Chapter 461 76: Tower Mountain Night Banquet 2

A long while later, the clouds dispersed and the rain ceased.

Chen Yu Yan, having recovered a bit of her strength, shyly pulled the silk quilt over her body. Two faint blushes still lingered on her fair, delicate face, a picture of exquisite beauty.

A spring morning is all too short.

Chen Yu Yan felt she had already been inside for quite some time. Besides, another disciple was serving as a Guest Reception Disciple with her outside, and it wouldn't be right to leave them hanging, so she urged him to get up repeatedly.

Fang Cheng, however, lingered, lazing in bed and holding the beautiful woman tightly, refusing to get up. He showed none of the dignity expected of a Life Soul True Man.

After two such days of leisurely romance, the Nine Truths Dharma Assembly convened as scheduled.

That evening.

The sky was on the cusp of darkness. A dusky yellow light enveloped the world, shrouding everything in a hazy glow.

On Immortal Tower Mountain, ten thousand points of light drifted upward, as brilliant as stars and as numerous as fireworks. They shone brightly in the night sky, like torches blazing toward the heavens, a truly eye-catching sight.

At the mountain's peak stood a magnificent palace with jade balustrades and pearl railings. A hundred bright red lanterns hung high beneath its upturned eaves. Below the stone steps in front of the hall lay a vast, open plaza. Beyond the plaza were sheer cliffs and the boundless sky.

The Elders and Disciples of the Nine Truths Tower stood in two columns before the hall, arranged by Cultivation level from lowest to highest. At the very entrance to the main hall were the eight great Dharma Guardian Elders.

Dressed in magnificent robes and a tall coronet, Yang Tianhua sat within the hall, quietly awaiting the arrival of his guests.

At 7:15 PM, Yang Tianhua suddenly sensed something. He looked up and saw a graceful figure far off in the sky beyond the mountain, treading on a Profound Light as she elegantly approached.

"The Lady of Miaoxiang Tower has arrived."

A Guest Reception Disciple outside announced her arrival.

The newcomer descended from her Escape Light, revealing a beautiful woman of remarkable grace. She strode elegantly into the hall and nodded to Yang Tianhua in greeting.

"Fellow Daoist Qiu, please, have a seat!" Yang Tianhua said with a hearty laugh.

The arrival was none other than the lady of Miaoxiang Tower, Qiushui Yue. She had a Mid-stage Dharma Phase Cultivation, but she rarely fought, so no one knew her true strength.

Qiushui Yue smiled faintly. "It seems I am the first to arrive again."

With that, she took light, graceful steps to her seat and settled in.

Yang Tianhua was about to speak when a flash of light appeared outside the hall, revealing two figures: Fang Cheng and Elder Yingya.

He hurriedly rose to greet them, cupping his hands. "Fellow Daoist Fang, Fellow Daoist Ying, you've arrived at the perfect time. Please, come in and take your seats... This is Lady Qiu of Miaoxiang Tower."

After an exchange of pleasantries, the two took their seats.

This was Fang Cheng's first time meeting the legendary lady of Miaoxiang Tower. Though they had long been allies, this was their first meeting in person, so they couldn't help but chat a little longer.

Not long after, two more immense auras descended outside the hall one after another.

Li Guanding of the Holy Spirit Sect and Luo Kaishan of the Ten Thousand Treasures Studio entered the hall successively and greeted the others.

Both men were exceptionally polite to Fang Cheng, even showing a hint of fear. This led Yang Tianhua and Qiushui Yue to speculate further about the extent of Fang Cheng's power.

There were nine seats arranged in the hall, and six people had now arrived.

As they chatted, a swath of Buddha Light appeared on the horizon. It then transformed into a golden beam that landed before the hall, from which a handsome, refined monk emerged.

The monk had a straight nose, thin lips, and a cool, detached gaze. Dressed in snow-white robes, he was immaculate, his visage solemn and dignified.

It was Master Jingxuan of the Thousand Buddha Sect, one of the five major sects.

It was said that he practiced Silent Meditation. After putting his palms together to greet the assembly, which served as his greeting, he went to his seat alone. No one else dared to rashly approach him for conversation.

Li Guanding looked at the two remaining seats and asked, "Fellow Daoist Yang, who are the other two fellow Daoists?"

Yang Tianhua replied, "One is an old friend of mine, the Shengshou Scholar. The other is the Celestial Desire Demon from the Great Chi Demon Sect..."

Before he could finish, a strange sound came from beyond the heavens, like a clap of thunder tearing through space from a great distance.

Everyone in the hall couldn't help but look toward the sound. Such a grand entrance had to be a Dharma Cultivator.

As the sound drew nearer, it actually caused the Spiritual Qi in the sky around Immortal Tower Mountain to roil and boil, and everyone present showed looks of astonishment.

This person could cause the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to tremble just by their Flying Escape. The strength of their Magical Power was astonishing.

A moment later, with a loud RUMBLE above Immortal Tower Mountain, the Gang Clouds in the night sky suddenly exploded, the shockwave rolling out for dozens of miles. Then, a sword light brimming with a grim demonic aura tore through the firmament and descended from the sky.

Halfway down, the sword light dissipated, and the Escape Light vanished. In its place, a cold, stunning, and aloof Female Cultivator in black armor appeared in mid-air.

Her tall yet curvaceous body was covered in countless rhombus-shaped plates of bluish-black Profound Armor. They shimmered with a metallic luster, fitting her form perfectly and exuding a cold aura.

