Pure Yang!

Chapter 396 On Refining Treasure Peak! Mao Xiaoyun and Zhang Tiansheng
In the dead of night, the large moon hangs alone, with only a few lonely, cold stars.

Maoshan, Lianbao Peak.

Inside the ancient temple, candlelight cast a red glow, and the strong incense smoke wafted, offering a jade box on the altar.

Amidst the howling mountain winds, Mao Baifeng, An Wuyang, Xiao Changfeng, and the others stood respectfully outside the temple when suddenly a figure walked up to the altar.

"granduncle!"

Mao Baifeng couldn't help but cry out.

According to the seniority system within the Mao family, she would have to address Mao Xiaoyun as her great-uncle.

"senior!"

An Wuyang, Xiao Changfeng also bowed respectfully. They were disciples of Zhongnan Mountain, and now that they were guests at Maoshan, they could not be impolite when meeting a Celestial Master.

"Xiao An, where is your martial uncle now?"

Inside the temple, an aged voice drifted out, and in the dim candlelight, the aged figure seemed to be looking at the jade box enshrined on the altar.

“Uncle Ye is following the trail of the Lord of the Crimson Palace. He has probably already left Jiangnan Province and entered the territory of Huizhou,” An Wuyang said solemnly.

He vaguely knew that Ye Beichen's trip down the mountain with Mao Xiaoyun to Jiangnan Province was to hunt down the master of the Jiang Palace of the Wuwei Sect.

"The Wuwei Sect truly produces talented individuals, but in the end, he still managed to escape," Mao Xiaoyun sighed.

"Unkillable by a thousand kills, invincible by ten thousand calamities... Only those who are tempered in adversity can become true masters."

"In comparison, the Taoist sect is far too comfortable nowadays."

Soft whispers echoed in the ancient temple, and An Wuyang, Mao Baifeng, and the other young disciples all remained silent.

If Taoism walks in the light, then Wuwei (non-action) is hidden in the darkness.

In comparison, the number of Taoist disciples is simply too large. In each generation, there are always exceptionally talented individuals with unimaginable abilities.

However, although the number of people in the Wuwei Sect is small, they walk in the shadows and have to go through countless tribulations in order to survive. Their success rate is extremely high. The masters who are tempered in hardship and life and death are far more terrifying than ordinary Taoist masters.

Just like the Lord of the Crimson Palace, who was surrounded by two great celestial masters, forced to abandon his physical body, and even laid a net of heaven and earth in Jiangnan Province, but in the end he still managed to escape.

Having escaped such a calamity, this person will surely make progress and become even more difficult to deal with in the future.

"Just as he said, flowers grown in greenhouses, no matter how beautiful, are only fit to be fertilizer."

Such words sounded particularly grating to Mao Baifeng, Xiao Changfeng, and their disciples.

"Xiao An, take out your magic weapon."

Mao Xiaoyun's voice rang out again, pulling everyone's thoughts back.

An Wuyang took out a magic seal from his bosom. It was forged from purple copper, with faint thunder and fire patterns on it, and tadpole-shaped seal script engraved on the bottom. It was ancient and mysterious.

This is An Wuyang's magic weapon...

Hidden Sword Seal!
An Wuyang walked to a stone platform a hundred meters from the ancient temple gate. The stone surface was as smooth as a mirror, as if it had been polished a million times. On it were two fragments of seals, namely the [Thunder City Demon-Imprisoning Golden Seal] and the [Jingming Cave Yang Dharma Seal]. In addition, there were three other fragments of magic treasures next to it.

These are all materials brought by An Wuyang.

He carefully placed his [Hidden Sword Seal] on the stone platform.

“Your magic weapon is quite extraordinary; it bears a resemblance to the Zhongnan Mountain [Lingguan Seal].” Mao Xiaoyun stood in the temple, his gaze falling upon the stone platform.

The Lingguan Seal is an ancient seal from Zhongnan Mountain. It was only because it was once destroyed that it was promoted to the category of "Azure Feather Magic Treasures" long ago.

"Senior, you have the insight to help me. This seal of mine is based on the [Spirit Official Seal] and was reforged by referencing the image of the great seal that the Qiu family has secretly kept."

Upon hearing this, even Mao Xiaoyun inside the temple couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, and a name seemed to be on the tip of his tongue.

"Innate Seal!"

One of the Nine Artifacts, the [Innate Seal], once fell into the hands of the Qiu family. Because of this, the Qiu family created a unique skill called the Innate Skill.

An Wuyang's magic seal is based on this, which complements his [Taiyi Sword] perfectly.

"Zhongnan Mountain really thinks highly of you; it must have come at a great cost," Mao Xiaoyun exclaimed.

The innate seal Dharma image treasured by the Qiu family is not something that can be observed casually, let alone used as a foundation to re-forge a magic weapon.

In addition, Zhongnan Mountain also paid a price for helping An Wuyang refine the [Hidden Sword Seal].

This shows that this successor holds an extraordinary position in Zhongnan Mountain.

