A hundred miles outside Fuxian City.
After transforming into a dragon, Chao Jiuxiao was unconcerned by the dark clouds that blanketed his path, single-mindedly flying towards Liren Peak, hoping to see his master as soon as possible.
However, he hadn't flown far when the jade marrow embedded in his claws suddenly emitted a beam of light, unexpectedly dazzling amidst the lightning and thunder.
Chao Jiuxiao was startled, then, as if remembering something, his eyes widened abruptly.
He transformed into human form in mid-air, crashing down with a bang amidst the raging wind and rain, his powerful spiritual energy causing cracks to appear in the ground.
He landed in a secluded outskirts, where no one was around.
Chao Jiuxiao's face was grim. He coldly said, "You actually escaped?"
A soft laugh came from the darkness, followed by a figure slowly appearing, holding a small lamp.
The man had a sinister face, a smile playing on his lips, and a flamboyant red robe draped loosely over his shoulders.
It was Li Genglan.
Li Genglan said calmly, "Jiuxiao, it's been a long time. Don't you have anything to say to your senior brother?"
"You're not my senior brother," Chao Jiuxiao said coldly. "Master has expelled you from the sect."
Li Genglan licked his lips, his smile both lewd and sinister. "Jiuxiao is right. After being trapped in the Burial Mound for so many years, I almost forgot about that."
Chao Jiuxiao slightly raised his hand, and a Qinglin Sword appeared in his palm, which he gripped tightly.
Li Genglan glanced at it, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. "What, you want to fight me?"
Chao Jiuxiao said expressionlessly, "You shouldn't have left the Burial Mound."
Li Genglan raised a hand, his wide sleeve billowing in the wind. He said with a half-smile, "The Burial Mound can't hold me, unless you can kill me."
Chao Jiuxiao looked at him coldly.
“But are you willing to kill me?” Li Genglan asked coldly, as if he could see right through Chao Jiuxiao. “If you kill me, who will eliminate Shen Eleven for you?”
Chao Jiuxiao sneered, “Don’t lump me in with you. Although I despise Shen Eleven, he’s not someone I’d personally kill. It’s you… you put on a whole show to deceive his feelings back then, and then told him the truth yourself. If he knew you escaped, he would hunt you down by any means necessary.”
Li Genglan replied, “I came to find you, not to hear you talk about all the good deeds I did back then.”
Chao Jiuxiao frowned, then suddenly raised his hand. The Qinglin Sword whistled out, striking Li Genglan, but it seemed to touch a reflection in water; the figure rippled, but remained unharmed.
Seeing this, Chao Jiuxiao seemed to have expected it, and expressionlessly sheathed his sword.
Having barely escaped the burial mound, Li Genglan needed to recuperate; how could he possibly come looking for him in person?
Chao Jiuxiao said impatiently, "Just say what you have to say. Master is about to emerge from seclusion, and I'm eager to go back."
Throughout Liren Peak, although Chao Jiuxiao had a fiery temper, he was also the easiest to deceive and manipulate.
Li Genglan simply cut to the chase, slowly saying, "Send my Lian Gou to the Demon Clan."
Chao Jiuxiao: "Li Suo?"
"Yes." Li Genglan casually tossed his disheveled black hair and said softly, "I miss him."
Chao Jiuxiao immediately gave him a disgusted look, directly refusing, "If you want Lian Gou, go get it yourself. Don't order me around."
"Alright." Li Genglan, as if indulging a disobedient child, added, "Then I want someone else."
"Who?"
"Xiwu."
Chao Jiuxiao was taken aback: "Who?"
Li Genglan gently placed his hand on Chao Jiuxiao's shoulder and said softly, "Su Xiyan's disciple."
"Xiwu."
"Shen Xiwu."
***
Liren Peak, at the Boundary Spirit Tablet.
Shen Gurong descended the wooden steps of the spirit boat. As he reached the last few steps, a hand reached out to him.
He looked up and saw Mu Zhe standing below, offering his hand as if to help him up.
Xi Guxing was watching from a short distance away. Shen Gurong felt embarrassed, his face inexplicably burning.
"Why would you help me up? I'm not pregnant," Shen Gurong muttered softly. "Besides, my senior brothers are watching. If I put my hand on him, what will happen to my reputation as a master?"
Mu Zhe hesitated, about to withdraw his hand, when he saw Shen Gurong, his ears turning red, place his hand in his palm.
Mu Zhe: "..."
His Master's contradictory words were always acceptable.
Mu Zhe tightened his grip, holding Shen Gurong's hand, and gently helped him down.
Not far away, Jing Zhuchen was talking to Xi Guxing. Before they could exchange more than a few words, Xi Guxing caught sight of the two shamelessly holding hands. He immediately exploded, yelling, "What are you doing? Don't touch him!"
