Chapter 792: Brother Has Your Back—But Only for a While

Lingxu Cave, half-overhanging a cliff.

True Person Yunmiao walked forward slowly and called out to the figure ahead: “Master Danhuang, weren’t you supposed to be guarding Tian Ta Mountain? Why have you returned?”

Shen Yi, who had just landed, paused slightly, then bowed and explained: “I heard from your disciples that True Person Linsu has been emotionally unsettled lately and went out to clear her mind. After much thought, I feared it might be because of me, so I’ve decided to return to my cave and cultivate for a while.”

“…”

True Person Yunmiao’s expression stiffened slightly—could something this simple really require so much deliberation before being understood?

But then he reconsidered: Nan Zhou had yet to fall, and this man had barely touched the matter of dividing incense offerings; it was natural he didn’t yet grasp the underlying dynamics.

Still, only now did he think to avoid suspicion—wasn’t that a bit too late?

True Person Yunmiao sighed and forced a smile: “Master Danhuang, you overthink it. Precisely because she’s gone out to clear her mind, you must remain at Tian Ta Mountain to watch over it.”

He shook his head: “You’ve just arrived in Bei Zhou and don’t yet understand. This vast land is entirely our Three Immortals Sect’s domain, but beneath the Three Sect Masters and Five Emperor Lords, countless immortal lineages have been passed down. Lingxu Cave is merely one among them.”

“Though we call each other fellow disciples…”

True Person Yunmiao recalled the replies he’d received from that group earlier, and his smile grew slightly sarcastic: “But between cave and cave, harmony and kinship are far from what you imagine—even if not as hostile as your time in Nan Zhou with the Bodhi Sect, it’s not far off.”

“Like certain elders who gave the orders themselves, yet have never once shown their face to you since.”

Linsu’s departure had clearly struck True Person Yunmiao hard.

At this moment, besides wanting to win Shen Yi over, these words carried no small measure of resentment.

“But rest assured, Brother, I know you’ve suffered many injustices. Before our Master returns, I won’t stand by and let others bully you.”

“Thank you, Brother Yunmiao, for your guidance.”

Shen Yi lowered his gaze slightly, as if remembering again the destruction of his immortal sect and his Master’s death at the hands of that monk. After a long silence, he sighed softly: “Then I’ll return to Tian Ta Mountain. But please, Brother, convey this to True Person Linsu.”

“I came to Bei Zhou not just to flee for my life, but to demand justice for Shenxu Mountain. Even if I seek a domain, I’ll find it myself. When Linsu returns, Tian Ta Mountain will still be hers.”

“…”

True Person Yunmiao nodded without comment.

Given how fiercely this boy had walked away last time without looking back, this statement was probably true—for now.

But once he truly tasted the benefits of a domain, savored the flavor of imperial qi, he’d likely think very differently when asked to give up Tian Ta Mountain.

“Brother, I take my leave.”

Shen Yi turned and re-entered Tai Xu, flanked by Nan Huang and the other Stone Wardens.

This return was to gauge the attitude of this senior brother of Lingxu Cave.

From the look Linsu had given Yunmiao last time, Shen Yi was certain he would never reveal any plan to move against him—and now, it proved true.

His path to integrating into Bei Zhou was thus half-opened.

Shen Yi’s greatest problem now was undoubtedly the Bodhi Sect’s reckoning, and how to cross the second-rank path—both controlled by the two great sects.

The former and the latter were essentially the same thing.

That is: how to truly join the Three Immortals Sect and gain sufficient status to receive the true transmission.

Securing Tian Ta Mountain was the beginning of this change.

Now he had a decent start; what remained would be decided by strength.

In Bei Zhou, where there were many monks and little porridge, these self-proclaimed elite true disciples of the great sects wouldn’t sit idly by while an outsider claimed a domain.

…

The sun and moon rose and set; another two months passed.

True Person Yunmiao still sat on the cliff edge, breathing and meditating, though he occasionally glanced toward Linsu’s cave—clearly, his mind was not on cultivation.

He always claimed he needed perfect preparation before acting, to mask his reluctance to leave the mountain.

But his youngest sister’s departure had cleanly torn away his pretense.

The senior brother still sat here, yet his own lineage’s younger sister went to cling to other disciples—if this spread, True Person Yunmiao’s face in Lingxu Cave would be utterly destroyed.

“Could it really be that I can’t wait any longer?”

