Please call me Huanxian

Chapter 496: More Haste, Less Speed

To save people from Miaowang Sect, one needs to help them fight against the entanglement of Heaven's Way, but no one can explain what that is exactly.

Both his master and Mu Xiaoxiao had once entered the ancient gate of heaven and earth through enlightenment, bathed in the light of Taoism, and lingered there for decades. His master also saved a good friend and left safely. When he talked about it with him, he only said a few words in a casual manner.

Xu Yuanchang looked thoughtfully at the haggard woman with faint spots of light lingering around her body. This was a sign that her power was about to dissipate and return to the abyss. Senior Sister Ling had been away for many years and had already achieved the realm of the eighth floor, otherwise she would not have been able to survive the long years.

He had seen Ling Fangchen's portrait when he was in Wuliu Mountain.

Before Yan Hanlin advanced to the seventh floor, every time he talked about Uncle Ling, his face was full of admiration and pride.

Thinking of Yan Hanlin who had already fallen, Xu Yuanchang decided to give it a try, with the bottom line being not to get himself involved in the crisis. He would do his best to rescue him, as a way of repaying a favor.

Xu Yuanchang took out the identity card of the Grand Elder of Wuliu Mountain and explained briefly: "I am Xu Yuanchang who joined Wuliu Mountain later. I am grateful to Senior Brother Cao for his kindness and promoting me to the position of Grand Elder. I am just a figurehead to deal with the open and covert struggles of other sects in the Qiaojiao Mountain Region against Wuliu Mountain. I usually travel outside and don't care about the affairs of Wuliu Mountain."

Ling Fangchen's dark eyes lit up again, and a glimmer of hope for survival appeared in his eyes.

She naturally recognized the secret mark and aura left by Junior Brother Cao on the identity card, and laughed hoarsely, "Thank God, I finally got a fellow junior brother, and such an outstanding junior brother," and asked, "Who else in the sect has advanced to the seventh floor?"

She saw that Cao Wanxin's breath was still on the seventh floor.

Given Junior Brother Cao's nature of seeking safety and not taking risks, it will be difficult for him to make any breakthroughs if he does not make changes and stick to his old ways.

Xu Yuanchang was not in a hurry to help. He wanted to have a chat first to enhance mutual understanding, which would benefit both parties. He said, "Cen Kan, Yan Hanlin, and Lu Jiuzhen advanced to the seventh floor five or six hundred years ago. Before I traveled to Miaowang Sect, I heard that Yi Xin and Gu Xinran also made breakthroughs. The sect has two new seventh-floor monks."

He temporarily concealed the news of the deaths of Yan Hanlin and Lu Jiuzhen.

If the rescue is successful, Senior Sister Ling will naturally know the truth after she returns.

It is not appropriate to talk about the sad accident at this moment.

What happened to Senior Sister Ling was tragic enough. If he hadn't happened to encounter her, the great sword master would have died silently.

Ling Fangchen floated slowly with the auspicious clouds, a hint of light appeared on her dry face, and she was radiant for a moment. She smiled and said, "Junior Brother Cao is not aggressive enough, but he is good at maintaining the status quo. He is really lucky to have no chance to stay in the mountain! I didn't expect that the crying little girl Gu Xinran has grown to such a height. Life is unpredictable."

She was happy for Wuliu Mountain, which was a prosperous place with many talented people.

Back then, she had high hopes for several little guys whose talents were better than Gu Xinran. However, their current achievements are not as high as Gu Xinran’s, and they may have already been lost in the crowd.

After talking about the people and things that Wuliu Mountain was familiar with for a while, Ling Fangchen had a better understanding of the sect's current situation. Then he said, "If there is anything that needs attention, please tell me. I will follow it one by one."

Xu Yuanchang reminded through voice transmission: "Senior Sister Ling, there may be interference from the heavens later, please keep your mind clear."

He didn't know what would happen, the way of heaven is unpredictable.

Ling Fangchen nodded and said: "If things are impossible, you should let go immediately. I must not let you get stuck here. I am glad to know that everything is going well in Wuliu Mountain..."

Xu Yuanchang interrupted, "Sister Ling, please don't say discouraging words. Everything depends on human effort. Don't give up easily."

He kept a distance of ten feet from Senior Sister Ling. With a flick of his finger, a ray of golden light wrapped around Ling Fangchen's body three times and flew out first. Under the guidance of the divine light of creation, the auspicious cloud where Ling Fangchen was sitting slowly turned and floated.

In the area illuminated by the ancient gate's glow, the flying speed was not fast.

Trying to drag the trapped monk away and resisting the invisible pull of Heaven is extremely difficult, like carrying a heavy object of ten thousand kilos.

Xu Yuanchang eliminated the numerous distracting thoughts and gradually adjusted himself to a state of mind, fighting against the ever-increasing pressure. He regarded it as a test of practicing in a remote place and honing his character.

"Sister, how do you feel? Is there anything wrong?"

"The further I get from Miaowang Gate, the more my soul power seems to stabilize. I haven't found anything wrong so far."

