Immortal Road.

Chapter 523: Outside world, relics of old friends

During this mountain gate crisis, Master Yang led many allies from the Lujiang League to come, and his contribution was truly indispensable.

Otherwise, Lin Shan might not be able to subdue Ancestor Lu Que without exposing his magical treasure.

Because of the combined efforts of nearly thirty Jindan Zhenren, no matter how powerful Patriarch Lu Que was, he had no choice but to surrender.

"Go, bring out all the delicacies from the mountains and sea, spiritual fruits and spiritual wine, and treat all the real people well!"

Lu Xiuming took the order and soon set up a sumptuous banquet.

The hall was filled with the aroma of wine and the scent of spiritual energy.

Lin Shan searched the East China Sea for a large number of seafood and spiritual creatures, and also bought a lot of recipes from the owner of a restaurant in Qiufeng Valley in the Song Dynasty. All of them came in handy this time.

In addition to the spiritual flowers, fruits, rice and grains harvested in the Luosong Mountains, as well as the ginkgo and monkey wine from the forbidden area on the cliff, there are quite a lot of varieties.

Even though Lu was a country with a prosperous culture, there were many Jindan masters from various sects that I had never tasted, so this time I could really feast on the delicious food.

Only Brother Ji stands out from the crowd.

He just sat on his small table, pecking at the spiritual rice and fried cakes in his broken bowl. These were the fine grains brought from the Jianjia Demon King and the Peacock Royal Family, and were of a higher grade than what Lin Shan provided.

The pig-headed monster accepts everyone who comes.

Although this demon commander of hell had good food in the military camp of the local demon elephant lord, the food from the alien world was also very new to him and he ate it with relish.

Especially when Lin Shan took out two empty corn cobs for it to chew on, it was so happy that it couldn't stop smiling.

The Black Skull Demon Lord huddled himself in the hood of his black robe, eating nothing and just sitting there quietly.

Master Zhankong is very good at dealing with people and acts as a diplomat for Xun Gu Sect.

The new ancestor Lu Que was not polite. He had stitched together all kinds of species, so he ate everything.

He has worked really hard over the past few decades, so he rewards himself well and ignores the outside world.

Lin Shan brought Master Zhan Kong to toast to all the Jindan Zhenren, first thanking everyone for coming to help, and then getting in touch with them one by one.

Everyone had a new understanding of Lin Shan's strength. In addition, Xun Gu Sect had gained a new master, so they were naturally in awe and greeted him with smiles.

After the pleasantries.

After three rounds of wine, five flavors of food.

Master Yang asked Lin Shan about the plans of the north.

The struggle between the Xun Gu Sect and the Shang merchants in the northern part of the Lujiang River Basin over Chixiao City and Kuaihuo Lin has basically attracted most of the attention in the western part of Lu State in recent years.

Whether or not the Lujiang League will leave depends entirely on Lin Shan’s decision.

With his current strength and reputation, plus the Yang family's strong support, there probably won't be any noise throughout the alliance.

Lin Shan had just come out of confinement and had not had time to think about this problem carefully.

Now, taking advantage of the drinking party, I discussed with Master Yang and Master Zhankong, and decided not to escalate the situation yet, but to wait and see what happens next.

Master Yang nodded, showing just a little concern without asking any further questions.

Then, he told him some major news that had happened in Lu State in the past thirty years.

"The great Yuanying-stage ancestors have been away for sixty years and have not returned yet. And just two years ago, the soul lamp of Chengji Zhenjun of Jingyang Academy went out, and he was suspected to have passed away."

"This incident first caused an undercurrent in the cultivation world of Lu State, and then caused an uproar."

"Some said they were framed by their teammates and died in the depths of the Viruo Desert. Some said they were surrounded and killed by the Nascent Soul Demon Lord of the Demonic Kingdom. Some said they mistakenly entered a forbidden area and ran out of ammunition and food."

"Finally, the Jingyang Academy stepped in to suppress those who spread the rumors, and announced that Master Chengji was about to die, and that it was a normal death."

"In short, the death of the True Lord is a foregone conclusion, there is no doubt about it, this will probably change the overall situation of Lu State!"

"However, at present, the return date of the major Yuanying stage ancestors is still uncertain, and the top forces have closed their mountain gates and are living in peace. It is hard to say what will happen in the future."

Lin Shan nodded indifferently. This was indeed a big event that was enough to shake the entire Lu cultivation world, but it had no effect on him.

What about Jingyang Academy? Mind your own business?

Currently, the ones who have a relationship with him are Yunchuan Academy and Shangyang Academy. One is his investment client, and the other is the backer of his enemy.

Those top forces in central Lu have nothing to do with him for the time being.

However, the people in the ancient sect, including Lu Xiuming, Wu Hanqiao and others, as well as many factions that graduated from Jingyang Academy, all felt sympathetic about this matter.

