Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 959 Three Immortal Valley

“What Junior Brother Fu says is certainly true.”

Yan Rongmu raised his head and looked at Tao Fengbian, his eyes filled with struggle and a hint of indescribable excitement: "However... the battle of the Three Immortal Valley is related to the survival of the lineage, and is a real danger of collapse. Even if we invite our fellow Daoists to help us, and can match Yun Su's abilities, what are our chances of winning?"

"The foundation of the lineage is important, but what use is it if the lineage perishes today? Uncle Tang... is ultimately my senior, perhaps... perhaps he can seize this opportunity to buy the lineage a chance to breathe?"

His voice trailed off, clearly indicating that he himself knew this idea carried a great deal of luck and risk.

If he hadn't known of Tang Shangyuan's existence, he might not have been so pessimistic. But with this glimmer of hope, he inevitably had to consider more...

"Senior Brother Yan! You're being foolish!"

Fu Danian said sternly, "Uncle Tang has monopolized the grotto for hundreds of years, sharing most of the incense offerings, causing our temple to become weak to this day, which is already a sin! Now he wants to undermine our foundation, his intentions are despicable. How can we know that he is not taking this opportunity to seize power and plot against himself?"

"Senior brother, don't forget that he is no longer the protector of the path he once was. If this precedent is set, will Fusheng Temple still be Fusheng Temple?"

It wasn't that he was abandoning his benefactor after using her; it was just that Tang Shangyuan, whom Tao Fengbian had described, had gone too far.

Tao Feng closed his eyes and remained silent, the sharp words of his two junior brothers echoing in his ears.

One side is outspoken and righteous, guarding the original tradition; the other side is pragmatic and seeks to improve its foundation.

He already knew in his heart who was right and who was wrong...

The debate continued for a long time, the flickering candlelight in the hall casting long shadows of the three people onto the solemn ancestral master wall, like candles flickering in the wind.

Finally, Tao Feng slowly opened his eyes and raised his hand to stop the two from arguing.

His gaze swept over Fu Danian's face, which was flushed with excitement, and then landed on Yan Rongmu's tightly pursed lips and complex, unreadable eyes.

“What my two junior brothers said makes sense.”

Tao Feng's voice became dry and hoarse, as if he had kept these words hidden for a long time.

“However,” his voice suddenly turned deep, carrying a chilling edge that seemed to pierce through the fog, “the current Uncle Tang… is no longer someone our lineage can rely on; in fact… he is a malignant tumor clinging to our lineage, a major threat to our very being!”

These words struck like a thunderbolt. Yan Rongmu's pupils suddenly contracted, and he looked at his usually composed senior abbot in disbelief.

Fu Danian clenched his fists tightly, his eyes flashing with a sharp light.

Ignoring their reactions, Tao Fengbian continued, each word clear as an ice bead falling to the ground: "His demand for incense is not to repel enemies or protect the Dao; his intention is obvious: to forge a divine body of incense and ascend to that ethereal divine position!"

"If their wish is fulfilled, even if we are lucky enough to win the debate, my Fusheng Temple will be reduced to a mere puppet in a shrine, existing in name only, and the essence of our Taoist tradition will be completely lost!"

His gaze sharpened as he swept over the two men, his voice suddenly rising with a do-or-die determination: "Therefore, what we seek this time is not only to overpower our formidable enemy in the Three Immortals Valley, but also to seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to completely eradicate this deep-seated malignancy within our temple, to sever the shackles of our Fusheng Temple, to cleanse its origins, and to recreate... a bright and clear world!"

"it is good!!"

Fu Danian could no longer contain himself and slammed his fist heavily on the table, causing the candlelight to flicker wildly. "Senior Brother's words are a wake-up call! If Uncle Tang still has even a shred of loyalty to our sect, he should... he should seize the opportunity to pass away peacefully and restore the integrity of our lineage!"

Tao Fengbian was not surprised by Fu Danian's fervent support. He simply nodded slightly, and then his deep gaze turned to the silent Yan Rongmu as if it were a physical object: "Junior Brother Yan, what... do you think?"

Yan Rongmu took a deep breath and looked back at Tao Fengbian with a complicated expression, his gaze seemingly trying to pierce through the other's calm exterior and see into the depths of his heart.

After a long silence, he sighed softly, his voice carrying a barely perceptible somber tone: "Senior Brother Abbot... it turns out you had a plan all along. I just wonder... how do you intend to 'completely resolve' this... century-old problem?"

