Chapter 295: Jianmu

Precious buildings and shell pavilions, misty foils and cloudy windows.

The heavenly palace is extremely magnificent, with gold as the foundation and white jade as the steps, towering with ten thousand rays of colorful clouds flying, and thousands of layers of red mist swirling.

Beneath the high pavilion where Tongxuan and the golden-robed old man sat opposite each other, there was only a vast, boundless sea of clouds, not knowing where it spread, as if it would extend directly to the corners of the sky, no longer in the dust, transcending the world.

Hearing Tongxuan speak, the golden-robed old man couldn't help but shake his head and sigh:

"With Xiao Xiao Shixiong's noble status, what matter could there be to discuss with someone like me, who wears scales and armor?

Could it be that your sect's fellow Daoist Shan Jian wants to take action against us aliens again? Out of past friendship, did Xiao Xiao Shixiong come specifically to give a hint?"

"Chen Chen Shidi Shan Jian...

This person has a stubborn temperament; he hasn't changed his mind since he entered the Dao, so it can be considered consistent from beginning to end."

Tongxuan was slightly helpless: "However, coming here today is not because of him.

Shan Jian has been fighting with those few Sages of Changwen Heaven recently; both sides are deeply engrossed, so he has no time to turn his attention back to Xudu Heaven."

The golden-robed old man's expression moved slightly, his long eyebrows twitched, and he was just about to speak when he was interrupted by a loud burp.

Turning his gaze,

he saw that a long green jade table, which had been filled with wine and delicacies, was now empty.

An old yellow dog with a cunning appearance was lying on its back on the long table, its eyes squinted in satisfaction, its half-bald tail wagging.

Seeing the two look over,

Zhou Ji gave a shy smile, put his two paws together, and said:

"Excuse me, excuse me! Since following my Master, Old Zhou hasn't really had a full meal. Meeting a wealthy host like you, Old Dragon, I just forgot myself for a moment."

"Sect Master of Dayou is too polite. What are mere external objects?"

The golden-robed old man didn't mind, stroked his beard, and smiled:

"Since I am the host this time, I must ensure the Sect Master is satisfied; otherwise, it would be my poor hospitality. If the Sect Master needs anything else, just say it!"

Initially hearing his old title, Zhou Ji felt a slight sense of melancholy in his heart.

But before he could think much, the second half of the golden-robed old man's sentence followed.

This instantly dispelled his few sorrows, making his entire dog face break into a beaming smile.

"Don't be afraid of Old Dragon laughing at you; I was born with a big appetite, and among my kind, I am one of the best!"

Zhou Ji tapped his hand lightly, and his round belly, which had been bulging like a ball, instantly shrank, like a deflated balloon, skin and bones.

He smiled triumphantly:

"I was only thirty percent full just now, if—"

Before he could finish, Zhou Ji arched his back and flew fiercely off the long table, rolling several times on the ground.

Seeing the old yellow dog tuck its tail and slip away sighing, its figure disappearing,

the golden-robed old man said to Tongxuan:

"Xiao Xiao Shixiong has good means. The Sect Master of Dayou was such a fierce and stubborn person in the past, even his reputation spread to Xudu Heaven. I didn't expect that after being subdued by Xiao Xiao Shixiong, this Sect Master of Dayou would be so submissive. It really makes me admire you!"

"Submissive? Not necessarily. You don't know that the few furnaces of good pills I refined in the past were stolen and eaten by this bastard, who instigated two acolytes to do it.

If it weren't for past friendship, I would have skinned him long ago. This bastard still thinks I don't know, and he refuses to admit it to the death. He is truly clever in his own way!"

Tongxuan shook his head and scolded a few times.

After he finished speaking, the golden-robed old man smiled and said:

"This is also Xiao Xiao Shixiong's tolerance...

But Xiao Xiao Shixiong hasn't told me yet, you rarely set out on a Dharma carriage, and instead of visiting other Mystic Sects or Demon Sects, you actually came to my humble abode. What is the reason?

Forgive my bluntness.

Xiao Xiao Shixiong's secretive behavior really makes me feel terrified, making it hard to sit or stand in peace!"

"With your current Daoist attainment, you can at least be considered one of the masters of the Long Gong. After so many years, you are still so timid; it would be a laughingstock if it got out."

Tongxuan placed the jade cup in his hand down gently. After saying this,

his face suddenly turned solemn, and he looked straight at the golden-robed old man.

His gaze was dark and deep, as if it contained all living beings in the world, layers of universes, or as if it contained nothing at all, chaotic and complex, difficult to name.

"Chen Chen Shidi Ao Yang, years ago, by chance, you and I entered the Gate of All Wonders. Although it was a narrow escape, we were lucky to get some benefits from it."

Tongxuan said lightly:

"That Jianmu tree you obtained back then...

In recent years... it should have come back to life, right?"

Although this voice was calm, without any ups and downs, just narrating slowly.

But when the golden-robed old man Ao Yang heard it, it was like a thunderbolt exploding over his head!

