True Persons Clash

---- Cold Crow Mountain

The excitement that Master Kang Da and Third Master Jiang brought to the Chongming Sect did not affect Zhou Yixiu much. Even when Chongming Sect was at its busiest, this Elder of Spirit Plant remained at home, busy in the fields and villages of various spiritual lands in Cold Crow Mountain, just as usual.

Even the most frequently displayed items in the Merit Points Hall are still the Spirit Plant assignments issued by this old cultivator.

However, it is difficult for ordinary people to be as calm and natural as him. Among the various families in Cold Crow Mountain, apart from a few Foundation Establishment sects, none of them can even meet the threshold of Little Ring Mountain. Therefore, many of these eager visits have been directed to Zhou Yixiu.

Although Zhou Yixiu is getting on in years, she is still very perceptive.

Following the teachings of the former Sect Leader Kang Da, gifts were accepted without question, but promises were made without exception. Whether it was Spirit Stone stones and precious items or beautiful concubines, a large sum of money was handed over. Although the heads of various families were indignant, they dared not utter a single word in front of this old cultivator who had face even in front of Double Brightness. Even if they felt extremely wronged, they had no choice but to accept it with a heavy heart.

Even if we disregard Zhou Yixiu's prestigious "Zhou Si" status, his newly promoted title as Second Tier farming master still requires him to be treated well by all the families in Cold Crow Mountain.

After all, most of the people around here are small families who make a living off the land and water, so there's no time when they can't ask Elder Zhou for help. However, although this old cultivator is quite capable, compared to the other elders of the Chongming Sect, he is not considered generous.

Aside from the disciples of the Chongming Sect seeking instruction, everyone else who comes to them must pay the full price.

I don't know if it's true, as others have said, that this old cultivator didn't have many days left to live, so he racked his brains to leave some provisions for his disciples.

Zhou Yixiu set out at dawn and worked in the Scorching Sun Formation until almost dusk before turning back with his spirit hoe. Several elite guards selected from the Crimson Zhang Guard rushed over to accompany him.

The Crimson Zhang Guard was an army that Yuan Jin recruited under the Chongming Sect regime after Sect Leader Kang Da defeated Funeng.

Although the pay wasn't high, Yuan Jin still managed to recruit 150 people under rather strict conditions, even without offering any promises.

Most of them were at the Late Qi Refinement Refining, and were temporarily led by Ming Hun, a relative by marriage of the Sect Leader Kang Da. A few Foundation Establishment brought their own provisions and served as generals.

After seeing the group leave, Zhou Yixiu sighed inwardly. He had spent many years farming and was a simple, frugal man, so he was not satisfied with this blatant waste of resources, but he said nothing. After all, if he, the actual acting commander of the Jia-Chou Military Stronghold, were to have an accident in Cold Crow Mountain, he didn't know how many families would be in a state of fear, nor how much manpower and resources the Chongming Sect would have to expend to search the mountains and seas.

The leader of the several Crimson Zhang Guards who came to accompany him was a middle-aged man with large ears and several snake-patterned bracelets wrapped around his wrist, giving him a somewhat capable appearance.

However, the big-eared cultivator's fawning expression was clearly clumsy, and even his obsequious tone was somewhat awkward. "Elder Zhou, where shall we go this afternoon?"

Compared to the big-eared cultivator's affected manner, Zhou Yixiu remained calm and composed, simply nodding and replying in a low voice, "This old man needs to go to Wild Fox Mountain for a while to see if Rongquan's actions are inappropriate."

Upon hearing Zhou Yixiu's words, the flattery in the big-eared cultivator's tone became much more sincere, and even his fawning smile took on a more genuine and natural quality, "A great teacher produces a great student. Elder Zhou's master's skills are so outstanding, Elder Kang must be no less so."

Zhou Yixiu smiled faintly and walked forward on his own, carrying his spirit hoe. The big-eared cultivator quickly gave him a signal, and soon a Crimson Zhang Guard arrived in a richly decorated Second Tier flying boat.

Zhou Yixiu smiled and said politely, "General Yang, why bother? How can I use your private property to travel every time? The salary you've received from Jia-Chou Military Stronghold over the years hasn't included the cost of Spirit Stone for flying boats."

