Chapter 360: The Ancient Pact

"The same voice…"

Sha Sha Li Fei's eyes were filled with worry as he asked softly, "Li Yan, could the winds from east, west, south, and north be swirling?"

Li Yan shook his head. "Wait and see."

Their two pieces of slang weren't hard to understand.

Sha Sha Li Fei meant he suspected they'd been set up without knowing it; Li Yan meant to act according to circumstances, and not move rashly.

It wasn't surprising they were cautious,

today's events seemed strange indeed.

Everything was normal otherwise, yet precisely when they arrived, the Zhenwu Dragon Cave showed anomalies—especially those five Dragon Sons; could an ancient spirit have possessed them…?

With the situation unclear, they could only stay alert.

Li Yan gave a glance; Sha Sha Li Fei and Lu San immediately understood, silently returning to their quarters to pack their belongings.

Li Yan and Wang Wang Daoxuan waited outside.

After all, the abbot of the Five Dragon Palace had said he had matters to discuss with them afterward.

Outside the Zhenwu Hall, a row of Daoists stood guard, far from the hall itself—here, no spiritual powers could be used, nor could any sound from within be heard.

Li Yan looked up, his mind inevitably curious…

…………

Inside the hall, Yu Yu Longzi calmly lit three incense sticks and placed them in the incense burner before the statue of Zhenwu Emperor, bowing three times with reverence.

Behind him, Gu Yu Linzi and the others wore complex expressions.

After completing the ritual, Yu Yu Longzi turned, his gaze calm as he asked, "Gentlemen, nothing to say?"

Among the five was a Daoist nun with silver eyes—Little Sister Gu Yaizi, fiery-tempered, who couldn't help gritting her teeth: "Why did the Master conceal this? If you distrusted us, why take us as disciples?"

Yu Yu Longzi's expression remained composed. "I myself only just learned of this. Master Master Sanfeng's actions surely have profound meaning."

"You five were once the essence of dragon veins. Though you took human form, it was through possession—you speak human language but know nothing of human affairs. Though you accumulated merit, you also gave rise to wicked thoughts and nearly fell into the demonic path."

"Master Master Sanfeng left you a thread of life—not so you could escape, but so you could be reborn as humans and understand the Dao."

"Gu Yu Linzi, what do you think now?"

Gu Yu Linzi's heart tightened. He recalled what Yu Yu Longzi had told him that morning, and solemnly replied, "Master, I understand."

"There are natural laws in this world—if we had succeeded then, we would have walked straight into a dead end…"

At this moment, he fully grasped Yu Yu Longzi's meaning.

Just as he once looked down on the minor demons by Lu San's side, in this world, humans remain the lords of all creatures; the Daoist sects were established from the start to protect humanity and pursue the Great Dao.

Thus, some ancient deities have vanished.

Thus, the Turtle Master has gone to great lengths to integrate into Mount Wudang.

Had they succeeded, countless others would have come to exterminate demons and defend the Dao—the Heavenly Code would never have permitted it.

Rebirth as a human was indeed Master Master Sanfeng's mercy.

The five were no fools; they quickly grasped the logic and bowed together: "Thank you, Master, for your guidance."

This "Master" was a declaration of their stance: no matter who they were in past lives, they were now Mount Wudang disciples.

Yu Yu Longzi's expression softened slightly. He nodded. "You've followed me since childhood, learned many things, and know how difficult the cultivation path is—no shortcuts allowed."

"Your past lives are not a burden, but experience. Now that you are human, with talents far surpassing ordinary mortals, if you hold fast to your true heart, why could you not one day ascend to divinity?"

"This is the thread of life Master Master Sanfeng granted you."

"Now, the human realm is undergoing transformation; demons and specters have all emerged, many factions stir restlessly—it is also the greatest opportunity in heaven and earth."

"Rest for several days, then descend the mountain to face your trials. How you walk this path now depends on your choices."

He couldn't help adding, "Remember well—you are no longer rootless beings…"

Gu Yu Linzi and the others glanced at the towering Zhenwu statue behind Yu Yu Longzi, and instantly understood; they bowed together:

"Disciples humbly obey the Master's command!"

Saying this, the five turned and walked out of the hall.

Watching their retreating figures, Yu Yu Longzi's expression softened slightly, then called out loudly: "Please invite Master Li to enter."

"Yes, Master!"

A disciple immediately went to fetch Li Yan.

Soon, Li Yan entered the hall and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Elder."

Yu Yu Longzi gave a slight nod. "No need for formalities."

As he spoke, he took the three incense sticks from the offering table.

Li Yan immediately understood, took the sticks, lit them, offered them to Zhenwu Emperor, then bowed three times with reverence.

Only then did Yu Yu Longzi speak: "Master Wang has already told me of your matter. Exchanging the Dragon Pearl is no problem, but as for other matters, I cannot decide."

"Yet that matter involves too many karmic threads—I do not favor it. I advise you not to become too entangled."

Li Yan knew exactly what he meant; his heart sank. "Elder, do you suspect the Turtle Master has problems?"

