Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 944 Returning Goose Mountain

The north wind howls, but it cannot disperse the myriad clouds.

The Xuandu region is dotted with mountains and lakes. The peaks, like fangs carved from black jade, pierce the sky, while Fanhu Lake lies quietly among the thousands of peaks and ridges, gleaming with a cold, bluish-black light.

At dawn and dusk, a light blue mist rises between the mountains and lakes, blending with the sunset glow to create a shimmering, glassy haze.

Within this, spiritual inspiration and demonic energy intertwine, cleverly forming a unique aura.

On this day, Chen Mu floated down to the edge of a cliff. This was the place with the widest view within a radius of ten thousand miles. From this high vantage point, one could see undulating mountains, dotted with cold lakes, and the spiritual and demonic energies transforming into dragons that churned in the sea of ​​clouds.

Liu Hongyun was right; the Xuandu region did indeed better suit his requirements.

However, it's not suitable for every place.

Take the cliff below as an example. The spiritual and demonic energies here are too mixed. If one were to use them to nurture an embryo, it would be like a fierce wind or poisonous fire.

Fortunately, this is a rare occurrence. By carefully exploring along the paths of the spirit and demonic energies, one can roughly find a suitable place.

Chen Mu sat cross-legged and carefully sensed the surroundings for a moment. After making a decision, he immediately flicked his sleeves and soared into the air, transforming into a streak of light and speeding southward.

Half a day later, they found a valley with peaceful spiritual energy, but found that the outer perimeter was set up with a mountain-moving formation, and fresh talismans were carved on the stone walls, indicating that it already had an owner.

He observed from the clouds for a while, then finally changed direction and continued his search.

When Liu Hongyun had come here before, he had said that there were many demon cultivators in this area who had seized mountains and declared themselves kings.

He has always believed that those who seize others' property will always be taken away from them. Given a choice, he would not want to become a hostile guest to those long-standing traditions.

Chen Mu continued his exploration along the terrain of Lingji, and arrived at the shore of Hanhu Lake a day later.

A vast expanse of shimmering glass stretched across the sky and earth, with frost condensing into jade fragments suspended in the air. A cold wind swept by, and a misty haze rose up, adding a touch of ethereal beauty to this world.

Yet, this place, blessed with natural beauty and spiritual energy, is devoid of any signs of life. Instead, a faint stench of blood lingers in the air, clearly indicating the presence of a powerful demon, one that is utterly indiscriminate in its appetite.

However, judging from his aura, he was at most at the fourth level of cultivation, which was not a concern for him. So he did not stop, but thought to himself, "Although this place suits my taste, it is not perfect. If I settle here, I am afraid I will have to go through a lot of trouble in the future..."

After a moment's thought, he decided to look for a better place.

However, he didn't intend to come for nothing. To avoid any misfortune in the future, he also collected a portion of the spiritual and demonic energy in the area.

Thinking of this, he immediately leaped onto the clouds, found a spiritual aperture among the cliffs, and summoned the prepared jade bottle.

Spiritual patterns flowed across the bottle's surface, and light shone upside down from its mouth. As he made a hand seal, the spiritual and demonic energies within a hundred miles flowed in like rivers converging into the sea, transforming into a surging torrent.

This jade bottle was originally a magical artifact for collecting the essence of heaven and earth; its power depended entirely on the depth of the cultivator's magical strength.

Chen Mu's cultivation was unparalleled among his peers. At this moment, he exerted his full strength, causing the spiritual energy within a hundred miles to tremble continuously. Frosty mist surged, clouds rose, and countless crystalline light spots peeled off from the lake surface, cliff walls, and void, condensing into a dazzling galaxy and pouring into the jade bottle.

At this moment, deep within the underwater palace at the bottom of the lake, sat a middle-aged Taoist priest with a round face and a short beard.

He suddenly sensed the surging and turbulent energy of spirit and demon around him, and abruptly leaped up from the futon, his eyes wide open, and roared: "Who dares to steal my spiritual veins!"

He quickly channeled his vital energy to investigate the anomaly, but as soon as he moved his qi, he felt as if his dantian acupoint had been hit by a heavy hammer, and a sweet taste in his throat caused him to choke and cough up a mouthful of bright red blood.

The Taoist priest hurriedly steadied himself on the stone table, his face drained of all color.

The opponent disrupted his internal energy circulation simply by communicating with him; such extraordinary abilities were unheard of.

"Could it be..."

He trembled as he wiped the blood from the corner of his lips. "Were they the True Lords of Fusheng Temple?"

