From a martial arts disciple to a god through countless trials and tribulations

Chapter 225 True Lords Fall Like Rain (Part 2)

The brilliant crimson clouds, like fiery lotuses, surged across the sky.

Chen Xuan froze, for at that moment, an unexpected turn of events occurred.

Emperor Jiang has appeared in the world!
The first emperor of the Chu Kingdom, who had been living in seclusion in Shangyang Cave Heaven, and the Zhuzhao Zhenjun who had ruled Guang Prefecture for 3,600 years, has descended to the mortal world.

"It's not the Mountain Spirit Goddess, it's Emperor Jiang!"

Chen Xuan was alarmed. Guyao Mountain was where the Mountain Spirit Goddess ascended to godhood, and the temple was located there. Since the Mountain Spirit Goddess had used the "Classic of Mountains and Seas: Guyao" to protect the Tai Xuan True Lord of the Qingnang Daoist Temple, she would certainly not stand idly by and watch Tai Xuan meet with an accident.

But now, it was Emperor Jiang who stepped forward. Was this the Mountain Demon Goddess's backup plan?

On the sky, fire energy and wind energy clashed, the wind whipped the fire, like thousands of giant waves colliding, dividing the north and south of the world.

"Nine-tailed fox, Senior Tai Xuan is old and his mind is clouded and chaotic. He is no longer a threat to you. Give Senior Tai Xuan a way out and don't kill him all."

Emperor Jiang spoke slowly, his figure towering over the south, his black and red phoenix imperial robes fluttering, and countless phoenix images dancing among the twelve-colored jade tassels of the imperial crown, with towering flames descending.

His voice was authoritative yet steady, giving people a sense of reassurance.

"Hmm? Jiang Zhuzhao, you want to make peace? I'm afraid it won't work."

A strange light flickered in Bai Cao Zhenjun's eyes, and rings of orange-gold divine halos rippled behind her head. She slowly shook her head and said:

"You're a dead man, so you'd better behave yourself during these last few days. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to wipe out... your Chu Kingdom."

Bai Cao Zhenjun appeared calm and composed in the face of Emperor Jiang's sudden emergence.

She was slightly surprised, but only slightly. They were all True Lords; those who had reached this point were all peerless immortals, peerless geniuses. There was no question of anyone being afraid of anyone else.

A dead person?
Chen Xuan was surprised. Only then did he realize that Emperor Jiang's situation was a bit strange. It seemed that this was not Emperor Jiang's true form.

Rather, it is the residual traces left by the True Lord of Candlelight in the world, which evolved into his figure... In Guyao Mountain, there were once many traces left by Emperor Jiang.

A terrifying and sorrowful thought arose in Chen Xuan's mind.

Emperor Jiang...

They've fallen...

"The Shangyang Grotto-heaven is a place of divine seclusion, not just empty talk. The great beings who linger there, unless they become immortals, would find it very difficult to descend to the mortal realm," Chen Xuan thought to himself.

The reason why the Golden Crow God of the Southern Wilderness dared to plot against Chen Xuan was because the possibility of the Mountain Spirit Goddess descending to the mortal world was so small that it was entirely worth the risk.

How did the True Lord of Candlelight descend?

At the moment the demon lords descended upon Mount Guyao, Emperor Jiang, at the cost of his own life and the dissipation of his cultivation, descended to the mortal realm…

Is the Lesser Underworld lingering at Guyao Mountain to mourn Emperor Jiang?
“Bai Cao, when Fellow Daoist Tai Xuan perished, I thought you had gone too far in some things… Not only do we have friends in Qingqiu, but we have even more friends in Qingnang Daoist Temple.”

Emperor Jiang smiled and said, "This is not just a matter concerning the demon race Qingqiu, but it is also not just a matter concerning the human race Qingnang."

The Qingnang Taoist Temple inherits the secrets of Feng Shui and has a good reputation for integrity. It maintains good relations with various Taoist temples and forces.

Just like the two world masters, Liuli, she has many friends. Although most of them choose to stand by and do nothing, there are still some who will not hesitate to lend a helping hand.

"The Mountain Spirit, a cold and indifferent innate deity, defied common sense to lend a helping hand to Qingnang Taixuan... A thousand years ago, it turns out that it was you who begged her."

