Chapter 25

Yue Qing smiled and said, "Brother Wu, I can't bear such praise. This treasure was found by us together, and you also played a significant role in breaking the restrictions. It is right that this sword should belong to you, so please don't mention any favors. I have always heard of your great name, and although we have met a few times, we have not had the chance to become close. Now, it seems like a regret. If you are not in a hurry to return to your mountain, I would like to invite you to the Taihang Mountains as a host, and we can show you our hospitality. What do you think?" He then looked at Ming Yi Zi, "Brother, you won't blame me for inviting guests on your behalf, will you?"

Ming Yi Zi quickly replied, "It is a great joy for Brother Wu to visit my cave. How could I blame you!"

Seeing the sincere invitation from the three, Wu Li was happy to make new friends and thought it would be helpful in the future when dealing with Zhu Mei, so he agreed.

The four returned to the Taihang Mountains, to the Sanzhe Cliff Xianfu. Ming Yi Zi ordered Huang Qian to bring fruits and tea from the mountain to entertain the distinguished guests.

Yue Qing took out the Qing Shen Bottle, "There were only two treasures hidden there. The San Yang Yi Qi Sword that Brother Wu has is a set, an ancient treasure, with immense power. The best part is that it can house the soul and is invincible against all evil. The other is this Qing Shen Bottle, also an ancient treasure, which can absorb all kinds of toxic smoke and evil insects. Brother Liu, I will give this treasure to you on behalf of my teacher."

Since he was bringing a gift from his teacher to his disciple, Liu Quan knelt down and received the treasure. Inside the bottle, there was a cluster of colorful light. When he gently shook it, it seemed like a storm was brewing.

Yue Qing said, "These two treasures were passed down by the Han Dynasty immortal Zhang Mian. He still has a disciple alive, but with your two's powers, even if you encounter him, he won't be able to take them from you. Just be cautious. Each of you should cultivate them with your own sect's techniques for at least forty-nine days before using them in battle."

The two quickly asked who this last disciple of Zhang Mian was, but Yue Qing smiled and did not answer, "I only know that such a person exists, but I don't know who it is. However, from the divination, his power is not much stronger than yours, so there's no need to worry."

Yue Qing then spoke to Wu Li about his conflict with Zhu Mei, "The two elders of Mount Song once studied Dao with the Crystal Child of the Emei Sect and later received guidance from the Long Eyebrow Immortal, so they can be considered half-disciples of Emei. In recent years, they have been mentioned alongside the Three Immortals of the East Sea. Zhu Mei took your Jinbian Cliff to help his junior brother Jiang Shu establish the Qingcheng Sect, aligning with Emei in spirit and action."

Liu Quan, who was not clear about the enmity between him and Zhu Mei, asked Yue Qing.

Wu Li, clenching his teeth in hatred, said, "Years ago, my junior brother Si Taixu and I were cultivating on Jinbian Cliff in Qingcheng Mountain. I had sixteen disciples, and the sect was thriving. Later, my sixth disciple was killed by Zhu Duanzi in Changsha. He even came to me with my disciple's flying sword, accusing me of poor discipline and causing trouble outside. He said he would help me clean up my sect and even returned the flying sword I had given him, mocking me. I was furious and wanted to fight him on the spot, but he said my furnace treasure was not yet complete and didn't want to take advantage. He set a date, saying he would come back to duel when the treasure was ready!"

Liu Quan said, "From this, it seems that Zhu Mei acts with integrity."

Wu Li slammed the table in anger, "I said I didn't need the furnace treasure and wanted to fight him right away. I launched my Chao Yang Sword Qi at him, but he flew away. Knowing his strength, my junior brother and I went into seclusion to refine the treasure. When the date arrived, my disciples had gathered many helpers and secretly set up the Earth Thunder Sword Array to avenge their fallen comrades. Zhu Mei came as agreed, saw so many people on the mountain, and mocked me again. I fought him for a day and a night, and my flying sword could not bear the strain, shattering into pieces. Just as I was about to use the newly refined Tianyi Divine Sand, my disciples launched the sword array together."

Hearing this, Liu Quan's face showed disapproval, "Your disciples should have been disciplined more strictly."

Wu Li glared at him, "You think Zhu Mei acts with integrity, so my disciples deserved to die?"

Liu Quan was taken aback and shook his head, "I don't know their character, so I can't judge. But they did those things behind your back, which is... which is..."

Seeing the fire in Wu Li's eyes, he couldn't continue.

