Dongting Immortal Clan

Wulong Gorge is located north of Yunmeng County. After passing the county seat, it is necessary to travel more than 200 li (approximately 100 kilometers) of mountain road to reach it.

Chen Dajiang followed Guan Chengfeng, using his lightness technique along the way.

Guan Chengfeng walked ahead, his steps light and quick, as if he were walking on the wind.

He walked at a moderate pace, just enough for Chen Dajiang to keep up, and didn't say much along the way.

The two walked through the mountains for a day and a half, and on the afternoon of the second day, they finally arrived at a canyon.

The cliffs on both sides of the canyon are towering into the clouds, almost vertical, with steep slopes and jagged rocks.

A rumbling sound came from the bottom of the valley.

A turbid river roared and surged downstream, churning up white foam and eddies.

The riverbanks are rocky beaches formed by years of erosion, covered with huge rocks and covered with slippery moss.

"arrive."

Guan Chengfeng stopped and pointed ahead.

That is Wulong Gorge.

Chen Dajiang looked in the direction he pointed. The entrance to the canyon was open, with more than a dozen tents haphazardly pitched, and some newly built simple bamboo houses.

There were quite a few people on the open ground. Some were dressed in Taoist robes of various colors, some were dressed in short clothes, and a few were dressed in official uniforms with swords at their waists and sharp expressions.

The mountain wind pours out from the gorge, carrying not only heavy moisture but also a faint sense of desolation and bloodshed.

Guan Chengfeng led him into the camp, and many people greeted him along the way.

"Fellow Daoist Guan."

Brother Guan.

"Has Chengfeng arrived?"

Guan Chengfeng responded to each question without stopping.

He led Chen Dajiang to the innermost tent in the camp, lifted the curtain, and went inside.

Several people were sitting inside the tent.

In the very center was a middle-aged man, around forty years old, with a square face, a short beard, and a spotless blue Taoist robe. A jade pendant hung at his waist, engraved with the two characters "Tai Xu".

He sat upright in the main seat, his gaze steady, his aura restrained, making it impossible to discern his true nature.

On the left sat two men in dark blue official robes, one fat and one thin, both around thirty years old. The swords at their waists were heavy and the scabbards were inlaid with copper nails.

Three people were sitting on the right, all dressed in ordinary Taoist robes, but they had an extraordinary demeanor and were clearly highly skilled in Taoism.

Guan Chengfeng entered and bowed.

"Uncle Yuan, the Chen family from Bishui has been brought here."

The middle-aged Taoist priest raised his head and glanced at Chen Dajiang.

"So you're the person sent by the Chen family of Biyue?"

"Yes."

"Junior Chen Dajiang pays respects to the Immortal Master!"

Chen Dajiang bowed respectfully.

Yuan Hecheng nodded slightly, looked away, and turned to Guan Chengfeng, saying:

"He was assigned to the logistics team and became a mountain-moving laborer."

"Yes."

Guan Chengfeng led him out of the tent and turned towards a row of low wooden sheds on the east side of the camp.

Several people were already living in the shed, all dressed as independent cultivators, the highest of whom was only at the second level of the Spiritual Treasury Realm, Wood Embryo.

Upon seeing Guan Chengfeng lead the group in, they all stood up.

"This is Chen Dajiang from the Chen family of Bishui."

Guan Chengfeng introduced:

"Starting today, you will be assigned to a team. He Wu, you will be in charge."

A burly, dark-skinned man stepped forward, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, and said in a deep voice:

"Don't worry, Lord Guan, leave it to me."

Guan Chengfeng nodded and said to Chen Dajiang:

"You may settle here. If anything is unclear, you can ask He Wu."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Chen Dajiang placed the bundle on his shoulder on an empty bed in the corner and sat down silently.

He Wu leaned closer, looked him up and down, and grinned:

"The Chen family? Which Chen family?"

"The Chen family of Bishui".

Chen Dajiang said.

He Wu scratched his head, thought for a moment, and then shook his head:

"Never heard of it."

A tall, thin man chimed in:

"The Chen family of Bishui is the one that recently rose to prominence in Qingxi Town."

"I heard that his third son has had great luck and is cultivating in the inner sect of the Taixu Sect. He is a very fortunate person."

"oh--"

He Wu suddenly realized and looked at Chen Dajiang again.

"What is your cultivation level, brother?"

"Wooden frame".

"What a coincidence, I'm also made of wood."

He Wu patted his broad chest:

"Don't worry, if you work for me, you won't be treated badly."

Chen Dajiang hummed in agreement and said nothing more.

