Chapter 298: Traveling to Yuanqing to Request the Dust-Peering Mirror

Oh, the love and hate of the older generation!

Lingxiang wore a knowing look, her expression extremely languid and helpless—who said the older generation was stiff and serious? Aren't they playing things even more elaborately than she is?

But just as Lingxiang was deep in thought, Lieyang Zhenren suddenly changed the subject.

"However, there was another reason why Master drove both me and Junior Brother Xunfeng away back then."

Hm? Another story? That is truly...

Exciting!

Lingxiang immediately looked expectant, nearly pulling a grand armchair over to stick it right in Lieyang Zhenren's face in front of everyone.

Wuwei Laozu appeared to be punishing Lieyang Zhenren, but in reality, he was securing a path for the Yuanqing Sect. Given Wuwei Laozu's temperament, he would never care about the distinction between human and demon.

Among the many treasures of Yuanqing, the most powerful are the Hunyuan Instrument and the Dust-Peering Mirror. The Hunyuan Instrument can divine fortune and misfortune and fathom heavenly secrets, while the Dust-Peering Mirror can know the heavens and earth and discern all things.

The reason the Yuanqing Sect has been able to hold a place among the many Daoist sects is thanks to these two treasures.

Yet, the only one who could truly make full use of them was Wuwei Laozu himself.

On the eve of suppressing the Zhu Yan, Wuwei Laozu had perceived the great calamity of the Yuanqing Sect's destruction from them. To preserve a lineage for Yuanqing, he deliberately used the excuse that humans and demons were incompatible to expel that fox demon and punish his own Head Disciple; the fact that Xunfeng Zhenren would secretly release Lieyang Zhenren was also something Wuwei Laozu had foreseen long ago.

"Oh~ no wonder!" Lingxiang finally understood. The reason that old man of hers had acted out at that time was to take advantage of the gathering of various sects to spread the matter, so that when Lieyang Zhenren established his own sect later, he would have a justification, and it would be easier to explain to the various Daoist sects.

After all, betraying one's sect is a great injustice, but if one is expelled from Yuanqing and then establishes a sect, even while bearing the name of being punished, it is more justifiable than the former.

This old man, he truly went to great pains!

As Lieyang Zhenren was speaking, he suddenly sighed, and among his graying beard and hair, a sense of shame was evident: "Regarding the events of that year, at first I felt quite resentful toward Master, but later, while traveling west, I reunited with Yue Niang and only then learned of Master's painstaking efforts..."

"What! Who?"

Lingxiang was listening with great interest, shaking her head, when she suddenly heard a familiar name and was so startled she nearly jumped up.

This sudden movement immediately drew the attention of the Elders. Except for Shangqing Zhenren, who remained with his eyes closed, all the other Elders cast reproachful gazes at Lingxiang.

This Lingxiang, she has no manners at all!

However, after a moment of thought, Chengxin Zhenren understood; after all, this person "Yue Niang" was someone they had seen often just a few days ago.

Lingxiang was very shocked at this moment and found it hard to regain her composure. Although her expression remained one of wide-eyed astonishment, her thoughts were already flying far beyond her consciousness.

No wonder! No wonder!

No wonder Yue Niang, a great demon of a region, would be so polite to a mere little girl like her with only Foundation Establishment cultivation; no wonder Yue Niang, who was originally unruly and unyielding, would always grant her every request despite her sharp tongue—it was all related to that old man of hers.

But Yue Niang always said that her mother had done her a favor; what was that about? Could it be that her mother moving into Yuanqing was also something her grandfather had foreseen long ago?

If one were to reason along this line of thought, it was not impossible. After all, in the past few hundred years, he was the only one who had been able to ascend and endure those seventy-two Thunder Tribulations.

Then why did Grandfather appear at Ding'anju specifically?

Lingxiang thought rapidly. She did not believe Wuwei Laozu's actions were a whim. If he already had the ability to transcend the tribulation and ascend, he would be considered an Earth Immortal Dao Venerable; it was impossible for him to risk his physical body being left unattended just to project his Primordial Spirit to see her one last time before leaving.