A glint of cunning flashed in Tao Fengbian's eyes, as if he were plotting something.

He said slowly, "I was just about to discuss this with my two junior brothers in detail."

……

The auspicious day of the sixth day of the sixth lunar month has arrived.

Fusheng Temple mobilized all its elite forces, with all cultivators at the Dao Seeking Realm joining forces, along with recruited True Monarchs, totaling eighteen powerful figures. They soared into the sky from Zhuoguang Mountain, transforming into streaks of light, heading straight for the ancestral grotto-heaven's present-day location—Sanxian Valley.

Those who can reach the realm of seeking the Dao are mostly powerful rulers and giants of their own territories. They all carry their own powerful flying artifacts and are accompanied by dozens or even hundreds of disciples riding on their escape lights.

For a time, the scene in the sky was magnificent, with all kinds of magical treasures riding the clouds and mist, some as flying boats and pavilions, others as strange birds and beasts, flying through the sky and across the land, displaying a variety of strange lights and colors.

Looking into the distance, one can see rainbows intertwined, rosy clouds dyeing through the layers of clouds, and countless clusters of light converging, like a surging, colorful torrent tearing through the sky and rushing towards the southeast.

The three brothers, Tao Feng and his fellow disciples, rode on a "Blessed Spirit Carpet" woven with gold and red. The carpet was a hundred feet wide when unfolded, and a jade platform was built on it, exuding an imposing aura.

At this moment, Chen Mu was also invited to the high platform, where he sat at the same table as Tao Fengbian, Fu Danian, and Yan Rongmu.

"Fellow Daoist Chen,"

Tao Feng's expression softened, and he spoke first, "I learned the other day that the Liangyi Temple has only invited seven or eight fellow practitioners this time, far fewer than us. It seems that this trip may be easier than expected."

Chen Mu nodded slightly and asked, "Is there anyone the Abbot is familiar with?"

Tao Feng paused for a moment, then his expression turned serious: "Most of them are strangers to us, but you should pay close attention to one of them, fellow Daoist."

"Oh?" Chen Mu raised an eyebrow. "I'd like to hear the details."

“In Changzhou there is a mountain called Nanlai, and on the mountain lives a hermit who calls himself Nanlai Sanren.”

Tao Feng lowered his voice a few decibels, "Although this person comes from a rogue cultivator background, his strength and reputation are not ordinary, comparable to Fellow Daoist Zhong who comes from a major sect. If you encounter him in the future, you should be careful."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mu looked at the Taoist priest surnamed Zhong who was meditating with his eyes closed not far away and slowly nodded.

To be able to gain a reputation comparable to that of a direct descendant of a major sect while being a rogue cultivator, this hermit from Nanlai must indeed have something unique about him.

Perhaps fearing it would dampen morale, a relieved smile appeared on Tao Feng's face:

"However, apart from this person, most of the others are unknown figures. Fellow Daoist Chen does not need to be distracted. Just keep an eye on the True Lord of Liangyi Temple and that Hermit of Nanlai."

Chen Mu nodded with a smile.

The grand procession from Fusheng Temple flew for two days and finally arrived outside Sanxian Valley on the eighth day of the sixth lunar month.

Fu Danian suddenly stood up, striding confidently to the very front of the spirit carpet. His voice boomed like a bell as he pointed towards the depths of the clouds ahead: "Fellow Daoists, please look! That is the Three Immortals Valley. I believe the supreme grotto-heaven left by our ancestors is hidden within it!"

Upon hearing the sound, everyone focused their gaze on the distance.

In the vast sea of ​​clouds ahead, three strange peaks rose from the ground and seemed to appear and disappear.

Countless flowing clouds, like jade belts of immortals or ethereal silver beards, entwine around the mountainside and peaks, making the three peaks appear like three ethereal, otherworldly old men.

Nestled between the three peaks lies a deep and secluded basin valley.

Surrounding the valley are dozens of floating islands of varying sizes, which hover and fly around like stars surrounding the moon, creating a magnificent sight.

However, it is obvious to anyone with discerning eyes that these flying islands were forcibly created by the two temples later using restrictive magic. Although they are magnificent, they cannot hide the artificiality of the craftsman. Compared with the three naturally formed and naturally serene immortal peaks, their artistic conception is far inferior.

As they were observing, the group from Fusheng Temple had already flown over the Three Immortals Valley.