Ling Fangchen looked at her junior brother who was hunching his body and struggling forward as if pulling a boat, and her heart was moved. The two had never met before, but he was able to help her in the critical moment and gave her hope of survival. This kindness should be remembered for the rest of her life.

From Junior Brother Xu, she thought of Wuliu Mountain. She had once caused a scene on Jiuzhu Island to seek justice for her disciple.

Later, she was forced by the monks of the Eighth Floor of Liuyun Sect and was seriously injured. She had to leave for Yuxu Region, which was like being exiled and unable to return to the sect. She held her breath and went through all the hardships, and was on the verge of life and death countless times.

It took him more than six hundred years to make a breakthrough in killing and to advance to the eighth level through sword-fighting.

She could have ended her exile and returned to Wuliu Mountain in high spirits. She thought that while she was still inspired, she should go to Miaowang Gate to look for opportunities, which might not take much time.

But she didn't know that one misstep would lead to eternal regret, and in her haste to achieve success she put herself in danger from which she could not escape.

Ling Fangchen showed a bitter smile on her face. She had been pursuing the unstoppable sword path, and she was unaware that her state of mind was flawed. After enduring great suffering this time, she must make up for the flaws in her state of mind when she returns.

As the junior fellow disciple in front of him pulled him, Ling Fangchen felt his whole body relax after they were three hundred miles away from the ancient sect.

Her magic power was recovering at an extremely fast speed. The auspicious clouds below her slowly faded, and her withered body gradually became plump.

She didn't know when it started, but she began to feel an endless struggle in her heart.

"Kill him, or your inner demon will never go away!"

"You can't kill him. Junior Brother Xu went through so much trouble to save you. I can't be ungrateful."

"The man surnamed Xu has already stolen the power of Wuliu Mountain. He is trying to buy your favor. After gaining your trust, he will save you from danger and then kill you. The spoils and rare treasures that you have worked so hard for hundreds of years will fall into the hands of this shameless villain."

"No, it's impossible..."

"Take advantage of their unpreparedness and strike first. Have you forgotten the pain of being betrayed by your so-called companions many times?"

"Do not……"

"Kill him. The opportunity will never come again. Has your swordsmanship and determination been wiped out?"

"..."

After Xu Yuanchang dragged his senior sister, who was recovering behind him, for at least five hundred miles, the pressure became heavier and the energy consumption was so great that he could hardly bear it, but he could not stop.

Saving people in Miaowangmen is like rowing against the current. If you don't move forward, you will retreat, or even fail.

He was just about to take out the spirit liquid bead to replenish his magic power, as there was still a long way to go. However, at this moment, a murderous intent as condensed as substance, accompanied by unparalleled sword light, poured down from behind with the force of thunder.

Without any sign, the short distance of ten feet was within reach.

It was completely beyond Xu Yuanchang's expectations, yet it seemed within his expectations.

He sighed slightly in his heart.

The surging sword light submerged the half-bent figure in front, and completely severed the golden light that connected them.

Ling Fangchen's face was twisted and he fell into madness, screaming wildly: "Kill! Kill him!"

She swung the sword in both hands and slashed fiercely, unleashing her cultivation potential to the extreme. The sword light cut through the tranquility, but the auspicious clouds under her feet were not affected at all, carrying the woman who was back in trouble and floating towards the ancient gate.

The sword energy was radiating all along the way, gradually going farther and farther away.

There were some bright spots like fireflies, splashing from the woman's body and melting into the dusk-like sky and earth. Xu Yuanchang reappeared in the air, his eyes as cold as water. While saving people, he was also on guard against the danger behind him.

Under the interference of Heaven, Ling Fangchen failed to maintain his original heart and fell into the growth of a self-destructive inner demon. Well, a short pain is worse than a long one, and dying here is worse than being tortured to death by time.

After watching that bit of light disappear completely, Xu Yuanchang turned around and continued to fly out.

More haste, less speed. He set up a warning sign for himself in his heart.

After passing through countless mists, Xu Yuanchang suddenly found himself back on the original rocky hilltop. It seemed like a real dream. Looking at the Miaowang Gate looming in the sky, it no longer had any appeal to him.

From the clone, I learned that he had been practicing in seclusion for sixty years, and had disappeared for ten years. It was his clone who took his place on the mountain to prevent his position from being taken by others.

Xu Yuanchang recalled the inspiration that came from his artistic influence.

No matter how hard he racked his brains, he couldn't remember what had fascinated him and made him stop.

After putting away his clone, fire spirit and formation equipment, Xu Yuanchang headed towards Liuli City without looking back.

……

Wuliu Mountain, the Hall of Soul Offering.

A soul lamp in the middle of the platform went out very suddenly.

The monk on duty was sitting quietly at the table reading a book. He was keenly aware of the change in light. With a quick glance, he found that the soul lamp marked with "Ling Fangchen" was off. After confirming it again and again, he tiptoed out and rang the funeral bell loudly.

"Dang, Dang, Dang..."

Before the seventh ringing had ended, Cao Wanxin, Yi Xin and Gu Xinran appeared in the Soul Offering Hall.

"Something happened to Senior Sister Ling. No one knows where she is. Sigh!"

