Chapter 513: Visiting the Banshan Sect, the Daozi's Anger

Chapter 513: Visiting the Banshan Sect, the Daozi's Anger

The magnificent treasure ship glided through the sky like a streak of light, swiftly passing through the heavenly canopy.

Below, the vast ocean seemed to be one entity, with its emerald waves rolling high, then crashing down without any unusual occurrences.

But Shen Yi, sitting cross-legged on the ship, slowly opened his eyes.

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination.

Just a moment ago, he suddenly felt like he had crossed a "line," and immediately afterward, even the spiritual energy of the surrounding heaven and earth underwent subtle changes.

However, within his line of sight, there was no sign of any formation or barrier.

"It's the Dragon Palace."

Jingxi, the Zongzhu of Qingyue Sect, stood with her hands clasped in front of her, and with a sideways glance, she explained softly, "The four Dragon Palaces guard Hongze, and the boundaries are strictly guarded. It's because of the Dragon Palaces that there is a distinction between Nanhong and Xihong."

The master of Hongze was a man of few words.

Jingxi withdrew her gaze, "Without Nanhong's support, it's not convenient for me to intervene. Please forgive me, Shen Zongzhu."

As she finished speaking, her figure vanished from her original spot. If not for the lingering sound of her voice, it would have been as if no one had ever been there, leaving no trace of their presence.

"..."

Shen Yi also knew how to teleport, but even with all his might, he would still leave traces and a lingering aura.

He couldn't possibly achieve the same level of stealth as Zongzhu Jingxi.

The abilities of a Unification Realm cultivator were far beyond what a Return to Void cultivator could fathom. Just from these subtle details, the gap between them was already so vast, let alone if they were to engage in direct combat.

Shen Yi had offended two such powerful individuals, and both of them happened to be the Dragon Sons of the two Dragon Palaces.

Shen Yi rubbed his brow helplessly.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't worried at all. Fortunately, these two were being watched by the Zongzhus of other allied sects, and he had been careful to keep things clean when handling matters, so the situation wasn't too pressing yet.

Of course, relying on external objects was not a long-term solution.

To forge a weapon, one must first strengthen oneself.

If Shen Yi were to unleash his full strength, it would be awe-inspiring.

Just his personal strength alone was enough to open two grand cities and obtain Dao Soldiers that subtly surpassed the Hongmeng Tianjian. Based on his previous encounter with Liu Xingshan, even ordinary cultivators from three cities, at their peak, would likely not be his match.

And the gap was quite evident.

As for Su Hongxiu and her ilk, since they hadn't truly fought before, Shen Yi couldn't make a definitive judgment, but he was certain he had the strength to fight them.

It was worth noting that there was a difference of one great city and one heavenly tribulation between them.

Moreover, Su Hongxiu was a top-tier Celestial Prodigy among the Nanhong Qizi. Furthermore, aside from her personal strength...

If he also counted those two eccentric Sub-Zongzhus, Shen Yi even had the thought of challenging the other six Daozis at the same time.

But it still wasn't enough.

When facing a true Unification Realm cultivator, these so-called advantages seemed too feeble.

He hadn't forgotten how that White Jade Capital Pillar from the Ke Family Prince had been so easily destroyed when facing the Ke Family Prince.

To put it bluntly, although Shen Yi was stronger, he was still at the same level as that pillar.

He didn't think he could perform any better in a similar situation.

"A demonic genius or a vast number of demonic life forces."

Shen Yi closed his eyes and silently recited these two things in his heart.

If he could find a demonic genius like Ke Shisan, that would be ideal, but he couldn't pin his hopes on such a slim chance.

If he couldn't find one, he would have to follow Wujun's path, using ordinary pillars to withstand the heavenly tribulation, consuming an endless number of demonic life forces, and even risking failure, wasting all the demonic life forces he had painstakingly accumulated.

Just thinking about it made Shen Yi's heart tremble.