"The elder is accustomed to simplicity and possesses a natural air of virtue and integrity. However, I, Yang, have yet to achieve anything, but have already gained the trust of the sect and been assigned to this sacred place to settle down. If I do not show my filial piety, wouldn't I be even less than a lamb kneeling to suckle or a crow feeding its parents?"

Yang Xun had rehearsed these words for a long time before finally finding the opportunity to say them, and compared to before, they seemed much more natural. His words were sincere and catchy, but Zhou Yixiu only smiled faintly for a moment before boarding the flying boat on her own.

The old cultivator showed little expression, but his goodwill towards Yang Xun diminished further. He simply said, "The head of the Rainbow Mountain Yang Household is quite cunning, much more difficult to deal with than his second patriarch. I wonder if my second senior brother's decision to recruit him into the Crimson Zhang Guard will be a good thing or a bad thing in the future?"

Halfway through their cultivation, the group saw another boat approaching from the front. A cultivator in brocade robes on board seemed to recognize Zhou Yixiu standing at the stern, stopped the boat, and came over to pay his respects.

"Ma Yansong of the Bitter Peak Ma Household greets Elder Zhou."

"Master Ma Household, you're too kind. Our two families are allies, so there's no need for a hierarchy," Zhou Yixiu said politely, cupping his hands in greeting. Yang Xun was displeased with Ma Yansong, but he still used his token to activate the spirit boat's restrictions.

Ma Yansong only saw the Yang Household head after boarding Yang Xun's flying boat. If it weren't for Zhou Yixiu's presence, the Ma Household head's face would have almost collapsed.

Zhou Yixiu was well aware of the feud between the two families. The Ma Household had begged and pleaded to purchase the Second-Tier Lower-Grade Spirit Vein, Bitter Peak, from the Chongming Sect, and lived next to the Yang Household.

The Ma Household sold their property and moved from Chang County, becoming much wealthier than the Rainbow Mountain Yang Household brothers, who were only two generations old. However, the Ma Household currently lacked a Foundation Establishment to govern them, making them vulnerable to being bullied.

However, the Ma Household still holds a place in the Double Brightness Alliance, so the Rainbow Mountain Yang Household has to be very careful. Even after fighting for so long, they have only gained some worthless advantage, but the relationship between the two families has become extremely strained as a result.

Chongming Sect wouldn't concern itself with such petty squabbles. On the contrary, if all the families of Cold Crow Mountain colluded, it would make it difficult for Sect Leader Kang Da and his fellow disciples to sleep.

The current situation of healthy competition without outright conflict is exactly what they are happy to see.

The two families had been at odds for a long time, yet they still had to put on a friendly facade in front of Zhou Yixiu, which was quite a hassle. Zhou Yixiu needed to continue his journey and didn't want to waste too much time on this pretense, so he asked, "Where is Patriarch Ma Household heading?"

Ma Yansong seemed to be waiting for Zhou Yixiu to ask a question. He then smiled and replied, "Reporting to Elder, Senior He Degong has recently made a very big deal, so he sent out invitations to all families to work together on it. I am going to take some of the most capable members of my clan to Hong County."

It just so happens that the heads of the Scallion Mountain Du Household and the Mo Ma Duo Ridge Mo Household have also entrusted Yansong with the task of bringing their newly recruited Rogue Cultivator and mortals to Cold Crow Mountain to cultivate the land. This trip is convenient, as it will save them the trouble of making a special trip later.

As soon as Ma Yansong finished speaking, Zhou Yixiu's face indeed showed some friendliness. Yang Xun's face was undisguisedly ugly. He was displeased with Ma Yansong's smug look and couldn't help but spit out under his breath. "Damn bastard."

He thought to himself, "Who doesn't know that the Hong County He Household is related to the Chongming Sect by marriage, and that the Scallion Mountain Du Household and the Ma Duo Ridge Mo Household are both Lineage founded by outer disciples of the Chongming Sect after they retired?"

"This Ma Household is quite the schemer. After all, the Bitter Peak Ma Household was Foundation Establishment clan a few years ago. How could they be so lowly as to be at the mercy of the other three Qi Refinement Lineage?"