Cao Wanxin sighed heavily, his eyes filled with sadness.

He had long guessed that Senior Sister Ling might be trapped in a dangerous place somewhere in the Sinking and Floating Domain, otherwise it would be impossible for her not to send a message back for such a long time.

Now that I have learned of my senior sister's death, I cannot get over it for a long time.

……

There are Qingyao Peak in Zhoushan area and the top of the mountain behind it.

Xu Shengtian looked at Yaomu Xiaoshu who had completely lost his life, and his heart was overwhelmed. He wanted to cry but couldn't.

He had a bad feeling since the leaves turned yellow and fell ten days ago. During this time, he stayed in the thatched cottage without leaving, but still could not save the tree from dying. It was still more than ten years away from the time his master had agreed with him.

His master would never come back.

I want to repay my teacher's kindness, but I will never have the chance again. Those who are gone and can never be seen again are my loved ones.

Gu Yunzhu noticed that there was a disordered breath in the back mountain and hurried over. She saw her brother lying on the ground sobbing silently in pain. She glanced at the withered tree, squatted down with a heartache, and whispered to comfort him.

Those who value love will be hurt by love, and those who value righteousness will be burdened by righteousness.

The tree withered, Wu Luo's ten thousand years of practice was in vain, and he was ultimately unable to escape the backlash of heaven.

……

Xu Yuanchang stayed in Liuli City for more than half a month. He had agreed with Yu Fengwu to meet in Liuli City after sixty years. If he didn't see her after a month, he planned to go back to Dengxian Temple first.

With his ability to travel through the void, after coming here once, it will be convenient for him to come and go in the future.

When Xu Yuanchang came out of the teahouse, he saw an acquaintance walking towards him on the street. He was slightly startled and clasped his fists and said, "Friend Si, it's been a while since we last met."

The scholar's appearance was changed back.

A woman in a simple green dress stopped walking. It was Si Shaoqiu from Liuyun Sect, the Eighth Floor cultivator who led the exchange of Yunyin Secret Realm. The two sides had dealt with each other several times before. She smiled and bowed, saying, "Fellow Daoist Xu, what a coincidence. How about we find a place to sit down and chat?"

He then introduced the old man in black beside him: "This is Brother An Xiaoyi from the Boyun Continent."

Xu Yuanchang clasped his fists and said respectfully: "I have long heard of Master An's great name. I am Xu Yuanchang."

When he was in Wuliu Mountain, he had heard of the name of Master An, the famous eighth-level sorcerer from Liuyun Domain many times. Currently, there was no ninth-level sorcerer in the seven domains of the upper realm. He guessed that Old Monk Tongyuan might have the ability of a ninth-level sorcerer, but it was unknown to outsiders.

The old man in black had an unusual pair of eyes. When he looked at people, his pupils appeared double. He bowed and smiled, "Fellow Daoist Xu has a deep understanding of my teachings. I dare not take the title of master. In the future, when I have time, I hope Fellow Daoist Xu will teach me."

As an accomplished eighth-rank sorcerer, he was filled with admiration for Taoist Master Yanshan's unfathomable deduction and calculation skills. Unfortunately, he had no chance to meet him and learn from him in person, which he always regretted.

If I could learn from Taoist Master Yanshan's disciples, perhaps I could make up for some of that.

Xu Yuan was sweating profusely, and smiled and declined: "Master An, if you want to compete with me in fighting, I can still practice a few moves with you, but fortune-telling and deduction are not my forte."

A look of regret appeared on An Xiaoyi's face.

A group of three people walked into the teahouse and sat down by the window in the second-floor hall.

After setting up the soundproofing ban, sipping the spiritual tea, and chatting for a while, Si Shaoqiu asked, "Does Brother Xu have time? Master An and I are in need of help. Let's go explore a secret realm in the void that produces materials and spiritual herbs that can help strengthen the soul."

She didn't specify what secret realm it was.

Throw out a little something and someone will take the bait. She had heard about Xu Yuanchang's undefeated battle in Nanyu River.

The extremely lucky seventh-floor monk back then had grown to the point where she needed to look up to him.

She could only be thankful that she had not done anything excessive at the beginning. Doing business also needs to be kept within a certain fair range based on the difference in strength between the two parties. Otherwise, it would be difficult to meet.

With a powerful companion, the chances of success of this trip will be greatly increased.

Just now while drinking tea, Master An used his mind to tell the fortune and it was auspicious.

Xu Yuanchang understood the rarity of the materials and spiritual herbs that were helpful to the Eight-Layered Tower's spirit, and said, "I'm waiting for a companion in Liuli City, and I don't know when she will arrive."

"No problem. We will make preparations in Liuli City within half a year. You can invite your companion to join us."

Si Shaoqiu heard that Fellow Daoist Xu was interested and said with a smile.

Xu Yuanchang pondered for a moment and said, "Then it will take half a year. If my companion arrives, I will try my best to persuade her to join the secret realm adventure..."

A flying sword flew in from the window.

Xu Yuanchang took the flying sword and swept it, then stood up with a smile: "My companion has arrived, I will go to pick her up, you two wait a moment."

……

(End of this chapter)