From the situation of opening the second city, it was evident that these heavenly tribulations were becoming increasingly challenging. Otherwise, why would Su Hongxiu, who could see four cities, stop at three cities? Even Senior Xuan Qing had faced the same situation, unable to pass the last 'Bitter' Tribulation before his unfortunate incident.

Even Senior Xuan Qing couldn't pass it.

Shen Yi couldn't imagine where he could find a demonic genius with greater talent than his opponent...

Day turned to night.

The magnificent treasure ship finally crossed the endless ocean and approached a mountain range.

"Zongzhu Shen, I bid you farewell."

The other three Daozis bowed respectfully and then disembarked from the treasure ship, each summoning their magic treasures and flying towards the heavenly canopy.

After they left, Wei Yuanzhou, who had been silent and taciturn, took a few light steps towards Shen Yi, "Zongzhu Shen, do you know why Zongzhu Jingxi suddenly concealed her aura earlier?"

It had to be said that among the Nanhong Qizi sent by Shen Yi, this Lingyun Sect Daozi, Wei Yuanzhou, seemed the most reliable.

It was less like Shen Yi bringing them out to handle matters and more like Wei Yuanzhou handling matters and using this opportunity to send away a few troublemakers under the pretext of needing them elsewhere.

"Why?"

Shen Yi turned around. In fact, when he heard the words "not convenient," he had felt a hint of doubt, but it wasn't appropriate to ask in front of so many people.

"It's a long story, related to a past incident."

Wei Yuanzhou briefly glossed over the specifics with a slight smile tinged with helplessness, "Actually, the connection between Nanhong and the other places... is relatively distant."

"Why beat around the bush? There's no connection at all," Bai Wu couldn't help but interject. It was clear that pretending to be quiet in front of his master was becoming unbearable for him.

"The other three Hongze forces all have interactions with each other, but we, Nanhong, are like a lone branch," Su Hongxiu gazed silently into the distance. As the top Celestial Prodigy of Nanhong, being unable to compete with the younger generation of Hongze was a difficult pill to swallow.

Wei Yuanzhou glanced at the two of them, his expression growing more helpless, and then he continued looking at Shen Yi, "It's not so much that we're isolated, but more that... we don't want to cause trouble. We maintain a stance of neither provoking nor deeply interacting with Nanhong, letting things take their course."

"..."

Shen Yi nodded slightly, understanding the situation.

The trouble that Wei Yuanzhou mentioned.

It was simply that the Nanyang Sect had offended an immortal and was destroyed, but the remaining six sons were still the largest human force in Nanhong, even overshadowing the Southern Dragon Palace.

The six remaining sects were still alive, but in the eyes of others, they were like prisoners awaiting execution after the autumn harvest.

Even after ten thousand years, other forces were still worried that entanglements with them might provoke the immortal's anger, so they not only cut off contact with the Nanhong Qizi but also the entire Nanhong.

"Therefore, we've always been more cautious in our actions, at least when we're outside," Wei Yuanzhou said, his smile fading. "It's not certain that something will happen, but it's also not certain that nothing will. We can only say that we're being cautious, and when a cultivator of Zongzhu's level leaves Nanhong, it's best to avoid attracting too much attention and giving those with ulterior motives an opportunity."

"

He believed that with Sect Master Shen's great wisdom, he would surely understand his intentions.

"Okay."

Shen Yi stood up and gazed into the distance.

It's just killing quietly, without making a fuss.

This wasn't much of a problem, as he had always acted in this manner.

Upon hearing this, Wei Yuanzhou finally heaved a sigh of relief and smiled, "We rarely leave Southern Flood, and you can take this opportunity to see the splendor of Hongze. As for requesting aid, leave it to me."

"Although we don't usually keep in touch, it involves the Western Dragon Palace, and they know what's going on. There shouldn't be any major issues."

At this point, Wei Yuanzhou took out a jade letter and lightly brushed his palm over it.

Three large golden characters emerged, shimmering with light.

