Chapter 54: Trouble Comes Knocking

The Taiyuan Sect received the jade slip message from Yuqing Hall on the very day Xu Chen and the other two returned to the mountain.

But after Danchenzi read the jade slip, he completely cast it to the back of his mind.

Not to mention that he was extremely protective of his own, even if his disciples were at fault, he would not do such a servile thing; furthermore, Xu Chen and the other two had returned with a great haul and even brought him a Blood God Grass that was hard to find anywhere in the world.

Therefore, in Danchenzi's eyes, Xu Chen and the other two were simply his lucky stars and the supreme treasures of the sect; handing them over to offer an apology was even more impossible.

Consequently, Yuqing Hall waited and waited, only to wait for nothing; the Taiyuan Sect did not give them any news at all.

Because of this, the group of Danyuan Realm Elders at Yuqing Hall were both helpless and furious, so they collectively begged Baiyun Zhenjun not to refine the Purple Cloud Spirit Transformation Pill for Danchenzi.

Although Baiyun Zhenjun was an old acquaintance of Danchenzi, for the sake of the Immortal Sect's interests, he had no choice but to agree.

Thus, the mood at Yuqing Hall became much calmer.

After all, they had only lost one Golden Core True Person to a coma, but they had also ruined the Taiyuan Sect's chance to produce a Spirit Transformation True Monarch; calculating it, it was still quite a good deal.

However, while things were temporarily settled with the Taiyuan Sect, Yuqing Hall turned its sights toward Longmen Mountain.

Because Liang Feng was most likely killed by Guo Ming of Longmen Mountain.

Therefore, in order to seek justice for his grand-disciple, Yuyang Zhenjun actually went to visit Longmen Mountain in person.

Longmen Mountain was also feeling quite depressed.

Guo Ming was a fourth-generation inner core disciple and also the grand-disciple of their only Spirit Transformation Great Cultivator, Taiwu Zhenjun; moreover, he had an excellent Spirit Root and superior aptitude, making him a disciple Longmen Mountain was focused on cultivating, with the potential to reach Golden Core and Spirit Transformation in the future.

But Guo Ming died even more inexplicably than Liang Feng, having been beheaded and abandoned in the wilderness; when found, the head still wore an expression of shock and anger, eyes wide open in death.

If Liang Feng was killed by Guo Ming, then who was Guo Ming killed by?

Therefore, facing Yuyang Zhenjun's personal arrival to demand an explanation, Taiwu Zhenjun was so angry that his beard and eyebrows trembled into a blur, stating that Longmen Mountain would not take the blame for this; someone must have impersonated Longmen Mountain to kill Liang Feng, and then killed Guo Ming, all to incite a great war between the two Immortal Sects.

And the culprit must be the Taiyuan Sect.

But how could Yuyang Zhenjun be swayed by these few words?

The three little cultivators of the Taiyuan Sect were only in the Kaiyuan Realm; let alone not being able to beat Guo Ming, Liang Feng could have poked any one of them to death with a finger.

Yuyang Zhenjun had been famous for nearly three hundred years and was very confident in his sect's heritage and his disciples' cultivation, so he dismissed Taiwu Zhenjun's claims with disdain and forcefully demanded an explanation; under his aggressive pressure, Taiwu Zhenjun flew into a rage and attacked, and thus the two True Monarchs had a fight at Longmen Mountain.

The exchange lasted no more than a few breaths, ending the battle in just three moves and two styles.

Yuyang Zhenjun snorted coldly and broke through the air to leave, appearing to have suffered a minor injury, but several Daoist temples at Longmen Mountain were smashed to pieces, and the disciples and grand-disciples were scurrying everywhere in terror; Taiwu Zhenjun was so angry that he stood on the snowy peak at the top of Longmen Mountain and cursed for a long time, without even knowing who he was cursing.

And after cursing, Taiwu Zhenjun still felt he could not swallow this bitter pill.

Of course, although he was slightly stronger than Yuyang Zhenjun, he did not have the confidence to go to Yuqing Hall to get even; after all, once he attacked their gate, he would inevitably face a gang-beating by three True Monarchs, and he feared he would go there standing and come back lying down.

After thinking it over, Taiwu Zhenjun felt it was more reliable to seek an explanation from the weakling Taiyuan Sect, and he could save face in the process.

