Great Zhou Martial Immortal

Chapter 99 Behind the Scenes and the Takumi Palace
Lu Chenyuan wouldn't waste time on things that hadn't happened yet.

In his view, regardless of whether Shangguan Wan'er had any ideas or what those ideas were, it didn't change one thing—she was inside the palace, while he was outside.

One was a close attendant who was always at the Emperor Wu's beck and call, and the other was a male favorite who was always at Princess Taiping's beck and call.

Even if Lu Chenyuan had no ideas, he didn't have the means to pursue them.

With the two separated by numerous palace walls and Li Lingyue standing between them, it would be even more difficult for them to express their love in such an environment than a long-distance relationship.

Thinking about it for even a minute longer is just worrying unnecessarily.

Lu Chenyuan didn't take it to heart at all; he was looking for a place to put "The Hundred Ghosts of the Azure Netherworld".

This painting needs to be nurtured in a place full of vitality, otherwise its artistic essence will be lost.

Fortunately, the Princess's residence itself was influenced by Ye Fashan's influence of the dragon vein's energy, which was conducive to Li Lingyue's cultivation. Lu Chenyuan quickly found a suitable place—the Warm Fragrance Pavilion—and laid the scroll inside, then hid the true form of the magic weapon in the painting.

After several days of "hard work," he became more familiar with this place than with his own home.

He knows by heart which step, which stone, which bed, and which position are suitable for each!

Lu Chenyuan hid the scroll under the Cleansing Pool. The magic artifact had already recognized its master, so no one else could use it. Now, the only thing to worry about was the little sheep in the painting causing trouble.

Although they had searched his entire body, it was still hard to guarantee that there weren't any hidden treasures like teleportation talismans in some nook or cranny of his puppet body.

To this end, he specifically modified the layout of the Heart Refining Formation, replaced the old solution, and moved the "Five Finger Mountain" into the formation.

Aren't you afraid of the Heart Refining Array?
I'll use this to lock you up!
"Lu! Chen! Yuan!"

The Sheep was furious; its hoarse roar echoed through the painting.

But her body was pinned down by the "Five Finger Mountain," with only one mechanical arm exposed. Its five fingers spasmed as it scratched the ground, making a piercing sound.

She was seething with hatred—this damned Heart-Refining Array!

Illusions surged within the formation. Wei Yang kept his eyes tightly shut, but the scene of the old man being buried in the Fengdu Formation and having his heart ripped out by evil spirits kept echoing in his ears, covered in blood.

For fifty years, she has regretted it every moment, but it was too late; everything had changed.

"A place blessed with outstanding people and beautiful scenery, truly magnificent."

"Is there another test behind that door?"

"Shut up!!!"

She shook her head violently, but the sound lingered like a persistent ailment.

"Is it important to you?"

"Let me give it a try."

puff!

"I kill you--"

The sheep struggled hysterically, but the Five Finger Mountain remained unmoved; the more she resisted, the clearer the illusion became.

She witnessed the nightmarish Fengdu Formation appear before her eyes, with black mist churning and hundreds of ghosts wailing. An old man with white hair staggered backward, one of his arms torn apart by ghostly claws.

"don't want……"

Wei Yang's voice suddenly trembled.

The old man raised his head, his cloudy eyes filled with astonishment, but the moment he saw her clearly, his expression turned to pity. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but the next second, the hundred ghosts in the formation suddenly pounced on him, their withered ghost claws digging fiercely into his chest.

"Do not--!!!"

Wei Yang frantically tried to shut off her vision, but the Heart Refining Array forced her to watch helplessly as the old man fell, was torn apart, devoured, and finally turned into a wisp of green smoke and dissipated, only to revive in the next moment and repeat the same process.

"Lu Chenyuan! Let me out!"

She finally broke down, her voice trembling like never before: "I won't fight for the 12th! I was wrong! I apologize! Please shut down this broken formation! Shut it down!!"

"hehe."

Lu Chenyuan appeared out of thin air in front of Five Finger Mountain. With a casual wave of his hand, a fox demon appeared from the blood mist, carrying a chair and placing it behind him.

Lu Chenyuan has become the master of the art world, and he has control over everything in his paintings, whether 'living' or 'inanimate'.

He flicked his robe, turned around and sat down in the rosewood chair, leisurely looking down at Wei Yang.

"Giving in?"

Lu Chenyuan laughed and said, "Then show some sincerity. I'll ask you one more time: how did you get out? How did you refine your pills? Where did the medicinal herbs come from? Listen carefully. This is your last chance. If you don't obey, I'll lock you up for ten years. We'll talk again after ten years!"

Wei Yang's body trembled.

Lu Chenyuan spread his hands, and another fox spirit appeared, handing him a book from the library. He casually flipped through it and looked at it closely.

It was indeed Gu Yunsheng's collection of books, containing many rare and unique copies that even the princess's residence did not possess.

"It's...Tian Gang..."

After a long silence, Wei Yang finally spoke with difficulty: "It was she who found Mount Song a year ago and led me out of... the 'Heart Refining Array'..."

