Family Rise: Beginning with Grandfather.

Chapter 969 Acting on Behalf of Heaven, Upholding Heavenly Law and Rectifying Human Relations
Jian Guyun pondered for a moment, and finally could only nod, "Very well, you two can act on your own, but if we happen to run into each other inside, we should look after each other!"

"Of course, we still have our hearts set on Hidden Sword Mountain!" Yang Zhengshan said, expressing his loyalty.

It's just saying a nice thing, a simple matter of opening his mouth, so he naturally doesn't mind saying an extra word.

Of course, as long as there is no conflict of interest, Yang Zhengshan still wants to maintain a good relationship with Cangjian Mountain.

Jian Guyun did not stay in Mianyun Continent for long. After meeting Yang Zhengshan, he left, while Yang Zhengshan stayed to chat with Yunxiao, Yunxi and Liuyue for a while.

Liu Yue also wanted to go, but she was self-aware enough to know that if she went, she would most likely become cannon fodder, so she only looked on with envy.

"There are just too many forces involved this time. It feels like every single one of them wants to get involved!" Yunxiao said with some concern.

Yang Zhengshan said nonchalantly, "It's normal. The allure of the Sun Cave Heaven is too great. Any Foundation Establishment cultivator who aspires to the Golden Core path will inevitably be tempted by greed."

Yunxiao naturally understood all of this; he was simply worried about the recent disturbances.

It wasn't just Hidden Sword Mountain that was taking action; Azure Feather Mountain was also active. The Sky Sparrow Clan had gathered many demonic beasts in the Cloud Sky Mountains, preparing to enter the Sun Cave Heaven together.

The same was true in the Qingli Dynasty; several immortal cultivation families could no longer contain themselves and headed to Emerald Valley.

“Who knows how many people will get involved then!” Yunxiao said.

"Why worry about so much? You'll find out when we get there!"

Yang Zhengshan waved his hand dismissively.

Now is not the time to worry about these things. They cannot stop others from going. All they can do is make thorough preparations to deal with the dangers that may come next.

As for anything else, thinking about it more is useless.

……

Emerald Valley is located on the edge of the Wanhua Mountains. There is a first-grade high-quality spiritual vein in the valley, so it can't be considered a particularly beautiful place.

Because it is close to the Wanhua Mountains, many cultivators stop here to rest or resupply before entering the Wanhua Mountains.

There used to be a fairly large market for cultivators in the valley, but now it is empty, as the cultivators have all fled.

It wasn't that they knew in advance that the Sun Cave was about to fall; it was just that there had been too much unrest around Emerald Valley recently, forcing them to leave their hometown.

As the appointed time drew nearer, more and more immortal cultivators and demonic beasts appeared in the hundreds of miles surrounding Emerald Valley.

roar~~
A beastly roar resounded, and a terrifying surge of spiritual energy suddenly erupted from the mountains and forests to the east of Emerald Valley.

What followed was a series of booming explosions, which echoed for hundreds of miles around like muffled thunder.

This is another conflict between the demon races, and it's unclear which two demon races have started fighting.

"Judging from the fluctuations, it seems that quite a few demons are involved in the battle!"

In a secluded canyon deep in the mountains, Kota gazed eastward and spoke softly.

Yang Zhengshan, Yunxiao, Kota, and Hong Fuxiu have arrived near Emerald Valley.

The exact time of the cave's fall has not yet been determined, but it is likely to happen within the next month or two.

In order to avoid missing the chance to fall into the cave, they had to arrive early and wait.

However, upon their arrival, they discovered that the area surrounding Emerald Valley was already teeming with Foundation Establishment cultivators, demonic beasts, and even some Divine Soul Realm warriors.

They originally wanted to find a place closer to Emerald Valley, but they found that the spots near Emerald Valley had already been occupied.

With no other option, they could only find this inconspicuous canyon eighty miles northwest of Emerald Valley and stay there.

In the secluded canyon, the four of them carved a cave into the rock wall and used it as their temporary camp.

Yang Zhengshan sat cross-legged on a rock protruding from the cliff face, meditating quietly, while Yunxiao sat at the entrance of the cave, gently wiping a cloud-white flying sword.

Hong Fuxiu, still dressed in red, stood beside Kota, gazing eastward.

The conflict between the demon races in the east was not over yet when a surge of magical energy suddenly erupted from the south. However, the surge of magical energy there was fleeting and did not last long, suggesting that some people were testing each other.

