Chapter 735: Beizhou Bestows Treasure

Hearing this.

Shenxu Laozu faltered for a moment; clearly, badmouthing someone behind their back only to be overheard was bound to be a little awkward.

But very quickly, he let out a cold laugh: "Hmph! Since you're awake, why not come out? Surely you don't expect us to go looking for you in person?"

"What airs!"

"Senior Tianwu, please don't be angry. My Sect Master's cultivation has hit an obstacle, so it truly is inconvenient for him to come greet you. Please, seniors, follow us."

Master Jinxue hurriedly picked up the thread of conversation and respectfully led everyone out of the hall.

"We have gathered here today to hear the decree from the Sect. Tianwu, stop picking quarrels here over nothing."

It was still Elder Yu Chi who rose first, taking the opportunity to chide Shenxu Laozu.

The Sanxian Sect was already weak in Dananzhou; that Nanxumi had never taken them seriously at all, and in arranging the entire tribulation, had not counted them in at all.

Now that a decree had come from Beizhou, there might still be a turning point. If they kept fighting among themselves, this perfectly fine Dananzhou would truly be devoured clean by Nanxumi.

"Tch."

Shenxu Laozu curled his lip. He had only been making trouble to ease his earlier embarrassment; now that someone had offered him a way out, he took it.

The other Laozus all laughed in unison, knowing full well the friction between him and Shenxu Mountain.

After all, the disciple he had favored, Qingluan, had died at the hands of a Shenxu Mountain disciple.

But right now, business came first; everything else could be set aside.

"Please, Immortal Crane, step over to Shenxu Mountain for a word."

Master Jinxue walked out of the hall and bowed solemnly toward the mountain peak amid the clouds.

But then the white clouds drifted apart, revealing a slender figure.

In appearance it looked like an ordinary crane, with not the slightest hint of the divine about it, yet it was exceptionally pretty and clean.

So clean that... even amid the Xianshan, it still gave one the feeling of a refined gentleman in the city accidentally stepping into a muddy field in the countryside.

The other Laozus nodded their chins toward it of their own accord, a token of respect, yet none of them spoke up to address it.

Mainly because the status of both sides was a little awkward.

In terms of cultivation, they all stood among the third-rank Great Luo Immortal Venerables; in terms of status, they were proper disciples of the Sanxian Sect, while the other was an attendant beneath a great power.

Its master, the True Person of Qingguang Cave, was a second-rank Hunyuan Great Luo Jinxian, naturally of lofty standing, not to be profaned.

But to truly expect these lords of immortal sects to put on a fawning, flattering face for an attendant — they felt it was rather strange in their hearts.

The white crane, it seemed, did not mind any of this.

In its beak it held a small golden-thread pouch. Upon hearing these words, it slightly spread its wings, and its form drifted lightly down onto the main peak of Shenxu, ringed by eight others.

"Honored guests, please come in."

The peak lords led the way at the front, walking through a long corridor, arriving before the tightly shut vermilion great doors of a stone alchemy chamber.

Once the many seniors had taken their stand.

Only then did they quietly retreat behind the others; the reverence and smiles on their faces vanished in an instant, all of them wearing tense expressions as if clutching a fistful of sweat, silently looking toward Daoist Qianfeng.

Shenxu Laozu had already fallen in Jianyang Prefecture.

Now that so many fellow-sect elders had gathered here, and the Immortal Crane from Beizhou had come in person, trying to bluff their way through would be harder than ascending to the heavens.

Once the matter came to light, they had no path today other than to be buried in Shenxu Mountain.

"..."

Qianfeng forced himself to stay calm, though in truth the hand hidden in his sleeve had long been clenched tight.

He cast a wry smile toward his many junior-brothers and sisters.

That was exactly how the voice-transmission had instructed; he could only do as told. As for what the other party was planning, how could he possibly know?

"Enough of that. We've all come in person; are you going to keep playing tricks?"

Shenxu Laozu knit his brow, looked toward the vermilion great doors, and swept his sleeve forcefully.

The next instant, grey mist gathered, and a clear voice rang out from within the doors.

"I wouldn't dare. I merely heard that there was important business to discuss, so I quietly listened to the Immortal Master's decree."

There was nothing wrong with this sentence; it even showed a touch of humility, yet the expressions of everyone present changed at the same instant.

That voice was clearly that of a young man — where was that old worm?

Daoist Qianfeng and the many peak lords trembled all over.

They had never expected that their new Laozu wouldn't even bother to use some means to slightly disguise his voice.

While the other Laozus were silent, Shenxu Laozu had already stopped looking at the vermilion great doors and turned to look at the peak lords, saying coldly: "Who is inside?"

"It's..."

Daoist Qianfeng opened his mouth; cold sweat already beaded on his brow.

He possessed the cultivation of a fourth-rank Taiyi Zhenxian, yet at this moment he felt as if thorns were at his back, as if one wrong word would see him sliced into a thousand pieces and his Dao-body destroyed.

Fortunately, the clear voice within the grey mist rang out once more.

"This seat's Dao-title is Tiandan."

