I became an immortal in the mountains

Chapter 686 A good story, well-written!
When Gu Yuanqing left the main hall of cultivation and returned to the small courtyard...

Li Chengyi also happened to come down from the mountain and arrive at the courtyard.

"Come in!" Gu Yuanqing called out.

Li Chengyi entered respectfully, and after paying his respects, asked, "Father, we are going to the Ancient Realm Platform tomorrow. Is there anything else you would like to instruct me to do?"

Gu Yuanqing glanced at the Heavenly Ladder Ranking and said, "There are now nineteen Celestial Realm cultivators in my Qian Yuan Realm."

Li Chengyi said, "Over the years, the Qian Yuan Realm's ranking within the Linglong Realm has risen repeatedly, thanks to the Origin Rewards, and its foundation is profound."

His cultivation speed far surpasses that of ordinary cultivators, and with your guidance and teachings in recent years, Father, he has gained much. At most a hundred years, he will likely surpass even the cultivation speed of cultivators at the Heavenly Transformation stage several times over. However, beyond the Heavenly Transformation stage, breakthroughs in cultivation slow down.

Gu Yuanqing nodded and said, "That's normal. Cultivation is all about timing, location, and people. With the great power of the Qian Yuan Realm, it's natural that many talented people emerge. But beyond the changes in the heavens, one needs to sense the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth and perfect one's own world of Heaven and Man. This requires countless hours of refinement, and it's normal to advance one realm every few hundred years. By the way, I noticed that the winner of this Tower of Babel is also surnamed Gu?"

Li Chengyi smiled and said, "Father's eyes are sharp. He is indeed a son of the Gu family. More than two hundred years ago, Li Lingyi, a young man from the Li Guanrong family, was granted the surname Gu. This time, the winner is Gu Lingyi's grandson, Gu Haochen. He even came up the mountain a few years ago. This time, Father is going to appear in the Ancient Realm Platform. We, as the younger generation, naturally cannot let you lose face."

Gu Yuanqing chuckled. Three hundred years had passed, and his descendants had spread far and wide. Even though most of them were still focused on cultivation and started families relatively late, there were always some exceptions. Gu Haochen was Gu Lingyi's grandson, and by seniority, he was his great-great-grandson.

To be honest, he has spent most of his time cultivating over the years, and even his grandchildren, such as Li Guanrong and Gu Siyuan, may not have been able to see him even once in decades.

By the time it came to his great-grandson's generation, Gu Yuanqing would still occasionally pay attention to them, but after that, he rarely gave them any attention.

Conversely, Gu Yuanqing's every move is of utmost importance to the Li family, the Gu family, and the entire Daqian dynasty.

If Gu Yuanqing were to appear on the Ancient Realm Platform, and the person who had passed through this realm was still an outsider cultivator, wouldn't that be a loss of face for Gu Yuanqing?
In the eyes of these descendants, it is said that if one has not surpassed all other realms to become number one, then one cannot be considered victorious.

"Don't put too much pressure on him, just let things take their course."

Li Chengyi said, "These are all the wishes of the younger generation. Besides, it's good to have such a spirit. Without pressure and competition, it would become a stagnant pool. I can't help my father with important matters, but in the competition among peers, my Great Qian is confident that we are no less than anyone else, even when facing the Ancient Divine Sect!"

Gu Yuanqing smiled and didn't bring up the matter again, asking, "Have there been any changes in the Linglong Realm and the Primordial Divine Sect in the past few months?"

Li Chengyi said, "No, the disciples of the Ancient God Sect still keep to themselves and rarely show their faces outside the Ancient God Mountain. After the last battle between me and the Underworld Palace and the Flame God Sect, there have been fewer cultivators in the Ancient Realm who have provoked my Qian Yuan Realm. Perhaps they are all waiting for the Ancient Realm Platform incident to come to an end."

Gu Yuanqing nodded, then looked Li Chengyi up and down and said, "Not bad, you've already grasped the basics of Yin and Yang."

