Chapter 736: I'll Send You to Meet Him

"To answer Senior Tianwu, my senior and junior brothers were sent out on errands and have not yet returned."

Daoist Qianfeng adjusted his mood slightly and replied frankly, "You went and came back — could it be that you have other matters to attend to?"

"..."

Hearing this reply, Shenxu Laozu did not argue back, only smiled with deep meaning.

From the moment he first arrived at Shenxu Mountain, he had sensed something was off.

After all, that old worm had low origins, and on ordinary days it would hide away in the Grand Void Realm, unwilling to discuss the Dao with fellow disciples — who couldn't see the inferiority lurking in its heart?

If it were some other Laozu, one might still pride oneself on status and refuse to fawn too much over the Bai He Boy from Beizhou, but this old worm — how would it dare put on airs in front of him?

And yet it had let that Bai He Boy wait in vain at Shenxu Mountain for all these days.

Shenxu Laozu himself had no interest in such idle matters, but who could blame him when that old worm had just now offended him? The beloved Qingluan disciple he had his eye on — though she had failed to ride out the great tribulation — after years of nurture on Mount Tianwu, had already gained a firm footing in the Celestial Court, amassing a spotless reputation, and being granted a third-rank official post in the future was as sure as nails.

When that time came, with mutual support between heaven and earth, it would count as leaving a way out for Mount Tianwu.

Yet such a fine disciple had simply been handed over to Shenxu Mountain as a stepping stone and slaughtered, and afterward there hadn't even been an explanation.

Then he, Shenxu Laozu, could not be blamed for disregarding the bonds of fellow disciples.

Hah, if that old worm had truly fallen into slumber, so be it — passing down the great Dharma to its disciples within the Grand Void Realm, and thereby slighting the Bai He of Beizhou? You're fooling ghosts!

If the other party truly had such backbone, Shenxu Mountain would not be in its current sorry state of closed doors and decline — not a single one of its eight great disciples had made a name for themselves in the world.

After staying these past days, Shenxu Laozu had long since noticed the strange looks on the faces of these Shenxu Mountain disciples — each and every one putting on a show of composure, their faces practically written all over with guilt.

What were they feeling guilty about?

Shenxu Laozu was not clear on that; he only knew that the old worm's persistent refusal to show itself must mean it was hiding something, and besides, it had pulled the stunt of passing down its position to a young disciple — once he met with the Shenxu Laozu face to face, everything would naturally be explained.

If there was truly some unsightly trickery in the middle, something kept hidden even from the envoy of Beizhou.

Tsk tsk.

Shenxu Laozu did not mind taking back the Nine Yao Banner for the Bai He Boy, and venting a bit of spite while he was at it.

"There's no question of attending to anything."

He waved his hand and said calmly, "It's just that I haven't seen your Master in many years and wish to catch up. Quickly, ask him to come out."

"This..."

Daoist Qianfeng hesitated for a moment, glanced back at his many fellow disciples, and explained softly, "Master is currently transmitting the Dharma to Taixu Danhuang and has already returned to the Grand Void — he truly cannot spare the time."

Before he could finish, Shenxu Laozu cut him off with a sweep of his sleeve: "You think this old Laozu never taught disciples before? Transmitting the Dharma is hardly something that must be rushed in a day or two. Fine then — if he's transmitting the Dharma, then he hasn't fallen into slumber. Go pass word to him: tell him this old Laozu is giving him time to settle the matter in hand. I'll wait for him right here at Shenxu Mountain!"

The old man's aggressive words plunged all the Shenxu Mountain disciples into silence.

Yet the other party gave them no further chance to refuse, and with a long laugh, swept straight out beyond the cave.

Among the eight peaks, several peak lords gathered together, their expressions exceedingly ugly.

"Isn't this pure hooliganism!"

"This is going too far!"

As they spoke, the few looked out beyond the peak and saw — beside the towering main peak of Shenxu, a heaven-piercing, earth-spanning giant tree had suddenly appeared, its roots sunk deep into the Venerable Bihai, its crown nowhere to be seen.

