Pure Yang!

Chapter 441 Please Take a Seat! Is Yu Xuanji Dead?
Fujiao Mountain, Pure Land Temple.

Inside the Sword Offering Hall, incense smoke swirled, gathering and dispersing like clouds, with occasional wisps of light rising, truly resembling a mystical realm.

Above the main hall, an ancient painting is enshrined. In the painting, a Taoist priest, exuding an air of otherworldly grace, holds a magic sword and treads upon the azure waves. Amidst the waves, a dragon lies hidden, its fangs bared, displaying a fierce appearance.

This painting is none other than that of Xu Zu, the True Lord Xu.

At this moment, the Sword Offering Hall was already packed with people.

These people came from various mountains and temples in Xijiang Mountain, all for the same thing: the upcoming Danyuan Dharma Assembly.

They came here to win over Xu Changshou.

After all, he was a powerful expert at the Zhai Shou realm. If he could become an ally, they could at least compete for a Zhongji Blessed Land.

Therefore, within the Xijiang region, apart from Sanqing Mountain and Gezao Mountain, almost every prominent sect and sect sent experts to extend an invitation.

At this moment, the person sitting in the first VIP seat was a young man.

"Qu Zhe, the fact that you personally made the trip to Magu Mountain shows that you are determined to obtain Abbot Xu."

Suddenly, a soft, melodious sound rang out, and everyone's gaze fell upon the young man in the head seat.

The young man was not dressed in worldly attire, but rather in a Taoist robe. He had a cool and aloof demeanor, with sharp brows and an unyielding radiance that seemed out of place with his otherwise aloof personality.

Qu Zhe is a descendant of the Magu Mountain lineage.

Since ancient times, the Xijiang region has been a thriving center of Taoism, with numerous famous mountains and major sects emerging.

Besides Sanqingshan and Gezaoshan, other top-tier mountains like Magushan, Xilingshan, and Luyinshan are also first-class.

These famous mountains and sects hold a pivotal position in the history of Taoism, with a history of at least a thousand years, and have produced many great masters of alchemy.

Like Magu Mountain, also known as Danxia Mountain, the great Taoist master Ge Zu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty once practiced alchemy and wrote books here. During the Tang Dynasty, it was highly praised by the royal family. Emperor Xuanzong ordered the construction of temples here, and eight emperors of the Song Dynasty bestowed titles upon it. Its prestige was unparalleled among Taoist sects in the southeast.

These sects, with a history of over a thousand years, endorsed by great masters of alchemy and even immortals, and holding a lofty position within Taoism, are like top-tier universities such as the "Double First-Class" and "985/211" universities.

A typical mountain sect, with a history of several hundred years, might only produce a master of the Heavenly Master level at best; that's like an ordinary university.

If even a Celestial Master has never appeared, then it's only at the junior college level.

As for independent Taoist temples, they are equivalent to vocational schools like New Oriental or Lanxiang Technical School.

Qu Zhe is a descendant of Magu Mountain. Despite his high status and the fact that he sits in the head seat, no one dares to question him.

"Yu Mian, now that I'm here, you should know that you've made a wasted trip today," Qu Zhe chuckled.

Upon hearing this, everyone frowned slightly. Faced with such confident words, they felt quite dissatisfied, but dared not show it.

Qu Zhe paid no attention to the reactions of the crowd; his gaze seemed to be fixed only on the woman to his right.

Zhuang Yumin, a disciple of Luyin Mountain.

Legend has it that Mount Luyin was the place where Lü Zu (the founder of Taoism) secluded himself to cultivate immortality and ascended to heaven. The great Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai also visited this mountain several times, leaving behind many legends.

Among the Taoist sects of Xijiang, Luyin Mountain cannot compare with the Three Pure Ones, Gezao, Magu, etc., but it is well-known as a 5A-level scenic spot in the whole country.

"Master Xu hasn't even shown his face yet, and you're already so confident?" Zhuang Yumin said calmly.

"Unless a distinguished guest has come from afar, I will not sit in the chief seat." Qu Zhe chuckled, "Junior Sister Yu Mian, can't you see that?"

Given the status of Magu Mountain and Qu Zhe's reputation among the younger generation of the Xijiang Daoist sect, his position as the head of the group is well-deserved.

No one dared to compete, and no one could win.

The people below looked at each other in disbelief. No one had expected that the competition among rogue cultivators at this year's Dan Yuan Dharma Assembly would be so fierce, with even a major sect like Magu Mountain sending out its successors.

Of course, few of these people truly knew Xu Changshou's background; if they had, they wouldn't have felt this way.

hum...

Just then, the door opened, and the young Taoist led two more people in, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

Qu Zhe couldn't help but look over. Two unfamiliar faces sat down at the end of the table without paying any attention to them.

Within the Xijiang region, the only places that truly mattered to him were Sanqing Mountain and Gezao Mountain.

"There are a lot of people!"