Lu Chenyuan raised an eyebrow slightly: "Tiangang Yuanchen? Chenlong?"

Wei Yang said, "Yes... she also provided the medicinal herbs..."

Lu Chenyuan frowned slightly: "Chenlong has also broken free from Gu Yunsheng's... restrictions?"

After a long silence, Wei Yang said, "He never imposed any restrictions... He 'hoped' that we would help our successors..."

Lu Chenyuan thought back carefully.

When the goddess first saw the goddess, she was actually in a daze. Just like a fledgling bird will naturally be close to the first creature it sees when it opens its eyes, the same was true for the mechanical puppet.

The goddess's eyes back then were like those of a mountain deer, filled with innocent kindness.

As per normal conditions.

Those who can pass Gu Yunsheng's test, even if they are not good people, can't be too bad. Next, they will naturally develop in different directions, just like the saying goes, "one is influenced by one's company."

Gu Yunsheng was more like creating twelve children and choosing twelve teachers for them, rather than creating twelve slaves.

He never intended for these twelve children to be all the same; he simply wanted to enlighten and inspire them, leaving the rest to their own devices.

Good or evil, it's all "chance," "human nature," and "life."

Lu Chenyuan sighed.

Gu Yunsheng's original intention was good; he treated the mechanical puppets equally. However, this caused some trouble for people in later generations.

This is equivalent to twelve top-tier masters who can grow freely.

—If a mischievous child has superpowers, and he encounters the wrong person, something terrible will happen!
Lu Chenyuan frowned and asked, "What kind of temperament does this Tian Gang have? Is he like you? Does he hate Gu Yunsheng?"

"Do not……"

Wei Yang said in a deep voice: "Gu Yunsheng's ten divine arts also have different levels. The twelve Yuan Chen themselves have different prototypes and different abilities... The prototype of the Goddess is the [Treasure-Seeking Rat], which is harmless to humans and animals. The prototype of Taiyi is the [Nether Serpent], which is vicious in nature. My prototype is... [Corpse Beard].

The information immediately flashed through Lu Chenyuan's mind.

—The Classic of Mountains and Seas records: "There is a beast called Shi Hu on Mount Li. It looks like a sheep but has the eyes of a deer. When King Mu of Zhou was on his western expedition, he encountered this beast and it breathed out. Three thousand armored soldiers were poisoned and died. The bronze halberds rusted into dust. The king sacrificed the blood of eight steeds to the heavens and then drove it into the underworld."

No wonder he was covered in poison. This wasn't some kind of martial art, but rather the Corpse-like Divine Power—[Netherworld Miasma]!
Lu Chenyuan suddenly realized, and then asked, "The prototype of Tiangang should be some kind of dragon, what kind of dragon?"

Wei Yang uttered two words: "...Yuanlong".

Lu Chenyuan was taken aback and sat up straight: "Are you sure?"

Wei Yang said, "Although she didn't use supernatural powers, but relied on magic to lead me out of the Heart Refining Array... I know it was Yuanlong! Because when she left, she directly vanished into the void..."

Lu Chenyuan frowned deeply.

—Supplement to the Records of the Ten Continents Within the Seas: "In the East Sea there is a silver dragon named Yuan, which dwells in the whirlpool of the Weak Water. Its claws are like black ice splitting the sky. When Emperor Wu of Han sent envoys to seek immortality, the dragon suddenly appeared as the warships passed by. With one claw, it severed twelve ships, and the wreckage actually floated out of the well in Chang'an. People were amazed by this."

In other words, Yuanlong's supernatural power is a pair of claws that can tear through space.

This is even harder to catch than the Great Teleportation Talisman, because no one knows where she has disappeared to.

Lu Chenyuan: "You just said 'no,' does she not hate Gu Yunsheng?"

"Um……"

Wei Yang said in a muffled voice, "She... longs for Gu Yunsheng. She wants to find him. That's our difference... otherwise, I would have left with her long ago..."

fine……

Lu Chenyuan breathed a sigh of relief, thought for a moment, and took out the [Tai Xu Ning Hua Lamp]: "Since it's Yuanlong, why didn't she take this divine artifact? It should be very simple for her."

Wei Yang said, "She wouldn't ruin Gu Yunsheng's arrangements, nor was she interested. She just came to find me, and when she saw that I didn't want to go with her, she left on her own... Before leaving, she left me a lot of alchemy materials... as a 'gift'..."

call……

Lu Chenyuan gradually relaxed; at least he wasn't a problem child anymore, but...

Lu Chenyuan said, "She doesn't have a master either? Let's just say she is a master... Never mind! She can act on her own?"

Wei Yang nodded: "Yes."

Lu Chenyuan: "Which secret technique is she guarding? Has it already been broken, or is it still in the same place?"

Wei Yang shook his head: "I don't know..."

"..."

Lu Chenyuan squinted at her, but did not press her further. Since things had come to this point, there was no need to hide anything anymore.

