Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 947 Banquet Under the Moon
At this point, Yan Rongmu suddenly fell silent, his eyes flickering, clearly indicating that he had more to say.

Tao Feng seemed to have guessed his junior brother's unspoken meaning, and frowned deeply, remaining silent for a moment.

Fu Danian, however, lacked such patience. Seeing that he stopped halfway through his sentence, he paused and pressed on, "Senior Brother, do you already have someone in mind?"

Yan Rongmu's expression shifted slightly. He realized that it was inappropriate to reveal his identity as the person he had chosen, but since it concerned the continuation of the lineage, he could no longer afford to be too cautious.

Thinking of this, he lowered his eyes meaningfully and said, "The Yuan brothers of Tianmu Mountain in Huanzhou are highly skilled in Taoism and act without restraint. If we invite them with resources, we should be able to persuade them to come and assist my Fusheng Temple..."

Upon hearing this, Fu Danian's expression changed, and he blurted out, "Aren't the Yuan brothers from an evil sect?"

"If you can help my Fusheng Temple overcome this difficulty, what do evil sect cultivators matter?"

However, despite saying that, Yan Rongmu's eyes flickered, clearly indicating that he was not as certain as he appeared.

Fu Danian was taken aback, opened his mouth, but said nothing.

Seeing this, Yan Rongmu looked at Tao Fengbian again. Whether this matter could be accomplished depended on the abbot's decision.

"Junior Brother Yan."

Tao Fengbian pondered for a moment, then his brows furrowed with determination. With a flick of his sleeves, he declared, "This matter need not be discussed further!"

"The Yuan brothers' actions were wicked. In the past, in order to comprehend the secret art of blood and evil, they actually boiled 100,000 people alive as a catalyst. Their so-called 'way of boiling life'..."

"We in Qizhou have long agreed not to allow such a person to enter the country. If we break this ironclad rule, even if we can solve the immediate crisis, Liangyi Temple will definitely take the opportunity to incite the entire prefecture to attack our sect. This matter must not be done."

Even though Fu Yi was defeated in the debate and all three of his fellow disciples perished, he still had a backup plan to ensure that his disciples could escape to other states and wait for an opportunity to rise again.

However, if they collude with evil spirits, there will be no place for them to stand within the Xuandu territory...

Yan Rongmu's throat moved slightly as if he wanted to speak, but he ultimately lowered his eyes and remained silent.

However, there was one thing that none of the three brothers mentioned, yet they shared a tacit understanding: none of them wanted to sever the foundation of their sect.

As for the promise made by the Taoist nun surnamed Song to "be incorporated into the temple"...

Has anyone ever agreed?

We must strive to protect the grotto-heavens left by our ancestors, and we must not let the lineage of Fusheng Dao be lost!
Fu Danian nodded repeatedly: "What you say is absolutely right, senior brother. How can we associate with evil spirits!"

After speaking, he turned to Yan Rongmu: "However, Senior Brother Yan's method of leveraging power is indeed a good strategy. I am willing to spend twelve years visiting fellow practitioners throughout the four prefectures, and I will surely find strong support for my Fusheng Temple!"

Upon hearing this, Yan Rongmu's expression softened slightly: "I can split up with my junior brother."

Tao Feng clapped his hands in approval, his gaze sweeping over his two junior brothers: "At this critical juncture of life and death, we should all work together with one heart and one mind."

"Even if fate is unavoidable, I can face my ancestors in the afterlife without shame..."

The three of them slowly moved to the portrait of the patriarch, nodded silently, and then stepped forward one by one to burn incense and pay their respects.

Yan Rongmu was the first to get up and leave. Known for his wide circle of friends, even though the abbot had explicitly forbidden him from associating with heretics, several figures still lingered in his mind.

A moment later, Fu Danian exhaled a breath of turbid air and was about to turn and leave when Tao Fengbian's deep voice suddenly came from behind him: "Junior Brother Fu, please wait."

Fu Danian paused: "Senior brother has given other instructions?"

Tao Feng shook his head and took out a jade talisman from his sleeve, handing it over.

After Fu Danian took the document and examined it, he slowly said, "Lu Zhaotai, whom I expelled from my sect several years ago, suddenly died. According to my investigation, it should be the work of a True Lord from another state."

