Chapter 363 - 194: Luoyan Mountain (2)

"He is utterly consumed by delusion, his paranoia has twisted him into a demon from which he cannot escape. Only by achieving his revenge does he stand a sliver of a chance to break free from this delusion and return to the righteous path."

"What?" The old crone's face twitched, and she said in horror, "So that's the reason... Being consumed by delusion, is it truly so terrifying?"

The Daoist on the platform seemed unwilling to say more. He didn't answer, only stating faintly, "You may leave as well."

The old crone didn't dare to disobey. She bowed, and as she quickly departed, the bright lamp on the Magic Altar suddenly extinguished, returning the cavern to darkness and silence.

After an unknown amount of time, a faint voice suddenly drifted through the air:

"Could it be that the Daoist arts of my Celestial Fire Sect are so difficult to master orthodoxly? Why is it that whenever our sect's prodigies become consumed by delusion, they always twist into paranoid demons?"

...

Yang Huai Venerable exited the mountain cave. Outside was a clear spring, about a hundred feet across. The water was so pristine that one could see warm vapor bubbling up from vents at the bottom of the pool.

A leaf drifted down onto the water's surface. The moment it touched, it was instantly incinerated as if it had landed on molten rock. Yang Huai Venerable's expression remained unchanged as he casually strode across the water.

On the opposite bank of the pool stood a small pavilion, where a peculiar Daoist with hair cut short above his ears was waiting. Seeing Yang Huai Venerable emerge, he hurried forward, bowed, and said, "Father-in-law!"

Before Yang Huai Venerable could respond, the man noticed that something was amiss. His father-in-law's face seemed to be covered by a layer of crimson, turbid energy, like a red-hot furnace, and his steps were heavy. Yet, far from being alarmed, he was delighted. "Congratulations, Father-in-law, on finally receiving the Ancestor Master's bestowed technique."

Yang Huai Venerable's expression softened slightly. He nodded slowly and said, "Shengyun, release the Red Cloud Raft and take me back."

Upon hearing this, Hou Shengyun asked no questions. With a shake of his sleeve, a burst of rosy light erupted. A vermilion, billowing auspicious cloud spread out on the ground, lifting the two of them into the air and vanishing into the sky.

The Red Cloud Raft flew west, returning to Yang Huai Venerable's cave residence in just a few moments. It went straight into the main hall, which was stark and empty, though neither of them paid it any mind.

Once Yang Huai Venerable was seated in the host's chair, Hou Shengyun personally poured him a cup of clear tea and asked, "Now that you have received the Ancestor Master's bestowed technique, Father-in-law, can you finally get your revenge?"

Yang Huai Venerable's gaze turned cold. "Last time, Xuzhuang only narrowly defeated me. Now that I have the Ancestor Master's technique, I just need some time to refine it. He will definitely be no match for me then."

Hou Shengyun said joyfully, "Congratulations then, Father-in-law."

He thought for a moment, then asked, "But if Xuzhuang hides in Yunmeng Marsh, how will you be able to deal with him, Father-in-law?"

"Heh heh." Yang Huai Venerable gave a strange smile, his eyes falling on Hou Shengyun. The latter's heart suddenly tightened as he heard Yang Huai Venerable say, "Shengyun, for this matter, I will need your help."

Hou Shengyun gave a hollow laugh and asked, "May I ask, Father-in-law, what would you have your son-in-law do?"

Yang Huai Venerable said coldly, "Xuzhuang has three disciples. Kill any one of them, and you will surely lure him out."

Hou Shengyun wanted to slap himself, to just smack himself dead for opening his big mouth. With a miserable look on his face, he said, "Father-in-law, though your son-in-law may not be talented, I have, after all, formed a Golden Core. If I were to attack a junior, I'm afraid the Tai Su Sect would not let me off."

Yang Huai Venerable asked, puzzled, "When Xuzhuang Buddha comes for you, I will step in and kill him. Isn't that a perfect plan?"

"Or... are you unwilling to help me?"

Hou Shengyun shivered and replied fearfully, "Your son-in-law wouldn't dare."

「 」

Perhaps the passage of time is the only truly constant thing in this world.

Carrying a longsword on his back, Yuan Hao ascended Chaoyuan Peak. He saw secluded flowers arrayed like brocade and wild grass carpeting the ground in verdant shades. Water from the mountain streams cascaded down, and the clouds over the creeks drifted as leisurely as ever.

It was truly worthy of being a Peak of True Disciples, a work of divine craftsmanship. Its beauty truly surpassed that of the heavens.

'Senior Brother Zhou really did form a Top-grade Golden Core,' he thought.

Zhou Jun had left the mountain to travel, gone for years just like their Eldest Senior Brother Li Changfeng. And after that, Third Junior Brother Qin Dengxiao had done the same...

Sometimes, Yuan Hao felt that people like them were the true seekers of the Dao. To form a Top-grade Golden Core, they could wander the world alone, experiencing countless wonders.

He had watched the three of them leave, one after another, while he remained in the sect, cultivating alone until he perfected the Dharma Refinement stage. He delved into Swordsmanship and pondered Daoist arts until he could advance no further, at which point he finally left the mountain to travel. However, he hadn't gone far before he grew weary of it.