Regardless of whether Liang Feng and Guo Ming died at the hands of the Taiyuan Sect, they must have been witnesses.

As long as the Taiyuan Sect handed over the three little cultivators, he could settle this blame.

Otherwise, being targeted by Yuqing Hall would always be a major hidden danger.

Longmen Mountain could not beat Yuqing Hall, but beating the Taiyuan Sect would be effortless.

Thus, Taiwu Zhenjun ordered the Taiyuan Sect's Danyuan Realm mid-stage Elder, Qingyun True Person, to go to the Taiyuan Sect to demand the people and an explanation.

On this day, Xu Chen was sitting in meditation in his small wooden hut, when suddenly a powerful Divine Sense swept across several mountain peaks of the Taiyuan Sect like a tide.

The terrifying aura alarmed all the Elders and disciples; in an instant, figures soared into the air, all of them releasing various Magic Treasures and Flying Swords with faces full of shock, the brilliance scorching and shining like the sun for a time.

The Third Elder, who was the only one not in seclusion and was presiding over sect affairs, was shocked and quickly used Divine Sense Transmission to tell everyone to put away their treasures, then flew up on his sword to the high sky, bowing to an old Daoist sitting on the back of a Spirit Crane and wearing purple Daoist robes: "Daoist Friend, where do you come from? Why disturb our Taiyuan Sect?"

The old Daoist said expressionlessly: "Who are you? Where is Danchenzi? Why doesn't he come out?"

The Third Elder suppressed his anger and replied: "This poor Daoist is Li Xuanfeng, serving as the Third Elder of the Taiyuan Sect. I do not know your honorable title, or which Daoist temple you hail from?"

The old Daoist snorted with contempt: "A mere Zhenyuan Realm cultivator has become an Elder of a sect; your Taiyuan Sect truly only has Danchenzi to hold up appearances. This poor Daoist is Qingyunzi, serving as the Second Elder of Longmen Mountain."

Upon hearing this, the Third Elder was greatly startled and quickly bowed: "So it is Daoist Friend Qingyunzi. My Senior Brother Danchenzi is at a critical moment of seclusion; if it is not necessary, speaking to this poor Daoist is the same."

The old man said coldly: "Can you solve it? Quickly call Danchenzi out; this poor Daoist wants him to give an account."

Even the Third Elder's steady Daoist heart was instantly unsettled, and he said angrily: "Qingyunzi, what exactly do you mean? Do you not understand the rules of the Immortal World?"

The old Daoist laughed loudly: "You are also fit to speak of the rules of the Immortal World? Since you can make decisions, very well, then hand over the three little cultivators who went to Jingshi to offer birthday wishes a few days ago, so I can take them back to the sect for punishment?"

The Third Elder was stunned, and a group of Taiyuan Sect disciples also looked at each other in dismay.

Qingyunzi's voice was very loud, and to enhance his momentum, he deliberately added Yuan Qi, so almost the entire Taiyuan Sect could hear it clearly.

And Jiu Shixiong, Xu Chen, and Zhao Xuan all thought at the same time that this might be related to the death of Guo Ming.

"Why, you don't want to hand them over? Then don't blame me for being impolite; I'll go catch them myself!"

Qingyunzi's cold eyes swept over the dozen or so Taiyuan Sect disciples standing in the air, his Divine Sense locking onto a group of Kaiyuan Realm disciples, but he did not know which three were the ones he needed to catch.

"Qingyunzi, do not bully us too much!"

Just at this moment, from a cave chamber on the side of Zhaoyang Peak, a tall, thin Daoist with gray hair and beard soared into the air, standing beside the Third Elder and glaring at Qingyunzi.

Qingyunzi revealed a trace of mockery: "So it is Daoist Friend Xuanhe; after so many years, you still haven't reached Golden Core."

The Daoist Xuanhe said in a deep voice: "Whether I reach Golden Core or not is none of your business. You come to my Taiyuan Sect to run wild; do you want to incite a great war between the Immortal Sects?"