"Because of Fu Yi's discussion of the Dao, I did not make a fuss about it. However, to prevent this person from having any ulterior motives, I had someone keep a close watch on him..."

He spoke without stopping, explaining the matter of Huiyan Mountain in detail.

"A spirit pet has appeared, its aura stirring for miles..."

Fu Danan muttered softly, then looked up after a moment and said, "It seems that this fellow cultivator has nurtured his spirit pet with a local spiritual vein, which is why he has arrived here... What is the meaning of this, Senior Brother?"

Tao Feng smiled slightly: "Junior Brother said he wanted to travel all over the world to invite like-minded people, and isn't this one right here?"

"Hi!"

Fu Danian slapped his forehead and laughed, "This foolish brother of mine has failed to grasp the crux of the matter; I'm truly confused..."

He nodded repeatedly: "I'll go right away!"

Tao Fengbian stopped his impatient junior brother again, thought for a moment, and instructed him: "This person's background is still unknown. Junior brother, don't rush to invite him this time. It's better to test his background first..."

Fu Danian nodded, straightened his posture, and stepped out of the palace gate, his body transforming into a rainbow of light and disappearing into the clouds...

……

Fu Danian left the mountain gate and traveled for three days before arriving near the territory of Huiyan Mountain.

Fusheng Temple was originally a prominent Taoist lineage in Qizhou. If it were any other day, given his status as an elder, his travels would surely attract the attention of other sects along the way who would set up altars to welcome him.

However, he deliberately concealed his whereabouts, choosing to fly at low speed through desolate wilderness paths, so no one noticed his presence for three days.

He did not go directly to Huiyan Mountain, but instead went to an unnamed peak a thousand miles away to meet with the disciples stationed there.

After confirming that there had been no unusual activity in the vicinity of Huiyan Mountain recently, they slowly approached on their escape light.

Once the outline of the towering mountains came into view, he deliberately lowered the clouds, revealing his majestic presence.

A white mist swirled along the way. He focused his gaze and examined the surroundings closely, then nodded to himself, "It's a Xuanmen (mystical sect) formation technique. This person is probably not an evil cultivator..."

Just as I was pondering this, I suddenly heard a cry.

Looking up, one can see two blue and white streaks of light shooting through the sky amidst the verdant mountains, soaring straight up to the heavens in the blink of an eye.

Such terrifying speed of escape has already exceeded the scope of his revealed cultivation level.

Fu Danian let out another soft exclamation, clearly noticing that one of the divine birds differed from what the disciples watching over the place had said.

"Such progress in just half a month... Such a rare spirit bird, its master must be extraordinary as well."

His expression turned solemn, and he stopped at an appropriate spot. He straightened his clothes, cupped his hands in a salute, and said in a voice as clear as gold thread: "Fu Danian of Fusheng Temple has come to pay his respects to fellow Daoist."

Inside the quiet room in the mountainside, Chen Mu slowly opened his eyes.

In fact, there was no need for him to make a sound; he had already sensed it when they were close to Huiyan Mountain.

"The concept of welfare..."

He remained calm, waved his hand to dispel the restrictions outside the mountain, and then stood up to greet them.

When Fu Danian saw the white mist suddenly dissipate, he knew that the host of this place had invited him. He immediately took a deep breath and stepped up the blue stone mountain path.

As you turn the verdant stone steps and ascend to the summit, you will see a Taoist priest in a plain robe sitting in a mountain pavilion amidst the clouds and mist.

Although Tao Fengbian had long suspected Chen Mu's cultivation level, he had never witnessed it firsthand, so he still had some doubts. But seeing Chen Mu's demeanor now, he had no more doubts.

He bowed respectfully: "Are you a fellow traveler from another realm? Fu Danian of Fusheng Temple greets you here."

Chen Mu glanced down and saw that the newcomer was wearing a seven-star crown, was over nine feet tall, and was surrounded by the unique cyclical energy of the "Sitting in Oblivion" state.

After he killed Lu Daoren, he did not deliberately investigate the movements of Fusheng Temple. However, when he traveled thousands of miles in his spirit, he inevitably heard rumors about this lineage from time to time. As soon as he heard the other party introduce himself, he knew that the person was one of the Three True Lords of this sect.

However, judging from the kindness in his eyes, he did not seem to be seeking revenge for his disciples, so Chen Mu returned the greeting and said, "This humble Taoist is Chen Mu."