Li Chengyi said, "I have made some progress these past few days."

Gu Yuanqing smiled and said, "Then how about playing a game of chess with your father?"

Li Chengyi hesitated and said, "We need to go to the Ancient Boundary Platform tomorrow..."

Gu Yuanqing glanced at Li Chengyi and chuckled, "With your current cultivation level, how much mental energy can you possibly drain from me?"

……

The next morning.

The Qian Yuan Token trembled slightly, and all the cultivators who controlled it sat cross-legged in the formation, emptying their minds, and entered the ancient realm under the guidance of the Qian Yuan Token.

Above the 999 steps of the Ancient Realm Platform, the Mirror of Myriad Manifestations of Heaven and Earth floats, emitting a dazzling light that projects the scene within the central barrier of the platform into the air.

There were thousands of cultivators below the stage, far more than at any other time in the past.

Everywhere there were groups of cultivators, their eyes frequently glancing towards the sky.

By this time, more than ninety floating platforms had appeared, and these realm lords took their seats. Apart from some pleasantries, many of them secretly conversed using the art of telepathic communication.

Everyone's gaze involuntarily turned to a few empty spaces, which belonged to the Qian Yuan Realm and the Taigu Divine Sect.

The once-a-decade trial path is not a big deal for most people. What really concerns everyone is Gu Yuanqing and the Ancient Divine Sect, who have not yet arrived.

One of them is a powerful cultivator at the pinnacle of the realm, while the other is a major sect that has suppressed the past and present. Their every move could affect the entire Linglong Realm.

"Look, the floating platform of the Qian Yuan Realm has appeared!" someone exclaimed.

The voices of the cultivators below the stage suddenly quieted down, and everyone's gaze fell on a certain spot.

The realm lords in the other realms' floating platforms also stopped talking and turned to look.

A floating platform emerged from the void and slowly solidified into a physical form, with a figure appearing on the platform.

"Which one of you is Gu Yuanqing?"

"I don't know, it seems it hasn't appeared yet."

Who is the one in the middle?

"You don't even recognize him? Li Chengyi, the former Emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty."

"That's the one who defeated the Yin-Yang master of the Underworld Palace with the Three Tribulations of Heavenly Change. He's so young."

"He's only three hundred years old. Back then, I was only at the Divine Platform Realm."

"It's just good luck. His father is a master of the Chaos Realm. What's so surprising about that?"

The group of cultivators whispered among themselves, and suddenly all the sounds disappeared.

In the center of the platform, the last of the five figures had already appeared.

He wore a blue robe, his long hair was casually tied back, with a few strands of hair breaking free and falling to his temples, adding a touch of unruliness.

Despite his youthful appearance, his eyes were like deep, still pools, calm and undisturbed, yet occasionally, a glint of light would appear, like stars reflected in a cold pool, sharp and penetrating.

Sitting there, one feels a powerful force that can move mountains and suppress all things, like a human-shaped divine mountain that has concealed its sharpness, ancient and serene, yet containing a vast and profound depth that makes the world pale in comparison.

Without a word, his gaze swept across the entire Ancient Realm Platform, silencing everyone completely; no one dared to meet his eyes.

With just a glance, the cultivators felt as if a mountain had crushed their minds, rendering their true essence and soul immobile. This was the awe-inspiring power of a Grandmaster of Chaos!

The originally lively scene suddenly became extremely oppressive because of Gu Yuanqing's appearance.

This is because most of the realms or cultivators here have some degree of grudges with the Qian Yuan Realm.

Even though the Illusionary Spirit Sect had a private relationship with the Qian Yuan Sect, there were still instances where their former sect leader stood up to criticize Gu Yuanqing.

The scene became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Just then, the floating platform belonging to the Primordial Divine Sect was revealed.

Mu Tianheng sat high above, saying indifferently, "Fellow Daoist Gu is indeed impressive. Your appearance alone silences the myriad realms. If you had used that power in the war against the Demon Race, the damage to my Linglong Realm would not have been so great!"

