Chapter 469: Hidden World Sect, the Immortal Points the Way

The Great Thunder Sound Continent has many mountains, many waters, and many islands!

This small city is also built against mountains and beside waters; though the city is not large, it is quite prosperous!

Li Yuan found a seat by the window. The tavern had a raised platform set up inside, where an old man was telling stories, and from the private rooms on the sixth floor, one could faintly hear the sound of someone singing!

These days there's not much entertainment. From Hengshan City to the Great Thunder Sound Continent, the taverns along the way are more or less the same, all following this same pattern — truly nothing new!

Only the food, due to the different spirit beasts and spices produced in various regions, might have very slight differences in flavor!

As usual, Monk Liaokong ordered a table of dishes. Though he was a gambling addict, he still kept the various precepts of the Xinyi Sect — at least on this journey, he didn't touch a single bit of meat or fish!

"Here, Junior Brother Li, try this braised Red-Browed Spirit Fish — it's a spirit fish specialty of our Great Thunder Sound Continent, deliciously fresh!"

Monk Liaokong called out as he urged him to eat!

Though he ate only vegetarian food, he never minded others eating meat, and was even intimately familiar with all sorts of fine cuisine!

"Indeed delicious!"

Li Yuan took a few bites. He loved good food, but wasn't very good at evaluating it; yet his chopsticks didn't stop, and in no time at all, a whole fish was down his belly!

Master Wan Chuan and his disciple, the two of them, each held a pot of Hundred Grass Brew — liquor they had brought from Dragon Tiger Temple!

Li Yuan chewed slowly. He had taken a Fasting Pill yesterday, so he wasn't really hungry all day, just nibbling for the taste!

Inside the tavern, the storyteller's voice rose and fell with cadence; he was still telling the popular "Chronicle of Feng Yuanqing." Though Li Yuan had heard it many times, he still listened with great interest!

The deeds of True Person Feng Yuanqing were one thing, but each person's interpretation differed, naturally lending its own unique charm!

"True Person Feng Yuanqing's fame is truly great!"

Wan Chuan set down his chopsticks. Seeing Li Yuan listening so raptly, he couldn't help feeling a touch of emotion — he had actually met True Person Feng Yuanqing before!

"I heard that the reason True Person Feng Yuanqing didn't attend this martial display is because he was blocked by an old flame from his past?"

Brother Qiao Tianhe was about to share the bit of gossip he'd heard, but the moment he opened his mouth, Wan Chuan glared him into silence!

Some things, ordinary men of the jianghu could say, but they could not!

Brother Qiao Tianhe hurriedly lowered his head and focused on his rice. Li Yuan, meanwhile, was drawn by the conversation of a few drinkers not far away!

"Just now the government office posted a notice saying the Town Martial King intends to hold a grand sacrifice, broadly inviting fellow jianghu folk to the capital to observe together?"

"I heard it has something to do with the Eight Directions Temple?"

"Eight Directions Temple or not, I don't care. I heard the imperial court wants to take the chance to recruit guest ministers — supposedly the treatment offered is extremely generous!"

Those jianghu guests were actually discussing the Eight Directions Temple Grand Sacrifice!

And in fact, it wasn't just those two. Li Yuan focused his attention to listen — across all six floors, among the several hundred jianghu folk, at least thirty percent were mentioning this matter!

That proportion was quite high!

"Eight Directions Temple!"

Monk Liaokong set down his tea cup, focused slightly, and also heard the discussion. His expression shifted subtly as he sent a voice transmission: "Junior Brother Li, give this little monk a straight answer — you came down the mountain this time, wasn't it on orders to go to the Divine Capital to observe the sacrifice?"

"Mm?"

Li Yuan frowned slightly: "What makes Senior Brother Liaokong say that?"

"There are similar rumors in the jianghu, saying that you and Brother Long Xinglie came down the mountain this time to go to the imperial court to observe the sacrifice. It's not just you two — I heard the true inheritors of those other families also haven't returned to their mountains!"

Monk Liaokong inquired via voice transmission. He had been holding it in for half the journey, always feeling that these five families had secretly coordinated and excluded their Xinyi Sect!

