Longzang

Chapter 1187 Who Dares to Provoke the Tiger?
The deployment of 100,000 Dao Foundation cultivators to the Northern Frontier caused a sensation not only within the Azure Netherworld but also drew the attention of major external forces. Even the Northern Liao's offensive slowed down, shifting to defensive fortifications to prevent the sudden appearance of the 100,000 Dao Foundation cultivators.

However, after the 100,000 Dao Foundations took root in the ancestral mountain, they remained silent, only operating the Four Symbols Time Selection Array every day.

At this moment, the ancestral land of the Lü clan has a world-refining array and 100,000 Dao foundations. The cause and effect have been distorted beyond recognition. No matter how powerful you are, it is difficult to deduce what happened in the ancestral land.

To find out what Wei Yuan is doing, the only way is the most basic method, such as coming to see for yourself or sending someone to check.

Wei Yuan's commotion was so great that each faction resorted to using their long-buried spies to relay messages. As a result, in the days following their arrival at the Ancestral Mountain, nearly a hundred template Dao Foundation cultivators either disappeared without a trace or died suddenly.

The sudden outbreak of incidents at the template-based Dao Foundations caused widespread panic among the cultivators. However, Sun Yu, who led the team, immediately dispatched beautiful male and female disciples to infiltrate the template-based Dao Foundation groups and explain that those who had been involved in the incidents were spies from various aristocratic families. They had long been possessed and controlled by puppet techniques and could, if necessary, abandon their physical bodies and escape with a fragment of their primordial spirit carrying messages. Therefore, those who died deserved their fate.

After this explanation, the template cultivators calmed down. They knew their own limitations and were completely unworthy of their opponents using such advanced tactics against them.

With people's hearts finally calmed down, Wei Yuan naturally attached great importance to this matter. So he brought in thousands of template Dao foundations to fill the original gaps first, and then set up a temporary version of the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Grand Array to monitor the entire ancestral land inside and outside.

Then Wei Yuan retreated to his ancestral land and continued to dig for treasure in peace.

……

Suddenly, a small spring appeared in the heavens above, followed by several towering figures who slowly walked over and stood by the spring.

The figures were all extremely blurry; not only were their faces unclear, but it was also impossible to say whether they actually existed there.

At this moment, a figure spoke up: "This winding stream of immortal spring can distort and disrupt time and cause and effect. I had only heard of it before, but seeing it today, it truly lives up to its reputation!"

A figure beside the spring said, "Since you know about this spring, you should know that we who are here at this moment may not actually be here, nor may we be here at this time. Perhaps we come from the past, or perhaps we come from the future. So there is no need for us to worry about leaking secrets, nor do we need to think about settling any grudges here."

"But if we don't even know each other's identities, how can we discuss important matters?"

The man beside the immortal spring smiled and said, "The matter is settled, there's nothing to discuss now. As for identities, the immortal spring is mine, and you all know that I am the Venerable Lord, that's enough, there's no need to know the identities of others."

The group had no objections and all stood by the fairy spring.

That spring was truly miraculous, spouting out small streams of water that transformed into countless sparkling droplets. Bathed in the light of an unknown source, these droplets shone brilliantly, illuminating each figure and giving even the immortals a sense of being carried along by the current.

Those touched by the spring's light will experience a slight displacement in time and celestial realms. Aside from the master of the spring, no one can accurately determine their own position, let alone attack an opponent. If even one's own location is uncertain, how can one determine the opponent's position?
Everyone then put aside their other thoughts and focused on the gathering.

The Venerable One said slowly, "Wei Yuan is digging up the roots of the Lü family in Ganzhou. How should we deal with this?"

A figure spoke in a shrill voice, saying, "He has 100,000 Dao Foundations protecting him. Who could have imagined that such a thing would happen one day? If Xu Shuhe were still alive, he would be more suited to sweep away those 100,000 Dao Foundations."

