Chapter 515: A Strange Hongze, A Familiar Sect

Chapter 515: A Strange Hongze, A Familiar Sect

Shen Yi didn't intend to be ruthless, but his cautious nature meant that he always gave his all, even when facing seemingly weaker opponents.

The three men from Du Weiguang who had attacked earlier had managed to keep their lives, but in any other sect, they would have been considered crippled.

However, after they were brought into the main hall, the group of monks from the Moving Mountain Sect didn't seem overly concerned.

After all, those who practiced the Spirit Body Technique often engaged in close combat, and it was common for them to get injured during sparring. If they didn't have healing methods, the sect probably wouldn't have had even a tenth of its current disciples.

Of course, there was also another reason for their calmness.

Shen Yi's display of his Tempered Body strength played a significant role in easing their worries.

As far as they knew, not only among the Seven Sons of Nan Hong, but in all of Nan Hong, there weren't any sects that primarily cultivated the Tempered Body.

This meant that the young monk had likely achieved his crushing Spirit Body cultivation over the sect's direct disciples through his own means.

If he were provided with a mature cultivation method and supplemented by the myriad of heavenly treasures the Moving Mountain Sect possessed, his future achievements were immeasurable.

The disciples of the Seven Sons of Nan Hong would definitely not join another sect, as nothing could be more tempting than a Harmonious Treasure Land.

However, there was one issue... If he remembered correctly, when Wei Yuanzhou introduced him earlier, this youth in ink-colored robes didn't seem to be a disciple. This was a problem.

The Moving Mountain Sect was confident that they could offer a price greater than any of the Seven Sons of Nan Hong to recruit this monk.

With this in mind, Yang Yunheng's attitude noticeably softened.

He cupped his hands towards Wei Yuanzhou, "I understand why Fellow Lingyun is here, but our sect's disciples are currently not in the sect."

Given Yang Yunheng's status, this explanation was already giving Wei Yuanzhou a lot of face. Anyone who wasn't a greenhorn would not continue to question their previous deliberate coldness.

After all, while the Moving Mountain Sect was not as strong as the combined forces of the Seven Sons of Nan Hong, they were not their subordinates either. Moreover, they were located in a different region, and the Seven Sons of Nan Hong themselves didn't dare to act too boldly. There was no need to show excessive humility before them.

Even a strong dragon wouldn't bully the local snakes, especially one that was nearing its end.

A hundred thousand years was enough to change a lot of things.

The current situation in Hongze was already quite different from what it used to be.

The Seven Sons of Nan Hong were like retired elders of the Jianghu. While they still had some influence, as long as there was no conflict of interest, people were willing to flatter them. But if they tried to forcefully assert their senior status, they would only end up embarrassing themselves.

As for angering them and having them flip the table...

Don't forget that the decision to send that Purple Jade Fairy to the heavens was a joint decision by the Hongze Immortal and the Northern Dragon Palace. Even the Eastern Palace, where the Purple Jade Fairy originated, didn't have much of a say. Otherwise, the fairy wouldn't have gone to cry to Xuan Qing in the first place.

In other words, the Immortal and the Northern Dragon Palace wanted to use this opportunity to gain some benefits in the heavens.

The Seven Sons of Nan Hong had almost ruined their plans.

If they didn't restrain themselves, others might not care, but the Northern Dragon Palace, the strongest force, wouldn't mind teaching them a lesson.

"...”

Bai Wu averted his gaze, struggling to hold back a laugh. Yang Yunheng's attitude towards Shen Zongzhu and their group was like night and day. However, instead of feeling angry, he was working hard to control his emotions.

With his keen mind, he could easily see through the thoughts of these elders of the Moving Mountain Sect.

As expected, as soon as Shen Yi left Nan Hong, he attracted the attention of this outside force. Like a dragon emerging from a deep abyss, even a casual display of his power was enough to attract attention.

But... Shen Yi was indeed not a disciple, but he was the sect master!

