Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 904 Return to the Ruins Gambling Game: Sea Spirit Contract
The tea smoke on the sandalwood table dissipated in wisps.

Seeing that his father had said this, the bearded man swallowed his unfinished words after his throat bobbed.

He suddenly looked tired and said in a muffled voice, "I have no intention of arguing with you, Father. I just hope you will think it over carefully. Once you abandon the foundation, the situation will no longer be in our control..."

A moment of silence fell over the room. Clearly, they all understood, but what could they do?
If you're not strong enough, don't even think about surviving in this man-eating Ruins...

"That's enough for today, let's stop here."

The old clan chief sat there for a long time before finally waving his sleeve to stop talking.

The man with the long beard was the first to get up and leave with heavy footsteps.

Upon seeing this, the man in the jade crown sighed inwardly, bowed silently to the other person, and then turned and left.

After a long while, the attic fell silent again. Liang Tian sighed and was about to get up and leave when he heard someone calling him from outside. He forced himself to stay awake and asked, "What's wrong outside?"

A young clansman outside the gate said, "Reporting to the Ancestor, there is an immortal outside the mountain gate who specifically requests to see you."

Liang Tian was puzzled. When Liang Chongchang returned to the ruins, many aristocratic families and Daoist practitioners came to visit him.

But since he disappeared at the end of the last century, such a situation has rarely occurred. Even many of the noble families that had married into the Liang family have quietly stopped associating with them. Who could this be?
He asked in a deep voice, "What kind of person is this? Can you tell who he is?"

The clansman replied, "That person is quite young, dressed in a plain white Taoist robe, and has an extraordinary air about him. However, the young man's cultivation is not enough to discern his level of cultivation. But judging from his attire, he doesn't seem to be from our Guixu Clan..."

Liang Tian's heart suddenly stirred. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Summon Chengxuan to go and greet them, and find out who the visitors are."

Outside the mountain gate, Chen Mu stood tall and graceful, his expression calm and composed, his plain silk Taoist robe fluttering in the strong wind.

People passing by unconsciously slowed their pace, feeling that the young man was clearly standing with a smile, but his aura was like a sharp blade tempered by the Milky Way, forcing people not to look directly at him.

Before long, the clan's mountain gate array slowly opened, and a man in a jade crown stepped out from the clouds. When his gaze fell on Chen Mu, his previously calm expression suddenly tightened.

"My name is Liang Chengxuan. I greet you, fellow Daoist."

He stepped forward, bowed, and asked, "May I ask what brings you to my humble abode, friend?"

Chen Mu smiled faintly and said in a clear voice, "I am Chen Mu. I have come here today at the request of my senior brother Liang Chongliang."

Upon hearing this, the man in the jade crown's pupils contracted: "Liang... Uncle's request?!"

He dared not delay and hurriedly sent someone inside to report, while simultaneously stepping aside to invite him in: "Senior, please come in quickly!"

He was a thoughtful person. Although he couldn't tell Chen Mu's cultivation level, he could justify calling Liang Chong "senior" since Chen Mu addressed Liang Chong as "senior."

Chen Mu stepped into the Liang clan's territory with delight. On the way, Liang Chengxuan did not forget to ask tentatively, "May I ask where you come from, senior?"

Chen Mu replied with a smile, "Dongdu Qingzhou."

Upon hearing about Dongdu, Liang Chengxuan became even more certain that his uncle had sought the Dao in Dongdu and thus attained the realm of a True Monarch.

He dared not say another word and respectfully led the way ahead...

At this moment, Liang Tian also learned of this news. He was both surprised and delighted. He had been out of contact with his younger brother Chong for a long time, but if he could return this time, all the problems would be solved!

He suppressed his turbulent emotions, immediately straightened his clothes and hat, and ordered his clansmen to sweep the inside and outside of the guest hall until it was spotless. The incense burner with the crane beak on the sandalwood table was emitting wisps of smoke, the spiritual tea in the jade cup was shimmering and glowing, and the nine-aperture ice crystal plate was filled with rare spiritual objects such as thousand-year-old vermilion fruit.

