Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 1001 The Three Heroes of Cangshan
Soon, the group spontaneously divided into three teams based on their usual relationship with each other.

Chen Mu, Murong Xi, Si Xuanshuang, and others naturally formed a team.

As the undisputed number one in the Floating Cloud Realm, Sui Jin attracted nearly half of the cultivators to follow him, forming his own team, thanks to his formidable strength and prestige.

The remaining members, such as Dong Yi and Lei Heng, were relatively weak and fewer in number.

He Zhiyun glanced around, weighed his options briefly, and then moved to stand next to Dong Yi, Lei Heng, and the others, thus subtly enhancing the team's strength.

In this way, although the number of people in the three teams differs slightly, their top combat strength and overall strength can be considered to be roughly balanced.

He Zhiyun nodded slowly, his gaze lingering on Suijin and Si Xuanshuang, his voice steady:
"Fellow Daoists, you are splitting up to cast a wide net, but you must also proceed with caution. The Myriad Phenomena Corridor is unpredictable. If you encounter any troublesome situations, or... if you encounter someone like Li Mang who harbors ulterior motives again, be sure to use the communication jade talisman as a signal and help each other."

His words carried a deeper meaning, emphasizing the word "Li Mang" slightly, the implication of which was self-evident.

Sui Jin clasped his hands in a fist and said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, True Lord He, I understand." Si Xuan Shuang also nodded slightly, "Xuan Shuang understands, True Lord, please also be careful."

After Sui Jin and Si Xuan Shuang agreed, He Zhiyun said no more. With a flick of his sleeve, he transformed into a streak of light, leading Dong Yi, Lei Heng, and the others towards the deep starry sky. His figure disappeared into the stardust in an instant.

Sui Jin and Si Xuan Shuang exchanged a glance and nodded to each other. Then, they led their teams in the opposite direction from He Zhiyun and headed separately towards the boundless sea of ​​stars.

The space suddenly became empty.

Si Xuan Shuang glanced back at Chen Mu, Murong Xi, Fu Danian, Si Tengxiao, and Wei Cangdong, who was somewhat silent in the group, and a faint smile appeared on her face: "Shall we go too?"

Everyone readily agreed, nodding in agreement, except for Wei Cangdong, who frowned slightly and remained silent.

Because of Song Qin's matter, he still harbored resentment and dared not get too close to Chen Mu, for fear that Song Qin would cause trouble again and completely ruin the delicate relationship between his sect and Chen Mu.

However, choosing to explore this perilous Myriad Realms Corridor alone in search of the healing elixir hidden somewhere is like looking for a needle in a haystack, and would take an unknown amount of time...

Si Xuanshuang, with her keen perception, noticed Wei Cangdong's unusual behavior and turned to ask, "Fellow Daoist Wei, do you have other plans? If you wish to travel alone, then..."

Wei Cangdong paused slightly, quickly glancing at Chen Mu with a complex and unreadable look, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated. In the end, he simply shook his head, his voice low and somewhat somber: "No, I was just momentarily lost in thought, pondering some personal matters. Let's go..."

Seeing that he was unwilling to talk about it further, Si Xuanshuang did not pursue the matter further.

Chen Mu, however, felt a strange sensation as Wei Cangdong glanced at him.

He keenly caught a hint of hesitation and... an indescribable complex emotion deep in Wei Cangdong's eyes, as if he was hiding something related to him, but was unable to speak of it.

Chen Mu remained calm and made a mental note of it.

After Si Xuanshuang selected a direction with relatively sparse starlight, the group did not linger. They transformed into streaks of light and headed towards the unknown star field.

……

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye, and just as He Zhiyun had predicted, the thousands of True Lords gathered in this pass were all racing against time to search for the Dao Beacon, and no one had time to look after anything else.

Therefore, the anticipated scene of Li Mang gathering a large number of cultivators to retaliate wildly did not appear. Instead, a tense and pure competitive atmosphere permeated the starry sky, with a clear goal: to obtain the Dao.

With this worry gone, the exploration of the three teams became much smoother.

Chen Mu and Si Xuanshuang's team alone successfully explored seven spatial fragments in just ten days.