Putting on such a display in another Laozu's place of cultivation.

It could no longer be described by the words arrogant and domineering — one could say that Shenxu Laozu simply did not regard Shenxu Mountain as anything at all.

"..."

Daoist Qianfeng, usually so forthright, did not join in the cursing this time, and instead lowered his head in worry.

It was true that Shenxu Laozu was hot-tempered by nature, but he had never gone this far — the reason the other party was so rampant was probably that he had already guessed Shenxu Mountain had something to hide.

As time passed, the more Shenxu Mountain yielded, the more it would only strengthen that conviction.

He had not expected that after finally managing to fool the eyes and ears of the Bai He Immortal Master from Beizhou, in the end it was this old thing that had set its sights on them.

"No profit, no early rising — he's clearly come for that Nine Yao Banner."

Daoist Qianfeng sighed.

If Shenxu Laozu were to learn that the Shenxu Laozu had already perished, given the other party's current stance, the charge of deceiving one's master and destroying one's ancestors would be impossible to escape.

When that time came, it would be a small matter if the other immortal sects of Da Nanzhou rose up together to attack Shenxu Mountain — they might even attract the attention of Beizhou.

Suddenly, a disciple hurried to the front of the hall, cupped his hands, and said: "Honored elders, Senior Sister Ye has returned!"

"Lan'er?"

Daoist Jinxue was startled for a moment, then rose. Ever since they had gone to Jianyang Prefecture, given what they had seen and heard that night, Ye Lan's status within the sect was no longer that of an ordinary third-generation disciple — it even far surpassed that of the once nominal peak lord.

The other peak lords did not put on the airs of elders either, and rose one after another, preparing to go out and see what the situation was.

Yet before the crowd could even step out of the great hall, their bodies swayed violently.

Sensing that terrifying surge of aura, Daoist Qianfeng glared furiously toward the main peak of Shenxu — and sure enough, the giant tree that had sprung from the earth had slightly bowed its body, and upon it a hundred birds spiraled up into flight, the winds they stirred up nearly enveloping the several hundred peaks around Shenxu Mountain.

"This old Laozu has waited here for you so long, and you still refuse to show yourself."

"Is this looking down on this old Laozu?"

"Shenxu, you old demon worm — you've grown bold!"

The cries of a hundred birds gathered into a deep, resonant voice, and that deliberately transparent anger proved that this Laozu could not even be bothered to disguise it any longer.

"Since that's the case, this seat shall tear apart your Dao Peak and see what tricks you're hiding inside."

As the words fell, the phantom images of over a hundred divine birds and immortal birds swiftly scattered; with the beating of great wings, the entire Shenxu Mountain began to tremble.

"Senior Tianwu, you would actually raise your hand against a fellow disciple of the same sect — aren't you afraid the sect will call you to account?!"

Daoist Jinxue was forced back step by step before that surging spiritual pressure, and could only furiously hurl a rebuke.

Yet those words, before that towering giant tree, seemed utterly pale and feeble.

"..."

Tianwu could not even be bothered to acknowledge her, only staring fixedly at that lofty peak.

He dared to make a scene before the hall of the Great Self-Realization Bodhisattva of South Nan Xumi; what fear would he have of a demonic insect? More importantly, if even Shenxu Laozu dared not appear in such a situation, the implication was self-evident: the Nine Luminaries Banner would most likely belong to him.

Just then, within the Shenxu Main Mountain, where even many Peak Lords could not approach a single step, a tall figure was steadily walking upward.

"Lan'er?"

Thousand Wind Daoist noticed that figure, and a few expressions of astonishment surged upon his face.

The other Peak Lords were also stunned for a moment.

Until Ye Lan finally reached the mountain peak, her slightly haggard face was incredibly calm; one hand rested on her sword hilt, while the other hung naturally by her side. She nodded gently toward that giant tree, counting as a greeting.

