Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 920 Meeting at Yuntai
The gale gradually subsided, and the sea of ​​clouds returned to silence.

The Wu clan leader and the others barely managed to steady themselves, their faces as gloomy as a deep pool, as they stared at the figure atop Zhuxia Peak.

That person single-handedly repelled nearly ten Dao Inquiry True Monarchs. Although he relied on that extraordinary Xuanhuang Yin Yang Banner, the powerful and abundant magic power flowing around him still made everyone secretly tremble.

Regardless of the outcome of this battle, Chen Mu's name will surely resound throughout the Lingzhu Mountains, comparable to Liang Chong's heroic deeds hundreds of years ago...

Suddenly, an eerie silence fell over the world, with only the sound of the wind whistling through the Taoist robes.

Li Dan suppressed his internal injuries, but could not hide his anxiety: "Gentlemen, what are our plans now?"

Zhuxia Peak is the Li family's thousand-year-old Taoist peak; how can we allow it to be handed over to others so easily?
It was with this in mind that he conspired with the Wu clan leader to ask Su Han to mediate, but unexpectedly the situation became increasingly uncontrollable.

If Su Han truly possessed the ability to quell conflict, that would be one thing, but everyone just witnessed his defeat...

"Ugh!"

Even now, not only the Sun clan leader regretted his initial choice, but Li Dan also felt his blood surging in his chest.

If they hadn't rashly accepted the challenge at the beginning, and had instead spent some time figuring out the situation, they wouldn't have ended up in this predicament.
Or perhaps, if they hadn't been so fixated on maintaining the dignity of their aristocratic family, they wouldn't be in this predicament now...

"What else?"

A glint flashed in the eyes of the Wu clan chief, who suddenly turned his gaze to the depths of the sea of ​​clouds.

Su Han was sitting cross-legged in mid-air, his body surrounded by flickering azure Dao patterns, and several deep, bone-revealing wounds were slowly healing under everyone's watchful eyes.

"Since he started this trouble, he should be the one to end it!"

Their eyes met, and without a word, they rose into the air and sped toward the figure shimmering with emerald light.

A moment later, Su Han exhaled a heavy breath. Although his injuries had healed, he still looked exhausted, a far cry from his previous energetic self.

“Su Zhenjun”.

A soft call came from beside her ear. Su Han looked up and saw Wu and Li walking side by side in front of her. Her facial muscles twitched unnaturally.

As the two men bowed to each other, though each harbored their own thoughts, they maintained proper etiquette: "Master Chen is too powerful to be defeated. We are afraid we are no match for him. We hope that, as previously agreed, we will invite Brother Su Changge to come and take charge of the situation."

However, to their surprise, upon hearing Su Changge's name, Su Han did not respond as decisively as they had imagined. Instead, he pondered with a dark look in his eyes and an unpleasant expression.

Wu and Li both felt a sudden unease, a sense of foreboding washing over them...

Just as the Wu clan leader had thought, the Su clan patriarch was completely unaware of Su Han and his sister's arrival. If he were to send a message to the clan to invite Su Changge, he would inevitably face severe punishment afterward.

That is why Su Han hesitated and struggled internally.

In fact, there are quite a few cases like this where people are forced to submit by using the reputation of the clan. He thought this time would be no different, but who knew that this Taoist Chen would act so recklessly and completely disregard the Su family's name.

The mountain wind swept across the peak, lifting the hem of his blood-stained robe.

The cultivators from various sects watching from afar whispered amongst themselves, feeling as if they were sitting on pins and needles.

Li Dan and the others felt they were in a bind, unaware that Su Han also had a sharp blade stuck in his throat. If they retreated, the Su family's reputation would be ruined; if they advanced, they would be guilty of acting on their own initiative...

"Second brother!"

A clear female voice broke the stagnant air. Su Nan's wide sleeves fluttered in the wind, and her black hair flew: "This concerns the honor of the clan. How can we hesitate?"

The clear shout was like a morning bell and evening drum. Su Han trembled violently. His gaze swept over the surging waters of Zhuxia Peak in the distance, and finally he gritted his teeth and took out the communication jade slip.

His lustrous jade-like eyes reflected a resolute determination; having already risen to power, he could only go with the flow.

As for settling scores later... that's better than publicly tarnishing the Su family's reputation built up over thousands of years.

After sending the message, Su Han put away the jade slip, and the cultivators from the Wu, Li, and Sun families all breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this.

