Ignorant of the true situation, Sect Master Mo felt increasingly uneasy upon seeing Daoist Luorong's expression, even conceiving an urge to turn and flee.
The imperial carriage arrived before the mountain.
A look of vigilance flashed through Daoist Luorong's eyes, and he covertly crushed the jade thumb ring on his finger.
Qin Sang stepped forward, slightly cupping his hands in a polite greeting. "You must be Fellow Daoist Luorong of the Liuxu Sect? This humble Daoist's Daoist name is Qingfeng. I have long looked forward to meeting you!"
"My Daoist name is indeed Luorong. I consider myself widely traveled, having had many dealings with my peers throughout the Daoist sects, yet I do not believe I have met Fellow Daoist Qingfeng before. May I ask where your immortal abode lies?"
Luorong's expression had already returned to normal, a faint smile forced onto his face.
"This humble Daoist is merely an unfettered wanderer, a nobody. It is only natural that you do not recognize me." Qin Sang turned sideways, gesturing toward the reception hall. "Please!"
Seeing that Qin Sang's words were evasive and that he was unwilling to disclose his origins, Daoist Luorong's expression darkened slightly, his tone turning cold. "No need! I have already heard the full story from Sect Master Mo and understand your intention. Let us attend to business first."
A stir rippled through the onlookers.
The members of the Xie Clan stood behind Qin Sang.
The Liuxu Sect disciples brought by Daoist Luorong, along with Sect Master Mo, also descended to the ground.
The two sides were clearly divided.
Sect Master Mo wore a numb expression; the ownership of Mount Pu was already beyond his control.
Behind Daoist Luorong, the Liuxu Sect disciples assumed a battle formation, remaining discreetly on guard.
"You are indeed a straightforward man, Fellow Daoist."
Qin Sang seemed to pay no heed to the disciples' subtle movements. Turning his gaze to the main peak of Mount Pu, he said, "This mountain was originally the ancestral land of the Xie Clan, and their bloodline continues to this day. The Liuxu Sect is the foremost sect in this vicinity, so Fellow Daoist Luorong should know a thing or two about this. In the past, the Luoyan Sect drove the Xie Clan away, seizing Mount Pu and lingering here ever since. This defies both reason and justice. Is it not time to return it?"
"Oh?"
Daoist Luorong replied indifferently, "The Central Plains encompass the Nineteen Misty Rain Prefectures. I dare not speak for other prefectures, but in Zhuo Prefecture at least, order reigns supreme. It is impossible for vile acts such as forcibly usurping another's place of cultivation to occur. Otherwise, there would be no need for you to seek justice—my Liuxu Sect would never let the culprits off lightly. From what I understand, the Xie Clan conducted a transaction involving Mount Pu with the Luoyan Sect back then, and an inspector from our sect served as witness. Is that not true?"
Sect Master Mo nodded numbly.
An elderly Core Formation cultivator stepped out from behind. "Reporting to Martial Uncle, this disciple indeed served as the inspector back then. The Luoyan Sect borrowed Mount Pu temporarily, offering their sect's paramount treasure, the Qingluo Canopy, as collateral to the Xie Clan, with an agreed deadline for its return. Now the deadline has passed, yet the Xie Clan damaged the Qingluo Canopy and cannot produce it. According to the original agreement, Mount Pu belongs to the Luoyan Sect."
Daoist Luorong sneered and shook his head with a sigh, seemingly pitying Qin Sang. "Did you hear that, Fellow Daoist? Having listened only to the Xie Clan's side of the story, you were likely misled by numerous untruths. The Central Plains have their own rules, and rules cannot be willfully cast aside. You are an immortal figure of transcendent freedom, so why wade into these murky waters and tarnish your own reputation?"
Qin Sang clapped his hands.
Xie Qian stepped forward, presenting a wooden box with both hands.
Qin Sang opened it and retrieved the azure gauze canopy within. Giving it a gentle shake, he unfurled the gauze, which transformed into a wisp of cyan smoke—it was indeed a magic treasure.
However, its radiance was dim. Compared to its peak state, not even a tenth of its power remained, and it was beyond restoration.
"Whether this treasure was ruined in the Xie Clan's hands remains open to debate. I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable in the art of artifact crafting, and I know of no fewer than ten methods to cause a treasure to self-destruct. Perhaps younger generations lack the experience to see through such petty tricks, so your sect's disciples and the Luoyan Sect might have been deceived, but surely you can see through it, Fellow Daoist? As for why I insist on intervening..."
