https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-535-What-Was-Before-is-Child-s-Play-Now-We-re-Talking-Real-Grudges-Apologies-it-s-a-bit/12555011/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-537-Journey-to-the-Myriad-Manifestations-Gallery/12555018/
Chapter 536: Stirrings in the Hongze, the Mighty Demon Hall Makes Its Move!
Chapter 536: Stirrings in the Hongze, the Mighty Demon Hall Makes Its Move!
Within the grand hall of the Moving Mountain Sect, the elder Pan Boyang, seated at the head of the hall, closed his eyes slightly, and his body seemed to dissipate like flowing sand.
Yang Yunheng stood stunned at the entrance of the hall, his eyes wide as he glared at the elders within. "Is this how you keep watch over him?"
The elders sat rigidly, not daring to breathe a word.
This Northern Hong cultivator's sleight of hand had easily deceived these elders, despite their vast experience.
"Where did he go?!'
One of the elders exclaimed in shock. "Could he have his sights set on something within our sect? A direct disciple of the Infinite Dao Emperor Sect, does he dare to commit theft right under our noses?"
"Hmph..."
Yang Yunheng did not respond. His lips trembled, and he slapped his forehead, staggering back two steps as his mind spun.
It was over. Everything was ruined!
Just thinking about Pan Boyang seeing Shen Yi hidden within the Moving Mountain Sect, and then connecting it to what Yan Chongzhang had said before, this elder felt a chill run through his body.
A mere Pan Boyang was nothing to worry about. After all, the Moving Mountain Sect had two Grand Unity realm heavyweights, and it was not a small force that could be trifled with.
How could they be intimidated by a mere youngster?
But if it involved Xue Yan, and that beast was whispering in his ear, adding fuel to the fire... Yang Yunheng clutched his heart, feeling the violent throbbing within. His breathing became erratic.
"I'll inform the Sect Master! All of you, stay on standby! Not one of you is to leave!"
This was no longer an issue that an elder could resolve. He had to request the Sect Master's presence.
Yang Yunheng did not even dare to hope that he could still protect that Shen Daoist. The most important thing now was to extricate their sect from this muddy water and not involve the Moving Mountain Sect in the conflict between the South Hong Seven and the Infinite Dao Emperor Sect.
Pan Boyang had most likely already met with Shen Yi, and he feared that Yan Chongzhang would do something impulsive.
If they truly clashed, neither of these two behemoths was someone the Moving Mountain Sect could afford to offend.
With these thoughts in mind, Yang Yunheng turned decisively and started walking towards the hall's exit.
Just then, he noticed a figure that seemed somewhat lost and dejected, quietly standing at the door.
"Chongzhang?"
Yang Yunheng exclaimed in surprise and subconsciously looked behind the figure, only to find that both Shen Yi and Pan Boyang had disappeared without a trace.
"Everyone, please disperse."
Yan Chongzhang waved his hand wearily, signaling the elders, who were filled with bewilderment, to leave.
They did not know that Shen Yi had just been within the sect, and for a moment, they were at a loss as to what had happened to make their usually calm and collected elder display such an unusual demeanor.
But since he did not wish to speak of it, they dared not ask and could only rise and exit the hall one after the other.
Yan Chongzhang slowly made his way to the head of the hall and leaned back heavily in the chair, exhaling a deep breath. "Haa..."
"What's going on? You're scaring me to death! Spit it out!" Yang Yunheng demanded, his beard quivering.
"Pan Boyang is dead."
Yan Chongzhang closed his eyes as he delivered this simple statement, but it struck the elder like a bolt of lightning, causing his face to turn deathly pale.
The next moment, Yang Yunheng lunged forward and grabbed the cultivator by his robe, regardless of their positions within the sect. He lowered his voice and said through gritted teeth, "Are you insane?! Have you forgotten that you are an elder of the Moving Mountain Sect? I let your previous transgression slide, but now you want to push all the endless sentient beings within this blessed land, including our sect members, into a pit of fire?!"
Yan Chongzhang listened to the rebuke, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.
He opened his eyes and raised his hand, holding out two jade slips with a sense of disinterest.
"..."
