Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 922 Crimson Clouds Prove Cause and Effect; Dark Tides Submerge in the Heart of the Sea

Chen Mu nodded slightly, then suddenly seemed to remember something and reminded him, "Although the Liu family can be a source of wealth and honor, Brother Liang, you must not rely on them too much. If you are truly in dire straits, the Qiushan Sect is more trustworthy than the Liu family..."

"Don't worry, Brother Chen, I know what I'm doing," Liang Tian replied.

Although the Liu family was the first to submit, it was ultimately for personal gain. Not to mention their later resolute betrayal of the Wu, Li, and Sun families, anyone would have to be wary of them.

"Brother Chen, why are you suddenly bringing this up? Could it be that you intend to take your leave?" Liang Tian noticed something amiss and couldn't help but ask.

Chen Mu smiled and bowed, saying, "Now that Senior Brother Liang has fulfilled his request, it is time for me to retire gracefully."

Upon hearing this, Liang Tian blushed and said, "I promised to find you a top-grade spirit pet back then, but I haven't kept my promise. Instead, I've caused you to worry about the Liang family..."

"Brother Liang, you flatter me."

Chen Mu waved his hand to interrupt: "Top-grade spirit beasts are all about chance; forcing them will only make you look worse."

Moreover, he knew that the Liang family had already done their best.

He pondered for a moment with his hands behind his back, then looked up at the rosy clouds on the horizon: "As for this Zhuxia Peak... I wish to give it to the Liang family."

While a fifth-order spiritual vein blessed land is indeed precious, for those who have no intention of staying in Guixu for a long time, it would be better to form a good relationship.

Moreover, the Liang family is currently experiencing a period of revitalization, and many of its Dao Peaks may be able to nurture True Monarchs who seek the Dao. He believes that the other party can understand the advantages and disadvantages involved.

However, to his surprise, before he could finish speaking, Liang Tian waved his hands repeatedly, already refusing: "Absolutely not!"

"What's wrong?"

"Thanks to Brother Chen's great help, the Liang family has overcome the difficulties. How could we dare to covet your opportunities?"

Liang Tian stroked his beard and smiled wryly: "Zhuxia Peak is blessed with natural beauty and is suitable for establishing a sect and spreading the Dao. Even if you do not intend to stay here for long, you can keep it as a backup plan. It may have unexpected benefits in the future."

He continued, "Besides, I still have my own self-awareness. It's already quite an achievement that the Liang family has managed to maintain its current foundation. If we were to add another auspicious site, I'm afraid it would only attract more villains to covet it..."

Chen Mu slowly nodded, secretly realizing that his thinking had indeed been somewhat flawed.

He wasn't worried about the outsiders Liang Tian mentioned; what he was truly concerned about was that if the Liang family controlled too many peaks, even the Liu family, with whom he had a good relationship, might not be reliable.

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Mu made up his mind and resolutely said, "In that case, Zhuxia Peak will remain under my name, and Yu Xin of the Qiushan Sect will manage it on my behalf."

"However, all these natural treasures, derived from spiritual veins and condensed from crimson clouds, have entered the Liang family's treasury..."

Before he finished speaking, he looked up and saw the clouds swirling outside the hall, the unique crimson mist of Zhuxia Peak dyeing half the sky red.

The crimson glow in the mountains not only nourishes the spiritual veins, but also condenses into crimson crystals every new moon, making it a treasure that fire cultivators dream of.

The choice of Yu Xin was also significant, serving two purposes: firstly, to appease the Qiushan faction led by Xuanjizi, thus reassuring them to submit to the Liang family.

Secondly, the hundreds of seekers of the Dao that Yu Xin had mentioned could take this opportunity to stay and cultivate at Zhuxia Peak, which would inadvertently add to the Liang family's power.

Upon hearing this, Liang Tian's breath hitched slightly. His hands, hidden beneath his wide sleeves, clenched and unclenched, before he finally straightened his clothes and performed a simple, ancient heart-knocking salute.
"Brother Chen's kindness will surely be engraved in the ancestral motto of the Liang family. If there is an opportunity in the future, the entire Liang family will do everything in our power to repay him..."

As these words fell, inside the Chaosheng Pavilion in the Eastern Capital, the glazed tiles of the Xuanxing Palace reflected the shimmering light of the water.