Gu Yuanqing calmly said, "Sect Master Mu, as the Sect Master of the Ancient Divine Sect and a top cultivator of this era, why can't you be upright and honest? Such words are nothing more than deceiving the ignorant. Don't you feel that this matter somewhat tarnishes your reputation as the number one person in the Linglong Realm?"

Mu Tianheng sighed softly, “Fellow Daoist, since you dared to do it, why don’t you dare to admit it? You are greedy for life and afraid of death, fearing the demon race, and deserted in the face of battle, causing the defense line to fall. My Ancient Divine Sect, the Hidden Radiance Alliance, and many cultivators from the Linglong Realm have all suffered countless deaths and injuries because of your selfishness. Now you turn around and accuse my Ancient Divine Sect of slander. It’s truly laughable. This is an irrefutable fact, witnessed by so many cultivators. How can you wash it away with just a few words? Fellow Daoists, don’t you agree?”

The Yin-Yang cultivator from the Underworld Palace stood up immediately and said coldly, "Sect Master Mu is right. Gu Yuanqing, you are also a Chaotic Realm cultivator, and your shamelessness is truly unparalleled in the world. The facts are clear, yet you still dare to argue. You should know that this is not just Sect Master Mu's opinion. Countless cultivators have witnessed your desertion in the face of battle. Elder Li of the Ancient Divine Sect died on the battlefield to protect the safety of our Linglong Realm. He was a dignified Chaotic Realm Undying cultivator, a role model for all of us cultivators. Yet you still want to slander him as being killed in the internal strife of the Ancient Divine Sect. This is an unforgivable lie!"

"That's right, Gu Yuanqing. It was Lu Zeyu who stood up to correct you. Everyone knows that you are a guest elder of the Illusionary Spirit Sect, and the Illusionary Spirit Sect has always been on good terms with your Qian Yuan Realm. So, is what he said also false?"

"That's right, many cultivators have witnessed it with their own eyes, how dare you try to deny it?"

The group of cultivators chimed in, each one seemingly filled with righteous indignation.

Standing behind Gu Yuanqing were Li Chengyi, Li Shi'an, Li Guanrong and others, who also looked angry, but with Gu Yuanqing there, they dared not speak out.

A cold smile appeared on Mu Tianheng's lips as he looked at the Illusionary Spirit Sect and said, "Sect Master Shang, what does your Illusionary Spirit Sect think?"

After a long silence, Shang Ziyin slowly said, "I haven't seen it with my own eyes, so I dare not speak rashly."

Mu Tianheng laughed and said, "That's true. Perhaps there are many other sects in the world who have the same doubts. So, I was just recuperating in the mountains and healing my injuries when I heard that Fellow Daoist Gu from the Qian Yuan Realm was coming to this Ancient Realm Platform. So I came out of seclusion to confront him. Hao Que, please invite Fellow Daoist Lu, Fellow Daoist Qin, and other witnesses here. Let them tell us the truth for themselves!"

"As ordered!"

Xu Haoque, who was standing next to Mu Tianheng, bowed and accepted the order, then closed his eyes.

At this moment, in the Ancient Realm Platform, the trial battle had already begun, but most cultivators did not focus their attention on it. The battle of the juniors' Dao Fire was nowhere near as good as the confrontation between Gu Yuanqing and the Primordial Divine Sect.

A moment later, a rainbow bridge appeared, descending from the ancient sacred mountain beside them.

Lu Zeyu and Qin Ruhao of the Illusionary Spirit Sect, Liu Ruiyuan of the Three Yang Sect, Tang Yi of the Dustless Sect, and cultivators from the Underworld Palace, among others, all descended from the Rainbow Bridge.

A moment later, they arrived at the Ancient Realm Platform. The group of cultivators bowed slightly towards Mu Tianheng and said, "Greetings, Sect Master Mu!"

