Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 975 Two Views Return to True Home

Dongzhu!

These two words struck like a thunderbolt from the heavens, hitting Qi Yunsu, Tao Fengbian, and all the key figures who knew the secrets of the two sects in the heart, shaking them so much that they almost couldn't stand up straight.

Dongzhu! The mysteriously disappeared third disciple of Patriarch Qizhen, who, according to legend, sealed off his grotto-heaven to prevent the division of the Daoist lineage.

The Taoist name that was repeatedly mentioned in the founding patriarch's instructions, requiring later disciples to treat him with the respect due to the patriarch if they encountered him.

Ten thousand years have passed, and this name had long been buried in ancient documents, regarded as an ancestor who had long since perished in the river of history... He actually... He actually is still alive? And he has even emerged from the ancestral grotto that has been sealed for ten thousand years?!

Thump! Thump! ...

Unable to contain their shock and awe stemming from their bloodline, all the disciples of both Fusheng Temple and Liangyi Temple who knew the name "Dongzhu" and felt the call of the lineage's roots knelt down in unison.

Even Qi Yunsu, Tao Fengbian, and others struggled to kneel on one knee.

"This unworthy junior disciple, Qi Yunsu, pays respects to Patriarch Dongzhu!"

The sounds converged, carrying a mixture of guilt and excitement, and echoed through the valley.

At the edge of the battlefield, the moss-covered broken bamboo slip in Chen Mu's sleeve suddenly jumped upon hearing the Daoist name "Dongzhu," then fell silent again, as if it had achieved some kind of resonance that transcended time and space.

He gazed at the transcendent white-robed figure in the air, a thoughtful glint flashing in his eyes.

The white-robed Taoist looked down at the mass of kneeling disciples from the two temples below, their auras weak yet their expressions excited, and for the first time, a clear look of surprise appeared on his gaunt face.

"Ancestor?" He raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. "When did I become your ancestor?"

Qi Yunsu suppressed her excitement, raised her head, and though her voice still trembled, clearly recited the last instructions left by the founding masters of the two schools:

"Reporting to the Ancestor! Ten thousand years ago, I saw that the founding ancestor left behind an instruction, saying that although you, Ancestor, did not establish a sect, you were a direct disciple of Ancestor Qizhen. To protect the lineage, you did not hesitate to seal off the grotto heaven, and your merit will last for thousands of years."

"If future disciples encounter Patriarch Dongzhu, they should treat him with the respect due to the founder of the sect, and should not be negligent for a moment. They should serve him wholeheartedly to repay the kindness of protecting the Dao."

“We…we are unworthy. For ten thousand years, not only have we failed to find the traces of our ancestor, but we have also caused the lineage to decline and internal strife to continue, leading to this calamity today…We disciples…deserve to die a thousand deaths!”

By the end, his voice was tinged with sorrow, and he kowtowed heavily.

Yan Kong listened quietly, fragments of memories from ten thousand years ago swirling in his deep eyes, the faces of his two senior brothers seemingly appearing before him.

He remained silent for a moment, and then an indescribable emotion finally surfaced on his serene face, a mixture of reminiscence and wistfulness, ultimately transforming into a long sigh that seemed to traverse millennia:

"My two senior brothers... have put in a lot of effort..."

He did not elaborate on the farce of infighting among fellow disciples that occurred in the sealed cave after his mentor's death.

Over countless years, even the most intense obsessions and passions have turned to dust.

He was just a little emotional. Back then, his two senior brothers were full of vigor and wanted to inherit their master's mantle, uphold the Qizhen lineage, and bring glory to their family. For this, they did not hesitate to argue and even fight in front of their master's remains.

But as time went by, and things changed, the two of them are now nowhere to be seen.

Instead, he chose to stay in his old place and close off his grotto, only wanting to protect his master's last bit of peace. He had no intention of competing for the inheritance. A thousand years ago, by chance, he inherited the unfinished essence of the Great Dao from his master. In this world isolated from the hustle and bustle, he naturally attained the position of a wandering immortal.

As the saying goes, "You may plant flowers with care, but they may not bloom; you may plant willows without intention, and they may thrive."

In the struggle ten thousand years ago, the two founding masters each obtained a portion of the inheritance, which spread and established the foundations of Fusheng and Liangyi Liangguan. They seemed to be doing well, but in the end, they failed to reach the core of the Qizhen Dao, stopped at the peak of the Dao realm, and finally perished when their Dao was exhausted.