She probably really didn't know.

Lu Chenyuan said bluntly, "Then what else do you know? Explain clearly, and I'll remove the Heart Refining Array."

Wei Yang said, "That's all I know... Oh, right, there's one more thing."

Lu Chenyuan's expression turned serious: "What?"

Wei Yang said, "She founded an organization called 'Qiaomu Palace'."

……

at the same time.

On the vast expanse of the East China Sea, a solitary island stands amidst the clouds and mist.

The island's rocks are like jade, pure white, and from a distance, they resemble a bright pearl floating on the sea. In the heart of the island, a glazed palace is built against the mountain, with upturned eaves that resemble a dragon soaring to the heavens, reflecting a rainbow of colors under the morning sun.

Inside the hall, a misty haze filled the air.

A figure stood in the glazed palace, tall and slender, dressed in white, his robes fluttering without wind, like smoke and mist.

What is most striking are the pair of crystal-clear dragon horns on her forehead.

It was not a rough beast horn, but rather an exquisitely carved white jade, winding upwards from the forehead, flowing with a faint moonlight luster, the tip of the horn slightly tinged with a dark blue, as if it had been tempered by the cold jade of the deep sea.

Her face was half-hidden beneath the unfinished mechanical armor—her right cheek was as smooth and flawless as fresh snow, her eyebrows were like distant mountains shrouded in mist, and her eyes were like a cold pool reflecting the moon, exuding a coldness untouched by worldly affairs, while her left cheek was still made of black iron, with intricate mechanical patterns like the trajectory of stars, and a ghostly blue spiritual fire flickering in the empty eye sockets, eerie and mysterious.

She is sculpting her face.

"Here... it needs to be a bit softer."

She held a slender knife in her hand, lightly touched her left cheek, and spoke in a clear, cold voice like shattered jade.

The mechanical servant beside her immediately presented her with a water mirror, the surface of which rippled and reflected her half-human, half-paralyzed face.

"My younger sister is already very beautiful."

A pleasant voice sounded.

At the palace gate, another figure slowly approached. She was beautiful and wore a flowing robe of feathers, with tail feathers hanging down like a galaxy. With each step she took, tiny golden lights scattered from between her feathers.

"beautiful?"

Chenlong Tiangang Yuanchen chuckled, tilting his head slightly as if recalling: "Third Sister has seen Twelfth Sister and knows what beauty is. Compared to her, we're like stepfathers, haha."

The other person was none other than Youji Congkui Yuanchen. Hearing this, he didn't take it seriously and smiled, "Parents all over the world love their children. Besides, he didn't make Twelve's body. He's a grown man. He has no time or interest in his appearance. But it's true, he gave her the best eyes and the most exquisite mind in the world. We really can't compare."

Chenlong said, "They've also chosen a good master. The Mechanized City has put in a lot of effort, and it hasn't let them down."

The Rooster hesitated and said, "Last time you said that the fifth one...could she...?"

"It's already matched up."

Chenlong continued carving slowly, saying, "She has already lost, lost to Lu Chenyuan... If he can't rescue her, I will bring her here. Fifth Sister is too stubborn. Her misfortune has nothing to do with him. There is no need to let Twelve follow her in her nonsense. No matter how bad Wu Zhou is, it is still the Central Plains court. She is eager for quick success and opposes the court. Her defeat is not unjust."

The Rooster asked, "How is she now?"

Chenlong casually said, "She's trapped in the 'Azure Netherworld Hundred Ghosts Painting'. Don't worry, the owner of the Hundred Ghosts Painting is Lu Chenyuan now. Even if it's just for Twelve's sake, he won't do anything to her. He'll probably just temper her temper."

The Rooster breathed a sigh of relief and said, "If the Twelve Auspicious Stars were to help us, perhaps..."

"Not urgent."

Chen Long didn't even raise his head, saying, "Unlike Twelve, we weren't born with the secret arts of celestial craftsmanship he instilled in us, nor do we have Twelve's quick wit, which allows us to grasp things instantly. We have to learn slowly. Now that we've finally achieved mastery of celestial craftsmanship, it's time to strengthen ourselves. Even if we manage to enter a dangerous place that even he couldn't handle with confidence, we'll hardly amount to anything, even with the help of Guicang. Let's take it slow... Twelve brothers and sisters are still too few..."

The rooster nodded: "I understand."

"correct."

Chenlong suddenly remembered something, and with a casual gesture, two streaks of light shot towards him from afar.

A token engraved with "Qiaomu Palace";

A heavy sword with dazzling light.

"I haven't given my little sister a gift yet..."

With a flick of his finger, Chenlong ripped open the void before him.

As Lu Chenyuan was pondering in the painting, a light suddenly shone from Wei Yang's neck, followed by a spatial rift opening beside her.

A sword and a token fell from it.

Lu Chenyuan was slightly surprised, and Wei Yang was also taken aback. The two of them looked up at the same time.

Then they saw a face, half human and half reclining, smiling slightly at them from behind the gap…

(End of this chapter)