Lingyun Sect! The three characters then transformed into a stream of light and shot out, guiding the magnificent treasure ship forward once again.

"Lingyun Sect has a relatively good relationship with the Seven Sons of Southern Flood. Their cultivation methods are quite unique, requiring a large number of heavenly treasures and resources, and they have specific requirements for their types."

Wei Yuanzhou put away the jade letter, "If you want to find something in Southern Flood, it's inevitable that you'll have to go through the Seven Sons. So, in the past, our interactions were quite frequent, and their strength is also quite impressive, roughly equivalent to the combined strength of our two sects. It's definitely a good idea to consult them first."

The combined strength of two sects?

Shen Yi was slightly surprised. That was more than just 'not bad'; if judged independently, it was already the largest force he had ever seen.

Thinking of this, a hint of curiosity arose in his heart.

His gaze pierced through the clouds and mist, following the golden stream of light until it was blocked by a stone wall that connected heaven and earth.

Shen Yi's pupils constricted slightly, and upon closer inspection, he realized that this pillar-like object was actually a mountain, not truly connecting heaven and earth, but appearing so because it was too tall, with most of its body above the cloud layer.

In the center of this towering mountain was an enormous palm print, hundreds of zhang long and wide.

Even though the interior was already filled with lush greenery and vines, the two characters 'Lingyun' seemed to be carved in gold, and just a glance at them was enough to make one's heart tremble.

"Lingyun Sect's Daoist Wei Yuanzhou, Heavenly Sword Sect's Daoist Su Hongxiu, Qingyue Sect's Daoist Bai Wu, we have come to pay our respects to the Lingyun Immortal Sect!"

Wei Yuanzhou truly lived up to his reputation as the foremost Daoist among his peers.

He stepped out of the treasure ship and stood across the sky, causing the clouds and mist to suddenly stop, as if the entire world had come to a standstill.

In the instant he cupped his hands, his voice reverberated around the pillar, lingering for a long time.

"He's quite restrained," Bai Wu said with a smirk.

"The Seven Sons of Southern Flood haven't made an appearance in a long time. If not for this, they might not have been able to open this door." Although Su Hongxiu didn't think Wei Yuanzhou was qualified to be the foremost Daoist, she trusted him in such matters.

The Seven Sons, once renowned throughout Hongze, owed much of their reputation to Elder Xuan Qing.

Unfortunately, he was like a fleeting flower, and even though ninety-nine percent of people believed he would achieve Unification and reach even greater heights, he 'fell' in White Jade Capital.

He didn't bring any real benefits to the Seven Sons of Southern Flood.

Hence, his fame came and went quickly.

At this level in Hongze, even if the Seven Sons of Southern Flood were not completely unknown, they certainly couldn't match the glory and splendor of their past.

About ten breaths later, the pillar finally responded.

A deep voice, like thunder, echoed through the sky.

"Welcome, esteemed guests from afar!"

Accompanying the booming sound, the characters 'Lingyun' on the pillar suddenly glowed with golden light, quickly extending outward like a golden bridge and landing at Wei Yuanzhou's feet.

"Please."

Su Hongxiu didn't address him as Sect Master again but remained in her original spot, waiting for Shen Yi to go first.

Previously, the disciples and attendants of the Seven Sons of Southern Flood didn't address him as Sect Master outside because they were worried that this young cultivator would embarrass the Seven Sons and make the title of Sect Master seem ridiculous.

Although it was the same action now, the implied meaning was completely different.

After all, this cultivator had reached White Jade Capital in a short time and had killed Elder Liu Xingshan, the Elder of the Three Cities, with a single palm strike, even though the Elder was in a weakened state at the time.

Once this news spread...

Anyone would associate him with a reincarnated immortal.

Even the top forces in Hongze would likely not let such a Celestial Prodigy slip through their fingers, and they would certainly understand the Seven Sons' decision to use the Nanyang Sacred Land to keep him.

Su Hongxiu and the other Daoists were only worried that Shen Yi would lose face. After all, this wasn't a social visit but a request for aid.

