https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-766-Becoming-a-Disciple-at-Lingxu-Grotto/13466374/
Chapter 765: A Rule in Name Only
Chapter 765: A Rule in Name Only
The night was deep, yet the fires still burned.
The demonic calamity that could easily turn a region into a dead zone had not caused the slightest ripple in Kaiyuan Prefecture.
Shen Yi strolled through the flickering lights. Compared to when he first arrived, there was much less of the stench of blood and no faint sobs in his ears, which made him feel a bit more at ease.
Though he appeared aloof, he had a fondness for the taste of the mortal world.
He walked slowly, and before long, Shen Yi returned to the peak of Heaven Tower Mountain.
He stood at the cliff's edge, lazily stretching his arms.
Despite this being only the first wave, once dawn broke, the North Continent would soon be in turmoil, and Kaiyuan Prefecture would become the target of everyone's ire. Still, a good start was always a positive thing.
"My Lord, it's all taken care of."
South Emperor returned quietly, tossing four mangled corpses to the ground.
It didn't surprise him that his master could return before him. Even when his cultivation was not yet complete, he could still subdue South Emperor. Now, with achievements in both the Immortal and Ascetic paths, it was impressive that the deer demon lasted until midnight.
"Go rest."
Shen Yi nodded slightly, then looked at the panel in front of him.
The four great demons had contributed a total of 34,000 calamity beast lifespans. Combined with the accumulated imperial qi, this helped his Divine Void Dao Fruit successfully break through to the 92nd level.
Adding the 8,000-plus calamity lifespans from the deer demon was enough to complete this path.
The current tranquility was indeed peaceful, but the day would eventually dawn, and it was time to prepare for what was to come.
Shen Yi closed his eyes and turned his attention inward.
The Dragon Subduing and Tiger Taming Rank was the most yang and drew upon the essence of heaven and earth, as solid as a rock. However, the path of the Divine Void Dao Fruit was entirely different, and it still had no definite shape.
These two should have been in conflict.
But Shen Yi quietly discovered a subtle opportunity. By using the Divine Void Dao Fruit to conceal the Golden Body Divine Image, the dense black clouds now resembled the night sky. As the essence of the Grand Emptiness gradually fused with it, the black clouds no longer enveloped the Golden Body but slowly rose and rapidly spread out.
Beyond the heavens lay the universe.
The black clouds became increasingly deep and vast, eventually enveloping everything. Thus, an inner world was formed, with the cosmos outside, the clear and turbid separated yet complementary.
Finally, as the last trace of essence seeped in, this boundless universe took shape.
This was the second time Shen Yi had entered this realm, but he still watched the transformation intently. Sure enough, in the blink of an eye, he captured the supreme Dao pattern again.
"Yuyu..."
It was fleeting, and Shen Yi, gazing at the boundless black clouds, felt a sudden emptiness in his heart.
This was followed by a strong desire for the Great Dao.
After a long while, Shen Yi snapped out of his daze. He gently clenched his fist, knowing that everything in his current situation required patience.
Upon re-examining his internal condition, he discovered something quite extraordinary.
Although he could separately sense the rank and the Dao Fruit, the two paths were now so intertwined that even he could not separate them.
"Combined into one?"
Shen Yi fell silent for a moment, then his face lit up with joy.
This way, he could simultaneously harness two Disaster Forces without worrying about being discovered, which would greatly aid his upcoming plans.
He opened his eyes and gazed at the faint white line on the horizon, watching the night recede like a tide.
...
Kaiyuan Prefecture remained as calm as ever, as if nothing had happened.
But the other twenty-eight prefectures of the North Continent were in an uproar.
Everyone knew that Elder Sister Youyao had already taken action. They had even prepared for her to become the top disciple of the Three Immortals Sect today. Yet, nothing happened this night; Kaiyuan Prefecture didn't even stir.
"What's going on..."
"Could it be that Elder Sister Youyao had a change of heart?"
The disciples were buzzing with speculation, and even many of the sect's elders were surprised.
They didn't think the mission had failed.
After all, many people had deliberately flown over Kaiyuan Prefecture and found no traces of battle. The refugees also appeared normal, as if they hadn't experienced any demonic calamity.
"..."
Qixian Elder stood in the Eastern Pole Emperor Temple, respectfully adding three new incense sticks to the statue of his master. However, his mind was clearly elsewhere.
He stared at the rising smoke, his brows slowly furrowing.
Given Qixian's understanding of Youyao, she was not the type to speak rashly. On the contrary, she was very clear about what she wanted and would never joke about her reputation.
