Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 990 A Thousand Sails Compete in the Sea of ​​Clouds

For the next month or so, He Zhiyun and the Taoist priest surnamed Sun went in and out of each other in a hurry, their faces sometimes showing expectation and sometimes covered with an intractable gloom.

Although they didn't exchange many words, everyone present was a seasoned person, and they could glean some clues from the lingering melancholy in their brows and the slightly flickering eyes of the Taoist priest.

The "alliance" is likely to face significant obstacles.

When Suijin had a moment, he asked, but He Zhiyun just shook his head and remained silent with a grim expression.

Seeing this, Sun Daoren stepped forward and explained in a low voice, "'Purple Bamboo Pavilion' Senior Sister Qu and 'Golden Spear Hall' Senior Brother Li... well, they were polite at first, saying that the time was not right and they needed to consider it further."

"But when we went to visit them again, they avoided us or made excuses. Their attitude turned cold so quickly that it was disheartening. In my opinion..."

He paused, glanced at He Zhiyun's increasingly unpleasant expression, and lowered his voice even further, "It seems they received a signal from some 'important person' within the sect, which is why they're keeping their distance from us..."

Upon hearing this, Si Xuanshuang and the others who had gathered around felt a chill in their hearts.

Although they had guessed before, it was only when it was exposed now that they truly realized He Zhiyun's situation in the immortal sect. Not only did he have no background to rely on, but he also had a hostile person with considerable power!
This undoubtedly casts a heavy shadow over the upcoming trials.

Everyone wanted to ask who the "noble person" and the enemy were, but seeing He Zhiyun's face ashen, it was clear that this matter touched on a sore spot and hidden worry that he did not want to talk about.

The Broken Gold True Monarch's gaze was sharp. He gave He Zhiyun a deep look, and finally raised his hand to stop Dong Yi from asking any more questions. He said in a deep voice, "Enough. We'll find out who your opponent is when the trial begins. There's no point in thinking about it now. It will only disturb your mind."

He Zhiyun also realized that his emotions had affected the morale of the crowd.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his turbulent emotions, and forced a resolute expression back onto his face as he scanned the crowd:

"Fellow Daoists, rest assured. Since I dare to plan this, I am quite confident. Even if some villains try to sabotage me, they will only be a few thorns on the road to trial."

"Besides, all of you fellow Daoists are exceptional talents who have undergone countless trials and tribulations, with unwavering Dao hearts and extraordinary supernatural abilities. What is there to fear? When the time comes, let us join forces and, regardless of any demons or monsters, slay them all!"

His words were forceful, an attempt to boost confidence.

Sun Daoren quickly chimed in, gently waving his folding fan and smiling casually, "That's exactly right. In fact, in my opinion, failing to form an alliance with Qu and Li may not necessarily be a bad thing."

"Senior Brother He, look, we now have gathered nearly twenty top True Monarchs from the lower realms. With such a powerful presence, we are already attracting attention."

"If we can win over a few more fellow disciples, our power will be even greater. Even those rich second-generation heirs from 'Xiaoyu Mountain' with deep backgrounds will be wary and may even join forces against us."

"Now, although the target is large, it is also positioned at a delicate point where people dare not underestimate it, but also do not want to attack it from all sides. Misfortune and fortune are intertwined, who knows if it is a blessing in disguise?"

His words were partly a consolation and partly a self-comfort. He only hoped to get through the trial safely and be content with gaining some of the Golden Immortal's legacy. He had no ambition to compete for the ultimate lineage inheritance.

However, Sun Daoren himself had no intention of doing so, and was unaware of He Zhiyun's thoughts.

He went to great lengths, crossed two realms, made solemn promises, and gathered so many helpers. If he said that he had no burning desire for the Golden Immortal inheritance that leads directly to the Great Dao, then he would be deceiving himself.

However, this thought is deeply hidden and cannot be discussed with a "sparrow" like Sun Daoren.

He remained expressionless, only nodding slightly: "Junior Brother Sun is right. For now, let's take care of what's in front of us."

