CHAPTER 259: 176. SIMPLE AND HONEST LEI CHONGYUN

"Mr. Xiujing." Li Xuan arrived before the Ye Clan Elder and offered a Taoist bow.

Ye Qi, known as Mr. Xiujing, was one of the key figures of the younger generation within the Jinzhou Ye Clan, ranking seventh among his peers.

He was the same Ye Clan Elder whom Lei Jun had found familiar earlier.

After Li Xuan approached, Ye Qi returned the gesture. "Taoist Li, it has been a while."

"This time, it has been quite troublesome for Mr. Xiujing and the various Laymen from Jinzhou," Li Xuan said, greeting the members of the Ye Clan.

Ye Qi stated, "The rebellion on Dragon Tiger Mountain is indeed regrettable."

Li Xuan replied, "There will always be those with insatiable greed, those who forget favors and betray trust. I, too, find it regrettable."

Ye Qi’s gaze shifted back.

The main peak of Dragon Tiger Mountain was enveloped within a massive Three-tiered Dharma Altar, obscuring the view.

But one could vaguely discern the Yin Fire Tiger, formed from azure flames, fiercely battling the Yang Thunder Dragon, condensed from purple lightning.

Ye Qi shook his head. "I’d heard that Yao Yuan was on good terms with Hong Yu Zhan Lao and often received his guidance. To think that even he..."

Li Xuan said coldly, "He’s played his cards exceptionally well, eyeing the position of the new Celestial Master. He wants to snatch rewards from the jaws of danger!"

Ye Qi was slightly surprised at first, then fell into contemplation. If the Li Clan were to be defeated and the Celestial Master Mansion on Dragon Tiger Mountain were again to be controlled by someone from outside the clan, there truly wouldn’t be many candidates for the new Celestial Master. Shangguan Ning would be the first to be ruled out; it’s impossible. Dragon Tiger Mountain reveres the Tang Emperor as the common sovereign of the world. However, allowing someone from the Tang Imperial Court, or connected to it, to take over the position of Celestial Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain is an entirely different matter. Xu Yuanzhen, currently not on the mountain, could be disregarded. Although Tang Xiaotang’s cultivation and strength were formidable, she lacked popular support. Especially her manner of dealing with people and handling daily affairs—she simply didn’t resemble a qualified leader. Even if Tang Xiaotang could miraculously ascend and fulfill her wish to become the new Celestial Master as a Tao Boy, she would likely be more of a mascot or figurehead most of the time. Managing daily affairs would absolutely require the assistance of others. And so, the two most influential figures on Dragon Tiger Mountain in the future would be narrowed down to Yuan Mobai and Yao Yuan. But in Ye Qi’s opinion, no matter how one assessed it, Yuan Mobai was superior to Yao Yuan; he even had a greater chance than Tang Xiaotang of being recognized by the majority and assuming the new Celestial Master position. But, listening to Li Xuan, why did it seem he believed Yao Yuan had a better chance than Yuan Mobai?

"Playing a clever game and seizing the right moment is certainly good, but to truly sit in that position, one must ultimately see if he has the necessary weight," Li Xuan said, his expression displeased. "As for Yuan Mobai, hmph... thinking about it now, it’s not so unexpected. He has no hope for himself, but he still contends for it—for the sake of his disciples and their descendants!"

Ye Qi said, "Regardless of whether it’s Yuan Mobai or Yao Yuan, both learned the Tao and passed on their arts thanks to the Li Clan’s benevolence. Their current actions of deceiving their master and betraying their lineage are truly enraging to both gods and men."

Li Xuan responded, "Fortunately, there are still righteous and discerning individuals like Mr. Xiujing and all you Laymen, which is ample proof that justice naturally resides in people’s hearts."

"The old Clan Chief and Taoist Li’s grandfather were sworn friends. With a rebellion occurring on Dragon Tiger Mountain, our Jinzhou will naturally not stand idly by." Ye Qi sighed. "It’s just that the Northern Lands are in great turmoil. Several Elders in the clan are truly too occupied to leave. They could only order a few of us to come first to assist. It is truly not our intention to slight you."

Li Xuan nodded silently. "I have also heard about the demonic chaos in the Northern Lands. I wonder, what is the current situation?"

Ye Qi explained, "Bodhi Temple, by colluding with demons—akin to seeking skin from a tiger—has brewed a major disaster, harming others and itself. Consequently, numerous Great Demons are running rampant in the North, causing widespread and severe devastation. The Clan Chief of the Youzhou Lin Clan and His Highness Prince Zhao personally took action, leading the heroes of Youzhou and Jinzhou to intimidate the demonic hordes, only then barely managing to stem the demonic tide. Our old Clan Chief suffered Severely Damaged Vitality due to the previous demonic turmoil in the Western Regions. However, he is now forcing himself to rally, mobilizing manpower and resources to support the front lines."

He sighed again. "The old Clan Chief has stated that if necessary, for the sake of all living beings, he, in his old age, would not spare himself and would personally take to the field again to battle the Great Demons."

These kinds of statements were something Lei Jun and Li Xuan merely listened to without taking too seriously. They both harbored the same suspicion, secretly guessing that the major demonic upheaval in the North might have been orchestrated by the Jinzhou Ye Clan and the Youzhou Lin Clan.

As for their goal...

"What is the current situation at Bodhi Temple?" Li Xuan asked.

Ye Qi replied, "Just the day before yesterday, Abbot Liaoyuan of Bodhi Temple, who instigated this calamity, atoned with his life for the common people affected, and entered parinirvana in Youzhou. Entering parinirvana with him were three Bodhi Temple Elders who had traveled north together."

Li Xuan’s eyes flashed. He had many sources of information within the Suppressing Demon Guards. As far as he knew, among the three Elders who had traveled north to Youzhou with the Abbot of the Bodhi Temple to receive the Buddha Treasure relics, one was a veteran Elder of the Eightfold Heaven Realm from the Buddhist Sect.

This meant that, including Abbot Liaoyuan himself, Bodhi Temple had lost at least two senior Buddhist monks of the Eightfold Heaven Realm outside the temple this time?

"Although Abbot Liaoyuan and the others made grave errors, considering they were fellow Human Race cultivators, the Clan Chief of the Youzhou Lin Clan and His Highness Prince Zhao still wished to make every effort to rescue them. Alas, with the Great Demons running rampant, the situation being complex, and moreover..." Ye Qi’s expression turned solemn. "Furthermore, experts from the Heretical Path unexpectedly appeared in the Northern Border, taking advantage of the chaos to plunder, which ultimately led to the tragic deaths of Abbot Liaoyuan and the other senior Buddhist monks."

Li Xuan’s heart stirred. "Experts from the Heretical Path? Could it be..."

Ye Qi stated, "Wei Ancheng of the Southern Wildernes Blood River!"

Li Xuan muttered, "It really is him..."

Lei Jun stood by, listening silently.

Wei Ancheng was the current Sect Leader of the Blood River Sect, which hailed from the Sacred Land of the Blood River Lineage within the Witchcraft Sect of the Southern Wildernes. He was rumored to be mysterious and ferocious, sinister and bloodthirsty, possessing extraordinary cultivation.