Mu Tianheng nodded, and then the others stood up.

Shang Ziyin of the Illusionary Spirit Sect fixed her gaze on her senior brother, Lu Zeyu.

Lu Zeyu's gaze met his, and he nodded slightly.

Shang Ziyin's eyes showed a hint of doubt, then her expression became more profound. She reached down to her waist and realized that her body was formed by the boundary token drawing upon the rules of heaven and earth, and there was no wine gourd at her waist.

But then, with a thought, she conjured a gourd of wine out of thin air, and drank it down, a trace of sadness appearing in her eyes.

Gu Yuanqing's gaze also fell on Lu Zeyu. At this moment, Lu Zeyu seemed no different from before, but Gu Yuanqing could feel that the unique spirituality of a cultivator on this former fellow Daoist seemed to have been covered with dust.

Not only Lu Zeyu, but all the other cultivators were like this.

Each cultivator has their own personality, stemming from their life experiences and unique insights and understanding of the Great Dao, but at this moment, these people all show some similarities in certain aspects.

Shang Ziyin noticed something amiss because of her understanding of her senior brother, while Gu Yuanqing noticed something strange because of his cultivation level, which was several levels higher than Lu Zeyu's, and his keen sense of the Great Dao through his Void-Piercing Heavenly Eye.

Mu Tianheng naturally knew that this couldn't be hidden from Gu Yuanqing, but that didn't matter, as long as the cultivators of the Linglong Realm couldn't tell the difference.

He said calmly, "Fellow Daoists, you have all personally experienced this war between humans and demons. Now that all the Daoists from the Linglong Realm are here, as is Gu Yuanqing from the Qianyuan Realm, why don't we recount the details of this war in detail? This will dispel the rumors and clear up everyone's doubts."

The group of cultivators on the Rainbow Bridge looked at Gu Yuanqing, then seemed to have some concerns.

Mu Tianheng added, "You need not worry about your safety. To be honest, no one on the Ancient Realm Platform can harm you, not even a Grandmaster of Chaos!"

Lu Zeyu took a deep breath, stepped forward, glared at Gu Yuanqing, then clasped his hands in a fist and said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoists, Gu Yuanqing was once my friend. Today, I will personally recount this battle. Even if he kills me in the future, I will expose his true colors to everyone."

“That’s right, I am not one to be afraid of death…” Tang Yi of Wuchen Sect shouted.

……

“Father…” Li Chengyi said in a low voice.

Gu Yuanqing raised his hand and calmly said, "Let them say that the Primordial Divine Sect had already made this plan long ago, and that it cannot be stopped on this Ancient Realm Platform. Besides, even if they were stopped today, there would be tomorrow and the day after. Don't you think so, Sect Master Mu?"

Mu Tianheng's lips curled slightly: "Fellow Daoist Lu and the others are merely stating the facts. What? Is Fellow Daoist Gu feeling guilty?"

Lu Zeyu, Tang Yi, and the others immediately recounted how the human and demon races confronted each other, how fierce the battle was, how Gu Yuanqing suddenly withdrew at the critical moment, how the defense line collapsed, how billions of demons and magical beasts broke through the formation, how the cultivators of the Linglong Realm suffered a terrible fate, and how Li Lingyun faced death without fear, burning his Huntian Undying characteristic, and heroically sacrificed himself in the battle against the Demon Lord.

The whole process was vivid and tearful, which drew angry glares from the surrounding cultivators.

Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!
Gu Yuanqing clapped his hands and exclaimed, "What a wonderful story! Sect Leader Mu, you must have put a lot of thought into crafting this story, right?"

Mu Tianheng sneered, "The facts are undeniable, yet you still insist on making excuses and refuse to repent?"

Gu Yuanqing chuckled: "I am quite curious, though. They are just cultivators at most at the Yin-Yang Realm, yet they can describe the details of the Chaotic Undying Battle in such detail. Can they... even see it clearly?"

(End of this chapter)