Logically speaking, a second-generation disciple who had only recently joined would be hard for those lofty lords of immortal sects to remember by name.

But this one seemed to be the exception.

Before the words had even faded, Elder Yu Chi had already lifted his eyelids: "Taixu Danhuang?"

Counting through the younger generation of all Dananzhou, this person's air of mystery ranked first, even surpassing the Puti Sect's Jianglong Fuhu Great Ming King — after all, the latter had at least shown himself beyond the Beiliu River, whereas this person had only ever summoned a realm of Taixu.

The white crane, which had slightly raised its head, upon hearing Elder Yu Chi call out this person's name, lowered its head once more, set down the golden-thread pouch, and calmly began preening its feathers.

"You, a mere junior, are you toying with us here?"

Shenxu Laozu's voice was low. He quietly took in the changing expressions of the Shenxu Mountain disciples, then turned back around, once more wearing that thoroughly vicious look.

Everyone knew that his disciple Qingluan had died at the hands of this very Taixu Danhuang.

"The Shenxu Mountain lineage has now been taken over by this seat; the term 'junior' may no longer be appropriate?"

The young voice was neither hurried nor slow, carrying not a shred of guilt, while the modesty originally present in his tone had faded somewhat.

Hearing these words, the other Ancestral Elders frowned one after another.

The inheritance of the Immortal Lineage is indeed a thing that has such a saying, but it has almost never occurred.

After all, before this Great Calamity, there were very few precedents of those who ascended to the third-rank realm perishing.

"Taken over?"

The Ancestral Elder of Mount Tianwu split his mouth open and suddenly barked: "Do you think you can take it over just because you say so?"

"You unruly thing!"

"Get out here and speak to this Ancestral Elder!"

Clearly, this Ancestral Elder was merely using his disciple's death as an excuse to vent, yet no one else intended to stop him, for they too wanted to know what had happened at Shenxu Mountain.

As he spoke, the Ancestral Elder of Mount Tianwu had already extended his right hand; one saw his five fingers curling slightly, his entire arm shooting forth like a rainbow bridge, stretching straight into the gray mist.

Seeing this, several Peak Masters were already greatly alarmed and lost their color.

One must know that if one has not entered the Grand Void realm, purely comparing direct, head-on methods, let alone Shen Yi, even if the Shenxu Ancestral Elder were alive, he would be far inferior to the Ancestral Elder of Mount Tianwu.

And once Shen Yi reveals those Bodhisattva methods, with so many elders of the Sanxian Sect present today, to say nine deaths and one life would be optimistic.

In an instant.

The Ancestral Elder of Mount Tianwu's palm seemed to have grasped something; he sneered and yanked it fiercely outward.

Just then, a raging gray mist climbed up his arm like a venomous snake and whipped down upon it like a lash.

Crack!

Amidst the crisp sound, the Ancestral Elder of Mount Tianwu's expression changed slightly; though such an assault could not injure him, it was enough to force him to retreat.

He quickly withdrew his arm and glared toward the vermilion gate.

Immediately after, a hoarse, sinister laugh came from within the gray mist: "The affairs of Shenxu Mountain are none of your Mount Tianwu's business to meddle in; does this Ancestral Elder have to ask permission from you, old corpse, before passing down the Immortal Inheritance?"

This familiar voice rang out.

Many Peak Masters were already pale as death, with a touch of horror swelling in their eyes.

Besides that deceased master, who else could it be?

"..."

Through the Ancestral Elder of Mount Tianwu's attack, even through the gray mist, this group of Ancestral Elders detected two extremely obvious auras within: one was the Shenxu Ancestral Elder, merely half a step away from Huang Liuliu's transformation.

The other appeared much weaker, yet had also reached the third-rank realm, though it seemed as if it had just seized ten strands of primordial essence, barely weaving together a Dao Fruit.

The Taixu Danhuang, after disappearing beyond the North Flowing River, has now reappeared and actually plucked the Great Luo Dao Fruit!

How long has it been since the other party gained fame by slaying the Green Phoenix?

No wonder the insect demon Shenxu Ancestral Elder was willing to pass down the position of Immortal Sect Master... he likely wished to use this young man to ride the tide of the Great Calamity and climb even higher.

For a moment, envy swelled on the faces of the many Ancestral Elders.

"Venerable Crane Immortal, please understand; my disciple has just broken through a realm and still needs to comprehend the Grand Void; if he goes out now, it would likely be detrimental to his cultivation." The Shenxu Ancestral Elder politely explained another sentence to the Bai He.

"It is of no consequence."

The Bai He stopped preening its feathers, its pair of eyes sweeping over the crowd, and said indifferently: "If the argument is sufficient, may I speak of the main matter?"

The Ancestral Elder of Mount Tianwu covered his arm; though he still wished to argue a few more points, under the Bai He's gaze, he strangely felt a touch of pressure.

He hesitated for an instant: "Venerable Immortal, please speak."

Seeing this, the Bai He finally spoke in a slow voice; in an instant, its demeanor changed completely, losing all the laziness of before, and instead seemed to be imitating someone's manner of speech: "Our Sect has neglected the affairs of Dananzhou for many years and has never inquired, but since the calamity has arisen, I imagine that Nan Xumi will not allow you to interfere."