It shook his back tight, terrified and trembling, and a brilliant light burst from his eyes!

"Xiao Xiao Shixiong..."

Ao Yang subconsciously took a step back, his sleeves moving without wind.

His body seemed to become incomparably tall suddenly, as if it would tear the sky apart!

Horns grew on his forehead, his body grew scales, and his hands and feet seemed to turn into ferocious golden claws.

In the blink of an eye, the golden-robed old man turned into a dragon-headed, human-bodied figure, wearing a five-colored crown, towering and noble, like an ancient god at the intersection of chaos.

Each of his golden scales was as bright as the sun, shining brilliantly, and the prayers and worship of countless living beings in the sea and land came from within his body. His divine power was magnificent, enough to subdue ten thousand spirits!

"Hurry, you are in a hurry again."

Tongxuan smiled when he saw this, without any movement, just pressed his hand down slightly.

But following this action, Ao Yang's body trembled inexplicably, and that massive original form that supported the sky and earth collapsed with a roar. He could only helplessly manifest his original golden-robed, aging old man image, pressed so hard that his knees almost went soft.

"Xiao Xiao Shixiong..."

Ao Yang suppressed the panic in his heart, looked at Tongxuan with terror, and felt a chill rise, making his whole body cold:

"What is this means of yours? Could it be that great supernatural power obtained from the Gate of All Wonders?!"

"In divine cultivation, you are only in the initial Divine Lord realm, not a Divine King; your foundation is not stable after all.

Controlling you is not difficult; there is no need to activate that supernatural power."

Tongxuan smiled:

"As for me, after years of closed-door cultivation, by chance, I finally have some inspiration. The distance to picking the immortal career again should not be far..."

Seeing Ao Yang silent and speechless,

Tongxuan shook his head and stood up:

"I am not a person who talks too much. After you obtained the remnant body of the Jianmu tree from the Gate of All Wonders back then, I have always kept my mouth shut and never said a word to the outside world. It is your Long Gong that was not secretive enough; the commotion caused by trying to resurrect that Jianmu tree was too big, which is why such trouble was caused."

"Long Gong..."

Ao Yang calculated quickly in his mind.

In a moment, he seemed to have thought of something, and a fierce light burst from his eyes, like the power of the scorching sun:

"Xiao Xiao Shixiong means?"

"Your guess is correct; Lu Cai is a person from the Xuanfeng Cave of the Xiantian Xiantian Mo Zong."

Tongxuan said.

Ao Yang's expression was complex, and he sighed long and hard: "This person? It's actually this person?

The schemes of your Eight Sects and Six Schools are really too many!

After all the calculations, we still couldn't prevent this. Is the rise and fall of the clan going to be destroyed in this era?!"

Since accidentally entering the Gate of All Wonders with Tongxuan and luckily surviving,

the Long Gong had almost used the strength of the entire clan to make that Jianmu tree take root and sprout, and resurrect it again!

This was not easy to do.

On one hand, they had to be careful to guard against the Eight Sects and Six Schools, not letting them notice any abnormalities.

And to resurrect the Jianmu tree, they needed a lot of manpower to run around and raise precious materials.

Under these circumstances, the Dragon Clan's own manpower was stretched thin, and they inevitably had to rely on trusted subordinates.

And Lu Cai's clan had lived in the Long Gong for thousands of years, like family servants.

Their background and history

were all clean and white! No suspicious points could be found!

And when selecting Lu Cai to enter the game, Ao Yang was not entirely at ease, and together with several old dragons in the Long Gong, he tested him again and again.

Only after confirming there were no errors did he tell Lu Cai the truth.

But he didn't expect

that even with such caution,

they still fell into the trap of the Eight Sects and Six Schools unknowingly, and had their tails caught...

Ao Yang felt very annoyed in his heart.

At this moment, his emotions were truly complex.

"I know that the Eight Sects and Six Schools must have been secretly vigilant against surrendered ministers like me...

It is not just my Long Gong; I fear that in the Twelve Great Families, the Twenty-Four Demon Cultivators of the South Sea, and the Outer Dao Heavenly Humans of the Western Two States, there are your eyes and ears."

After a long while, Ao Yang said despondently:

"In the past, although I also found some eyes and ears, now that I think about it, those were just small pawns; the real big fish are still behind."

Tongxuan shook his head and said:

"Fellow Daoists like Shan Jian, Shenwu Shuhua, and Xuanming Wuxian have never trusted you... Hungry, they are used; full, they are discarded. This matter cannot be guarded against."

Ao Yang's expression tightened, and he hurriedly said:

"Please, Xiao Xiao Shixiong, be clear; my clan truly has no different intentions! We just wanted to use this Jianmu tree to open up a foundation in the outer sky as a place to live, just worried that the Eight Sects and Six Schools would not allow it, so we acted in secret.

Acts of rebellion have never been dared!"

Tongxuan nodded slightly upon hearing this, but did not answer.

After a long while, he said:

"Not being willing to be under others is also within reason; there is nothing to talk about."