With a gentle flick of her sleeves, the dust on the stone benches in the mountain pavilion was swept away.

"So it's Fellow Daoist Chen."

Fu Danian had never heard of the name Chen Mu, but one thing was clear: someone who could reach the level of a True Monarch of the Dao was no ordinary person.

Moreover, even though he could clearly sense that Chen Mu's realm was not as high as his own, he felt a sense of warning for no reason, as if he might be no match for him if he really faced him.

This is worth mentioning. Having broken through six profound barriers and reached the "Sitting in Oblivion" realm, how could he be no match for someone who had just entered the initial stage?
There are only two possibilities: the person in front of him is either a direct descendant of a great sect from a blessed land or possesses ancient secret techniques, which would allow him to be so unfathomable.

After Chen Mu waited for him to be seated, he asked in a gentle voice, "May I ask what brings Fellow Daoist Fu here today?"

Fu Danian was prepared and sat up straight, saying, "Our temple once had a disgraced disciple named Lu Zhaotai. This person was arrogant and domineering, and his heart was not upright. He was expelled from the Taoist community by us decades ago, but we have not been able to find his whereabouts for a while."

"I learned from Yu Ling that you had brought him to justice, and I was deeply moved, so I came here to express my gratitude."

Zhang Yan took a sip from his cup, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

Although that Taoist surnamed Lu was of decent cultivation level, his methods were mediocre. How could he be worthy of a great cultivator in the middle stage of the Daoist realm making a special trip to thank him?

It was clear that the other party had ulterior motives for coming here. However, seeing that the other party was using falsehoods to evade the issue, Chen Mu had an idea and decided to go along with it, saying, "I picked up some items from that cultivator surnamed Lu. Since they are your esteemed possessions, I should return them to you intact."

With a flick of his sleeve, he took out several scrolls of silk and jade slips from his personal grotto and carried them to the Taoist's desk with a cloud of mist.

Fu Danian solemnly accepted the item, pretended to peruse it for a moment, and then, as if he had found a lost classic, his face lit up with joy. He put the item into his robes, stood up, and bowed, saying:
"Thanks to your kindness, fellow Daoist, I was able to retrieve the scriptures from my sect. I would like to host a banquet to express my gratitude. I hope you will not refuse."

Chen Mu pondered to himself. Although he felt that this matter was strange, he had personally killed the other party's disciples. If he refused outright, it would seem deliberate.

In addition, the other party was indeed very polite, and since it was just a simple meal and some wine, it would be a good way to make friends. So he nodded and said, "Fellow Daoist's invitation is sincere, and this humble Daoist will certainly accept."

Fu Danian smiled broadly and stepped aside, extending his arm to invite, "Fellow Daoist, please follow me."

Chen Mu first looked up at the pair of blue ducks patrolling the sky, and after sending out a command with a slight movement of his divine sense, he followed Fu Danian and transformed into a stream of light, soaring away into the sky.

The journey of a thousand miles was but a blink of an eye for the two of them. As the escape light subsided, Chen Mu looked around and a smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.

Fusheng Temple sent people to secretly keep an eye on the movements at Huiyan Mountain, so how could he be completely unaware?
They only pretended not to know because they saw that he acted openly and honestly.

Fu Danian deliberately brought him here, clearly knowing that he couldn't hide it any longer, and this arrangement had a deeper meaning of apologizing.

"Fellow Taoist, please."

Fu Danian laughed loudly, raised his sleeve and pointed to the lonely cliff in the clouds: "The moon is full tonight, why not ascend to the top and enjoy the view of the moon reflected in the mountains and rivers?"

Chen Mu nodded in approval, and the two of them rode the wind and soared upwards.

At the summit of the precipice, a single ancient pine tree bursts through the rock, its gnarled trunk and iron-like branches twisting like a dragon, its verdant canopy hanging like a cloud canopy. Its spiritual essence is hidden among its gnarled roots, and a pure aura lingers beneath its verdant canopy. Clearly, it is a spiritual tree that has been blessed by a thousand years of creation.

Fu Danian looked intently at Chen Mu: "What do you think of this situation, fellow Daoist?"

Chen Mu smiled slightly and said, "Even the Cloud Terrace and Moon Pavilion cannot compare to the rustic charm of this place."

Fu Danian clapped his hands and laughed: "It's this old tree spirit that has gained such good fortune for nothing."