Such tests happen countless times a day, because no one knows how many people are hiding around Emerald Valley at any given moment.

With so many people mixed together, conflicts and contradictions are bound to arise.

Although everyone knows that now is not a good time to fight, they still can't help but resort to violence in order to compete for a better position.

Just as Yang Zhengshan and his three companions were quietly staying in the canyon, three auras suddenly appeared above the canyon.

Yang Zhengshan sensed the approach of the three auras, suddenly opened his eyes, and met Yunxiao's gaze.

"May I ask which fellow Daoist is here? I am Feng Guiyue from Liefeng Valley, here to pay my respects!"

As he spoke, a spiritual sense subtly swept over. Yang Zhengshan narrowed his eyes, his spiritual sense overflowing outwards, and he unceremoniously collided with the probing spiritual sense.

"roll!"

A furious shout devoid of any emotion rang out, directly shattering the spiritual consciousness.

Above the canyon, Feng Guiyue's expression changed slightly, then he cupped his hands in a salute, "I was rude, please forgive me!"

Having said that, he left in a hurry with his two companions without another word.

What a joke! The spiritual power that Yang Zhengshan just displayed far surpassed that of Feng Guiyue. If Feng Guiyue isn't stupid, she'll know that the people here are not to be trifled with.

Yang Zhengshan didn't argue with them and let them leave.

This is not the time to fight with others; it is enough to force them to retreat.

Moreover, Feng Guiyue wasn't the first person to approach him; many others had come to test the waters during this period, but Yang Zhengshan had driven them away.

Yang Zhengshan didn't take the matter to heart. After confirming that Feng Guiyue and the others had left, he continued to cultivate with his eyes closed.

Time passed slowly, and the surrounding commotion grew, with strong magical fluctuations erupting from time to time.

Yang Zhengshan and his group were not in a good location. Although some people came to probe, no one tried to steal anything.

Time passed day by day until this morning.

Lead-gray clouds piled up on the horizon, forming a thick barrier that shredded the faint light of dawn deep within the clouds.

Where the eastern sky should have been tinged with the first light of dawn, only a dark orange smudge floated on the surface, with a few slivers of dying light peeking through the gaps in the thick clouds.

Occasionally, a faint ray of bluish-white light would peek through a gap in the clouds, only to be swallowed up by thicker, darker clouds before it could reach the ground, plunging the world into a suffocating atmosphere of perpetual darkness. Even the air felt heavy and oppressive, making one's chest feel constricted.

Yang Zhengshan felt the oppressive atmosphere and stared at the gloomy sky.

"Is it coming?" Yunxiao asked.

Kota and Hong Fuxiu also looked nervous.

Yang Zhengshan nodded slightly, "It's coming!" At this moment, he could already sense the aura emanating from the Sun Cave Heaven.

He cultivated the Cave Heaven Refining Nerve, and his perception of the cave heaven and the void far surpassed that of other Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Others may not be able to see through the scene above the dark clouds, but he can see it clearly.

Those weren't real dark clouds, but rather a phenomenon caused by spatial compression.

The falling sun blocked the morning light that should have bathed the earth, distorting the entire world.

He not only sensed the aura of the Sun Cave Heaven, but also the aura of the void, the aura seeping out from the void cracks.

The Spirit Source Land is a grotto-heaven, which originally existed within the Great Void.

The "Refining the Void" technique also contains some rules about the Great Void.

Every time Yang Zhengshan uses the Spirit Source Land to teleport, he actually has to come into contact with the Great Void, or more accurately, the Void, which is the outer layer of the barrier of the main world.

Although the contact was only for a moment, it made him feel familiar with the void and the vast emptiness.

The time was not yet right, and the void rift had not yet fully formed, but Yang Zhengshan could still sense the faint aura emanating from the void.

He looked south, where a void rift would appear about ten miles to the south, through which they could enter the Sun Cave Heaven.

Seeing him look over, Yunxiao followed his gaze and asked, "What's wrong?"

“There’s a spatial rift over there!” Yang Zhengshan said.

Yunxiao's eyes lit up. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go over there!"

"Wait, don't rush!" Yang Zhengshan quickly stopped him.

"How can I not be in a hurry?" Yunxiao couldn't contain his excitement.

Yang Zhengshan shook his head at him and said, "Who knows what it's like inside? Let someone else go in and scout ahead first. Besides, do you know how many immortal cultivators are watching us? Do you know if there are any Golden Core cultivators around?"

Shoot the first bird.

Being ahead of others may bring more benefits, but it also means facing greater dangers.