At this moment, as long as they can ultimately preserve their foundation, they can calmly accept any setbacks along the way.

Clouds surged and rolled across the azure sky, while mountain winds carried mist across the stone platform.

The cultivators in the arena fell silent once again. In the brief moment before Su Changge arrived, both the Su siblings and the cultivators from the three families tacitly refrained from speaking, leaving only the rustling sound of their robes brushing against the clouds.

A moment later, a beam of light suddenly broke through the clouds and arrived; it was Liang Tian, ​​the patriarch of the Liang clan, who hurriedly landed.

His face was full of anxiety, but when he saw Li Dan and the others gathered around Su Han in a somewhat disheveled state, his pupils suddenly contracted.

Su Han took in this subtle expression, and a flash of inspiration struck the young cultivator. Judging from his appearance, Liang seemed unaware of Chen Daoren's attack on the mountain today.
If it weren't for the involvement of local powerful families, the patriarch might not have blamed himself for breaking the mountain rules...

Thinking of this, Su Han suddenly stood up, his dark blue Daoist robe fluttering in the wind: "Liang Tian, ​​how dare you collude with outsiders to seize the Dao Peak in the mountain, disregarding the rules of Lingzhu Mountain? Do you think we will turn a blind eye?!"

The sound was like a cold spring striking a stone, startling Liang Tian for a moment.

Before he could speak in rebuttal, Su Han stepped forward and cut him off: "Why don't you leave immediately? If the Liang family remains obstinate when my cousin arrives in person..."

Although Liang Tian was intimidated by this preemptive strike, he had experienced hundreds of years of trials and tribulations and quickly realized the other party's scheme.

Su Han wanted to extricate Chen Mu from the Liang family's gambling match so that he could use this as a pretext to target him and avoid any subsequent gossip or trouble from other prominent families.

As compensation, it's likely that the Su family will remain neutral and observe the three families fulfilling their obligations, and may even actively urge Li Dan and the others to do so according to the rules...

Unexpectedly, Liang became the final player in this stalemate.

Facing Su Han's meaningful gaze, Liang Tian took a deep breath, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and said neither humbly nor arrogantly:
"Fellow Daoist Su, your words are erroneous. Since the duel is over, Zhuxia Peak should naturally belong to True Lord Chen. How can taking what is rightfully yours be considered seizing the peak? May I ask, is this a rule jointly upheld by the thirty-six families, or a method unilaterally decided by the Su family?"

His aged voice was firm and resolute.

Although he had advised Chen Mu to give up the bet yesterday, now that the bet had been made, he should uphold the dignity of the Liang family.

Let alone the pressure from the Su family, even if all twelve prestigious sects were to arrive, he would not betray his allies...

"Good! Good! Good!"

Upon hearing this, Su Han laughed in fury, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, his knuckles clenching until they turned white.

The fact that a foreign True Lord like Chen Daoren looks down on the Su family can be attributed to ignorance, but how dare the mere Liang family bark so arrogantly here?

"Wait for my elder brother, the Su family..."

Before the words were finished, a burst of light shone from the summit of Zhuxia Peak, and a clear voice echoed from amidst the crimson clouds: "Fellow Daoist Liang, come to Yuntai and drink together."

Everyone looked up in surprise, only to see Chen Mu sitting upright in front of the cloud-patterned jade table, holding a celadon teacup in her slender hand. Her expression was clear and open, as if she were gazing at mountains and admiring the moon, completely unlike someone who was in the midst of a whirlpool.

"Could it be that this person has a hidden trick up his sleeve?"

Li Dan and the others felt a chill run down their spines, and they hurriedly suppressed the thought as soon as it arose.

Although the three realms of the Dao vary from person to person, and there are many legends in the history of Guixu about a True Monarch of the Initial Realm defeating a True Monarch of the Final Realm, those are all wonders that can only be seen in the "Li Tan Hua" realm, where the Initial Realm breaks through eight profound barriers and the Final Realm only goes through three profound barriers and ten reincarnations.

Su Changge is the prodigy of the Su clan, a peerless genius who has broken through the eightfold mysteries.

Even if the state of "sitting in oblivion" is not yet perfect, it is still far beyond the reach of ordinary True Monarchs.

Although Master Chen was unfathomable, he ultimately could not overcome the insurmountable barrier...