Ma Yansong had gained points with Zhou Yixiu, thus achieving his goal of visiting her by boat. Ignoring Yang Xun's face, which was as black as a pig's liver, he bowed repeatedly to Zhou Yixiu before returning to the Ma Household boat.

After Ma Yansong disembarked, Zhou Yixiu sat cross-legged with her eyes closed to rest Yang Xun, not wanting to engage in conversation, could only rearrange the magic array and then personally steer the boat to alleviate his melancholy.

Unexpectedly, after the boat stopped and Zhou Yixiu was escorted to the outside of Wild Fox Mountain, the latter turned her head and spoke:

"General Yang, it's not appropriate to entertain guests in such an important sect location. You should return to your duties first. The Crimson Zhang Guard is newly established, and it's difficult for Uncle Ming Household to manage it alone. We'll need your help, General Yang."

Yang Xun's expression changed drastically. He stammered for a moment, but before he could say anything, he saw Zhou Yixiu leave behind his red-armored soldiers and stride towards the mountain-protecting formation.

As the head of the family, how could he be a fool? He knew that Zhou Yixiu's attitude had changed because Ma Yansong had just publicly expressed his loyalty.

Having painstakingly searched for many avenues, Chongming Sect finally obtained a golden opportunity to curry favor with an elder of the Chongming Sect, only to have it all ruined by the elder's Three Words. Naturally, Yang Xun was indignant.

After all, he was True Cultivator who had painstakingly built his Dao Foundation. Thinking about how he had Qi Refinement so hard and diligently for over a month, only to be discarded and manipulated by a mere Qi Refining cultivator!

Yang Xun was filled with rage, but just as he was about to make a move, images of Foundation Establishment from the Chongming Sect flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern, pressing down on him and causing him to bend over and lose all courage.

The foul words stuck in his throat were forced back down, finally escaping only as a slurred "Respectfully seeing off the elder" from between Yang Xun's teeth. Only after Zhou Yixiu's figure disappeared from sight did Yang Xun dare to turn his gaze sinister.

"If this path is blocked, we'll find another. We have to get on the Chongming Sect's ship no matter what."

Having made up his mind, Yang Xun clenched his fist, turned around, and stomped heavily back onto the flying boat, shouting, "Go!"

The silvery Qiongqi horn ripped through the thick clouds, startling a flock of red-tailed falcons that were resting in the clouds, causing them to flap their wings and scatter in all directions. When Yang Xun, filled with resentment, piloted his flying boat back to the Jia-Chou Military Stronghold, he heard some news from Ming Hun.

"The Master of the Star-Picking Pavilion has graced Xuanwei City with his presence!!"

---- Xuanwei City, Cloud Horn Prefecture Prison

Fei Granny Liu and Yue Lin, along with the other False Core guards stationed at the Cloud Horn Prefecture prison, have disappeared. In the Cloud Horn Prefecture Court, Fei Tianqin (the title Juntian Bird is generally not used hereafter, except when referring to this old bird's race) now stands in the prison.

His face was extremely ugly at this moment, and even on the bird's head covered with flat feathers, one could see that the old bird's face was full of anger.

However, the usually eccentric Fei Household patriarch dared not speak out, and stared intently at an old man in brocade robes sitting on a low stool, talking to "Funeng" who was surrounded by Buddhist light.

The old man was thin, and his black, star-patterned robe moved without wind. The cuffs were embroidered with the twenty-eight constellations in silver sand from the Milky Way.

Her hair, like frost and snow congealed into a silver waterfall, was tied up by a hair crown made of the stars of the Purple Palace, with a thumb-sized meteorite marrow jade embedded in the center of the crown. Her face seemed to have been deliberately blurred by the years, with the lines from her brow bone to her nose as if cleaved by a sword and axe, while the corners of her eyes were covered with fine golden lines.

Fei Tianqin had served the True Person many times in the past, but few had ever seen such imposing aura as this old man. Even if it didn't recognize this person before, it only took a moment to realize that in the Shannan Circuit region, there was no one else with such power.

When Funeng saw the old man in brocade robes enter the prison, he was clearly surprised.

"Ma Mangqin told me that he went into seclusion to refine the True Scripture of Shattering the Heavens and Transforming the Dao sixty years ago. According to the rules, he shouldn't have had time for it for the next hundred years. Was I reckless today, actually forcing him out?"