Jing Zhuchen: "..."
So many years have passed, and his senior brother is still so old-fashioned.
Xi Guxing stormed over, slapped their hands apart, grabbed Shen Gurong's wrist, and pulled him away from Mu Zhe, completely forgetting that a Great Ascension cultivator had finally emerged from Liren Peak.
Shen Gurong wasn't angry and casually asked, "Has Fifth Senior Brother returned?"
Xi Guxing was looking Shen Gurong up and down, and only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Shen Gurong hadn't been seriously injured. Hearing this, he said irritably, "He returned a long time ago and is currently waiting for Master to come out of seclusion on Yurong Mountain."
Shen Gurong hesitated for a moment, "Is Master about to emerge from seclusion?"
Xi Guxing glared fiercely at Mu Zhe not far away and said, "Yes, that's right, we all have to go."
Shen Gurong tugged at his simple white robes and said, "I need to go back to Fanjiang Residence to change my clothes. I'll be fine soon."
Upon hearing that he needed to go back to Fanjiang Residence, Xi Guxing remembered how half of Fanjiang Residence had been flooded by the spring tears in the forest and immediately felt a little guilty. He coughed heavily and said, "It's too late. Master will emerge from seclusion soon. As disciples, we should go and wait."
He didn't wait for Shen Gurong to speak again and simply grabbed him and ran.
Shen Gurong only had time to give Mu Zhe a look before he was dragged away.
Walking behind, Jing Zhuchen glanced at Mu Zhe with a half-smile, then slowly said, "You'd better not show yourself yet. If Master finds out about your feelings for Eleven..."
He clicked his tongue twice, not finishing his sentence, and walked away leisurely.
Mu Zhe remained standing there for a long time before pursing his lips and heading towards Fanjiang Residence with a nonchalant air.
Mu Zhe had heard since childhood about Nan Yangjun's doting on Shen Gurong. When Shen Gurong's other senior brothers learned of his rebellious intentions, they wished they could skin him alive, let alone Nan Yangjun.
However, Mu Zhe was not afraid at all.
As long as Shen Gurong said the word, he would willingly give his life.
Before Mu Zhe reached Fanjiang Residence, a spirit butterfly flew from the grass and landed precisely in front of him.
This was a communication butterfly of the demon race.
Mu Zhe raised his hand, letting the spirit butterfly land on his finger, and frowned, "Qingyu?"
Qingyu's voice came from the spirit butterfly: "Mu Zhe! Mu Zhe, you have no idea what I've discovered? Hahahaha!"
Mu Zhe rubbed his ears, impatiently saying, "Stop talking nonsense. When are you finally going to deliver the spirit vein you promised me?"
Qingyu was taken aback, remaining silent for a long time before awkwardly saying, "I'm sorry, Lord Mu Zhe, the spirit vein might not be able to be delivered for the time being..."
Mu Zhe coldly said, "You've already postponed it for three years. Are you going to keep lying to me?"
"No, no," Qingyu hurriedly said, "Mainly because I finally understand why the Demon Lord is so wary of divine artifacts."
Mu Zhe was taken aback before saying, "Tell me in detail."
At the same time, a deafening sound suddenly came from the distant Yurong Mountain, like an avalanche, causing the spirit butterfly on Mu Zhe's finger to fly around like a headless fly.
Mu Zhe looked up, but the voice abruptly stopped.
A chilling, oppressive aura suddenly spread across the entire Liren Peak.
Mu Zhe's pupils contracted.
He was already at the Great Ascension stage, yet he was still intimidated by this oppressive aura?
Just who was Nan Yangjun…?
Yurong Mountain was blanketed in snow.
All of Nan Yangjun's disciples on Liren Peak were waiting there. Even the proud and arrogant Xi Guxing and Chao Jiuxiao showed respect, without the slightest impatience.
Shen Gurong stood behind Su Xiyan, his spiritual energy blocking the surrounding chill, his sleeves trembling slightly uncontrollably.
Su Xiyan glanced at him, took out a cloak and draped it over Shen Gurong, saying softly, "Don't be afraid."
Shen Gurong looked at him strangely. Afraid? Why would he be afraid? Over the years, Shen Gurong had roughly learned that Shen Feng Xue and Nan Yangjun's relationship seemed strained. He tilted his head, pondering how he should deal with Nan Yangjun when he emerged.
Should he adopt Shen Feng Xue's cold demeanor?
Besides, wasn't Nan Yangjun incredibly powerful? Wouldn't he see through him instantly and kill him with a single blow?
The more Shen Gurong thought about it, the more he trembled.
Just then, the snow in front of him began to throb violently like boiling water, as if it would tumble down from the mountaintop at any moment.
