Chapter 243: Chapter 232: The Four Sects Gather
Qi Yun was indeed a little surprised to hear this.
As the Acting Sect Leader, Nan Dou Master held a revered position. He usually handled the Sect’s major affairs, and while he had no conflict with a newly promoted Master like Qi Yun, they rarely interacted directly.
"For me?" he asked subconsciously.
"That’s right," Chi Yang Master nodded, his tone firm. "Is it convenient for you to come with me now?"
"Well... of course, it is." After a moment of thought, Qi Yun agreed.
No matter what Nan Dou Master wanted, an invitation from the Acting Sect Leader was one he had to accept, both out of courtesy and reason.
Without another word, the two of them stood up.
Chi Yang Master summoned his scorching, righteous, crimson Escape Light, while Qi Yun rode a wisp of cyan cloud. They traveled side by side, heading straight for the depths of the Taixu Mirror Heaven.
Before them was a dense grove of peach trees—Nan Dou Master’s private cultivation grounds.
Here, the peach blossoms were brilliant, blooming year-round. Spiritual Qi condensed into a fine mist, and streams gurgled through the grove. It was a stark contrast to the grim, oppressive atmosphere of Black Death Peak, filled instead with a tranquil and peaceful Dao Rhyme of life.
Deep within the grove, beneath a particularly ancient peach tree, they found Nan Dou Master.
He was not seated, but was bent over, examining the leaves and branches of a peach tree with a focused expression.
Hearing their footsteps behind him, he slowly straightened up and turned around.
His peaceful yet profound gaze landed on Qi Yun.
"You’re here," he said calmly, as if greeting a junior who visited often.
"Qi Yun pays his respects, Master Nan Dou." Qi Yun stepped forward and bowed slightly, his posture exceedingly respectful.
"No need for formalities. Sit." A gentle smile appeared on Nan Dou Master’s face as he pointed to a few naturally formed stone stools by the tree.
After Qi Yun and Chi Yang Master were seated, Nan Dou Master finally spoke, his gaze filled with admiration as he looked at Qi Yun.
"During the recent sect leadership change, you performed very well."
"Black Mountain has exceptional talent and sufficient Cultivation, but his temperament is too domineering and extreme. He lacks benevolence.
The position of Vice Sect Leader can be his, but not now."
His gaze seemed to pierce right through people’s hearts as he looked at Qi Yun. "I had already made some arrangements, intending to block him at the last moment.
I didn’t expect you to act before me and accomplish it so quietly.
You saved me quite a bit of trouble."
Nan Dou Master’s tone shifted, carrying a hint of warning.
"After this, I’m afraid there is no longer any room for reconciliation between you and Black Mountain.
You’ll need to be extra careful within the Sect from now on."
Qi Yun’s expression was calm as he responded frankly.
"You worry too much, Master. This junior and Master Black Mountain have no personal grudge.
It is simply that the paths we walk and the principles we seek are different, making it difficult for us to see eye to eye."
"Hehehe..." Hearing this, Nan Dou Master couldn’t help but chuckle and shake his head, pointing a finger at Qi Yun.
"Alright, kid, there’s no need for such pleasantries in front of me.
You might be able to hide your past conflicts with Black Mountain from others, but can you hide them from me?"
His smile faded slightly, and his tone took on a subtle solemnity.
"Some of the things that happened before... Black Mountain was indeed out of line.
Some of his methods could even be considered despicable within the Holy Sect."
"Since things have come to this and the conflict is irreconcilable, then so be it.
Forcing the issue would be a Lower Grade approach."
With that, Nan Dou Master paused, giving Qi Yun a meaningful glance.
"Besides, the True Monarch’s will... is also to see a hundred flowers bloom within the Sect, not for one faction to dominate."
Hearing the words "the True Monarch’s will," Qi Yun’s gaze shifted imperceptibly.
"In any case, you’ve won this round. You’ve contributed to preventing a potential imbalance in the Sect."