A moment later, light footsteps were heard in the corridor outside the hall. Liang Tianguang suddenly stood up with a slight tremor in his sleeves. He took two steps with his black cloud-patterned shoes and saw several figures emerge from outside the moon gate.

His eyesight was naturally superior to Liang Chengxuan's. He could tell at a glance that Chen Mu's movements were imbued with Daoist charm, which was clearly the aura of a Daoist True Monarch. Moreover, the harmony of his aura surpassed even his own by three points.

This is also why Chen Mu had no intention of concealing it. Otherwise, even if Liang Tian had several times the exceptional eyesight, he wouldn't have been able to discern Chen Mu's true cultivation level after he used the "Moon in the Water" technique to create a double reflection.

Even so, Liang Tian was still intimidated by Chen Mu's imposing presence and did not dare to step forward for a moment.

After all, if it weren't for Chongdi's help back then, I would probably have turned into a skeleton in a tomb long ago. How could I possibly be compared to such a person...

Upon seeing his appearance, Chen Mu smiled and bowed respectfully from afar, saying, "Is this the Liang Clan Chief in person? This humble Taoist, Chen Mu, has come to pay my respects on the orders of Senior Brother Liang Chong."

Its sound was like a clear spring rinsing jade, instantly dispelling the heavy atmosphere in the room.

Liang Tian snapped out of his daze and hurriedly returned the greeting, saying repeatedly, "Master Chen, you flatter this old man! Please take a seat!"

After the guests and hosts had settled in, his hand holding the teacup was still trembling slightly. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he finally couldn't help but ask tentatively, "Master Chen said that he came at the request of my cousin Liang Chong. I wonder what instructions Brother Chong has given?"

Chen Mu calmly said, "Actually, Senior Brother Liang invited me to the Liang Clan to make a brief appearance, so as to warn those petty people. If nothing unexpected happens, he can break through to the next realm in peace."

Liang Tian felt a warmth in his heart; his younger brother Chong... still cared about the family.

He paused, then hesitated and asked, "Does True Lord Chen have any token as proof?"

Liang Tian had no doubts; he had already believed Chen Mu to a great extent when they first met.

After all, to put it bluntly, the Ruins of Guixu is a place of extreme evil and viciousness. How could it possibly nurture such a celestial being with a clear and pure Daoist aura?
However, as the head of a clan, he must always act cautiously and cannot act solely on his senses...

Unaware of anything else, Chen Mu lightly flicked his wide sleeves, and a golden light shot into the sky.

A gilded token floated in the half-foot-long radiance, its ancient seal script character "Liang" flowing with a crimson light that resonated with the bloodline.

Upon seeing this, Liang Tian beamed with joy: "This is indeed Chongdi's family token. For Chen Zhenjun to entrust this item to me, he must have an extremely good relationship with my Chongdi!"

The man in the jade crown and the others were also very excited, and some of them could not contain themselves and kowtowed repeatedly to the token on the spot.

Having confirmed that everything was correct, Liang Tian no longer hesitated. He straightened his robes and bowed respectfully to Chen Mu, saying, "Please forgive my rudeness, True Lord Chen. The entire Liang family is deeply grateful for your visit."

After the ceremony, he rose and gazed at the flowing cloud patterns on the token, finally voicing the question that had weighed on his heart for hundreds of years:
“Back then, my brother Chong sent me a message saying that he was at a critical moment in his spiritual practice. I wonder if he has overcome this difficulty after all these years?”

"Senior Brother Liang has already seen through the cycle of reincarnation and is now accumulating his strength in the final stage of the Dao Seeking Realm, 'Experiencing the Ephemeral Flower,' in preparation for the Three Tribulations of the Ephemeral Flower."

A hint of longing also appeared in Chen Mu's eyes: "Once the three tribulations are over, I will be free and unrestrained."

"Li Tanhua!"

Liang Tian's eyes lit up, and he murmured, "Good, good! There's hope for Chongdi's path to enlightenment. Now I can rest assured..."

Chen Mu's heart stirred slightly, and he said softly, "When I came here this time, Senior Brother Liang mentioned that Guixu is not like Jiudu, and it is difficult to completely eliminate the villains."

