The Immovable Mount Tai

Zhang He lay on the ground, his young flesh disintegrating at a visible rate. Skin and flesh peeled from his limbs, unable to be held by even ink lines, blood gushing from his pores. In an instant, a large pool of blood had gathered on the ground.

Xuanji let out a whimper, turning his head. Qingguo stared blankly at his blood-covered hands. Jinz枣, however, who had likely seen many flaying scenes, showed little reaction, only frowning with a strange expression.

Li Fan stared at the boy on the ground, who was rapidly becoming unrecognizable, still somewhat dazed. He even offered his gourd to Master Yao.

The smile on Master Yao's face vanished. His expression turned frosty. He flicked his sleeve, pushing away Li Fan's gourd, and directly addressed the three rogue cultivators who were equally shocked.

"Thank you three for your assistance this time. However, the following is an internal matter of Ink Bamboo Mountain, so please excuse yourselves."

"Zhang He, Xiao He, he, Zhang..." Qingguo still stammered, wanting to say something.

Jinz枣 suddenly pulled him, bowed to Master Yao, "Congratulations to your sect for winning the Tiantai Mountain sword competition. It was our oversight that we failed to protect Xiao Zhang of Bamboo Mountain, allowing him to be harmed by the Devilish Dao. We will certainly go to the Zhang Family to apologize another day. Xuanji! Stop crying! Let's go!"

With a fierce glare from Jinz枣, Xuanji choked back a sob and nodded. He didn't dare to look at the now bloody Zhang He. He bowed to Master Yao, and then, on either side, he pulled Qingguo, who was in a daze, and Jinz枣, whose face was grim. They activated their magical artifacts, the hairpins, and transformed into a streak of yellow light, flying into the sky.

Whether it was Li Fan's illusion or not, as the other party flew away, Yao Xuanzhou's eyes swept over the three cultivators ascending into the sky. The immortal sword Chi Qiu in his hand trembled slightly, and for a moment, a killing intent surged, as if he were about to draw his sword at any moment.

But in the end, he did not make a move. He merely held Chi Qiu in his hand, looking at it. He extended his right index and middle fingers, swiping them across the sword's spine, wiping away the bloodstains, and let the yellow light break through the air and depart.

Then he turned and bowed to Green Gourd, who floated out of the temple, "Please help me collect him."

The masked scholar on Green Gourd nodded and floated over, collecting Zhang He's corpse and blood into the gourd as usual. In the blink of an eye, the area was cleaned up, leaving only a faint bloodstain on the ground.

The traces of the young disciple named Zhang He, who had once existed in the world, were completely gone.

Yao Xuanzhou put away the gourd and pondered silently for a moment. He glanced at Li Fan beside him, "Qingyue, where did you get this elixir gourd?"

Li Fan was stunned. He looked at the purple-gold gourd in his hand, "This is a Golden Core bestowed by the Abbot. Qin Jianshi brought it to me earlier... Master Yao, didn't you say the Nine-Revolving Golden Core can revive the dead and regenerate flesh? Perhaps he can still be saved..."

Yao Xuanzhou pursed his lips, sighed, and wrapped the crimson sword in his sleeve, putting it away. "He cannot be saved. Do not reveal what happened just now to anyone who asks. I will explain to the Abbot myself. If others ask, just say that Tiantai Mountain had remnants of the Black Lotus Sect who harmed Zhang He, and Zhang Jiugao failed his tribulation, lost his Dao heart, and has disappeared... Do you understand?"

Li Fan solemnly bowed, "Master Yao, this disciple understands, but this disciple doesn't understand at all."

Yao Xuanzhou sighed, "Who in this world can understand everything? The more you know, the more you get things wrong. Besides, there are some details that I can't quite figure out... Never mind. Since the Abbot appreciates you, I'll give you a tip: take a Golden Core and put on the 'Unknowing Mask'."

Li Fan blinked and, as instructed, took out a Golden Core and put it in his mouth, then donned the 'Unknowing Mask'.

Then Yao Xuanzhou said, "<The Majestic Unmoving Mount Tai, Deep Roots, Fruition, Precious Scroll>."

'Li Fan's mood dropped by 1 point.'

This is...

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent states, as expected, it's this Luo Sect's miraculous technique. This Black Lotus Sect of Li Country actually obtained the true teachings of Patriarch Luo? But that's not right, we already killed all his seven direct disciples...'

"This is the demonic art Zhang Jiugao used just now, the Mount Tai Immovable Scripture of the Black Lotus Sect. It's one of the divine techniques looted when our sect exterminated the Black Lotus Saint Mother," Yao Xuanzhou continued, seeing Li Fan's lack of reaction. "This demonic art makes one impervious to blades and spears, invulnerable to water and fire, majestic as the Five Great Mountains, and steady as Mount Tai. In the past, the devil-heads of the Black Lotus Sect relied on this technique, which even flying swords couldn't cut, making them truly troublesome. Zhang Jiugao likely learned this technique in secret and used it in conjunction with our sect's Dragon Fetus Ascension Pill to display great power, clearing the remnants of Tiantai Mountain single-handedly."

So awesome! An invincible technique that can even resist flying swords! Then the price of this cultivation technique...