"Senior Tianwu, please return."

"..."

Tianwu Laozu fell silent for an instant, then the entire tree trunk suddenly trembled violently, his grin never ceasing: "Good, good, good! Previously, that Heavenly Pill Boy was one thing, but now you actually send a third-generation junior to converse with this Old Ancestor? Your Shenxu Mountain is becoming increasingly outrageous!"

In an instant, a hundred birds spread their wings together.

The invisible giant waves they stirred up surged wildly, attacking Ye Lan.

Seeing this, many Peak Lords turned pale, their pupils shrinking tightly; yet before they could speak, they saw Ye Lan still standing quietly in place. The spiritual wind capable of destroying a Taiyi Zhenxian's Dao body in an instant merely ruffled her hair.

Tianwu Laozu was obviously somewhat dazed as well.

Ye Lan did not tidy her disheveled hair; she simply bowed her hands respectfully: "Please, Senior, return."

Her clear voice echoed across the sky.

To Tianwu Laozu's ears, it sounded like a huge slap across the face. He sneered coldly: "If you beg for mercy, you must look like you are begging for mercy."

This young girl indeed possessed some strangeness, but now that he had finally seized a fault of Shenxu Mountain, sending a junior out to bluff him with empty words was a foolish dream.

Setting aside everything else, the Nine Luminaries Banner should at least be handed over.

Hearing this, Ye Lan exhaled lightly and released her hands: "This junior is not begging for mercy."

"Then what is this?" Tianwu Laozu mobilized the tribulation power once more; compared to the spiritual pressure before, this time he was clearly determined to act in earnest.

Under his gaze, Ye Lan raised her head slightly. Her voice was not loud, but her pronunciation was clear: "This junior is saving your life."

Upon hearing this, not to mention Tianwu Laozu, even the group of Shenxu Shanfeng Lords found it hard to believe their ears.

Across the entire Da Nanzhou, excluding the Monks in South Nan Xumi, it would be difficult to think of even one person capable of taking the life of this Tianwu Laozu, even after racking one's brains.

Moreover, the opponent had just obtained the Fire Dragon Chariot, and his strength had increased explosively once again.

Yet Ye Lan's expression was extremely serious, as if merely stating a fact.

Seeing this, Tianwu Laozu nearly laughed out loud again: "Then this Old Ancestor must be grateful to you. However... it is quite unnecessary."

He stopped his laughter, and the sky-filling tribulation power finally erupted completely.

Ye Lan stood silently within this vortex of tribulation power, showing no panic. She simply took one last deep look at that giant tree, as if looking at a dead man, then spoke no more and turned directly to head down the mountain.

My Lord Shen's current situation is truly unsuitable for attracting more trouble, especially such meaningless matters.

But given the other party's character, enduring up to this point was probably about the limit.

Seeing Ye Lan turn and leave.

Tianwu Laozu showed no intention of stopping at all. That mighty tribulation power gradually expanded, covering not only the other eight peaks but also encompassing the hundreds of outer peaks surrounding them.

Where was there even a shred of the demeanor of an Immortal Sect Master? If such an act fell into the eyes of others, he would inevitably earn the title of a Demon.

This heaven-destroying and earth-exploding method could either truly descend or merely serve as a scare.

The question was: did the one hiding within the Profound Void Realm dare to gamble?

Tianwu Laozu looked again at that towering mountain peak, and joy gradually surged in his heart.

This was because a wisp of gray mist had quietly spread, quickly occupying half of the vast sky.

The shadow of a person vaguely walking out from the sky curtain was somewhat beyond Tianwu Laozu's expectations; after all, someone who could accumulate such a fearsome reputation as Taixu Danhuang looked like nothing more than a brash, unripe young boy.

That clean, white face seemed to have not even shed its childishness.

And such a junior dared to look down upon him from above.

"What this Old Ancestor wishes to see is not you, this junior."