This matter could not be ignored.

After all, Lu San had already signed an alliance with the Turtle Master; they were bound by shared fate. If the Turtle Master had problems, Lu San would face trouble too.

Yu Yu Longzi spoke calmly: "What the Turtle Master intends, you surely know. Securing the position of River God of the Han River is already a tremendous opportunity. To join under Zhenwu Emperor's banner and partake of incense offerings—how could a mere water demon ever conceive of that?"

Li Yan's brow furrowed.

This matter was indeed strange.

The Turtle Master never sought trouble; he only met them because he asked Lu San for help—otherwise, he would never have revealed himself before mortals.

Seeking the River God's position was his own idea.

After signing the alliance with Lu San, the more powerful he became, the better—gaining the River God's position would let him appear openly.

But binding himself to Mount Wudang Mountain was the Turtle Master's own proposal.

Remember, this fellow used to be a fool—he was bullied by the Old Ancestor of Donghu, nearly killed.

If he'd had this kind of mind back then, he wouldn't have sunk so low.

Behind him, someone else must be guiding him…

Yu Yu Longzi shook his head. "This has nothing to do with me—I'm merely giving a warning. I called you here for another matter."

Li Yan's expression turned serious. "Elder, please speak."

Yu Yu Longzi glanced at him, calmly asking: "You are a Living Yin Officer—do you cultivate the Six Paths Scripture, or the Luo Feng Scripture?"

Li Yan's heart jolted. "What do you mean?"

This was a secret—how could he know it so directly?

"No need to be wary."

Yu Yu Longzi shook his head. "Though secret, it is known to some—I heard it from my Master."

"After Buddhism entered Shenzhou, the Yin bureaucracy changed. Formerly, Living Yin Officers cultivated the Luo Feng Scripture. In the late Tang, when demons rose and Dao declined, those who cultivated the Luo Feng Scripture grew fewer; most now mixed Buddhist and Daoist methods into the Six Paths Scripture… The Luo Feng Scripture excels in combat and killing, but during the late Tang's chaos, Living Yin Officers were hunted in great numbers. Those who cultivated the Six Paths Scripture were better at dealing with ghosts and malevolent spirits, and performed many soul-soothing rituals…"

"I see."

Li Yan nodded. "I cultivate the Luo Feng Scripture."

Since the matter was already revealed, he could no longer hide it.

Indeed, though the Living Yin Officer affair was secret, high-ranking Daoist sects still knew many secrets.

Yu Yu Longzi's Master, Tiechan Donghu Laozu, was a direct disciple of Master Sanfeng Master Sanfeng Zhenren—knowing this was unsurprising.

"The Luo Feng Scripture?"

Hearing Li Yan's answer, Yu Yu Longzi's stern face softened slightly into a smile. "Since you cultivate the Luo Feng Scripture, you are, in fact, connected to Mount Wudang."

Li Yan was stunned. "Please, Elder, enlighten me."

Yu Yu Longzi nodded and explained: "This concerns Daoist secrets. Legend says the Northern Yin Fengdu Emperor is an incarnation of the Northern Pole Purple Micro Emperor. Under the Purple Micro Emperor are the Four Northern Saints: Tianpeng, Tianyou, Yisheng, and Zhenwu Emperor, whom we Mount Wudang revere."

!.

"Though rarely in contact, we are of the same Daoist lineage."

Li Yan, upon hearing this, grew even more puzzled. "As I understand, the Northern Yin Fengdu Emperor was once Yan Di, the Great Ting Shi. His methods are tied to his sacred name—could it be…?"

Yu Yu Longzi shook his head. "This touches divine secrets—beyond the knowledge of mortals like us."

"On Mount Wudang Mountain, there was once a cultivated immortal named Yin Zhao Changsheng, a man of the Eastern Han, who studied under Ma Ma Mingsheng. Ma Ma Mingsheng attained the Dao in Langya, under An Qisheng. Yin Zhao Changsheng had a disciple named Bao Jing, who was Ge Ge Xianweng's father-in-law, and passed down his methods…"

"Legend says Yin Zhao Changsheng not only mastered Fangxian Dao and Daoist arts, but was also a Living Yin Officer, wandering the mortal world for three hundred years, renowned in Shu, and finally ascending at Fengdou County."

"Now, practitioners of the Luo Feng Scripture are nearly extinct. If you wish to continue on this path, finding Yin Zhao Changsheng's lineage may reveal its mysteries."

Li Yan immediately rose and bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Elder."

This information was crucial to him.

He had occasionally heard of Yin Zhao Changsheng's name, but never imagined he too was a Living Yin Officer, let alone lived three hundred years.

And he ascended at Fengdu Mountain—deeply linked to Fengdu, a gathering place for Living Yin Officers.

He had already accepted Yuan Qu's invitation to attend a Living Yin Officer gathering in Fengdu in the first lunar month—he could search for Yin Zhao Changsheng's legacy along the way.

"No need for formalities."

Yu Yu Longzi spoke calmly. "I tell you this for my own reasons. As a Living Yin Officer, do you know of the ancient pact?"

