"You don’t even care about Innate Treasure—so what are you really after?" Gu Chuan’Yin remarked, his expression peculiar.
"I simply wish to test the successor of Laojun Mountain, to see who is greater and who is lesser."
As she spoke, ng Qiwu raised her gaze toward the depths of the rear mountain behind Louguan Platform.
"From what I see, you just want to use the Laojun Mountain heir as a foil to compete with Senior Brother An." Gu Chuan’Yin was not one to be deceived—the cultivation he had attained at the high-level realm had honed an incisive mind. With but a glance, he saw through ng Qiwu’s intentions.
This woman had a mind as deep as an ocean, her ambition reaching the heavens; she had yet to fully acknowledge An Wuyang’s status as the Zhongnan Mountain successor.
If she could defeat the scion of Laojun Mountain, she could likewise overco the heir of Zhongnan Mountain and seize that supre position.
"You’re no match for Senior Brother An. In all the world, only Li Changgeng of White Crane Temple is fit to be his rival." Gu Chuan’Yin shook his head, his confidence and blind idolization of An Wuyang absolute.
"Say what you will, I only have one question—yes or no?" ng Qiwu cared little for pointless argunt, straight to the point.
"Very well. I’ll see how much capability you truly possess." Gu Chuan’Yin replied in a deep voice.
He certainly understood ng Qiwu’s motives—this woman was not only possessed of profound cultivation, but her boldness was staggering. By cooperating, she was inviting him to bear witness, so that An Wuyang would know her strength; there was no attempt to hide it.
"Let’s go. We shall et the successor of Laojun Mountain." With a wave of her hand, ng Qiwu led the assembly down from Louguan Platform. Just a few steps out, she paused, turning back to gaze at the distant rear mountain.
"An Wuyang..."
ng Qiwu whispered softly, her feet tapping lightly, like a gust of wind sweeping forward.
...
At this ti, in the rear mountain behind Louguan Platform.
"The Taiyi one, supre amongst all; refining qi to contain truth, Heaven’s One gives birth to water..."
Soft murmurs echoed like a resonant bell, sonorous and deafening, reverberating amidst the stone forest of the rear mountain.
A middle-aged man sat cross-legged upon a great slab of blue stone. Though winter’s chill had not receded, he wore only a thin garnt, barefoot, the white hairs at his temples swaying with the wind.
Ye Beichen—Zhongnan Mountain’s youngest Celestial Master—along with Liu Nanxu of Zhenwu Mountain, one north one south, they were fad as the "Twin Heavens," long since among the greatest masters beneath heaven.
Such a prodigious genius, and yet he’d spent a full decade sitting in ditation behind Louguan Platform’s rear mountain.
"Wuyang, just now, that [Taiyi Sword] was a technique born from a decade of my contemplation. Cultivate it well; if you grasp its essence, you will surely shine amongst the Daoist Sect." Ye Beichen spoke softly.
Sitting before him was a young man, garbed in Daoist robes. His long hair hung loose, brows refined and features distinct; in the depths of his eyes was a trace of innate nobility.
An Wuyang, successor of Zhongnan Mountain.
"Taiyi Sword... Martial Uncle, this Daoist Skill does not seem to be a foundation of my Zhongnan Mountain."
Recalling the profound mysteries of that magic sword, An Wuyang noted it was wholly driven by the Primordial Spirit, True Yang Qi transformation, forging qi into sword—an audacious energy pervaded it, unlike the orthodox Profound Sect transmission of Zhongnan Mountain.
"You truly are gifted." Ye Beichen nodded, eyes showing admiration.
"This move is one I created through a decade of hardship. Back then, I faced a powerful enemy, endured a tribulation, and thereby gained this stroke of fortune."
"A powerful enemy?" An Wuyang’s heart stirred.
He knew his martial uncle had been reclusive for ten years, never stepping beyond Louguan Platform. Yet Celestial Master Ye Beichen’s na had long shaken the world—so who could count as a worthy adversary in his mouth?
"Martial Uncle, what kind of foe could bring a tribulation upon you?" An Wuyang pressed.
"He’s called an enemy, but truly, he’s just a wretch who couldn’t even protect his wife and child." Ye Beichen replied coolly, a shade of disgust flashing in his eyes.
"Hmm?" An Wuyang was taken aback, confusion in his gaze.
"The most fearso in this world—the Divine Demon Holy Embryo." Ye Beichen said gravely.
"The Nine Great Inner Elixir thods!?" An Wuyang’s look grew complex, a strange light in his eyes.
"I suffered great tribulation back then but found fortune in misfortune. Using the Divine Demon as a catalyst, I forged the Taiyi Sword..." Ye Beichen said, his voice icy.
"I devised this technique solely to restrain the Divine Demon Holy Embryo..."
"Soday, I shall see whether his Divine Demon is truly supre, or my Taiyi is invincible." A chilling gleam flickered in Ye Beichen’s eyes.
"Divine Demon Holy Embryo... Is that the Great Spirit Sect King whom White Crane Temple has been hunting?" An Wuyang spoke in a low, thoughtful voice.
As the heir of Zhongnan Mountain, he was not ignorant of the movent from Shangjing White Crane Temple.
He knew that recently, White Crane Temple had encountered a formidable foe; the battle at Ailao Mountain resulted in losses, even costing the life of a Celestial Master-level expert.
"Wuyang, in terms of natural talent, no one in Zhongnan Mountain these past hundred years can rival you. Though you have not seen the Divine Demon Holy Embryo, you have hope of mastering my Daoist Skill..."
"If you perfect the Taiyi Sword, you may slay the Divine Demon. ditate on it deeply." Ye Beichen said gently.
"Yes, Martial Uncle."
An Wuyang slowly closed his eyes, slipping instantly into ditation. True Yang surged within him, his whole being transforming into a mass of qi—so mysterious it defied words.
Ye Beichen’s thoughts seed to drift: "Zhang Lingzong, you did not die... You simply did not die... How could you not be dead..."
"The one not dead... should be her..."
Ye Beichen murmured, his voice like drifting silk, barely audible. His right hand clutched a jade pendant tightly, as if it contained all his life’s treasure. Upon that jade, two characters were plainly carved: "Linglong."
...
Just past noon.
Zhang Fan accompanied the brothers Qi Delong and Qi Dongqiang to a wild mountain area, so eighty kiloters west of Chang’an City.
"There are actually ox carts here?"
Sitting atop the ox cart, Zhang Fan gazed at the rolling hills and couldn’t help but speak up.
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