Chapter 555: Mount Yunmeng Mountain

"Yun Yun Xianyu?"

Hearing Li Yuan's purpose, Daoist Feng Yuanqing's face twitched—he nearly flung his sleeve and left, clearly bearing an enormous shadow from this fair-weather confidante!

Li Yuan coaxed and reasoned, only just managing to hold this True Person back!

"Refine weapons with blood!!!"

At the foot of the mountain, Daoist Feng Yuanqing's face was dark as water. He had indeed heard that Li Yuan was a prodigy in the art of weapon-forging; the reason Nie Xianshan could break through the Heavenly Gang realm relied entirely on the Pure Yang Dragon-Tiger Sword he had forged! But,!!!

"You want her to bleed?

Daoist Feng Yuanqing's face twitched again, shaking his head repeatedly: "Given her temperament, it's not very likely!"

"Then there's still hope?"

Since it concerned the Heaven-Granted Seal Script, Li Yuan naturally could not give up: "True Person, you need only tell me where Senior Yun resides—I'll find a way to persuade Senior Yun myself!"

Not possible... Daoist Feng Yuanqing gave a cold laugh and flatly refused. Based on his understanding of that woman, even if Li Yuan wanted to drain her blood or kill her, it would be impossible—unless he tied himself up and delivered himself to her!

Asking for trouble—how could he possibly agree? "True Person!

"No need to say more!

Daoist Feng Yuanqing's attitude was resolute; no matter what Li Yuan said, he remained unmoved. In the end, Li Yuan had no choice but to bring out Qin Yun, laying out everything about the calamity the two had discussed earlier!

"The Gray World Calamity?"

Daoist Feng Yuanqing glanced at him, frowning slightly: "How can you prove it?" Seeing that he hadn't outright refused, Li Yuan's heart stirred with a faint joy, and he hurriedly took out that token: "Senior Qin is currently inside the Dao Soldier Pagoda—I'll ask him to come out, and you can ask him yourself!"

Daoist Feng Yuanqing neither affirmed nor denied, yet in his heart he was half-believing, half-doubting. This kid couldn't possibly have convinced Qin Yun to come here and deceive him, right?

Hum—having made up his mind, Li Yuan didn't hesitate. He walked straight toward Qin Yun's stele, and as a wisp of ghostly light appeared, a half-real, half-illusory portal emerged, and Qin Yun's voice came through: "Li Yuan?"

"Senior, it's me!" Li Yuan bowed in response. The next instant, a breeze scattered the ghostly light, and Qin Yun stepped forth. He surveyed his surroundings, his gaze falling on Daoist Feng Yuanqing, whose face swept over with a change—"Shua"—he shot to his feet in an instant!

"Feng Yuanqing pays his respects to Senior!" Daoist Feng Yuanqing cupped his hands in salute, yet his heart sank: "Senior, just now this kid Li told me—earlier you mentioned the Great Sun... Calamity?"

Qin Yun glanced at him, Li Yuan nodded: "That's right!

"This—"

Daoist Feng Yuanqing's expression shifted: "There really is this Great Sun Calamity?"

"Damn—a word from him and you believe it!" Seeing this scene, Li Yuan felt utterly speechless. He'd worn his lips to the bone arguing and you wouldn't believe him, but one word from Qin Yun and you accept it at once! "What—you think this old man would deceive you?" "This junior wouldn't dare!"

Daoist Feng Yuanqing wanted to ask further, but Qin Yun paid him no heed, instead looking at Li Yuan: "The token you used to guide me out—is that the one?"

"Exactly!" Li Yuan held that token, feeling a twinge of regret. Had he known earlier that Old Pang could climb Dengshan's hundred steps, he would have shoved this token to him no matter what!

"I wonder, when this junior climbed to the hundredth step, did you gain anything?" "Nothing at all!"

Qin Yun's eyes darkened slightly. He didn't think Li Yuan would deceive him, so it must be that this Eight Directions Temple was treating them differently!

"Nothing at all?

?" Li Yuan was taken aback!

At this moment, Daoist Feng Yuanqing spoke: "Senior, based on our exploration over the past month or so, this mountain path was not prepared for the likes of us." As he spoke, he couldn't help but glance at Qin Yun's stele, his heart racing. "A Divine Palace... there is some truth to it!"