Ao Yang felt anxious upon hearing this.

He was just about to open his mouth to defend himself when Tongxuan's next sentence followed:

"However, since your Dragon Clan has guarded the East Sea and served as the barrier for the various lands of Xudu, you have indeed made many contributions.

Whether it is against Lu Yusheng or attacking outward, opening up territory, you have always been at the forefront; all kinds of achievements are in people's hearts and are hard to erase."

"Exactly! Exactly!"

Ao Yang was delighted:

"Xiao Xiao Shixiong's eyes are like torches; my clan truly has no intention of rebellion!"

"I came here this time entrusted by fellow Daoists of the various sects, not to question your crimes.

Otherwise, it wouldn't be me coming to your Long Gong today, but Shan Jian, Xuanming Wuxian, and those old men."

Tongxuan paused slightly at this point and said solemnly:

"Chen Chen Shidi Ao Yang, for the sake of old friendship, tell me the truth. Over the years, does your lineage of True Dragons have any intention of returning to Taichang Heaven?"

"..."

Facing that deep, bottomless gaze, Ao Yang felt that his thoughts were hard to hide.

After hesitating for a few breaths, he finally nodded.

"Taichang Heaven is our homeland after all; how can we give it up?"

He sighed.

"Since that is the case, things are easy to handle. Guests are hard to keep; you might as well return to your homeland." Tongxuan smiled.

"Xiao Xiao Shixiong, are you joking? Although the Dragon Court is no longer as prominent in Taichang Heaven as it was in the past, it is not difficult to handle my lineage."

"That may be so, but..."

Tongxuan spoke unhurriedly:

"What if the Eight Sects and Six Schools are willing to contribute to this and help you together?"

Ao Yang was stunned upon hearing this, and then his eyes moved slightly, lost in thought.

About half an hour later, seeing Ao Yang still hesitating and unable to make a decision,

Tongxuan didn't force anything, just waved his hand and said:

"This matter is of great importance and cannot be decided by you alone. It is not too late for you to discuss it carefully with those old dragons later and come up with a plan before answering me.

Currently, I have a private matter that I need to ask of you; you might as well listen to my words first."

"Xiao Xiao Shixiong is too polite." Ao Yang hurriedly collected his thoughts and bowed: "If there is anything, just give orders; why talk about asking or not!"

Tongxuan reached into his sleeve, took out a pair of golden awls, signaled Ao Yang to take them, and then placed them in his hands.

"Feijie Xuan Shu Golden Awls? Xiao Xiao Shixiong, what is this?"

Ao Yang glanced at them and quickly recognized the origin of the golden awls in his hands.

Feeling like he was holding a hot potato, he couldn't help but be a bit cautious.

"I know that your Long Gong hides two broken pieces of the Abi Sword. I don't want to take advantage of you, so I will exchange them with this pair of Feijie Xuan Shu Golden Awls. I hope Chen Chen Shidi will give me some face."

"Xiao Xiao Shixiong overstates. To think it is a heavy treasure like the Feijie Xuan Shu Golden Awls; exchanging this for the broken pieces of the Abi Sword is enough..."

Ao Yang was surprised, his gaze piercing through layers of void, falling on Chen Hang in the Wide Wilderness Minor Realm, lost in thought:

"But Xiao Xiao Shixiong has gone to great pains for this disciple of yours; you are truly willing to bleed! Could it be that after Junyao left, the orthodoxy of the Yuchen Sect is to fall upon him?

In this way, today's Long Gong is truly honored!"

"Don't put any high hats on him. Until the end, who can determine the final outcome? Think carefully about the Taichang Heaven matter. When there is a result, tell me again. I won't disturb you anymore."

Tongxuan waved his hand, and his figure disappeared, with only his voice echoing:

"By the way, after the Dharma Assembly is over, you can give these Five-Element Essences to Chen Hang in your name.

Chen Chen Shidi Shan Jian has repeatedly pressured your clan. He and I have been friends since youth, unlike ordinary people, so I shouldn't blame him too much.

Using these Five-Element Essences to make Chen Hang owe you a favor is also my intention. Chen Chen Shidi, don't refuse."

Ao Yang looked over hurriedly.

He saw that where Tongxuan had disappeared, there were now five objects suspended in the air, radiating five-colored light, with all five elements of gold, wood, water, fire, and earth complete.

If not Innate Five-Element Essences,

what else could they be?

"Xiao Xiao Shixiong, you truly value this child; such thick love!"

Ao Yang put away the few Innate Five-Element Essences, looked toward the Wide Wilderness Minor Realm again, couldn't help but mutter in his heart, and thought to himself:

"I wonder if this child is willing to marry a Dragon Lady and form a marriage alliance with my Long Gong?

Even if I don't dare to think of a Dao companion, as a concubine, for the sake of Xiao Xiao Shixiong, I can grit my teeth and agree to it..."

At the same time,

Long Gong, Wide Wilderness Minor Realm.

At this moment, it was another scene...

Combined

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 296 =====