Chapter 90

Yue Qing asked Shi Sheng to take Zhu Bailin out and discussed with Xu Feiniang: "The true prosperity of the Emei Sect will come in a few years." He fiddled with the copper coins on the table, arranging twelve coins into two Qian trigrams, "Now it is still the image of leaping or not leaping in the abyss. Qi Shuming surely knows their current situation, so he is very cautious and tries to avoid hard confrontations with others. The Ciyun Temple in Chengdu is nearby, and the Qingshelu Valley, where a cluster of demons gather, is also close. They can tolerate these two places for now, so they are even less likely to come and deal with us." He pointed to the second trigram, "We are now in the image of being diligent all day. We should focus on developing and accumulating strength. The Chunyang Sect, Laoshan Sect, and we are allies. The Wudang Sect and Kunlun Sect are also closer to us. The situation in the north can be considered stable. In the south, there is the Maoshan Sect, the Huangshan Sect led by Chanxia the Nun, and the Luofu Sect led by Yuanyuan the Nun. They have all failed to make a breakthrough over the years. Originally, Yuanjue the Monk's Kaiyuan Temple was developing well, but unfortunately, he died in the last battle at Qingshelu, and even the Six Yang Chief was borrowed by Shang Heyang to make the White Bone Heart Hammer."

Xu Feiniang said, "Chanxia and Yuanyuan the Nuns are not weak. They are merely holding onto the framework of the Emei Sect, with extremely strict requirements for taking disciples, even more so than the ambitions of Changmei the Immortal in the past. I remember when Qi Shuming took charge of the sect, he once said that he would follow the thousand-year trend and develop the Emei Sect into the largest sect in the world. Xu Zhenzi even supported him by declaring that all the Yangshen in the world would come from Emei. If those two nuns had opened their doors widely, accepting all without discrimination, the Huangshan and Luofu Sects might have surpassed a thousand members in no time!"

Yue Qing smiled, "That's not a problem. They won't do anything that goes against the Emei Sect's principles. Besides, even if they did, we have our own strategies. What we need to do now is to consolidate our current situation and prevent the Emei Sect from extending its influence to the north. Sitai Xu of the Laoshan Sect is a weak-willed person. When Zhu Duizi took over Jinchuan Cliff, he didn't think about how to take it back but instead wanted to seek the support of the Emei Sect. The three disciples of Master Baiyun have set up their cultivation site in the Zixia Cave of Laoshan, and Sitai Xu has been flirting with them."

Xu Feiniang said, "Sitai Xu is soft-spoken, and everything in the Laoshan Sect is decided by Wu Li. Even if he leans towards the Emei Sect, it doesn't matter as long as Wu Li supports us, the Laoshan Sect will support us."

Yue Qing's expression turned serious, "We can see this, and the Emei Sect can see it too. They look down on small sects like the Laoshan Sect. Only those who can achieve the rank of Golden Immortal are considered the true lineage of the Daoist sects. The rest are considered side branches or even heretical. If the Laoshan Sect wasn't so close to us, and Sitai Xu wasn't so eager to seek the support of the Emei Sect, they might not even bother. Now that there is value in using them, with the cunning and skills of the Miaoyi couple, we must be cautious."

The opening ceremony of the Laoshan Sect was set for the Mid-Autumn Festival on the 15th of August. Yue Qing left Liu Quan and Deng Bagu to watch the mountain, and led the team himself with Xu Feiniang. Among the disciples, he took only Sutu Ping, Shi Sheng, and Wei Kan, while Yang Li and Ling Qi, who had specific duties, and Tao Jun and Shang Fengzi, who were new to the sect, stayed behind. Bai Lingxian was searching for rare birds and beasts in the southern border and had not returned. Yue Qing sent her a flying sword message, asking her to finish her task and head to Laoshan as soon as possible.

This time, Yue Qing did not use magic to transport everyone, but let the disciples fly on their own swords, with him and Xu Feiniang bringing up the rear.

The first stop was the Sanzhe Cliff of the Taihang Mountains, the Hanxu Immortal Mansion. The Four Sons of Chunyang had already received the news. Mingyi Zi and Shuiyun Zi were staying at home, while Keyi Zi and Lingxu Zi led the four major disciples to join forces with the Wutai Sect and head to Laoshan together.

Mingyi Zi's disciples, Huang Qian and Wei Kan, were originally good friends, and since both families were in Shanxi, they often visited each other. Keyi Zi's disciple, Zhuang Yi, was one year older than Sutu Ping, and they were of similar age, so they got along well. Lingxu Zi's disciple, Yu Zhong, was Yang Li's senior, and they were all family. Adding Shuiyun Zi's disciple, Yang Xiao, they all flew together, their various sword lights shining and racing side by side.

