Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 971 The Hundred-Year-Old Owl Becomes a Wood Spirit; Laughter Rises from the Azure Flame Nest

The sound grew louder as it approached, instantly piercing through the battlefield's clamor and reaching the very depths of everyone's soul.

The Yuan brothers arrived in an instant, their undisguised sinister aura and overwhelming pressure freezing everyone in the midst of the fierce battle as if by an invisible chill, causing them to freeze in place.

"Yuan Tianchu! Yuan Tianquan!"

The next moment, Xu Rong cried out in shock, her face ashen, her eyes filled with disbelief and horror. Guo Zizhe, the Wu couple, and the others also gasped for breath, as if facing a formidable enemy, and subconsciously gathered together and retreated.

Even Qi Yunsu, who was about to completely crush Chen Mu, slightly shifted her cold and sharp eyes, revealing a hint of surprise beyond her solemnity for the first time.

Those in the know reacted in different ways.

Luo Feng and Wei Cangdong exchanged a glance. Although there was surprise in their eyes that was unexpected, there was more of a thoughtful consideration as they weighed the pros and cons.

Yan Rongmu trembled violently, his face instantly drained of color, and the warm jade talisman in his wide sleeve seemed to become a red-hot branding iron, almost slipping out of his hand.

The "variable" he brought about appeared in such a critical moment and in such a way!
Tao Fengbian had just cast a golden light of blessing on the South Peak and was about to pounce on the North Peak when this sudden change of events left him frozen in mid-air.

He abruptly turned his head, his gaze like lightning, locking onto Luo Feng, whose face was equally ashen in the distance. A surge of overwhelming rage, mixed with a sense of humiliation from being desecrated, rushed to the top of his head, and his voice boomed like thunder:

"Luo Feng—! How dare you bring such a heretical cultivator who has slaughtered 100,000 lives into Qizhou? Does your Liangyi Temple intend to sever itself from the fellow cultivators of Qizhou and be despised and condemned by all cultivators under heaven?!"

His question contained the overwhelming pressure of the master of the temple, rolling like a tide, shaking the mountains and making the people of the Liangyi Temple, including Yang Hong, pale with fear.

Colluding with evil cultivators is a major taboo in the cultivation world, especially in Qizhou where there is a consensus on this, it is a stain that can bring the entire sect to ruin!

Luo Feng's expression also shifted between gloom and anger.

His original intention was to keep the Yuan brothers in check and use them to counter Fusheng Temple when necessary. He never intended for them to appear in public, as this would drag his Liangyi Temple into the quagmire as well.

He glanced at Yan Rongmu, whose eyes were darting away, then at Chen Mu, whose aura was waning and who was being suppressed by Qi Yunsu in the sky, and at Hong Jing, whose victory was within his grasp...

In an instant, his hesitation was overwhelmed by his intense desire for victory and his anger at the out-of-control situation.

He abruptly looked up, meeting Tao Feng's furious gaze, a cold smile playing on his lips, a mixture of mockery and despair, his voice echoing far and wide:
“Master Tao, you can eat whatever you want, but you can’t say whatever you want. I, Luo Feng, am not the one who invited the wolf into the house. Why don’t you ask your good junior brother, Elder Yan Rongmu?! These two came at his invitation, carrying the communication jade token of Fusheng Temple!”

He pointed his finger sharply at Yan Rongmu, whose face was deathly pale, and his words were like knives, “The one who colluded with evil cultivators, let wolves into the house, and tried to plunge Qizhou into injustice is your own Fusheng Temple!”

"boom--!"

These words were like a second thunderbolt thrown into the deathly silent battlefield.

All eyes instantly focused on Yan Rongmu, some with shock, some with disdain, some with disbelief...

Tao Feng was struck dumb, his body swaying as he abruptly turned to Yan Rongmu, his eyes filled with disappointment, anger, and a struggle of disbelief: "Junior Brother...you...still...?"

A thousand words stuck in his throat, finally turning into a heavy, blood-stained sigh, leaving only endless sorrow.

He never expected that his trusted junior brother would secretly carry out such a self-destructive act, like drinking poison to quench thirst.

Under the spotlight of countless gazes, Yan Rongmu felt all the blood rush to his head, then instantly turn cold. Shame, indignation, and guilt intertwined, almost consuming him.

He slowly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, and was about to speak in defense or rebuke when he was abruptly interrupted by Yuan Tianquan's shrill laughter.

"Hahahaha!"

Yuan Tianquan stepped forward, surveyed the entire room, a fake smile plastered on his face, and spoke in a booming voice: "Abbot Luo, you are mistaken. My brother and I were indeed invited here, but..."