Bai Cao Zhenjun sneered, "Jiang Zhuzhao was able to evolve here, which clearly shows that he left behind a lot of Daoist traces on Guyao Mountain."

“Tai Xuan can only prolong his life by consuming Yun Jin Zhenjun and the Daoist temple’s divine travel ability; that’s far from enough. Jiang Zhuzhao, you’ve fed your own cultivation to Tai Xuan.”

As Bai Cao Zhenjun spoke, he suddenly realized something, a faint look of appreciation appearing in his eyes, and said:

"People say that you fought too many battles when you were young, which damaged your fundamental nature and made it impossible for you to seek the path to immortality."

"Ha, that's a lie."

"Your essence was damaged because you saved Tai Xuan... Jiang Zhuzhao, you only lived for four thousand years before dying young. Don't you feel any regret about this?"

A thousand years ago, Tai Xuan perished, and all the demon lords who besieged him firmly believed that Tai Xuan was doomed.

It's almost impossible for this to go wrong...

Emperor Jiang was an accident.

Chen Xuan was shocked. The one who truly protected Tai Xuan Zhenjun was Emperor Jiang. This was the first person in the four thousand years of the human race in Yaoguang Prefecture, a human emperor who had the world in his heart!
“True Lord Fulong can’t keep an eye on you; you’re truly useless, a piece of trash,” True Lord Baicao sighed.

The Qingqiu fox clan has been an enemy of the Qingnang Daoist temple in Yunmeng Prefecture for millennia.

The Dragon Clan of Xiaolong Palace is also in a life-or-death enemy relationship with the Jiang Clan. They not only besiege Emperor Jiang in Yaoguang Prefecture, but also wage war year after year in the vast territory of the Central Plains.

However, Fu Long Zhenjun of Yaoguang Prefecture's Yu Kingdom clearly failed; he did not stop Emperor Jiang from doing anything he wanted to do.

"Senior Tai Xuan failed to become an immortal, and all his disciples across several generations have died. Let us spare his life."

Emperor Jiang remained calm, his arms hanging down, and said, "Tai Xuan is old and confused, and will not live much longer... But the Qingnang lineage is a brilliant path to immortality, and it should not be cut off. Let him live so that the lineage can continue."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan thought to himself that Emperor Jiang meant that Tai Xuan Zhenjun could die, but the Qingnang Dojo needed to be reopened.

But will Qingqiu agree?
After all, Emperor Jiang is now merely a remnant of his past, and probably has little divine power left.

“Jiang Zhuzhao, you have spoken the truth, and I have heard it. So what price will you have to pay?” asked Bai Cao Zhenjun.

"If you insist on exterminating them today, two or three True Lords will surely perish... Nine-Tailed Fox, you will be one of them," Emperor Jiang replied, his tone firm and resolute.

Chen Xuan was astonished that, in such an extremely unfavorable situation, Emperor Jiang was so resolute and did not utter a single soft word.

"..."

Bai Cao Zhenjun paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "Is this a threat? You're trying to scare me. But a thousand years ago, your human race lost once. Those who have lost don't have the confidence to say such things."

The great battle a thousand years ago was earth-shattering. The demons fought to the death and refused to retreat. Two True Monarchs of the Qingnang Dojo perished as a result, one of whom was known as the strongest human True Monarch in the Southern Region in six thousand years... Countless forces were affected, and it is no exaggeration to say that hundreds of millions of cultivators died.

The Southern Human Race lost, utterly defeated.

"Just now, I replaced the two True Lords of Zhi Kingdom and Ancient Ape Kingdom on behalf of the Mountain Spirit Goddess," Emperor Jiang suddenly said.

The calm words concealed a chilling message: Emperor Jiang and the two powerful True Lords had perished together.

"You've come uninvited and trespassed into Guyao, which has angered the Mountain Spirit Goddess... I've successfully persuaded her again, so if you make a move, she will definitely descend to the mortal realm." Emperor Jiang stared at True Monarch Baicao and continued. Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan looked towards the horizon. In Yaoguang Prefecture, outside of this world in Guyao Mountain, it seemed as if flames, metal, and vegetation were boiling, with countless roars.