Seeing this, Yang Yunheng stopped speaking and looked at the jade slips with a mixture of astonishment and doubt. Then, he snatched them and infused his spiritual sense into them.
Not long after, his hand began to tremble violently.
It was unclear if this was due to the terrifying power of Shen Yi or if he felt conflicted about this matter.
The two identical jade slips, one containing the Mountain Suppressing Technique, and the other likely holding something also obtained from that person.
"Did he give these to you?"
"Mhm."
Yan Chongzhang leaned on the armrest, straightening his posture, and sighed. "This so-called cultivation is truly boring."
The thing he had yearned for was but a trifle to Shen Yi.
What pained Yan Chongzhang even more was that he didn't feel there was anything wrong with this. After interacting with Shen Yi a few times, he even felt that it was only natural for Shen Yi to possess such things.
He, too, wanted to be a carefree and heroic person, but his identity as an elder had caused him to give up much of his original personality.
If he were unfettered...
He probably would have also punched that landscape painting of mountains and rivers in the sky... perhaps.
"..."
Yang Yunheng finally understood why his elder was in such a state. This feeling of having one's talent and temperament overshadowed by another, and being on the receiving end of a favor that one couldn't repay, was indeed uncomfortable.
"If the Infinite Dao Emperor Sect comes to seek justice, please give them these jade slips on my behalf. Consider it a favor to stabilize my dao heart." Yan Chongzhang looked at him apologetically. This was something he truly couldn't bring himself to do, so he could only trouble this elder.
Yang Yunheng fell silent for a moment before shaking his head. "There's no need to wait for them to come seeking justice. We should be more proactive."
Yan Chongzhang paused, then remained silent, quietly waiting for the elder to continue.
This elder might be a bit slippery, but he wasn't the type to sell out Shen Yi.
The Infinite Dao Emperor Sect didn't have much control over Western Hong. For instance, if they wanted to gather information, they would undoubtedly have to rely on the local powers.
Only by intimidating these local forces could they better protect Shen Yi.
"Besides, who would believe that Shen Yi is from a small sect just because he has a mystical sword that can cut through the Heavenly Illusion Thunder Ruler?" Yang Yunheng added.
Upon hearing Yang Yunheng's words, Yan Chongzhang's eyes finally lit up.
Indeed, whether it was Shen Yi's air of mystery or his formidable abilities, they fulfilled the conditions to fabricate the existence of a formidable behemoth.
Furthermore, with the Moving Mountain Sect's help in stirring the waters, they could also separate the Infinite Dao Emperor Sect from the Western Hong forces.
Given Shen Yi's personality, he would definitely not want his actions to affect the South Hong Seven.
In the grand hall, the two glanced at each other and simultaneously glided quietly towards the exit.
...
In Western Hong, in the bustling market of Tengyunfang.
The disciples of Lingyue Sect and Wushuang Sect, disguised as ordinary cultivators, blended in with the crowd.
Since Master Ji had gone to the Underwater Jade Mountain, the two of them didn't rush to seek aid from another sect. At the very least, they wanted to figure out why their pleas for help kept getting rejected.
As they inquired around during this period, information about the Infinite Dao Emperor Sect gradually surfaced.
"Huh."
The Wushuang Sect disciple sighed heavily. He never expected that what would ultimately affect the situation in South Hong would be nothing more than a casual order from a top power in Northern Hong.
No wonder those sects weren't willing to speak up. They were probably worried that he and his companions were still unaware of the South Hong Seven's current decline and didn't want to bother with any disputes.
Just then, the Lingyue Sect disciple slowly walked up to two cultivators who were whispering to each other. He politely cupped his hands and said, "Fellow Daoists, I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I happened to overhear the name 'Infinite Dao Emperor Sect.' I yearn for the North so much that I wonder if I could purchase this piece of information from you?"
Seeing how extraordinary this person was, the two cultivators didn't say much else. They returned his salute and said, "You're too kind, fellow Daoist. These are just some petty rumors."
After speaking, the two generously took out a jade slip and warned, "This matter concerns Western Hong, so please be careful, fellow Daoist."
The Lingyue Sect disciple was stunned. He didn't expect it to be this easy.
He quickly thanked them and took the jade slip.