"I wonder if your noble family has encountered any troubles? If so, please speak freely, so that I may share your burden." As soon as he finished speaking, a hint of joy flashed in Liang Tian's eyes, and he bowed slightly, saying, "Thank you for your concern, fellow Daoist. The covetousness of the surrounding aristocratic families is indeed like weeds that are difficult to eradicate. Now that you have personally arrived, those petty villains will naturally restrain themselves, but..."

He hesitated for a moment and said, "My clan's younger generation has been forced into this game and is about to gamble with others. I'm afraid that someone will make a big deal out of this and won't let it go easily."

"Oh?"

Chen Mu's gaze narrowed slightly, but he hadn't expected Gui Xu to have such a fierce style. He hadn't shown himself for more than a hundred years, and someone couldn't hold back anymore.
He nodded and asked, "Where are the people who made the bet?"

Liang Tian immediately exchanged glances with the man in the jade crown. Not long after, Liang Tianhe respectfully stepped into the main hall, followed by a long-bearded man with a look of surprise on his face.

“Fellow Daoist Chen, he is the junior member of the clan who was gambling with someone, and he is my direct grandson…” Liang Tian introduced truthfully.

Chen Mu looked down at the other person and saw that he was imposing and had extraordinary potential. He nodded and said, "Please tell me the whole story."

Liang Tianhe bowed deeply and then began to recount the whole story of the bet.

After all, the man in the jade crown had clearly told him when he brought him here that the person in front of him was the junior brother of Chongzu's uncle, and was also a god-like figure, so he naturally dared not disobey...

After he finished speaking, Chen Mu had already made up his mind.

He first asked, "Since you've accepted the bet, are you confident you can win?"

Liang Tianhe's expression brightened, and he replied loudly, "To be honest, True Lord, if we were to have a fair and square contest, this junior would not be inferior in the slightest!"

"I just heard my grandfather mention that this matter is of great importance and that Li Mingyun may have other means, so I dare not make any rash judgments that might affect Your Majesty's decision."

Seeing his honesty, Chen Mu smiled slightly.

A misty haze rose from the jade table, and a mysterious water pattern condensed from its fingertip, suddenly disappearing into the young man's brow: "There is still some time before the duel. You can concentrate on refining this water pattern. If your opponent uses methods that are not his own, this water pattern can be dissolved."

Upon hearing this, Liang Tianhe was overjoyed and immediately kowtowed, shouting, "Now that the True Lord has bestowed this item upon me, I am certain to win!"

"it is good!"

Suddenly, a cheer erupted in the hall. It was the long-bearded man who had shouted out his son's good fortune. Only when he realized that all eyes in the hall were on him did he blush and bow to apologize.

Liang Tian's temples throbbed with veins, and his robe sleeves fluttered even without wind, but he refrained from acting out of consideration for Chen Mu's presence.

Chen Mu smiled and didn't mind, then looked at Liang Tian and said, "Please, Clan Chief Liang, introduce the background of the Li family to me."

Liang Tian straightened his expression and said in a deep voice, "The Li family is also one of the thirty-six prominent families in the Lingzhu Mountain Range, but their situation is not much better than that of my Liang family."

"The Li family has three Daoist True Lords. The one with the highest cultivation is named Li Yan, who is already very old and has been in seclusion in the mountains for many years, not concerning himself with worldly affairs. All power is in the hands of Li Dan."

"Li Dan is the current patriarch of the Li clan. He has been cultivating for nearly two thousand years and is currently at the peak of his career. Some time ago, it was rumored that he had passed through the fifth level of the Mysterious Gate and broken through to the Middle Realm of Asking the Dao, but it is unknown whether this is true or not."

"The last person is actually a junior who recently broke through to the Dao Inquiry stage and is still in seclusion consolidating his realm. It is precisely because of his breakthrough that the Li family has emerged in recent years, and their ambitions have grown, which is why they have set their sights on the Liang family's foundation..."

Chen Mu nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said to Liang Tian, ​​"Clan Chief Liang, please send someone to the Li family to arrange a meeting with Clan Chief Li on another day."