Zhang Fan and Zhang Wuming, who had just entered, quietly sat at the end of the table. As newcomers, they attracted almost no attention.

There are at least a dozen.

"I've long heard that Xijiang is one of the most prosperous provinces for Taoism in the country, and now it seems that its reputation is well-deserved," Zhang Fan exclaimed.

“Nonsense, your family made your fortune here,” Zhang Wuming said in a low voice.

"Your family is the same." Zhang Fan grinned.

In this world, can one stroke actually write two sheets?

The two exchanged a knowing smile, silently sitting in their seats, waiting for Xu Changshou's arrival.

At this moment, no one knew that two disciples of the Zhang family from Longhu Mountain had quietly infiltrated this small Sword Offering Hall.

One in the south, one in the north, eighty years later, they flowed together here.

Inside the Sword Offering Hall, it was still bustling. Most people knew very well that they could not compete with Magu Mountain or Qu Zhe, but at this moment they were trying to build a relationship with the person in charge.

Even those who cultivate themselves cannot escape the complexities of human relationships as long as they remain in this mortal world.

The descendant of Magu Mountain naturally became the object of everyone's flattery.

He sat in the highest seat, quite like a descendant of a great lineage with a thousand-year history.

"Yumian, it seems we've made a wasted trip today."

At that moment, a woman wearing jeans and a short leather jacket spoke up next to Zhuang Yumin. Her trendy outfit seemed out of place in this Taoist temple.

"Haitang, your Xiling Mountain is the ancestral home of the Jingming Sect, passed down from Ancestor Xu. It has a connection with Xu Changshou, so perhaps you still have a chance," Zhuang Yumin said with a light smile.

"No, I was forced back into this business. If it weren't for the Dan Yuan Dharma Assembly, I'd be partying at the Yu Jing Music Festival right now," Lin Haitang said, shaking her head.

"Do you know how hard I worked to snag an early bird ticket?"

"Ok?"

Suddenly, Lin Haitang paused slightly, then saw Zhuang Yumin with the same expression, her beautiful, watery eyes staring intently at something.

She followed the other person's gaze and reached out, but her eyes landed on the two figures at the very end of the table.

"Yu Mian, what are you looking at?"

“When I first started, my master told me that a cultivator should be radiant but not dazzling, like still waters running deep,” Zhuang Yumin suddenly said.

Those who shine brightly are easily broken, while those who remain calm endure.

“Look at those two. In this environment, they are calm and composed, without a single thought or intention.” Zhuang Yumin stared at Zhang Fan and Zhang Wuming.

They sat there, seemingly out of place with their surroundings. Despite the noise, they were unusually quiet, so quiet that one couldn't bear to disturb them.

"It really is true." Lin Haitang's eyes lit up as well.

She was, after all, a disciple of Xiling Mountain, and although she was involved in worldly affairs, her cultivation had not suffered in the slightest.

At this moment, she also noticed the unusual relationship between Zhang Fan and Zhang Wuming.

Such an environment and such a situation, seemingly hidden yet subtly revealed, actually appear grand and magnificent.

Such demeanor is impossible to perceive without careful observation; even the most orthodox and top-tier schools of Taoism could not train such a disciple.

In comparison, Naqu Zhe seems flashy but impractical.

"Haitang, do you recognize these two people?" Zhuang Yumin couldn't help but ask. "No, they look unfamiliar, and they're sitting at the end of the table, so they shouldn't be from any famous sects," Lin Haitang shook her head.

At this point, she paused slightly and corrected, "At least they weren't disciples trained by famous mountains within the Xijiang region."

"I'd like to get to know him," Zhuang Yumin said, her curiosity piqued.

“Shen Mingchan has come to climb Gezao Mountain to pay his respects.”

Just then, a loud voice rang out from outside the hall, almost echoing throughout the entire Pure Land Temple.

Zhuang Yumin's expression changed slightly, and she subconsciously looked up.

Lin Haitang's long eyelashes fluttered involuntarily.

A commotion broke out in the vast Sword Offering Hall, and even Qu Zhe stood up from his seat, looking out of the hall with a solemn expression.

Compared to Magu Mountain, Gezao Mountain is obviously more famous.

You should know that it is the ancestral home of the Lingbao Sect, one of the Three Mountains of Talismans in the past, which once rivaled Longhu Mountain. Even now, in the Xijiang region, only Sanqing Mountain, one of the ten major Taoist sects in the world, can hold its own.

"Even Gezaoshan came? This Xu Changshou is really extraordinary. Could he have some kind of background?"

"Shen Mingchan... he's the senior disciple of Gezao Mountain, why did he personally come to visit?"

"This is no ordinary quantity. It's being sold at a high price. It seems that this Abbot Xu, who lives a secluded life, is truly selling at a high price."

Various thoughts arose in everyone's minds.

At this moment, the prestige of Gezao Mountain within the Xijiang region is evident.