Qin Sang did not dwell further on the cause of the Qingluo Canopy's damage. Turning his gaze, he looked at Sect Master Mo. "Sect Master Mo, could you please deactivate the mountain-protecting grand array?"
Sect Master Mo instinctively looked toward Daoist Luorong.
Daoist Luorong's brows knit tightly. "Open it!" he ordered in a deep voice.
"Yes!"
Sect Master Mo hastily flew into the main peak.
Seeing their sect master's demeanor, the disciples of the Luoyan Sect were scared into silence, huddling together. Not a sound could be heard across the main peak.
The clouds and mists cloaking the peak parted.
Clouds gathered beneath Qin Sang's feet as he led the Xie Clan members to ascend the main peak first.
Daoist Luorong fixed his gaze on Qin Sang's back, swept his wide sleeves, and followed.
A moment later, the group arrived before the Xie Clan Stone.
Qin Sang walked forward alone. Reaching out, he stroked the Xie Clan Stone gently, letting out a faint sigh. "The Xie Clan Stone was erected by the ancestors of the Xie Clan and has always been their symbol, capable of testing spiritual roots and imparting techniques. What outsiders do not know is that it serves yet another purpose. Due to its unique material, it was once merged with an ancestor's blood essence. When someone of the Xie Clan bloodline touches it directly, a resonance will occur."
Before his voice had even faded, a faint white light illuminated the top of the stone, its texture turning into warm, lustrous white jade.
This sight not only exceeded the expectations of Daoist Luorong and his companions, but even Xie Qian and Xie An were left staring in disbelief.
Every word Qin Sang spoke was true.
Only the bloodline of the Xie Clan could trigger such a change in the Xie Clan Stone.
The Xie Clan had declined over time, lacking the resources to support all its branch lines. Could this Nascent Soul Patriarch be a wandering branch of the Xie Clan's bloodline?
In an instant, the Xie Clan members' expressions shifted from shock to wild ecstasy.
"You belong to the Xie Clan?"
Daoist Luorong's expression changed as well.
An outsider seeking justice on behalf of the Xie Clan to reclaim Mount Pu was an entirely different concept from a Xie Clan ancestor returning to claim it.
This meant that within the Liuxu Sect's sphere of influence, an additional Nascent Soul power would emerge—and a middle Nascent Soul expert at that!
Perhaps there had been room for discussion before, but now they could not easily acknowledge this!
Without any concealment, Daoist Luorong released his divine sense, sweeping it back and forth over the Xie Clan Stone several times, even stepping forward in person to test it. Yet he could detect no trace of any trickery on Qin Sang's part.
Qin Sang merely smiled without speaking.
It was true that only Xie Clan blood could activate the Xie Clan Stone.
However, he could slightly trigger the restrictions left behind by Xiaoxiangzi in the Qingxu Illusory Realm to imitate the effect.
To this day, the Xie Clan had never fathomed that layer of restrictions.
Back then, Xiaoxiangzi had been furious. Had the Qingxu Illusory Realm not been exceedingly durable, he likely would have destroyed the place of cultivation outright. The restrictions he left behind were immensely powerful and thoroughly concealed.
Moreover, since Daoist Luorong's cultivation was lower than Qin Sang's, he naturally could not see through Qin Sang's methods.
Daoist Luorong's expression shifted continuously. As he was pondering how to respond, his eyes suddenly flickered, his expression easing slightly. His lips moved faintly, as if communicating with someone.
Qin Sang did not stop him, instead looking up into the sky.
At that moment, not a cloud drifted across the heavens.
The sky was an azure expanse, open and unobstructed.
Suddenly, subtle ripples like water spread through the empty void, and two figures clad in Daoist robes emerged out of thin air. They were the other two Nascent Soul Patriarchs of the Liuxu Sect.
One was a female cultivator whose Daoist name was Jingning, her cultivation realm similar to Daoist Luorong's at the early Nascent Soul stage.
The other was an elderly Daoist of gaunt and noble bearing, holding a horsetail whisk, exuding an air of transcendent grace. He was Chenghuanzi, the current sect master of the Liuxu Sect, possessing the highest cultivation among the three as a middle Nascent Soul cultivator.
Upon seeing Qin Sang earlier, Daoist Luorong had realized things looked grim and had covertly sent a message back to his sect.
