Why Are You Back Again? Has the Sky Fallen?

Daoist Wuzhen held the dark golden pill, his withered hands trembling slightly.

Second Tribulation Immortal Stage.

These three words were a dream that was both unattainable and yet so close to him.

He has been trapped at the Tribulation Immortal First Stage for over three thousand years. He himself cannot predict when the next Heavenly Tribulation will descend, nor does he have any confidence that he can survive it.

Now, a direct path to heaven, free from risk and Heavenly Tribulation, lies before him.

The atmosphere inside the Cave Heaven became somewhat subtle.

Daoist Chen Yuan lowered his eyes, staring at the cracked stone slab on the ground, as if a flower had bloomed on it.

He dared not look at his master's expression.

He was afraid to see that struggle, and he was also afraid to see that resolute determination.

Chen Changqing remained silent, calmly watching Daoist Wuzhen and awaiting the old man's decision.

He gave this elixir with genuine sincerity.

But human nature is unpredictable, and faced with such a huge temptation, any choice is reasonable.

A long time.

Suddenly, Daoist Wuzhen burst into laughter.

The laughter was initially a bit dry, but then grew louder and louder, finally turning into a hearty, unrestrained laugh that made the entire Cave Heaven resonate.

"Haha! Good! Well done, Chen Changqing!"

After laughing, Daoist Wuzhen let out a long breath, and all the struggle and longing in his cloudy old eyes turned into clarity and approval.

He carefully placed the Tribulation Immortal Pill into a jade box and then placed nine seals on the box.

"You little rascal, you've given this old man a real problem."

Daoist Wuzhen sat back down on the Meditation Cushion, picked up a cup of tea that Daoist Chen Yuan had brewed sometime earlier, and blew on it to cool it down.

"I cannot accept this pill."

He looked up at Chen Changqing, his tone regaining its usual composure.

"Although I am greedy, I also know what is important. My Mount Shu may seem glorious now, but there are turbulent undercurrents beneath. With my current cultivation level, I am more than capable of maintaining the status quo, but not of making further progress. Rather than letting this item raise my cultivation level for nothing, I would rather use it where it is most needed."

Chen Changqing's heart stirred slightly.

"What does Grandmaster mean?"

"This item belongs to Mount Shu, not just to me," Daoist Wuzhen said, each word ringing with conviction. "Its uses are far greater than you imagine."

He didn't continue explaining, and then changed the subject.

"The Sect Master Succession Ceremony in three days—it seems my decision was the right one."

A relieved smile appeared on the old man's face.

"A Sect Master who can readily offer even the Tribulation Immortal Pill —I can rest assured entrusting Mount Shu to you."

Daoist Chen Yuan listened from the side, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

His apprentice was indeed unexpected.

"Alright, you can all go back now." Daoist Wuzhen waved his hand. "Changqing, go back and prepare well. In three days, the entire Mount Shu will be watching you. Chen Yuan, please take good care of all the matters concerning the grand ceremony."

"Yes, Master," Daoist Chen Yuan bowed and replied.

Chen Changqing also bowed, and then left the Cave Heaven with Daoist Chen Yuan.

The stone door slowly closed behind them.

Silence returned to the Cave Heaven once more.

Daoist Wuzhen stared at the jade box on the table, which was sealed by nine seals, and remained silent for a long time.

He stood up and walked to a stone wall deep inside the Cave Heaven.

The stone wall was as smooth as a mirror, without any runes or carvings on it.

The Daoist Wuzhen stretched out his finger and gently touched the stone wall.

Ripples spread across the mirror-like stone wall, and a deep vortex slowly took shape.

"Chen Yuan, guard the mountain gate."

His voice pierced through the stone wall and clearly reached the ears of Daoist Chen Yuan had just stepped out of the forbidden area.

"This old man will make a trip to the Nine-Layer Heavenly Palace."

Daoist Chen Yuan paused, turned around abruptly to look in the direction of the forbidden area behind the mountain, his face filled with astonishment.

Nine-Layer Heavenly Palace?

What is Master going to the Nine-Layer Heavenly Palace with that pill?

That's where the true, slumbering old monsters of Mount Shu reside.

Nine majestic Heavenly Gate float above the sea of clouds on the back mountain of Mount Shu.

This place is called the Nine-Layer Heavenly Palace, which is the true core forbidden area of Mount Shu.

Ordinary disciples are unaware of the existence of this place; only the successive sect Sect Master and core elders are qualified to set foot here.

The figure of the Daoist Wuzhen passed through layers of clouds and finally landed in front of the Seventh-Layer Heavenly Palace.

Unlike the magnificent palaces and pavilions of other Heavenly Gate, the Seventh-Layer Heavenly Palace was merely an ordinary-looking Greenstone Daoist Temple of blue stone.

There wasn't even a plaque at the entrance of the Daoist Temple, just two mottled wooden doors, with fallen leaves covering the area in front of them, as if no one had swept them for a long time.

Daoist Wuzhen stood before the door, straightened his clothes, and bowed respectfully with a solemn expression.

"Disciple Wu Zhen requests an audience with Master."

The temple was completely silent; there was no response.

Daoist Wuzhen was not in a hurry; he simply stood quietly outside the door, head bowed, waiting.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, an old and impatient voice came from inside the temple.

"Didn't you just leave? Why are you back? Is the sky falling down?"

Daoist Wuzhen gave a bitter smile.

"Master, the sky hasn't fallen, but I do have something extremely important to report."

"Come in."

With a creak, the wooden door opened by itself.

Daoist Wuzhen Daoist Temple inside. The temple was small, with only an ancient well in the courtyard and an old Daoist sitting cross-legged by the well fishing.

The old Daoist was even thinner than Daoist Wuzhen, his gray robe was washed even whiter, and his hair and beard were a messy tangle. He held a bamboo pole without a fishing line in his hand, facing the Kongwu well opening.

He was the master of Daoist Wuzhen, the senior brother of True Lord Qingxiao, and the third-ranked Daoist Qingyuan among the Nine Elders of Mount Shu, a genuine Tribulation Immortal Seventh Stage.

"Speak, what earth-shattering matter has disturbed this old Daoist's peace and quiet?" Daoist Qingyuan didn't even turn his head, his voice full of languor.

The Daoist Wuzhen walked to his side, said nothing, and simply took out the jade box that was locked by nine seals.

He broke the seal and opened the jade box.

An indescribable fragrance of elixir instantly filled the entire Daoist Temple.

The ancient well in the courtyard, which had been dry for countless years, suddenly had a spring of clear water appear out of nowhere at the bottom.

The bamboo pole without a fishing line that Daoist Qingyuan used trembled slightly.

He finally turned his head slowly, his cloudy eyes falling on the dark golden pill.

The old Daoist's languid expression vanished without a trace the next moment.

He suddenly stood up, his movements so fast that he didn't seem like an old man on his deathbed; in a flash, he appeared in front of the jade box.

An immense and unparalleled aura emanated uncontrollably from his body, distorting the surrounding air.

"This... this is..."

Daoist Qingyuan stared intently at the Tribulation Immortal Pill, his withered fingers outstretched but hovering in mid-air, not daring to touch it, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

"The Tribulation Immortal Pill Immortality." Daoist Wuzhen uttered three words in a deep voice.

Daoist Qingyuan's body trembled violently.