He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over Yan Rongmu's ashen face before finally settling on Qi Yunsu, whose imposing presence lofty and unyielding aura shone in the distant sky. His tone became both obsequious and resolute:
"Although we were bound by Elder Yan's agreement, we have seen it all along the way. The Liangyi Temple has a profound foundation, and Senior Qi Yunsu's skills are unparalleled, her prestige is awe-inspiring, and her conduct is upright and her discipline is strict. In contrast, the Fusheng Temple..."

He scoffed, making no attempt to hide his contempt. "Corrupt inside and out, strong on the outside but weak on the inside, you're already on your last legs. Who is the leader of the righteous path in Qizhou? Who is favored by destiny? My brother and I may not be good people, but we know how to assess the situation and, more importantly, we believe in 'reason'!"

He deliberately raised his voice, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards Luo Feng, and lowered his posture to the extreme: "Master Luo, Senior Qi, as the saying goes, a good bird chooses a good tree to perch on. Today, my brother and I admire the righteous spirit of Liangyi Temple and are willing to abandon darkness for light and assist the orthodox path. We will follow Master Luo's orders and go through fire and water without hesitation!"

"Shameless!!"

Yan Rongmu finally erupted. His eyes were bloodshot as he pointed at the Yuan brothers, trembling with rage. "You heretics, you treacherous villains! How dare you distort the truth and slander my sect!"

Yuan Tianchu merely gave a sinister smile, completely disregarding Yan Rongmu's angry curses.

Yuan Tianquan then turned directly to Luo Feng, his smile unchanged: "Abbot Luo, enough of the small talk. What do you need my brother and I to do for you?"

His posture suggested he was already a pawn of the Liangyi Temple.

Looking at the Yuan brothers' sycophantic faces, Luo Feng felt extremely disgusted, but in the current situation, these two were undoubtedly the key forces to break the deadlock and even prevent Tao Feng from seizing the peak.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the nausea churning within him. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and without further hesitation, he raised his hand, pointing directly at Tao Fengbian, who was about to pounce on the North Peak. His voice was icy:

"Please, both of you, do your best to...stop Abbot Tao and prevent him from getting even half a step closer to the North Peak."

"Haha, it's no big deal!"

Yuan Tianquan laughed loudly, exchanged a glance with Yuan Tianshu, and the two of them suddenly burst forth with soaring magical power, transforming into two dark red blood lights, like poisonous dragons that chose to devour their prey, one on the left and one on the right, grinning as they pounced on Tao Fengbian.

The momentum was several times stronger than that of Cui Dongbai and the others who had just besieged Chen Mu...

"Brother, be careful!"

Upon seeing this, Fu Danian roared and desperately tried to break free from Wei Cangdong's entanglement to provide support.

But how could Wei Cangdong let him have his way? His offensive instantly became fierce, like a storm, holding him back tightly.

Tao Feng felt a chill run down his spine as he looked at the two sinister, blood-red lights rushing towards him and felt the pressure of Wei Cangdong tightly holding onto Fu Danian and Luo Feng watching him intently.

Just when he thought he was about to succeed in seizing the peak, his efforts were abruptly thwarted by the bitter fruit of his own actions. This bitterness and absurdity almost made his Dao heart waver.

But... he looked up and saw that Chen Mu was still persisting in the realm of perfect enlightenment, and the golden light of blessing on the Three Islands and One Peak was still dazzling. Now there was only one more thing to go, how could he stop here?

A resolute glint flashed in his eyes, and the Xuanhuang magic power within his body burned wildly. He was prepared to break through the obstruction even at the cost of damaging his Dao foundation, just to leave a sliver of hope for Fusheng Temple.

And at this critical moment.

Yan Rongmu, who joined forces with Fu Danian to fight against Wei Cangdong, had all the struggle and shame in his eyes, but when he saw the Yuan brothers rushing towards their senior brother, all of that transformed into unprecedented clarity and determination.

"Senior brother, junior brother... I'm so sorry, so sorry... Fusheng!"

A long howl filled with endless regret and sorrow suddenly burst from Yan Rongmu's mouth.

He suddenly struck out with his palm, not at Wei Cangdong, but at Fu Danian, who was about to take on Wei Cangdong's attack.

This palm strike did not contain killing power, but rather a gentle yet overwhelming pushing force.

Caught off guard, Fu Danian was pushed back several feet by the force, escaping Wei Cangdong's deadly attack range.

He looked up in astonishment and saw Yan Rongmu give him a bitter smile that was extremely complex, full of apology yet also incredibly relieved.

"Senior Brother Yan, you..."

Fu Danian's heart sank suddenly, and an ominous premonition instantly gripped him.