Just as everyone was watching, Shen Mingchan led Lin Shu into the Sword Offering Hall.

"It really is him. I heard he followed the experts from Sanqing Mountain into Tongluo Mountain and has already come out?" Zhuang Yumin thought to herself, her attention now focused entirely on this senior brother from Gezao Mountain.

"Senior Brother Shen, it's been a long time."

At that moment, Qu Zhe stood up in response. In terms of status, cultivation, and prestige, he was far inferior to Shen Mingchan.

Among the younger generation of the Xijiang Daoist sect, perhaps only Yu Xuanji can overshadow this person.

As expected, when Shen Mingchan stepped into the Sword Offering Hall, everyone stood up and bowed.

Qu Zhe's brilliance seemed to have dimmed considerably. From the moment Shen Mingchan appeared, he was no longer the center of attention, no longer the protagonist of this hall.

"Yes, Junior Brother Qu, you're here too." Shen Mingchan nodded, acknowledging that they had met.

As for the others, he didn't look at them, only making eye contact with Zhuang Yumin and Lin Haitang, which was enough for him to acknowledge them.

"Senior Brother Shen, please take a seat."

Qu Zhe raised his hand in a gesture.

With Shen Mingchan here, the seat of honor must naturally be relinquished.

The group exchanged glances, seemingly having expected this, and it was only natural.

Now, the seat of honor for the chief guest in the Sword Offering Hall is naturally rightfully reserved for this senior brother from Gezaoshan.

"Ok!"

Shen Mingchan nodded, without refusing.

However, he had only taken two steps when he suddenly stopped, turned around abruptly, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.

Just as he took a step, he seemed to catch a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye.

A figure that was like a nightmare to him.

It was that figure that made this senior disciple of Gezao Mountain develop deep doubts about himself, about cultivation, and even about the lineage of his sect's Taoist teachings.

This doubt greatly shook his resolve and affected his spiritual practice.

However, Shen Mingchan was willing to believe that the feeling of disorientation was merely a temporary illusion, a projection of the inner demons she had been experiencing these past few days.

However, when he turned around and looked at the last seat...

Shen Mingchan's body was struck as if by lightning, and she froze on the spot.

The senior disciple of Gezao Mountain involuntarily raised his hand and rubbed his eyes. He saw that man again, that inhuman man in Tongluo Mountain...

At this moment, it was actually smiling at itself.

"It's really him!"

A thousand words can be summed up in four characters.

Shen Mingchan's heart trembled. He never dreamed that he would meet Zhang Fan again here.

"Brother Shen, we meet again."

Just then, Zhang Fan spoke up. He remained seated, giving Shen Mingchan a warm smile, which also drew the attention of Zhang Wuming, who was standing nearby.

Upon hearing this, the people in the hall finally noticed the two young men sitting at the end of the table.

"Do they know Shen Mingchan?"

"Huh? Shen Mingchan is here, and they still dare to sit?"

Everyone who saw this felt something was amiss.

Just then, Shen Mingchan's expression tightened, she clenched her fists, took a deep breath, walked straight to Zhang Fan, and bowed respectfully.

"I didn't expect to see you here..."

"Please take a seat!"

As she spoke, Shen Mingchan gestured for her to enter, pointing directly to the head seat in the hall.

As soon as this statement came out, the whole audience was in an uproar.

Everyone looked at Zhang Fan in disbelief. No one knew who this young man of unknown origin was, that he could make Shen Mingchan so respectful and willing to give up the seat of honor.

At this moment, Qu Zhe's expression was also incredibly interesting.

Just now, he didn't even glance at the two young men sitting at the end of the table. Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, these two would be treated as honored guests by Shen Mingchan?

"Yu Mian, you really have a keen eye for things." Lin Haitang whispered in Zhuang Yu Mian's ear.

I feel you are no ordinary creature; even a short distance away, you are a dragon that can stir up storms.

Such keen insight is indeed not something everyone possesses.

Zhuang Yumin stared intently at Zhang Fan. At this moment, she was even more certain that whoever these two people were, they must have an extraordinary background, otherwise they wouldn't have made someone like Shen Mingchan bow down.

"Brother Shen, you're too kind. The Dao follows the clouds and rain without distinction of high or low. It's fine for the two of us brothers to sit here."

Zhang Fan sat in a chair, leaning against the edge of the table, looking at Shen Mingchan with a relaxed tone and great interest.

"By the way, there's something else I'd like to ask you."

"I wouldn't dare, you tell me," Shen Mingchan quickly replied.

"Is Yu Xuanji dead? I didn't hold back that day, so I don't know if she swallowed her last breath or not."

Upon hearing this, Shen Mingchan's expression changed drastically; her face turned ashen, devoid of any color.

Inside the Sword Offering Hall, all was silent. Everyone looked at each other, their wide eyes gradually filled with horror.

"He...what did he say?"

(End of this chapter)