Fantasy: Immortality Begins with Absorbing Demons

Chapter 784 Descending the Mountain (Part 3)

"Yes...a great calamity, a great change, this is a test from heaven for our Yuanmiao Sect..." Facing his junior brother, Yan Xuanji rarely opened his heart and sighed.

"I wonder how many of us from the Xuan generation will be left after this demonic calamity."

“A great disaster means great calamity. But actually, it also presents a great opportunity,” Liu Miaoxuan comforted her. “Senior Sister should also know that if a demonic calamity occurs, all sorts of resources will be made available, such as Xingxuan Pavilion, Shenling Garden, the Creation Pool, and so on…”

This is the best time to enter the Upper Three Peaks. As far as I know, the period of the demonic calamity a thousand years ago was also the time when the three patriarchs rose to power.

"Thank you for your kind words. I don't ask for anything else. I'm already content to have reached the top three peaks in this life." Yan Xuanji shook his head. "Once you're done with this busy period, come down the mountain with me."

Liu Miaoxuan paused, as if remembering something, and chuckled softly.

"Going down the mountain? Is it about Han Yi? I heard Huang Suyan tried to recruit him three times, but failed each time. It seems the other party is determined."

As Yan Xuanji's junior brother, even though he did not hold real power, he naturally had access to various intelligence sources due to his years of cultivation on the three upper peaks.

The Sword Talisman Academy is controlled by his senior sister, and the Myriad Beasts Sect is one of the two first-class forces under the jurisdiction of the Sword Talisman Academy, so it is normal for them to receive attention.

“That’s right. That’s the matter.” Yan Xuanji wasn’t surprised, but just snorted coldly. “This Huang Suyan is a good person, but he’s too pedantic.”

If they cooperated with the three I arranged to take down this troublesome Han Yi, we could use that to gain control of the Myriad Beasts Sect and bring it under the wing of my Sword and Talisman Academy. But…”

"As a result, Huang Suyan took it upon himself to advocate for reconciliation, which ruined everything?" Liu Miaoxuan laughed and continued, "I told you long ago that this person is alright in managing domestic affairs, but when it comes to handling external matters... his gentle nature makes him somewhat unsuitable."

"What can we do? The Yunliu lineage has always been on good terms with our lineage. My uncle has spoken, and I can't very well refuse him," Yan Xuanji said helplessly.

The different names for "clouds flowing and clouds forming" are simply different ways of referring to things on and off the mountain, inside and outside, but in reality, they are two sides of the same coin.

"Who would have thought that such a trivial matter would cause Huang Suyan so much trouble and exhaustion, and he still couldn't do it well one after another?"

“Alright, Senior Sister. Even if you hadn’t brought it up, I would have said it anyway,” Liu Miaoxuan said. “Aren’t you afraid of making Senior Sister angry? You’ve made a mistake from the very beginning.”

I've heard that Han Yi of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect came from Pingzhou. He came up the mountain with a letter of recommendation and even tried to get in through the Sword and Talisman Academy, but he was harassed in the outer courtyard and had no choice but to leave the mountain to make his own way in the world. Is this true?

“Hmm…” Yan Xuanji paused for a moment, “Yes, that is true. The old Daoist Miaochang, who was in charge of the outer courtyard for the test, was addicted to gold and stones and was insatiable, which resulted in a mixed bag of candidates passing the test in his batch. I have dealt with Miaochang, stripped him of his status, and sent him down the mountain.”

"Was it just Miaochang who made a mistake?" Liu Miaoxuan pressed. "I'm afraid it's not just that."

"..."

Yan Xuanji's expression darkened slightly: "That Han Yi comes from a bad background and has poor aptitude. You know the rules of our Sword Talisman Academy: those with inferior aptitude cannot enter."

"So, during the inner courtyard meeting, Senior Sister vetoed this young man with a single vote. This caused our Sword and Talisman Academy to miss out on a great talent. These things... have already spread throughout the other five academies..." Liu Miaoxuan said in a deep voice. "Lack of strict management and poor judgment of character are mistakes. Stubbornness and nepotism are mistakes. Furthermore... there is one major mistake..."

Before he could finish speaking, Yan Xuanji frowned and interrupted him with displeasure.

"...If Junior Brother is going to keep saying such things...then please leave. Putting everything else aside, if Han Yi is truly a remarkable person, why didn't any of the six headmasters accept him back then? Did we all misjudge him? Perhaps he succeeded by sheer luck."

"Combining the two great lineages of Jingtian Manor and Green Robe Alliance to establish the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, joining forces with the Tantai family to eliminate Fan Hongchou, and killing Cheng Wu and his two companions in a one-against-many battle—could this also be considered luck?" Liu Miaoxuan smiled.

"Why not?" Yan Xuanji countered. "Even if he seems to have achieved considerable success, his bloodline combined with martial arts allows him to sweep aside experts of the same level in a short period of time."

But if the path is impure, how can one break through to the Venerable level? How many Grandmasters and Great Grandmasters are there in Yunzhou? After years of hardship, how many of them can break through the barrier? In the end, don't they still have to bow their heads and enter the mountains, humble themselves and ask their grandmaster uncles for guidance?

The more powerful Han Yi is now, the more pathetic he will be in the future. Unable to break through the Venerable realm, his heroic deeds at lower levels will ultimately amount to nothing.