After Master Yang finished saying this, Master Zhankong immediately went on to say the next one.

"In the southwest of Lu, in the Mekong Delta, after decades of fighting, a new regional academy rose up and replaced the previously destroyed Zhenzhi Academy, becoming one of the top ten academies of Lu."

"It's called Hongdu Academy!"

"Before this school, it was just a third-rate school with no reputation and no reputation."

Before he finished speaking, Brother Ji next to him became unhappy.

"No, you can talk about your own things. Why do you always involve me? Please don't hurt your friends by mistake, okay?"

"Sorry, sorry, it was a slip of the tongue."

Master Zhan Kong was very embarrassed and continued to report to Lin Shan in a low voice.

"With many schools fighting and vying for power, the entire southwestern part of Shandong is in flames of war, and alliances, betrayals and assassinations are happening all the time in the world of cultivation."

"Some of these schools are obviously stronger than Hongdu School in terms of both their own strength and connections. There is even Yuzhang Academy, which everyone has always been optimistic about and has the best chance of winning. But they all collapsed in the tide of the general trend."

"In the end, Hongdu Academy overcame all obstacles and rose to the top, successfully standing out and having the last laugh."

"After a sixty-year war, southwestern Shandong was devastated and in need of reconstruction. All the local clans and families suffered heavy losses and had to recuperate. Finally, they unanimously recognized the establishment of the new academy."

"However, the final canonization still needs to be recognized by the leading Confucianists from the central region, the two great families of Confucius and Mencius, the White Deer Academy, and the Jingyang Academy before the name can be changed."

Lin Shan nodded thoughtfully, and he also knew a thing or two about the Confucian rules of Lu.

Only the top ten academies are qualified to be called "academy" or "school palace".

Apart from that, it can only be called something like "academy" or "institution of higher learning".

Although Hongdu Academy won and became the final winner in southwestern Shandong, they had no way to change their name without the recognition and enthronement of the four top Confucian forces.

As long as it doesn’t change its name, it will never be able to be among the top ten academies and will remain a fake institution.

Now that the top forces have closed their doors, the conferring of titles will probably have to wait until the ancestors in the Nascent Soul stage return before they have the time and energy to approve them.

Generally speaking, this incident was a major event in the State of Lu that could influence the regional structure.

"I just happened to receive an invitation from Hongdu Academy. Please take a look, Master."

Master Yang on the side handed over the letter, and Lin Shan took it and took a look.

The content is rather polite and formal.

It was nothing more than that Hongdu Academy completed its integration in the Mekong Delta last year, and this year it was going to hold a grand opening ceremony, inviting all local forces in southwestern Shandong, as well as major forces from other regions of Lu to attend the ceremony. Those who were invited across domains were basically those who had a monopoly in a certain industry, and could be called giants of cultivation.

As the leader of the western half of Shandong, Lujiang League would naturally receive an invitation.

The wording in the invitation was very polite, inviting the alliance leader and deputy alliance leader to visit southwest Shandong when they are free, and they will be treated well.

Although Master Yang's Yang family no longer has the strength of a giant family, it still possesses the financial resources and industries of a giant family. In addition, with the high position of deputy leader of the Lujiang League, the Yang family also received an invitation.

"Alliance leader, do you want to go to the ceremony?"

Master Yang also sought opinions in order to make immediate adjustments.

If Lin Shan wants to go, then Lin Shan will represent the Lujiang League, and he himself will represent the Yang family, a family of cultivators.

If Lin Shan doesn't go, then as the deputy leader, he will have to represent the Lujiang League first, and the Yang family will send another Jindan Zhenren to represent their own family.

"What do you think, should I go?"

Lin Shan put down the invitation and asked for their opinions.

Master Yang and Master Zhankong looked at each other and nodded, thinking that it would be appropriate to make a trip.

Whether it is the Lujiang League or the Xun Gu Sect, if they want to recruit elite disciples from all over Lu State, they must establish good relations with the major academies.

Although most of the people in the sect currently come from Yunchuan Academy and Jingyang Academy, other academies also conduct campus recruitment every few years.

If it weren't for the relationship with the merchants, Shangyang Academy would not have been cut off in recent years.

Although Hongdu Academy is newly established, it already has the potential to become one of the top ten academies, so it stands to reason that we should go and watch the ceremony.

Lin Shan nodded, indicating that the matter could be considered.

"When will the ceremony start over there?"

"About half a year later."

The establishment of such a large force, facing the national cultivation community, usually requires a notice half a year in advance, leaving guests enough time to make arrangements so that they will not be unable to get away when the time comes.

"Okay, I see."

Whether he would go or not was another matter. He asked Master Yang to reply first, and the Lujiang League would definitely send someone to show its support.

Master Yang gave a brief account of what happened next.

Most of them had no direct interest to the Lujiang League, and Lin Shan just wanted to listen to what was going on in the world, but there was one piece of news that brought back his memories.