After this setback, He Zhiyun went into complete silence and stopped visiting friends.

He devoted all his energy to secret talks with several key figures, including Sui Jin.

Inside the quiet room, there were many restrictions, and no one knew what specific strategies they had discussed. They only felt that He Zhiyun's brows were becoming more and more solemn each day, and when Suijin and the others returned, their eyes were becoming more and more sharp and focused, like sharp swords that had been forged and drawn.

The last few days passed swiftly like sand slipping through our fingers amidst the silent, tense preparations.

……

On this day, auspicious clouds surged and rays of light shone throughout the extradition zone.

The colorful sea of ​​clouds, which had flowed for countless years, seemed to be stirred by an invisible giant hand, suddenly surging and roaring, rolling up thousands of piles of dazzling light waves.

Where the rosy clouds intertwined, the faint phantom of a magnificent and ancient palace appeared, and the ethereal sound of Taoism penetrated deep into the soul.

clang--!
clang--!
clang--!
Nine melodious and majestic chimes resounded in succession, as if they were falling from the heavens or coming from the end of time and space, instantly echoing in every corner of the entire extradition realm.

The clear, resonant sound of the chime stone cleanses the mind and spirit, carrying an undeniable sense of calling.

In an instant, countless powerful auras soared into the sky from Yunqi Courtyard and even from the floating immortal palaces throughout the Transmission Realm!

Streaks of light, each a different color and imposing in its own way, flowed like rivers flowing into the sea, tearing through the dazzling sky and converging on the colorful sea of ​​clouds.

The people of the Floating Cloud Realm were already fully prepared. As the first of the nine chimes resounded, they transformed into a vast stream of light under the leadership of He Zhiyun, merging into the torrent of heroes from all realms.

Upon arriving at the assembly point, even seasoned veterans like Suijin and Dongyi were taken aback and inwardly gasped.

Everywhere I looked, there were True Lords seeking the Dao!

Above the colorful sea of ​​clouds, with the glow of the sunset as a curtain, there are countless shadowy figures.

Some rode on strange magical artifacts, hovering in mid-air; some sat cross-legged on the backs of mythical beasts and birds; some were surrounded by the spiritual light of magical treasures, their auras sometimes sharp as a sword, sometimes deep and solid as a mountain, sometimes unpredictable, sometimes majestic and righteous...

A quick glance revealed that there were no fewer than a thousand cultivators gathered here!
The magnificent spiritual pressure intertwined, forming an invisible force field that stirred the colorful sea of ​​clouds below, causing it to churn endlessly, creating a spectacular sight.

In the Floating Cloud Realm, the Dao Inquiry True Monarchs are already a backbone force of their respective Dao lineages. Although their numbers are not large, they are not insignificant either. However, they still cannot compare to those here, who are as numerous as carp crossing a river...

He Zhiyun's voice rang out at the right time, carrying a hint of solemnity, but also pointing out the key point: "Please do not be alarmed, everyone. The vast majority of people here are like you, who have come to assist the Dao at the invitation of the Jiuyi Immortal Sect. There are only about a hundred Immortal Sect members who are truly qualified to inherit the Golden Immortal Dao lineage."

Hearing this, everyone felt slightly relieved.

But then I thought about it again. If you calculate it this way, most of the disciples only invited about a dozen helpers, while on their side, He Zhiyun alone brought nearly twenty helpers, a number far exceeding the average level of other teams, which was indeed particularly eye-catching.

The saying that "a tall tree catches the wind" that Sun Daoren had said earlier is especially true now.

Thinking of this, the people of the Floating Cloud Realm turned their eyes to look behind Sun Daoren.

It is worth mentioning that the first group of people they encountered upon entering this realm, namely Fu Zhen and others who claimed to be from the Canghai Realm, were actually Sun Daoren's helpers.

Is it a coincidence or a real "destiny"?

A thought flashed through everyone's minds, but they had no time to delve into it at the moment. Then, Chen Mu's attention was drawn to He Zhiyun's gaze.

