Chapter 754: Establishing the Ethereal True Lord Shrine and Planting the Flag in the North Continent
Chapter 754: Establishing the Ethereal True Lord Shrine and Planting the Flag in the North Continent
“Little Immortal Master, it’s good to see you again.”
The rosy-cheeked youth raised his hand in greeting, politely addressing Shen Yi, “I am Crane Child, a disciple under Qingguang Zhenren.”
Technically, they hadn’t really met before. After all, when it delivered the imperial edict to Shenxu Mountain, the Grand Emptiness Dan Emperor never showed up.
When Crane Child visited the South Continent, it barely gave the cultivators there a second glance. But now, in the North Continent, even though Shen Yi hadn’t officially joined Lingxu Cave, just the hint of it was enough for Crane Child to address him as an Immortal Master.
Shen Yi returned the courtesy, also taking a good look at the young disciple.
With his improved cultivation, he could finally gauge the depth of Crane Child’s power. It had reached the pinnacle of the Ninetynine Transformations, matching the strength of Yunmiao Zhenren.
This made it clear that the North Continent’s refusal to recognize the Shenxu Ancestor wasn’t entirely unjustified.
Even a powerful demon like Crane Child couldn’t become a Golden Immortal’s disciple, let alone a mere silkworm that hadn’t even completed the Sixty-Six Transformations.
If Shen Yi had followed Yunmiao Zhenren’s arrangement and stayed, bearing the title of a demon disciple, it would have been impossible to achieve a Bodhisattva’s position. Even if he had openly displayed his strength, the best outcome would have been to become a Golden Immortal’s disciple, like Crane Child.
“Little Immortal Master, may you grieve in peace.”
Crane Child chatted for a bit, then suddenly looked somewhat melancholic.
“...”
Shen Yi was taken aback for a moment, then the warmth on his face gradually faded. He shifted his gaze and said coolly, “Child Immortal, there’s no need to feel responsible. I simply fell short at Shenxu Mountain.”
“Uh.”
Crane Child’s eyes showed a hint of embarrassment. It had come on Youyao’s orders to test Shen Yi’s reaction to Lingsu’s death, but it hadn’t expected to be blamed for the matter.
After all, it was Crane Child who had delivered the treasure to the South Continent, leading to the chaos that ultimately resulted in the destruction of Shenxu Mountain.
“The Bodhi Sect’s actions were too cruel and reckless. They even dared to commit atrocities in the North Continent, causing Lingsu Zhenren’s demise,” Crane Child quickly changed the subject, carefully observing the young man’s expression.
Shen Yi’s face immediately changed.
However, it wasn’t out of sorrow for Lingsu’s fate. Instead, his eyes were filled with a fierce killing intent. “They’ve come?”
“...”
Crane Child fell silent for a moment. This was actually a normal reaction, given that they had only known each other for a short time and he now occupied Lingsu’s former residence. If Shen Yi had shown deep grief, it would have seemed insincere and forced.
Clearing its throat, Crane Child said, “It’s not certain if it was Mount Sumeru, but it was definitely a Bodhisattva’s doing. But there’s no need to worry, the elders have already issued an edict. I’m sure there will be a resolution soon.”
With that, Crane Child found an excuse to bow and take its leave. It had come on Qingguang Zhenren’s orders to the South Continent, and now that something had happened, the Zhenren hadn’t given any further instructions. As a mere disciple, it could only offer a few words of comfort and couldn’t make any promises. Staying longer would only make it feel embarrassed.
After bidding farewell to Shen Yi, Crane Child flapped its wings and returned to the peak of Heavenly Tower Mountain, shaking its head at Youyao. “I can’t tell much from this.”
However, it didn’t base its conclusion solely on this brief conversation. After all, the Grand Emptiness Dan Emperor wasn’t like the few isolated cultivators in the North Continent. He had managed to escape to the North Continent, showing a level of guile.
“Hmm.”
Youyao Zhenren nodded, preparing to observe for a while longer. But at that moment, a sudden jade slip interrupted her thoughts.
She casually picked it up and read halfway through before her pale face turned cold. “Something’s happened. Six people are dead, and they were all killed with a single strike, without a chance to defend themselves.”
Before she finished speaking, even high-level cultivators like Crane Child and Yunmiao Zhenren, who were just a step away from the Second Grade, found their breathing quicken.
If the deaths of the few cultivators from Chiyun Cave and Lingsu could be attributed to being caught off guard, this time, with the North Continent’s cultivators fully prepared and the sect’s great formations in use, the heavy casualties were a serious matter.
Moreover, the deaths were so swift.
This wasn’t something a Third Grade cultivator could accomplish...
Thinking of this, Crane Child glanced at Shen Yi, who was still aiding the refugees below, and couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. This time, they had indeed misjudged the situation.
“Come, let’s report to the elders.”