A Sect Master personally coming to ask for aid... It not only sounded bad but could also easily give the impression that the Seven Sons of Southern Flood were in a life-or-death crisis.

"There's no need."

Shen Yi shook his head. To be honest, if the situation was as Wei Yuanzhou described, there would be no benefit to revealing the identity of the Nanyang Sect Master outside, and it wouldn't have the effect of using a tiger's skin as a flag. Instead, it would only bring trouble.

"I understand."

Before Bai Wu could react, Su Hongxiu remembered the last time she and Shen Yi had entered the water together to help Ke Laoqi confiscate a family's property. With the backing of the Heavenly Sword Sect, his actions became even more uninhibited.

It seemed like he quite enjoyed this experience...

Bai Wu put away the magnificent treasure ship, and under the guidance of the golden light, the four of them entered the pillar together.

When they reappeared, they found themselves in an extremely luxurious and majestic building, second only to the main hall of the Lingyun Sect.

"Please follow me, Daoists."

A tall and robust man, dressed slightly unusually, nodded at the four of them.

It wasn't an odd costume.

But in a sacred immortal sect, he was dressed like a martial artist from the rivers and lakes, wearing a yellow-green martial arts outfit with leg and arm bindings.

Wei Yuanzhou, with his broader experience, discreetly glanced at the golden mountain-shaped pattern on the man's palm and then cupped his fists, "Thank you, Elder."

This man, whose aura was not ostentatious and whose appearance was ordinary, was actually an Elder of White Jade Capital.

"No need for formalities. Please take a rest for a moment while I inform our Sect's Daoist."

The attitude of the Lingyun Sect Elder was impeccable. If one had to nitpick, it would be the hint of detachment in his eyes.

But considering the reputation of the Seven Sons of Southern Flood, such a reaction was understandable.

"I appreciate your hospitality." Wei Yuanzhou responded politely, neither haughty nor humble.

As the elder of the Banshan Sect turned and walked away along the mountain path, Wei Yuanzhou's gaze returned to the luxurious tall building beside him, and he smiled, "It seems easier than I imagined."

The etiquette for receiving fellow cultivators was well-established in every Immortal Sect.

This building, standing shoulder to shoulder with the main hall, overlooked the mountains.

The treatment they received indicated that they were considered important guests, and it also indirectly reflected the attitude towards the Southern Hong Seven Sons, which had not changed despite the passing of time.

Since this was the case, the discussion about jointly resisting the Dragon Palace was a serious matter.

It seemed that reaching an agreement would be straightforward.

"..."

Su Hongxiu stepped into the tall building, neither approving nor disapproving. Her intuition told her that this matter might not be as simple as it seemed, but she couldn't think of any reason to refute it.

Led by a disciple of the Banshan Sect, the four of them were taken to the most prestigious rooms in the building. Aside from the three Daoists, no one even inquired about Shen Yi's identity, giving ample face to the Southern Hong Seven Sons.

Everything seemed perfectly fine.

Until—

This rest lasted for a full thirteen days.

...

Outside the tall building, Bai Wu wore a faint smile, "It's indeed easier than expected, Yuanzhou."

For over ten days, the disciples of the Banshan Sect had spared no effort in providing them with various delicacies and fine wines.

However, not a single influential figure from the Banshan Sect, those who usually had a say in such matters, had made an appearance.

Normally, with Wei Yuanzhou's personality, he wouldn't bother arguing with Bai Wu.

But at this moment, he fell silent, a hint of gloom creeping into his eyes.

The Banshan Sect's actions were even more unacceptable to Wei Yuanzhou than a direct snub of the Southern Hong Seven Sons.

If they had just refused outright.

At worst, they could move on to the next sect.

But the Banshan Sect's ambiguous attitude left Wei Yuanzhou perplexed. They didn't look down on the Southern Hong Seven Sons, yet they were unwilling to come forward for negotiations.

It was common knowledge that the human forces were supposed to join hands to resist the Dragon Palace.