Nan Dou Master’s tone softened again. He gently waved his long sleeve at the ancient peach tree he had just been examining.
In an instant, the vibrant peach tree, covered in splendid blossoms, suddenly released a gentle, auspicious, misty radiance. Its entire form rapidly turned ethereal and shrank.
Finally, it transformed into a divine ray of light containing infinite life force and Pure Yang Dao Rhyme.
WHOOSH! It shot into Qi Yun’s outstretched palm.
The divine ray converged, becoming a hazy halo of light in Qi Yun’s hand. It swirled continuously, as if containing the rise and fall of the sun and moon, the alternation of Yin and Yang, and emanated an aura of utmost purity, warmth, and vast life force!
Qi Yun instantly perceived what this object was, and his heart trembled!
This was one of the four fundamental wonders he needed to advance to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage—the "Yang" of "Yin Yang"!
Nan Dou Master’s voice followed, calm and profound.
"I am giving this to you.
Consider it compensation, or perhaps a reward.
I hope you will use it well, solidify your Dao Foundation soon, and ascend to a higher level."
Holding this wondrous halo of light, which represented the ultimate "Yang," and feeling the vast, pure power within, Qi Yun stood up and expressed his gratitude.
"Thank you, Master, for this generous gift!"
Waving his hand to indicate that Qi Yun needn’t be so polite, Nan Dou Master continued, "Go back and prepare. In three days, you will depart with me."
"May I ask where we are going, Master...?" Qi Yun’s brow furrowed slightly.
"Ten Thousand Caves Mountain, for the Four Sects peace talks!"
...
「Three days later, outside the Taixu Mirror Heaven.」
A gigantic vessel, the Taixu Cloud Boat, was suspended in the air. It was crafted entirely from Ten Thousand Year Warm Jade, shaped like a massive *ruyi* scepter stretching across the sky, and radiated both a soft, clear light and an immense pressure.
This was the ceremonial transport for the Holy Sect’s Acting Sect Leader, a symbol of the Sect’s authority.
Nan Dou Master stood at the prow, holding his Bamboo Staff. Behind him were several Foundation Establishment Masters with profound auras, Qi Yun and Qian Xin Master among them.
Besides them, the appearance of one other person came as a great surprise to both Qi Yun and Qian Xin Master.
Black Mountain Master!
"Despite our internal discord, Master Black Mountain is still a Great Master, after all. These peace talks are of great significance. Having two Great Masters present will be a safer bet for our Holy Sect," Chi Yang Master said quietly from the side.
Hearing this, Qi Yun and Qian Xin Master nodded slightly in understanding.
"Depart."
At Nan Dou Master’s command, billions of Magic Patterns lit up all over the Taixu Cloud Boat. A vast, majestic aura stirred up towering waves of air, and then, the vessel instantly transformed into a bright Flowing Light that streaked across the sky, tearing through the clouds and the Cosmic Jade barrier.
It sped toward the place known as Ten Thousand Caves Mountain.
...
「Ten Thousand Caves Mountain.」
This was a strange mountain range with a thousand competing peaks and countless caves.
Legend had it that this was the ancestral home of a great sect in an ancient era. After that sect was destroyed, this place became a barren, desolate land.
As the Taixu Cloud Boat pierced through layers of astral winds and approached the airspace above Ten Thousand Caves Mountain,
even though Qi Yun was mentally prepared, the shocking sight before him still made his Heart and Spirit tremble in awe!
Centered on the main peak of Ten Thousand Caves Mountain, the Celestial Vault for hundreds of miles around was occupied by four distinct, yet equally boundless, and majestic auras!
To the East, floating above the endless clouds, was the towering illusion of a palace formed entirely from cyan Sword Qi.
The palace seemed almost solid, its eaves like swords stabbing into the Celestial Vault. It emanated a Sword Intent so pure and sharp it felt as if it could sever all the world’s shackles.
