Immortal Road.

Half an hour later.

The man from Xiongshan looked at the man in gray robes, and the two remained silent. Only then did he realize that the person who had saved him was directionally challenged.

I don't know where they've gone before I noticed!

Where are we now?

"how could I know."

"."

Above the vast sea of ​​lava, countless stalactites and stalagmites stretch endlessly, making it impossible to distinguish one from another.

The mantle layer is vast and boundless, and the most important part is the section beneath the Thunder Wave Sea. The people of Xiongshan are afraid that this guy will leave the center of the spiritual tide and then how will he get back?

Don't take me out of the spiritual tide range and into some remote underground corner, or it will be difficult for me to get back to the surface!

Just then, a magnetic storm suddenly swept in from underground.

The two heard a conversation coming from a distant place.

"Uncle-Master, when I led people out to search just now, I seemed to see Qian Bu from the Ghost Valley Holy Land leading a large army, looking for someone."

"Oh? What else did you find out?"

"Many of Qianbu's elite troops were wounded, as if they had just been through a major battle. They stopped halfway through the pursuit to find a place to rest and recuperate, and they were only three hundred miles away from us."

“The distance of three hundred miles is very dangerous. Don’t let them discover us. We finally found a fixed ley line. This is a good place to build the Yin-Yang Mystic Ladder! Go and continue to investigate. Be sure to stay hidden and careful.”

"Yes!"

"Wait, this is... a magnetic storm? Does that mean our conversation just now was..."

The man from Xiongshan and the man in gray robes looked at each other in bewilderment.

Suddenly, the protective aura around his body became unstable, and he was blown away by a powerful magnetic storm. Xiong Shan was already in poor condition and was almost blown away. Fortunately, the gray-robed man did not move and grabbed his collar.

After this wind passes.

"How about I let this tentacle of yours go back?"

A hoarse voice rang out. The gray-robed man was so annoyed by the purple tentacles trying to get close that he wished he could just rip them off!
Chirp chirp chirp~
The purple tentacles clung to him, sensing a longing in the gray-robed man, and desperately wanted to switch allegiance and embrace him, dancing alluringly around him and showering him with affection.

Seeing his companion so excited for the first time, the man from Xiongshan felt inexplicably jealous!
"Oh no, what's wrong with me? I'd love for this thing to leave my body!"

He grabbed the purple tentacle and shoved it behind his back, and the gray-robed man in front of him finally breathed a sigh of relief.

This person was none other than Lin Shan's annihilation clone.

Perhaps due to its bizarre appearance, it has a special attraction to strange creatures and was almost mistaken for one of their own by the purple tentacles.

I've been holding back my nausea the whole way, but now I finally can't take it anymore.

The decision to save Master Xiongshan was actually based on self-interest. After the spiritual tide ended, he wanted to join Master Jinglian in annihilating the Black Lotus Cult, and this guy, as his introducer, couldn't die.

But seeing the purple tentacles he had created growing stronger on Xiong Shan's body, and now reaching this level, he couldn't help but feel terrified!
I only hope that if it develops strangely in the future, it won't implicate me. I suppose the Pure Lotus Hermit has other plans for this thing. I can't fathom the thoughts of an immortal.

"My benefactor, thank you for saving me. I, Xiong Shan, will remember this favor and repay it in the future. May I ask how I should address you?"

Master Xiongshan approached somewhat reservedly and asked.

Lin Shan casually waved his hand:
"The form of address doesn't matter, just call me the Daoist of Nirvana."

"Brother Silent Extinction, which holy land do you belong to?"

Master Xiongshan knew that Leibo Sea was the exclusive domain of the Four Holy Lands, and outsiders could not enter openly.

I've never heard of this Daoist of Nirvana before. He's either a pseudonym of someone from some holy land, or a rogue cultivator who sneaked in to snatch food from the tiger's mouth!
Lin Shan was slightly displeased and snorted coldly.

"That's not something you should know. Sometimes, knowing too much can lead to a quicker death!"

"Uh, yes, yes, yes."

Master Xiongshan apologized humbly, thinking to himself, "Just as I expected."

This guy is hiding his true identity; he's clearly an unregistered resident!
Good heavens, the third wave of spiritual tides, as the finale of the first year of the association, has indeed brought out all sorts of monsters and demons!

These rogue cultivators knew that if they didn't fight now, they would have no chance to break through to the Nascent Soul stage after the spiritual tide subsided, so they risked their lives to fight.

But what puzzled him was...

The Leibo Sea is vast and boundless, with interconnected underground rivers, so it's not surprising that someone could sneak in.

However, the Jade Shattered Cold Pool has a special passage, guarded by various factions including the Ancient Seeking Sect, Confucian families, Jingyang Academy, White Deer Academy, Starry Sky Society, and Ephemeral Flower Society. It's impossible to enter without alerting them.

Not to mention the area between the Jade Shattered Cold Pool and the Earth's mantle layer!

The four holy lands personally left heavy troops to guard the area, and even prevented the various forces of Lu from interfering. How did this Daoist of Nirvana manage to sneak in?