Otherwise, how could the Southern Hong Seven Sons have maintained a balance against the Southern Dragon Palace for so many years? Could it be that the Ke Family could invite the Qi Family, but the Qi Family couldn't do the same with the Ke Family?

Could the Western Hong forces gain any advantage by joining hands with the Western Dragon Palace?

Or perhaps, since they had been away for so long, the conflict between the human forces and the Dragon Palace had already been resolved in the Western Hong region?

Unable to find a reason, it meant that... even if they went to the next sect, the result might very well be the same.

"We have come from the Southern Hong with important matters to discuss. Please convey our request once more. If you are truly unable to accommodate us, we understand. Please give us a specific date, and Wei will visit your esteemed sect again."

As Daoists, none of them lacked pride.

Wei Yuanzhou was only mindful of his companions' peculiar temperaments and had been suppressing his own nature to maintain harmony.

At this moment, he finally looked at the disciple outside the building, his expression turning serious.

"I will inform the elder, senior," the disciple replied, rolling his eyes slightly and showing a hint of impatience before bowing respectfully and leaving.

This action caused Wei Yuanzhou to slowly close his eyes and take a deep breath.

This scenario had repeated itself several times during the thirteen days.

As a Daoist from an Immortal Sect, being disrespected in the Western Hong region while accompanying the Nanyang Sect Master was something he couldn't accept.

"Since your approach isn't working, I'll convey the message myself."

Su Hongxiu, sensing the numerous White Jade Capital auras within the main hall on the mountain opposite, remained calm and took a step forward.

The next moment, her fingertips gently touched her eyebrows.

Boom—

In an instant, a fierce sword intent soared into the sky from the ground, piercing through the thick clouds and causing the entire sky to tremble. The fierce winds swept through, making the surrounding towering mountains seem to wail in agony.

"Tian Jian Sect, Su Hongxiu."

"I have come to pay respects to your sect."

Her eyes were like a calm well, speaking words similar to Wei Yuanzhou's earlier, but her tone was entirely different, carrying an edge that resonated throughout the entire mountain gate!

Under the soaring sword intent.

The disciple who had just arrived at the mountain path and was about to find a place to meditate felt a chill running up his spine, causing his entire face to go numb.

Despite being at the middle stage of Returning to Void, he couldn't even maintain his stance and stumbled to his knees.

"These Southern Hong barbarians..."

The disciple turned around in fear, clenching his teeth tightly to prevent damage to his spirit soul.

Finally, three figures emerged from the hall on the opposite mountain.

They didn't use teleportation techniques but relied solely on their physical bodies to manipulate the surrounding spiritual energy, suspending themselves above the tall building.

"Fellow Daoist, is this how your elders taught you to pay respects to a sect?"

The three figures coldly shouted, all young disciples personally taught by the elders, showing no fear when facing other Daoists.

Clearly, there was an even higher-ranking person sitting in the hall.

"..."

Wei Yuanzhou glanced at Shen Yi beside him and then sighed at Su Hongxiu, "Put away your aura. It's not worth continuing to argue. Even in this situation, the Banshan Sect still refuses to let those who truly have a say in the matter come forward."

Su Hongxiu closed her eyes, carefully adjusting her breathing.

After a long silence, she finally turned around.

The sword intent in the sky gradually dissipated.

She had her pride, but she was also a Daoist, one who could shoulder the heavy responsibility of the Unification Realm Sacred Land. Controlling her temper was the most basic requirement.

At this moment, the first disciple among the three in the air smirked, looking at the sky that had returned to calm, "You seem pretty confident in your abilities."

"..." Bai Wu's face changed abruptly, even forgetting her usual eccentricities.

As expected, Su Hongxiu slowly clenched her fingers, a hint of coldness appearing on her charming face as her lips curled slightly.

The sword intent completely disappeared, and in the clear sky, three large city shadows slowly emerged.

She opened her eyes and calmly looked back, "Yes."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end