Yao Xuanzhou nodded, "You saw the young man's fate. This demonic art does not truly protect the body; it merely transfers the injuries sustained to a nearby substitute. It is a completely selfish and evil path. Furthermore, the substitute must be a loved one, which is utterly heartless and morally bankrupt. Don't be tempted by the power of this demonic technique. Such evil arts often carry heavy karma and endless hidden dangers, making it easiest to fall into demonic ways. Seeing Zhang Jiugao's final battle with that Nangong Wuchen, and how he's been stuck in the Golden Core stage for so many years without progress, he was likely trapped by emotions, which led him down this crooked path. But regardless of his hardships, secretly learning the Black Lotus Sect's demonic arts, and casting such a vicious curse on his blood relatives, nephews, and fellow disciples, is unforgivable according to Bamboo Mountain's sect rules."

Master Yao shook his head and sighed, "I should have killed this unfilial wretch with a single sword... But out of consideration for our years of acquaintance, I will let him off for now and let him finish what he's been delaying for so many years. After this matter is concluded, and I report it to the Abbot, I will personally hunt him down."

Li Fan was momentarily speechless. Zhang Jiugao had no relation to him, yet he had literally saved his life. Seeing such a warm, caring, and righteous person fall to such extremes due to emotions was truly unbelievable.

But disbelief was useless. The bloodstain of Zhang He was still fresh before his eyes. If you said Zhang Jiugao and his senior sister were harmed by Nangong Wuchen, then how innocent was Zhang He? Looking at Zhang Jiugao's years of dedicated practice of the Qiankun Flying Dragon Sword, it was impossible to say that he was unaware of the consequences of the Mount Tai Immovable Scripture. Perhaps it was the karma of this demonic technique that required choosing blood relatives like Zhang He as substitutes, yet Zhang Jiugao still used it without hesitation. Even before this sword fight, he likely didn't know his enemy Nangong Wuchen would also be present, yet he specifically brought Zhang He, the substitute, by his side. Was it because he hadn't found his senior sister yet, and thus refused to die at all costs? Perhaps, this person, Xiao He, had already been deeply corrupted by demonic roots when he couldn't find his senior sister. As he himself said, once you cross this line, you've fallen into demonic ways.

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent states, it's truly a pity. I thought that old man's aptitude was poor, yet he could learn the Mount Tai Immovable Scripture. Back then, only Patriarch Luo's seven direct disciples who attained enlightenment could fully grasp this scripture, using this divine technique to resist the siege of the three major sects, and even almost counter-killed them. Fortunately, the forty-nine second-generation disciples of the Spirit Transmutation Realm below lacked sufficient comprehension, and their techniques were flawed and full of loopholes, which allowed us to seize the opportunity and break Luo Sect's great formation. It was truly perilous. I never expected this old man Zhang, who is stuck in the Golden Core stage, to have already touched the threshold of this technique? Alas, this boundless future talent was all ruined by a woman... Host, you must not learn from him.'

"Qingyue," Master Yao spoke again, "Zhang Jiugao's situation is more than just secretly learning demonic arts and harming fellow disciples. His ability to learn a forbidden technique like the Mount Tai Immovable Scripture is one thing; if he stole it privately, it's fine. But if the sect's secret archives have no records of it being lost..."

Li Fan suddenly jolted awake, "You mean!"

Yao Xuanzhou nodded, "Meaning someone else passed this technique to him. I fear there are still remnants of the Black Lotus Sect within our Ink Bamboo Mountain. What's more, Zhang Jiugao has been stuck in the Golden Core stage for many years and has been responsible for teaching disciples. If he had already defected to the Black Lotus Sect due to his emotional tribulation, then this matter would be troublesome. A thorough investigation might lead to many deaths."

At this moment, Li Fan was drenched in cold sweat, his hair standing on end. What was going on? What kind of world was this? With so many bizarrely shaped Devil Beasts, wasn't that terrifying enough? Now, the conflicts and killings between people were even more ferocious.

"You say we devils harm innocent women and slaughter living beings, and that you're here to uphold justice and punish evil. Then you turn around and gobble up over sixteen hundred people."

"You say you'll save your senior sister, disciples, and fellow sect members, then turn around and sacrifice your nephews as scapegoats."

"Just now you said harming fellow sect members is a grave violation of sect rules. Now you mention the possibility of a devil cult spy or traitor within the sect, and you might be drawing up a list."

"This person lives such a divided life..."

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent sneers, "Heh heh, do you feel the benefits of my Beichen Sword Sect now, host? If you don't like someone, you duel them. No pointless chatter, just a fight to the death. It's straightforward! Unlike these people, who are hypocritical, devious, and calculating, so entangled!"'

"Your kind, who go straight for the kill, aren't any better!"

"Qingyue you don't need to worry," Yao Xuanzhou glanced at the gourd in Li Fan's hand. "You haven't been in the sect for long, yet you've received The Mountain Lord's inheritance and earned the favor of the sect master. No one will make things difficult for you. Real Person Wei, who upholds the rules, will handle these matters. If you're questioned, just repeat what I told you. It won't involve you."

That Real Person Wei who swallowed over sixteen hundred people in one go? Now I can't feel at ease at all!

Master Yao stopped looking at him, gazing absently at the sky, and muttered, "If you had these things on your mind, why didn't you tell us earlier? Why did it have to come to this? Alas, it's all fate..."

Li Fan's mind was a complete mess. He could only force himself to calm down and bow, saying, "Thank you for your teachings and guidance, True Person."