Wu Li said bitterly, "At first, I thought Zhu Duanzi was too overbearing, but later I realized he had a plan! He plotted to take my Jinbian Cliff step by step! Brother Liu, you say Zhu Duanzi acts with integrity, but you don't know that he and the old witch Hua Yaosong massacred all my disciples and their helpers on Jinbian Cliff. My junior brother and I couldn't resist and had to flee. Later, I thought he would leave after the slaughter, but he shamelessly settled there!"

"Ah!" Although Liu Quan knew Zhu Mei was now cultivating on Jinbian Cliff, he didn't expect it to be like this.

Wu Li continued, "I found friends and went to Jinbian Cliff several times to reason with Zhu Mei, but he also found many Emei helpers, especially Bai Yuanjing and Luo Ziyun! They criticized me for years of cultivation, as if I should be grateful to Zhu Mei for taking my Jinbian Cliff! Reasoning didn't work, and I couldn't fight them, so I made another sword duel agreement with Zhu Duanzi. Over the years, I couldn't find good swords, so I slowly extracted Huangjing from iron ore, accumulating these few Huangjing swords. I thought they would be勉强 against Zhu Mei, but now, with this ancient treasure, I can achieve my goal!"

He was truly happy and played with the San Yang Yi Qi Sword.

Liu Quan asked, "What about your junior brother, Master Si?"

Wu Li said angrily, "My junior brother was scared by their attacks and no longer wants to reclaim our home. He even劝 me to let go of my anger and focus on cultivation, waiting for ascension."

Yue Qing hesitated and said, "If it were just Emei and Qingcheng, it would be one thing, but there are too many people like Luo Ziyun and Hua Yaosong who are willing to be their lackeys. In the past, the Long Eyebrow Immortal made many good connections, and there are countless scattered immortals in the Emei caves. Brother Wu, I have a few words to say, but I don't know if I should."

Wu Li agreed, "Please speak freely!"

"Your Jinbian Cliff in Qingcheng Mountain will be hard to reclaim for a while. Don't be angry, hear me out. The rise of Emei and Qingcheng is a fait accompli. With the Three Immortals, Two Elders, and the Seven Immortals of Luofu, how can you and Master Si compete? Moreover, do you think they will really fight you one-on-one as agreed? If they win, there's nothing to say. If they lose, they will attack in a group, just like the second sword duel in Huangshan. My teacher was about to defeat Qi Shuming, but was obstructed and attacked by the Three Immortals and Two Elders. The Five Poison Immortal Sword he painstakingly refined in Maoshan was taken by the Ascetic Monk, and his soul was injured by the Invisible Immortal Sword of Xuanzhenzi. He passed away soon after returning to Wutai Mountain."

Wu Li laughed bitterly, "So you're saying I should be glad I lost the last duel to Zhu Duanzi, or they would have ganged up and killed me?"

"They always act like that!" Yue Qing nodded.

"What should I do then? Should I just let them trample me and swallow my pride?" Wu Li roared.

Yue Qing took a sip of tea, "Tomorrow, I will take Brother Liu to Maoshan to pay respects to my teacher, and then go to Wuyunbu in Huangshan to discuss the revival of the Wutai Sect with my senior sister, Xu Feiniang. I advise you not to fight for Jinbian Cliff for now, but to establish a new sect with Master Si, the Laoshan Sect. In the past, the state of Yue spent ten years gathering strength and ten years training, eventually conquering Wu and avenging their past humiliation. We must also accumulate strength and form alliances. In twenty years, we can challenge Emei and Qingcheng! I think Master Si is not unwilling to reclaim Jinbian Cliff, but he doesn't want to fight to the death. If you ask him to establish the Laoshan Sect with you, he will definitely support you!"

Wu Li's face was uncertain. The Dao he cultivated could lead to ascension, but only as a Yuan Ying, the lowest of the three ascension realms. While it was still high among the side sects, it would be ridiculed if used to establish a sect. Looking at the major Dao sects in the world, Emei, Qingcheng, Kunlun, Wudang, Wutai, and Huashan, which one did not have the Dao to become a Celestial Immortal? Although the last two have not yet ascended, their Dao is beyond doubt.

However, Yue Qing's words made sense. As the leader of Qingcheng, with the powerful Emei as support, he and his junior brother were too weak. Even if they found a few friends to help, it would not be as united as a sect. Although the Dao was slightly inferior, it could still lead to ascension, which was better than many scattered immortals. Even if they couldn't become a super sect like Wutai or Emei, a second-tier sect would be better than their current situation.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally made up his mind, "I will return to the mountain and discuss the establishment of the sect with my junior brother! When the time comes to open the sect, I hope you will all come to support us!"