Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 977 Rapid Development and Rising Fame
A streak of light tore through the clouds, and Chen Mu returned on the clouds.

The north wind howled, billowing his white wide sleeves. Below, the continuous mountain range stretched like a black dragon, and the familiar outline of Huiyan Peak was already in sight.

After several days of flying away, his heart remained as still as an ancient well, with only the entanglements of cause and effect and the profound mysteries of Taoist arts in the Three Immortal Valley repeatedly unfolding in his mind.

As soon as I landed on the green cliffs atop the peak, the old moon was just about to set, and a trace of cold light still lingered in the western sky.

On the eastern horizon, the rising sun burst forth like molten gold, and in an instant, countless golden rays pierced through the twilight and poured down.

The towering green mountains are draped in golden armor, with clouds billowing and rosy hues surging, their majestic and powerful presence seemingly poised to recreate the world.

Standing alone atop the peak, hands clasped behind his back, Chen Mu was bathed in the earth-shaking morning light. His mind was captivated, and four words naturally popped into his head: "Daily progress."

In the battle at the Three Immortal Valley, he, at the initial stage of the Dao Inquiry realm, relied on the profound and mysterious Dao techniques and the subtle Dao fruits to overpower those at the middle level, achieving a perfect victory. He even gained the favor of the Eastern Candle Immortal Lord, making him the most prominent figure of his time.

However, beneath this great reputation lie hidden worries.

There is no such thing as an "unbreakable" supernatural power in the world; it all depends on whether the opponent can find an opening to exploit.

This display of methods, if seen by someone with a discerning eye, would be tantamount to revealing one's own path and development to the world.

If one stubbornly adheres to the old ways and refuses to adapt, one may be able to rely on force in the short term, but as time goes on, those who are determined will surely find a way to overcome this.

Therefore, as the water rises, the boats need to be higher.

There are only two ways to adapt: ​​either base your own profound skills on a comprehensive understanding and deduce new methods, or broadly absorb the knowledge of various schools of thought, practice new techniques, and always be prepared with surprise attacks.

The former requires painstaking effort and cannot be achieved overnight, while the latter is like a newly acquired "Eastern Bright Candle," which, though profound and extraordinary, is not a good opportunity to comprehend at present.

The most urgent task is to "break through the barrier"!
The thought of this moment temporarily cleared away all the clutter in my mind.

Just then, two clear cries pierced through the clouds, and two swift blue figures emerged from the mountainside cave—it was Chen Lan and Chen Bai.

The two birds saw the familiar figure on the mountaintop from afar, their eyes filled with a mixture of surprise and delight.

"The True Lord has returned!"

The two birds were overjoyed. They quickly stopped their cultivation, flapped their wings and rode the wind. In a short while, they flew to the peak, folded their wings and landed on the gnarled branches of the ancient pine tree in front of Chen Mu. They bowed their heads respectfully and said, "Greetings, True Lord!"

Chen Mu's gaze swept over the two birds, and he saw that Chen Lan's body was filled with spiritual light, his blue feathers were shimmering, and his aura was more solid and profound than when he left.

Although Chen Bai still appears immature, his demonic aura is pure and his foundation is solid, showing that he has never slacked off.

He nodded slightly, a hint of approval in his smile.

“Chen Lan,” he said, his gaze falling on the taller and more elegant blue bird, “you are exceptionally gifted. You have reached the level of a fourth-order demon king not long after you were born, which is truly rare.”

"However, the realm of seeking the Dao is no ordinary one. It is the gateway to questioning the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. Your current cultivation level is only at the beginning of your journey. You must not become complacent because of your current small achievements."

Chen Lan stood solemnly, her clear, girlish voice filled with determination: "I will remember the True Lord's teachings and never dare to fail the True Lord's grace of rebirth!"

"Good." Chen Mu nodded in satisfaction. "The matter of discussing the Dao with Fusheng is over, and the cause and effect are settled. I will not leave the mountain for the time being. After I break through in this seclusion, you can come to the cave to ask for guidance often."

"Although our paths are different, we share the same origin and can draw inferences from one another. This may save you some trouble in figuring things out."

Upon hearing this, Chen Lan's eyes lit up with even greater joy, and he immediately bowed his head again, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, True Lord."

Chen Mu encouraged Chen Bai a few more times, instructing him to proceed step by step and lay a solid foundation. Then, without saying anything more, he turned and stepped into the ancient cave on the mountaintop.