A Fourth-rank Magical Artifact.

Everyone present was an expert; with a single glance, they could tell that the peculiar yet alluring Spirit Armor on the Female Cultivator was undoubtedly a Fourth-rank Magical Artifact!

The residual momentum of her vast Magical Power had yet to subside, and as she descended, she still caused the sea of clouds to tremble.

Yang Tianhua laughed. "Celestial Desire Demon Monarch, it has been many years. Your Magical Power has improved yet again. Congratulations!"

The Celestial Desire Demon Monarch's expression was cold as she said flatly, "My greetings, Fellow Daoist Yang."

Her gaze then swept over the people in the hall, finally landing on Fang Cheng's face. In that instant, killing intent surged, giving one the illusion that she was about to draw her sword.

Fang Cheng smiled calmly and flicked a finger against the jade table before him. A clear, crisp, and prolonged sound rang out, like the chime of a sword, causing the Celestial Desire Demon Monarch to frown. The surging, turbulent killing intent receded like the tide.

Everyone in the hall knew that Fang Cheng had destroyed the physical body of the Great Chi Demon Sect's Celestial Refining Demon Monarch. This Celestial Desire Demon Monarch was the Celestial Refining Demon Monarch's favored disciple, possessing a peerless Sword Technique and an extremely murderous nature.

While traveling through the Cang Country, she had once offended a major Mystic Sect and was pursued by two Dharma Cultivators who joined forces to kill her.

Unexpectedly, she fought two Cultivators of the same rank alone. After a fierce battle of over a thousand rounds, though she was heavily injured, she audaciously cut down both of them.

After this battle, the Celestial Desire Demon Monarch's fame skyrocketed. People learned the true meaning of "astonishingly talented," and from then on, no one dared to provoke her!

The gazes of the Dharma Masters in the hall shifted between Fang Cheng and the Celestial Desire Demon Monarch.

'Will a battle break out between them now that they've met?'

"You are Fang Cheng?" the Celestial Desire Demon Monarch asked coldly.

"I am. What guidance might you have for me?" Fang Cheng replied indifferently.

The Celestial Desire Demon Monarch said, "After the Dharma Assembly, this one will come to ask for your esteemed guidance."

Yang Tianhua breathed a silent sigh of relief and personally escorted the Celestial Desire Demon Monarch to her seat—a courtesy he had not extended to the others.

When Yang Tianhua came back to his senses, he was suddenly taken aback and looked toward a certain seat in the hall.

There, he saw a slovenly scholar, who had entered the hall at some unknown time, helping himself to the Spirit Wine on the jade table and drinking it down with gusto.

And yet, none of the eight masters in the hall had sensed how this person had entered.

The expressions on everyone's faces stiffened. Even Master Jingxuan of the Thousand Buddha Sect, with his solemn and unsmiling visage, couldn't help but frown.

An expert!

And a top-tier expert among those in the Dharma Realm!

A flicker of wariness crossed Fang Cheng's eyes. The aura on this slovenly scholar before him was faint, almost non-existent, yet it felt remarkably similar to what he had sensed when fighting the Sect Leader of the Ten Thousand Transformations Sect back then.

'I'm afraid he has the strength of someone at the Peak of Dharma Form!'

What puzzled him even more was that the man's disposition was uncannily similar to an old acquaintance.

The scholar, Ren Yan!

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but Fang Cheng felt an indescribable sense about this person, one that strongly resembled Ren Yan, who had nearly brought annihilation to the Yinluo Sect back in the Yun Country.

At that moment, seeing everyone looking at him, the scholar finally raised his eyes and swept his gaze across their faces. He chuckled lightly. "Fellow Daoists, my greetings. I smelled fine wine just now and couldn't resist taking a few sips to satisfy my craving. It was a breach of etiquette. I hope you will not take offense."

Yang Tianhua walked over and bowed solemnly. "Greetings, Brother Shengshou. It has been decades since we last parted, yet your grace remains as ever, my friend."

The others in the hall also returned the bow in silence.

With that, all nine attendees of the Dharma Assembly had arrived. Yang Tianhua returned to the main seat and summoned the eight great Dharma Guardian Elders from outside the hall to help him entertain the guests.

Maids brought out rare Spirit Fruits and fine wine, and Yang Tianhua raised his cup in a toast, expressing his gratitude to the assembly.

Afterward, Yang Tianhua took out a fragmented Stone Stele and invited everyone to appreciate it.

This Stone Stele recorded an Ancient Divine Secret Technique. It was slightly incomplete, but from what was recorded, it appeared to be a Life Extension Technique.

For elderly individuals like Elder Yingya and Wansong Taoist, it was undoubtedly a rare and incomparably precious item, its value immeasurable.

For the Nine Truths Tower to present such a technique for this Dharma Assembly was a true show of sincerity.

Using the opportunity to comprehend the Secret Technique, the guests began to discuss the Dao, each expressing their own views and exchanging the insights and wisdom gained throughout their lives of cultivation. Everyone benefited greatly.

The Elders and Disciples of the Nine Truths Tower, both inside and outside the hall, benefited even more from hearing the Dharma Masters discuss the Dao.

Only when the eastern sky began to whiten did Yang Tianhua put away the Stone Stele and rise to his feet. "Fellow Daoists," he said, "the Demon Tide is coming. Please follow me."

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