The contents within seemed to have been specially processed, appearing extremely blurry. He could only see two streams of light colliding—one a deep golden color and the other a bright red—and couldn't even discern what was within the streams of light.
"Did you see that sea of crimson thunder?"
One of the cultivators still looked frightened. "If I'm not mistaken, that's the Heavenly Illusion Thunder Ruler, ranked 39th on the Dao Soldier Record. It belongs to Pan Boyang, a senior of the Infinite Dao Emperor Sect."
As he spoke, the Lingyue Sect disciple watched the crimson thunder dissipate and the jade slip shatter before his very eyes.
The entire process didn't take more than a single breath!
"Logically, after shattering the Heavenly Illusion Thunder Ruler, that golden light should have taken its place on the record. But... it was too easy. According to others' speculations, it should at least be ranked within the top ten."
A strange Dao Soldier, suddenly ranked among the top ten below the Hongze Union.
The terrifying extent of this matter was truly shocking.
"I wonder when we'll be able to see the true face of this Golden Lotus Devil Buddha," the other cultivator marveled.
The Lingyue Sect disciple swallowed. During his time out here, he had also learned about the Dao Soldier Record and knew that 39th place represented an extremely formidable power. Among the South Hong Seven, perhaps only Su Hongxiu could reach this position.
But under that golden light, the jade slip appeared incredibly fragile.
The golden light resembled a lotus, exquisite beyond words, yet it contained a fierce and deadly aura.
Golden Lotus Devil Buddha—a fitting name.
The South Hong Seven had indeed been dormant for too long. Outside, powerful experts abounded, making one feel ashamed and inferior!
"Fellow Daoist, you shouldn't yearn for the North anymore. Things might get chaotic there soon," the taller and thinner cultivator suddenly said, interrupting the Lingyue Sect disciple's train of thought. He looked around before lowering his voice. "This Dao Soldier has never appeared in Western Hong before. Its first appearance was when it slashed a personal disciple of the Infinite Dao Emperor Sect. I heard that the owner of this Dao Soldier is from a place of extreme viciousness and that his backers are specifically targeting the Infinite Dao Emperor Sect."
"Look at how easily he killed Pan Boyang. How could he not notice someone spying nearby? Yet, this jade slip still got out... It can only mean that he simply doesn't care! He's openly declaring war on the Infinite Dao Emperor Sect!"
The two top-tier forces, capable of stirring up Western Hong with a mere wave of their hands, would likely attract the attention of even immortals if they truly went to war with each other.
"Thank you for the warning, fellow Daoists," the Lingyue Sect disciple said once more with a salute. He then quickly returned to his companion's side.
The two communicated via voice transmission for a long while, and their eyes lit up.
If this matter was true, it might not be a bad thing for South Hong. At least, these Western Hong cultivator forces would develop a sense of crisis and would band together, reducing the mutual killings. Moreover, would that old man from the Qi family dare to neglect his own territory and focus solely on South Hong? Even if he dared, the other forces would have more reservations about following him.
As for the impact of this suddenly appearing vicious force... Originally, the South Hong Seven being tucked away in a corner of South Hong was a bad thing—they lacked resources and influence. But because of this, the Seven also didn't have anything worth coveting.
Chances are, even after these two giants finished their battle, they might not even spare a thought for South Hong.
...
An identical situation was unfolding outside Tengyunfang City.
Under the manipulation of an invisible hand, similar messages were spreading at an astonishing speed across the land and waters of Western Hong!
On a mountaintop veiled in mist and clouds, far from the West Dragon Palace, a group of azure phoenixes perched amidst paulownia trees.
The most robust and handsome among them, a lustrous azure phoenix, circled restlessly around a large, empty tree, its phoenix cry sharp and piercing, echoing through the skies.
In Western Hong, few dared to provoke this azure phoenix or had the strength to do so. Perhaps only the West Dragon Palace and the Infinite Dao Emperor Sect would have a reason to incur its wrath.
But now, it had received news that one of its kin had attended the Jade Empress' birthday banquet at Yu Mountain, and that the beautiful woman had left unscathed. If the West Dragon Palace truly intended to take action, they wouldn't need an excuse. Having already killed its child, a mortal feud had been established, and they wouldn't hesitate to take another life.