Now, all three Nascent Soul cultivators of the Liuxu Sect had appeared at Mount Pu.
"I am Chenghuanzi."
His voice reverberated across the surrounding wilderness.
By the time the final word fell, Chenghuanzi was already standing beside Daoist Luorong, followed by the female cultivator Jingning, who flashed to his side.
"Senior Brother, Junior Sister," Daoist Luorong greeted them with a bow.
Chenghuanzi nodded. Looking toward Qin Sang, he waved his whisk. "Our Daoist sects indeed produce heroes in great numbers. Only upon receiving my junior brother's transmission did I learn of Daoist Qingfeng's distinguished arrival. Please forgive our failure to welcome you earlier."
"I truly never expected that a trifling matter between juniors would disturb the quiet cultivation of all three fellow daoists. I am quite overwhelmed," Qin Sang chuckled, his tone laced with sarcasm.
Chenghuanzi glanced at the Xie Clan Stone and said in a grave voice, "I have already learned the origins of this matter. My methods may not match yours, Fellow Daoist, but I too possess ways to deceive the senses and trigger a reaction from this peculiar stone, disguising oneself as a Xie Clan member. Using this as proof is far too flimsy."
Qin Sang's gaze turned cold, and he snorted. "Absurd! When I wish to return to my ancestral land and revive my family, must I first obtain the approval of outsiders like you?"
"Not so! Not so! You misunderstand!" Chenghuanzi shook his head. "The immortal path flourishes in the Central Plains, far surpassing the Northern Barrens and Western Deserts, which is inseparable from our long-standing stability. Countless individuals harboring ill intentions have slipped in, attempting to throw the Central Plains into chaos, and instances of usurping another's place are common occurrences. Each time, they bring about tragic disaster, so we cannot fail to guard against it. We act purely out of concern for the greater situation, to distinguish true cultivators from fiends. I hope you can understand."
Unless absolutely necessary, no sect wished to offend a middle Nascent Soul cultivator.
Yet letting this person take over Mount Pu would bring even greater trouble in the future!
Their positioning was deliberate, fanning out before Qin Sang to form a subtle encirclement.
The auras of the three Nascent Soul cultivators merged into one, exerting a silent pressure to suppress Qin Sang.
Qin Sang's gaze swept over the three of them, and he sneered without a word.
Chenghuanzi narrowed his eyes slightly and continued, "I possess a secret technique for testing bloodlines. If you are truly a son of the Xie Clan, Fellow Daoist, you might as well provide a drop of blood essence. If you smoothly pass the test, it will at least prove your identity."
The more Qin Sang put on such an act, the less Chenghuanzi believed that such a coincidence could exist in the world.
Sect Master Mo's suspicion was very likely true—Mount Pu concealed a great secret!
"Your words are mistaken, Fellow Daoist!"
Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice resonated from afar like rolling thunder, entering everyone's ears with utmost clarity.
A gale swept across Mount Pu.
A white cloud appeared in the sky at some unknown moment, with two figures descending side by side upon it.
"Fellow Daoist Qingfeng, I have fortunately fulfilled my mission and invited Elder Lu to oversee justice."
Qin Sang's true body gave a nod of acknowledgment to his incarnation, then turned toward Chenghuanzi. "Blood essence is the very foundation of a cultivator. How could it be handed over so lightly to others?"
The calm composure on Chenghuanzi's face vanished instantly.
First, Qin Sang's true body possessed cultivation no weaker than the incarnation's—yet another Nascent Soul expert of unknown origin!
Second, it was because of Lu Zhang standing beside Qin Sang.
"Elder Lu!"
Why had Lu Zhang appeared here now?
In that single instant, Chenghuanzi thought of countless possibilities.
"It has been many years since we last met, Fellow Daoist; your cultivation has grown ever more profound," Lu Zhang said with a nod, offering an explanation. "I happened to be passing through Fudu Commandery when I heard of an unjust matter and acted on a sudden whim. I did not expect you three to have arrived ahead of me."
Then, without waiting for Chenghuanzi to speak, Lu Zhang looked toward the Qingluo Canopy in the incarnation's hand. "Is it this item?"
Beckoning with his hand, he drew the Qingluo Canopy to him.