The Shen Zhou Land was, after all, dominated by the human race, and the Cultivation Realm was no different. Even in the vast Tai Su Orthodox Sect, there seemed to be no one else like him, a demon cultivating the Dao. The spirit beasts and birds raised by the sect were a completely different concept from its disciples.

Admittedly, he hadn't been treated any differently within the Tai Su Orthodox Sect. But once he truly left the mountain and began to travel, he discovered that as a demon, even while wearing a Tai Su Daoist Robe, he was still looked down upon.

It was at this time that he heard the news of Zhou Jun returning to the sect after having achieved a Top-grade Golden Core.

"Martial Uncle, please wait in the hall. The Master will be here shortly." Guided by an attendant boy, Yuan Hao took a seat in the main hall. He gazed at the Spirit Fruit Immortal Tea brought by a servant girl. Back when he and Zhou Jun were young, they would marvel just to taste such fine things at their Master's residence.

'And a spectacle of the highest order in the Divine Continent,' he thought again, his mind turning to the sight of his own return to Yunmeng Marsh.

The Tai Su Orthodox Sect had spared no effort for Zhou Jun's Golden Core Grand Ceremony. The grand occasion was something that even the Taixuan Orthodox Sect of the past could not hope to compare with. It was as if ten thousand cultivators were paying tribute, with all the esoteric sects under heaven coming to offer congratulations. Any cultivator who managed to receive an invitation from the Tai Su Orthodox Sect, even for the lowest-ranking seat, had enough to boast about for ages, earning the envy of countless others.

"Junior Brother Yuan." As Yuan Hao was lost in thought, a voice suddenly sounded beside his ear. Zhou Jun had appeared behind him at some unknown point and clapped him on the shoulder, seemingly trying to startle him. Seeing that Yuan Hao didn't react, Zhou Jun scratched his chin and chuckled. "Junior Brother Yuan, you've become much more composed."

Yuan Hao rolled his eyes, brushed Zhou Jun's hand away, and then properly performed a ritual salute. "Congratulations, Senior Brother, on forming a Top-grade Core and being promoted to a True Disciple." He then took a jade box from his sleeve.

Zhou Jun smiled faintly. He didn't refuse the gift, formally returning the salute before accepting the jade box. "Thank you, Junior Brother." Only then did he take a seat and ask, "When I returned to the mountain, I heard that you had actually gone out to travel. I thought you would miss my ceremony, but I didn't expect you to make a special trip back."

Yuan Hao smiled and lifted his teacup for a sip. Only then did Zhou Jun notice that he hadn't touched the Spirit Fruit on the table at all, and his brow couldn't help but twitch.

"It is your Golden Core Grand Ceremony, Senior Brother. I couldn't bear to miss it," Yuan Hao said.

Zhou Jun nodded and asked, "After the ceremony is over, will you be setting out again, Junior Brother?"

Yuan Hao lowered his head to gaze at his teacup and said faintly, "I'm done with it."

"Done with it?" Zhou Jun asked. "Cultivating in isolation isn't the proper path."

Yuan Hao drained his tea in one gulp and said, "I'll stay in the sect and do my best to increase my cultivation a little more. Once I feel I've reached my limit, I'll ask our Master to grant me the Great Medicine to form a Middle Grade Golden Core."

Compared to his fellow disciples, his path of cultivation was arduous. Even with his benevolent master's favor, and with the sect elders and experts teaching him without reservation and his Master occasionally offering personal guidance, his progress still wasn't fast.

Li Changfeng had personally taught him the sword, and he had even learned the profound secrets of the Sect Swordsmanship from his Master. During his Foundation Establishment stage, he could still achieve good results, but he never expected that after advancing to Dharma Refinement, just passing the grand competition would take all his effort. Thrown among the countless disciples of the Tai Su Sect, the best evaluation he could hope for was 'average skill'.

Yuan Hao felt that even hoping for a Middle Grade Golden Core was only possible because of his Master's favor. In the Tai Su Sect, how many disciples of his level had to painstakingly accumulate merit just to exchange it for the Pill Formation Great Medicine, merely to form a Low Grade Golden Core?

"This..." Zhou Jun frowned. Seeing that he seemed to have made up his mind, he changed the subject. "The future is long, so why the rush? It's better to think about this in the long run."

Yuan Hao didn't dwell on it, replying freely, "You speak truly." He then changed the topic, saying, "Senior Brother, with your Golden Core Grand Ceremony approaching, I wonder if Eldest Senior Brother will return for it."

After returning to the sect, Yuan Hao had made a special trip back to Chongyun Peak. Just as he expected, neither Li Changfeng nor Qin Dengxiao had returned.

He could forget about Qin Dengxiao; he likely hadn't been gone from the mountain for long, and besides, he wasn't well-acquainted with Zhou Jun.

But Li Changfeng had resolved to travel the Profound Yellow world in pursuit of the opportunity for a Top-grade Golden Core. Since leaving the sect, he had never come back. In over twenty years, aside from one letter he sent back describing his travels in the West Su Continent, there had been no other word from him.

Zhou Jun said cheerfully, "Junior Brother, no need to worry. I've already received a congratulatory gift sent in advance by Senior Brother Li. As for whether he'll return for the ceremony, he said it depends on how he ties up the matters he's currently handling."

Yuan Hao's brow unfurrowed. "Excellent."