Among these disciples, Shi Sheng's sword light was the fastest. He combined the three Taibai Light-Splitting Swords and flew forward like a comet, leaving a trail of bright silver starlight behind him. Sutu Ping, riding the Seven Stars Mystic Light Sword, followed closely behind, his body surrounded by seven bright stars. After them were Wei Kan and Huang Qian, both using the Pure Yang Immortal Swords left by Laozi, their milky white sword lights shining like rainbows as they flew side by side. Yu Zhong and Yang Xiao, who had been cultivating for longer and were more steady, flew with their junior brother Zhuang Yi at the back.

After about three to four hours, everyone arrived at Laoshan. The four elders, including Yue Qing, were the last to arrive. Wu Gong personally welcomed them to the Taiqing Palace and led them to a side hall to rest. Laoshan was not very high and had a small area, not comparable to Emei Mountain or Wutai Mountain, but its scenery was unique. Laoshan stood by the sea, overlooking the East Ocean, with the sea and sky merging into one, and the sound of waves crashing against the shore, creating a different atmosphere from the mountains in the Central Plains.

Yue Qing thought he had arrived early, but there were already many guests before him. As soon as he entered the hall, he saw a white-haired, white-bearded, sharp-nosed, monkey-faced Taoist sitting there drinking tea. He had long arms, a broad shoulder, a lion's nose, a wide mouth, and red lips. His ears were long and drooping, and he had two long silver eyebrows on his forehead. His eyes were narrow but emitted a sharp light. He wore a white linen shirt, crossed his legs, and sipped tea with a long, slender hand.

Wu Li introduced both sides, "This is Elder Yuan from the Qingmiao Forest of Huanglong Mountain in Shaanxi. Elder Yuan, these four are..."

"There's no need for introductions!" Elder Yuan's voice was like the clashing of metal, extremely harsh. He put down his teacup and stood up, looking at everyone with a somewhat strange smile, "Xu Feiniang, the Immortal Fairy of Ten Thousand Wonders, we are old acquaintances. Yue Qingbin, Keyi Zi, Cui Haike!" He called out each of their names.

Wu Li smiled, "It turns out everyone is already familiar with each other, which is even better!" He quickly invited everyone to sit down and have tea.

Before everyone could sit down, a disciple came in to report, "The Golden Body Arhat Fayuan of Ciyun Temple has arrived with his disciple, the Many-Armed Bear Mao Tai."

Wu Li looked somewhat awkward. When the Wutai Sect split, he had clearly sided with Yue Qing, and thus had deep enmity with Ciyun Temple. He had not sent an invitation to Ciyun Temple for the opening ceremony, but did not expect Fayuan to come, "I didn't send anyone to Chengdu to deliver an invitation, and this has caused some trouble..."

Elder Yuan laughed, "This is quite a coincidence, Brother Wu. Why don't you invite the Golden Body Arhat in?" He had no particular relationship with Fayuan but was genuinely interested in the drama of the Wutai Sect.

Wu Li said, "Brother Yuan, have a few more cups of Taiqing tea to cool your fiery temper!" He then went out to welcome Fayuan.

Elder Yuan was not angry and asked Yue Qing, "Brother Wu told me about you, and he speaks highly of the Wutai Sect."

Yue Qing knew that Wu Li was a senior cultivator and was surprised by his good relationship with Elder Yuan, "That's Brother Wu being modest."

Elder Yuan waved his hand, "Let me ask you, this time the opening ceremony will surely attract Geng Kun, and the disaster will be even greater than before. Since Brother Wu considers you a support, do you have a plan?"

Yue Qing nodded, "Before we came, my senior sister and I used the先天神卦 (Xiantian Shengu) to divine. This time, Geng Kun will lead the East Sea aquatic creatures to flood Laoshan. Not only that, he has stolen the Tian Gang Pearl from Xiaonan of Tianqian Mountain, intending to destroy the place!"

When he mentioned the first part, Elder Yuan showed some surprise. When he mentioned the second part, his eyes flashed with a sharp light, "You mean that bird stole the Tian Gang Pearl from Xiaonan of Tianqian Mountain?"

"Exactly! But there's no need for you to worry. The Emei Sect has a plan and will do a favor for Brother Wu."

"Those Emei Sect bastards again!" Elder Yuan cursed without any restraint, "If they wanted to do a favor for Brother Wu, they should have driven Zhu Mei off Jinchuan Cliff. Why would Brother Wu need to come here to establish the Laoshan Sect!" He paused for a moment and then asked Yue Qing, "Does the Sect Leader have a plan to deal with it?"

Yue Qing smiled, "Yi Daoist's skills are not a concern. Even the Tian Gang Pearl, I have a way to counter it. The only real threat is Xiaonan of Tianqian Mountain..."

Elder Yuan slammed the table, "If the ghost from Fusang can't control his treasure and it is stolen to cause harm, he must bear the primary responsibility. As long as Sect Leader Yue can deal with the Tian Gang Pearl, if the ghost from Fusang dares to come and cause trouble afterward, I, Old Yuan, will fight him!"