As one great lord after another departs, the world is bound to feel sorrow.

"Not only Emperor Jiang, but also three powerful figures from Yaoguang Prefecture have perished at the same time!" White Fox God was astonished. At this moment, the matter of Shangyang Cave Heaven came to an end... Mountain Ghost Goddess ascended to the top.

This news is terrifying. Five powerful True Lords entered Shangyang Cave Heaven together, and in just two years, four of them have left this world forever. It is so cruel that it is despairing.

"How did I get involved in such a big event!" Bai Hu'er murmured, her body shivering. She had only led a group of juniors into Guyao Mountain to steal some things, but now she had been drawn into the battle between powerful True Lords.

"How could it come to this? It's far more than this." The old monster was in a daze. He turned back and stared at the remains of the True Monarch Tai Xuan. His hand trembled as he touched it...

Nothing happens.

The old monster's face turned ashen, and he muttered to himself, "I can't do it, I can't do it..."

Everyone told him he was Tai Xuan Zhenjun, but he didn't have Tai Xuan Zhenjun's power.

Bai Cao Zhenjun looked down at the old monster, who was utterly hopeless and whose soul was broken and whose mind was clouded and chaotic. He was on the verge of death. In a few years, or even a few months, he would be completely annihilated.

Although Tai Xuan's physical body remained intact, it was merely the body of a True Monarch and lacked the aura of an Immortal.

The failure of Tai Xuan Zhenjun to become an immortal poses no threat whatsoever; this fact cannot be deceived by the eyes of this Zhenjun.

"Qingqiu may spare the old beast, but what are the benefits?"

Bai Cao Zhenjun narrowed his fox eyes and asked with a smile, "I had a friendship with the Mountain Spirit when I was young, and I am willing to give her this face... But Qingqiu is ruled by the Zhao family of foxes. That Zhenjun Tianhu almost perished when he hunted Taixuan back then, and his injuries have not healed to this day. His hatred has been difficult to dispel for thousands of years."

"After the Qingnang lineage is reopened, the Qingqiu foxes and other young demons can enter the Daoist temple to cultivate the Qingnang Fengshui Daoist methods," Emperor Jiang said.

Bai Cao Zhenjun pondered, "The Qingnang Dojo was once divided up, but the truly supreme and wonderful methods, such as the [Mysterious Wind and Spiritual Water Hidden True Chapter · Qingnang Secret Essentials] and other immortal techniques, have all been lost... Now, they should all be in the mind of the old monster who seems to die at the slightest touch."

If the Qingqiu foxes could cultivate the Qingnang Technique, they might be able to inherit the brilliant legacy of the human race, which has produced six immortals.

“That’s not enough. Qingqiu also has a mature path to immortality and doesn’t need human Qingnang techniques.” True Monarch Baicao shook his head, his expression disdainful, and began to bargain.

The True Lord Zhao of Qingqiu Mountain would not agree to this.

"You can have the little guy study a page from the 'Classic of Mountains and Seas - Guyao' by paying an equivalent price... You need to step in and stop the opposition from Qingqiu," Emperor Jiang said succinctly.

"??"

Chen Xuan was immediately stunned. The "Classic of Mountains and Seas: Guyao" was something left behind by the Mountain Spirit Goddess, but now it was being used as a bargaining chip by Emperor Jiang!

He subconsciously turned his head and was startled to see that Bai Cao Zhenjun's beautiful eyes were like two pale white crescent moons staring at him, as if they were staring at a delicate pastry tied with a bow.

"A good suggestion." A look of satisfaction finally appeared on Bai Cao Zhenjun's beautiful face as she nodded and said, "How about Xin Zhai? Can you try it? Sister Shan Gui, there's no reason for you to get angry over such a small matter..."

The white fox spirit secretly sneaked into Guyao Mountain, hoping to steal the "Classic of Mountains and Seas: Guyao" to curry favor with the White Grass Ancestor who was in charge of the "Classic of Mountains and Seas: Qingqiu".

"This..." The white fox was stunned. She quickly looked at the group of young Qingqiu foxes in the distance, her heart pounding with fear. No wonder, True Monarch Baicao entered the arena alone before the other demon clan True Monarchs arrived!