While everyone else was lost in thought, Liang Tian's emotions had gradually calmed down. He straightened his black Taoist robe and strode confidently up the clouds.

On this day, in front of many like-minded individuals, he sat facing Chen Mu on the Cloud Platform. From this moment on, there was no turning back; there was no way to retreat. If Chen Mu won, the Liang family would rise to prominence; if he lost, they would simply return to their humble origins…

In the distance, a thousand peaks rise in verdant layers; nearby, crimson clouds flow like cinnabar.

Liang Tian stroked the warm jade cup and suddenly smiled. If Chen Mu had not appeared out of nowhere, the Liang family's foundation would have been devoured long ago, and there would be no chance to break the deadlock today.

If Heaven grants me even a sliver of opportunity, I should fight to the death for it. If it were my younger brother Chong, he would have done the same...

The brief incident had barely subsided when a streak of azure light appeared in the sky, piercing through the evening clouds.

Everyone's minds trembled slightly, realizing that it was someone from the Su family. They immediately held their breath and bowed to welcome them.

Even the True Lords watching from afar bowed their heads in reverence, for the majesty of the Twelve Gates commanded the solemnity of the surrounding peaks…

As the clouds dispersed, the gleam of the jade sword condensed into a human shape.

But the rumoredly ruthless Su Changge was actually a handsome man with a refined face and three strands of beautiful beard. As his wide sleeves fluttered in the wind, he cupped his hands in greeting to the four directions: "Greetings, Patriarch Wu. Patriarch Li, how have you been?"

His voice was like a clear spring babbling jade, and he seemed like a learned scholar.

Only when they turned to Su Han and his sister did the clouds suddenly freeze.

His eyes, which had been gentle and warm just moments before, now resembled a deep pool reflecting cold stars. With just a glance, they were so powerful that a pin drop could be heard within a hundred feet.

Su Han's neck veins bulged slightly, but he still lowered his eyes and bowed, saying, "Elder brother..."

"waste!"

The two words were like ice blades piercing the air, clearly indicating that Su Changge already knew the whole story, yet he only commented on it with two words, leaving people unable to grasp his meaning.

Everyone clicked their tongues inwardly and silently took two steps back.

Su Han dared not refute in the slightest, and remained silent with her head bowed.

His elder brother never considers right or wrong, and only seeks personal gain in his actions. He would never have easily agreed to such a thankless task.

It's one thing to agree, but failing to do so not only damages the Su family's reputation but also incurs their dislike. No wonder they showed him such disrespect in front of everyone...

Seeing that Su Han was so embarrassed, Su Nan dared not step forward.

Su Changge didn't press the matter further. With a slight frown, she looked up at the summit of Zhuxia Peak.

Regardless of the cause of this situation, it is ultimately up to him to handle it. Since the dignity of the Su family has been damaged, it must be restored here where the purple aura rises from the east.

That Taoist Chen... I'd like to see what kind of person he is.

Su Changge stepped forward, his clear voice piercing through the water curtain: "Fellow Daoist Chen, would you allow me to ascend the peak for a chat?"

The curtain of water parted in response, and Chen Mu rose from the clouds atop the peak, saying, "Fellow Daoist Su, the jade cup is warm; I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Su Changge soared into the sky on the clouds, and the moment his figure disappeared into the peak, the vast water curtain suddenly closed, completely isolating everyone's sight and consciousness.

The people outside the mountain looked at each other in silence. Su Han and the others stood quietly with their hands at their sides. At this moment, whether they faced each other with swords or made peace over wine, it was beyond their control.

The most tormented was Li Dan. Zhuxia Peak was his training ground for a thousand years, but now he was not even qualified to stay there. His frustration turned into a sigh in his heart, and he could only place his hopes on the thought of another...

At the summit of the sea of ​​clouds, crimson clouds swirl and dance.

Su Changge landed gracefully with her robes fluttering in the wind. Although Liang Tian had planned ahead, he still felt his mind tremble the moment he faced the young master of the Su family, one of the twelve prestigious sects. He steadied himself and bowed respectfully, saying, "Fellow Daoist Su, this old man greets you."

Su Changge nodded slightly in return, his gaze falling directly on Chen Mu: "Many years ago, when I traveled to Dongdu, I saw the Biluo Chaosheng Pavilion and the Jinmu Yuan family standing side by side. Judging from your demeanor, you must be a true successor of the Biluo lineage?"