The third disciple, who seemed to "retreat" back then and sealed off the grotto-heaven to protect the legacy of his ancestor, actually received the most fundamental inheritance from the ancestor of Qizhen because of his "steadfast and quiet" heart. He silently cultivated for ten thousand years in the undisturbed grotto-heaven, and finally... broke through the barrier between the immortals and the mortals.

Yan Kong's gaze swept over the two disciples below, their expressions complex and inexplicable, as if he could see through their ancestor's thoughts. He thought to himself:
"Perhaps, when my two senior brothers reached the end of their cultivation path and looked back on the past, they finally realized that they had gone astray back then, and lost their original intentions in their pursuit of external things... That's why, when they founded their sect, they made a point of passing on my name to future generations."

A knowing glint flashed in his eyes: "Among them, I suppose they also harbored the thought that... if I were to return one day, out of consideration for our shared sect and this 'well-intentioned' dying wish, I would look after their fading disciples."

This is the real reason why he previously expressed his gratitude for his two senior brothers' "good intentions".

Yan Kong sighed softly, a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of cause and effect and responsibility for millennia: "Since cause and effect are so intertwined, I cannot simply abandon it now."

His gaze, sharp as lightning, suddenly fell upon Qi Yunsu and Tao Fengbian, who were at the forefront. Without the slightest hesitation, he went straight to the point, his voice like the clash of metal:

"Fusheng and Liangyi originate from the same source. I wish to unify your two views and revive the lineage of our revered teacher. What do you all think?"

Qi Yunsu and Tao Feng both shuddered!
Although after Yan Kong revealed his identity, especially after displaying his astonishing abilities, they had already reached a consensus that the return of this Dongzhu Patriarch would inevitably overturn the world order.

But when the words "He Guan" came out of the patriarch's mouth so directly, especially when he thought of the tragic scene of the two sides fighting to the death and the blood staining the Three Immortal Valley not long ago, he was still filled with a huge shock and astonishment.

Reconciliation is difficult enough, let alone achieving a peaceful resolution!

More importantly, after this, what will the lineage be called? Will it inherit the name of Fusheng, or continue to use the name of Liangyi? How can the core root of this millennia-old feud be easily erased by a single word from the patriarch?
The hesitation and struggle of the two, as well as their deep-seated obsession with the lineage and status, were written all over their faces, so how could they be hidden from Yan Kong's eyes?
Yan Kong shook his head and smiled, a smile that carried a calm understanding of the world and a hint of barely perceptible compassion.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze once again falling upon the ethereal entrance to the grotto, bathed in the glow of the setting sun. It seemed as if his gaze could pierce through eternity, gazing upon the ethereal yet majestic figure of his revered master, the Immortal Master Qizhen:

"Fusheng? Liangyi?"

His voice was not loud, but it carried a sense of determination to establish order: "These two are merely the names of the two senior brothers who each took a corner and formed their own school back then. They are neither the true teachings of our master nor the true name of the Great Dao."

His gaze returned to Qi Yunsu and Tao Fengbian, and he declared resolutely: "Since I have spoken of this, intending to unify the two schools of thought, I shall return to the origin and inherit the name 'Qizhen'! With this name, I will comfort the spirit of my revered teacher in heaven, and with this name, I will proclaim to heaven and earth that the Qizhen lineage has not been extinguished!"

Qizhen!

Both Qi and Tao were taken aback.

This is a supreme title that even the founder of Kaiguan never dared to imagine. It is the source of their lineage and the title of the immortal master Qizhen that made him famous throughout the world!

Returning to "Qizhen" means completely washing away the shame of millennia of division and returning to the most orthodox banner under the master's tutelage! What an honor and opportunity this is!
All previous hesitations, concerns about titles, and even the grudges accumulated over millennia, suddenly seemed insignificant and laughable in the face of the glorious path and supreme honor represented by the two characters "Qizhen".

"Disciples Qi Yunsu and Tao Fengbian respectfully obey the ancestral master's decree!"

Without the slightest hesitation, the two trembled with excitement, touched their heads to the ground, and said with utmost piety, "May the two temples be united, and may we return to the true nature of life! May we revive the lineage of our ancestral masters, even at the cost of our lives!"

"We disciples will humbly obey the ancestral master's decree!"