Youyao’s face was grim. She had considered the possibility that the Bodhi Sect might interfere in the North Continent, but she hadn’t expected the monks to launch such a fierce and unprovoked attack.
After saying this, she left Heavenly Tower Mountain with Crane Child.
Yunmiao Zhenren watched the two depart, and it took him a long while to calm his thoughts. He had finally made up his mind to take part in the chaos, but he never expected to encounter such an incident as soon as he descended the mountain. He could only sigh at his ill fate.
He turned around and returned to Half-Fallen Cliff, his mind still unsettled.
Fortunately, Youyao was still holding the fort.
Thinking of this, Yunmiao Zhenren suddenly recalled that she had lingered on Heavenly Tower Mountain for several days. Could this be a hint to him?
He frowned and summoned a disciple with a wave of his hand: "Go to Heavenly Tower Mountain and inform the Ethereal Dan Emperor that... Lingsu, my junior sister, has fallen to poison. Heavenly Tower Mountain was originally promised to her by our fellow disciples as her cultivation site. Now that she is gone, this matter no longer holds. I must focus on investigating the Bodhi Sect and have no resources to spare for other matters. With the chaos in the North Continent, safety is paramount. Please have the Dan Emperor return."
"Disciple understands."
The Lingxu Cave disciple obeyed and set off with a magical artifact.
Yunmiao Zhenren silently retracted his gaze. He was unsure how to broach the topic of what he had relinquished in Qingguang Cave to the Dan Emperor. Now, using Lingsu as an excuse, even if the other party was unreasonable, they would have to step down.
In this situation, he absolutely could not afford to offend Youyao.
If this woman were to back out, the task of dealing with the Bodhi Sect would fall entirely on his shoulders.
"Ah."
After some thought, Yunmiao Zhenren sighed deeply. His master had not returned for a long time, and his fellow disciples were all seeking their own paths outside. Now, his junior sister had also fallen. The vast Lingxu Cave was left in his hands, and he felt the weight of the responsibility.
He needed to be extremely cautious to protect this legacy.
Several days passed.
Finally, Yunmiao Zhenren received the sect's decree.
He eagerly opened it, and his expression gradually shifted from gloomy to pleasantly surprised.
The elders who had reached the Eternal and Transcendent Immortal realm were clearly enraged by this incident. They, who had previously stayed out of worldly affairs, had finally taken action.
Not only did they order the disciples to continue investigating the North Continent, but they also appointed many outstanding fellow disciples to head to the other three continents, disregarding any notion of face. They were to claim as much incense offerings as they could!
Since those monks had made the first move, the elites of the Three Immortal Sects were also hungry.
What truly delighted Yunmiao Zhenren was that he and Senior Sister Youyao, perhaps due to their responsibility to investigate the Bodhi Sect, were not on the list.
With so many elites leaving, the North Continent, which had already been divided, would have many positions left vacant.
Those who could rival Youyao would be gone for who knows how long.
Following Youyao, he would surely have plenty to gain.
This good news quickly washed away the sorrow in Yunmiao Zhenren's heart over his junior sister's fall.
He finally smiled.
With the changing winds, a true dragon would surely rise. Clearly, after sitting idly for so long, he had finally waited for this moment. It was time to achieve the Dao!
Just then, the disciple who had been sent to deliver the message returned hastily.
"Report to Master, I have informed the Dan Emperor", he said, kneeling on one knee and clasping his fists.
"Good, why didn't he return with you?"
Yunmiao Zhenren's mood was much better, and his voice was gentler.
"He... he..."
The disciple's face was full of distress, and he hesitantly raised his head.
Yunmiao Zhenren sensed something was wrong, his eyebrows twitched, and he retracted his smile: "What happened? Speak quickly!"
"He established a shrine!"
The disciple bowed his head forcefully, trembling: "The Ethereal Dan Emperor had Lingsu Junior Aunt's statue removed and established the Ethereal True Lord Shrine on Heavenly Tower Mountain!"
Before the words were out, Yunmiao Zhenren had already stood up abruptly, his hand trembling with anger: "How dare he..."
Such actions could lead Qingguang Cave to misunderstand his integrity and make Youyao dissatisfied. These were matters that required careful consideration.
Moreover, this newcomer from the South Continent had acted without consulting him. Establishing a shrine was no different from planting a flag.
Once established, it declared this place as his domain. But with no strength or background, daring to do this was clearly a way to use the Lingxu Cave's name as a shield.
"Does he really consider himself a disciple of Lingxu Cave, thinking that this seat will protect him?"
"Go and spread the word that the matter on Heavenly Tower Mountain has nothing to do with us, Lingxu Cave."
If it were earlier, Yunmiao Zhenren might have tried to reason with him, but now that the change was upon them, he could not afford any mistakes.
Lingsu had indeed not been wrong; this person was still a disciple of a bug spirit, one who did not understand the rules. He was not human!