"The great elder of the Lubei Zhenyue Sect passed away eighteen years ago, and my Yang family sent people to express their condolences."

"It was only five years ago that the master of Xuchan Cave, a free-spirited cultivator in Ludong, was exposed. His eldest disciple committed adultery with his master's wife and secretly killed the old cave master. The subsequent inheritance was not evenly divided, and they turned against each other."

"His son escaped the disaster because he was studying in a foreign academy."

"After I succeeded in my cultivation and broke through the Golden Core Stage, I sought revenge on my stepmother and senior brother, but was severely injured by the adulterer and the adulteress."

The Grand Elder of the Zhenyue Sect in northern Shandong and the Lord of Xuchan Cave in eastern Shandong were both good friends who once had a very close relationship with the ancestor of the Yang family.

The three brothers had accompanied Lin Shan for several trips through the forbidden area on the cliff, so they had some friendship.

The Grand Elder of Zhenyue Sect is enjoying his old age, after all, Zhenyue Sect is considered a large sect.

The later years of Master Xuchan's cave were a bit miserable, even sounding quite melodramatic.

His second wife was a vicious and cruel woman. Not only did she commit adultery with her eldest disciple, but after being discovered, she killed her husband and divided up the inheritance that was supposed to be left to their son.

Then the two of them deliberately set a trap, pretending that the spoils were not divided equally, and misled his son into taking the bait.

When his son came to seek revenge, they joined forces again to set an ambush.

If it weren't for the fact that the son of Xuchan Cave Master was so capable, the old cave master would have been killed in one fell swoop, and the old cave master would have almost had no descendants!
"After his son was seriously injured, he fled to the Zhenyue Sect in northern Lu. However, the new chief elder of the sect had no old feelings for him, so he only kept him for three days before politely asking him to leave."

There is nothing wrong with what the Zhenyue Sect did. The personal relationship between the former great elder and the sect has nothing to do with it.

Please don't bring your grudges and hatreds from the outside world to us.

It's already very kind of me to let you stay for three days to recuperate.

Three days later, the son of Xuchan Cave Master was forced to continue fleeing. His stepmother and eldest senior brother were chasing him and took the opportunity to wipe out the roots of his evil deeds.

The pursuit made quite a noise along the way, and what happened between them was discovered by someone and leaked out.

The son of the master of Xuchan Cave ran into a wall in the Zhenyue Sect, so he had no choice but to head west to the Lujiang River Basin to seek refuge from the Yang family.

The Yang family was in a period of transition. After the death of the ancestor of the Yang family, there were only two Jindan stage cultivators left in the family. So they were very keen on outside talents. In addition, the older generation had a good relationship with them, so they accepted the son of the master of Xuchan Cave.

The two people who were chasing them were not convinced and wanted to ask the Yang family for the person back.

As the deputy leader of the Lujiang League, Master Yang naturally would not care about what these two people thought. He told them that he had secured this person and that they should leave quickly if they were smart.

Of course, he still had to avenge his father's murder himself. It was not convenient for the Yang family to interfere. This was the rule of the cultivation world in Lu State.

The two men were filled with hatred and had no choice but to return to eastern Shandong.

Logically, this matter has come to an end, and they should handle the rest on their own.

But when Master Yang said this to Lin Shan, there was naturally a deeper meaning behind it.

"Alliance leader, the reason why the eldest disciple of the master of Xuchan Cave and his second Taoist partner are so relentless in pursuing his son is not only to wipe out the root of the problem, but also because the master of Xuchan Cave left behind a clue to an important treasure before he died!"

"Oh."

Lin Shan responded nonchalantly, a little uninterested.

If the son of Master Xuchan came to him in trouble, he might protect him out of consideration for their old friendship.

But if it's something messy, there's no need to understand it.

He had a lot of things to do and had no time to think about anything else.

Seeing that he didn't seem to react and looked a little embarrassed, Master Yang leaned over and whispered in a low voice.

"Alliance leader, this treasure is of great value. The son of the master of Xuchan Cave has promised that if we can help him get revenge, he will hand over the information to us."

Lin Shan sneered. What treasure had he not seen?
With his current wealth, he couldn't even consider the things left behind by a mere Jindan-stage cultivator.

"Then tell me, what is it that makes you, the head of the Yang family, excited?"

Master Yang looked around and found that the Jindan masters in the hall were toasting each other. No one deliberately released their spiritual sense to explore around, as that would be very impolite.

Ancestor Lu Que just ate and drank to his heart's content, ignoring everyone.

The Black Skull Demon Lord and Master Zhan Kong were chatting about something.

The only two guys were Brother Chicken and the Pig-Headed Monster. They came close, pricked up their ears and eavesdropped, almost scaring Master Yang!
"Go ahead, there's no need to be so reserved!"

Lin Shan calmly put down his wine cup and ignored the two guys behind him.

(End of this chapter)