Another person said coldly, "Don't forget about the Refining World Array. There are twelve Imperial Realms inside! In addition, Wei Yuan himself is no pushover. If Xu Shuhe goes alone, he will probably die ten times."

The immortals were in a state of shock, exchanging countless words in an instant, but their discussion yielded no results. Wei Yuan's shell was simply too thick; he wasn't inanimate, and any attempt to attack him risked being bitten in return. Wei Yuan held too much power over people; being bitten by him would be disastrous.

Moreover, immortals are all equal and cherish their reputation; none of them are willing to lay a finger on those template-based Dao foundations.

With that one finger strike, who knows how many cultivators' foundations will be destroyed? We're not the Celestial Lord of Glazed Glass, how can we withstand the karmic backlash from so many cultivators?

The last person suddenly said, "In my opinion, Wei Yuan is nothing more than a hot-tempered, impulsive, and ambitious person. Ten thousand Dao Foundations could accomplish so many great things, yet he uses them to protect himself? Isn't that a waste of resources?"
In my opinion, we can maintain constant pressure on him, creating trouble from time to time to keep him in a state of constant fear, preventing him from letting go of those 100,000 Dao Foundations, and even forcing him to find more. This is tantamount to constantly bleeding Qingming dry. Although Qingming's development is booming, too much perverse behavior will eventually lead to its decline.”

Another immortal sighed and said, "We have all seen those fragments of the outer world and extracted many residual memories of living beings. We have also captured those who crossed over from other realms, and many of them were truly talented, but we have all let them go."

Who could have imagined that having a mere, incompetent Xu Wenwu under his command, and only a few experiences in the outer world, would enable Wei Yuan to accomplish such a great feat?

The Venerable One said slowly, "Wei Yuan is ambitious but lacks talent. He likes to show off, and his mathematical skills are even inferior to my mount. What great wisdom could he possibly have? In my opinion, the key lies in that Azure Netherworld Stone. I have absolutely no clue as to who forged this stone. I have searched through all the immortal records, but I have not found a single record of it."

The person capable of refining the Azure Nether Immortal Stone must possess earth-shattering supernatural powers, perhaps comparable to the Martial Ancestor and myself. But how could such a powerful individual have left not a trace?

Suddenly, someone said, "Could it be that Martial Ancestor did it again?"

The Lord remained silent for a moment before saying, "That guy has been dead for so long, yet the methods he left behind are still endless. We need to work together to break free from this cage and live freely. Let's all be more united, or we might capsize if we're not careful."

After a moment of silence, someone asked, "Wei Yuan is now at the heart of the situation. What should we do with him?"

The immortals fell silent for a moment, then an aged voice rang out with a sigh: "This is truly an unprecedented situation! Alas, these young people lack martial ethics; how could they do such a thing?" Suddenly, one immortal said, "Since we can't deal with Wei Yuan for the time being, why not start with his wife and children?"

Upon hearing this, all the immortals were intrigued.

Someone laughed and said, "Wei Yuan is cunning and treacherous, not easy to handle. He can't possibly protect his wife and children completely, can he? That's his weakness. As long as we send one or two capable subordinates to lie in wait and strike with lightning speed when the time is right, we can guarantee that his Dao heart will be shattered!"

"Wei Yuan seems to have a son who has fallen into the hands of the Pure Land, but he doesn't seem to be reacting."

"This man is cold-hearted by nature, but he's a lecherous scoundrel. It's sure to be right to target his women! We can also take a hit with that little thief, Plain Water!"

The immortals all agreed that the plan was feasible. Once the plan was decided, they dispersed to make their own arrangements.

A figure moved swiftly and gracefully through the celestial realm, like a fish gliding and flying across the water, gradually approaching the present moment.