After a pause, Yan Xuanji sighed and said, "To break through to the Venerable realm, one must face a true tribulation. One must borrow the wonders of heaven and earth, glimpse the laws of heaven and earth, refine essence into qi... luck... cannot achieve these things."

She let out a long sigh, the lingering sound carrying endless melancholy and bitterness.

For these true disciples of the Yuanmiao Sect who possess the secrets to breaking through to the Venerable level, it is no easy task.

"Senior Sister is still so impatient, she never likes to hear the whole story." After listening quietly, Liu Miaoxuan suddenly smiled and said, "Senior Sister's last mistake... is also her biggest mistake... which refers to... why didn't Senior Sister tell me about this sooner?"

"What?" Yan Xuanji was taken aback.

“If I had known about this earlier, none of this would have happened,” Liu Miaoxuan said with a smile. “What kind of person is Huang Suyan…you don’t know, but don’t I know? He’s extremely weak and incapable of accomplishing anything.”

He slowly revealed a cold smile: "If it were me... I would have attacked the first time I was unwilling. My senior sister is also good-tempered; even the second time, she still thought about how hard Han Yi's cultivation was and wanted to protect him..."

A swift and decisive strike, faster than lightning, wiped out Han Yi and seized the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect's inheritance—a clean and straightforward victory. It would save the reputation of my Sword Talisman Academy from tarnishing it.”

"Junior brother..."

Yan Xuanji then realized the three mistakes the other person had made…

The key point is that he secretly blames her for not contacting him enough, rather than really thinking that she was in the wrong first.

My initial unpleasant mood vanished instantly.

It quickly transformed into a touch of warmth and tenderness.

Since her master's death, she has taken over the vast Sword and Talisman Academy. The only person she can truly talk to is this junior brother in front of her.

As it turned out, I had misunderstood what the other person meant...

Thinking of this, a gentle light slowly flashed in Yan Xuanji's eyes.

"It's just that I'm afraid of delaying your cultivation. It's such a small matter, I can't possibly run to the three peaks to find you every day. The hope for the rise of our lineage... all rests on your shoulders."

"That's why I said you were wrong," Liu Miaoxuan laughed. "You're my only senior sister. If the Sword Talisman Academy loses face, it's the same as losing face for Master, which is also a loss of face for me. Besides, too much stillness breeds restlessness. Perhaps it's time to experience the mortal world. With the demonic calamity imminent, it's time to go down the mountain and get some exercise." "Good! With Junior Brother traveling with us, this trip is sure to be a success. If there's anything you like in the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, feel free to take it." Yan Xuanji was naturally overjoyed upon hearing this.

"I had heard before that the Seven Transformations of Heavenly Evolution in Jingtian Manor had some mysterious aspects, but unfortunately Jingtian Manor collapsed in one day, and I didn't have time to look for it."

Liu Miaoxuan smiled and said, "There are rumors that Han Yi has reassembled the Seven Transformations of Heavenly Evolution. I only need that. As for everything else, Senior Sister, please feel free to do as you please."

"Understood. Time is of the essence. Intelligence has arrived from down the mountain; it seems Han Yi has disbanded his sect, attempting to escape unscathed. We must act quickly..."

The voice gradually lowered, becoming somewhat inaudible.

Only faint whispers of discussion could be heard.

……………

……………

Huayang City, East Gate. At the foot of the city wall, several shirtless, short-haired scoundrels covered in lice gathered together, staring at the man in the middle with either envy or jealousy.

"Liu Laosan, you've really struck gold this time! Just for delivering a message, you got so much money?" a lean man next to him said enviously.

"Third Brother, Third Brother Liu, we brothers have always treated you well. Now that you've found a way to make money... you'd better give us a ride," a man with triangular eyes said with a smile.

“I’ll take you guys along… um… it’s not impossible…” The man in the middle was dressed in a black outfit, with a sword at his waist, and a lifelike emerald green wolf pendant on the hilt of the sword.

He was dressed smartly, with an oily face, which contrasted sharply with the beggars around him.

"As long as you listen to me... like this... like this... then... you'll have plenty of opportunities to make a fortune!!" Liu Laosan chuckled, pulling out several booklets full of portraits from his pocket and distributing them to the group.

After a long discussion, everyone nodded in agreement and dispersed.

Early morning hours.

A long queue formed at the huge city gate.

This period is the busiest time for people to enter and exit the city gates.

Small vendors from all directions flock to the city to buy and sell goods, farmers carry loads of vegetables and fruits on shoulder poles and push carts, and rural youths with dreams of making a name for themselves...

The passageway next to the small gate is a main road paved with bluestone tiles.

This contrasts sharply with the crowded passageway formed by the small gate.

This side of the main gate is deserted; hardly anyone walks here.

After all, how many important figures would have nothing better to do than get up so early in the morning? *Tap tap tap...*

On the distant official road, a group of five people leaped up several times and landed lightly in front of the city gate.

All five men wore black straw hats, black boots, and gray-black outfits, their uniform attire exuding a menacing aura.

Under the watchful, fearful gazes of the common people, he walked quickly toward the gate.

Those who can enter through the main gate are naturally not ordinary people.

They were either high-ranking officials or wealthy nobles, or just some high-ranking military men.

Of these five, the latter is more likely, making them even more unapproachable.