Chapter 97

The next morning, Lin Fan went to the grand hall of Yunqing Mountain. A disciple guarding the door went inside and then informed Lin Fan to come back in an hour. This was an appointment, as the sect leader was not always in the hall and did not serve any individual.

An hour later, Lin Fan met with Immortal Qianyu. Immortal Qianyu looked somewhat tired, with his bangs slightly disheveled. Immortal Qianyu never sat in the central seat of the sect leader; he either stood or sat in a guest chair. Today, he was sitting in a guest chair. Seeing Lin Fan, he pointed to the chair opposite him: "Sit."

Lin Fan asked, "Sect leader, should I come back a bit later?"

Immortal Qianyu shook his head: "I just learned the news last night. The Demon Sect is discussing moving their headquarters to East Continent or South Continent, and they will make a decision soon."

"Understood." Lin Fan didn't know why Immortal Qianyu was telling him this.

"Yesterday, Zixiao Hall gathered troops, along with Li Huo Sect, a total of four hundred elite disciples from ten sects will be on standby. They are waiting for the alliance meeting between the righteous and the demonic sects to accuse Qingping Gate, and then they will march to Qingzhou. There is a traitor inside, who secretly informed Immortal Ziyun that the original mountain of Qingping Gate was destroyed, and the magic array is currently being set up. The longer it takes, the more disadvantageous it will be for Zixiao Hall." Immortal Qianyu said, "Lin Fan, you've been to Zixiao Hall several times. What's your opinion?"

"The sect leader is not concerned about the battle between Qingping Gate and Zixiao Hall, but is worried that Zixiao Hall will suffer internal and external losses, leading to a significant decline in strength. This will make the Demon Sect lose trust in Zixiao Hall, forcing them to move to East Continent or South Continent. Once that happens, West Continent will be in chaos."

Immortal Qianyu nodded: "Yes."

Lin Fan thought for a moment and said: "I personally think it's a good thing for the Demon Sect to move. This West Continent is a harsh and cold place, better than the desolate land of Cangmang. The best place would be Demon Mountain. The evil sects are not united, and their invasion of the twelve continents is for a cultivation paradise. If the Demon Sect leaves, who will occupy Demon Mountain? If the Demon Sect moves to East Continent and South Continent, the evil sects will dare to enter Central Continent, allowing a three-sided attack."

"Yes, but if the Evil Emperor is reborn and regains power... what worries the Demon Sect and me is not Zixiao Hall. Zixiao Hall is burdened with deep-rooted problems, and Immortal Ziyun is not a capable leader. What worries me is the Evil Emperor." Immortal Qianyu changed the topic: "Lin Fan, what brings you here?"

Lin Fan said: "I seek the Golden Core trial."

"That's not a trial, it's a challenge." Immortal Qianyu nodded, turned to his desk, and wrote a letter: "Take it to the Hidden Immortal Sect."

"Thank you, sect leader."

Immortal Qianyu said: "Lin Fan, why doesn't your sect leader take you as a disciple?"

Lin Fan replied: "The sect leader is a wise person. If he doesn't take me, there must be a reason."

"Lazy?"

"Um... most likely." Lin Fan said: "Also, the sect leader asked the sect leader to send someone to the main array of Zhengyi Mountain. He will be away for several months, and there are too many mischievous children on Zhengyi Mountain now. No one is in charge of the array, and he fears an accident might happen."

Immortal Qianyu asked in disbelief: "Who else can control the array on Zhengyi Mountain besides your sect leader? Is he that unwilling to take on disciples?"

Lin Fan thought for a moment: "Isn't there still the sect leader?"

"..." Immortal Qianyu looked at Lin Fan. As the sect leader, he had the transmission treasure, which could control all the arrays on Yunqing Mountain. But he was the sect leader, not the nanny of Zhengyi Sect. Immortal Qianyu asked: "Did your sect leader say that?"