Tao Fengbian's gaze turned serious, and he immediately issued an order: proceed slowly and do not rush into the valley.

Although this place is a gathering place for cultivators from both temples, it is unlikely that the other party would openly carry out such a sneak attack. However, it would not be difficult to find some pretext to do something to damage the reputation of Fusheng Temple.

Upon hearing this, all the cultivators became extremely alert, concealing their escape lights and riding auspicious clouds, slowly advancing into the valley. After about a quarter of an hour, the group steadily entered the heart of the valley. At that moment, Chen Mu seemed to sense something, his gaze suddenly rising and shooting like lightning towards the most majestic mountain peak in the due east direction.

This peak stands proudly above the surrounding mountains, boasting the highest elevation. At its foot lies a deep, secluded pool with a ceaselessly flowing undercurrent.

At the summit, a ritual altar was erected, upon which stood more than ten Taoist priests of various colors and profound auras—the entire group from the Liangyi Temple!
Tao Fengbian's gaze locked onto that spot almost simultaneously, his eyes narrowing slightly, a cold glint flashing briefly before disappearing.

He remained silent, paused briefly, and then calmly led the audience of Fusheng to descend slowly from the clouds toward the highest mountain peak to the west.

On the altar, a True Lord who had been invited to lend his assistance burst into loud laughter, his voice echoing across the surrounding area:

"Hahaha! So what if Fusheng has the numbers and the advantage? He's already lost before the battle even begins, putting him at a disadvantage. We occupy this superior position, and that old Taoist Tao doesn't even have the courage to step forward and question us..."

Although he saw that his side was outnumbered, he showed no sign of worry. Instead, he took the opportunity to ridicule Qi Yunsu, his words full of flattery.

Qi Yunsu stood with his hands behind his back in the center of the altar, his expression calm and unmoved by such shallow flattery.

His gaze swept indifferently across the West Peak, but his eyes were involuntarily drawn to a figure in a plain robe.

Just then, Chen Mu seemed to sense something, his gaze flashing like lightning as he also looked down from the western peak.

Two gazes met silently between the two peaks high in the sky.

In that instant, a barely perceptible hint of seriousness flashed across Qi Yunsu's calm face.

After a moment's thought, he called Wei Cangdong, who was standing to the side, closer and asked in a low voice, "What's the response from the Ancient Tribulation Thunder Pool?"

Wei Cangdong frowned, looking troubled, as if unsure how to phrase it. He could only steel himself and bow, saying, "Reporting to Martial Uncle, Fellow Daoist Dongyi has indeed shown great interest in this matter..."

"However, for some reason, his words seemed to carry many concerns, and he never gave a concrete promise, only saying... if the opportunity arises, he might come here in person..."

Seeing Qi Yunsu's face darken, Wei Cangdong sighed inwardly and bowed deeply, saying, "This disciple is incompetent and failed to accomplish this task. I beg my uncle for punishment."

Qi Yunsu waved her hand, her voice revealing neither joy nor anger: "Enough. How can we possibly fathom or force the actions of those from the Tribulation Thunder Ancient Pool? This is not your fault."

He hesitated for a moment, then called Luo Feng and the Daoist nun surnamed Song to his side, lowering his voice even further:

"Just now, I used the art of observing qi to observe Fusheng's formation and found that its aura was completely different from last time. Not only was there no gray and deathly aura, but there was also a strong and clear aura that soared straight into the sky, which was a sign that its fate was not yet over."

"Pure Qi?" Luo Feng's heart stirred, as if he had realized something. "Uncle-Master, you mean... that fellow Daoist from the Azure Tide Pavilion?"

Qi Yunsu nodded slowly, her gaze profound: "Indeed, this person is surrounded by Daoist aura, and his fortune is so strong that it can even support the rise and fall of an entire Daoist lineage! Based on my deduction..."

He paused, then uttered a startling statement: "This person is probably more than just a disciple of the True Immortal lineage; he is very likely... a personal disciple of a certain Immortal Lord!"

"An Immortal Lord?!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Feng, the Daoist nun surnamed Song, and Wei Cangdong were all struck as if by lightning. Their pupils dilated violently, and their faces were filled with extreme shock and disbelief. They almost cried out in alarm, but they managed to hold it back!
Immortal Lord!

What an unattainable existence that was! To them, it was already a legendary figure.