They had tried to poach a disciple, only to find out it was the Nan Yang Zongzhu. Bai Wu was curious to see if these old men would want to dig a hole and bury their heads in shame.

"May I ask when your sect's disciples will return? Is there a specific date?"

Wei Yuanzhou nodded slightly. This was all he wanted to hear. If the Moving Mountain Sect wasn't willing to help, the Seven Sons of Nan Hong weren't the type to force the issue.

In the worst-case scenario, the Seven Sons would just seal their sects and not come out, regardless of the chaos outside.

As he had already prepared to leave, he asked this routine question and stood there waiting for a response.

Unexpectedly, the strong men of the Moving Mountain Sect all fell silent for a moment.

Including Yang Yunheng, their expressions became somewhat complicated. It might not be a bad thing, but they didn't seem too willing to talk about it.

"It's unclear. It depends on luck. Maybe it will be in the next two days, or it may take a long time." The great elder slowly shook his head.

Upon hearing this, even Su Hongxiao revealed a surprised expression.

As they were all from immortal sects and happened to be disciples, they were very familiar with such matters.

If it was a disciple who had already grown up, they were considered half the sect master. Such an important figure would be closely watched by the entire sect whenever they left.

For example, those who left Nan Hong, like them, would be guarded by a Harmonious Wonderland sect master.

With Yang Yunheng's status, how could he give such an unreliable answer... It even gave the impression that the disciples of the Moving Mountain Sect didn't have the qualification to decide their own schedule.

"It's not just the Moving Mountain Sect that's like this..." Yang Yunheng felt a little embarrassed and added, "Even if the disciples of your sects go to another sect for discussions, the situation should be similar."

Upon hearing this, Wei Yuanzhou frowned slightly.

He glanced at Bai Wu and signaled for him to contact the other three disciples to find out the situation on their side.

At that moment.

The group of strong men from the Moving Mountain Sect all looked in one direction.

"Roar!"

The next moment, a sharp beast roar exploded in the air, carrying a furious roar like a mighty bell toll. For a demon to be so bold as to act so arrogantly in the Moving Mountain Sect, its attitude seemed strange given that it only possessed the aura of the twelfth layer of Void Shattering.

In the clear sky, one figure after another appeared.

More than a dozen powerful White Jade Capital cultivators showed themselves.

Together with the ones in the main hall earlier, if you didn't count the giants at the Harmonious Wonderland level, even if you added the strongest among the Seven Sons of Nan Hong, the Heaven Sword Sect and the Unparalleled Sect, they would still be slightly inferior.

In front of so many powerful beings, the demon, which looked like a giant lion with black fur, continued to roar.

The reason for this was that there wasn't a single injury on its body. Not only was there no blood, but its fur was sleek and shiny, as if it hadn't been captured but rather escorted back to the Moving Mountain Sect.

"We welcome your return to the sect, Dao Child!"

Led by Yang Yunheng, numerous disciples of the Moving Mountain Sect bowed respectfully, all with expressions of sincere admiration.

In any immortal sect, there was an irreconcilable conflict between the elders and the Dao Children, and that was the competition for the Harmonious Treasure Land.

For the Moving Mountain Sect, a sect of such massive size, to have everyone from the personal disciples to the Great Elder show such respect, there was basically only one reason.

And that was because this Dao Child of the Moving Mountain Sect was incredibly formidable in combat!

"What do you think?"

Bai Wu retracted his gaze and, very consciously, removed himself from the group to look towards the other two Dao Children.

Wei Yuanzhou pondered for a moment before shaking his head.

He was very candid in acknowledging that he was not as skilled as the other party.

There was no shame in this; the Lingyun Sect disciples were less than half the number of the Moving Mountain Sect, and as Dao Children who had survived life-and-death battles, the other party's required strength was undoubtedly stronger.

Su Hongxiao, on the other hand, didn't even bother to answer.