Qin Yun had similar suspicions in his heart, so he wasn't surprised. Just as he was about to ask Li Yuan what use that token had, the latter tossed it straight over!

"Senior, try taking this token up the mountain?" "Would it make a difference?" Qin Yun weighed that token in his hand but didn't refuse, turning instead toward the mountain path!

Hum—an invisible aura flowed down from the peak! Under the gaze of Li Yuan and the other, Qin Yun slowly ascended the mountain. His pace wasn't fast, somewhat like an old man taking a stroll after a meal—slow yet steady. In less than a moment, he had climbed past fifty steps, seemingly unaffected by that invisible aura's pressure! "This easy?

Daoist Feng Yuanqing was slightly astonished—then suddenly he turned back to look at Qin Yun's stele. Earlier, in his startled glance, he'd only noticed his realm; now, taking a careful look, his heart couldn't help but twitch violently: "Bone age—five hundred and twenty-one?" Five hundred and twenty-one years old?!

How... is that possible?!

Daoist Feng Yuanqing was startled, nearly thinking he'd misread it! This old fellow, with such a bone age, could actually climb to a hundred steps. It must be related to that Eight Directions Diagram. While Daoist Feng Yuanqing was shocked, Li Yuan was also watching Qin Yun, speculating in his heart that this Dengshan might not—suddenly, a path! A hum—Li Yuan heard a chime!

The next instant, a wisp of divine light appeared before his eyes: 【Climbing Dengshan to a Hundred Steps: Reward—One Eight Directions Temple Token】. It really works! Li Yuan rejoiced in his heart, and that wisp of divine light had already landed in his palm, transforming into a token. Not long after, Qin Yun, who had been climbing the mountain, also descended and tossed over a token! "Eh?"

Li Yuan had thought this was also an Eight Directions Token, but once it landed in his hand, he sensed something was off—on this token were two ancient divine characters: Dao Soldier. "This Eight Directions Temple really does treat people differently!"

After climbing Dengshan to a hundred steps, Qin Yun was also quite weary. He sat cross-legged to regulate his breath for a moment before opening his eyes: "When you held your token to climb the mountain, the clash of auras was relatively gentle, and it had the effect of cleansing the marrow and tempering the sinews and bones! This token is a Dao Soldier Token—holding this token, you can go to the Dao Soldier Pagoda and choose a Dao Soldier!"

Li Yuan toyed with that Dao Soldier Token, his expression subtle!

This Eight Directions Temple truly treats people differently. Even those who hold a token to enter the temple and follow along seem unable to obtain an Eight Directions Token, yet he himself has obtained another one!

"Choose a Dao Soldier?

This reward is quite nice, but it's a pity it's not an Eight Directions Token." Qin Yun smiled and discussed with Li Yuan: "How about this—I'll give you this Dao Soldier Token, and you lend me that Eight Directions Token. With this token, I can try climbing a thousand steps!"

"As you wish!"

Li Yuan naturally agreed wholeheartedly. Even without this Dao Soldier Token, if Qin Yun wanted to climb a thousand steps, he would be willing—"This token—"

"Feng Yuanqing, you want to try borrowing it too!

Daoist Feng Yuanqing was also somewhat tempted!

Try?" Qin Yun glanced at him and casually tossed the Eight Directions Token to him: "Given your talent and bone constitution, you could try a hundred steps, but... the odds aren't great." The odds were more than not great?

Glancing at Feng Yuanqing's stele, Qin Yun could be certain that this junior—even fighting to the death—had less than a one-in-ten chance of reaching a hundred steps!

"Many thanks, Senior!"

Daoist Feng Yuanqing took that token!

"The token is Li Yuan's—thank him instead!"

Qin Yun calmed his spirit, stood up, and nodded slightly: "If you wish to climb a hundred steps, your only hope lies in that Eight Directions Diagram!" "Many thanks for your guidance, Senior." Daoist Feng Yuanqing cupped his hands in gratitude, then glanced at Li Yuan. After a moment's hesitation, he said: "Yun Yun Xianyu has long been..."

resides at 'Mount Yunmeng Mountain,' but whether she's there now or not, I don't know!" "Mount Yunmeng Mountain?"

Li Yuan hurriedly bowed in thanks!

