expression grew somewhat dazed.

She paced within the hall, her pale fingertips gently brushing over the bottles and jars, even the pill furnaces; before every table lay emptiness, yet she seemed to faintly see those familiar, busy figures.

Perhaps her emotions were somewhat chaotic.

Ye Lan did not notice that the face of the youth in black robes behind her had also become extremely grim.

Shen Yi clenched his fist, staring fixedly at that red-copper door.

On the heavy door, a gray mist seemed to surge forth, the appearance of the Great Void realm.

And amidst the swirling mist, a pair of huge eyes emerged.

They were eyes devoid of spirit, yet seemed capable of piercing through all things in the world.

"Hah—"

Shen Yi's breathing grew rapid; he felt as though his entire body had been seen through.

That gaze pierced through his body, landed upon the Great Void Dao Fruit of the Cangmu Silver Wheel, and drove straight in, unashamedly peering at the round Jin Dan within.

In the next moment, intense greed gradually arose in those spiritless eyes.

As if a glutton had spotted the rarest delicacy.

"That is the secluded cultivation place of Grandmaster."

Ye Lan finally snapped out of her daze; she seemed unable to see those eyes at all, noticing only that Shen Yi had been staring at the copper door, so she spoke to explain.

Outside, she usually referred to the other as Shenxu Laozu, but here, no matter how many emotions churned in her heart, she had to address the other as Grandmaster.

Even if the other was likely still in a state of deep, muddled silence.

As a Great Luo Immortal Venerable, listening to all things was one of the most basic methods.

Gods, Buddhas, and Immortal Venerables are no longer human.

"Do not linger here long; begin." Ye Lan took a deep breath, casting aside the stray thoughts in her mind.

Without sufficient strength, any grudge is meaningless.

The reason she joined Zhan Yao Si was to rely on the Imperial Golden Pills bestowed by the imperial court, so she would no longer need to draw upon Shenxu Mountain's resources.

One day, if she could ascend to the Immortal Venerable realm and return here, only then could she draw her sword with a mind free of distraction.

"..."

Shen Yi watched those eyes sink back into the gray mist; until the mist swirled and vanished completely, and the copper door returned to its normal appearance, as if everything just now had been an illusion.

Yet that feeling of being a lamb awaiting slaughter still echoed endlessly in his mind.

He knew deeply that cultivators were no different from the common people of the mortal world; they too had greed, and too would stop at nothing.

Even the relationship between master and disciple was not so unbreakable.

Shen Yi could understand a master "eating" a disciple, such as exploiting them to the utmost, even imprisoning their soul to refine a magical treasure, but he had never imagined it meant literally eating them.

That was the most primal greed for food!

So that was how it was.

Shen Yi glanced at Ye Lan; only now did he finally understand what great disaster the Pill Peak had suffered.

Under the Peak Master's lead, a group of fellow disciples had entered this stone hall and, as usual, begun refining pills, until that Laozu opened his mouth and swallowed them all.

The reason Ye Lan survived to this day was probably that she was unskilled in the Dao of Pills, so she had not entered with them.

And the situation he now faced was even more perilous.

Ye Lan probably never imagined that the Great Void Pill Dao Shen Yi cultivated had refined his own body into a fragrant, delicious Jin Dan.

What was even more despairing was that the gap was merely between fourth-rank and third-rank...

Yet after being watched by the other for only a moment, Shen Yi clearly understood his current predicament: as long as the other formed that thought, whether he chose to turn and flee or fight to the death, the outcome would not change in the slightest.

"Hah."

Shen Yi exhaled a breath lightly.

With his expression unchanged, he walked to the pill furnace and waved his hand to summon the medicinal herbs already prepared.

With a sputter, the furnace fire illuminated this stone hall.

Since there was no power to resist, it was better to follow the natural course.

Bajigu Valley.

Numerous divine generals with fierce appearances surrounded the demon den, charging and killing continuously, their coordination perfect.

Among the many figures, a streak of golden light stood out conspicuously.

The so-called Righteous Gods were beings nurtured by the Heavenly Dao, representing laws and order, capable of being reborn from a drop of blood, nearly indestructible.

Possessing such divine powers, they naturally dared not fear death.

Yet among such a group of monsters, the Divine General Qian Qing still managed to stand out; not only did he charge to the front every time, but when fighting demons and monsters, he displayed a posture of trading life for life!