No matter how hard he racked his brains, he couldn't guess that Lin Shan had actually followed the Xun Gu Sect's supervisory delegation in a clandestine operation, which was why he insisted on sending someone to monitor the Holy Land in the first place.

Only in this way can he secretly smuggle his clone in without arousing suspicion. However, others will not understand his plan and will think that it is because the Ghost Valley Holy Land withheld his share as revenge.

“Brother Jiemie, I see that your cultivation has reached the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, and you are only one step away from entering the Primordial Spirit stage. Why didn’t you teach Qian Bu a lesson just now? That kid’s strength is average, but he is very skilled in military formations. He may very well become a formidable enemy in the future.”

Lin Shan saw through his little scheme at a glance and couldn't help but chuckle.

"You want me to help you get rid of your enemies, right? Qianbu is the face of the Ghost Valley Holy Land. I've been hiding perfectly well, why should I make enemies with the Holy Land? Especially before the final battle of the Spirit Tide has even begun, offending the Ghost Valley Holy Land is not a wise move."

"Well, that's true, but it's a pity that his army suffered heavy losses at the time, which was the perfect opportunity to eliminate him."

"Isn't it because I'm saving you? I wouldn't mind sparring with him, but you're completely defenseless. Why should I take that risk?"

The monk from Xiongshan blushed and licked his lips, quickly thanking him again, then turned away, his eyes filled with resentment.

"Back then, I chased that guy so hard he almost knelt down and called me godfather. I regret not taking advantage of him back then, and I regret it every time I think about it now."

Well, I didn't expect this blockhead to hold a grudge about this!

Their thought process is truly unique!
It's said that most men like to have their opponents call them "daddy," and this has probably become Xiong Shan's obsession.

"Qianbu is insignificant, merely a minor player in the grand scheme of the spiritual tide. Did you hear the conversation that just came through the magnetic field storm?"

In response to Lin Shan's question, Xiong Shan nodded in agreement.

"I heard that! It seems someone nearby has found a fixed ley line. This is an incredible discovery!"

“Fixed ley lines are usually deeply rooted in the depths of the mantle. What we are here is actually just the asthenosphere, the outermost layer of the mantle. If we want to go further, we need to build the Yin-Yang Mystic Ladder and go down along the ley lines.”

"This concerns the ultimate secret of the Spirit Tide. I will find a way to report this news to Clan Leader Liang immediately!"

Lin Shan quickly stopped him.

"and many more!"

Is this guy stupid?
Why should I report my discovery to the Guigu Sacred Site?

"What good will it do you to report this? What benefit will it bring you?" Master Xiongshan asked, looking bewildered.

"But I'm currently affiliated with the Ghost Valley Holy Land. If I don't tell the Holy Land, I can't develop the Yin-Yang Mystic Ladder on my own. I can't do anything but stare blankly."

Lin Shan sneered, utterly disappointed in his son!

"Don't you think about it? Qian Bu failed to kill you this time. When he returns, he will definitely realize that he has caused a great disaster. He failed to kill his ally and instead exposed himself. Trying to cover it up will only make his reputation plummet. Therefore, in order to prevent problems before they occur, we can only inform Chief Liang in advance."

"Ghost Valley Holy Land was already rumored to have had a falling out with its ally, the Xun Gu Sect, and now there's the scandal of murdering its ally, the Kao Shan Gang. Its reputation in Lei Bo Hai is completely ruined!"

"Do you think they're scared? What would they do to you to cover up the truth?"

Master Xiong was greatly shocked; he had never expected this.

I couldn't help but ask hesitantly:

"What will they do to me?"

Lin Shan's tone was chilling, as if it were the dead of winter.

"If I were the head of the Liang clan, I would naturally choose to protect Qianbu over you!"

"He is, after all, a prodigy of the Military Formation School. Even if he has made mistakes, he is still family. You are just an outsider. How can you compare to him?"

"To cover up the scandal, they might have no choice but to eliminate you in secret! Once you're dead, with no one to testify, they can easily pin the blame on other holy sites and frame you. Your master, Layman Jinglian, won't even know the truth outside, so his death will be in vain!"

"Why did you have to offend Qianbu of all people?"

Upon hearing this, Master Xiongshan broke out in a cold sweat and was instantly at a loss. He hurriedly sought advice from Linshan.

"Brother Dao, what should I do?"

"The best course of action now is to disappear."

Lin Shan told him that he must not reveal his whereabouts to the Ghost Valley Holy Land, otherwise, the ruthless Liang clan leader would definitely do everything in his power to kill him.

It's not terrible to have a feud. The previous war in southwestern Shandong was a battle between opposing camps. It doesn't matter who wins or loses. Xiong Shan later surrendered and submitted, and all past grievances were forgotten.

But now, at this crucial moment of alliance, we have been betrayed and murdered. This is truly irreversible, and anyone would have to exterminate them!
If Xiong Shan dares to go back now, it would be tantamount to walking into a trap.

Of course, there's one more thing Lin Shan didn't mention.

As long as Xiong Shan hides well, the Xun Gu Sect's supervisory delegation, as witnesses, will be safe. With Xiong Shan acting in the open and Xiong Shan in the shadows, the Guigu Holy Land will not dare to touch the Xun Gu Sect unless they are confident of striking at the same time.

