Storm Clouds Gathering
The confluence of the Longchuan and Luchuan rivers collapsed suddenly more than ten years ago. Since then, various colorful lights have appeared out of thin air and shone brightly in this place.
The various colored lights were divided into three layers. A brown light curtain spread out at the bottom, covering a vast area and enveloping the entire region. Above it, more than ten kinds of light flowed endlessly, and at the very top was the light of the Three Pure Ones, hanging down like a canopy.
Five hundred li north of this place lies a mountain called "Green Nuo".
Legend has it that in ancient times, an immortal once exorcised a witch here, breaking the mountain in two. Yet, its spiritual essence remains, and it continues to thrive to this day.
It is said that the one who slew the witch was an immortal of the Dao of the Profound Qi, and the Daoist aura he left behind still lingers to this day.
However, since the Profound Qi is the source of calamities, this mountain is too calamity-ridden for cultivators and is not suitable for long-term residence. Therefore, no one has inquired about it for many years.
However, nearly eleven years ago, a group of people suddenly arrived here, opened up cave abode, and set up an array.
The surrounding cultivators were discussing amongst themselves, and only now did they realize that someone was trying to break through here and seek the Purple Mansion.
Today, a deep, grayish-purple Profound Qi filled the sky, calamities erupted, and a vast amount of spiritual energy surged ceaselessly between heaven and earth.
The Great Void and the present world briefly overlapped at a certain moment.
In the Great Void, a purple-clad man who had rushed over upon hearing the news gazed at the scene and sighed to the white-clad woman beside him:
"The Mysterious Gate truly has worthy successors. First, there was the Abbot of Qixia Temple, favored by the Rainbow Cloud Fruition, who achieved the Purple Mansion in nine years; now there is the Golden Court Daoist, favored by the Profound Qi Fruition, who achieved the Purple Mansion in ten years. Truly remarkable."
The woman in white beside him hesitated for a moment, then whispered:
"Fellow Daoist, please be careful with your words. The Mysterious Gate has always been proud. Whether this Golden Court Daoist succeeds or not, it's best if we both refrain from speaking."
The man in purple was speechless.
At this moment, the Great Void rippled, Subterranean Water's shimmering light—it was Meng Shixi, the priestess of Nanzhao.
The man in purple gazed at her sorrowful face and whispered to the woman in white:
"Thirty years ago, before I went into seclusion, I went to the royal city to see the priest and ask for a spirit medicine. I only emerged from seclusion three years ago, and this is the first time I've seen him again. But the priest... no longer has the same spirit he once had."
The woman in white didn't respond, only glaring at him. The man in purple stopped looking and quietly gazed into the distance.
Not far away, gazing at the vast Profound Qi, Meng Shixi sighed softly, thinking to herself:
here we go again.
More than a year ago, when Su Yao emerged from seclusion, Nanzhao lost five local Purple Mansion in a short period of time, including one Great True Person with Four Divine Abilities and one True Person Five Laws Perfection. Another person joined his ranks, and the two cooperated with him. Now, Su Yao has been in seclusion recuperating for more than a year, and apart from natural disasters, nothing major has happened in Nanzhao.
But now that the Golden Court Daoist has emerged from seclusion, it's likely to stir up another storm. Who knows how many more Purple Mansion Purple Mansion will die here in Nanzhao? After all, these people, once they emerge from seclusion, will surely use human sacrifices to demonstrate their power...
As she was thinking, another idea struck her, and Xue Min, dressed in a mountain god's robe, appeared.
Seeing this, Meng Shixi's face was full of worry, and she hurriedly asked:
"Is the Mountain God's injury healed? It's only been a year, why did he emerge from seclusion so hastily?"
Xue Min shook her head and chuckled:
"Although Mo Yan's cultivation is not bad, he still can't harm me, who has lived two lives."
He paused, looked at Meng Shixi's worried face, and advised:
"After all, I can still borrow the divine power of the Cang Mountain talisman, and I also have Law Treasure bestowed upon me by the king, so I'm fine."