This Golden Body Dharma Image not only slew the great demon under his charge but also did not spare those under his colleagues' charge.

To the point that some of the divine generals even dropped their arms, hanging in midair with a vaguely dazed look.

"He can regenerate from a single drop of blood too?"

The crowd exchanged uncertain glances.

Hearing the doubts of his subordinates, the Star Lord of General Qi Feng burst into silent laughter.

A fierce general like this ought to stand with the Zhengshen Sect — why waste time squabbling with those Daoists and monks?

Just then, a streak of flowing light swept in from the horizon.

"Star Lord Divine General, an order has come from the Qingluan Palace: Qianqing is to stand down immediately and withdraw from the Bajigu Valley, and proceed to Hongze to investigate a major case."

At those words, on General Qi Feng's already savage face, his brow arched, lending him an even fiercer air.

He merely cast a casual glance at the dispatch in the messenger immortal general's hand, making no move to take it: "The man I transferred hasn't yet served out his term, and already he wants him back — is he treating the laws of the Heavenly Court as a joke, or does he simply not regard me?"

"Have I given your General Qingluan too much face?"

"Th-this… this…"

The messenger immortal general's mouth went dry; for a long while he could not squeeze out a single word.

"Take your dispatch and get lost."

General Qi Feng turned his body away and said flatly: "If you want your man, have him come and collect him from me in person."

The instant his words fell, a powerful surge of qi had already sent that immortal general flying.

The various Zhengshen, hearing the commotion, also turned their gazes over as if to watch the show.

Has this Puti Sect and Sanxian Sect grown too comfortable, forgotten who actually calls the shots in the Immortal Court?

Their little squabbles on ordinary days, fine, let them be.

But to dare carry out those dirty internal struggles right under the Zhengshen Sect's nose — it's simply absurd.

Just then.

The immortal general, flailing in the air, was enveloped by a wisp of immortal qi that steadied his form.

The next moment, a tall, dashing man in armor strode out from the clouds and mist.

His features were handsome, his bearing extraordinary; even facing a Star Lord Divine General, his expression remained neither obsequious nor overbearing.

"Your subordinate Qingluan pays respects to Divine General General Qi Feng." The man cupped his hands with meticulous propriety.

The expression on General Qi Feng's face instantly went cold; he slowly turned back and cast a glance at the figure in the air.

After a long moment, the corner of his mouth curled into a savage smirk: "You really mean to come and collect the man from me in person?"

"Qianqing is a subordinate under my command, not under the Zhengshen's jurisdiction. I ask the Star Lord Divine General to release him." Qingluan looked on calmly, showing no fear at the change in the Star Lord's expression.

"You mean to say I lack the authority to transfer an immortal general under my command?" General Qi Feng finally let out a cold laugh.

"Of course not, but until your transfer order has been approved by the Heavenly Court, at least for now…"

Qingluan slowly turned his gaze toward Lady Qinghua in the distance: "He is still my man."

General Qi Feng stepped forward. He knew Qingluan had lately been a rising figure in the Immortal Court, much valued by the Sanxian Sect, with a faint undercurrent of support to hoist him up to Lingxiao; before long, it was highly likely his rank would surpass General Qi Feng's own.

But just as the other had said — at least for now, his official rank was still one grade higher than this lad's.

Just as the atmosphere suddenly grew tense—

Lady Qinghua finally snapped out of it, drawn back by those words "investigate Hongze."

She clenched her five fingers tight: "Reporting to the Divine General, Qianqing is willing to travel with General Qingluan."

That matter could no longer be kept hidden.

"…"

General Qi Feng stared in astonishment, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the two of them several times.

He was simply too lazy to take part in those power struggles — that didn't mean he was clueless about them.

Judging by this posture, there was a handle on the other side that had him by the throat.

After a long while, General Qi Feng's smile faded: "Very well. I've just razed a yaogu and have nothing better to do; I'll come along with you for a trip — consider it a bit of leisure."

So long as it didn't violate the laws of the Heavenly Court, better to be clean about it and settle everything for Qianqing in one go, rather than always having that worry hanging over him.

A Zhengshen taking part in the internal struggles of the two sects — the entire Immortal Court rarely saw such a thing.

Enough to show how much he valued Qianqing.

But hearing this, Qingluan's face still showed not the slightest ripple.

He was famed throughout the Immortal Court for conducting himself with upright propriety.

Today was no different.

(End of this chapter)