Chapter 27

Braving the wind, Liu Buxu angrily said, "On the eve of my master's ascension, my eldest senior brother discovered three Yang-restoring herbs on an island at the boundary of the East Sea and the North Sea. Just as he was about to pick them, he encountered the disciple of the Ascetic Monk, Laughing Monk, who claimed that the herbs were predestined for his master and had matured on that very day, and that he had been sent to collect them. My eldest senior brother, feeling aggrieved, mocked him. Since they were long-standing enemies, and Laughing Monk was particularly sharp-tongued, a fight broke out. Laughing Monk, alone, was no match for my eldest senior brother, but unexpectedly, Xuanzhenzi's disciple Zhuge Jingwo and Qi Shuming's daughter Qi Lingyun appeared. Their flying swords and magical treasures were all unparalleled rarities. What was even more infuriating was that one of the two elders of Mount Song, Chasing Clouds Old Man Bai Guyi, was secretly manipulating things, causing my eldest senior brother to be struck in the back by a Bodhi seed from Zhuge Jingwo and injured by an invisible sword from Laughing Monk, which wounded his spirit. He returned in shock and agony, and after several days of turmoil, he died!"

Hearing this, everyone understood why Liu Buxuan was so angry earlier.

Liu Buxu continued, "After my eldest senior brother's death, Qi Shuming sent his disciples to apologize insincerely. Though his words were sweet, saying that my master could deal with the matter as he saw fit, the three young disciples showed no remorse, especially Laughing Monk, who insulted our Maoshan Sect, saying that our methods of exorcism and spirit control were inherently immoral and that if we did not repent, we would all suffer a tragic fate..."

The Emei Sect had openly criticized the Maoshan Sect's methods of exorcism and spirit control as heretical and lowly for over a hundred years, leading to several disputes. In a fit of anger, the old Daoist of Maoshan personally took a furnace of Three Emperors Golden Pills to Mount Wutai to build a relationship with the Great Ancestor Taibei Hunyuan. In the subsequent two sword duels, he firmly stood on the side of the Wutai Sect, even inviting the Great Ancestor Taibei Hunyuan to Maoshan for a retreat after the first duel. The Five Poison Immortal Sword was largely due to the efforts of the old Daoist of Maoshan.

At this point, even Liu Quan could not bear it: "This is too much! Truly too much!"

"Hmph, it gets even worse!" Liu Buxuan sneered. "After such an incident, they not only killed my eldest senior brother but also came to the Shangqing Palace to show off. My master wanted to capture the three young disciples and take them to the East Sea's Jiaoaorei to reason with their elders. However, they were well-prepared. Jin Grandma Luo Ziyun of Mount Heng and Qingnang Fairy Hua Yaosong suddenly appeared, saying that my eldest senior brother's fate was already sealed, and they advised my master to let go of his anger to achieve higher enlightenment. Otherwise, one wrong step would lead to eternal damnation!"

Everyone was speechless for a moment. Yue Qing asked, "What did Master Mao say at the time?"

Liu Buxu replied, "My master knew that Luo Ziyun and Hua Yaosong were formidable, so he activated the Ten Thousand Spirits Great Array and summoned the Water Virtue Star Lord and the Fire Virtue Star Lord to descend. He thought the two old witches would take the three young disciples away, but Luo Ziyun only used the Mustard Seed Ring to protect Qi Lingyun, and Hua Yaosong used the Heavenly Purifying Silk to protect Zhuge Jingwo. The four of them flew away, leaving Laughing Monk to be burned to death. My master sensed something amiss and fasted for three days to pray to heaven, only to learn the cause and effect. It turned out that Laughing Monk was a reincarnated immortal who had to undergo several tribulations, and this was his last one. He was destined to die by our hands, and it appeared that my master was avenging his disciple, but in reality, it was a predestined tribulation. Laughing Monk would have died elsewhere if not here, and our Maoshan Sect was thoroughly defeated!"

Liu Quan asked, "What happened next?"

"What else could happen? My brother and I wanted to go to the East Sea to fight them, but our master scolded us, saying that the East Sea's Jiaoaorei was the foundation of the Emei Sect, where the three elders of Emei had cultivated. The West Sea Demon Master Zha Shuangying once attacked it but was repelled by the three elders, Taoyuan Zhenren, Chusanzi, and Lianshan Dashi, with the help of Zhou Meng and his brother. Now, Xuanzhenzi, the Ascetic Monk, and Qi Shuming were there, and the Emei Sect had built it into a fortress. If we went, we would only bring shame upon ourselves! My master lamented that since the Great Ancestor Taibei Hunyuan's ascension, no one could gain the upper hand against the Emei Sect!"