He strolled a few steps into the cliff, found a flat rock platform, and with a light flick of his sleeves, spiritual light poured down like a celestial river, suddenly spreading out ten feet of red silk. A jade table rose from the swirling clouds, and green vines naturally draped down from the mossy stone steps.

Suddenly, the clear sound of jade pendants rang out, and a spring of moonlight gushed forth from the void, meandering in nine curves around the table.

Silver waves carried the ice-patterned jade discs, which floated on the water one after another, like fish carrying pearls, and settled on the table one by one.

In the blink of an eye, a hundred delicacies shrouded in spiritual mist were laid out on the table. The amber cups held nectar that flowed with the richness of grapes under the moonlight and the clarity of coconut dew at dawn, its fragrance penetrating straight to the soul.

Fu Danian, with his wide sleeves billowing in the wind, extended his arms and invited, "Fellow Daoist, please take a seat."

Chen Mu bowed slightly, twirled his sleeves, and walked to the seat.

After Fu Danian waited for him to sit down, he also sat down, clapped his hands, and shouted, "Where is the person in charge here?"

Before the words were finished, a strange wind suddenly swirled through the forest, and a striped tiger leaped out of the mist, landing and transforming into a burly man with golden rings who prostrated himself in worship: "This humble demon has temporarily taken control of the hundred-mile mountain range and humbly awaits the decree of the immortal."

What is the name of this mountain?

The tiger demon, somewhat embarrassed, replied, "Being ignorant and unaware of destiny, and seeing that this mountain is nameless, I have temporarily named it Great Tiger Mountain based on my true form..."

"Tiger Mountain?"

Fu Danian laughed heartily: "Returning to simplicity is not bad either."

He waved his hand and said, "Today I am hosting a banquet for distinguished guests. You are to select some clever little demons to serve you."

The tiger demon readily agreed, "I will obey your decree. I will go immediately."

"If handled properly..."

Fu Danian said meaningfully, "You'll definitely get your share of the benefits."

The tiger demon perked up and leaped down the cliff.

A short while later, two parrots with emerald feathers and gold flecks flew down from the sky. When they landed, wisps of blue smoke rose up and transformed into two beautiful women with cloud-like hair.

Their eyes were bright and clear, their cheeks flushed, and they bowed gracefully with shyness and timidity: "Lord Mountain Lord commands me to serve the Immortal Master."

Her words fell like pearls onto a jade plate, gentle and melodious, bringing life to the world.

Fu Danian responded with a low groan.

The two women understood each other and immediately stepped forward with light, lotus-like steps, picked up the wine cup, and poured the fine wine into the jade cup as their sleeves fluttered. Then they gathered their robes and stepped aside, like two budding plum blossoms standing quietly.

Chen Mu asked with a smile, "Are all the spirits and demons in this mountain under the control of your temple?"

Fu Danian replied, “All things born and nurtured by heaven and earth have a connection to the Dao. Our sect has the teachings of our ancestor that anyone who sincerely seeks the Dao, regardless of their original form, can enter the gates of my Fusheng Temple and be taught the true Dharma.”

His words left much unsaid, as if there was a hidden meaning in them, and they were quite profound.

After a moment's thought, Chen Mu shook his head and smiled to himself.

Fu Danian probably orchestrated this whole thing because he saw that I had traveled to another state to incubate the spirit eggs, and assumed that I was a cultivator specializing in beast taming techniques, so he used this rhetoric to lure me in.

However, it is not surprising that Fu Danian made such a misjudgment. After all, although spirit pets are important, he has never seen anyone go to the neighboring states to spend time in order to hatch a spirit pet. Apart from those cultivators whose cultivation methods are based on spirit beasts, who else would do such a thing?
"I never imagined that your sect would possess such profound understanding of the Dao."

Chen Mu raised his cup and took a small sip: "May I ask the name of your esteemed sect's founder?"

Fu Danian said, "Our sect's founder was named Zhongfu. I wonder if Fellow Daoist Chen has heard of him?"

Chen Mu smiled slightly, and Fu Danian knew the outcome. He didn't feel embarrassed at all; on the contrary, he felt that the time had come. After toasting Chen Mu with a cup of wine, he inquired, "But do you know where Youxian Mountain is? And what is the name of the founder?"

……

(End of this chapter)