If it had been in the past, this Dao Child of the Moving Mountain Sect might have sparked her competitive spirit, but now her mind was occupied with studying Shen Yi.

Compared to Shen Yi, this Dao Child's strength might be even higher, but it was all written on his face, easily seen through at a glance, which was actually quite boring.

As for victory or defeat... that would only be known after a fight.

Life-and-death battles were full of variables, and the outcome couldn't be easily deduced at a glance.

In contrast, she was more interested in Shen Yi's changes.

At the moment that demon appeared.

Shen Yi's usual nonchalance lessened noticeably, and while everyone else's gaze was on the Moving Mountain Sect Dao Child, only his eyes remained fixed on the black-maned lion.

"Is it really that interesting?"

Su Hongxiao mused to herself. Although she was already known for her bloodthirstiness, she also knew that killing was merely a means to an end, and she herself did not enjoy the process.

But Shen Yi seemed different... He could ignore the wealth in Ke Laoqi's palace, appearing purely interested in thrusting his spear into the demon's neck, and he seemed to relish the act.

It was really hard to judge him for this.

"Huh."

Shen Yi adjusted his breathing. With his rich experience, he could instantly see the extraordinary qualities of this lion, which seemed to possess a certain level of sentience.

If they could find its clan and gather the power of the entire clan to nurture it, perhaps there would be hope for opening the Third City.

However, this demon was obviously the Moving Mountain Sect's catch, and with only one of them, it didn't excite Shen Yi too much... He could ask that Dao Child about it later if he had the chance.

"You've all worked hard during this time. Go and get some rest." Yan Chongzhang nodded to the person next to him, grabbed the lion, and leaped to the guest tower, causing the entire mountain peak to shake.

He glanced at Yang Yunheng.

The Great Elder promptly introduced, "These are the Dao Children of the Nan Hong Lingyun Sect, the Heaven Sword Sect, and the Qingyue Sect, and this young talent came with the Dao Children."

Upon hearing this, Yan Chongzhang turned the giant lion over and slammed it to the ground as if he were smashing a small hill.

He then cupped his hands towards the group and apologized, "Sorry, Chongzhang has been busy lately, and I've kept you waiting. After I finish handling this matter, I will immediately host a banquet to drink with you."

"You're too kind, Dao friend." Wei Yuanzhou raised his palm slightly, indicating that the other party should go ahead with his business.

He made no mention of the previous conflict with the Moving Mountain Sect, and it was clear that regardless of the thoughts of the other elders, this Dao Child of the Moving Mountain Sect was genuinely busy, and the fatigue in his eyes was not feigned.

Only the sect master and the Dao Child could represent the attitude of a sect, and the actions of the others were merely minor disturbances.

"Then I'll trouble you to wait a while longer."

Yan Chongzhang didn't dawdle and quickly straightened out the fatigue in his expression. He then took out a golden book from his pocket.

The next moment, he slowly opened it.

Spiritual light converged and rushed straight into the sky, obviously transmitting a message.

Su Hongxiao and the other Dao Children curiously looked over. It was unusual for a Dao Child of an immortal sect to use such means to find someone within their own sect.

Wei Yuanzhou was also puzzled. Why would a Dao Child of the prestigious Moving Mountain Sect display such a subservient attitude? The means used to summon an outsider into the sect like this was rarely seen in Nan Hong.

Who exactly was this person?

Logically, Shen Yi had the least experience among them, and he was usually not interested in anything other than demons.

But at this moment, he was intently staring at the sky, his clear eyes sparkling with curiosity.

At the moment the spiritual light from the golden book dissipated.

The clouds in the sky were suddenly covered with a faint golden light, which then wove together.

Finally, it transformed into a majestic landscape that spanned the heavens and the earth, so vivid it seemed alive.

In the middle of the palace in that landscape sat a figure on a golden reed mat, his features obscured by a spiritual light.