"The sin is on my own body, and I shall bear the bitter consequences!"

Yan Rongmu's voice was resolute, without the slightest hesitation.

Before he finished speaking, his aura suddenly became violent and chaotic. His originally handsome face was instantly covered with strange blood patterns, and his Taoist robe billowed and fluttered without wind.

He is... burning his Dao foundation! He is sacrificing his entire life's cultivation, his future path, and even the origin of his divine soul to gain a momentary power that surpasses the limits.

"Yan Rongmu! How dare you?!"

Luo Feng and Wei Cangdong both changed color and shouted to stop them, but it was too late.

"Yuan Tianshu! Yuan Tianquan! Shameless scoundrels, treacherous villains! Follow me... into the abyss!"

Yan Rongmu roared hoarsely, filled with shame, regret, and deep-seated hatred for the evil spirits. He transformed into a golden stream of light that burned intensely, as if it would incinerate himself and everything around him.

The light was so dazzling, so pure, filled with a resolute determination to destroy everything, and with a speed that surpassed everyone's reaction, it crashed into the Yuan brothers, who were grinning as they lunged at Tao Fengbian.

There was no earth-shattering explosion.

There was only a dull, heart-wrenching "hissing" sound, as if space itself was being torn apart.

The golden and dark red lights intertwined and annihilated violently in the air.

The sinister smiles on Yuan Tianquan and Yuan Tianshu's faces froze instantly, turning into boundless horror.

They never expected that Yan Rongmu would be so decisive and so willing to pay such a price. The self-destructive attack he launched by burning his Dao foundation and divine soul contained enough power to threaten their very foundation.

"You're insane! Get back!"

Yuan Tianchu roared and desperately activated his technique to resist, while Yuan Tianquan was filled with shock and anger and tried to break free.

However, it was too late!

The golden light of fortune clung to them like a maggot, relentlessly binding their escape light.

"May you be blessed with boundless happiness! Suppress!"

A terrifying power of purification and annihilation erupted, instantly tearing apart the layers of protective evil energy they had hastily erected, while the dark red blood light was rapidly purified and stripped away like melting snow. "Ah—!"

A bloodcurdling scream erupted from the Yuan brothers, and billowing black smoke rose from their bodies. Their evil aura visibly dissipated, as if they had been thrown into a furnace of filth.

Yan Rongmu's figure, transformed into light, rapidly became transparent and illusory amidst the golden-red flames, but the light in his eyes was astonishingly bright, fixedly locked onto the two twisting and struggling evil figures in front of him.

Looking at the scene before him, Tao Feng's eyes turned bloodshot, but he did not hesitate at all. He didn't even glance at the center of the fading light. All his grief and pain turned into a desperate effort.

boom!
His figure was like a thunderbolt tearing through the sky. Taking advantage of the moment when the Yuan brothers were held back by the pure white light, he rushed to the top of the North Peak, which was within reach, at a speed that exceeded the limit.

He used all his strength to forcefully slam the amulet of Fusheng Temple into the core node of the spiritual vein at the summit.

Om-! ! !
On the North Peak, a golden pillar of light, even more dazzling and solid than that of the South Peak, suddenly erupted, shooting straight into the sky and instantly echoing the golden light of the three islands of the South Peak, merging into one.

The foundation of Hunyuan Town's Yun Cong... is complete!
At the same time, the golden light completely extinguished, along with the resolute figure within it, dissipating into the world, leaving only wisps of lingering spiritual light and dust, telling the story of an elder's final responsibility and tragic heroism.

Although the Yuan brothers had not perished, they were weak and listless, their bodies seemingly covered in a layer of gold dust, and they staggered uncontrollably. Clearly, they could no longer influence the course of the battle in the short term...

Although it was a case of reaping what one sows, the tragic scene of sacrificing oneself for the Tao still struck the hearts of Fusheng's audience like a heavy hammer.

"Senior brother..."

Fu Danian's tiger-like eyes were filled with tears. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, and blood seeped out between his fingers, but he was completely unaware of it.

Xu Rong, Guo Zizhe, and the others also looked somber, with a thousand words stuck in their chests, but in the end, they let out a heavy sigh.

Tao Feng lowered his eyes, his heart filled with grief, but his hands never slowed down.

"May your blessings be boundless, and may the primordial chaos return to its rightful place!"

With his tearful edict, the five golden pillars of light that reached the sky, based on the three outer flying islands and the two peaks to the north and south, suddenly burst forth with an unprecedentedly intense light.

Inside the pillar of light, countless ancient and mysterious runes rapidly interlocked and merged as if they were alive.