Qingyunzi sneered: "Xuanhe, you think too highly of yourself. Are you fit to wage an Immortal Sect war with Longmen Mountain? Three days ago, Yuyang Zhenjun of Yuqing Hall was beaten by our Supreme Elder Taiwu Zhenjun and fled back in disgrace. My cultivation is higher than yours, and today I will not suppress you with my realm, but the death of my inner disciple Guo Ming is related to your Taiyuan Sect. The Supreme Elder ordered me to come and demand the people; since Danchenzi is in seclusion, I won't disturb him, so hurry up and hand the three over, otherwise if this blows up, it won't look good for the Taiyuan Sect's face!"

"You..." The True Person Xuanhe was so angry his beard trembled.

Qingyunzi released his Divine Sense to sweep over the sect again, saying coldly: "Lu Yuan, Xu Chen, Zhao Xuan, you three come out yourselves and follow this old man to Longmen Mountain. You only need to explain some things; I won't make it too difficult for you."

The True Person Xuanhe was furious, raising his hand to release his Flying Sword, and said angrily: "Qingyunzi, do not bully us too much; your disciple Guo Ming was absolutely not killed by our Taiyuan Sect."

Qingyunzi sneered: "You say it wasn't, so it wasn't? Right now, Yuqing Hall has already attacked my Longmen Mountain, so we naturally won't take this blame. We must get to the bottom of this; if it truly wasn't done by your Taiyuan Sect, the three will naturally be sent back."

"Bullshit! Do you take me for a three-year-old child who knows nothing? Guo Ming killed people from Yuqing Hall, Yuqing Hall came to you for an explanation, and because you couldn't beat Yuqing Hall, you came to our Taiyuan Sect to get even! Once the people are handed over to you, how could they possibly return alive!" The True Person Xuanhe pointed at Qingyunzi's nose and cursed loudly.

Qingyunzi's face turned livid, his Yuan Qi exploded violently, and with a wave of his hand, a cold wind transformed into dense, sharp ice blades that slashed toward the True Person Xuanhe.

The True Person Xuanhe did not expect the other party to attack suddenly, and he had no time to defend; moreover, his realm was far too low, and he was instantly struck by several ice blades, immediately spurting blood and falling down with a miserable cry.

"Second Elder!"

"Master!"

Xu Chen and a group of Disciples exclaimed and rushed forward, and several Escape Lights finally caught Xuanhe Zhenren before he hit the ground.

However, at this moment, Xuanhe Zhenren's breath was already as thin as a gossamer thread; he had clearly suffered heavy injuries, blood gurgling to stain his Daoist robe red, while rolling cold Qi transformed into ice shards that continuously accumulated and shattered at his wounds.

"Master!" Xu Chen and Qu Mei cried out tearfully, while the group of Disciples were all filled with righteous indignation, one after another looking up at Qingyunzi.

"What, is the decree of True Monarch Taiwu of my Longmen Mountain not effective? Must you force me to take action? I will give you ten more breaths of time; if you do not hand the person over, do not blame me for washing the Taiyuan Sect in blood today!" Qingyunzi's cold voice resounded throughout the entire Taiyuan Sect.

"This is going too far, we will fight him to the death!" Eldest Senior Brother roared, unleashing his Flying Sword.

The other senior brothers and sisters also unleashed their respective Magic Treasures, preparing to attack.

Jiu Shixiong, however, soared into the air and blocked everyone, using Divine Sense Transmission to say: "It is meaningless for us to risk our lives now. We must delay for time and wait for the Great Elder to emerge from Spirit Transformation seclusion. That way, even if we fall into the hands of Longmen Mountain, the Great Elder will still be able to save us."

The group of fellow disciples all had extremely grim expressions, but they knew that given the current situation, yielding was indeed the only strategy.

Therefore, Jiu Shixiong took the lead, and both Xu Chen and Zhao Xuan followed him into the air; soon, the three of them stood before Qingyunzi.

"So it is you three, very well, come with me to Longmen Mountain now... eh, isn't this a Storage Bag from my Longmen Mountain?"

Qingyunzi's expression had softened slightly as he prepared to take the three away, but his gaze fell upon a Storage Bag at Jiu Shixiong's waist, and his expression changed instantly.

"Oh no!" Jiu Shixiong and Xu Chen both exclaimed in their hearts almost simultaneously.

They had thought it would be fine to use it at the mountain gate, but they had not expected Longmen Mountain to come knocking. Such things were not meant to be shown to others, let alone being caught red-handed; they feared that even if they jumped into the Yellow River, they would not be able to wash themselves clean.