Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 905 Peach Blossoms in Full Bloom
"Hahaha……"

In response to Liang Tian's inquiry, Chen Muguang slightly shook his sleeves and laughed loudly: "Since I am a guest in this precious place, I will naturally follow the arrangements of Clan Chief Liang."

"So good!"

Liang Tian felt relieved, and the gloom that had been gathering between his brows for days suddenly dissipated. He then spent a long time drinking tea and discussing philosophy with Chen Mu before having someone lead Chen Mu to the guest hall to rest.

……

At the summit of Huang'e Peak, wisps of smoke curl from the cloud-patterned incense burner inside the Jize Hall.

Li Dan, the patriarch of the Li clan, sat on a gilded dragon throne, his sword-like eyebrows slanting upwards into his temples, and his eagle-like eyes like cold, sharp stars.

He had a short beard, and the green jade ornaments hanging from his waist and the black jade thumb ring on his finger complemented each other, making this cultivator in the middle stage of the Dao Inquiry realm even more majestic and awe-inspiring.

He was discussing matters with his clansmen when he suddenly heard a commotion outside the hall. He frowned and asked, "What happened?"

The noise outside the hall suddenly fell silent, and then a gray-robed cultivator emerged from behind the mica screen, his dark blue hair ribbon hanging down to his shoulders.

Upon seeing that it was Li Nan, who was ordered to monitor the Liang family, the elder in purple robes sitting on the left stroked his beard in surprise: "Nephew Nan, why have you left your post without permission? Is there something unusual about the Liang family?"

Li Nan knelt on one knee before raising his head, revealing the surprise and doubt on his face: "Clan leader, as usual, I observed the Liang Clan's mountain gate today and saw a Taoist priest in plain robes paying respects. The person who greeted him was Liang Chengxuan, who treated him with the courtesy due to a junior and led him into the mountain..."

"what?!"

Li Dan did not move, but the elders on both sides stood up in alarm and hurriedly asked, "Did you see the man's face clearly? Could it be Liang Chong returning?"

Li Nan cupped his hands and replied, "It is not Liang Chong, but judging from his attire, he does not seem to be from Guixu."

Upon hearing this, although everyone shared the same doubts, they couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and returned to their seats.

"It's good that it's not Liang Chong..."

If Liang Chong were to return at this time, the Li family would be in dire straits.

At this moment, Li Dan slowly nodded and said, "Since he doesn't seem to be a person from Guixu, and is most likely a Daoist True Lord, then this person must be related to Liang Chong. I never expected that True Lord Liang would have left a backup plan."

"Clan leader, could it be that Liang Chong never actually died, and that someone deliberately spread false information to trick us into being used as stepping stones?"

Li Nan hesitated for a moment, then frowned and spoke.

In his heart, the Li family was thriving, so why was he in such a hurry to benefit others?

Moreover, Liang Chong is a True Lord of the Dao, how could he perish so easily? Even if he is not in Guixu at the moment or is tied up with other matters, once he returns, won't he still cause trouble for them?

He had thought his words would serve as a warning to the elders and even the clan leader, but instead, they elicited only a few shakes of the head and light laughter.

Seeing his blank expression, the clan elder who had initially asked the question explained, "Foolish child, if you know this, how could we not know it?"

“Liang Chongdao was a man of extraordinary ability, and he would not have fallen so easily. However, the Liang family’s legacy was so tempting that it was inevitable that some people would have the idea of ​​going with the flow.”

"With such a grand occasion, how could our Li family lag behind? Since someone wants to ride the east wind, we will be the spark that ignites the prairie fire!"

"When the fire reaches the sky, even if Liang Chong returns, what can he do against the raging flames?"

"However, given the Li family's resources, if we want to gain access to the Liang family's resources, we can only serve as a stepping stone..."

Li Nan's eyes widened in surprise; this was something he hadn't expected.

It turns out everyone knew the truth, but they just wanted to perpetuate the mistake...

"Haha, Brother Chu, why waste your breath on the young man? Ultimately, clan matters must be decided by the clan leader."

Someone casually waved Li Nan away with a flick of their wide sleeves.

It is not advisable to let lower-ranking disciples know too much about the undercurrents that are brewing.