Rumble——!
The entire Three Immortals Valley trembled violently. Above the sky, the wind and clouds swirled, and a huge vortex covering thousands of miles appeared out of thin air. At the center of the vortex, five golden lights, like divine needles, pierced the sky.

Immediately afterwards, a vast and profound Daoist aura, seemingly capable of suppressing the universe and establishing the destiny of eternity, descended with a thunderous roar. The invisible pressure caused all cultivators, friend or foe, to tremble in their souls, and their magical power to become sluggish.

Between heaven and earth, only the magnificent "framework" supported by the five pillars of light shone brightly, and at its core, a jade cong with a square exterior and a round interior was slowly taking shape.

"This is... the Hunyuan Zhenyun Cong?!"

Luo Feng's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed in shock, "Tao Fengbian, have you gone mad?! This treasure is meant to gather incense offerings and suppress the fortune of a lineage. What good will it do you to unleash it here? Do you intend to crush us to death with this incense offering treasure?!"

Wei Cangdong also frowned, puzzled.

Based on his understanding of the Hunyuan Zhenyun Cong, this treasure, apart from its imposing presence, was almost entirely of no help in battles at the level of a Dao-seeking True Monarch.

Fusheng Temple paid such a heavy price, even sacrificing an elder, just to set up this flashy but ineffective show.

However, Qi Yunsu, who had been firmly standing high in the sky and suppressing Chen Mu, suddenly changed her expression for the first time.

His eyes flashed with disbelief as he stared intently at the condensing outline of the jade cong and the spatial fluctuations that faintly emanated from the depths of the golden light, connecting to the unknown distance.

In an instant, a name that had been buried for a long time and almost forgotten by everyone exploded in his heart like a thunderclap!
"Tang...Shang...Yuan?!"

He whispered in a low voice, his voice soft yet carrying an unprecedented tremor, even slowing the "Yin Yang Annihilation Seal" in his hand that was about to completely annihilate Chen Mu.

In that instant of hesitation, Chen Mu, who was being suppressed to the point of almost being unable to breathe, suddenly felt the terrifying pressure around him, which was enough to crush his soul, ease.

Without hesitation, he mustered his last bit of true energy, transforming into a hazy moon shadow, and narrowly escaped the brink of death, staggering to a hundred feet away. He coughed up blood, his breath extremely weak, but ultimately... he had temporarily escaped death...

……

Above the vast sea of ​​clouds, millions of miles away from the Three Immortals Valley.

A black bear, as large as an elephant and with glossy fur, is reluctantly walking on the clouds.

On its broad back sat a large-headed old man with a withered face but exceptionally bright eyes, dressed in an ancient Taoist robe. This was none other than Tang Shangyuan himself.

There was no powerful magical energy emanating from him; instead, he was surrounded by an intense, pervasive incense aroma, as if it had been accumulated over hundreds of years, like a clay statue of a deity that had been enshrined in a temple for countless years.

As the black bear strolled along, he muttered to himself, full of resentment: "Hurry up! Are we in a rush to be reincarnated? What do I care about that damned debate? Let those two groups fight like dogs, and they'd better all be dead..."
Tang Shangyuan closed his eyes to rest, ignoring the black bear's complaints.

At this moment, he was gently stroking a warm jade talisman in his sleeve. The talisman was emanating the unique incense and faith power of Fusheng Temple.

suddenly!

He suddenly opened his tightly closed eyes, and two beams of light pierced through the void as if they were real. The jade talisman in his sleeve became scalding hot and emitted a deep hum.

At the same time, a powerful Daoist aura, traversing endless space and originating from the direction of the Three Immortals Valley, and which was extremely familiar, was clearly transmitted to his perception.

"Om-!"

Tang Shangyuan's lips slowly curled into a smile, cold and indifferent, yet filled with endless greed.

"The timing... is perfect!"

His withered hand, carrying an irresistible force, slammed down on the head of the black bear beneath him.

"You beast! Why aren't you doing your job properly?! If you delay my important business, I'll rip out your soul to burn as lamplight for a hundred years!"

The black bear, in pain, let out a low, frustrated growl. A fierce glint flashed in its large, copper-bell-shaped eyes, but it was ultimately restrained by the internal restrictions and dared not resist.

After a moment of silence, it roared to the sky, unleashing its full demonic power.

boom!
The enormous demonic body instantly transformed into an astonishing beam of light, its speed exceeding ten times that of before. Wherever it passed, deep furrows were carved into the sea of ​​clouds, emitting ear-piercing explosions...

……

Above the Three Immortals Valley, the conspicuous Hunyuan Zhenyun Cong had just solidified, and the suppressing Dao aura it emitted plunged the entire battlefield into a brief deathly silence.