Tianwu Laozu still did not withdraw the tribulation power; since the other party was willing to appear, his goal had been achieved by eighty percent.

Seeing Shen Yi appear, the many Peak Lords did not feel relieved at all.

If they did not see Shenxu Laozu today, Tianwu Laozu would absolutely not let the matter rest.

"Who do you wish to see?" Shen Yi asked indifferently.

"Naturally, your Old Ancestor." Tianwu Laozu sneered; at this point, he had completely confirmed that Shenxu Mountain had something fishy going on.

He did not expect that this young man showed no sign at all of being exposed on his weak point.

He merely hovered in the sky, silent and pondering for an instant.

"Very well."

Shen Yi nodded slightly, looked over again, and his voice was devoid of any fluctuation: "I will send you to see it."

"..."

Tianwu Laozu had not reacted for a moment until he sensed the chilling killing intent falling upon him; only then did he, as if suddenly realizing, bend his body downward.

The many doubts in his heart instantly found explanation.

Why Shenxu Laozu had not appeared for so long was probably because he could no longer manifest in the world.

"You..."

"You..." Tianwu Laozu suddenly erupted into the roughest, most manic laughter he had ever produced, exclaiming with delight: "Fortunately, this Old Ancestor has returned; otherwise, I would not have known that my Sanxian Sect produced such a group of traitors who kill their masters and destroy their ancestors!"

"Not only did you kill your master, but now you even intend to harm your master's senior brother."

"Good master-nephew, good master-nephew!"

After laughing, Tianwu Laozu suddenly spoke in a sinister voice: "Do not say I do not give you a chance. Let this Old Ancestor see the despicable methods used on your master back then."

As he spoke, a stream of light swept from his body; it was none other than that imposing Fire Dragon Chariot.

Before even making a move, he already struck a pose of disdain, as if unwilling to use such an object to deceive others.

"Pretending!"

Qianfeng Daoist immediately sneered, "He is merely afraid of that Nine Luminaries Banner!"

Mount Tianwu's Shenxu Laozu knew full well that Taixu Danhuang's third-rank Dao Fruit had only just taken shape and his cultivation was inferior to his own; yet if both summoned the magical treasures bestowed by Beizhou, the difference in realm would no longer matter, and the outcome would depend more on the counteracting relationship between the treasures.

This person did not understand the Nine Luminaries Banner, so he hoped to use this posture to make the proud young man abandon his treasure as well.

To put it bluntly, if Taixu Danhuang refused to part with the Nine Luminaries Banner, this old thing would have no choice but to quickly withdraw the Fire Dragon Chariot.

What no one expected was this.

Taixu Danhuang, renowned for his decisive and ruthless nature, showed not the slightest hesitation at this moment; he merely flicked his sleeve lightly, and the nine small flags transformed into streaks of light, shooting out to hover alongside the Fire Dragon Chariot.

"Lan'er, this!"

Qianfeng Daoist truly did not expect that, despite his own verbal warning, Shen Yi had still fallen into the other's trap.

At this moment, he could only cast a glance toward Ye Lan beside him.

"..."

Ye Lan stood silently in place, with no intention of offering any words of advice, her eyes filled with longing as she stared fixedly at the sky.

The next moment, accompanied by ten thousand rays of rosy light, the heavens and earth turned golden.

A Buddha manifestation that blocked out the sun and moon appeared abruptly in the world, its four arms behind it spread wide, the magical treasures in its hands seeming to contain the power of heaven and earth.

As that massive halo slowly rose, a thick Buddhist chant resonated throughout Venerable Bihai.

The eager discussions of the common people in Ye Lan's mind finally matched the magnificent Golden Body before her eyes, and she closed her eyes with deep satisfaction.

Meanwhile, the other Peak Masters were already standing there, utterly stunned.

The calamity energy radiating from that Buddha manifestation was far greater than the powerful energy on the great Wutong tree.

That was cultivation nearly perfecting the ninety-nine transformations!

(End of this chapter)