The quiet room is secluded and isolated from the hustle and bustle of the world.

Chen Mu waved his hand, setting up layers of restrictions, with spiritual light flowing around them, completely isolating the inside from the outside.

He sat cross-legged on the futon, closed his eyes slightly, and sank his mind into the depths of his sea of ​​consciousness. In just a moment, his mind became as still as a deep well, without a ripple.

"The karma of Immortal Lord Dongzhu... should be able to help me break through two profound barriers..."

The whispers faded into the quiet room.

Without further hesitation, Chen Mu took out a longan-sized, emerald-green pill brimming with vitality from his sleeve and put it in his mouth.

The elixir melted upon entering the mouth, instantly transforming into a gentle yet powerful warm current that spread throughout the body.

Immediately, he formed a profound hand seal and his mind stirred slightly.

In an instant, deep within his sea of ​​consciousness, the golden thread of cause and effect, closely connected to the Dao and Qizhen Temple and the Eastern Candle Immortal Lord, suddenly appeared.

The golden threads hummed, and the vast and boundless power of cause and effect was activated, like a celestial river flowing backward, merging and merging with the power of the elixir within the body.

Two powerful forces flowed continuously through Chen Mu's meridians, yet they were precisely controlled and guided by his powerful primordial spirit, circulating throughout his body along the path of the profound technique.

Gradually, the pores on his body opened up, and wisps of golden light emanated from his body, illuminating the entire quiet room with brilliance.

Within the seven orifices of the eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, there was also a soft, flowing golden light.

Even above their heads, a misty purple aura rose and swirled, condensing and refusing to dissipate, faintly revealing the phantom image of Daoist runes.

The fifth barrier, under the overwhelming force of this attack from both inside and outside, quietly emitted a subtle yet clear sound of cracking, and cracks spread out...

……

Time flies, and March has passed in the blink of an eye.

The ruins of the former battlefield in Qizhou's Three Immortal Valley have long since disappeared.

Under the will of the Immortal Lord Dongzhu, magnificent palaces and pavilions, imbued with Taoist charm, rose from the ground, nestled against the mountains and beside the water, surrounded by rosy clouds and auspicious clouds.

The massive mountain gate is carved from millennia-old black jade, and bears three ancient and vigorous characters that embody the true meaning of the Great Dao: "Qizhen Temple"!
Today is the day of the grand ceremony marking the opening of Qizhen Temple and the establishment of its Taoist traditions, and proclaiming this to Xuandu!
The valley was bustling with people, and auspicious clouds gathered.

All the major and minor sects, aristocratic families, and powerful rogue cultivators in Xuandu, regardless of their inner thoughts, sent their capable disciples or came in person to offer congratulatory gifts.

For a time, celestial music filled the air, and mythical birds danced in the air. The grandeur of the scene was unprecedented in Qizhou for nearly a thousand years.

Fusheng and the former members of Liangyi Temple are now all wearing brand-new Qizhen Temple robes, their faces a mixture of excitement and emotion, as well as a trace of complex emotions that have not yet completely disappeared.

Elders such as Qi Yunsu, Tao Fengbian, and Luo Feng were seated at the front, their expressions solemn and proud.

Xu Rong, Guo Zizhe, and the Wu couple, among other newly appointed elders, were also present. They wore jade pendants symbolizing their status hanging from their waists, exuding composure and high spirits.

Occasionally, their gazes would sweep over a few awkward-looking figures in the crowd, and a faint smile would appear on their lips.

Those people were Qingyu and the others who broke their promise and left when disaster struck.

Seeing Xu Rong and the others transform into elders of Qizhen Temple, a newly established immortal sect with a rogue immortal presiding over it, Qingyu and the others were filled with regret and envy, their eyes almost overflowing with tears. They could only force a smile and secretly lament the cruel twist of fate.

However, what has attracted the most discussion and scrutiny today is neither Qizhen Temple itself, nor the Dongzhu Immortal Lord Yan Kong, who sits high on the cloud platform with an aura as deep as the sea...

"The Fellow Daoist Chen Mu, who turned the tide, is not present today?"

"I heard he politely declined the invitation from Qizhen Temple and is still cultivating in his own cave..." "Tsk tsk, this fellow Daoist is truly... remarkably detached! Such an opportunity to make a name for himself..."