After Li Nan left, Li Chu stood up and looked at Li Dan, frowning as he said, "Clan leader, we haven't even had time to investigate the situation thoroughly, and the Liang clan has already changed. Is this plot..."

Li Dan lowered his eyes and remained silent, and the hall fell silent for a moment.

Before long, another clansman entered the hall and reported, "Clan leader, Liang Chengxuan of the Liang clan is requesting an audience outside!"

A faint rustling sound of fabric filled the hall, and the elders exchanged subtle glances.

Li Dan was also surprised. His eyes flickered as he guessed Liang Chengxuan's purpose. After a while, he nodded and said, "Since you are a neighbor visiting, please invite Master Liang in."

A moment later, Liang Chengxuan stepped into the hall with his eyes straight ahead and his expression calm. Upon seeing Li Dan, he bowed and said, "I greet True Lord Li."

Li Dan smiled and nodded, raising his hand in a gesture of support, saying, "Master Liang, there's no need to be so polite. Someone, please bring a seat!"

Upon hearing this, two maids immediately brought over a chair and placed it in the hall, directly opposite Li Dan—a rather ingenious position…

Liang Chengxuan seemed oblivious, bowed slightly, and then sat down comfortably. He accepted the Wushan Yunya tea served by the maid but did not touch it, instead placing the celadon teacup on the table.

Li Dan looked at him with great interest for a few moments before saying, "Master Liang is a rare guest indeed. Our two families have been neighbors for three or four hundred years, and this is the first time I have welcomed you."

Liang Chengxuan smiled and cupped his hands in greeting: "I may not be very outgoing on a regular basis, but I am not the kind of person who is ignorant of etiquette."

"Oh?"

Li Dan smiled and said, "Since we rarely visit each other, why have you made an exception and come today?"

Liang Chengxuan remained neither humble nor arrogant, and said frankly, "I have come here today on the orders of Chen Zhenjun to arrange a meeting with Li Zhenjun on a chosen day."

Li Dan's heart stirred slightly, but he remained calm and asked, "May I ask who this True Lord Chen is?"

"Chen Zhenjun is a junior brother of Ancestor Liang Chong. He came here on the way and had no other intentions."

"A fellow disciple from the same lineage..."

Li Dan nodded slowly, but his mind was filled with thoughts.

Regardless of whether he was a junior brother or not, the phrase "just passing by and with no ulterior motives" made him completely disbelieving.

If you came along the way and had no other intention, why did you send someone to meet him?
He chuckled coldly, his expression growing serious, and said in a deep voice, "And when is the chosen day?"

Liang Chengxuan bowed his head and replied respectfully, "As Chen Zhenjun said, the time and place are to be determined by Li Zhenjun."

Li Dan's eyes flashed. What an arrogant outsider! Does he not take the Li family seriously?

"In that case, how about we meet at Qianli Pavilion outside the Purple Maple Forest at 3:45 PM two days from now?"

Liang Chengxuan frowned secretly. Although the Purple Maple Forest was thousands of miles away from the main peak of the Li Clan, it was still within their sphere of influence. This Li Clan leader... was really very cautious.

Although Chen Mu told him that he didn't need to worry about the meeting place, he still carefully tried to persuade him, saying, "The serene beauty of Zifeng is certainly wonderful, but it's early spring and the scenery isn't as vibrant. If it could add some elegance to the meeting of the two True Lords..."

"Master Liang is indeed a charming and romantic man."

Li Dan suddenly burst into laughter, his knuckles lightly tapping the jade table, producing a clear sound. "Then how about we move to Spring Peach Mountain? Right now, the mountain is ablaze with peach blossoms, and the falling petals make it the perfect place to brew tea and discuss philosophy."

Liang Chengxuan's heart skipped a beat; he hadn't expected the other party to be waiting for him here.

Chuntao Mountain is adjacent to the Qiushan Sect, which has a long-standing and close relationship with the Li family. Meeting here would be extremely advantageous for the Li family.

He secretly admired the other party's meticulous planning, but dared not refuse any longer. He could only force a smile and say, "The Peach Blossom Pact is indeed an elegant affair. I will report back to True Lord Chen now."

"Li Chu".