Although these ancient ruins are fraught with danger, the rewards are also considerable. Various rare refining materials, ancient medicines full of spiritual energy, and even incomplete jade slips containing the true meaning of the Great Dao can all be obtained.

The most exciting thing is undoubtedly the Golden Immortal Dao Marker, which has a total of twenty-three marks!

If it weren't for the fact that as time went on, undiscovered fragmented stars became increasingly difficult to find, and their traces were almost completely swept away by the swarming cultivators, their current harvest would probably have already exceeded thirty stars.

Don't underestimate this seemingly small difference; it actually relates to a precious spot to enter the third stage.

For this reason, Chen Mu and his group dared not stop for a moment, spreading their divine senses like a net, carefully searching for every suspicious spatial fluctuation among the stardust and rubble.

However, the last few beacons seemed to have vanished into thin air, disappearing without a trace.

……

Three more days passed. On this day, Chen Mu and his group slowed down and carefully explored the edge of a meteorite belt when they suddenly stopped and their sharp eyes locked onto what was ahead.

In the depths of the starry sea, a particularly dim and broken star floated.

It is not large in size, but its surface is covered with jagged cracks, as if it had been torn apart by a great force, and it is surrounded by an unsettling aura of decay.

More importantly, a faint yet unusual spatial fluctuation emanated from it, indicating that there was a hidden world inside.

However, just as everyone discovered the star, three streaks of light suddenly shot out from the star's shadow, blocking their path with overwhelming force.

After the light dissipated, three Taoist figures were revealed.

The leader was short and stout, with a round face and small eyes. He wore an ill-fitting, wide robe, looking like a walking ball of flesh, and carried a heavy bronze hammer that was disproportionate to his size.

On the left was a tall, thin man, as thin as a bamboo pole, with a sallow complexion, two mustaches, and a greasy fish drum hanging from his waist.

As for the person on the right, he was short and pockmarked, with beady green eyes that darted around. He carried a scale on his shoulder, and the weight on the scale was a small copper gourd.

All three were at the mid-stage of the Dao Inquiry realm, but their auras were mixed and unstable, clearly indicating that their foundations were weak.

The short, stout man slammed his copper hammer into the air, creating ripples, and shouted loudly, "Hey! Who are you, fellow Daoist? The good fortune here has already been claimed by the 'Three Heroes of Cangshan.' If you know what's good for you, leave now and find somewhere else!"

At this time, the two sides were still far apart, and Chen Mu and the others were shrouded in a layer of light spiritual mist for concealment and protection. The "Three Heroes of Cangshan" could not see their specific appearances clearly. They only vaguely sensed that their aura was not the pure and vast one unique to disciples of immortal sects, so they implied contempt and spoke without any politeness.

Fu Danian immediately sneered, his voice booming: "What a joke! The legacy of the Golden Immortal is an unclaimed treasure, to be obtained by the destined one! When did it become your private property that you can just take as you please?"

Before he finished speaking, the Xuan Yang Greatsword was drawn with a clang, and a fierce sword intent rose up, pointing directly at the three of them. "If you know what's good for you, get out of the way quickly, or you'll make a mistake and ask for a beating!"

Seeing that they couldn't intimidate their opponent, and that the opponent seemed to be someone not to be trifled with, the "Three Heroes of Cangshan" showed little fear on their faces. Instead, they exchanged knowing glances.

The tall, thin, bamboo-like Taoist with the rat-like mustache coughed lightly and said in a shrill voice, "Fellow Taoist, you are mistaken. My brother and I have our own version of events. We couldn't bear to see our fellow Taoists go astray because of the dangers of this place! Since you insist on this, you must be someone who is destined for good fortune here..."

"Hehe, my two brothers and I are the most reasonable, how about... we explore together?" His smile carried a hint of mercenary cunning, and his quick change of expression was astonishing.

Fu Danian almost laughed out of anger at their shamelessness: "Ha! I thought they were some kind of saint, but they're just three idiots."

"Since you discovered this place's wonder so early, why have you lingered here for so long without going in? Were you frightened by the dog at the gate?" he said sarcastically.

The pockmarked man with beady eyes immediately chimed in, his tone so frank it was almost self-righteous: "Oh, fellow Daoist, you're so straightforward! To be honest, my two brothers and I have been tinkering here for most of the day, using every trick in the book, but we still can't find the door!"