The blue waves rippled, their emerald hue spreading across the surface.

Liang Chong sat alone in the Listening to the Waves Pavilion, his plain clothes and wide sleeves hanging down to the stone table. He was trying to understand the key points of the "Secret Essentials of the Ephemeral Flower" when he suddenly felt a slight tremor in his mind. He opened his eyes and saw gilded ribbons flowing in the void.

The golden thread seemed both real and illusory, its flickering light subtly mirroring the celestial trajectories of the stars.

"Causal lines..."

Seeing this, Liang Chong smiled, showing no surprise, and muttered to himself, "It seems that Junior Brother Chen has resolved a crisis for my Liang family and gained our family's karma..."

A thought struck him, and without flinching, he extended his left hand. The instant the golden thread wrapped around his wrist, ripples suddenly appeared on the mirror-like lake outside the pavilion, and thousands of emerald runes emerged from the water, reflecting half of the palace as if it were carved from jade.

At the same time, Chen Mu, atop Zhuxia Peak, also experienced a strange sensation. The spiritual energy around him surged like a tide, and the shackles of his Xuan Guan loosened step by step.

The flowing rosy clouds in the sea of ​​clouds seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, transforming into strands of golden threads that swirled around the body.

Both of them were cultivators at the initial stage of the Dao Inquiry realm, so they naturally knew what this scene represented. Liang Tian blurted out, "Brother Chen, quickly regulate your breathing and concentrate your mind, and prepare to knock on the barrier!"

Chen Mu was somewhat surprised. He could sense that the force of cause and effect was backed by Senior Brother Liang Chong, but when he came here, Senior Brother Liang did not seem to have mentioned that there was such a thing.
Little did they know that the cycle of cause and effect is inherently unpredictable. Even Liang Chong was not certain that the two were necessarily connected, so he did not mention it, lest deliberately pointing it out would damage the Dao.

Only after the Liang clan leader made a vow to heaven and earth did the dormant chains of cause and effect fall like stars, transforming the fortune of the thousand-year-old family into a key to unlock the gates.

In the darkness, the three seem to have no connection, yet they are intertwined by cause and effect. The way of cause and effect is indeed wondrous...

Chen Mu quickly understood the key point, turned around and glanced at the cave, then smiled wryly. He originally wanted to leave quickly to find a spirit pet to break through, but unexpectedly he found a breakthrough opportunity in the Liang family instead.

Liang Tian was even more anxious than Chen Mu: "Brother Chen, go and knock on the gate. I'll leave now and come back to see you off after you've succeeded..."

Chen Mu nodded, turned around, and entered the cave.

As the gates closed, Liang Tian breathed a sigh of relief. As he turned and walked away, he chuckled almost imperceptibly, "With such a large number of causal threads, it seems Brother Chong's cultivation has improved again..."

……

While the Lingzhu Mountains were bustling with activity, Haixin City, a million miles away, was also teeming with people.

However, this grand occasion did not originate from the famous auction in Haixin City, but rather from a notice hanging high in Caihua Tower, which stated that several high-grade Dao artifacts were on display there and that they were to be exchanged for three rare spiritual materials.

In an instant, the news spread like wildfire, drawing cultivators from all directions.

It should be known that within the Guixu territory, top-grade Dao artifacts have always been the most precious treasures for each race to guard their destiny, and ordinary cultivators rarely see them in their entire lives.

Caihua Tower's extravagant move has truly shaken the entire cultivation world.

Speaking of Caihua Tower, it is the most unique existence in Haixin City. The rare treasures in the tower are never priced with spirit stones, but are exchanged with specific natural materials, forming its own set of trading rules. Therefore, it can stand out in the city jointly ruled by the three races.

It is said that the first owner of this building was a solitary immortal, but for a hundred years, the people in charge have been cultivators from the three races in rotation, making it seem to outsiders no different from ordinary properties in Haixin City.

However, the rumors about the wandering immortals remained shrouded in mist, and no one could ever truly uncover the truth.

From the day the notice was posted, the popularity of Haixin City suddenly soared.

Every day, cultivators came and went like fish crossing a river, but they all left disappointed. In half a month, not a single person was able to meet the conditions set by Caihua Tower.

At dawn that day, two distinct figures broke through the morning mist and arrived.