Merciful and soft-hearted? What a joke.
Anyone aspiring to become an Immortal Emperor would always give their all in every move, allowing no room for mistakes.
To put it bluntly, in the current North Continent, there aren’t many cultivators who have reached the peak of the Nine-Nine Transformations, but there are certainly more than just the three of them. Why should they be the ones to occupy the Four Manor territories while other disciples of similar cultivation can only hold one manor, or even like Lingxu Cave and Yunmiao, who don’t have a single Daoist temple to their name?
This reputation was hard-earned through countless battles.
If they were to suffer a single setback, the other disciples would become restless. After all, two fists can’t match four hands. If it’s not necessary, why would even a fierce tiger want to invite a pack of wolves to circle around?
Therefore, things are far from what the other disciples imagine.
“Something’s off.”
Qixian Elder closed his eyes, the image of the serene figure sitting atop Heaven Tower from yesterday floating in his mind.
This cultivator from the South Continent is not as simple as I thought.
What I initially perceived as reckless is now showing signs of composure.
This person is not to be underestimated.
Yuyao is after the position of the chief disciple of the Three Immortals Sect. Qixian Elder is not the only one watching her.
Meanwhile, at the border of Kaiyuan Manor.
A man in a green robe strolled along, his plain appearance belied the natural air of superiority he exuded when standing before his disciples.
“Senior Brother Lishan, look!”
One of the disciples noticed something, stepped forward, and pointed to a depression in the ground stained red with demon blood.
Clearly, this wasn’t due to mercy. Last night, Kaiyuan Manor truly experienced a demon calamity, but it seemed that the demons were swiftly and decisively eliminated as soon as they set foot in the area.
Lishan merely glanced at it casually before turning his gaze back to the distant farmhouses.
Compared to the demon calamity, he seemed more concerned with something else.
“Senior Brother Lishan?” A disciple, noticing his distraction, couldn’t help but remind him.
“Sigh.”
Lishan let out a long breath and sighed, “When it comes to character, I must admit, I am inferior to this Grand Emptiness True Lord.”
“Why do you say that, Senior Brother?” The disciples’ confusion deepened. After all, this Senior Brother was one of the three most outstanding talents in the sect. Even if the Grandmaster of the Emptiness Heavens had truly withstood Senior Sister Yuyao’s attack, it shouldn’t have elicited such a sigh.
“Look there.”
Lishan gestured toward a group of refugees carrying water buckets and chatting as they walked, and said calmly, “Across the entire North Continent, all of our fellow disciples are racking their brains to find ways to seize Imperial Qi, and I am no exception.”
“Whether it’s controlling water and grain or sending demons into the city, it’s all to make their lives harder, so they can realize the tyranny of the human emperor and the benevolence of the Immortal Sect.”
“But this person is doing the opposite.” Lishan’s smile faded.
“What do you mean by that, Senior Brother?” The disciples were bewildered.
“Our methods are unseemly, and whether we admit it or not, there’s a reason for our unease. The reason is the fear that this Daoist temple might be taken by someone else, so we instinctively want to make the most of it while it’s still in our hands.”
Lishan shook his head. “It’s no different from competing with these commoners for water and grain.”
“He can maintain his composure, which shows that he’s confident no one can take Kaiyuan Manor from him. Why rush when the river will flow steadily? Why be hasty?”
The disciples looked at each other, unsure. “Could Senior Brother be overthinking it? After all, Kaiyuan Manor was once divided among three people. Perhaps his actions are just to avoid a direct confrontation with the others, and he’s using this method to vie for the favor of the people?”
“Perhaps.”
Lishan didn’t commit to a definitive answer, smiling as he continued walking.
But would someone who dares to challenge Yuyao really care about those unknowns?
But for now, there’s no need to overthink it.
The situation is far from settled.
After today, the name of Grand Emptiness True Lord will surely resonate throughout the North Continent, but it’s uncertain how long it will last.
After all, the competition for Daoist temples among other disciples is normal, but Yuyao is different. She cannot afford to lose, and the same goes for the three of us. We simply can’t afford to lose.
Let’s see how she handles it.
Just thinking about her current expression is quite amusing.
...
North Continent, Clear Light Cave.
In the Lingxiu Mountains, a long stone staircase disappears into the mist.
A woman in a black dress, wearing a jeweled crown, did not ride the clouds but walked slowly up the stone steps.
Her expression was calm, showing no signs of joy or anger.
Until she reached the end of the stone steps and looked up at the serene little temple, her steps finally faltered.