"Hey, what do you know? This is called keeping a low profile! They're truly capable, why would they need to show off in this situation?"

"That's right! Do you know the details of that day? A beginner in the Dao Seeking Realm! He killed a mid-stage cultivator in battle! And he even held his own against Senior Qi Yunsu, who was at the peak of the Dao Seeking Realm, for a long time without being defeated! What kind of earth-shattering combat power is this?"

"It's more than just undefeated! I heard from a fellow Daoist from the Three Immortals Valley that Daoist Chen Mu was incredibly powerful, and his Daoist techniques were so powerful that even Senior Qi had to temporarily retreat. If it weren't for Immortal Lord Dongzhu's timely appearance, the outcome would have been uncertain! It's no exaggeration to say that they were evenly matched!"

"Hiss... The Azure Tide Pavilion has actually produced such a figure? Its foundation is truly unfathomable..."

"Of course! It's said that his lineage is even more mysterious and unpredictable, and even the Immortal Lord Dongzhu once inquired about it..."

……

The room buzzed with discussion. Whether people were genuinely praising or harboring doubts, one name was repeatedly mentioned. With the intentional or unintentional promotion by Qizhen Temple and the word-of-mouth spread among countless cultivators, its reputation seemed to take flight, quickly flying out of Qizhou and sweeping across the entire Xuandu cultivation world.

In just over a month, the name "Chen Mu" has become known to all cultivators in the Xuandu Daodao realm.

A cultivator at the initial stage of the Dao Seeking Realm from the Azure Tide Pavilion defeated a cultivator at the intermediate stage and fought against a cultivator at the peak stage!
However, the more a rumor spreads, the more likely it is to be exaggerated.

For example, the details became increasingly exaggerated, the achievements became increasingly illustrious, and even many bizarre versions emerged.

Some people claim with certainty that he is the reincarnation of an ancient immortal, some speculate that he received the true teachings of a reclusive master, and some even claim that he shared half of the credit for the founding of the Qizhen Temple...

Regardless of what people think, whether they believe it or doubt it, the strength and mystery represented by the name Chen Mu have been imprinted on the hearts of Xuandu cultivators like a suddenly rising, dazzling star...

……

In the northern border of Xuandu, a place where thunderclouds never dissipate, deep within the Ancient Pool of Tribulation Thunder sect.

Inside the Hall of Shared Shadows, the space was vast and high, with only a few altars floating in the air, their runes flowing and drawing upon wisps of pure lightning energy.

Two figures sat high on the main altar, their auras deep and resonant, accompanied by the faint sounds of wind and thunder. Below them, a disciple bowed and reported.

"...The opening ceremony of Qizhen Temple was a grand affair...people from all directions gathered...Although Chen Mu was not present, his name...his name has already spread throughout Xuandu..."

The disciple's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible tension as he carefully relayed the rumors circulating outside, especially the claim that Chen Mu had overpowered those who had reached the Perfection of the Dao Inquiry stage.

"what?!"

On the left side of the altar, a pale-faced man with deep-set eyes suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of lightning appearing in them before he abruptly stood up. "What did you say? That brat from the Azure Cloud Tide Pavilion... overpowered a cultivator at the peak of the Dao Inquiry stage?! How is that possible?!"

His voice rose, filled with disbelief and rage. He strode down from the altar and approached the disciple who had reported the incident, his presence so oppressive that the disciple could barely breathe.

"Master... Uncle-Master, please calm down!"

The disciple's face was bitter, and cold sweat poured down his back. "This disciple...this disciple also failed to see that True Lord Chen in person. It was at the grand banquet that I heard...heard from a well-connected rogue cultivator...the rumors...the rumors were quite powerful..."

The pale-faced man, Elder of the Ancient Thunder Pool, Lei Heng, the Thunderstrike True Monarch, had a constantly shifting expression, a mixture of shock and doubt.

The gap between the perfected state and the initial stage of the Dao is an insurmountable chasm!

Even with unparalleled supernatural powers and magical treasures at your side, it would be impossible to surpass them! This rumor... is absurd!
"Ah."

A slightly hoarse chuckle came from the altar on the right, breaking the tense atmosphere in the hall.

Another cultivator, dressed in a purple robe with lightning patterns, with a cold and stern face and a particularly striking winding lightning mark on his brow bone, slowly opened his eyes. It was Dong Yi.