However, after his initial surprise, he laughed heartily, "I never expected to disturb Fellow Daoist Bai. It's been nearly five hundred years since I last saw you! I've missed you dearly. Rest assured, Fellow Daoist, I only have some matters to discuss with this old bird today, and I will not linger at your place for too long!"

The old man's sharp eyes narrowed, and he spoke with great rage, "It's probably not as simple as the Zen master said. I thought the Zen master had made great progress in Buddhism and came to Shannan Circuit to show off his power to me. However, the Zen master didn't come in his true form, but only descended into this little novice monk. I'm afraid he's looking down on me. Today, I'm afraid this wisp of my true spirit will be hard to preserve."

The moment the old man spoke, the smile on Funeng's face slowly vanished, and the monk's tone turned sinister. "Fellow Daoist Bai, are you determined not to give me face, or Star-Picking Pavilion already made up its mind to become the spies of the Immortal Dynasty?"

The old man's eyes narrowed, and he said coldly, "Gelie, have you no shame?!"

Gelie- stricken, he snapped, "Bai Canhong, who do you think you're talking to?"

Despite being reprimanded by the old monk, Bai Canhong remained unfazed. "Gelie, you crossed the line first. Believe me or not, I'll take your true spirit to the outer sea and make you explain yourself to Palace Master of Billowing Dream?"

Upon hearing this, Gelie's body trembled, causing the Buddhist light in the cell to quiver for a moment, before he slowly replied, "Fellow Daoist Bai, is it really necessary to handle this matter in such an ugly manner?"

Bai Canhong snorted coldly, "When juniors quarrel, the rules are agreed upon by both families. For you, a dignified Buddhist master, to intervene privately is to make things look far too ugly."

Gelie's face was extremely ugly. Before his spirit body descended, he never expected that he would be intercepted by Bai Canhong was supposed to be in seclusion.

If it were a newly promoted Nascent Soul Nascent Soul, Gelie, whose strength had greatly increased, might have dared to challenge and intimidate him. However, facing Bai Canhong, he was not entirely confident. "Alright, alright. I will leave now, but I must take this junior's physical body with me. I hope Fellow Daoist Bai will not stop me."

"On what grounds?"

"Original Response Temple owes Star-Picking Pavilion a favor."

"Ambiguous and indecisive. You Buddhists are always like this."

"Then what should I do to satisfy you, fellow Daoist?"

For a moment, the cell was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Bai Canhong didn't rush to answer Gelie's question, but instead turned to Fei Tianqin, who hadn't uttered a word, and asked, "Fellow Daoist Fei, Cloud Horn Prefecture is now directly under the jurisdiction of the Immortal Dynasty's ministries. Kuang Liuting isn't in the prefecture, so you can be considered the local ruler. What do you think?"

After being left hanging by the two for so long, the old bird finally got a chance to speak. Although he was Golden Core Demon Officer, he remained neither humble nor arrogant in front of the two True Person: "His Highness the Prince of Prince of the South and the Earl of Nan'an are both absent. You may leave this matter to Lord Bai."

Bai Canhong sneered and said, "You old bird, don't try to make your relationship with my family so close with your mouth."

After speaking, he turned his gaze to Gelie: "The Zen master's spiritual attainments are profound, and Original Response Temple is the ancestral temple of the Immortal Dynasty Esoteric Buddhism, dominating the Snow Mountain region and almost becoming a kingdom."

"Speak your mind," Gelie said, giving him a sidelong glance.

"As long as the Zen master promises that if the world's situation changes in the future, he will still not be allowed to come to my Shannan Circuit to spread the Dharma."

Is that all?

That should do it!

"Very well, I accept your offer!" Without a moment's hesitation, Gelie replied in a deep voice.

"I implore the Zen Master to pledge your Bodhicitta and make a great vow against the demons of the mind," Bai Canhong murmured again.

Regardless of the school of Buddhist practice, the most important thing is cultivating one's mind and character. Bai Canhong's request indeed hit the Gelie, causing a hint of anger to appear on the latter's face. However, upon recalling the four words "Palace Master of Billowing Dream," the old monk's heart trembled, and in the end, he gritted his teeth and replied, "I grant your request. You are truly a petty person, always so anxious and indecisive!"