"This place is really weird. It looks so close, but it's like there's a thick veil in front of me. I just can't get in! I'm ashamed, so ashamed!" He shook his head, looking helpless.

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, a strange light flashed in Si Xuan Shuang's eyes.

They had encountered numerous restrictions along their journey, but this was the first time they had ever faced one where they couldn't even find a door or enter. With a slight thought, she moved gracefully, her voice clear and melodious: "May I ask how you three fellow Daoists are addressed? And from which immortal realm do you come?"

Seeing that Si Xuan Shuang possessed an extraordinary demeanor and was clearly the leader of the group, the three dared not be negligent and their smug expressions reappeared on their faces.

The short, fat man puffed out his round belly and said first, "No problem, no problem, I am 'Mountain-Shaking Hammer' Pang Yuanba!"

The tall, thin rat-whisker flicked his drumstick and shouted, "'Wonderful Sound' Hou Tong!"

The man with the pockmarked face and beady green eyes patted the scale on his shoulder: "'Fair Scale' Zhu Mancang! My two brothers and I are independent cultivators from the He Guang Realm, known in the martial arts world as the Three Heroes of Cangshan!"

His voice was loud and clear, as if announcing this title was a great honor.

Si Xuan Shuang nodded slightly: "So it is Fellow Daoist Pang, Fellow Daoist Hou, and Fellow Daoist Zhu. May we come closer for a look?"

"Please, fairy, please!" The three hurriedly made way for her, their attitude quite attentive, clearly also hoping to use her help to break the barrier.

The group approached the dim, broken star and extended their divine senses to carefully scan its surface.

Before long, everyone understood.

The entrance to this star is not without a door, but is shrouded by an extremely sophisticated, almost seamless, invisible restriction.

This restriction not only possesses powerful defensive capabilities but also the ability to deceive. Unless one's divine sense is sufficiently sharp and one has a considerable understanding of the art of restrictions, one will be unable to detect its existence and will simply wander aimlessly on the surface of the star like a headless fly, naturally "passing by the empty gate without entering."

Judging from the blank yet expectant expressions on the faces of the three heroes of Yunzhou, they were clearly genuinely clueless and not faking it.

Si Xuan Shuang thought for a moment, then turned to look at Chen Mu, who had been silently observing, and asked gently, "Fellow Daoist Chen, this restriction is quite profound. I wonder if you can figure out how much of it is?"

Their ability to explore the seven fragments so efficiently was largely due to Chen Mu's mastery of the "Eastern Bright Candle Illumination" technique.

Chen Mu did not rush to respond. His eyes were slightly closed, and a golden light flowed in them, like two bright lamps that could see into the darkness.

He lightly tapped his ten fingers in the void, and the invisible threads of divine sense, like the most nimble fingers, carefully sensed and analyzed the invisible and intangible restriction network.

Thanks to the intensive exploration and observation over the past ten days, witnessing the evolution and combination of various ancient restrictions, Chen Mu's understanding of these ancient restrictions has advanced by leaps and bounds.

Many previously obscure and difficult concepts can now be understood by analogy and applied to other situations.

The room fell silent for a moment, with only the starlight flowing through it.

The three heroes of Cangshan watched as figures like Lian Sixuanshuang and Fu Danian held their breath and dared not disturb Chen Mu's deductions. When they looked at Chen Mu again, their disdain had vanished, replaced by deep surprise and curiosity.

This young man, who appears to be only at the initial stage of the Enlightenment realm, seems to be the truly hidden key figure among this group.
Time passes by.

About half an hour later, Chen Mu suddenly opened his slightly closed eyes, and a bright golden light shone in his eyes!
Although he still couldn't determine the exact name of the restriction, with his "Dongming Zhuzhao" insight and the rich experience he had accumulated over the past few days, he was able to detect a slightly weak point in the complex and mysterious restriction.

"Break!" Chen Mu shouted, pointing his fingers like a sword. A point of extremely dazzling starlight condensed at his fingertips, and following that sense, he pointed with unparalleled precision at a certain spot in the void.

"Crack——!"

A crisp sound, like glass shattering, suddenly rang out.