The man in the lead was plump with a face like a silver plate. Although he was only twenty years old, he wore a crooked melon-shaped hat and was dressed in fine clothes and jade belt. He did not look like a cultivator, but rather like a wealthy young master from the mortal world.

Although the accompanying old man had snow-white hair, his face was as smooth as a young man's. A jade hairpin held back his three thousand white hairs, and his slightly furrowed brows seemed to hold a hidden thunderous aura, making people dare not look directly at him.

Wherever the two went, the cultivators along the way couldn't help but turn their heads. However, they ignored the gazes around them and rode their cloud-patterned flying chariot straight into the city. As soon as they landed, they sped towards the glazed pavilion that was suspended in mid-air.

As he stepped onto the jade steps of the Colorful Flower Pavilion, the young fat man called out, "Quickly bring out the three treasures that guard the pavilion!"

Seeing the two men's extraordinary bearing, the steward quickly bowed and said, "You two immortals are of noble birth from the Xuanmen sect. I wonder if you have brought the spiritual herbs required for the list with you?"

The portly cultivator gently stroked the jade belt at his waist and said slowly, "I was just passing through your city when I heard that you could exchange rare and precious materials for magical artifacts. I came here specifically to inquire about this, but I don't know if there are any intricacies involved."

"May the Immortal Master be wise and discerning."

The steward hurriedly unfurled the scroll, saying, "Each of the three spiritual herbs will be exchanged for one treasure: Shadow Orchid, Mustard Seed Glass Flower, and Soul-Soothing Lotus. All spiritual plants must be in perfect condition, without the slightest damage."

The portly cultivator smiled and said, "I have heard of the Soul-Soothing Lotus, and I happen to have some with me."

The Soul-Soothing Lotus grows at the boundary between Yin and Yang. During the day, it closes up like a white bone hairpin, and only opens its black and white petals at midnight when the Yin energy is at its peak.

Its fragrance can cleanse the mind of demons. If one holds the lotus seed under the tongue, even if one's primordial spirit is scattered, it can be condensed for seven days. It is a life-saving treasure that cultivators at the Dao Inquiry Realm cannot obtain for a thousand pieces of gold.

The attendant hurriedly said, "Your Excellency has misunderstood. The lotus presented must have complete roots and a perfectly round lotus platform..."

The man chuckled and said, "It's not impossible."

Before the steward could reply, he turned to the white-haired man beside him and asked, "Elder Gong, you have traveled the world for many years. Have you ever heard of the Shadow Orchid or the Mustard Seed Glass Flower?"

The Taoist priest, addressed as Master Gong, stroked his long beard and spoke in a voice as melodious as an ancient zither: “The Shadow Orchid grows in the damp crevices of ancient battlefields where corpses accumulate, and its shape is semi-transparent like an ice silkworm pupa.”

"If you take its roots and bury them in your palm for seven days, you can transform them into ancient bloodlines. They are often used by cultivators to form contracts with ancient alien species."

At this point, his brows furrowed. "However, each time it is used, spiderweb-like black lines appear in the meridians. Over the years, the blood vessels become disordered, eventually resulting in a form that is neither human nor ghost."

The portly man's pupils constricted slightly: "Such a wondrous use? How come I've never heard of it before? Could it be that my clan's secret treasury also lacks this item?"

Old Master Gong glanced at the steward beside him without any hesitation: "In the past, Young Master He would only need to write half a poem, and hundreds of cultivators would transcribe it for you. It's a pity that the clan is now living in seclusion..."

Before he could finish speaking, the young man in the brocade robe nodded thoughtfully: "What's so mysterious about the mustard seed glass flower?"

Old Master Gong thought for a moment and pondered, “This flower is extremely rare. It blooms year-round on the cliffs of snow-capped mountains. Its nine petals overlap like a pagoda. If activated by a secret method, the petals will fall off and recombine into a miniature Sumeru Array, which can support a mustard seed barrier three zhang square within a small space.”

"It is said that a master craftsman once used the flower's stamen to create the 'Exquisite Mustard Seed Pouch,' which contains thirty-six layers of folded space. However, this flower withers when it comes into contact with gold and must be preserved by the body temperature of a cultivator... Even I have never seen the real thing."