"Please, senior, lend a hand," An Wuyang said, bowing deeply.

"Then let's get started!"

As he spoke, Mao Xiaoyun turned around, walked to the altar, and with a wave of his hand, opened the jade box that was placed on top.

A jade seal appeared in everyone's sight. Suddenly, a thunderous sound resounded, and crimson clouds faintly pierced the sky. The incense smoke rose thickly like a tide.

The moment the jade seal appeared, it caused a strange sensation in everyone's primordial spirit. They felt that the area around the jade seal was hazy and mysterious.

"That is……"

"The Purple Cloud Divine Seal!" An Wuyang said solemnly.

The Dharma Seal of Longhu Mountain is the most wondrous of all the ways in the world.

Eighty years ago, after the great calamity of Taoism, this lineage withered and disappeared from the world. The Dharma seals that were once enshrined in the mountain gate were either destroyed by the calamity or hidden in the world... Now, very few have survived.

The one obtained by Maoshan is one of the most important Dharma seals of Longhushan, ranking eleventh in the "Longhushan Dharma Seal Golden Book".

Although Zhongnan Mountain also has three Dragon and Tiger Dharma Seals, the most precious one is only ranked twenty-eighth in the "Dragon and Tiger Mountain Dharma Seal Gold Book".

"The Purple Heaven Divine Decree..."

Inside the ancient temple, in front of the altar, Mao Xiaoyun spoke softly and slowly took off her gold-rimmed glasses.

"Jiang Wansui is so petty, and his glasses are broken again."

Upon hearing this, Mao Baifeng subconsciously looked over and her gaze fell on the gold-rimmed glasses.

She vaguely knew that these glasses were a gift given to all the participants at the Baihe Temple Reconstruction Ceremony eight years ago, and all those who received this gift were Celestial Masters.

However, the quality of these glasses is really not good. I heard that the cost price in Danyang is only twenty yuan.

Mao Xiaoyun's gold-rimmed glasses have been repaired more than once.

"Grand Uncle, you..."

Suddenly, Mao Baifeng let out a soft cry, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

Her eyes trembled slightly, and she saw that after Mao Xiaoyun took off his glasses, there was a strange scar at the corner of his eye, near his temple, about the length of an index finger, crooked and crooked, like a talisman crawling on it.

Mao Baifeng rarely had the chance to see Mao Xiaoyun, let alone see him take off his glasses and see this scar.

At this moment, An Wuyang and Xiao Changfeng also noticed that such a scar had been left on the face of the dignified Maoshan Celestial Master, but they did not know how many stories were hidden in it.

"Longhu Mountain..."

Mao Xiaoyun seemed oblivious. He looked at the [Purple Heaven Divine Edict Jade Seal] on the altar. The translucent jade reflected his blurry figure, as well as the strange scar.

"The cicadas sing in the locust-lined streets, the wind blows through the willow-lined markets, the palace towers lean against the waning moon in the east. The road to and fro is long, but the people who have gathered and parted over the past ten years are different."

Mao Xiaoyun murmured softly, his eyes unfocused, as if time itself was spinning before his eyes.

On this jade seal, on that scar, he seemed to have returned to many years ago, also in Maoshan... That year, he was still young. As a disciple of the Mao family and a direct descendant of Maoshan, he had always been outstanding and a leader among his peers.

That year, Chen Zhuoqing was still tending the incense and doing odd jobs at the Cibei Temple.

That year, the young Xu Xuanguan left his hometown and the Xu family to become a disciple of the Maoshan sect.

Rumble…

Under the bright sunshine, in front of the True Lord's Hall, the young Xu Xuanguan was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground in full view of everyone.

A commotion arose, and the so-called Pure Yang Xu family became a joke in everyone's eyes.

Only Mao Xiaoyun stood tall in the sunlight, his expression unmoved, as if such a victory was insignificant. His elongated shadow, like a mountain, covered Xu Xuanguan, making him gasp for breath.

"You know nothing of the Xu family's Dragon-Slaying Technique, nor are you utterly ignorant of Maoshan's Taoist arts," Mao Xiaoyun said softly, rebuking him mercilessly with the air of a victor.

"Your background is no less than mine, yet you have willingly degraded yourself. Feng shui and geomancy are merely side branches of my path. Even if you have achieved some success, you are still not up to par. Not to mention searching for dragon veins and digging up graves, which are even more despicable acts."

“If you continue like this, you should leave the mountain as soon as possible and not disgrace the Maoshan lineage.”

Every word he uttered was upright and dignified, echoing before the Hall of True Lords.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Mao Xiaoyun drifted away, followed closely by the crowd. Only Xu Xuanguan and Chen Zhuoqing, who was sweeping not far away, remained in the vast square.

Although there is no sexagenary cycle in the mountains, only two days and months have passed.

It was a dark and windy night at the back of Maoshan Mountain.

When Mao Xiaoyun opened her eyes, she felt a burning pain on her cheeks. A figure walked in front of her, blocking the bright moonlight.

He looked up and saw a tall, thin young man with a blade of grass in his mouth, and behind him stood Xu Xuanguan.