Thinking of this, the Taoist immediately made a hand seal and crushed the jade talisman at his waist, causing his aura to recede like a receding tide.

He knew that the other party was undermining the foundation of this place, but out of fear, he dared not show himself. Instead, he concealed his aura, hoping not to be discovered...

While absorbing the energy, Chen Mu was also sorting out his own cultivation path.

Since breaking through three layers of profound barriers, although he had made some plans within the Liang family of Guixu, he ultimately had not been able to find the opportunity for quiet cultivation.

Now that the embryonic eggs still need time to be nurtured, he can take this opportunity to consolidate his cultivation.

After all, if one is too eager to seek the cause and effect of the problem, it may backfire.

Just like a boat crossing the sea, sometimes speeding and sometimes slowing down is the way to go in the long run; otherwise, it will inevitably capsize when big waves come.

The same principle applies to spiritual practice. While striving diligently is important, it is equally important to lay a solid foundation.

Now that I'm here, and I have an unborn child that needs nurturing, I can finally calm down and focus...

After three days and three nights, relying on his vast magical power, Chen Mu had extracted most of the spiritual and demonic energies flowing at the bottom of the lake.

Seeing that he had obtained what he needed, he withdrew his supernatural powers and summoned the jade bottle back into his hand.

If he were to exert all his strength, he could certainly seize all the spiritual and demonic energies in the area, but he knew that the path of cultivation required leaving room for maneuver, so he deliberately left three-tenths of his foundation.

Although it is no longer as prosperous as it once was, this spiritual vein can be preserved and may be able to generate life again after a thousand years.

After he put the jade bottle away, he made a grasping motion with his five fingers, and the cave at the bottom of the lake suddenly trembled.

The middle-aged Taoist priest, who had been hiding in the underwater palace, was just congratulating himself on escaping a calamity when he suddenly felt dizzy and, when he came to his senses, was kneeling on the blue stone in front of Zhang Yan. The hem of his black Taoist robe was covered with wet algae, clearly indicating that he hadn't had time to clean himself up in his haste.

"Greetings...Greetings, Immortal Master"

The Taoist priest prostrated himself on the ground, his forehead pressed against the blue stone, his hands trembling uncontrollably within his sleeves: "Immortal Master summoned this humble demon; may he have any instructions..."

"You demon cultivators, who consume moonlight, should abide by your duty."

Zhang Yan stood with his hands behind his back: "But your body is covered in mottled blood, as if you have been stained with the blood of living people..."

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged Taoist trembled violently, a chill running down his spine and up to the top of his head.

He was originally a round catfish in the river. In the past, he was enlightened by a wandering Taoist priest. Relying on his innate wisdom, he cultivated diligently for a thousand years before forming his nascent soul, and only then did he become the king of this water area.

However, the cultivation of a demon body is always fraught with difficulties. In the past, when no one was in charge, he did gluttonously eat blood. Now that Chen Mu has exposed his true nature, he can only assume that he has encountered a disciple of a celestial sect who is dedicated to slaying demons and protecting the righteous path.

The Taoist priest suddenly knelt down, his forehead pounding so hard that the blue stone cracked, and he cried out in a hoarse voice, "Immortal Master, please forgive me! Before I gained any intelligence, I was just a foolish creature in the turbid waves, relying solely on instinct to fill my stomach."

"But since the day I took human form, I have strictly adhered to the rules and have never devoured a mortal again!"

Words, after all, stirred his true energy, and he pointed to the heavens and swore: "If this little demon has uttered even half a false word, may I be struck by lightning from the nine heavens!"

Chen Mu smiled calmly: "If I hadn't discovered that your qi was mixed with impurities, you wouldn't have survived in front of me... Do you have a name?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

The fish demon hurriedly replied, "My name is Han Shui Nian."

Chen Mu's gaze swept over him twice before he spoke again, "Judging from your Taoist attire, could it be that all your skills are inherited from the human Taoist lineage?" The fish demon hurriedly lowered his body and replied, "In my early years, I was indeed enlightened by a wandering Taoist priest, who bestowed upon me several tattered Taoist scrolls, which allowed me to cultivate some minor skills..."

Before he could finish speaking, he seemed to remember something important and hurriedly added, "That incomplete scroll is always kept close to my body by the little demon. I wish to offer it to the immortal master for his perusal."

After saying that, he hurriedly reached into his robe and pulled out a few pages of yellowed, wrinkled silk paper.