"That — there really isn't!"

Li Yuan shook his head!

He was very interested in the Eight Directions Temple Grand Sacrifice, but going to the Divine Capital — he had no interest in that at all!

"Is that so?"

Monk Liaokong stared blankly in a daze, then suddenly slapped his thigh: "I dare to bet — the Sect Masters will definitely go."

Master Wan Chuan and his disciple looked up at him. Li Yuan also felt a bit helpless — along this whole journey, Monk Liaokong had not been short on gambling!

He couldn't get three sentences out without a bet — from jianghu rumors down to three meals a day, there was nothing he wouldn't bet on!

"Bet or not?"

Monk Liaokong gave a light cough!

"No bet!"

Li Yuan waved his hand — unless it was a sure-win gamble, he simply wouldn't place a bet!

"Oh?"

As the few were chatting, there was suddenly some commotion downstairs. Li Yuan's heart stirred slightly — his hearing was excellent, and he had already caught the source of the commotion!

It was a burly man with a thick bushy beard, gripping a saber, who rushed out of the building, saying "Here they come again!"

And the commotion wasn't limited to the tavern — some passersby nearby also hurried to follow!

"Something interesting happening?"

Brother Qiao Tianhe was a bit curious and leaned over to look!

Wan Chuan, however, was very direct — he reached out, grabbed a drinker coming down from upstairs, and started asking!

That drinker was initially a bit impatient, but when he turned and saw the group — a Daoist Priest and a Monk together — he was startled. The Three Heroes of the Jianghu were not to be provoked, and here two of them had actually gathered?

Those who traveled the jianghu all had sharp eyes. The drinker hurriedly replied: "You gentlemen are passing through, so you wouldn't know. A few days ago, a master came to Heishuicheng, claiming to be from some hidden world sect, here to recruit disciples and followers..."

"A hidden world sect?"

Li Yuan and the others exchanged glances!

Practicing martial arts full-time requires vast resources; since ancient times, there has never been any sect or clan truly hidden behind the scenes!

Let alone coming to a small place like this to take disciples!

"What nerve!"

Monk Liaokong's expression darkened slightly, which immediately frightened that drinker!

"No rush!"

Li Yuan stopped him and asked: "And then?"

"After that, that fairy maiden settled down in the city. Every few days she'd come out once, and each time she'd draw a huge crowd!"

"Fairy maiden?"

Brother Qiao Tianhe was stunned: "And a woman at that?"

"Yes, a beauty!"

The drinker couldn't help but retort!

"A beauty?"

Wan Chuan frowned slightly: "Did that fairy maiden mention what reclusive sect she came from?"

"This..."

The drinker shook his head blankly!

Wan Chuan waved him off, letting him leave. None of them paid it much mind — there were no reclusive sects in the jianghu, but swindlers, those were never in short supply!

"I'll go take a look!"

Brother Qiao Tianhe was the type who loved a good show. Without waiting for his master's rebuke, he'd already darted into the crowd!

"Rascal."

Wan Chuan cursed him, but didn't actually stop him!

In Mount Hengshan City, heroes gathered from all quarters. Their master-disciple pair didn't stand out much, but in a small place like this, Brother Qiao Tianhe could already run rampant without a care!

The weight of a Body Transformation martial artist, in a small city like this, was heavier than a mountain!

Li Yuan looked out the window and suddenly said: "How about we go take a look too?"

"Junior Brother Li likes watching the excitement too?"

Li Kong was a little surprised. On the road, apart from every time they entered a city to eat, he'd hardly ever seen Li Yuan step outside!

"Then let's go take a look!"

Wan Chuan agreed offhandedly. In his heart he couldn't help but ease up a little — he'd thought this kid was a born ascetic!

Looks like in the end, he's still full of hot blood, young and yearning for love!

Hearing the word "beauty," he's still got some interest...

Li Yuan paid no mind to the thoughts of these two. He was a bit absent-minded — in that fleeting glimpse just now, he'd actually caught the gleam of a weapon!