Where Chen Mu pointed his finger, the space rippled violently like the surface of water. A huge forbidden map composed of countless twisted runes appeared out of thin air, its light flashing rapidly. Then, like a shattered mirror, it crumbled inch by inch, turning into specks of light and dissipating into stardust.

"It's done!" Upon seeing this, Fu Danian's face lit up with joy.

Everyone immediately extended their divine senses again, and this time, there were no obstacles.

But the scene that returned made everyone's hearts sink.

The scene before my eyes was desolate and lifeless, with gray-black scorched earth spreading out and not a blade of grass growing.

The thick, impenetrable black mist churned and surged in the space like a living thing, obscuring most of the view.

Deep within the fog, shadowy figures seemed to float slowly, exuding a chilling and violent aura.

Deeper still, divine sense was blocked by a powerful force, preventing further exploration.

"Hiss..." Fu Danian's joy froze instantly, and he gasped, "This place... is filled with black mist and ghostly shadows. It doesn't look like a benevolent place at all!"

Si Xuanshuang, Murong Xi, and the others also frowned slightly.

The aura emanating from this spatial fragment was more sinister, eerie, and ominous than any they had explored before.

The group tried to probe carefully with their divine senses, but the churning black mist seemed to devour their divine senses. As soon as they ventured deeper, it was like sinking into the sea with mud. The information that came back was extremely limited and vague, making it impossible to determine the specific situation inside or the potential dangers.

Si Tengxiao looked at Si Xuanshuang and asked in a deep voice, "Sister, everyone, what do you say? This place is extremely dangerous. Should we still go in and explore?"

Si Xuan Shuang stared at the entrance where the black mist surged, her eyes calm as still water. After a moment, she slowly spoke: "Right now, places of opportunity that have not been set foot in by others are as rare as phoenix feathers."

"Although this place is dangerous, it is precisely because of its danger that it is more likely to contain great treasures. Now that we have come across it and have broken through the restrictions, why should we not go in? Opportunities are often found in dangerous places!"

Her words were firm and resounding, dispelling any hesitation in everyone's hearts.

Fu Danian nodded in agreement, then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Three Heroes of Cangshan cautiously approaching the entrance. He couldn't help but grin, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Three brothers 'Jie,' are you also coming in? Let me tell you, it doesn't look safe in there. Be careful you don't lose your lives!"

"Go! Of course I'll go!" The short, fat Pang Yuanba patted his chest, his fleshy muscles jiggling. "I, the Mountain-Shaking Hammer, have never been afraid of anything!"

Hou Tong, nicknamed "Miaoyinzi," twirled his rat whiskers and said, "Fortune favors the bold!"

Zhu Mancang, known as the "Fair Scale," thumped his chest loudly: "Don't worry, you three brothers, my brothers and I are not cowards! We'll share the good stuff, and if there's danger... hehe, we'll all shoulder it together!"

He spoke eloquently, but his eyes kept darting between Si Xuanshuang and Chen Mu.

Fu Danian and Si Xuanshuang exchanged a knowing glance.

Si Xuanshuang stepped forward, her voice cold and clear, carrying an invisible pressure as her gaze swept over the three heroes of Cangshan:
"Alright, since the three of you insist on traveling together, there are some things that need to be said beforehand. Although you were the first to discover this place, if Fellow Daoist Chen hadn't broken the barrier, you still wouldn't have been able to enter."

"It won't be difficult for us to lead you in, but this place is fraught with danger. If we do manage to gain anything, whether it be rare treasures or extraordinary opportunities, we will have the final say in how they are distributed. Considering your role in guiding us, we will not let you leave empty-handed. Do you agree to this?"

Upon hearing this, the "Three Heroes of Cangshan" huddled together, their beady eyes, round eyes, and rat-like eyes blinking at each other in a silent exchange for a moment.

In the end, it was Zhu Mancang, with his pockmarked face, who put on a smile and spoke on behalf of everyone: "We are convinced! We are convinced! The fairy is fair! My two brothers and I have no objections. We will follow the fairy's arrangements without complaint. We are content to learn from her and get a share of the good things!"

That being said, the glint of light in the depths of their three pairs of eyes betrayed their true intentions.

But that's precisely the problem. The "scheming" was so obvious that for a moment, no one could tell whether the three were doing it on purpose or were just that stupid.
……

(End of this chapter)