Just as Luo Feng and the others were filled with doubt and uncertainty, and Tao Feng was about to speak while suppressing his grief, a massive, dark demonic aura, carrying a chillingly fierce and malevolent pressure, tore through the "sky curtain" created by Hunyuan Town Yun Cong without warning and descended ruthlessly into the very core of the Three Immortal Valley battlefield.

The demonic aura dissipated, revealing the black bear's mountain-like figure, and the withered Taoist robe on its back that exuded a strange, incense-like fragrance.

Qi Yunsu was the first to react, her pupils suddenly contracting, and she said in a deep voice, "Tang Shangyuan? You...you're really not dead?!"

This exclamation resounded like thunder in the ears of every cultivator.

Luo Feng and Wei Cangdong were both horrified and their minds were shaken.

Tang Shangyuan of Fusheng Temple? That person, the same generation as my Uncle Qi?! He's still alive?! How is that possible?!
The other cultivators who were watching or participating in the battle, though they did not recognize Tang Shangyuan, were all deeply disturbed by Qi Yunsu of the Liangyi Temple's loss of composure, and by the terrifying demonic energy and incense power that the strange old man had unleashed when he appeared.

The clever ones had already quietly retreated to the outer edge of the battlefield, fearing they might be drawn into an even more terrifying vortex.

Tao Fengbian's heart was also in turmoil. Although he had expected Tang Shangyuan to arrive soon, he did not expect it to be this fast, so fast that it seemed as if the other party had been watching from not far away, just waiting for him to bring out the Hunyuan Zhenyun Cong...

His mind raced, and after forcibly suppressing his surprise and suspicion towards Tang Shangyuan, his face instantly contorted with "overjoyed" delight. He bowed deeply in Tang Shangyuan's direction, his voice deliberately raised with excitement:
"Uncle-Master Tang, your disciple has successfully completed the mission and deployed the 'Hun Yuan Zhen Yun Cong' as planned. Now, the Liangyi Temple has revealed all its trump cards, and Qi Yunsu is also restrained. We are just waiting for you, Uncle-Master, to clean up the mess and restore the prestige of Fusheng!"

He spoke quickly and urgently, each word clear, his intention all too obvious: to confirm that Tang Shangyuan was Fusheng Temple's hidden trump card, that he had come to help them in a premeditated manner, in order to intimidate Liangyi Temple and reverse their decline.

Upon hearing this, Luo Feng and the others' expressions instantly turned extremely ugly, and their eyes were filled with fear and anger as they looked at Tang Shangyuan.

Fusheng Temple had such a hidden trick up its sleeve; this old monster was actually still alive...

However, to Tao Feng's dismay, Tang Shangyuan, who was sitting on the bear's back, did not respond as he had hoped, nor did he even glance at the people in the Liangyi Observatory.

His emotionless eyes glanced meaningfully at Tao Fengbian, a strange, enigmatic smile appearing on his face: "Junior Nephew Tao...you've truly worked hard."

These words, seemingly ordinary, were like a cold steel needle, instantly piercing Tao Fengbian's carefully crafted illusion of "surprise," and sending chills down his spine.

A strong sense of foreboding instantly rose in his heart.

Tang Shangyuan's gaze finally turned slowly to Qi Yunsu, whose momentum had reached its peak.

The eerie smile on his face grew more pronounced, carrying a condescending indifference and...an indescribable fanaticism.

"Brother Qi..."

Tang Shangyuan's voice carried a hint of emotion at reuniting with an old friend, yet it was also icy cold and devoid of warmth. "Hundreds of years have passed, it feels like a lifetime ago. Seeing your vigorous spirit and advanced cultivation, I suppose... that Dao realm is not far from you, is it?"

Qi Yunsu's body was surrounded by a constant flow of Yin and Yang energy, forming a powerful protective domain. He stared intently at Tang Shangyuan, and in a daze, he saw through his true nature.

"Living on for a living, stealing offerings, clinging to clay and jade statues, barely surviving until now... Tang Shangyuan, looking like this, it must have been 'not easy' for you, right?"

He deliberately emphasized the words "not easy," which was full of extreme sarcasm.

Faced with this blatant humiliation, Tang Shangyuan did not get angry. Instead, he let out a low, hoarse laugh: "Hehehe... Stealing? Living a life of ignominy? Brother Qi, you're too attached to appearances."

"There are three thousand great paths, each with its own desires. As long as one can glimpse a sliver of heavenly secrets and break free from the shackles, what is a small price to pay?"

"Look, haven't we... found the perfect opportunity right now?"

……

(End of this chapter)