They were also afraid that Xiong Shan would leak the secret to his superiors, and that the Xun Gu Sect would be furious and cut off their escape route.

"Master Liang must be very anxious right now, right? Let's not worry about him for now. Let's search the vicinity first, following the direction the magnetic field storm came from, and see where there are any ley lines connecting to the underground."

"Snapped!"

Qianbu covered the slap mark on his face and knelt before Chief Liang, not daring to raise his head.

"I have worked diligently and conscientiously, managing alliances from top to bottom, and even sacrificing interests to maintain the reputation of the Ghost Valley Holy Land, and you have ruined it all with your mess!"

The head of the Liang family was so angry that he roared loudly, spitting as he spoke, utterly disappointed in his son.

All the other high-ranking Nascent Soul cultivators from the military formation school bowed their heads and sighed.

They knew all too well how much Liang had endured hardship and humiliation, and how much he had suffered these past days.

Despite being extremely busy, he still has to clean up messes everywhere.

Just as things were settled upstairs, trouble broke out downstairs!
After Qian Bu's attempt to annihilate the people on Xiong Mountain failed and they escaped, he immediately realized that something was terribly wrong.

If it succeeds, all will be well; but if the news of failure leaks out, it will definitely cause big trouble.

And now it's become a huge problem!

Therefore, in his haste and urgency, he quickly rested and led his troops back, trying every means to find Chief Liang and tell him about the mess he had made, hoping that Chief Liang would cover for him.

The Liang family head flew into a rage and berated the man for half an hour!
However, after venting, I realized that things had come to this point, and I could only continue down the wrong path.

No matter how much trouble Qianbu causes, he is still the pride of his lineage, and they cannot be left unchecked.

Master Xiongshan is a disciple of Layman Jinglian, so we can't openly issue a warrant for his arrest, nor can we force him into other camps. The most urgent task is to find him first, then lure him back to the Ghost Valley Holy Land, and then eliminate him secretly!

"Now send messages to the various branches that are scattered outside, telling them that if they encounter Master Xiongshan, they should summon him back as soon as possible, but don't let the news leak out."

"In addition, send someone to the Xun Gu Sect's supervisory delegation to appease them and apologize, saying that Qian Bu had been blinded by greed and had been fighting on the front lines without being familiar with the rear, and had mistaken the Xun Gu Sect for spies from other holy sites, and presented them with generous gifts to ask for their forgiveness."

"In addition, it just so happens that we recently discovered a geomantic core at the same time as the Spring and Autumn Sword Sect. Qian Bu, you should take your men there to atone for your mistakes. Don't worry about the rest."

Everyone readily accepted the order without questioning it. Qianbu, filled with gratitude, covered his face and retreated.

In the end, it was still Master Liang who had to clean up his mess.

After everyone left, only Elder Huimiao remained by her side. She had rarely appeared in public recently, always staying behind the scenes and unable to go anywhere during her confinement.

“Senior brother, Qianbu is a talent we brought in midway. He doesn’t know the rules and acts rashly. You can educate him more. There’s no need to get so angry. Even if he makes a mistake and betrays an ally, you shouldn’t criticize him in front of so many people.”

"You don't understand, his mistake isn't here."

Master Liang remained calm, but what he said was unexpected.

"Let him kill the people of Xiongshan if he wants, but he should make thorough preparations before he does it, making sure to succeed in one strike and not let the news leak out! Instead of starting strong but finishing weak and having to come back for me to clean up the mess."

Elder Huimiao knew that these words were not only referring to Qianbu, but also to herself, and she couldn't help but sigh.

"If it weren't for the mysterious Nascent Soul Peak cultivator who suddenly appeared and rescued Xiong Shan from the chaos, he probably would have succeeded long ago. This mysterious person's origins are highly suspicious. He appeared within the territory of the Ghost Valley Holy Land. Should we investigate him thoroughly?"

"Alright, you'll take charge of this matter."

Elder Huimiao had been holding back for too long, and finally received permission to go out, so she couldn't help but ask a question.

"What about the Xun Gu Sect's supervisory delegation? Since Qian Bu has already been offended, why not go all the way and apologize in person first, and then kill them to silence them?"

"enough!!!"

Master Liang slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his sharp gaze once again warning her.

"Xun Gu teaches you not to interfere. Just focus on doing your job and don't cause me any more trouble, or you can go back to the Holy Land to retire!"

"I understand, Senior Brother. I was wrong."

Elder Huimiao was startled and quickly apologized, promising not to do it again.

After much persuasion, Master Liang finally forgave her and went back to attending to other matters.

After she came out, she looked at the scorching sea of ​​lava outside, pondered for a moment, and a hint of coldness flashed in her eyes.

She was determined to settle the score with the Xun Gu Sect; how could she possibly let it go so easily?
If her senior brother forbade her to move, she wouldn't move, but there were always ways to find a way around it.

Beneath the mantle, various forces are vying for supremacy, creating chaos and disorder as they strive to find the Yin-Yang Mysterious Ladder. There is so much room for maneuver within this realm.

All you need is...
(End of this chapter)