Chen Mu did not raise his hand to receive it, but simply flicked his sleeve, and the stack of silk papers hovered in mid-air.

He stared intently for a moment, then nodded repeatedly.

Although this is only a fragment, the Taoist methods contained within are quite in line with the orthodox lineage of Xuanmen. Moreover, the first half is relatively ordinary, but the later parts become increasingly exquisite. Through his deduction, it is revealed that it contains the key to ascending to immortality.

However, the composition of the book is disordered, and the latter half is even more vague, as if half of the book had been forcibly torn out.

This unusual sight made him raise an eyebrow, and he subconsciously asked, "Are there any other related items?"

Upon hearing this, the fish demon was stunned for a moment, then suddenly slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "There is still half a jade slip deep in the water palace. Immortal Master, please wait a moment, this little demon will be right back."

Having said that, he scrambled out of the spiritual aperture and leaped into the lake.

About half an incense stick later, the monster, soaking wet, climbed ashore, holding a moss-covered broken bamboo slip in its hands, and presented it high above its head like a treasure.

Chen Mupian pointed at the jade slip, and his magical power flowed into it. Instantly, a more detailed Daoist lineage appeared on his mind. After a brief deduction, he understood the situation.

The Daoist arts and profound techniques before me are indeed impressive, possessing a method that directly leads to the sixth-level Dao Lord. Moreover, it is only half of the work at present, as the second half is riddled with celestial secrets and difficult to grasp in its entirety. If it were to be completed, it would at least be a legacy left behind by a rogue immortal.

A mere demon cultivator has obtained such good fortune, and he only inquired slightly before making this discovery...

Is this an opportunity for the demon cultivator, or his karma?
Chen Mu pondered for a moment, shook his head and smiled. Putting aside the fact that this method was incomplete, even if it were complete, it would not be as good as the "Taiyin Yuepo Chaosheng Zhuanjing". Why would he choose the more distant method instead of the more near one?

He examined it for a moment, showing no sign of disappointment, and said, "I will accept this."

He put away the jade slip and casually tossed out a celadon cinnabar bottle.

The fish demon quickly caught it, uncorked the bottle, smelled it, and was overjoyed. He carefully put it in his bosom and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Immortal Master."

Chen Mu then asked, "Are there any cultivation sects around here?"

The fish demon's heart skipped a beat. She stole a glance at Chen Mu's expression before lowering her head and replying, "More than ten thousand miles to the south, on the main peak of Huiyan Mountain, several immortals reside. They all revere the Supreme Being in the mountain. The spiritual veins there are more than a hundred times stronger than this cold pool of mine!"

Chen Mu inquired carefully and gradually understood the layout of this place.

This place was called Qizhou, a remote prefecture of Xuandu. The place he was standing on was even more desolate in Qizhou, with few people around. As a result, there were not many cultivators. Occasionally, there were some rogue cultivators and spirits who lived in their own places. Since their cultivation levels were similar, they lived in peace.

Until sixty years ago, a Taoist named Lu Zhaotai broke through the sky and arrived. This person had a Nascent Soul Great Perfection cultivation that was unparalleled in the region. He occupied the spiritual cave of Huiyan Mountain as his residence, and all the surrounding cultivators and demons had to pay tribute every year.

As the fish demon finished speaking, it added in a low voice, "That Daoist Lu is eccentric and often uses his cultivation level to suppress others, causing fellow cultivators to fall silent in fear. If you, Immortal Master, were to go there, you must be cautious..."

Chen Mu understood the implied meaning and deduced that this fish spirit must have suffered humiliation in the past.

His final words of advice, ostensibly out of concern, were in reality a scheme to use someone else to do his dirty work.

With a slight smile, he didn't reveal anything, but with a flick of his sleeves, he had already lifted up the fish demon. Clouds suddenly rose beneath his feet, and he shot south like lightning.

After flying more than ten thousand miles, auspicious light and mist appeared among the layered mountains ahead. Chen Mu focused his divine light on them for a moment, then raised his sleeve and pointed to the swirling vortex of spiritual energy in front of him: "Is that place?"

The fish demon nodded hastily and replied, "This is indeed the place. Immortal Master, your insight is truly remarkable. This humble demon is in awe."

Chen Mu paid no heed to the cunning rascal's flattery and casually tossed it toward a nearby low peak: "Go find your own way out."

The fish demon was eager to leave, and as soon as it landed, it transformed into a stream of murky water and disappeared into the rocks of the mountain stream without looking back.