The portly man's eyes gleamed as he said, "The creation of heaven and earth is truly wondrous."

The attendant standing nearby bowed and exclaimed, "Immortal Master, your knowledge is profound. These three wondrous objects have been listed for half a month, and only you have been able to fully explain their mysteries."

The portly man said, "Esteemed steward, could you please bring those three magical treasures for a look?"

This time, the steward did not refuse, saying, "Please wait a moment, I will go and fetch it."

Not long after, footsteps sounded, and when the black-robed steward came out, three magical artifacts on the sandalwood tray shimmered with light.

Just as the portly man was about to step forward, another person walked in from outside. The newcomer had a majestic appearance and a magnificent beard that reached his chest. If Chen Mu were here, he would recognize him at a glance as Hong Wuyai, the one in charge of the Haixin City auction.

The steward introduced, "This is Elder Hong. He heard that you, Immortal Master, can tell the origin of spiritual herbs, so he came to see you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Hong Wuyai's smile suddenly froze, and then he said as if he was extremely surprised, "Young Master He, is it you?"

The portly man didn't seem too surprised, and casually said with a smile, "It's Elder Hong on duty, which saves a lot of trouble."

These words made Hong Wuyai's heart tighten, but he did not show it on his face. After dismissing the attendants on his left and right, he paused for a moment on the silver-haired Taoist: "Brother Gong."

Then, turning to the portly man, he asked several questions in quick succession: "Wasn't Young Master He traveling around? When did he return to the Ruins Realm? Does the Clan Chief know?"

"Is this kind of questioning hoping the clan leader will order me back to the palace?"

The man's eyes were filled with even more mockery. He took his seat in the main seat and the hem of his brocade robe swept across the jade table.

"Don't dare."

Hong Wuyai cupped his hands in a gesture of respect without any expression.

The portly man nodded in satisfaction and said, "In that case, why don't you tell me the origin of these high-grade Dao artifacts?"

As he spoke, he looked at the table, where a carving knife stood out. The starlight flowing across its blade seemed to correspond to the celestial sphere, clearly a sign that its innate spiritual consciousness had been conceived.

Hong Wuyai's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he finally stepped forward and picked up the carving knife: "This item is called the 'Ten Thousand Yuan Hengling Star-Painting Knife,' made from the cold marrow of the Nine Abyss..."

While narrating, the commentator caught a glimpse of the man unconsciously rubbing his fingers together inside his sleeve, his greedy expression evident.

After explaining the details of the three Dao artifacts, he added in a deep voice, "The owner has stated that he will not exchange them for any spiritual herbs that are not required by the list."

"Ha ha……"

The portly man said nonchalantly, "With Elder Hong presiding over Caihua Tower, why bother with these worldly rules?"

As he spoke, he winked at Hong Wuyai, the meaning of which was self-evident.

Hong Wuyai took a half step back: "Young Master He, Caihua Tower is not our clan's property. If we were to... it would damage the name of the Gonggong clan, and it would be difficult to take control of it in the future."

"This is something you should worry about..."

The portly man's expression suddenly changed: "There's no need to trouble me."

The spiritual energy inside the pavilion suddenly condensed, and Hong Wuyai's wide sleeves moved without wind, revealing the blue veins on his wrists.

The portly man seemed to sense something, and looking at Hong Wuyai's sleeves with a half-smile, he said, "What, does Elder Hong intend to emulate the past and take action against the direct descendants of the Gonggong clan?"

He paused, and seeing that Hong Wuyai remained silent, he suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Your son's death has nothing to do with me. If you want to seek revenge, you should go after that poisonous woman. Why make things difficult for an idle person like me?"

Hong Wuyai remained silent, only bowing his head and clasping his hands.

Seeing that the other party kept his head down, the man chuckled and picked up the carving knife, putting it into his sleeve: "Consider this Elder Hong's token of appreciation."

After saying this, he strode away.

Old Master Gong followed behind, but as he was about to leave, he seemed reluctant and hesitated for a moment before finally sending a secret message: "Brother Hong, remember your duty as master and servant..."

As the footsteps faded into the distance, Hong Wuyai slowly raised his head, his eyes already gleaming with a bloodthirsty light, and the aura emanating from his body caused the twelve mermaid pearl lamps to flicker unpredictably…

……

(End of this chapter)