"who are you?"

Before he could finish speaking, the tall, thin young man raised his hand and slapped him across the face.

"Did I let you speak?"

The cold voice echoed in the chilly night.

“You’re not a disciple of Maoshan, Xu Xuanguan, how dare you collude with outsiders…” Mao Xiaoyun said fiercely.

"He's my little brother. Who did you call lowlife the other day?" The tall, thin young man sneered, then kicked Mao Xiaoyun, sending him flying and spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"You dare to stab me in the back and beat me up? What kind of hero are you?" Mao Xiaoyun struggled to his feet and shouted through gritted teeth. He was bound by iron chains and could not move.

"Who told you I'm a hero? You got ambushed in your own backyard and you still have the nerve to complain? You've disgraced your Maoshan ancestors for eighteen generations," the tall, thin young man sneered.

“You…” Mao Xiaoyun was furious.

"I'll give you a chance. Kneel down and apologize to my little brother. If you dare to bully him again, I'll beat you to a pulp." A fierce glint flashed in the tall, thin young man's eyes.

"Make me apologize to him?" Mao Xiaoyun glanced at Xu Xuanguan, who looked down on this good-for-nothing who had been kicked out of the Xu family.

"Go ahead and kill me if you dare. If I even flinch, I'm no longer a disciple of Maoshan." Mao Xiaoyun held his head high, his neck stiff, but there was no fear on his face.

"Good, you've got guts." The tall, thin young man's eyes lit up, and he immediately laughed, "I like guys with guts."

"Be my little brother."

"What?" Mao Xiaoyun was stunned for a moment, then her expression became extremely strange.

"How could I, a disciple of Maoshan and a descendant of the Mao family, submit to someone like you?"

"Hahaha, just as expected of a flower cultivated in a greenhouse, no matter how beautiful it is, it can only be used as fertilizer. How could you say such childish things?" The tall, thin young man laughed loudly.

"If you don't want to submit, then I'll just enjoy myself."

"Comfortable? How so?"

“If you can’t control him mentally, then eliminate him physically.” The tall, thin young man grinned as he walked toward Mao Xiaoyun.

Upon hearing this, Xu Xuanguan, who was standing nearby, was startled. He didn't want to cause a death.

"So be it if I die. It's a pity I have so much Taoist magic. If it were a one-on-one fight, I would make sure you never leave Maoshan." Mao Xiaoyun said through gritted teeth.

"So confident?"

The tall, thin young man stopped in his tracks: "Unravel the mystery for him."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Xuanguan did not hesitate for a moment. He stepped forward and untied Mao Xiaoyun's shackles. He moved his wrists and looked at the tall, thin young man with surprise and uncertainty.

"What on earth do you want to do?"

"Aren't you arrogant? I'll give you a chance to be arrogant," the tall, thin young man laughed. "But it might hurt a lot, and I'll leave you with something to look forward to."

As he spoke, the tall, thin young man beckoned with his finger, signaling the other party to make a move.

“Since I began my cultivation, no one my age has ever dared to speak so arrogantly in front of me.” Mao Xiaoyun laughed, looking at the confident, tall, and thin young man before him, and couldn’t help but become interested.

"Who are you? What's your name?"

Rumble…

Just then, a terrifying aura surged from the tall, thin youth's body, shattering the moonlight and obscuring the distant mountains. A mysterious talisman rose into the air, its golden light surging and reaching the heavens.

"This is……"

Mao Xiaoyun's eyes widened in shock, a look of disbelief shining in them.

"The Three Mountains General Record, Dragon and Tiger..."

"My surname is Zhang, the arrogant Zhang..."

Just then, beneath that mysterious and vast talisman, the tall, thin young man's lips curled up slightly.

"My name is Zhang Tiansheng!"

The light, carefree laughter seemed to still echo in his ears. Mao Xiaoyun stood in the ancient temple, his gaze gradually hardening, as the light and shadow of the past slowly dissipated.

"Time flies like an arrow, but the way of Heaven is as crooked as a bow. My lifelong ambition is to study the Yellow Court Classic, and I also aspire to be like the old fisherman on the Canglang River."

Mao Xiaoyun murmured softly, his gaze slowly withdrawing from the scars reflected on the [Purple Heaven Divine Decree Jade Seal].

"Longhu Mountain..."

"Many years have passed."

Rumble…

Suddenly, a thunderbolt shook the sky, and lightning bolts raged like a great dragon in the dark clouds.

On Refining Treasure Peak, Zhang Fan followed Fang Changle up, then suddenly stopped and looked up at the sky.

"It's about to start, we've finally made it." Fang Changle murmured, looking in the direction where An Wuyang and the others were in the distance.

He knew this was no ordinary lightning, but rather the work of a celestial master; the true process of refining treasures had begun.

Rumble…

As another bolt of lightning flashed in the sky, a rumbling sound echoed over Maoshan, as if the heavens were enraged.

It was at this moment that Mao Xiaoyun slowly walked out of the ancient temple.

(End of this chapter)