Even the master of one's own lineage's patriarch, after a lifetime of effort, could only barely attain the rank of a wandering immortal...

Qi Yunsu remained calm and said in a deep voice, "You need not worry too much. This person is not a disciple of the Immortal Lord, but someone who has personally come to the Immortal Lord's door. He is only at the fourth or fifth level of the Profound Gate cultivation. I am telling you this today only to prepare for the future."

"If the person from the Thunderous Ancient Pool doesn't arrive, then you will need to keep this person in check. You must have a plan in mind..."

Luo Feng's expression turned solemn: "Uncle-Master, rest assured, if you require me to fight, I will certainly do so. With my two thousand years of cultivation, I should not be defeated."

These words caused the Daoist nun surnamed Song to cover her mouth and chuckle. Although she was surprised by Chen Mu's identity, she did not believe that he could overcome such a huge gap in cultivation.

Qi Yunsu glanced at her, shook her head slightly, said nothing more, and waved for the three of them to leave.

Realizing she had lost her composure, the nun surnamed Song quickly composed herself, fell silent, and retreated to the side to sit cross-legged in quiet meditation.

Luo Feng and Wei Cangdong moved to a quiet spot and talked in hushed tones.

"Senior Brother Luo, why didn't you inform our Martial Uncle about the Yuan brothers' matter in Huanzhou?"

Luo Feng's lips curled slightly: "Given the current situation, do you think my uncle would agree to join forces with the evil cultivators?"

Wei Cangdong remained silent. Although Fusheng Temple had a large number of people and powerful forces, and was aided by disciples of the True Immortal Daoist lineage, his side still had the advantage, and victory would only require a little more effort.

Given this situation, not to mention his uncle, even he himself was unwilling to be tainted by the stigma of evil cultivators. After all, Liangyi Temple was a righteous sect in Qizhou, so how could it easily defy the world?
Luo Feng asked again, "If we resolutely refuse the Yuan brothers, do you think they will give up?"

Wei Cangdong pondered for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

The Yuan brothers were notorious for their ruthlessness, precisely because of their unbridled actions.

"If we refuse outright, the Yuan brothers will have no choice but to side with Yan Rongmu. At that time, the discussion meeting will inevitably be subject to change, which is... not what we want to see."

Luo Feng's gaze was deep, and his meaning was self-evident: the best course of action was to feign compliance.

Upon hearing this, Wei Cangdong nodded in understanding: "So, Senior Brother pretended to agree to the Yuan family's request, but then ordered them not to make a move..."

"Indeed, once this matter is settled, who will know that we had any involvement with them?"

Luo Feng lightly fluttered his sleeves: "Even if they spread it everywhere, it will be difficult to shake the foundation of my Liangyi Temple."

Wei Cangdong repeatedly agreed, saying, "Absolutely, absolutely!"

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly frowned: "But... how can you be so sure that the Yuan brothers will behave themselves as we expect?"

“I have also considered what you are worried about, junior brother. In my opinion, from the moment they came looking for us, they lost the only opportunity to ruin my great plans.”

Luo Feng stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the distant mountains: "Now that the situation is settled, what can those people... do?"

……

"Brother, since we had a prior agreement with Luo Feng, why are we still here?"

Tens of thousands of miles away from the Three Immortals Valley, atop an unnamed, solitary peak, stood two cultivators in black robes, the Yuan brothers.

Upon hearing his brother's inquiry, Yuan Tianchu smiled calmly: "Brother Quan, I previously said that Yan Rongmu's promise should not be easily trusted. Do you mean that Luo Feng's promise can be trusted?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Tianquan grimaced and pondered for a long time before finally giving up: "Brother, just say it directly, don't tease your little brother..."

Yuan Tianshu said solemnly, "When Luo Feng met with us that day, his words were extremely perfunctory, which clearly showed that he had no intention of cooperating sincerely. He was just making empty promises and using them as a delaying tactic."

Luo Tianquan suddenly realized something and said urgently, "Then what should we do? If neither of the two families is willing to join hands with us, wouldn't our efforts be in vain?"

Yuan Tianchu shook his head and chuckled: "If we were to actually appear in the Three Immortals Valley, how do you think the entire Qizhou Daoist tradition would view us?"

Luo Tianquan pondered for a moment: "Then they will surely assume... that one of the two families must be in cahoots with us..."

At this point, he suddenly fell silent, a strange look flashing across his face, as if he had suddenly realized something...

……

(End of this chapter)