Chapter 641: Imprisoning the Immortal: The Final Testament of Lu Chen, Founding Patriarch of the Three Truths Sect!

The woman had intended to step forward and greet them, but was awed by the aura of the four, a tremor of fear rising in her heart, her steps unsteady, ultimately unable to approach.

On the riverside dock, lantern light was dim, and the river breeze drifted gently, carrying a chill.

The night had grown deeper, and a faint mist rose along the river, white and hazy, swirling between the two banks.

The travelers who had just landed pulled their clothes tighter and hurried away, unwilling to linger in the cold night.

The sturdy man couldn't help but sneeze, a sudden shiver rising in his chest for no reason.

He rubbed his hands together and whispered to the woman, "Wife, let's go, to the west pavilion."

But the woman pushed his hand away, her gaze still fixed on Xu Jiangxian among the three, her eyes filled with rapt fascination.

The sturdy man, helpless, stood aside and waited.

Lu Hua noticed this and curled his lips.

"Master of Demons, you are a renowned Grand Master of the martial world—how could you use the Phantom Shadow Sect's 'Soul Capturing Art' on a married woman?"

"She's already deeply enamored with you—she's likely planted a heart demon within herself."

Xu Jiangxian, caught out, showed rare embarrassment, but quickly regained his composure.

He smiled faintly, his tone calm: "I have just returned from the far north; I have not yet fully mastered the 'Great Dharma of Planting the Demon in the Dao Heart.' This was merely an involuntary release."

Master Lianchi, hearing this, lifted his eyes slightly, a flicker of surprise in his gaze.

For the 'Great Dharma of Planting the Demon in the Dao Heart' was the supreme secret art that the Demon Master Huang Dao had used to ascend—its power was unfathomable, yet perilous beyond measure.

Lu Hua said no more.

And the woman still gazed spellbound at Xu Jiangxian, as if pulled by an invisible force, unable to break free.

Master Lianchi gazed at the swirling white mist along the river and spoke slowly:

"This Zehu's demon dragon must have been terrified this time—mistaking you for that one."

Master Xu Xian, hearing this, smiled faintly.

"Let it go. See if it can escape Bianjing."

All who watched his face felt a whisper of awe rise within them.

His face slowly changed; the old man's visage faded, replaced by that of a young boy.

The boy's appearance was ordinary, unremarkable, save for his eyes—deep and still, bearing the weight of countless ages.

Lu Hua was not surprised; he had seen Master Xu Xian appear in this youthful form before, during his time at the Zhongnan Mountains in the Great Sui.

Yet Master Lianchi and the Demon Master Xu Jiangxian both showed expressions of astonishment.

Though they knew the Academy's Grand Master was inscrutable, they had never imagined he was a boy.

Xu Jiangxian could not help recalling the rumors of the martial world: the Academy's Grand Master, though the eldest, had always retained the form of a youth.

The Fourth Master, youngest in age, appeared as a withered old man.

The Second Master was a swordsman who bore a blade on his back.

The Third Master had always appeared as a middle-aged man.

Master Lianchi lowered his gaze and murmured a Buddhist chant.

The Academy's Four Grand Masters were truly inscrutable—this was why even they, as Grand Masters of the world, dared not enter the Academy.

The river breeze brushed past, the white mist swirling, the lanterns on the shore flickering in and out of the fog.

Master Xu Xian gazed at the brilliantly lit Yaoxian Pavilion across the Qunfang Banquet, his tone tinged with melancholy:

"Who would have thought the Third and Fourth Masters would sit across from each other again? I haven't entered Bianjing in years—how things have changed."

Lu Hua voiced the thoughts of the Demon Master and Master Lianchi, suggesting they go together to investigate the Academy.

Hearing this, Xu Xian shook his head, his tone indifferent.

"To the Academy? Impossible."

He paused, his gaze deep: "With the Second Master there, even the current Master of the Academy dares not tread lightly within."

Xu Jiangxian, startled, could not help asking: "Has the Second Master grown so strong that even the Master of the Academy fears him?"

Xu Xian smiled faintly, his tone layered with meaning: "Not fear, exactly. But the Second Master's sword has not been drawn in two hundred years."

"A sword kept too long in its scabbard breeds a blade that, once unsheathed, will shatter heaven and earth. Even the Master of the Academy dares not gamble on the sharpness of that one strike."

As he spoke, the mist along the river seemed to thicken further.

Xu Jiangxian and Master Lianchi exchanged glances, both hearts tightening.

Though they knew the Academy's Second Master's strength was unfathomable, they had never imagined the Master of the Academy feared him so deeply.

Lu Hua remained calm. "If so, we may need to make other plans."

Xu Xian smiled faintly, his youthful face framed by eyes that had weathered countless storms.

"In truth, we need not make a grand move. Whatever the Master of the Academy intends, we need only find a way to obstruct him."

Hearing this, the Demon Master Xu Jiangxian frowned slightly.

To face the Master of the Academy directly now stirred fear within him.

The Master of the Academy had lived nearly two thousand years.

One man who subdued the world, half-immortal, half-demon—who would not fear such a being?

Xu Xian seemed to pierce his thoughts and continued: "For certain reasons, the Master of the Academy dares not enter the Academy lightly. As for the exact reason, I cannot reveal it yet."

"Second, the Master of the Academy dares not appear before Su Jing—and Su Jing avoids him just as fiercely."

"Third, since the Master of the Academy has awakened the Jingshen Array, it proves his thousand-year scheme to 'Imprison the Immortal' is no mere rumor."

"Imprison the Immortal?"

Upon hearing this, the Demon Master and Master Lianchi's faces turned grave, deeply shaken by this astonishing revelation.

Master Lianchi could no longer hold back, his voice filled with disbelief:

"Could there truly be Immortals descending to the mortal world?"

Xu Xian fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"This cannot be confirmed."

"But the Master of the Academy has always believed that Immortals will one day descend to the mortal realm. His thousand-year scheme may well be to imprison those Immortals, to uncover the secret of ascension."

Night lay like ink; the river breeze brushed lightly, white mist curling upward, adding mystery to the river.

The four figures flickered in and out of the swaying lantern light and hazy mist.

Nearby, the husband and wife, without realizing when, had collapsed into each other's arms on the cold ground, fallen asleep.

Xu Xian's final voice drifted softly, heavy with meaning:

"So, my young friends, how will you choose? To watch passively as the Master of the Academy imprisons the Immortal—or to stand with the Immortal?"

Xu Jiangxian lowered his eyes, his pupils brimming with dark demonic energy.

Master Lianchi bowed his head and softly chanted, his voice solemn: "Namo Amitabha Buddha!"

Long moments passed!

Xu Jiangxian finally lifted his head, his gaze fixed on Xu Xian, and asked in a low tone: "How do you, Grand Master, choose?"

Clearly, Lu Hua and Xu Xian were already aligned, fully prepared.

Lu Hua, hearing this, gave a light laugh and spoke slowly: "In accordance with the final testament of the Three Truths Patriarch Lu Chen—"

"The hundred generations of ancestors of Mount Zhongnan jointly swore."

"All disciples of the Three Truths Sect shall guard the Immortal with our lives."

The Demon Master's face was filled with utter disbelief—Lu Chen was a figure from three thousand years ago—how could he have left a testament to this day?

(End of Chapter)