Feeling the turmoil in his Dao heart, unable to enter stillness, True Person Yunmiao finally abandoned his pretense of meditation, stood up, and began pacing restlessly in place.

Over these two months, disciples frequently returned to report.

The Tai Xu Danhuang, stationed within Tian Ta Mountain, had shown no unusual behavior—merely becoming less stingy in relief efforts and ordering disciples to rebuild shelters for the refugees.

He’d almost certainly tasted imperial qi and now sought to make the refugees forget the former True Person Linsu.

Linsu’s prolonged absence left Yunmiao indifferent to such trivialities; what truly unsettled him was that this outsider from Nan Zhou was gradually gaining a foothold in a domain, while he, the senior brother of his own lineage, had gained nothing.

His steps halted briefly; he clenched his fist tightly.

After a moment, True Person Yunmiao made his decision, summoned his magic treasure, and shot toward Qingguang Cave.

A cultivator who had reached the pinnacle of ninety-nine transformations, like him, could not settle for merely seizing Tian Ta Mountain when entering the tribulation, as Linsu had.

He needed at least one prefecture, even to compete with numerous prodigies for the final positions.

For such a major matter, it was wise to first sound out his senior uncle.

A splendid immortal carriage rose on clouds, the land below blurring into obscurity.

Within days, a white crane flew ahead, flapping its wings, guiding the carriage into a beautiful immortal mountain.

“True Person Yunmiao’s personal arrival—what urgent matter brings you here? This way, please.”

The crane transformed into a boy, leading True Person Yunmiao deep into a hall shrouded in blue mist.

Inside, only a few disciples remained—all direct disciples of Qingguang True Person, the Great Luo Golden Immortal.

“Yunmiao of Lingxu Cave, pays respects to Sister Youyao.”

On the secondary seat sat a young woman, lounging lazily, not in Daoist robes but a black dress that accentuated her pale, smooth skin. She wore a jeweled crown, making her face too dazzling to gaze upon.

True Person Yunmiao bowed to the woman first, then took his seat under the crane boy’s guidance.

“True Person Yunmiao is a rare guest—we’ve nearly forgotten the last time we saw you.”

Several fellow disciples teased lightly.

Yunmiao found it uncomfortable but merely smiled gently.

“…”

The crane boy stood silently at the hall’s entrance, listening to their exchanges, glancing occasionally at Yunmiao, noticing the man growing increasingly restless.

“You may not know, but today, Yunmiao has come with a question.”

“I see the world’s tribulations rising, winds and clouds shifting. All of you have entered the tribulation and found good paths. But… I’ve cultivated for many years, my realm is stuck in a bottleneck, with no breakthrough. I wish to descend the mountain and travel—do any of you have advice?”

When True Person Yunmiao had delicately stated his purpose.

The crane boy slowly withdrew his gaze and smiled wryly.

Last time, he’d thought this senior brother of Lingxu Cave too slippery; now it seemed he’d been on the mountain too long, watching the winds and clouds change, yet failing to even recognize the basic situation.

He still thought entering the tribulation to claim incense offerings was like attending a banquet—gather everyone, exchange pleasantries, and expect others to hand him the choicest dishes.

As expected, when he finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent.

The disciples who had been smiling and chatting moments before now turned their gazes elsewhere, pretending not to understand.

“All of you…”

Seeing this, True Person Yunmiao felt embarrassed.

In his view, even compared to Qingguang Cave’s senior sister Youyao, his own strength was still uncertain.

With such a realm, he’d come personally to discuss matters—out of goodwill, to avoid conflict.

He hadn’t expected such a lack of face.

“Brother Yunmiao.”

Seeing the awkward silence, a disciple in blue robes finally spoke up, smiling politely: “Earlier, Lingxu Cave acted as if it had no interest in competing—we believed you, so we agreed to allocate Tian Ta Mountain as compensation.”

“Now that you’ve taken Tian Ta Mountain, you come back asking for more—isn’t that unreasonable?”

He admitted Yunmiao’s high realm, but refused to enter the tribulation, unwilling to fight truly—just relying on the title of ninety-nine transformations to claim eternal incense offerings? Too ambitious.

“Brother Shuyu…”

Yunmiao frowned, wanting to rebut, but was cut off again.

“Look—our newest disciples in Qingguang Cave still have no place to settle. Yet your sister Linsu took Tian Ta Mountain without lifting a finger.”

Shuyu True Person extended his thumb toward the last two seats.