Lin Fan stammered: "This... not entirely."

Immortal Qianyu was puzzled: "What did your sect leader say?"

"He said... he said... he said to send that woman to take over." Lin Fan carefully said: "As for who that woman is, I'm just guessing."

After Lin Fan finished speaking, he felt a thousand killing auras. He saw Immortal Qianyu's pupils shine like stars...

Lin Fan quickly said: "The sect leader has already left."

"Hmph, he's quick." Immortal Qianyu took a deep breath, calmed down, and said: "You may go."

"Yes!"

...

The Hidden Immortal Sect is located on the easternmost part of Yunqing Mountain, on Hidden Immortal Mountain. Hidden Immortal Mountain has the highest peak in Yunqing Mountain and East Continent, the Sun-Shooting Peak, where it is said that Houyi shot down nine suns.

The Hidden Immortal Sect is a forbidden area, home to twelve Yunqing Mountain elders. The twelve elders have very different personalities. For example, the first elder Lin Fan met at the mountain gate was a retired member of Tianxing Sect, three times taller than Lin Fan, with an appearance of about sixty years old, playing chess with a toad.

The poor toad was not a spirit beast and was magically restrained to the chessboard, only able to croak. The two disciples guarding the mountain gate ignored it. Seeing Lin Fan, they stepped forward and bowed: "Greetings, junior brother."

"Greetings, senior brother." Lin Fan handed over the letter from Immortal Qianyu.

The disciple read the letter and returned it to Lin Fan: "Junior brother, go straight to the Illusory Cloud Array. The person in charge of the array is the former leader of Qingyuan Sect. You can pass through the array."

Lin Fan had heard that the Illusory Cloud Array was an illusionary technique, with various challenges and choices inside. Passing through it not only granted entry to Yunqing Academy but also affirmed one's abilities. Gu Yan and Ye Wushuang both passed it easily. Passing the Illusory Cloud Array was not just about gaining entry to the academy but also a form of self-affirmation.

Lin Fan bid farewell and walked inside, passing by several large pine trees. Under the trees, two elders with a somewhat ethereal appearance were playing Go, and a woman in her fifties was watching and serving tea. Lin Fan passed by and politely bowed. The three ignored him and continued to focus on their game.

The eastern player said: "Fourth Sister, don't be so picky. All the talented ones in your Purple Bamboo Grove have been taken by Miejue. Among the twelve of us in the Hidden Immortal Sect, only you have no disciples."

"Teaching a disciple can starve the master." The old woman said: "This generation of young people is really good."

The western player said calmly: "Wasn't Qianyu's generation also good? This is the disciple of San San's little boy, right?"

"Ah... the waves of the Yangtze River push the previous ones forward, one generation replaces another." The eastern player placed a piece: "How about that Gu Yan? Will you take him?"

The western player frowned: "Qianyu mentioned this to me. The child is good, but his father is the leader of the Blood Shadow Sect. I think that Bai Mu is also good, a fine talent. He might become another Qianyu in the future, so I plan to take another disciple."

The eastern player said: "Qianyu said the four most promising young people are Ye Wushuang, Gu Yan, Bai Mu... who is missing?"

The western player said: "That boy, Lin Fan, unfortunately, he is too worldly."

"Ha ha, do you really think we are immortals? We are just ordinary people." The eastern player said: "The Evil Emperor has emerged, Second Brother, you are from that generation."

The western player said: "The Evil Emperor failed his tribulation when I was only six. He is my senior."

The old woman said: "The Elder means that since the Evil Emperor has re-emerged, we old bones are almost done. If there are good disciples, we should take more to leave some seeds for Yunqing Mountain."

The eastern player asked: "What else did the Elder say?"

The old woman said: "He asked for your opinions. If you agree, he will have Qianyu send a list of promising young people."

"Born as a Yunqing person, die as a Yunqing ghost." The eastern player said: "Let's do as the Elder says."

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