Though it flashed and vanished before he could see it clearly, he was certain that was at least the radiance of a tenth-rank weapon!

Could it even be a Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing?

East of Heishuicheng!

The east of the city was where the wealthy lived. The streets were broad and tidy, stretching straight from the city gate, branching off into one little lane after another!

Outside one such lane stood a grand residence. The front was spacious, the terrain open. Several dozen burly retainers stood outside, blocking the jianghu people swarming in!

Inside the residence, on a six-story little tower, the view was wide and open — one could see the stream of people gathering outside the gate!

"Fairy maiden, they've all come!"

A middle-aged man in silk satin knocked lightly on the door of the sixth floor. He sniffed the scent drifting out from the room, his eyes glazed!

"Mm!"

Someone inside responded. Just that one sound, and the middle-aged man's face instantly flushed red. In a daze, he went back downstairs!

"Not here either..."

Inside the room, a woman with a seductive figure but a rather cool, aloof expression sat at the mirror doing her makeup!

To call it makeup — in truth, she was dipping her finger in some unknown red liquid and tracing strokes on an ancient bronze mirror: "Cost this old lady so much yuan fire time. Could this 'Immortal's Guidance' also be bound by that broken temple? Or did this old lady not learn it well enough?"

This woman had a graceful figure, dressed in a tight black outfit. At this moment, she stared at the mirror, brows tightly furrowed!

The blood staining her hands was her own — not only essence blood, but it had also cost her an enormous amount of yuan fire!

"That shouldn't be. This yuan fire comes from the minor gods of this realm. Logically, it shouldn't be cut off by that broken temple. Could it be that this Immortal's Guidance really wasn't learned correctly?"

?

The black-clad woman frowned!

Immortal's Guidance was a divine art she'd stolen from her own patriarch. As the name suggested, it could point the way and show an escape route in times of extreme peril!

Hum!

A ghostly light rose on the ancient mirror. Those blood-colored lines flashed once, then vanished. Immediately, blood-characters hatched forth: "Rise!"

"Fate lies to the southeast, cross the Black Waters!"

Can't you be a little clearer?

The black-silver woman slapped out the ghostly light and tucked the bronze mirror away!

The clamor from outside the tower drifted in. She frowned slightly, took a veil and put it on, then took a black umbrella from the wall, opened it, and stepped out of the tower.

"A bunch of filthy trash — not to speak of gods and demons, even Zhao Zhao Tianxing — not a single one with an awakened talent!"

The black-clad woman shook her head inwardly, yet her gaze swept the crowd, and a faint gleam flashed through her eyes!

That was the light of an awakened talent — pity, only second-rank!

Sighing inwardly, she went downstairs!

Chirp!

The instant the black-clad woman stepped through the residence's main gate, the clamor on the open ground outside instantly died away!

In the crowd, Brother Qiao Tianhe felt his heart pound violently once, and he couldn't tear his eyes away!

Swept by that woman's passing glance, he felt his whole body go weak and numb!

"Slap."

A palm landed on his shoulder, hauling back Brother Qiao Tianhe, who was about to push forward. Wan Chuan's old face had gone dark — this kid had no backbone at all!

"Scram!"

Wan Chuan wished he could slap him awake!

Behind the two of them, Liaokong pressed his palms together, his expression rather solemn, and sent a low voice transmission: "What a fearsome charm technique, this poor monk nearly fell for it."

After the transmission, his peripheral gaze swept over Li Yuan, only to see the latter's eyes rippling violently — had he too been captivated?

"His state of mind is far inferior to this poor monk's!"

The big monk's mood suddenly turned very good, but he still reached out and patted Li Yuan's shoulder, sending a transmission: "Junior Brother Li, you this…"

Li Yuan forcibly suppressed the urge to turn and leave, and without a trace

retreated into the crowd!

What the hell.

Li Yuan's heart gave a twitch. He had not yet seen the weapon's light, but the woman who walked out from within the gate, holding a black umbrella, he recognized!

This woman was precisely the one he had seen when listening to the Heavenly Sound before — the one who had struck a deal with that Thousand-Eye Bodhisattva!

