Chapter 69

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Hundreds of miles away from Wuzhou City.

At the foot of a mountain peak on the outskirts of Black Mountain, where strange rocks and countless beasts and birds abound, there is an abandoned small village.

More than twenty years ago, after the Black Mountain Old Demon began to appear here, people started to disappear mysteriously one after another, and the small village soon fell into ruin.

After twenty years, the village was once again inhabited.

Smoke rose gently, swaying with the wind, and birds chirped incessantly in the forest.

In the village, people dressed in peculiar attire, either Taoist robes or monk's clothing, moved about. It was early morning, and they were cooking, with occasional shouts and laughter echoing through the air.

"Sir, I wonder what makes that demon so powerful that it has caused such alarm among the current cultivation sects of the Nine Provinces?"

In a room, a young man in a scholar's robe sat opposite an old man. The young man had bright eyes and white teeth, extremely delicate, exuding a gentle air, almost more beautiful than a woman.

The old man, about sixty years old, sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, meditating.

The old man wore a plain black robe without tassels, a golden ornamented jade hairpin on his head, a wide scholar's robe, a stern expression, and a serious, unsmiling face. He was Zhang Daoyuan, the Grand Master of the Tang Dynasty.

"The Black Mountain Old Demon has been entrenched here for many years. It is a cassia tree that fell from the heavens. Twenty years ago, it developed a divine soul and began to wreak havoc. However, at that time, the Sui Dynasty was declining, and the Turks and barbarians were continuously attacking the Central Plains. With demons causing chaos, the cultivators of the world were too busy to deal with it, allowing the Black Mountain Old Demon to grow in power."

Zhang Daoyuan opened his eyes, his face lined with wrinkles, exuding a sense of沧桑 (cang桑) (aging and experience), his eyes sunken, and his gaze profound, as if he could see through all things. He paused and continued, "When a demon cultivates and forms a demon core, it can transform into human form. Apart from the demonic aura, it is no different from a human. However, the Black Mountain Old Demon is a cassia tree spirit, and its physical form is extremely powerful. Rooted in Black Mountain, even the Black Mountain Old Demon cannot refine it. But once it does, it will immediately achieve the status of a Great Ethereal Immortal."

"Sir, then..." The young man in the scholar's robe was worried and urgent, looking at Zhang Daoyuan, but then realized his rudeness and lowered his head in shame.

Zhang Daoyuan shook his head slightly, his face calm, as if nothing could surprise him.

"The Black Mountain Old Demon is not so easy to refine its physical form. However, not long ago, the head disciple of the Xuanxin Dao Sect, Yan Chixia, took away a female ghost with a Yin body. The Black Mountain Old Demon captured that female ghost and is likely preparing to refine it on the fourteenth day of the seventh month, when the ghost gate opens and the Yin energy is most concentrated, to merge Yin and Yang and forcibly refine it."

The young man in the scholar's robe raised his delicate eyebrows, his face showing concern. "Then can't we just kill the Black Mountain Old Demon before the fourteenth of the seventh month? Why are those people waiting and not taking action?"

"They are waiting for the Black Mountain Old Demon to break through. At that time, the Black Mountain Old Demon will be at its strongest and weakest. Acting then will ensure that the Black Mountain is thoroughly killed, its soul scattered. Not only can they obtain the demon core of a great demon, but they will also gain a trace of immortality!"

"Is that what the Emperor wants, the trace of immortality? That's why he is working with those people?"

This time, Zhang Daoyuan did not speak, closing his eyes and meditating.

The young man in the scholar's robe seemed to be deep in thought, bowed to Zhang Daoyuan, and left the room.

"Xiao Brother!"

Ruo Liufeng, carrying a long sword, saw the young man in the scholar's robe walking on the village path, his eyes brightening, and he called out, walking over quickly.

"Hmm?" The young man in the scholar's robe turned around, seeing Ruo Liufeng, he smiled and bowed politely. "Liufeng Brother!"

"Ah, haven't seen you in years, your face is getting more and more handsome. Xiao Yixuan, what have you been eating?"

Ruo Liufeng put his hand on the young man's shoulder, grinning and using his left hand to stroke the young man's tender, white face, exclaiming, "Softer and smoother than a woman's. If I were a woman, I would definitely like you, a pretty boy!"

Xiao Yixuan's face turned sour, and he pushed away Ruo Liufeng's hand. "Liufeng Brother, stop teasing me. After eating that fruit, I became like this. As for Liufeng Brother, have you caught up with Nalan Hongye yet?"

At this, Ruo Liufeng looked deflated. "Sigh, don't mention it. A few days ago, I was even beaten by her junior sister Jinghui. However, it seems Nalan Hongye was injured, and quite badly."

"Oh? Who could injure Nalan Hongye? She is one of the strongest among the young generation. Apart from Fayuan of the White Horse Temple, Anyer of the Fangxian Dao, Lidaoxuan of the royal family, and Legucheng of the Xuanxin Dao, who else could match her?"

"Ruo Liufeng!"

Before Xiao Yixuan could finish, a clear female voice rang out from the ruins beside the village. Then, a graceful woman with a slender figure, a round and plump buttock, a slender waist, a beautiful neck, and a white dress fluttering in the wind, walked over.

The woman wore a veil, her face hidden, but she was undoubtedly a beauty. Her wise eyes fell on Ruo Liufeng and Xiao Yixuan.

"Xiao Gongzi!" The woman bowed slightly to Xiao Yixuan.

Ruo Liufeng looked embarrassed when he saw the woman. She was the one who had used a white ribbon to bind him that night, Jinghui, one of the two best of the Yuxian Dao.

"Jing Nang!" Xiao Yixuan returned the bow.

Jinghui grew up on Mount Emei in the Yuxian Dao, without a secular name. She and Nalan Hongye were known as the two best of the Yuxian Dao, both famous for their beauty. Many young cultivators admired them.

Jinghui looked at Ruo Liufeng, who shrank back like a child who had done something wrong. Then, realizing it was inappropriate, he straightened his chest and met Jinghui's gaze.

"Ruo Liufeng, who was the young man who came to borrow the sword with you that day?" Jinghui stared at Ruo Liufeng, recalling the scene of the young man taking the Mo Ye sword that night, wondering if her senior sister's love obstacle had fallen on him.

"Him? Uh, I only know his name is Ning Zhongyuan, nothing else. He came to borrow the sword from me first, but I didn't tell him to go to your place. I know nothing about it."

Ruo Liufeng shook his head vigorously, thinking of how Ning Wuxie had run away after borrowing the sword, his teeth clenched. Then, thinking of Ning Wuxie's injured state, he felt secretly satisfied.

Ruo Liufeng thought Ning Wuxie's injuries were caused by Nalan Hongye, and he had laughed three times at the time. Now, thinking about it, he still felt secretly relieved.

"Unfamiliar?" Jinghui looked at Ruo Liufeng.

Ruo Liufeng's face turned bitter. If others knew that he had brought someone who had severely injured Nalan Hongye, his fellow disciples who admired Nalan Hongye would surely come after him.

"Unfamiliar, really unfamiliar. I swear, if I knew him, I would have chopped him into seven or eight pieces for hurting Senior Sister Nalan."

Jinghui frowned, knowing that Ruo Liufeng liked Nalan Hongye. She thought he wouldn't lie about this. Turning around, Jinghui left gracefully.

"Liufeng Brother, who is Ning Zhongyuan? What's going on?" Xiao Yixuan, watching from the side, was secretly amazed.

Ruo Liufeng looked gloomy. "Sigh, don't mention it. I'll tell you, on the night of the Qixi Festival..."

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