Bai Cao Zhenjun is the most rebellious traitor in Qingqiu!

Fortunately, Zhao Shenhu and the other foxes belonging to the cauldrons, although able to discern the arrival of True Lord Baicao from various signs, were not fully aware of what was happening in the sky at that moment, just like Hua Liuli.

True Lords cannot be looked at directly; they are mere cauldrons, their figures and voices are indistinct.

Emperor Jiang and True Lord Baicao continued their discussions and negotiations, which lasted only a short time and ended quickly.

Not long after, True Monarch Baicao set down Mount Guyao, and her figure vanished without a trace in the sky. Emperor Jiang withdrew his gaze, then gave Chen Xuan a deep look before disappearing as well.

This was a simple and direct contest between high-level cultivators, which quickly subsided, leaving little trace for the mortals and low-level cultivators.

Chen Xuanruo, without a mind of fasting, also couldn't see what was happening above his head.

"How can the Qingnang Dao lineage be passed on to demons? It would be better to sever it completely..." Zhang Dongxuan, with a righteous face, wept uncontrollably, feeling utterly desperate. This outcome was also unacceptable to him, but he was powerless to change it.

"Reopen the Qingnang Dojo? Who will do it?" The old monster was dumbfounded. Had Emperor Jiang just made such a unilateral decision for everyone with a wave of his hand?
"You?" The old monster looked at Hua Liuli, the master of the two realms, and shook his head with slight disappointment, feeling that something was amiss.

"You?" The old monster's gaze shifted to Chen Xuan... This boy has no respect for his elders. If the Qingnang Dao lineage is handed over to him, it will probably become a den of bandits.

"Is it still you?" The old monster's gaze finally fell on the remains of Tai Xuan Zhenjun... who couldn't be brought back to life.

"Could it be me?" Cold sweat dripped down the old monster's forehead. Was he really going to have to take over this mess of the Qingnang Dojo?

Two half-dead, indistinguishable remnants of the Qingnang Daoist tradition, plus two young people with connections to the Qingnang Daoist temple, each with their own troublesome issues...

This impoverished group, with its members of all ages and backgrounds "incomplete," dares to attempt to reopen the ancient Qingnang Daoist temple? What a pipe dream!

"You do it!" Sensing something was wrong, the old monster shouted at Chen Xuan, hoisted the body of Tai Xuan Zhenjun onto his back, and turned to flee: "Young man, the time for you to make your mark is coming, go ahead and do it boldly!"

Zhang Dongxuan and Hua Liuli were shocked and quickly chased after them. The old monster had taken away the remains of Tai Xuan Zhenjun!

"..."

Chen Xuan stared at their retreating figures, thinking to himself, "This is a scam. Everyone is lying through their teeth; not a single person is honest."

He turned and left, then gazed at the Guyao Mountain, which blends seamlessly with the earth.

"Tai Xuan has become an immortal." Chen Xuan thought to himself with absolute certainty.

Before he underwent the Heavenly Tribulation of the Cauldron, someone glanced at him from Mount Guyao... Even Xinzhai, who had undergone countless strengthenings, could only vaguely detect some traces of that gaze.

Bai Cao Zhenjun, Emperor Jiang... never mentioned it, and it seems they never even noticed this little thing.

Chen Xuan slowly climbed the moss-covered stone steps and headed towards the Goddess Temple.

Then, he saw Emperor Jiang, dressed in a black and red phoenix robe, waiting for him beneath the archway in front of the Goddess Temple.

"Little fellow, this is our second meeting." Emperor Jiang turned his head to see a middle-aged man with a compassionate expression. A hint of sadness was hidden in his narrow phoenix eyes, which then revealed a trace of appreciation for the younger generation.

"Greetings, True Lord." Chen Xuan bowed, his expression neither humble nor arrogant. He held Emperor Jiang in high esteem, which was the reason he initially agreed to help Jiang Qinghuang.

"Mountain Spirit Goddess, I have a message for you."

Emperor Jiang flicked his sleeve, indicating to Chen Xuan that there was no need for further formalities. Then, he said solemnly, "Regarding the karma of Xinzhai on your body, she regrets that she made a mistake..."

(End of this chapter)