Li Yan frowned. "What pact?"

"Indeed, you don't know."

Yu Yu Longzi shook his head. "In the late Tang, when demons rose and Dao declined, the world fell into chaos, Daoist sects turned on each other, many reclusive monsters ran rampant, and Living Yin Officers suffered heavy losses."

"With Shenzhou in turmoil, the Daoist sects united to found the Tai Da Xuan Zhengjiao. Many Earth Immortals intervened to stabilize the situation, earning great merit. When Tai Da Xuan Zhengjiao was established, it made a pact with the Living Yin Officers."

"Earth Immortals dwell in grotto-heavens and blessed lands; as long as they cause no trouble on mountains under Daoist jurisdiction, and intervene to restore order during cosmic upheavals, all parties must grant them convenience."

"But if they descend to cause havoc, the Living Yin Officers may pursue and capture them—even if the perpetrators are our own Daoist elders, the Da Xuan Men must not interfere. This is the bottom line."

"To this day, certain factions have deliberately, if unintentionally, downplayed this matter. Now that a great transformation in the human realm is imminent, if this bottom line is broken, a cataclysmic chaos may be unavoidable."

"These words were entrusted to me by my master. Master Li, should you encounter other Living Yin Officers in the future, pass on this information—lest some take advantage of the ignorance."

Li Yan fell silent for a moment. "I understand, Elder."

With this, several lingering doubts were finally resolved.

No wonder he had felt the Da Xuan Men's attitude toward the Living Yin Officers was strange—showing them necessary respect, yet keeping them at a distance.

It turned out there was such an agreement.

Many he had met, including Luo Luo Mingzi, were unaware of this—clearly, someone had deliberately downplayed, even concealed it.

As for the reason, Li Yan had a rough idea.

When the Da Xuan Men established this agreement, it was not merely to stabilize those Earth Immortals; it clearly also harbored self-interest—to turn those ancient spirits who had evaded heavenly law into their sect's hidden strength.

Now, that strength had been amassed—but so too had a host of retired emperors. Naturally, no one wished to speak of it...

………

The mountain wind howled; the sea of clouds churned.

Li Yan and the others advanced along the winding mountain path, occasionally turning back to look—the Five Dragon Palace had vanished from sight.

With the True Warrior Dragon Cave concluded, they naturally headed for the next Da Xuan Realm.

The next Da Xuan Realm was called "Purple Thunder Divine Lamp," located beneath the East-Northeast Banner Peak of Tianzhu Peak, within the Purple Thunder Palace.

The Da Xuan Realm "Purple Thunder Divine Lamp" aids in comprehending Daoist methods and is ideal for constructing towers—Wang Wang Daoxuan and Lu San would both build their towers there.

As for Li Yan, he decided to build his tower at the "Thunder-Fire Refining Hall," for that place benefited the comprehension of Thunder Methods.

Beyond that, behind the Purple Thunder Palace stood the Golden Toad Ancestor Wang Wang Daozong—also Wang Wang Jingxiu's father.

Just now, the old Daoist Wang Wang Jingxiu had sent word: the matter had been resolved, and he awaited them at the Purple Thunder Palace.

"Lu San, did you ask for details?"

As they walked, Li Yan asked in a low voice.

The matter Yu Yu Longzi mentioned was indeed strange—they had to find out who had told the Tu Master this method.

Lu San shook his head. "I didn't ask then, but I've already formed an alliance with the Tu Master—if it intends to harm me, it cannot escape the curse. There must be another reason."

Li Yan said gravely, "Never let down your guard. After descending the mountain, seek out the Tu Master and demand answers. If this isn't clarified, immediately dissolve the alliance—do not involve yourself with it again."

Lu San hesitated, then nodded in agreement.

He knew Li Yan wouldn't act this way unless the matter was grave.

The group's pace was swift; after winding around for less than an hour, they arrived outside the Purple Thunder Palace.

Looking up, they saw the peak lush and verdant, like a bamboo basket, its palaces nestled within, facing northwest toward southeast, with incense smoke rising and spiritual aura brimming.

"Excellent feng shui."

Wang Wang Daoxuan's eyes lit up upon seeing it; he scanned the surroundings and said, "The legend that the former emperor granted the 'Purple Thunder Blessed Land' plaque is true. To the right lies the Thunder God's Cave; to the left, Yu's Trace Pool. The mountains encircle it like a natural two-dragon-playing-bead throne—truly a divine land!"

"Hahaha…"

A distant, aged laugh came—Wang Wang Jingxiu. "A place capable of nurturing the 'Purple Thunder Divine Lamp' is naturally an excellent spiritual nexus."

"Greetings, Elder."

All bowed in respect.

"No need for formalities."

Wang Wang Jingxiu waved his hand. "Follow me."

He led them to a nearby viewing terrace, glanced around, then grew solemn: "The matter of the Tu Master has been resolved. Exchanging items is acceptable—but building a temple on Mount Wudang Mountain is absolutely impossible!"

Second chapter, 3 AM

(End of Chapter)