Furthermore, it had searched its entire tribe but couldn't find anyone matching the description of that "fellow tribesman."
The whole situation was bizarre! Someone dared to lay a hand on the Azure Phoenix Tribe and even intended to use their name for their misdeeds.
It was only today that new information came to light, revealing the death of a direct disciple of the Infinite Dao Emperor Sect in Western Hong. Finally, amidst the confusion, the Azure Phoenix Tribe Chief began to piece things together.
It was a similar situation—an attack on the younger generation of a major power, with no apparent grudges or enmity.
"Find out who they are, no matter what! Whether or not they're the ones behind this, get me clear answers!"
A force entering Western Hong, no matter how well they hide, will always leave some traces... Especially considering the scenes depicted in those jade slips, those people had no intention of concealing their actions!
Arrogant and reckless! Doing as they please!
Accompanying the high-pitched cry, one azure phoenix after another took to the skies, soaring in all directions.
"Be discreet in your investigations. Don't let anyone discover you," the Azure Phoenix Tribe Chief instructed, taking a deep breath. Even with the grief of losing her child, she had to bide her time and assess the situation, especially if this was indeed a power that could rival the Infinite Dao Emperor Sect.
As the phoenixes soared into the clouds...
In another place, a middle-aged man clad in a black and white cloak was also gathering his kin, a similar jade slip in his hand.
"Golden Lotus Devil Buddha?"
A hint of madness lingered in An Tingfeng's eyes as he suddenly crushed the jade slip.
This familiar style reminded him of another proud and arrogant junior who had remained calm and composed even in his presence.
That junior even possessed means that he, a quasi-Path Achiever, couldn't comprehend.
That unwavering confidence seemed to stem from having a powerful backer.
"No matter what, you must return what's mine. Even if it means mobilizing the entire tribe, I will get it back!"
An Tingfeng laughed hysterically, causing the tiger yaos below him to tremble.
With the destruction of the Precious Moon Great Tomb, 18 of their tribe's top experts had perished, and they still didn't know the identity of their enemies. The first priority for the Frosted Moon Tiger Tribe should have been to calm down and gather information, but their tribe leader seemed intent on plunging them into a bloody battle!
The tigers exchanged glances, feeling that their leader had gone insane.
...
Perhaps even the Moving Mountain Sect hadn't anticipated this turn of events.
They had intentionally fabricated that information to protect Shen Yi, never imagining that it would reach the Dragon Palace in South Hong.
In a towering palace situated amidst turbulent waters, the eldest dragon sons of the Qi and Ke families were engaged in a conversation over drinks.
"Reporting to Your Highness, we finally have some leads on what you asked us to investigate," a Dragon Palace general knelt outside the palace.
"...'
The crowned Ke family heir slowly lowered his wine cup.
He knew that with the arrogant and reckless nature of those two strange yaomo, they wouldn't be able to stay hidden for long.
"Speak."
"Pan Boyang, a direct disciple of the Infinite Dao Emperor Sect, has met his end in Western Hong, involving a mysterious force. The Dao Soldier they possess is called the Golden Lotus Devil Buddha and is now ranked 39th on the Dao Soldier Record. However, according to speculations, it should rightfully be placed in the top ten, perhaps even the top five."
"They dare to provoke even the Infinite Dao Emperor Sect?"
The Ke family heir seemed surprised. After all, in the Hongze region, the Infinite Dao Emperor Sect was already a formidable power, and only the North and East Palaces of the Dragon Palace could rival them.
But because of this, he began to associate this unknown force with the two strange yaomo.
After all, their audacity to disrespect the Dragon Palace could also extend to challenging the Infinite Dao Emperor Sect.
"Brother Ke, do you recognize those people? What are their names?" The drunken dragon across from him lifted his head, as this matter involved their territory, and he couldn't help but inquire further.
"I don't know their names, but I know they call themselves..."
The Ke family heir raised his wine cup again, his eyes glinting with cold murderous intent. He didn't mind sharing information about the Infinite Dao Emperor Sect, especially since there was no clear connection between this unknown force and the two strange yaomo. At the very least, he could use the hands of those Northern Hong cultivators to find those two insolent fools who had disrespected the Dragon Palace.
"Your Highness."
(End of Chapter)
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