Liu Quan said, "That's not necessarily true! In the past, Senior Brother Yue killed the Emei Sect's Fenghuo Daoist Wu Yuanzhi and Kanli Zhenren Xu Yuantong, and I killed Venerable Canhua's disciple Wu Wenqi!"

Liu Buxuan's face changed, and he stood up from his stool: "Senior Brother Yue, is this true?"

"Of course it's true!" Liu Quan took out the Fenghuo Twin Swords, "Here's the proof!"

At this point, Liu Buxu also came over to look at the swords: "That's right! That's right! These are the flying swords that Wu Yuanzhi used to receive when he entered the sect, personally bestowed by Longmei Zhenren! Junior Brother Liu, holding these in your hands, it's quite a feat..."

"Fear what?" Yue Qing took out Wu Yuanzhi and Xu Yuantong's Fenghuo Divine Dragon Fan and Ziwu Kanli Dart, "Not only the flying swords, but I also took their signature treasures!"

The Liu brothers exclaimed in unison: "You really killed them!"

Liu Quan was unhappy: "Do you think we brothers would lie to you?"

Liu Buxuan held the two treasures, his lips trembling, unable to speak.

Liu Buxu said, "Senior Brother Yue, Junior Brother Liu, don't blame us. It's just that... Before our master ascended, he told us that the Emei Sect's rise was unstoppable, and that the world's fortune would be theirs, even to the point where all the mystical sects would eventually belong to the Emei Sect. That's why he forbade us from opposing the Emei Sect. However, in the divine revelation he received, it was said that when two of the Emei Sect's elders either died or ascended, the Emei Sect's fortune would decline. That's why we find it hard to believe."

Yue Qing, with a stern face, continued, "You don't even dare to believe us? I thought that after thirty years, on my first visit, it would be inappropriate to come empty-handed, so I wanted to give you each one of these treasures. Now, if you don't even believe they're dead, you probably won't accept these treasures either?"

"Who said we wouldn't dare to!" Liu Buxu immediately grabbed the banana leaf fan, "I'll take this!"

"Junior Brother!" Liu Buxuan stopped him, "We should seek divine guidance..."

"The divine guidance is already clear, why seek it again!" Liu Buxu took a step back, holding the fan, "With two of the Emei Sect's elders dead, their fortune has already declined. This is the divine guidance! How can we not avenge our eldest senior brother?"

"How can we not avenge him! I dream of killing the Three Immortals and Two Elders, and those two bitches, Luo Ziyun and Hua Yaosong! But don't forget our master's instructions. Junior Brother, I am the head of the Maoshan Sect. One wrong move, and the entire Maoshan Sect could be destroyed! We need to think carefully about this!" He took the banana leaf fan from his brother and returned it to Yue Qing, "Please forgive me, Senior Brother Yue. I cannot immediately agree to this. Please give me three days to pray and seek divine guidance. If it is confirmed, we will assist as we did in the past with the Great Ancestor Taibei Hunyuan!"

Yue Qing smiled and put away the treasures, "No problem, you don't have to be so troubled. I came this time with Junior Brother Liu and two young disciples to pay respects to our master. I need your help with the arrangements."

Liu Buxu said angrily, "Senior Brother Yue, don't say such distant words. Even if the divine guidance is not favorable, I will go with you to seek revenge on the Emei Sect, even if it means leaving the Maoshan Sect!" He interrupted his brother's attempt to stop him, "I've been holding back for ten years! Even if it means the destruction of my body and soul, I will avenge our eldest senior brother!"

After the two brothers left, Bai Jianchang led them to the Yuanfu Palace's side hall to rest.

Liu Quan asked Yue Qing, "Senior Brother, the Liu brothers keep talking about seeking divine guidance. Master Mao used to predict the cause and effect of events in the same way. What's going on? Can they really summon deities?"

"The Maoshan Sect's Daoist methods are different from ours. Nowadays, all cultivators focus on condensing the Golden Pill and nurturing the Primordial Spirit, but they seek to communicate with the deities of heaven, using unique cultivation methods that lead to immortality."

"Doesn't that make them inferior to us?"

"Not necessarily. The Eight Departments of the Heavens are also deities, and even the tea-serving and sweeping attendants are deities. The levels of cultivation and power vary greatly. They can harness the power of the great deities of heaven and even summon their avatars, which is similar to the methods used by the demonic sects to communicate with foreign celestial demons. That's why the Emei Sect criticizes them as heretical and lowly."