CHAPTER 984: CHAPTER 113: TIANYUAN

A flying sword gently landed in front of the Taoist sect’s mountain gate.

A little girl with lamb horn braids jumped down from the flying sword, stretched lazily, and was startled the next moment.

The thick fog dispersed.

Taoist sect disciples were already waiting before the mountain gate, all women.

Xie Xuanyi was somewhat surprised.

These were familiar faces, the young disciples from Yuqing Pavilion who had participated in the Northern Hunt with him.

"Welcome, young Mountain Master Xie!"

"Welcome, Sword Immortal Xuanyi!"

The respectful voices rose in unison.

"Young Mountain Master Xie."

Leading them was Shang Yi, a prominent figure among the younger generation of the Taoist sect.

She first made a formal bow, then gazed at the young black-clad Sword Immortal before her with complicated eyes.

Having shed the guise of ’All Living Beings,’ Xie Xuanyi no longer appeared as ordinary as before; his brows and eyes exuded majesty that discouraged direct gaze.

Is this still the Xie Zhen of old?

"Miss Shang, no need to be so formal."

Xie Xuanyi surveyed the scene, thoughtfully saying, "It seems... you have been well-prepared."

"...It was instructed by the Great True Master."

Shang Yi spoke respectfully, "Master is reflecting at Yuqing Pavilion, thus I lead the disciples here both to welcome you and to offer apologies."

The news of Master Xuanzhi advancing to the Yang God realm hadn’t yet spread.

After Chong Kan perished, the Taoist sect was left with only True Master Jun Shan as a ’Great True Master.’

"Apologies?"

Xie Xuanyi smirked, amused.

"The Taoist sect has made many mistakes over the years."

Shang Yi lowered her gaze, cautiously saying, "We humbly ask for young Mountain Master Xie’s forgiveness, considering the Great True Master’s standing."

Xie Xuanyi already guessed Jun Shan had sent Shang Yi to welcome him for a reason.

Because of the Jiangning Prince Mansion affair, the Supreme Sect Master and he had become adversaries. If he wished to pursue it, Li Chen’s strength was naturally far from a match.

The Taoist sect had now suffered significant damage.

Fortunes declined.

These a few Pavilion Masters were the last backbone.

"My enmity with Tai Shang House is already settled, Fang Hang wanted to kill me back then and was killed by me."

Xie Xuanyi spoke coolly, "As for Li Chen... if he can’t let go of this obsession and seeks revenge, he’ll meet the same end as Fang Hang. If he can see through it, there will naturally be no trouble."

Hearing this response, Shang Yi felt a huge relief inside.

This seemed agreeable.

Xie Xuanyi suddenly asked, "What about Daoist Zhu?"

The Tai Shang House matter could be raised high and settled lightly.

But Daoist Zhu, the ’villain’ hiding in the shadows stirring trouble, Xie Xuanyi would definitely not let off easily.

"He’s already dead."

Shang Yi sighed lightly, "The Sect Leader appeared and has executed Daoist Zhu. This Pavilion Master met a fate of perishing in body and soul, and Incense Fire House was destroyed along with him."

"The Sect Leader?"

Xie Xuanyi raised an eyebrow.

A Sword Palace battle concerning Great Chu’s rise and fall.

The Qin Ancestor was killed.

Logically, Xiao Yaozi shouldn’t have remained aloof, given this Taoist Sect Leader could appear, why didn’t he partake in the Lotus Peak battle?

Upon hearing this, he was about to say more.

A low transmission voice echoed distantly from within the Taoist sect’s mist.

"Friend Xie, please come to Tianyuan for a gathering."

This voice reverberated like thunder or drums, deep and pulsating.

The disciples of Yuqing Pavilion heard and immediately bowed, making way.

Jiang Huang seemed somewhat fearful.

Just hearing this voice, how was it even more imposing than the previous sword-wielding elder in red?

...

...

Taoist disciples respectfully bowed, giving way.

Xie Xuanyi, leading Jiang Huang, navigated the sword through the mountain gate, swiftly entering the Heavenly Origin Secret Realm.