After a series of obscure chantings, Funeng's handsome face vanished, and Gelie's true appearance appeared before Bai Canhong. The old monk's red robe draped down like a blood-red glacier, and seven golden Sanskrit Esoteric Buddhism representing the fundamental Kalachakra Vajra Root Incantation, appeared on his bare chest, forming the shape of Bodhicitta.

As Gelie's Adam's apple bobbed, he uttered a secret mantra, each syllable transforming into a golden-red swastika symbol that was branded into the void.

When the oath reached the point of "If I break this oath, may my Bodhi heart be shattered," the Clear Mind- shaped crystal floating between the eyebrows suddenly burst forth with a thousand auspicious energies, and all the flames were absorbed into the crystal, condensing into a pulsating crimson-gold heart flame.

The Three Bodies United in Illumination Aspect merged into one, and the old monk's left hand formed Wuwei Abhaya Mudra and pierced his chest, pulling out the half-illusory, half-real, glass-colored heart meridian. His right hand, with fingers pointing like a knife, severed three causal threads that were entangled with black energy. The severed black energy had not yet dissipated, but lingered in the Dharma image's pair of silver eyes for a long time.

In that instant, eight-petaled lotus blood patterns suddenly appeared beneath Gelie's feet, and a golden-red mist emanated from his pores, spreading between his three heads and six arms. His six hands each held up six colorful Buddhist treasures: the Sun Wheel, the Moon Wheel, the Snow Mountain, the Sea of Blood, the Chain of Cause and Effect, and the Bell of Time.

Once the Buddhist treasure appeared, the tension in Bai Canhong's eyes completely disappeared. He and Fei Tianqin could no longer see Funeng's physical body; they only saw a dazzling Buddhist light break through the Xuanwei City formation painstakingly built by Kuang Liuting and head straight for the snowy region.

All the immortals and mortals in Xuanwei City who had been affected by the Buddha's light had come to their senses. Many of them had even been so devout that they shed tears of blood, but after this, they looked at themselves, disheveled and completely bewildered.

After Gelie's departure, not only did their State of Mind change, but even an arrogant figure like Fei Tianqin breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Gelie, a first-rate figure of the world, depart wrapped in Funeng's body.

Bai Canhong had no intention of speaking further to the old bird. He simply waved his sleeve, scattering a shower of starlight that transformed into streams of light, and was about to disappear when Fei Tianqin stopped him, saying, "Master Bai, please wait."

"What, you didn't get anything from Gelie, so you've come looking for me now?" Bai Canhong said sarcastically.

Fei Tianqin repeatedly said he dared not, but instead said, "If the host has the time, perhaps you could go to the state court for a meeting."

Bai Canhong's lips curled slightly as he said calmly, "If Fei Ye Shui were here, I might stay and listen for a few words, but you, you foul-mouthed old bird, are not qualified. Now, don't forget to send a message to Kuang Shenzhi. This time, your so-called Cloud Horn Prefecture Court owes me a huge favor, which you must repay!"

The Master of the Star-Picking Pavilion vanished in a flash of starlight, while the Fei Household patriarch, who was always cursing, dared not utter a single word in rebuttal after being ridiculed today. The old man silently memorized Bai Canhong's instructions, secretly reciting:

"This old man is indecisive; how is he any different from the likes of Yuan Buwen? Do you think you, like Original Response Temple, have the strength to sit on the fence? I think your Star-Picking Pavilion will likely meet a bad end. You've only managed to Nascent Soul the Nascent Soul stage by sheer luck. If my brother had a slightly better fate, how could he have been outdone by you, old man?!"

Thinking of this, the old bird sighed again, "I wonder what situation my brother is in the capital region? The country is in such dire straits, I wonder if this Emperor of Wei can hold out until the time of Bo Zhuang in Earl of Nan'an."

"No! Nanying must be secluded in his cultivation and detached from worldly affairs! A turbulent time is approaching, so we must seize every second! This remote border region has produced some promising talents, who need careful nurturing! If only one or two ordinary Golden Core cultivators emerge, they will be of little use. Kang Dabao hopes this young man can provide some assistance to the Fei Household!"