True Person Yuchi and True Person Shenshan quickly forced smiles—they’d just arrived in Bei Zhou, barely managed to join Qingguang Cave, and were lucky to have survived; they never dreamed of joining Bei Zhou cultivators’ disputes.

“Brother, just give us a clear answer: if you intend to compete, then our previous agreement is void.” Shuyu True Person still spoke politely, yet his words left Yunmiao speechless.

True Person Yunmiao’s face darkened with anger: “Tian Ta Mountain is no longer guarded by your sister Linsu—it’s held by the Nan Zhou Tai Xu Danhuang. Don’t forget, this cultivator came all the way from Nan Zhou because of your Qingguang Cave!”

He’d come in good faith to negotiate, yet now he was being asked to give up Tian Ta Mountain?

“I don’t care—that’s your Lingxu Cave’s internal matter,” Shuyu True Person shrugged.

“My internal matter? If not for your master’s crane boy coming…”

Even a clay statue has three parts of fire—True Person Yunmiao leapt to his feet, ready to explode.

At that moment, a cold gaze fell upon him, freezing him in place; he instinctively turned.

The woman lounging lazily had opened her eyes—when, he didn’t know.

“…”

Though they were of the same realm, Yunmiao felt a faint pressure under her gaze.

Though both were senior disciples of their lineages, he and Youyao differed: she was among the first to enter the tribulation, having earned her great reputation and four prefectures of domain through sheer strength—no one dared challenge her.

Frankly, Yunmiao’s own hope was no greater—four prefectures of domain would be more than enough for him.

“If you wish to enter the tribulation, be honest.”

Youyao True Person withdrew her gaze, as if too bored to waste words: “I have no advice to give, nor any habit of giving incense offerings away. If you’re willing, join me in the struggle. When the tribulation ends, you may take two-tenths of these domains.”

“If you lack the courage, return to your Lingxu Cave and guard your Tian Ta Mountain.”

“You!”

At this blunt remark, Cloud Miao True Person’s face darkened instantly.

He had always regarded himself as the peer of the other, but now this woman’s attitude clearly showed she didn’t truly regard him at all.

Cloud Miao had intended to sweep his sleeve and leave, but as he turned, his foot refused to move forward.

To join forces, yet claim only two-tenths, and even return Tian Ta Mountain—that condition sounded almost like an insult.

But upon closer thought, the other had already built a great reputation, and correspondingly, borne great risks, while he himself merely needed to follow along.

Even if we step back a hundred thousand paces, You Yao already controls four prefectures; even just two-tenths of that far exceeds Tian Ta Mountain.

All he loses is a bit of face.

As for Tian Ta Mountain, Ling Su had already given up on it, and the Dan Huang wasn’t even a disciple of Ling Xu Cave—why not yield to the other for now?

“I still have that much courage,” Cloud Miao True Person turned back around.

“Hah.”

Shu Yu True Person couldn’t help laughing; he rose and walked over to Yu Chi and Shen Shan, giving both a meaningful pat on the shoulder: “Younger brothers and sisters, don’t you owe Cloud Miao Senior Brother a thank you? He came all this way just to gift you two a splendid future.”

Shen Shan Ancestor instinctively forced a smile.

Yu Chi fell silent, quietly tugging at the other’s sleeve.

Shu Yu True Person had intended to use these two to annoy Cloud Miao, but hadn’t expected this reaction; he raised an eyebrow: “What, are you dissatisfied with Tian Ta Mountain?”

Hearing this, Shen Shan Ancestor grew anxious—he had barely escaped with his life, and to join Qing Guang Cave was already fortune enough; now he was being offered a cultivation ground? Such a tremendous blessing—what was there to hesitate over?

“Thank you, Senior Brother, for your kindness, but we’ve just arrived in the Northern Continent and have made no contributions—how could we take the Dan Huang’s cultivation ground?”

Yu Chi Ancestor bowed humbly, politely declining the offer.

Back in the Southern Continent, she had already thought this through clearly: when the great calamity arose, those destined to meet it would rise with it.

The Grand Void Dan Huang was one such person.

A slight comparison: both had arrived in the Northern Continent only months ago.

She and the other were called disciples within the sect, yet held no real status; but the Dan Huang, despite bearing the title of a junior insect demon, now already possessed his own cultivation ground.

This alone proved many things.

Having barely escaped from the Bodhisattva Who Subdues Dragons and Tigers, Yu Chi was not so foolish as to provoke another—this wasn’t a blessing; it was a death sentence.

(End of Chapter)