He leaned against a pillar of the wooden shed, closed his eyes to rest, but his ears were perked up, listening to the sounds around him.

……

There were quite a few people in the camp, coming and going, talking constantly.

After listening for a while, he slowly pieced together some clues.

The people in the camp can be roughly divided into four categories.

The largest group consists of independent practitioners.

Their cultivation levels varied greatly; some had only cultivated their inner fire, while others had already reached the Jade Spring stage. Most of them were assigned to heavy tasks such as patrolling, carrying, and digging.

They do the hardest work, get the least pay, and speak with a hint of resentment, yet dare not raise their voices too high.

Secondly, there are the members of the seven families of Yunmeng.

Four people from the Shen family of Longxi arrived, led by Shen Yuanxia.

The group consisted of three members from the Zhao family at Qingshi Cliff, two from the Sun family at Baima Lake, two from the Zheng family at Mufu Mountain, two from the Ning family at Shensang Mountain, and three from the Guan family at Heming Peak. Guan Chengfeng was the leader of the Guan family.

The cultivators from each sect were clearly more well-groomed and composed than ordinary rogue cultivators.

The second group consisted of family cultivators who came from other places to apply.

During this siege, the Taixu Sect issued orders to several surrounding areas.

The Yao family of Linli, the Chen family of Shimen, the Zhou family of Pingshui...

People arrived at all of them.

After listening to everyone, Chen Dajiang realized that besides the "Chen family" alone, there were two other families outside Yunmeng, both with much deeper roots than his own.

Those of even higher status were government officials.

The two men in dark blue official robes seen in the tent were the chief and deputy commanders of the Yunmeng Demon-Catching Division, one surnamed Wu and the other surnamed Qian, both with Qi Refining Realm cultivation.

They led a dozen or so demon-hunting warriors, responsible for maintaining order, blocking the roads, and preventing mortals from getting close.

The one who sits in the central command and whose orders are strictly enforced is Yuan Hecheng, an inner sect steward of the Taixu Sect, who is at the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

He had six disciples under his command, whose cultivation levels ranged from the fifth level of the Spirit Realm to the early stage of Qi Refining. He was the true person in charge of the camp.

In addition, the Hengyue Sect from the south sent three disciples, the leader of whom was surnamed Fang. He was in the early stage of Qi Refining and descended on a white crane, attracting a crowd of onlookers.

People from the Lujiang Grotto Heaven in the east also came; several rainbow lights shot straight into the depths of the canyon to surround and kill that group of evil cultivators.

Now, less than half of the monks remain at the camp.

……

"That group of evil cultivators is hiding deep within Wulong Gorge."

"It was a rogue cultivator who said in a low voice."

"I heard there are more than a dozen people, and the leader is a peak Qi Refining Realm cultivator. He's ruthless and has already killed several cultivators who chased after him."

"If it's so dangerous, why bother chasing it?"

"The person next to me asked."

"I have no choice but to pursue it."

"This group has committed a serious crime in Lingzhou. The Taixu Sect has issued a death order: they must be found alive or dead. How dare you delay?"

The first man sighed.

"Besides..."

The other person lowered his voice even further, a greedy glint in his eyes.

"These evil cultivators must be quite wealthy from their plundering. If we could get a share of their spoils..."

"Shh-"

"Keep your voice down!"

Someone hurriedly reminded them.

Chen Dajiang opened his eyes and glanced at the people who were speaking.

They sat around a campfire, the firelight casting flickering shadows on their faces.

"I heard that..."

A rogue cultivator with a pointed snout and monkey-like face lowered his voice:

"That group of evil cultivators is related to the Heavenly Nether Demonic Sect."

"They came from the north, specifically to cause trouble here."

"The Heavenly Netherworld Demonic Sect?!"

Someone gasped.

"That's a giant of the Northern Demonic Path, even more powerful than the Taixu Sect."

"So what if you're good?"

"This is Taixu Sect territory. How dare they turn the world upside down?"

"It's hard to say... Last time, the Shen family of Longxi was also robbed. Shen Congyun, who was at the third level of the Spirit Realm, was seriously injured in one move. If it weren't for the spirit talisman protecting him, he would have lost his life."

The group fell silent for a moment.

The rogue cultivator with the pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks continued:

"I've also heard that those evil cultivators possess an extraordinary item—a rare treasure that can help people establish their foundation!"

"The Taixu Sect's large-scale mobilization may well have this intention behind it."

"Foundation Building..."

Someone murmured, their eyes filled with longing and a hint of fear.

Chen Dajiang kept these words in mind and closed his eyes to continue resting.