Wait...

She remembered that when her consciousness was connected to Long Qi's Qi Pool, that Ancient Firmament seemed to know her grandfather. The words that old fellow said before leaving seemed to be something her grandfather had planned with him long ago.

If that was the case, then her grandfather had long known that she would use Zhao Wuyang to ask the Ancient Firmament. She had found it strange at the time why her grandfather would appear in Long Qi's Consciousness Qi Pool; if this were true, everything made sense.

Lingxiang suddenly remembered the scene the Ancient Firmament had shown her of a hundred days later—that scene of devastation and death might be real.

Then why did the Ancient Firmament specifically tell her about what would happen in a hundred days? Was it to make her do something?

Seeing Lingxiang standing in the hall, distracted, the Elders thought she was possessed. Fortunately, Chengxin Zhenren explained about their temporary stay in Linxiang a few days ago, and the Elders finally understood.

"So the little girl has met Yue Niang!" Lieyang Zhenren's eyes gleamed with light, and with a smile, he stroked his beard and sighed: "Yue Niang is a demon of great righteousness. After informing me of Master's plans, she resolutely refused to have any more involvement with me and left all alone."

"Then..." Lingxiang's thoughts returned, and she asked with a frown: "Then Uncle Lieyang's trip to Yuanqing can be considered a violation of Master's orders. Since Uncle is a person of great righteousness, he surely would not do this. I wonder what the purpose of Uncle's visit here really is?"

Perhaps Lieyang Zhenren's visit was also within the calculations of that grandfather of hers. If she could know the reason, perhaps she could deduce a thing or two about his purpose.

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's gaze immediately turned to Lieyang Zhenren, except for Shangqing Zhenren, who remained with his eyes closed, as if he already knew Lieyang Zhenren's purpose.

"I have come this time specifically to take away the Dust-Peering Mirror," Lieyang Zhenren said, squinting his eyes and stroking his beard.

"What?!"

The Elders were greatly shocked, and Qianyuan Zhenren immediately spoke up: "Uncle, that must not be done!"

The Dust-Peering Mirror and the Hunyuan Instrument complement each other. If one is lost, the other loses half its utility. This move would truly bring no small loss to Yuanqing.

However, apart from Shangqing Zhenren, Lingxiang was also extremely calm.

"Uncle's action is likely something Grandmaster had already spoken of in advance!"

Hearing this, Shangqing Zhenren finally opened his eyes. He glanced at Lingxiang, but without saying anything more, he closed his eyes again.

Lieyang Zhenren laughed while stroking his beard. He felt more and more that Lingxiang was truly incredibly clever; with just a few words, she could deduce the deep meaning behind his actions.

"Exactly. These words were naturally relayed by Yue Niang. Master left a message for me back then that if the day came when he ascended, I must rush back to Yuanqing and take the precious mirror away."

Hearing this, the Elders were either dumbfounded or beating their chests in frustration, especially Zhaoming Zhenren.

"If that is the case, I am afraid Uncle will have to stay for a few more days," said Shangqing Zhenren, who had not spoken from the beginning to the end. "I believe Uncle Lieyang also knows that the two spirits of the Dust-Peering Mirror and the Hunyuan Instrument are connected. To take the precious mirror, eight people must fast and bathe for three days, then use the Seven Star Array to seal their Primordial Spirits. Only after seven days can the two be separated."

Lieyang Zhenren naturally knew these things. Seven people set up the array, and one guards the star, only then can the spirits be severed. If it really had to be done this way, the person guarding the star must have sufficiently profound cultivation; for now, only he could take on the task himself.

Seeing Lieyang Zhenren nod, Shangqing Zhenren gave the orders. From today on, all Elders must practice Bigu, and in addition to fasting and bathing, they must hand-copy the Heart-Clearing Art daily. Three days later, they would go into seclusion in Wuji Hall to set up the array, while Zhaoming Zhenren would lead the First Disciples of each Elder to guard the outside of the hall.

As for the Yuanqing Sect, it would be left entirely to Lingxiang to oversee for these few days.