Caught off guard, an avalanche erupted from the mountaintop.
Shen Gurong: "..."
Shen Gurong remained expressionless.
"Such a commotion just coming out of seclusion?! As expected of Master!"
Soon, impatiently, Chao Jiuxiao flicked his dragon tail, stopping the oncoming avalanche. After the avalanche subsided, a figure emerged from the vast expanse of snow.
Clad in black robes and wielding a long sword, Nan Yangjun descended the snow-covered mountain steps with imposing presence.
Upon seeing this, Chao Jiuxiao immediately transformed into a slender dragon and pounced with a whoosh.
"Master!" Nan Yangjun's face was cold and stern. With a slight raise of his hand, Chao Jiuxiao coiled himself around his forearm in a zigzag pattern, calling out "Master" like a child.
Nan Yangjun appeared as if he were a block of ice, devoid of any human warmth. Even when praising his disciple, his tone and expression remained calm and unwavering.
"You've transformed into a dragon. Very good."
Chao Jiuxiao nodded his dragon head: "Mmm!"
Shen Gurong was still staring at Nan Yangjun's face when Nan Yangjun slowly walked to the front of the group. His deep eyes swept coldly over them, and the sound of wind and snow howled behind him, only dissipating after a long while.
Xi Guxing and the others said in unison, "Welcome back, Master!" Everyone knelt on one knee in unison.
Shen Gurong was a beat slower, quickly trying to follow suit.
But as soon as he moved, a chilling aura enveloped his body, forcing him to stand up.
Shen Gurong looked up in surprise and saw Nan Yangjun looking at him.
Nan Yangjun said, "No need for formalities, Eleventh."
Shen Gurong: "..."
Shen Gurong felt somewhat embarrassed and awkward seeing everyone kneeling around him.
Xi Guxing and the others were already used to it. However, Chao Jiuxiao, who was wrapped around Nan Yangjun's wrist, took advantage of his master's inattention and bared his teeth fiercely, as if he wanted to bite him to death.
Shen Gurong finally understood why Shen Feng Xue was hated. Of all Nan Yangjun's disciples, he showed him such special indulgence. Putting himself in his master's shoes, Shen Gurong would probably be green with envy too.
Shen Gurong was pleased to skip the formalities and was about to speak when Nan Yangjun's icy expression softened considerably. He said softly, "I heard you were injured a few days ago. Are you feeling better now?"
Shen Gurong was startled again, feeling inexplicably strange.
He had never seen Nan Yangjun's face before, but the moment he showed such a gentle expression, it gave him a strange sense of familiarity.
Shen Gurong pondered for a long time, trying to figure out what was so familiar.
Or was it just the lingering consciousness of Shen Feng Xue at play?
While Shen Gurong was still lost in thought, he suddenly heard a roar of a ferocious dragon beside him.
He looked up in astonishment and saw Chao Jiuxiao transform into his enormous form, his massive dragon eyes fixed on Shen Gurong, his entire body radiating an undisguised killing intent.
Shen Gurong: "..."
Hmm? What's going on?
Chao Jiuxiao coldly said, "Shen Feng Xue, put the sword away."
Shen Gurong, bewildered, looked down in surprise and was astonished to find that he had unknowingly conjured a phantom longsword, which he was gripping tightly, its blade brimming with chilling spiritual energy.
Shen Gurong was startled, belatedly realizing the intense killing intent that had arisen in his heart.
That killing intent… was actually directed at Nan Yangjun!
No wonder Chao Jiuxiao was so furious, immediately revealing his true form.
Before Shen Gurong could dissipate his spiritual energy, Lou Bugui, who had been silent, suddenly drew his sword and coldly said to Chao Jiuxiao, "Change back first."
Chao Jiuxiao roared, "He offended Master first!"
Lou Bugui ignored him, saying without blinking, "Change back."
Chao Jiuxiao retorted, "I won't change! I won't change until he takes back his sword!"
Jing Zhuchen stood lazily, puffing away on his pipe. The smoke drifted into the air, quickly transforming into a sharp longsword, which he controlled to float towards Lou Bugui's heart.
His eyes gleamed with a thousand charms as he lazily said, "Lou Bugui, put your sword away first."
Xi Guxing roared, "What are you all doing?! What kind of behavior is this in front of Master?! Put away your swords all of you!"
No one paid any attention to the sect leader. Even the second senior sister drew her sword, smiling gently at Jing Zhuchen, "Put away your sword first."
Jing Zhuchen: "If he puts away his sword, I'll put it away."
Lou Bugui: "If he transforms back, I'll put it away."
Chao Jiuxiao: "Awooo—"
Xi Guxing: "..."
Shen Gurong: "???"
Is this how you Liren Peak usually play?
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