"I think we cannot let that group of Monks occupy all of Da Nanzhou."

"It is merely that your strength is low, and you indeed cannot be of great use."

"Now I bestow upon you several magical artifacts; I do not ask for great merit, but only that you leave some name behind in the mortal world."

Hearing the evaluation of low strength, the many Ancestral Elders were obviously somewhat resentful.

But thinking of the one behind that Bai He, they did not dare to speak in rebuttal, instead focusing their thoughts on that golden-threaded pouch.

Magical artifacts bestowed by a Slain Hunyuan Great Luo Jinxian were truly enough to make one envious.

"My master's meaning is that the matter of conquering Da Nanzhou will be handled entirely by Nan Xumi, but after breaking through the continent, the task of sweeping away demons and evil shall absolutely not be monopolized by that group of Monks."

"Strive with all your might; the Sanxian Sect will not forget you."

The Bai He returned to its previous lazy appearance, used its beak to open the golden-threaded pouch, and in the next moment, several streams of light shot out from within.

"Tianwu, bestowed: Fire Dragon Chariot."

"Yu Chi, bestowed: Ten Li Red Fragrant Silk."

"Shenxu, bestowed: Nine Luminaries Banner."

"..."

As streams of light flew one by one, everyone pressed them into their palms.

Slightly sensing the immense calamity force within, even the Ancestral Elder of Mount Tianwu fell silent, instead carefully experiencing it; after a moment, he swallowed his throat.

Relying solely on this chariot, even if one truly completed the Huang Liuliu transformation, one might not be able to escape with one's life.

This is the foundation of Beizhou!

No wonder this Bai He never looked upon us with respect from beginning to end.

"You must carefully comprehend and master the use of these artifacts; it should not be long before Da Nanzhou is broken."

After the Bai He finished instructing everything, it spread its wings again and left this place without the slightest reluctance.

It did not understand the current situation in Dananzhou, but it knew very well the strength and character of that group of Monks from Nan Xumi; with the strength of the Divine Dynasty, holding on until now was already the limit.

The many Ancestral Elders watched the Bai He depart; this time, they bowed with genuine willingness.

Immediately, they all headed toward the outside of Shenxu Mountain, obviously eager to return to their own Immortal Sects and master this newly acquired artifact.

By the time they reached the vermilion gates, only their own people remained.

Even the most steadfast Daoist Qianfeng was trembling all over, leaning involuntarily against the stone wall, his face grim as he said, "Shenxu Laozu, you nearly scared us to death."

He still couldn't figure out how the other party had "invited" that long-dead Shenxu Laozu to bluff their way through.

"..."

In the gray mist, Shen Yi sat cross-legged, with the Six-Winged Soul Worm beside him.

He had actually been at a loss from the start.

It was only after learning from Qianfeng that no Slain Hunyuan Golden Immortal had personally arrived in Beizhou that he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He might as well stage a play using the irritable and vengeful Mount Tianwu Laozu, shifting everyone's focus to the Shenxu Mountain Xian Sect lineage rather than forcing them to see the Shenxu Laozu's true form.

After all, although he could use Shenxu techniques to deceive the senses of third-rank cultivators, just as the Thousand-Footed Black Dragon did with the Southern Emperor, this was not a demon lair; doing so would only be like covering one's ears to steal a bell.

Fortunately, the effect was quite good.

Shen Yi exhaled lightly, looking at the nine small flags slowly hovering in his hand.

He was simultaneously involved with three major powers.

He had taken quite a bit of Imperial Qi from the Divine Dynasty, gained much from the Puti Sect, but as for the Sanxian Sect, aside from shearing a bit of wool from Shenxu Laozu, he had obtained nothing else.

He never expected that this visit would yield such a precious treasure.

With this object at his side, his confidence against the Southern Emperor would be even stronger.

Next, he just needed to spend some time mastering it.

Thinking of this, a hint of a smile finally appeared on Shen Yi's face.

But just then.

Outside the gray mist, inside the Shi Dian.

Daoist Qianfeng and the other peak masters suddenly became alert, involuntarily forcing their bodies upright once more.

They exchanged glances and all walked toward the entrance of the Alchemy Shi Dian.

In the next moment, a familiar figure actually returned.

It was none other than Mount Tianwu Laozu.

He saw him step back into the Shi Dian leisurely, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, as well as the vermilion gates where the gray mist had receded, returning to calm.

Mount Tianwu Laozu suddenly smiled: "I almost forgot; I wanted to ask earlier."

"Please, Senior, speak directly."

Daoist Qianfeng stepped forward to meet him; even though he sensed something amiss in his heart, his outward demeanor was utterly calm.

"Laozu wishes to ask: you have been here for so long, where is your Jin Lei senior brother?"

"If I recall correctly, there was also someone named... Mu Yang?"

"..."

With those two simple sentences spoken, Daoist Qianfeng's back was already covered in cold sweat.

(End of this chapter)