Li Dan casually dusted off his sleeves: "See the master off for me." After Liang Chengxuan's figure disappeared, Li Dan's son, Li Zhong, looked solemn and finally couldn't help but take two steps forward: "Father, are you really going to keep this appointment?"

Li Dan stroked his short beard and pondered, "Since the agreement has been made, we should keep our promise."

"But listen to what Liang Chengxuan said..."

Li Zhong's Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice lowered even further: "This Chen Zhenjun is a junior brother of Liang Chong, and given his arrogance, he must be no easy opponent..."

If it were anyone else, he wouldn't have worried about his father, but Liang Chong was too famous back then. When he was at Lingzhu Mountain, there were very few cultivators of the same level who could rival him.

This person is so powerful, his fellow disciples must be no less formidable. If they were to fight against my father, the consequences would be truly unpredictable.

Suddenly, a crow took flight outside the hall. Li Dan sighed, his hands behind his back, "I had someone arrange a duel with that Liang brat earlier, but I never expected things to turn out so unfortunate... Now that I'm in the game, how can I possibly escape unscathed?"

"Besides, gambling with that brat Liang is really nothing serious, and I don't think it'll lead to a life-or-death fight just from meeting him. But I really don't know what kind of person he is, so I have to be careful..."

He rose and paced a few steps in the hall, then suddenly turned back and said, "Zhong'er, take my token and go to the homes of Wu, Liu, and Sun!"

Li Zhongsu accepted the order, immediately stopped, and a plume of smoke rose from the ground, enveloping his body as he flew out of the hall and headed southeast.

Li Dan stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the vast sky outside the hall, and murmured, "Now that the Li family has entered their sights, none of you can remain uninvolved..."

……

As soon as Liang Chengxuan returned to the mountain, he went straight to Chen Mu's residence and explained the whole story of his journey.

"Chuntao Mountain?"

Just then, Liang Tian stepped into the hall. Upon hearing this, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he rebuked, "You are always so prudent in your actions, how could you not know about the relationship between the Qiushan Sect and the Li family?"

Liang Chengxuan's Adam's apple bobbed slightly as if he wanted to speak but hesitated, and finally he lowered his head and clasped his hands in a fist.

Chen Mu smiled calmly, stopped Liang Tian, ​​and reassured him, "Clan Chief Liang, please calm down. It was I who gave him permission to act as he saw fit."

"Even if there was a prior agreement, the meeting place shouldn't be set there..."

Chen Mu's eyes flickered slightly: "I was just about to ask the clan leader, who exactly is this Qiushan Sect?"

Liang Tian shook his head and sighed, replying, "The Qiushan Sect is not very prestigious. It has only been around for one or two thousand years, and its reputation is not well-known."

"However, its leader is quite powerful, having achieved the True Lord realm in the same year as me. He has already broken through three levels of the Mysterious Gate, and according to rumors, he seems to have given up on breaking through and is preparing to enter the next realm..."

Whether the rumors are true or not is unknown, but it is true that this person has a close relationship with the Li family. I am afraid that meeting him nearby would be detrimental to you, fellow Daoist.

At this point, he nodded secretly and said, "How about this, I will go with you in two days."

Chen Mu laughed and said, "That's not necessary. If the clan leader leaves the mountain, wouldn't that give others an opportunity to take advantage of us?"

"Please rest assured, this is merely a meeting, with no other intentions. How could there be any talk of war?"

Upon hearing this, Liang Tian breathed a sigh of relief. Based on his understanding of Li Dan, as long as Chen Mu did not take the initiative, Li Dan would not act rashly.

This is the normal situation, but no one can say for sure. He still reminded him, "Fellow Daoist Chen, do not be careless and it is best to act with caution."

Chen Mu knew he meant well, so he nodded and smiled, "Clan Chief Liang is right to remind me, I will be careful..."

Seeing that he had taken it to heart, Liang Tian didn't bother him any further and immediately led Liang Chengxuan away to take his leave...

Two days later.

In the Liang clan's territory, Chen Mu, accompanied by a crowd of onlookers, stirred up a mighty gale and sped through the air. The clouds stirred up by his robes trailed a long white rainbow across the sky before disappearing into the clouds in an instant.