He no longer had any reason to hold back, given that the other party had shown no regard for Yunmiao’s future or life.
“Bold and reckless, I wonder when he’ll die.”
Zhenren Yunmiao took several deep breaths, gritted his teeth, and abruptly waved his sleeve.
If he hadn’t been so stubborn back then, he would have turned and left. Now, with the two sects in conflict, his Uncle Master Qingguang’s attention wouldn’t be on such trivial matters. So, let him leave. If he had to die to learn how solid the iron wall of the North Continent was, so be it.
...
Kaiyuan Prefecture, Heavenly Tower Mountain.
Many disciples of Lingxu Cave stood on the mountain peak, their expressions complex as they gazed at the newly established shrine.
To the common folk, the sudden appearance of water and grain now had a clear source.
It wasn’t the well-known Zhenren Lingsu, but rather the Grand Emptiness True Lord who had waved away the tiger demon.
However, to the disciples of Lingxu Cave, this shrine was undoubtedly a death warrant.
After all, Zhenren Lingsu had already fallen, and the ownership of Heavenly Tower Mountain was now ambiguous. In such a sensitive situation, hastily establishing a shrine would inevitably cause much discontent.
Without even mentioning other factors, Kaiyuan Prefecture had already been divided into three parts, with Heavenly Tower Mountain being the smallest. Even so, it was still a significant site.
Would the two senior members of the sect nearby let such a piece of prime land slip away?
“My lord, I don’t think Zhenren Yunmiao can be relied on as a pillar of support.”
Since completely submitting, Nanhuang had become increasingly tactful in his speech.
Though he had only met Yunmiao a few times with Shen Yi, it was clear from the Lingsu incident that this person was naturally weak-willed. Forget about helping them, it would be a miracle if he didn’t hinder them.
“...”
Shen Yi walked quietly among the displaced people.
Compared to two months ago, the people around Heavenly Tower Mountain were no longer refugees.
The newly built houses, while not as beautiful and exquisite as those in the former Kaiyuan City, at least provided shelter from the wind and rain. The Jade Purifying Bottle had transformed into a well from which water could be freely drawn. Many had already cleared the ruins and started cultivating and farming, though there was no immediate harvest. They still relied on the aid from the immortals, but the situation was gradually improving.
Such actions were not conducive to quickly gathering Imperial Qi, and a shrine established under these circumstances wouldn’t have a lasting effect.
But it did greatly improve Shen Yi’s mood.
The few hundred years of Imperial Qi he would miss out on weren’t particularly useful anyway.
“I never intended to rely on him.”
Nanhuang could see it, and Shen Yi had long anticipated it. Given Yunmiao’s character, he would likely try to distance himself from the shrine as soon as possible.
But this was actually a good thing.
A senior disciple who had strength but lacked courage would find it difficult to lead a lineage through such a great calamity.
Even though Shen Yi had been staying at Heavenly Tower Mountain recently, just by observing the demeanor of Yunmiao and the black-robed woman of similar cultivation when Crane Child arrived, he could deduce many things.
If Lingxu Cave was as mediocre as the Human Emperor had said, then Zhenren Yunmiao, inheriting the Lingxu lineage, would have already made Lingxu Cave a laughingstock in the eyes of others.
Only by joining such a sect did he have a chance to rise.
In other sects, he wouldn’t need to be exceptionally outstanding. Any competent senior disciple would suffice, and no Golden Immortal would abandon a disciple they had raised from a young age to trust a stranger from the South Continent.
Thinking of this, Shen Yi’s gaze grew sharp.
Before Lingxu returned, he had to achieve something.
“Have you found out?”
“Reported, my lord, everything has been investigated.”
Old Ancestor of Shenxu wasn’t very skilled in combat, but with the Great Void Scripture, gathering information was quite convenient.
He had long inquired from the Lingxu Cave disciples and thoroughly investigated the surrounding environment.
“To the left is Zhenren Haoming’s site. This person has the cultivation of the Sixty-Six Transformations, which is only average in the Three Immortal Sects. To the right is more troublesome. It’s said to be Zhenren Shuyu’s site of the Qingguang Cave. Originally, Heavenly Tower Mountain should have been under his jurisdiction, but Lingsu got there first. This person’s cultivation is also not high.”
“The trouble is, he is Zhenren Youyao’s junior brother. Youyao is the senior disciple of Qingguang Cave, a formidable character who controls four prefectures. She is not easy to deal with.”
“...”
Shen Yi slightly raised his eyes, a cold light flashing in them.
Whether or not she was easy to deal with, he would only know once he faced her.
The monks from Mount Sumeru had already arrived in the North Continent. Though it was unknown if it was the World Purification Bodhisattva, his time was running out.
Without the protection of a Golden Immortal, Shen Yi had no confidence in surviving against the Great Liberation Bodhisattva.
He would use Kaiyuan Prefecture as a gift to welcome Lingxu.
(End of Chapter)
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