It was all Shadow Wall Cave Heaven along the way.

Like Da Sui Sword Palace, the Taoist sect had dedicated cave heavens to imprison Great Demons.

Yet it was exceedingly peaceful along this path.

Those Great Demons showed no arrogance...

Each curled up, as if fearing something.

"Ah?"

Jiang Huang saw the scene in the Shadow Wall Cave Heaven and softly sighed.

Her body flowed with the noble Phoenix bloodline.

Those Great Demons trapped in the shadow wall were already shrinking, and upon seeing the ’Phoenix,’ became even more frightened, burying their heads.

Xie Xuanyi’s mind was entirely focused on the end of the Secret Realm, where he sensed an immensely powerful Primordial Power amassing at the end of the Shadow Wall Cave Heaven, taking shape... Judging by the magnitude and aura of this Primordial Power, it had already surpassed the so-called Yang God realm. In Xie Xuanyi’s impression, it seemed only his master could rival it.

This, was it the Taoist Sect Leader?

Shua!

Sword light streaked out from the dense forest, reaching the legendary Tianyuan Mountain.

The next moment, his vision widened dramatically.

Xie Xuanyi was taken aback.

He saw at the convergence of the vast Primordial Power, tens of thousands of talismans suspended, forming a cloud well reaching toward the sky.

Heavenly light gathered by white paper talismans, compressed, shining straight onto the mountaintop.

On the mountain.

A young Daoist in a robe stood with some desolation on a large stone, looking up at the cloud well, the robe continuously swept backward by the wind.

On the other side, Deng Baiyi was seated under the shade of a tree, eyes closed in meditation, seemingly in pretend slumber.

"Arrived?"

True Master Jun Shan, hands behind his back, lethargically glanced at Xie Xuanyi before moving his gaze away.

"This is..."

Xie Xuanyi felt perplexed.

The previous thunderous transmission voice, what was the situation?

Where was Xiao Yaozi?

"Divine Travel..."

True Master Jun Shan’s eyes held faint sorrow as he gazed at the talismans flowing in the sky well, softly speaking, "You should know what this implies, right?"

Xie Xuanyi noticed.

At the Tianyuan Mountain summit, there was a small cushion.

This scene...

Resembled the Lotus Forbidden Land greatly.

"In the state of Divine Travel, the flesh body retreats into the void, the soul crosses the river."

Xie Xuanyi murmured in realization, "Due to the loss of the Taoist Dragon Veins, Senior Xiao Yaozi... hasn’t found the ’anchoring point’ for returning?"

His master spent years in seclusion at Lotus Peak.

Immersed in Divine Travel, needing serenity.

Lotus Peak, being the core of Da Sui Sword Qi Dragon Vein, contained immense fortunes, making Divine Travel safest there.

The Taoist sect was different.

Its Dragon Vein was extracted by Chong Kan, willingly offered to Ren Shou Palace.

"Yes."

True Master Jun Shan said bleakly, "Chong Kan perished, gifting Primordial Energy back to Tianyuan... I thought through the Great Array, I could retrieve the Dragon Vein and summon my senior back... but..."

At this, Xie Xuanyi understood everything.

The famed Taoist Sect Leader, why he didn’t participate in the previous Sword Palace battle... was because he never ’woke up’ in the first place.

Divine Travel in void, soul scattered.

This Sect Leader’s ’condition’ was far worse than his master’s—

After Chong Kan perished, the Taoist sect urgently needed someone to stand and manage the affairs.

The Yuqing Pavilion disciples greeting at the mountain gate now.

And those in closed reflection at Tai Shang House, All Marvels Pavilion, Duobao Pavilion...

These people all believed the Sect Leader had already revived.

Unbeknownst to them.

Xiao Yaozi remained wandering outside the void.

At this moment.

True Master Jun Shan, who had lived for hundreds of years, stood alone before the cushion, under the sweeping clouds, resembling a helpless ten-year-old child.

...

...

(PS: The next Chapter will be posted at 10 AM tomorrow morning.)