He first swept past two groups of people not far away. One group was led by a woman dressed in an elegant bamboo-patterned Taoist robe, while the other group was led by a burly man carrying a huge golden spear.

Ultimately, however, it was as if drawn by a magnet, firmly anchored to a figure further away.

At the same time, an undisguised, chilling hostility emanated from him.

Chen Mu then looked in that direction.

The man stood before a dazzling, starlight-like beam of light, his hands clasped behind his back, his posture upright. He appeared to be no more than twenty years old, with a handsome face and a faint, languid smile on his lips.

He wore a magnificent crimson brocade robe with flowing cloud patterns and a small, exquisite purple-gold crown, which made his fair skin appear even more like jade and gave him an air of nobility.

However, what is most alarming is the energy flow throughout its body.

That aura, seemingly peaceful and restrained, was like a deep-sea undercurrent, unfathomable and profound. Its hidden pressure even subtly overshadowed He Zhiyun's.

Behind him, there were also nearly twenty assistant cultivators with refined auras and sharp eyes, a lineup no less impressive than that of the Floating Cloud Realm.

"This man's name is Shen Liangcai..."

He Zhiyun's voice was low and cold, as if squeezed out from between his teeth, clearly reaching the ears of everyone in the Floating Cloud Realm.

“Years ago, the two of us entered the ‘Starfall Ancient Ruins’ together to train and compete for a ‘Primordial Yuan Chen Golden Qi’. On the surface, this person joined forces with me to fight against the Ruins Beast, but in secret, he suddenly resorted to ruthless means, intending to steal the treasure and kill me.”

"If I hadn't been fortunate enough to obtain a protective treasure, I would probably be dead by now... This hatred is irreconcilable!"

He turned around abruptly, his eyes sharp as knives, and warned, "Fellow Daoists, please be careful. This person is insidious, vicious, and vindictive. I predict that once he enters the 'Corridor of Myriad Phenomena,' he will use any means necessary to attack us, and you will inevitably be affected."

Chen Mu and the others nodded slowly, their expressions becoming solemn. Their divine senses, like invisible ripples on water, quietly probed towards Shen Liangcai and the team behind him, trying to detect any dangerous aura among them.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the sea of ​​clouds, in a relatively open area, seven or eight young cultivators gathered together.

They were dressed in fine clothes, with a relaxed demeanor, and their bodies shimmered with a subtle radiance. Some were playing with jade pendants that shimmered with spiritual light, while others were teasing the magnificent birds perched on their shoulders. They chatted and laughed, their expressions carefree, as if they were about to step into the perilous and unpredictable remnant realm of the Golden Immortals, but rather into their own backyard hunting grounds.

What is most striking is that there was no one behind them, not even a single person to help them!
This unconventional and aloof attitude stood out conspicuously amidst the vast crowd of thousands, exuding an indescribable confidence and... arrogance.

"what?"

One of the women, a charming young woman wearing a gold-threaded phoenix hairpin and a pale yellow palace dress, was idly observing the various groups of people. When her gaze swept over He Zhiyun's large entourage, a hint of curiosity flashed in her eyes, and she pointed a finger in the distance:
"That fellow disciple who's leading looks unfamiliar. Which lineage does he belong to? Gathering so many cultivators from the lower realms, what a grand display."

A young man holding a jade flute beside her looked in the direction she was pointing, paused for a moment, and then chuckled, "Junior Sister Gan, you don't even remember him? That's He Zhiyun."

"What is anger?" The woman with the gold hairpin, who was called Sister Gan, frowned slightly, tried hard to recall for a moment, but was still at a loss.

Upon seeing this, the young man with the jade flute shook his head and smiled, "That's the one who wanted to become a disciple of your father, Immortal Lord Gantang, but was politely refused by the Immortal Lord on the grounds that he was 'too scheming and his Dao traces were not pure.' It caused quite a stir in the sect at the time."

"Oh—! It was him!"