Before Liang Tian could even speak, the long-bearded man stood up excitedly: "Is True Lord challenging Li Dan to a duel? Father, send me there! I will certainly not tarnish the reputation of the Liang family and True Lord Chen!"

Liang Tian frowned, seeing the boy excitedly shouting incessantly. He first nodded to Chen Mu with embarrassment, then scolded, "The True Lord has his reasons for making arrangements. How dare you interfere? Shut up!"

The bearded man was taken aback, looking embarrassed, but dared not say anything more.

After thinking for a moment, Liang Tian realized that if he really sent his second son, who knows what kind of trouble he might cause, so he nodded to the man in the jade crown and said, "Chengxuan, you are the most composed, so you should go."

The man in the jade crown immediately accepted the order and left, leaving the man with the long beard there sullenly.

Chen Mu smiled without saying anything; in fact, it didn't matter to him who he sent.

He saw this matter very clearly. The reason why the surrounding aristocratic families and sects were restless was, as Liang Tian said, because Liang Chong had not shown up for a long time. As long as Liang Chong showed up, this matter would disappear and cease to exist.

However, since Senior Brother Liang entrusted this matter to him, he figured that with his current level of cultivation, he couldn't yet reach the level of awe that Senior Brother Liang had intimidated the surrounding aristocratic families, so he needed to make a good show of it.

Just then, Mrs. Li couldn't resist and was the first to come over, so let's take advantage of that...

The tea on the table was slightly cool. Liang Tian was about to change Chen Mu's cup when his eyes flickered, as if he had remembered something important. His hand holding the teapot hovered in mid-air.
"I just heard Fellow Daoist Chen mention that he came to visit on his way here, but I don't know what the real purpose of your visit is. If there is anything I can do to help you..."

Chen Mu gently tapped the saucer of the celadon teacup, his eyes smiling: "Even if the clan leader doesn't ask, I was just about to ask."

Liang Tian waved his hands repeatedly: "Fellow Daoist, you flatter me! Whatever you need, the Liang family will do its utmost to help!"

"That's the way to speak frankly."

With a flick of his sleeve, Chen Mu caused the remaining tea in his cup to rise in wisps of white steam. "This humble Taoist seeks a spirit beast with whom I have a karmic bond. I heard that Senior Brother Liang spoke of Guixu as a blessed land for raising aquatic spirit beasts, so I have come to visit you..."

"Spiritual pet?"

Liang Tian was also in a great mood at this moment. Upon hearing this, he immediately burst out laughing: "Brother Chong's words are true. I dare not speak presumptuously about others in the Guixu. If we talk about the abundance of water-type spirit beasts, we must be the best in this world."

He counted on his fingers: "Our clan currently has three lineages: the Jade Claw Silver Serpent, the Mysterious Ice Armored Turtle, and the Golden Feathered Phoenix. However, their rank is probably not up to your standards, fellow Daoist... Do you have any specific requests?"

Chen Mu didn't stand on ceremony and replied frankly, "This time, I'm seeking a spirit beast in order to break through the barrier of karma and opportunity."

"If the spirit beast has excellent potential, a slightly lower cultivation level is acceptable; if its potential is mediocre, then a fourth-tier cultivation level is required... I wonder if such a requirement can be met in the Ruins of Return?"

Liang Tianhe and the others only vaguely understood the mystery of cause and effect, but Liang Tian, ​​who was also a True Monarch, immediately understood upon hearing it.

"This matter is neither easy nor difficult, but it is not difficult either."

He pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly and said, "If you are willing to wait a few days, when the grand auction in Haixin City opens in the middle of the month, I will send someone to lead you to the event."

"If we are fortunate enough to encounter a rare bloodline, the Liang family will certainly do its utmost to help. But if we are unlucky, we will seek other methods. What do you think, fellow Daoist?"

The Haixin City Grand Auction is the grandest event in Guixu. During the event, cultivators from all realms of Guixu gather, and many rare treasures are revealed.

Among them, the water-type spirit beasts are particularly abundant, with ancient and exotic species appearing in previous years. Unless one is extremely unlucky, there is no reason to leave empty-handed...

……

(End of this chapter)