His aura was more restless and sharp than before, clearly indicating that his cultivation had improved again.

“Junior Brother Lei Heng, you’re too attached to appearances.”

Dong Yi's voice was calm. "Rumors are just that. Three men can make a tiger. It's common for people to exaggerate and embellish. To say that you've overpowered Yuan Mei is just an exaggeration by the ignorant."

"It is probably because Qi Yunsu was ultimately wary of his background and did not go all out. It is already a stroke of luck that Chen Mu was able to withstand a few rounds from him and take the opportunity to make a name for himself."

He slowly rose, his purple robes fluttering in the wind, and his gaze, through the open palace doors, fell upon the distant horizon where leaden clouds hung low and lightning snaked across the sky.

“However,” Dong Yi changed the subject, her tone becoming slightly somber, “it is true that he has made quite a splash.”

"In just a few decades, he has risen from a mere Nascent Soul cultivator to someone capable of contending with us Dao Seeking cultivators, and has even gained immense fame in such a momentous event as the establishment of the Qizhen Sect... The speed of this child's growth is truly astonishing..."

Lei Heng also sighed, and then, thinking of the matter of Qizhen Temple, he couldn't help but say:

"If we had known this would happen... we should have accepted the invitation from Liangyi Temple and gone to Sanxian Valley. That way, we could not only have established some goodwill with that newly promoted Dongzhu Immortal Lord, but we could also have suppressed that kid's arrogance and prevented him from becoming famous in Xuandu so easily."

"No."

Dong Yi's lips curled into a cold smile. "The most urgent matter is not to get bogged down in such trivial disputes over reputation. That Qizhen Temple is nothing more than a nouveau riche who inherited the legacy of their predecessors and luckily obtained the title of a wandering immortal."

"Dongzhu Yankong? Ha, he has only managed to get a chance after ten thousand years of barrenness. His foundation is shallow, how far can he go? Compared with the matter of 'He Xianshi', they are like fireflies compared to the bright moon!"

He withdrew his gaze and looked at Lei Heng, his eyes sharp as lightning: "Besides, this title isn't something you get for nothing."

"Why is Qizhen Temple going to such lengths to promote Chen Mu? It's nothing more than using his status as the direct descendant of Biluo Chaosheng Pavilion to raise a big banner!"

"The first to bear the brunt of the probing and power struggle between the two behemoths is this little boy who has been pushed to the forefront! The more illustrious his reputation is now, the more terrifying the pressure he will bear in the future will be."

"That old ancestor of Biluo Pavilion is not someone to be trifled with. Qizhen Temple wants to take advantage of his power, but they need to see if they have enough backbone... Chen Mu? He's just a pawn on the chessboard, being used by both sides. This overwhelming reputation is an invisible blade held to his neck..."

These words were like a sudden awakening.

The look of annoyance and shock on Lei Heng's face gradually faded, replaced by a somber expression of understanding.

He nodded slowly: "What you say is absolutely right, senior brother. I was just misled by that empty reputation."

There was silence in the hall for a moment.

Lei Heng seemed to remember something, a hint of eagerness and trepidation flashing in his eyes. He lowered his voice and asked, "Senior Brother Dongyi, about... the selection of Immortal Envoy He... is it possible for us to be selected?"

His eyes flickered, and his tone was filled with a strong lack of confidence.

Mentioning "He Xian Shi," Dong Yi's usually cold and stern face instantly became solemn, all traces of the ease he had shown when commenting on others vanished.

He pondered for a long time, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the edge of the altar, producing a dull, thunderous sound.

“Immortal He is a descendant of the ancient Xuandu clan. His heart is with his homeland. The fact that such an important selection was made in the Xuandu region is proof of this.”

Dong Yi spoke slowly, his voice low, "Compared to Si Xuan Shuang of the Taiyin Si Clan and the Broken Gold brat of the Wuxiang Sword Tomb... I am still quite confident."

Hearing Dong Yi's confident and certain statement, Lei Heng breathed a sigh of relief, his gloom vanished, and a strong sense of anticipation and excitement welled up inside him.
"If we can truly be chosen by the Immortal Envoy and granted an opportunity in the upper realm... that would be our true great fortune, and the path to the Great Dao would be within our grasp!"

……

(End of this chapter)