He sat within the landscape, yet he seemed apart from the five elements.

Everything around him, from the commoners to the officials, the fat monks to the slender Taoists, was vivid, but they were on a different plane from him.

"What is this?"

Even the well-traveled Wei Yuanzhou was astonished.

Yan Chongzhang stared at the sky and explained softly, "The Palace of the Immeasurable... Dao Emperor."

"A Xian technique?" Although Bai Wu was not particularly skilled, he was still a Dao Child, and he could tell that this was not a pure Dao Palace, and that the cultivator was probably not present but had used some method to manifest part of the Dao Palace within the Moving Mountain Sect.

At the mention of those two words, his voice trembled slightly.

"Not quite." Yan Chongzhang smiled wryly, then continued, "It hasn't reached that level yet. This is a Dao technique they've realized, somewhere between a spiritual technique and an Immortal technique."

As he spoke, he suddenly paused.

Because the figure sitting on the reed mat slowly opened his eyes and looked down.

"This is what your sect needs." Yan Chongzhang pointed to the black-maned giant lion without any arrogance.

At the appearance of the Immeasurable Dao Emperor's Palace, the demon, which had been roaring incessantly, suddenly lay on the ground, its body trembling.

Many demons fled to Nan Hong upon hearing the news, but very few succeeded. Obviously, his luck was not that good, and he didn't know what cruel methods awaited him after being taken into the Wu Liang Dao Emperor Sect.

"No."

The luminous figure on the cushion finally spoke, his gaze fixed on Yan Chongzhang from beginning to end, paying no attention to the few Nan Hong Dao disciples beside him.

"What do you mean?" Yan Chongzhang was taken aback.

"This is not what we want." The luminous figure shook his head indifferently. "You are a disciple of the Moving Mountain Sect and should be more diligent. This thing... is too inferior."

As his words fell, the figure in the landscape painting suddenly stood up, took out a short sword of ink-green from his dirty sleeve, and casually threw it down.

Whoosh.

A green light descended from the sky, piercing the head of the black-maned giant lion without a single mistake, silently taking away its vitality.

The green light remained unstained by blood, still pure and clean, and quickly returned to the beggar's sleeve.

He sat back down on the street, holding the broken bowl in his hands.

"..."

Wei Yuanzhou's eyelids twitched. The green light exuded the aura of a Dao weapon. Without the person being present, they used this bizarre method to send over a Dao weapon. It was beyond his comprehension as a Lingyun Dao disciple.

"What are our chances of victory?" Bai Wu, as usual, fanned the flames.

This time, however, he was met with a cold glare from Wei Yuanzhou.

"It's not that bad, is it? It's just a Primordial Heaven-arming Treasure. Who doesn't have one?" Bai Wu withdrew his gaze, feeling slighted, and turned to look at Su Hongxiao.

"It's all show," Su Hongxiao said indifferently, her eyes fixed on the Wu Liang Dao Emperor Palace in the sky. Her fingertips twitched, eager to give it a try.

In a life-and-death battle, what mattered was not who had the bigger show of force.

The true test was to impale your opponent with your Dao weapon.

Hearing this, Bai Wu's eyes widened in surprise.

Given Su Hongxiao's personality, for her to comment on the opponent before the fight even began showed just how much pressure she was feeling.

"Huh."

Yan Chongzhang remained silent for a long time before slowly clenching his fists and turning around. "Alright, I will try again. You can leave now."

For the Moving Mountain Sect, forging a connection with the top power of North Hongze, the Wu Liang Dao Emperor Sect, would undoubtedly be a good thing.

However, for a Dao disciple, having to lower himself in front of a nameless cultivator was undoubtedly humiliating.

"Be more diligent."

The luminous figure did not get angry but spoke in a condescending tone, offering another piece of advice.

Soon after, the entire landscape painting quietly dissipated.

Yan Chongzhang snapped the golden book shut.