Behind them, Luo Feng, Wei Cangdong, Fu Danian, and all the surviving members of the two sects, regardless of which side they had previously belonged to, were now wholeheartedly convinced and shouted in unison from the bottom of their hearts, their voices soaring into the sky.

To be able to return to the true lineage of Qizhen and become a true disciple of Qizhen Temple is an opportunity they have long dreamed of...

Just as everyone was filled with excitement and could hardly contain their emotions, a thought suddenly flashed through the minds of those with keen minds, such as Qi Yunsu: Ancestor Dongzhu could easily defeat Tang Shangyuan, who was at the Divine Realm, and could inherit the Great Dao of Ancestor Qizhen, and now he was so confident in wanting to re-establish the name of "Qizhen Temple"...

Could it be that not only has he survived to this day, but his realm... has truly reached that legendary... realm of immortals?!

This idea spread like wildfire, instantly igniting boundless awe and anticipation in their hearts.

Everyone involuntarily raised their heads, gazing at the ethereal white-robed figure in the air. And at that moment—

"Om..."

Without warning, a layer of ripples, barely perceptible to the naked eye, appeared in the void beyond the heavens.

A vast, gentle yet unfathomable aura, like a spring breeze and gentle rain, quietly spread, instantly soothing the remaining hostility and restlessness on the battlefield.

The people below felt a sense of clarity, and even their injuries seemed to have eased somewhat. However, when they looked up, the sea of ​​clouds was still churning, and they could not see a single person.

Only Yan Kong remained calm, his gaze fixed on the source of the aura, a faint smile seemingly flitting across his lips.

"Fellow Daoist,"

A gentle and peaceful voice, yet seemingly containing the ultimate truths of the universe, resounded directly in everyone's souls. It was not deafening, but incredibly clear, like a whisper.

"It is truly a fortunate event that a celestial being has descended upon Qizhou. Would you be so kind as to ascend to the clouds and allow me to have a chat?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the surging sea of ​​clouds seemed to be parted by an invisible hand, revealing a figure.

The newcomer was also dressed in a Taoist robe, simple in style and dark blue in color. His hair and beard were white, but his skin was smooth and lustrous, his eyes were gentle and warm like jade, and his aura was harmonious and flawless, blending with heaven and earth and nature, without the slightest hint of worldly affairs, yet giving people a feeling of unfathomable depth.

He stood casually on the cloud, yet seemed to be the hub of the entire Qizhou region.

Below, Qi Yunsu and the others' pupils suddenly contracted. They recognized this legendary figure, the ancestor of the He clan of Qizhou, and the only known loose immortal powerhouse in Qizhou.

As far as they knew, the He family had always kept a low profile and did not get involved in the affairs of the Qizhou Daoist lineage. This ancestor of the He family had not appeared in the world for a long time, and his sudden appearance this time... precisely confirmed the realm of the Dongzhu Patriarch.

Yan Kong seemed completely unsurprised by this person's arrival, as if he had known all along.

He nodded calmly, took a step forward, and his figure appeared opposite the old man in the dark blue Taoist robe, as if they were worlds apart.

The two sat facing each other, and the clouds beneath them naturally condensed into a futon and a jade table, with spiritual mist rising from the table, transforming into the shape of clear tea.

Everyone could clearly see the figures of the two masters in the clouds, and see their lips moving as if they were conversing, but no matter how hard they listened, they could not catch a single sound.

It was as if there was an invisible barrier separating that sea of ​​clouds into another world.

There was a moment of silence in the room.

Fusheng and the disciples of Liangyi Liangguan looked at each other in bewilderment. After the initial excitement, they were at a loss as to how to conduct themselves in the face of this sudden merger and change in identity. They dared not easily disturb the patriarch's discussion, and the atmosphere became somewhat subtle and quiet.

Fortunately, this silence did not last long.

Above the clouds, Yan Kong slowly stood up, and the He Clan Patriarch opposite him also rose, a gentle and satisfied smile on his face, and solemnly bowed to Yan Kong:
"Today, I have benefited greatly from hearing your profound teachings on the Great Dao. My heart is now at peace. It is a blessing for all people in Qizhou to have you. I will take my leave now. I will personally come to congratulate you when you open your temple and establish your Dao in the future."

Yan Kongyi returned the greeting slightly: "Fellow Daoist He, please take care."

The patriarch of the He family nodded with a smile, his figure fading away in the clouds like an ink painting, disappearing without a trace, as if he had never appeared at all.