Daoist Feng Yuanqing sighed, feeling a headache coming on: "She'll most likely have you bring her to find me—she..."

"Yun Yun Xianyu, you say? That little girl's talent isn't bad—she may have a chance of breaking through the Heavenly Gang realm. Bringing her here wouldn't be bad either!"

Qin Yun spoke up to interrupt... Although he didn't know Li Yuan's thoughts, given how wary this kid was of him, the fact that he'd actively asked him to come out meant lending him a hand was no trouble at all. Daoist Feng Yuanqing gave a bitter smile, said nothing, and turned to walk toward that mountain path!

"What, you're in a great hurry?"

Qin Yun glanced at Li Yuan, feeling somewhat puzzled!

Li Yuan was tongue-tied and hurriedly changed the subject: "In your opinion, can True Person Yuan Qing climb to the hundred-step mark? Apart from him, who could comprehend the Eight Directions Diagram? Otherwise, it's almost impossible!"

Qin Yun Dian paid no heed, raising his eyes to look at Daoist Yuan Qing, who was struggling along the mountain path: "This mountain is hard to climb. In the present age, apart from this old man, those who can reach the hundred-step mark are probably only about three!"

"Perhaps not even one!" Qin Yun thought for a moment.

Before entering the Dao Soldier Pagoda, he had climbed this mountain many times, trying every method he could. In the end, it was only by relying on his comprehension of the Eight Directions Diagram that he reached the hundred-step mark with ease. But how easy was it to comprehend that Eight Directions Diagram?

"Indeed, very difficult!"

Recalling the hardship of his own previous climb, Li Yuan nodded. Had his talent not transformed, he could never have imagined how to reach the mountain's peak. Before long, Daoist Yuan Qing had retreated to the foot of the mountain. After swallowing a spiritual pill to regulate his breath, he began his second climb!

At the foot of the mountain, Li Yuan and Qin Yun exchanged glances for a long time. Still unable to restrain himself, Li Yuan took his leave. Before departing, he asked Qin Yun to escort Daoist Yuan Qing and others out of the Dao Soldier Pagoda once Yuan Qing finished his climb. Qin Yun found it somewhat strange, but nodded in agreement. Immediately, Li Yuan took out another Eight Directions Token, turned his mind, and left the Eight Directions Temple. Cloud Dream Mountain was one of the renowned great mountains under heaven; the name "Cloud Dream Dao" came from this very mountain. Upon learning where Yun Yun Xianyu was, Li Yuan did not linger for a single moment. Leaving the Eight Directions Temple, he pulled along Nie Xianshan and Xing Wei, heading to Longhu Mountain to fetch the Plumed Eagles. Among them was a Plumed Eagle King, its speed double that of an ordinary Plumed Eagle. The two descended the mountain and flew day and night without rest, arriving at Cloud Dream Mountain in one day!

Whoosh— The sea of clouds churned and rolled. On the earth, Cloud Dream Mountain was like the spine of the land, stretching as far as the eye could see. Among its peaks were wondrous and graceful formations, dense forests, and deep miasma!

"Damn that Daoist Yuan Qing. When he was young, he left love everywhere, dashing and carefree. The only stumble he ever took was over Yun Yun Xianyu on this mountain... This woman's temperament is utterly perverse; even I suffered a great loss at her hands back then." Nie Xianshan stood with his sword on his back, overlooking the mountains in search of traces, his Daoist robe stirring without wind: "But now, with the token, naturally it's different!"

Screech— The Plumed Eagle King dove down, sweeping across the mountain range: "Do you have a grudge against her?"

Hearing him say this, Li Yuan felt a twinge of regret. This old Daoist had clearly come for more than just the "assistance" he himself had mentioned!

"When has this old Daoist ever bullied the weak? But now, naturally it's different!"

Screech— The Plumed Eagle King dove down, sweeping across the mountain range!

"Do you have a grudge against her?"

Hearing him say this, Li Yuan felt a twinge of regret. This old Daoist had clearly come for more than just the "assistance" he himself had mentioned!

"When has this old Daoist ever bullied the weak?"

Nie Xianshan glared at him, quite displeased!

"Of course you aren't that kind of person, Elder!" Li Yuan grew even more regretful in his heart. When old Daoist Nie said this, his divine sword was already humming and trembling—not even a ghost would believe those words!