Only then did Yang Yunheng smile wryly and turn to look at Bai Wu. "That's not an ordinary Primordial Heaven-arming Treasure. The Greenfire Blue Lotus Sword is ranked within the top seventy in the Dao Weapon Records."

"What is the Dao Weapon Records?" Bai Wu's question revealed Nan Hong's current predicament. It wasn't that he was stupid, but he felt there was no need to hide their situation anymore.

For the Nan Hong Seven, who relied more on ancient books to understand the current situation, Hongze was becoming increasingly foreign to them.

"It only records one hundred Dao weapons. Nowadays, the basic requirement for a Dao weapon to be included is for it to be a Primordial Heaven-arming Treasure. Some people occupy three spots, while others strive their entire lives without success."

Yang Yunheng continued, a hint of pride creeping into his voice, "One of our sect's disciples has a Dao weapon that made it into the records, and it's ranked higher than the Greenfire Blue Lotus Sword."

"Then why..." Bai Wu raised an eyebrow, not finishing his sentence.

But his meaning was clear. If their ranking was higher, why were they being so humble?

"You!"

Yang Yunheng glared at him. Why? Of course, it was because of the Greenfire Blue Lotus Sword. It was just one of the Dao weapons that the Wu Liang Dao Emperor Sect cultivator had revealed, while their own disciple's Dao weapon was already their strongest.

Su Hongxiao withdrew her gaze.

It was clear that this so-called Dao Weapon Records did not include the Nan Hong cultivators.

She was curious about where her three Primordial Heaven-arming Treasures would rank.

"..."

Shen Yi continued to stare at the sky, intrigued by the Dao Weapon Records but even more so by the Wu Liang Dao Emperor Palace. It reminded him of something.

His own Demon Emperor Palace had been using the Demon Magic Dao Pillar to break through, and he had not studied it in a long time. As a result, despite it being the same cultivation technique, the Wu Liang Demon Emperor Palace seemed like an unattainable fantasy, with only his cultivation base to show for it.

He shook his head, glancing at the remains of the black-maned giant lion on the ground with a hint of regret.

Shen Yi hated wasting food.

Especially when it happened right before his eyes.

He suddenly remembered something—the Golden Sparrow Young Master and the Qingxi brothers he had met in Nan Hong had also fled with their clans. He wondered if it had anything to do with the Wu Liang Dao Emperor Sect's actions.

If so, that would be troublesome.

Shen Yi took a deep breath. Not only did he have to fight against demons, but he also had to compete with this seemingly terrifying force for the most talented demons? Thankfully, he had left Nan Hong early.

If he had stayed any longer, he might not have even had leftovers to eat.

"Fellow Daoists, if you have something to say, please get to the point. I'd like to go and admire the mountain to calm my mind." Yan Chongzhang finally calmed himself and smiled at the group.

"..."

Wei Yuanzhou, on the other hand, didn't know how to bring up his request.

They all wanted the Moving Mountain Sect's help.

But was there really any comparison between the Nan Hong Seven and the Wu Liang Dao Emperor Sect?

If Xuan Qing hadn't met with that accident, and if Nan Hong hadn't wasted those ten thousand years, the two forces might have still been on equal footing... But now, there was clearly a gap between them.

If they forced the Moving Mountain Sect to choose, it would only make them seem shortsighted.

"I will try to finish what I'm doing as soon as possible." Sensing Wei Yuanzhou's hesitation, Yan Chongzhang paused and tried to offer some assurance.

"Then we are grateful." Wei Yuanzhou cupped his hands in thanks.

Yang Yunheng stood silently beside him, wanting to say something to Yan Chongzhang but unable to find the right moment.

At that moment, the Moving Mountain Sect Dao disciple smiled and said, "If you're not in a hurry to leave, would you like to accompany me to take a look at that treasure mountain?"

Before he could finish his sentence, Yang Yunheng's face changed drastically.

He wanted to stop him, but it was too late.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end