Upon hearing this, Meng Shixi's expression softened slightly, and she said softly:
"The Mountain God should diligently hone his cultivation in Cang Mountain, and attain the Divine Core Perfected One as soon as possible."
Xue Min smiled, took two steps forward, and said softly:
"The Profound Qi is perilous. Since Golden Court has made such a commotion, I must come and see, regardless of success or failure. If it fails, it would be best for both of us, but..."
Before they could finish speaking, both of them lowered their eyes, understanding dawning on them.
Yang Xiu went into seclusion only three months later than Su Yao, but emerged from seclusion nearly two years later.
Achieving the Purple Mansion in ten years, while not as astonishing as Su Yao's nine years, is still far beyond that of ordinary cultivators. However, given that the other party is favored by those at the Profound Qi Fruition, such speed is not unreasonable.
Moreover, when this person went into seclusion, two Divine Core Perfected One Masters from the Golden Court Dao Lineage personally came to guard this mountain. They must have repeatedly tested him before allowing him to begin his breakthrough. The possibility of him failing at the last minute is extremely slim.
Xue Min paused, her eyes filled with pity, and then spoke again:
"After this, everything will depend on you. When I emerged from seclusion, I saw the King guarding the entrance to my cave abode and testing me. Once this matter is resolved, I will go into seclusion to seek the Divine Core."
Upon hearing this, Meng Shixi was taken aback at first, then relaxed her brows and smiled:
"If the mountain god becomes Supreme True Person, do not forget me."
Xue Min laughed upon hearing this and joked:
"Your master entrusted you to me, how could I forget?"
Before he could finish speaking, Yang Xuanye had already arrived nearby and asked:
"Do the mountain god and priests believe that Golden Court Daozi has succeeded?"
Although Yang Xuanye was asking the two people, his gaze remained fixed on the direction of Qingnuo Mountain, amidst the vast Profound Qi. Numerous gazes were cast from all directions of the Great Void, clearly indicating that all forces were waiting for a result.
Xue Min didn't answer immediately. Meng Shixi first, then whispered:
"It's probably a done deal."
Meng Shixi's heart tightened, and she blurted out:
Why is the mountain god so certain?
Xue Min raised her chin, gesturing towards the swirling Profound Qi above Qingnuo Mountain, and slowly said:
"The Profound Qi is the source of calamities, and is inherently the most unruly thing in the world. If the breakthrough fails and the calamities spiral out of control, this sky full of gray-purple Profound Qi will not be as orderly as it is now, but will instead scatter and crash like a wild horse."
He paused, his gaze falling on the Profound Qi that was slowly rotating and converging towards its center:
"But look now. The Profound Qi is not overflowing; instead, Orthodox Unity. This is not a disaster spiraling out of control, but rather someone actively absorbing the disaster for their own use."
He paused, then added:
So, it's done.
Hearing this, Meng Shixi, though having already anticipated it, still couldn't help but frown and ask in a low voice:
"Why did the mountain god say that earlier...?"
Xue Min smiled upon hearing this and replied:
"Seeing your worried face, if these three words 'no' can bring a moment's smile to your face, then I might as well say it that way."
He paused, then softened his voice, continuing as if in a murmur:
"As long as you smile, even the wind and snow will seem less daunting."
Upon hearing this, Meng Shixi's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she turned her head away, asking no further questions.
Although the two spoke in low voices, Yang Xuanye, who was closest to them, was still several miles away. However, Yang Xuanye himself was Purple Mansion Middle Stage cultivator with three Divine Ability, and he could also borrow a supernatural Divine Ability from the imperial court. He was no less than Purple Mansion Great True Person with Four Divine Abilities. Therefore, every word the two spoke reached his ears.
He didn't show it on his face, but his brows had unconsciously furrowed, and he thought to himself:
The ancients said, "When a country is about to perish, there will surely be monstrous signs." This is indeed true.