Gan Qingni suddenly realized, her red lips slightly pursed, revealing a hint of understanding.

The young man with the jade flute nodded and said, "No wonder the Immortal Lord said he was 'too scheming.' Look at him, gathering so many cultivators from the lower realms as henchmen. Is he going to set up a battle formation in the 'Corridor of Myriad Phenomena' to compete for the lineage of Immortal Lord Yunmiao? His ambition is quite large."

His voice was clear and crisp, without any deliberate attempt to lower it, which drew the attention of several of his companions.

Someone scoffed, their tone laced with disdain: "They're just overestimating themselves."

"Cultivators from the lower realms? So what if they number in number? How can they compare to us, who have been tempered by immortal spiritual energy since childhood and received the Dao foundation personally taught by true immortals? It's one thing for Shen Liangcai to recruit some people, but He Zhiyun is also trying to put on airs. He's just imitating others and overestimating his own abilities!"

Upon hearing this, most of the people around him showed expressions of agreement and nodded in agreement.

Only one young Taoist priest, dressed in a dark black robe and with eyes as deep as an ancient well, remained calm throughout.

Upon hearing this, he slowly shook his head, his voice calm and even: "Brother Li's words are somewhat biased."

As he spoke, a subtle vortex seemed to slowly swirl deep within his dark eyes. His gaze swept over the people of the Floating Cloud Realm, lingering briefly on Sui Jin, Si Xuan Shuang, Dong Yi, and... Chen Mu.

"Oh? What insightful opinion do you have, Brother Xu?"

The young man surnamed Li raised an eyebrow. He knew that the man before him possessed the rare Dao technique "Penetrating Eyes of Profound Mystery," which allowed him to see the fundamental source of a cultivator's Dao, the purity of their magical power, and even the strength of the nascent Dao fruit. His eyesight was extremely sharp, and he never spoke recklessly.

Since he has spoken out in rebuttal, there must be a reason.

Xu Xuanling stretched out his slender finger and pointed at the Floating Cloud Realm team across the crowd: "That one who carries the sword box and whose aura is sharp and incomparable, his Dao foundation is profound and refined, his sword intent is pure and fierce, and his sharpness is hidden within, showing signs of the creation of the world. He is by no means ordinary."

"That woman, bathed in moonlight and as cold as frost, possessed an unfathomable Dao Fruit aura that resonated with the origin of Yin, indicating extraordinary potential."

"That purple-robed figure with hidden lightning and an overbearing aura, tempered by tribulation lightning, possesses a domineering and powerful Dao Fruit, a solid foundation, and should not be underestimated..."

He spoke slowly and deliberately. As he addressed each person, the arrogance on the faces of the young man surnamed Li and the others faded, replaced by seriousness.

When Xu Xuanling's gaze finally landed on Chen Mu, whose aura was the most calm and reserved, seemingly blending into the surrounding sea of ​​clouds, a clear hint of hesitation and...confusion flashed in his deep eyes for the first time.

However, he still pointed with his finger: "And...this one."

"Him?" The young man surnamed Li looked in the direction Xu Xuanling pointed, and when he saw that Chen Mu's cultivation level was clearly still at the early stage of the Profound Gate Realm, he was first stunned, then his tense expression suddenly relaxed, and he couldn't help but laugh out loud:
"Hahaha! Brother Xu, are you joking with us? Is a mere cultivator at the initial stage of the Profound Gate Realm from the lower realm worth your caution? Even if he has some talent, what good can he do in this situation?"

Gan Qingni and the others smiled, assuming that Xu Xuanling had misjudged or was simply trying to ease the tension.

Xu Xuanling showed no anger or intention to explain himself in the face of the crowd's laughter.

He simply glanced at Chen Mu one last time, and in the depths of those unfathomable "penetrating eyes," it seemed as if an even deeper vortex was silently swirling.

After a moment, he withdrew his gaze, fell silent, and the warm, smooth jade ring on his finger quietly turned a little cold...

……

(End of this chapter)