No one knows what these two immortal figures discussed, but judging from the expression on the face of the He family patriarch as he left, they clearly had a pleasant conversation and may even have reached some kind of consensus.

After seeing off the He family patriarch, Yan Kong's gaze finally turned to the edge of the battlefield, where Chen Mu, who had been standing quietly by watching, as well as Xu Rong, Guo Zizhe, the Wu couple, and other outsiders.

Tao Fengbian kept a close eye on the patriarch's actions. Upon seeing this, he quickly stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and reported: "Reporting to Patriarch Dongzhu, these fellow Daoists are all men of great loyalty and righteousness. They have been invited by my Fusheng Temple to come and support the Dao discussion meeting."

"Just now, in the midst of danger, surrounded by powerful enemies, Tang... Tang Shangyuan's evil power was overwhelming, yet they never betrayed or left, upholding their faith and righteousness, especially this Fellow Daoist Chen Mu..."

He pointed at Chen Mu, his tone filled with heartfelt gratitude, "He even stepped in to help in a critical moment, displaying extraordinary abilities and providing invaluable assistance. He is truly the benefactor of my Fusheng Temple... no, of our Qizhen lineage!"

Upon hearing this, a hint of embarrassment flashed across the faces of Luo Feng and the others from Liangyi Temple.

If they hadn't intended to annex Fusheng Temple in one fell swoop, why would Fusheng Temple need to seek help from outsiders? And why would Chen Mu and others say they "provided great assistance"? The word "benefactor" sounds rather ironic now.

Yan Kong's gaze swept calmly over Xu Rong and the others, finally landing on Chen Mu. His clear and profound eyes seemed to see through all illusions.

He nodded slowly, a gentle and approving smile on his face: "Good. On the path of cultivation, the Dao is the foundation, the mind and nature are the essence, keeping promises and being fearless in the face of danger are qualities that are especially rare and that I have always admired the most."

He looked at Tao Fengbian and asked, "Since you invited them here, you must have made a promise?"

Tao Fengbian dared not conceal anything and respectfully replied, "Reporting to the Ancestor, this disciple indeed promised that after the matter is accomplished, in addition to bestowing upon you treasures and other gifts, I will also... I will further invite all fellow Daoists to serve as elders for my Fusheng Temple, so that we may share in the lineage and fortune..."

He paused, then cautiously added, "But now that the two views have been unified and we have returned to Qizhen... I don't know if this position of elder still holds true. Please enlighten me, Master."

Upon hearing this, Yan Kong glanced at Xu Rong, Guo Zizhe, and the others again, noticing that although they tried their best to remain calm, their eyes still betrayed their tension and anticipation.

He smiled slightly and said, "Qizhen Temple has just been established and everything is in need of rebuilding. We need talented people from all walks of life to help us make this great undertaking. If you young friends are still interested, everything will remain the same. The position of Elder of Qizhen Temple is vacant."

The four words "everything as usual" are like heavenly music.

Xu Rong and the others were overjoyed. All they had asked for was the position of elder of the Fusheng Temple, which was on the verge of decline.

But now, Fusheng Temple no longer exists. In its place stands Qizhen Temple, which is presided over by a powerful figure who is suspected to be an immortal and is about to regain its prestige.

The difference in prestige between these "elders" and their positions is like heaven and earth!

"Thank you, senior!"

Immediately, the group bowed respectfully, their voices trembling. Their hearts, which had been hanging in suspense for so long, finally settled down completely, feeling that the rewards of this adventure far exceeded their expectations.

Tao Fengbian breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the patriarch had agreed to Xu Rong and the others. However, when he saw that Yan Kong's gaze did not linger on Chen Mu for long and seemed about to move away, he became anxious.

In his view, Chen Mu's kindness and the strength and potential he had shown far surpassed those of Xu Rong and others. Qizhen Temple had just been established, how could it neglect such a person?

He hurriedly spoke up: "Master, and Chen—"

However, he had barely uttered a few words when Yan Kong's deep gaze was once again fixed on Chen Mu.

This time, his gaze held less scrutiny and more understanding, along with an indescribable...inquiry.

His gentle smile deepened, carrying a profound sense of understanding of destiny, and his voice clearly reached the ears of everyone present:

"As for this young friend Chen..."

He paused slightly, his gaze seemingly piercing through Chen Mu's robes to see the silent broken bamboo slip hidden in his sleeve.

"But they are of the same lineage as my Qizhen, and our connection is truly profound."

……

(End of this chapter)