Chen Mu lightly flicked his sleeves, gesturing towards the stone table and jade seat, his smile undiminished: "How do you know?"

Su Changge calmly sat down: "Only a direct descendant of the True Immortal lineage could defeat my Su Clan True Lord."

Chen Mu's eyes flickered slightly, and he immediately sensed that the person in front of him was sharp and shrewd. A person who could speak so frankly must either be a man of great wisdom or have hidden cunning.

Su Changge continued speaking without stopping, deliberately giving Chen Mu time to ponder:

“However, if you wish to use your sect’s power to make me retreat, you have misjudged cause and effect. Today, you have disgraced my Su family, so I shall uphold my Dao heart in your name. This is the principle of the cycle of Heaven.”

He paused slightly, his fingertips brushing across the ripples in the cup: "I suppose the fellow Daoist who is currently tapping into the mysteries of the universe understands the true meaning better than I do."

Upon hearing this, Liang Tian's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly stood up and said, "Fellow Daoist Su, there was no dispute in this matter. The duel between my Liang family and the Wu, Li and other aristocratic families ended in accordance with the rules. It was Su Han who interfered, which led to the situation we are in today. Now that the cause and effect are entangled, how can we be held entirely responsible?"

Su Changge remained expressionless, only nodding and saying softly, "Brother Han acted rashly, which is indeed a violation of the rules of the mountain by our Su family..."

Upon hearing this, Liang Tian was overjoyed, but before he could speak, Su Changge continued, "My Su family will make some compensation afterward, but the matter of damaging my clan's reputation cannot be left unresolved."

After saying this, he stood up and his eyes gradually turned cold. He said, "I have long wanted to discuss the Dao with Fellow Daoist Liang Chong. Since Fellow Daoist Liang has not returned, I would like to ask Fellow Daoist Chen to enlighten me."

"Don't think I, Su, am taking advantage of your shallow cultivation. When has there ever been fairness in this Land of Return to Nothingness!"

Su Changge's robes billowed, and azure light shone around him like a dragon coiling around him. Just as he was about to make a move, he suddenly saw Chen Mu smiling.

"Brother Su, why are you in such a hurry? There are still distinguished guests who have not yet arrived. Why not enjoy this cup of spiritual tea together, and we can discuss the outcome after the guests arrive?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Su Changge's brows furrowed, and his gaze swept over the table. The tea smoke curled from the four celadon jade cups, clearly indicating that an extra cup had been prepared.

Liang Tian's pupils also contracted slightly; he had been seated for quite some time without noticing the unusual number of teacups...

Su Changge's mind raced. She subconsciously guessed that the last person was Liang Chong, but judging from Liang Tian's expression, she knew it wasn't him.

After a moment, he gave Chen Mu a deep look, dispersed the aura around him, and sat down again.

"If that's the case, let's see what kind of person this cup of tea will bring us..."

He's not someone who likes the unknown; if he can't determine who the variable is, he really doesn't want to make a decision too early...

The three sat in silence, with only the sound of the mountain wind carrying the sound of pine trees echoing among the sea of ​​clouds.

The people outside the peak were already restless. Seeing that Su Changge had been inside for a long time without making any noise, not only Su Han felt uneasy, but Li Dan and the others also had all sorts of wild thoughts.

After another incense stick's time, everyone's expressions changed slightly, and they all turned around to look.

Three figures arrived on clouds, their spiritual pressure surging like a tide, all of them at the True Monarch realm.

Upon seeing the face of the person in the lead, Li Dan and the others' pupils constricted, and they exclaimed in surprise, "Clan Chief Liu?"

The Liu clan patriarch, his blue robe fluttering in the wind, bowed in mid-air: "I apologize for keeping you all waiting so long, I was a little late in coming down..."

The Wu clan chief's expression suddenly turned cold: "As for our matter, I wonder what brings Clan Chief Liu here?"

Previously, when the Liu clan leader drew a line between them, they didn't say anything on the surface, but they inevitably harbored some resentment in their hearts.

The Liu clan leader's smile remained unchanged, and a gilded jade slip suddenly appeared in his palm: "Today I am here to keep an appointment, so there is no need for Fellow Daoist Wu to trouble himself."

Having said that, he stepped aside slightly, and the white-robed man on his left chuckled knowingly, bowing to the crowd: "Bai Jingze greets fellow Daoists..."

……

(End of this chapter)