Clasping it between his palms, Lu Zhang probed it briefly. A trace of fury surfaced on his face, and he shouted sharply, "When this item was forged, materials with conflicting attributes were deliberately mixed into it and concealed. Over time, it would collapse on its own even without being used in combat! The person who forged this treasure possessed a heart worthy of execution! Who is the sect master of the Luoyan Sect?!"
Upon this small Mount Pu, six Nascent Soul cultivators had gathered at once.
Sect Master Mo could never have imagined that matters would escalate to such a terrifying extent. He felt like weeping without tears. Had he known earlier, he would rather have scrambled down the mountain with his disciples right at the beginning.
*Thud!*
His face ashen as death, Sect Master Mo fell to his knees, making a desperate final struggle.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
He kowtowed repeatedly, weeping bitterly. "The Qingluo Canopy was an heirloom left by my master! This junior truly knew nothing of its origins! Senior, please spare me! Senior, spare me! Martial Uncle, Martial Uncle, save me..."
He pushed all the blame onto his dead master.
The master of a sect, an esteemed Golden Core Master, had been reduced to a wretched stray dog.
The disciples of the Luoyan Sect trembled in sheer terror, frightened out of their wits.
"Despicable villain!"
Lu Zhang did not deign to pay attention to Sect Master Mo. Looking toward Chenghuanzi and his companions, he said, "This person intentionally used a defective treasure to plot against another's spiritual mountain, harboring vile intentions! What do you three think?"
Sect Master Mo was still crying out to Daoist Luorong for help.
Daoist Luorong wished he could kick him into the distance.
Watching Lu Zhang's actions with a cold gaze, Chenghuanzi instead calmed down.
Lu Zhang's presence here was definitely no coincidence.
In fact, the mastermind behind the scenes was very likely Mount Bunian! Whether Mount Pu held a secret was no longer important; Mount Bunian was merely using this as a pretext to plant a foothold in Fudu Commandery.
The ownership of Mount Pu, and whether this person was truly an ancestor of the Xie Clan, no longer mattered.
What Chenghuanzi cared about now was Mount Bunian's objective in doing this.
These two Nascent Soul cultivators had unknown backgrounds, yet they willingly served Mount Bunian's purposes and were clearly targeting the Liuxu Sect. Were they trying to keep the Liuxu Sect in check, or did they intend to drive them out entirely?
Chenghuanzi regretted not contacting Longju Grotto-heaven before coming.
The appearance of an unidentified middle Nascent Soul cultivator within their territory ought to have put them on high alert.
Thoughts flashing through his mind, Chenghuanzi knew that his side was at a disadvantage. Deciding to employ delaying tactics, he gave a light cough and said, "Whether the Luoyan Sect harbored vile intentions and acted deliberately cannot be judged so hastily. Perhaps it was a misunderstanding, and the Luoyan Sect was also a victim. Of course, since this transaction has lost its foundation, there is no longer any need for it to stand. Mount Pu rightfully belongs to the Xie Clan."
Lu Zhang seemed somewhat dissatisfied, but he did not press further. Returning the Qingluo Canopy to Qin Sang's incarnation, he said, "It is inconvenient for me to stay long. I trust you fellow daoists will thoroughly uncover the truth."
Qin Sang's true body replied with a beaming smile, "This humble Daoist also trusts that the Liuxu Sect distinguishes rewards and penalties clearly."
No one cared about the fate of the Luoyan Sect or Sect Master Mo.
The atmosphere eased.
Chenghuanzi sized up Qin Sang's true body. "And this fellow daoist is...?"
"My surname is Qin, with the given name Sang. I am an itinerant cultivator from overseas," Qin Sang replied with his usual cover story.
"Oh?"
Chenghuanzi's expression shifted slightly. "Did Daoist Qingfeng also cultivate his divine abilities overseas? I have heard that the overseas Daoist sects differ greatly from those of the Central Plains. I have long been curious, yet sadly lacked the fortune to meet fellow daoists from the seas. Might I take this opportunity to boldly ask you to grant me some pointers, Daoist?"
Had only Qin Sang and Daoist Qingfeng been present, Chenghuanzi would not have acted so rashly.
With Lu Zhang here, he was instead confident, seizing the chance to propose an exchange to test his opponent.
Qin Sang's incarnation was about to step forward, but his true body intercepted him.
"I will be returning to my mountain before long, and I too have been regretting having had no chance to exchange pointers with our fellow daoists of the Central Plains. It seems our thoughts have coincided. I wonder if I might have the honor?"
Chapter 1545