The young men of the clan had never seen such a sight before, and they were all dazzled and bewildered. Several children even stood on tiptoe and craned their necks until their necks ached from looking up.

The bearded man was even more excited: "I only hope that Lord Chen can severely thwart the Li family's arrogance this time, so that they will know that the Liang family is not to be trifled with!"

The middle-aged man with the jade crown beside him did not speak, but he nodded repeatedly, his eyes showing joy.

Only Liang Tian stood alone beneath the pillar, his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze piercing through the clouds, a deep and unyielding weight hanging between his brows…

Chen Mu moved with incredible speed, his fierce winds sweeping across 30,000 li, and Spring Peach Mountain was already in sight.

Amidst the verdant peaks, a rosy glow lingered, and the fiery peach hue of the mountains permeated the streams, even the morning breeze that swept through the forest carried a honeyed fragrance.

As Chen Mu descended from the clouds, several crimson petals swirled and fell into the clear spring, creating rosy patterns on the shimmering waves.

"Beautiful scenery."

He exclaimed in admiration, thinking to himself that although Guixu was lacking in resources, the beauty of the human world was everywhere, which seemed particularly simple and vivid compared to the otherworldly atmosphere of Chaosheng Pavilion.

"The peach blossoms are in full bloom, setting off the immortal's presence. Let us raise three large cups of wine. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Chen."

Perhaps hearing Chen Mu's praise, a clear laugh came from the mountaintop, startling several white-feathered sparrows.

Chen Mu was not surprised and calmly walked over.

After turning past the peach blossoms, an octagonal pavilion with a pyramidal roof comes into view. Bronze bells hanging from the eaves sway gently in the wind, and two figures emerge amidst the tinkling sound.

The man at the head of the group had a dignified appearance with sword-like eyebrows and eagle-like eyes. Even with a slight bow, he still exuded an imposing and awe-inspiring presence. He was none other than Li Dan, the patriarch of the Li clan.

Half a step behind was a short, stocky Taoist priest wearing cloth shoes and a tall hat. He had small eyebrows and two wisps of beard fluttering in the wind. He looked unremarkable, but his aura was extraordinary.

Chen Mu guessed that this person might be the True Lord of the Qiushan Sect, Xuanji Zi...

He discreetly observed the two people opposite him, while Li Dan and Xuan Jizi were also secretly scrutinizing him.
The plain white Taoist robe shimmered with a jade-like glow in the spring light, and beneath her long, dark hair, tied with a jade hairpin, her features were meticulously drawn, making her appear like a pine tree standing tall in the wind under the moon.

Such appearance and demeanor truly embody the legend of "a banished immortal mistakenly descending to the mortal world" as described by the world.

What shocked them even more was that they couldn't see through Chen Mu's cultivation level!
Even with one's primordial spirit, one can only vaguely glimpse the Daoist essence, giving the impression of a reflection in water, uncertain of reality...

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of caution in each other's eyes.

In such a situation, either Chen Mu's cultivation level far surpasses theirs, or Chen Mu possesses some kind of supreme treasure or profound Dao technique; and either way, it's not something they can easily handle...

"Greetings, fellow Daoists."

Chen Mu walked over casually and bowed to the two of them.

Li Dan immediately concealed his unusual expression, and with a loud laugh, he waved his sleeves to welcome him: "Fellow Daoist Chen, you have a refined taste, please take a seat!"

Xuanji Zi bowed in return without changing his expression, said "please," and the three of them stepped into the pavilion, their robes fluttering with fallen petals.

Looking into the distance, peach blossoms bloom amidst the layered mountains; listening nearby, the clear stream murmurs as it winds around the rocks.

Chen Mu remained calm and did not discuss other matters with the two men. Instead, he offered them drinks and shared some anecdotes.

Li Dan and the other man echoed each other frequently, their faces showing normal smiles, but their minds were already completely confused.

After about half an hour, Li Dan finally couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "Fellow Daoist Chen, you didn't invite me today just to enjoy the Peach Blossom Stream, did you?"

Chen Mu smiled, put down his wine glass, and said frankly, "Nothing much, I just want to have a duel with Fellow Daoist Li."

Before he finished speaking, the thousand peach trees outside the pavilion were already moving without any wind...

……

(End of this chapter)