Poison Dragon Academy, Chi He Lian.

A visitor from beyond the heavens…

Forcefully suppressing the agitation in his heart, Li Yuan had long since activated the concealment and aura-hiding technique within Wind Tiger Cloud Dragon!

"Junior Brother Li?"

Watching Li Yuan vanish into the crowd, Liaokong vaguely sensed something was off, but before he could ponder it, a chill shot through his heart!

He looked up and saw a pair of eyes, starkly black and white!

Hiss! Truly beautiful…

"The big monk's taken the bait."

Seeing Liaokong stretch his neck, drool nearly dripping, Li Yuan felt his scalp prickle, and instinctively swapped out the Splitting Sea Mystic Whale Hammer!

"Eh?"

Li Yuan had hidden himself well, yet he still heard the voice!

At the same moment, he also felt it — a gaze as tangible as matter descend!

"Third-rank talent, and two of them?"

As dusk drew near, Li Yuan's peripheral gaze swept, and he felt the black-clad woman's

eyes burning like a blazing torch!

Through the crowd, her gaze had already locked onto him!

"There's still an expert?"

The black-clad woman raised an eyebrow slightly, and the crowd gathering around actually fell silent and dispersed!

At this, even Wan Chuan sensed something was amiss; he looked over in alarm!

He saw several hundred people moving like walking corpses — some stumbling, some retreating — as if sleepwalking, returning to where they had come from!

Wan Chuan's heart jolted!

Li Yuan only felt his body grow slightly warm, as a wisp of light rose from the Azure Dragon Kasaya draped beneath his Daoist robe!

Pure white as jade, in a single spin it transformed into a foot-long, red-lipped and white-toothed little monk in a Daoist robe!

It was none other than Long Xi Xiang!

"Master?"

Li Yuan's heart eased — sure enough, Old Long hadn't given the kasaya for nothing!

"Subduing Long Chan Master?"

Wan Chuan's eyes went wide, and Monk Liaokong gave a shudder, suddenly jolting awake, retreating in terror, no longer daring to meet the black-clad woman's gaze!

Wan Chuan's eyes went wide, while Monk Liaokong gave a cold shiver, suddenly jolting awake, retreating in horror, no longer daring to look directly at the woman in black.

"Who might you be?"

As the faint white light dispersed, Long Xi Xiang stood on Li Yuan's shoulder, sizing up the black-clad woman before the gate, his expression solemn!

The faint white light dispersed, Long Xi Xiang stood on Li Yuan's shoulder, he sized up the woman in black at the door, expression solemn!

Twirling her black umbrella lightly, the black-clad woman Chi He Lian looked Long Xi Xiang up and down, her expression turning somewhat strange!

A disciple with this kind of talent is worth a master of this caliber to protect?

She was inwardly astonished, but on second thought found it understandable — though this realm was not small, it was very closed-off; a world-shocking talent barely qualified!

She was inwardly astonished, but on second thought felt it made sense—although this realm of heaven and earth was not small, it was very closed off, a world-shocking talent was, after all, barely passable!

Long Xi Xiang spoke again, also sizing up the woman: "What is your intention?"

He didn't remember much of the past forty-some years, but over this past year he had done quite a bit of cramming!

The famous Grandmasters under heaven could be counted on one hand — where had this woman popped out from?

The famous Grandmasters under heaven and earth only numbered so many in total, where had this woman sprung from?

"My name is Chi He Lian!"

The black-clad woman spoke, her voice cool and clear, but the previous

charm was gone: "I am here, waiting for a person of destiny!"

"A person of destiny?"

Long Xi Xiang frowned and glanced at Li Yuan!

Long Xi Xiang's brow furrowed, and he glanced at Li Yuan!

Chi He Lian carefully scrutinized Li Yuan once more, as well as the sweating fat monk beside him, and shook her head: "And it shouldn't be him either!"

Hearing this, Long Xi Xiang's brow smoothed!

Hearing these words, Long Xi Xiang's brow smoothed out!

After a slight pause, Chi He Lian spoke: "I need to feel the bones. You won't object, will you?"