Clearly, Yuyao’s emotions were not as calm as they appeared on the surface.
At the entrance of the small temple, Crane Child reached out and grabbed the hand of another young boy with rosy lips and white teeth, his eyes narrowing as he gave a subtle warning.
However, the boy hesitated for a moment before forcefully shaking off Crane Child’s hand. He forced a smile and walked forward, softly saying, "Senior Sister Youyao has returned... I want to ask where my elder brother is now."
Under the tutelage of Clear Light Master were two child attendants: Crane Child and Deer Child.
This young boy was none other than Deer Child.
At this moment, his mind was clearly in turmoil, and even his bowing gesture seemed distracted. All he could do was stare intently at Youyao’s face.
"What did you call me?" Youyao swept her cold gaze over him.
"S-Senior..." Deer Child quickly realized his mistake and bowed deeply. "Senior Immortal Youyao."
Even though he was only one step away from officially becoming a disciple of Clear Light Master, he was still just a child attendant. The term "Senior Sister" could be accepted as usual, but if she chose to nitpick, it would be considered an overstep.
"Remember your place."
Youyao lightly waved her sleeve and walked past him, heading straight into the temple.
Once her figure disappeared from sight, Deer Child slowly lifted his head, his whole body trembling slightly.
" sigh."
Crane Child quietly approached and gently patted his shoulder. Neither of them spoke, but both knew what was on their minds.
If nothing had happened, why would Youyao dodge the question? Despite her apparent authority, there was a hint of unease. The former Senior Sister would never have responded in such a way.
Her avoidance of the question was itself an answer.
"Who is in charge of Kaiyuan Manor?" Deer Child’s eyes flashed with a hint of resentment.
Crane Child remained silent for a long time before finally speaking. "The Grandmaster of the Emptiness Heavens."
He found it hard to imagine that the young man who, in the Southern Continent, had dared not show his face when merely targeted by a Tianwu and relied solely on his master’s protection, could now hold onto Kaiyuan Manor against a deer demon.
And he had done so so quietly.
Thinking of this, he casually glanced back at the old woman emerging from the temple.
"..."
Patriarch Yuchi forced a smile and nodded, greeting the two child attendants. Then, she lowered her head and quietly made her way down the mountain.
No one noticed that her hand, hidden in her sleeve, was already sweating. Her suspicions were confirmed—there truly was someone who could withstand the calamity.
Even though Youyao hadn’t reported to her master yet.
But—
Patriarch Yuchi swallowed hard, thinking of the still-missing Master Shuyu and Patriarch Shenshan. She suspected that these two were likely already dead.
These people had underestimated the Southern Continent, thinking they were naive. Little did they know, the fear instilled by the Dragon Subduing and Tiger Taming Bodhisattva was no less intense than that of Youyao.
The Grandmaster of the Emptiness Heavens, who had escaped from the hands of this Bodhisattva, was not someone to be trifled with.
Clear Light Cave had offended someone fated to withstand the calamity. Patriarch Yuchi was now considering whether to seek a new master.
At that moment, inside the small temple.
A slender figure stood with his back to a kneeling woman, speaking calmly. "Did you lose?"
Youyao bit her lip and, after a long pause, replied, "Your disciple did not lose, and I cannot afford to lose."
"Quibbling."
Clear Light Master turned his cold gaze on her. "What do you intend to do?"
"He killed Junior Brother Shuyu..."
Youyao took a deep breath but was interrupted by her master.
"Do you have any evidence?"
Youyao looked up, took a deep breath, and her pupils trembled as she said, "No."
Clear Light Master averted his gaze. At this point, he had already guessed that his second disciple had met with misfortune. Her bringing up this matter was merely a way to seek his permission.
With the demons and devils vanquished, he would naturally have to take matters into his own hands. However, there was no precedent in the Northern Continent for Xiushi to directly engage in battle over a Daoist temple, so she was trying to use personal grievances as an excuse to settle the score.
"Do you remember how you responded when your Uncle Chiyun asked you?"
"I said... that person was innocent." Youyao was taken aback.
"If that person is innocent, then the Xiushi of the Southern Continent are also innocent. After all, your junior brother went there to seek his own death. But correspondingly, you can also be innocent."
Clear Light Master’s expression grew colder. "So, stop looking for excuses. Your time is running out, and you need to act quickly."
The Sect Leader is monitoring the great calamity and will choose the best among them. In such a situation, the lineage of Clear Light Cave cannot afford to fall behind. Since it is a calamity, it is only natural that some will die.
Since the storm has already begun, it might as well be made even bigger.
(End of Chapter)
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