Upon seeing this, Chen Mu scoffed lightly, and his body suddenly shone brightly. A blue rainbow pierced the sky amidst the vast sea of ​​clouds, and in an instant, he arrived in front of Mount Ling.

The fish demon said this place had the best feng shui, and now that we see it, it is indeed so.

The mountains and lakes are connected, and the scenery is not only beautiful, but the spiritual and demonic energies are also abundant, indicating that there are many former masters. After several accumulations, it is much stronger than the previous cold lake.

Chen Mu slowly nodded, then suddenly called out loudly, "Is Master Lu here? An uninvited guest has disturbed my peaceful cultivation."

The echoes still reverberated through the mountains when a Taoist priest in a green robe appeared, riding on auspicious clouds. His three long wisps of beard fluttered in the wind, and his body was surrounded by spiritual energy like mist and clouds, clearly indicating that he was a person of profound cultivation.

The Taoist priest eyed the newcomer warily, then cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and said coldly, "Fellow Daoist, from which immortal mountain do you come? What business do you have with me, Lu?"

Chen Mu smiled and said, "I have come to this place to borrow this treasure for a while. However, this mountain has long been occupied by you. I am willing to offer a precious treasure in exchange. After ten years, the mountain will be returned to its rightful owner. What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Master Lu's hair and beard bristled, and his magic sword was drawn from its sheath with a clang. The sword's sound shattered rocks and pierced the clouds, its cold light hovering above the sea of ​​clouds: "Outrageous! This is my Daoist temple. How can I allow you to cultivate here? Retreat at once, or don't blame me for being merciless with my sword!"

Chen Mu stood with his hands behind his back, his plain white Taoist robe remaining completely still in the fierce wind.

He clearly saw that although the other party was displaying thunderous rage, a trace of panic flashed in his eyes. It was obvious that this Taoist priest could not even see through the depth of his cultivation, and was only putting on a show of force.

He seemed not to see the magic sword hanging in the sky, and only said: "I have heard the spirits in the mountains say that sixty years ago, you also took this mountain from your fellow Daoists."

“I am well aware of the Heavenly Rules of Xuandu, and I am willing to treat you with courtesy today. However, considering the hard work you have put in over the years, if you are unwilling, I may take it myself.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Daoren's gaze swept across Chen Mu's face like lightning. He thought to himself, "This person has eyes that seem to hold stars and a clear light emanating from his body. He does have a bit of the air of a Daoist immortal. However, this is a desolate border region of Qizhou. Even those who fight for spiritual veins can only cultivate a few true techniques here."

He gradually calmed down and snorted coldly, saying, "Let me let you know that I am a disciple of the Three Talents True Lord of Fusheng Temple. I am here on my master's orders. If you try to seize it by force today, I will not back down an inch. Even if I am no match for you, someone else will fight you again in the future!"

Chen Mu chuckled lightly, his hands behind his back, and said, "Fellow Daoist's behavior makes it seem as if this humble Daoist is ignorant of destiny."

He had intended to temporarily borrow the spiritual vein for cultivation, so he treated him with courtesy on three separate occasions.

If it were a cultivator from Xuandu, he would probably have killed him with a single sword strike long ago, instead of being so polite and persuasive as he is.

Since this person is unwilling to budge an inch, we can only proceed according to the rules of Xuandu.

Lu Zhaotai suddenly felt a strong sense of unease, and the plain white Taoist robe inexplicably made him feel uneasy.

He roared, "Get out of here!"

With a flick of his sleeves, he summoned his natal magic sword, which instantly pierced the sun like a blue rainbow, aiming straight for the opponent's face. However, the opponent's figure transformed into a wisp of black smoke and retreated backward.

However, he had always acted recklessly in this place without encountering any opponents. Moreover, this place was remote and desolate, so he was arrogant when he appeared earlier and did not carefully examine Zhang Yan's cultivation level. If he had known the truth earlier, he would never have dared to approach so recklessly.

The cave has long been protected by mystical restrictions. If one can escape back inside, one can hold out for ten days. At that time, one can send a message to invite fellow practitioners to come, and be confident that one will be able to kill this fiend.

Unexpectedly, with a light flick of Chen Mu's sleeve, a shimmering light vanished in an instant, melting the gleaming magic sword into wisps of smoke.

He then pointed his fingers again, and a surge of profound magical power erupted, instantly sealing off the spiritual energy of the surrounding hundred miles.

Lu Daoren felt as if his entire body had been plunged into an ice cave, his figure suddenly frozen in mid-air, and he was immediately terrified, his face turning deathly pale...

……

(End of this chapter)