But suddenly he cried out in alarm, and his figure blurred rapidly! A jade pendant, gleaming with black and red demonic light, flew out from nowhere and smashed straight into his sea of ​​consciousness!
The immortal was suddenly attacked, but fortunately, he hadn't fully entered the present time. He immediately used all his strength to shift his focus and escape to another time. However, just then, a clear laugh rang out, saying, "Explode!"

The jade pendant suddenly exploded!

The explosion of a celestial treasure was terrifying. Endless demonic light tore through the vast expanse of space and time, blasting the figure out of other time periods and sending it crashing back into the present world.

The immortal was both shocked and furious, and a small part of his body suddenly dissipated. In just this one moment, he was seriously injured, his immortal body fundamentally affected. However, his appearance and figure remained a blur, clearly indicating that he possessed a secret treasure to conceal his identity and karma.

A handsome Taoist priest emerged from the void, his eyes shining like the morning stars.

The blurry immortal gritted his teeth and said, "Zhu Yan! You're shameless!"

The handsome Taoist laughed, "Oh, you actually recognize me? Since you recognize me, you should know that I've always been shameless. How did that last time feel? I destroyed a celestial treasure belonging to three generations of palace masters. How could I not take half your life away from this powerful celestial treasure?"

"Bah! What kind of celestial treasure is this? It's clearly a demonic artifact! That old bastard Su Chan, he committed countless evil deeds back then..." The immortal cursed several times, then angrily said, "We have no grudges against each other, why are you ambushing me here, and why are you using such force! Are you trying to kill me?"

Zhu Yan readily admitted, "That's right!"

The immortal laughed angrily: "What's your reason? You don't even know who I am, yet you want to kill me?"

Zhu Yan smiled and said, "What reason do I need to do things in Taichu Palace?"
Fine, if you insist on an explanation, then I'll make it clear. For the next hundred years, I'll remain hidden in the celestial realm. Anyone I don't recognize, or anyone who hides their true identity, I might launch a sneak attack. If they die at my hands, they can only blame their bad luck.

"I've only just ascended to immortality, I'm still very young, and I can afford to waste several hundred years of my lifespan. There are plenty of celestial treasures in the palace; the old man Su Chan alone left behind about ten treasures. I'll explode them one by one, surely killing a few unlucky ones."

The immortal was filled with shock and rage, gritting his teeth as he said, "You...you are utterly insane!"

Zhu Yan laughed and said, "You're only finding out now? Is this the first day you've met me? You should have gone to great lengths to kill me before I ascended to immortality! If you hadn't killed me back then, you'd be the ones dying now! Too late for regrets!"

The immortal gave Zhu Yan a deep look, then turned and left. Zhu Yan didn't chase after him. Instead, she took out a pouch, pulled out a magical treasure shrouded in black mist, weighed it in her hand, and then vanished from the spot.

……

In the azure sky, in a certain indescribable space, four figures sat facing each other, each pointing a finger at a wisp of chaotic energy in the center.

This place is neither real nor unreal, neither past nor future, nor present. It is outside the six realms, and transcends cause and effect.

The chaotic energy surged and churned, slowly revealing a hint of purple.

The four Taoist priests suddenly stopped and opened their eyes at the same time.

Three of them were of different ages, the old, the middle-aged, and the young, while the fourth person, dressed in a Taoist robe, was Zhang Sheng.

Zhang Sheng seemed to be deep in thought, silently calculating. The three figures, old, middle-aged, and young, exchanged glances, then simultaneously pointed at Zhang Sheng. In that instant, a flash of lightning seemed to strike Zhang Sheng's heart, and he understood quite a bit.

The three Daoists, old, middle-aged, and young, said in unison, "Fellow Daoist, you can go ahead and attend to your affairs. It's not too late to come back and refine this primordial energy after you've finished dealing with worldly matters."

Zhang Sheng nodded, reaching out to stroke a long strand of hair at his temple. His eyes flashed with sword energy as he slowly said, "I have already been very discreet, yet someone still dares to provoke me?"

(End of this chapter)