Countless fine, cyan Sword Threads roamed around the palace, letting out hissing sounds as they sliced through the air. Vague, solitary, and arrogant figures could be seen standing before the Sword Palace.
Each person carried an Ancient Sword on their back, their auras soaring to the heavens, their gazes like lightning.
To the West, a dim, deathly silent, and eerie expanse of dark clouds hung in the sky, thick with Ghost Qi.
Within the dark clouds, thrones made of piled bones drifted up and down. The phantom of a Ten Thousand Souls Banner fluttered audibly, and the illusion of an ever-flowing Yellow Springs, carrying wailing sounds, coiled around it all, exuding a terrifying Daoist Intent that could freeze one’s Divine Soul and erode life itself.
Several Masters with deathly pale faces and wreathed in Ghost Qi sat upon the bone thrones, their cold gazes sweeping over the surroundings.
To the South, the horizon was painted with a magnificent, fiery-red glow.
Within the glow, the illusion of a Divine Bird with gorgeous wings, formed entirely from pure Divine Fire, spread its wings and soared. Its clear phoenix cry pierced the clouds, and the searing heat waves slightly distorted the scenery in that part of the sky.
On the Divine Bird’s back, several figures in crimson feathered robes could be vaguely seen, their postures proud. Their auras were fiery and noble, and their beautiful eyes, which seemed to disregard everything, held an indescribable arrogance.
These were the Masters of Fengduo!
And to the North, where Qi Yun and the others were, the Taixu Cloud Boat served as the core. A clear light permeated the air and Dao Rhyme flowed, manifesting a vast illusion of mountains, rivers, altars of state, and the orbits of stars. It gave off a resplendent aura that was all-encompassing yet held a hidden, supreme majesty, representing the foundation and bearing of the Wuji Holy Sect.
The four magnificent auras were like four colossal pillars holding up the heavens, each guarding a quadrant of the sky and enveloping the entirety of Ten Thousand Caves Mountain.
Escape Lights of various colors and the Treasure Light of Magical Artifacts flickered and zipped through the area.
The number of Foundation Establishment Masters and Core Disciples from the Four Sects was no less than a thousand.
As far as the eye could see, sword light shot to the heavens, ghosts wailed and gods howled, a phoenix danced in the nine heavens, and mountains and rivers manifested... It was truly a grand scene of ten thousand immortals gathering and heroes standing side by side.
The immense pressure, mixed with various Daoist Intents, made the very void within the range of Ten Thousand Caves Mountain seem to turn viscous and heavy.
An ordinary Qi Refining Cultivator would find it difficult to even walk here!
But what was even more terrifying was that, above these four auras that were already tyrannical to the extreme, the Heaven and Earth of Ten Thousand Caves Mountain were shrouded in an even deeper, more irresistible, and inexplicable pressure.
This pressure was formless and intangible, yet it was everywhere.
It did not originate from any of the Masters present, but seemed to come from the will of this Heaven and Earth itself, carrying a kind of indifferent, supreme scrutiny.
The air stagnated, and the sound of the wind grew faint.
Even the clash of the four magnificent auras seemed to retract some of its sharpness under this invisible gaze.
Everyone understood that although the True Monarchs had not descended in person,
their gazes had surely pierced through the endless void and were quietly watching this place.
Any slight disturbance, any act that overstepped the rules, could lead to unbearable consequences.
The Taixu Cloud Boat slowly sailed into the northern celestial region, facing the immense manifestations of the other three parties from afar.
Qi Yun stood by the side of the vessel, looking down at the pockmarked Ten Thousand Caves Mountain below, a place that had witnessed the passage of countless ages. He then scanned his surroundings at the grand, world-shaking spectacle, which was enough to make any Cultivator’s Heart and Spirit waver, and took a deep breath.
The Four Sects peace talks. The fate of the Northwest for the next several hundred years would be decided here, today, by the people present.
A meeting of winds and clouds, a convergence of dragons and tigers!
An indescribable feeling of excitement and gravity welled up in his heart.
...
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