Although Yang Zhengshan is also anxious, he doesn't want to be the first to make a move.

"Uh!" Yunxiao was stunned for a moment, and Hong Fuxiu and Kota also calmed down their eagerness.

"Don't rush. As long as we can get in, that's all that matters. The order in which we get in isn't the most important thing," Yang Zhengshan said.

The three nodded, agreeing with his point of view.

And so, the four of them continued to wait quietly.

The sky grew increasingly gloomy, gradually turning pitch black, as if a dark curtain had covered the heavens.

And high above, a dozen imposing figures were looking down at everything below.

Looking down from above, it's the same distorted blackness; the earth has vanished, replaced by a strange fluctuation.

"Hehe, everyone, let's make this clear first: I can't wait to make a move until the Sun Cave Heaven has completely collapsed!"

A young Taoist priest dressed in a Yin-Yang robe and holding a whisk chuckled.

"Old Daoist Huagai, who doesn't know that your Tianji Pavilion is most skilled in scheming? Don't try to plot against us again!" a man as tall as a tower said in a deep voice.

"Hehe, Xiong Bawang, I am but one person. How could I possibly outwit so many fellow Daoists? Besides, although my Xuanji Pavilion is skilled in scheming, my disciples are few in number. This time, only a handful of disciples have entered the True Yang Heaven. They are no match for the thousands of demons of the Demon Court!"

Hua Gai, the old Taoist priest, smiled gently.

After saying that, he glanced around, and one figure after another entered his eyes.

"Ancestor Huangquan, do you think what I said is right or wrong?" His gaze was fixed on an old man with a weak aura.

The old man was dressed in coarse linen clothes, had an ordinary face, and a slightly hunched figure, showing no trace of the aura of a Golden Core cultivator.

But he is the Ancestor of the Underworld, the Ghost King who established the Underworld Palace, and also a Ghost King with the strength of the peak of the Golden Core stage.

"Heh, others might give your Heavenly Mystery Pavilion face, but I, Old Ghost, won't!" His voice was extremely hoarse, sounding particularly distressed.

Hua Gai was completely unfazed by his rudeness, and instead laughed, "Senior, why bother? The Impermanent Ghost Sect is still here. Your underlings should be careful, lest they be captured and boiled into soup by the Impermanent Ghost Sect!"

As he spoke, he glanced at a figure in a black robe not far away.

That was An Wusheng of the Impermanent Ghost Sect.

The Impermanent Ghost Sect has three main halls: the Soul-Hooking Hall, the Soul-Refining Hall, and the Soul-Controlling Hall. An Wusheng is the master of the Soul-Controlling Hall, and can also be called Judge An.

The Yin Ghost Division belongs to the Soul Control Hall, and Zhang Mo and Mo Xuanyu are both deacons of the Yin Ghost Division.

An Wusheng glanced at Huangquan Laozu, who snorted coldly but did not speak.

He and the Impermanent Ghost Sect are natural enemies. The Impermanent Ghost Sect is good at hooking, refining, controlling, creating and enslaving ghosts. The Yellow Springs Palace is a ghost cultivation force, and they are the materials that the Impermanent Ghost Sect likes to enslave the most.

"Alright, Hua Gai, you don't need to sow discord. If you all want to fight, that's fine, but you must wait until the Sun Cave Heaven has completely collapsed! Before the cave heaven collapses, none of you are allowed to make a move!"

A woman dressed in a magnificent feathered robe spoke in a calm tone.

Her tone was unquestionable, as if she didn't take the dozen or so Golden Core cultivators around her seriously.

However, upon hearing this, the group of Golden Core cultivators showed no anger whatsoever. Instead, they all bowed respectfully and said, "We will obey the Dao Envoy's decree!"

The woman seemed to think they were being quite respectful, so she added a special explanation: "Before the cave has completely collapsed, if you were to make a move, you might risk shattering the void. To avoid bringing disaster to all living beings, I must establish some rules for you!"

"We understand that the Dao Envoy cares for all living beings. Rest assured, Dao Envoy, we will never act rashly!" Hua Gai said with a smile in his eyes.

After saying that, he didn't forget to provoke the Yellow Spring Ancestor, "Senior Yellow Spring, aren't you right!"

The Old Ancestor of the Yellow Springs gave him a cold glance, "I dare not disobey the Dao Envoy's orders!"

"So good!"

The woman's face, as white as jade, held a calm and serene expression. Then, she flipped her wrist, and a blue bead on her wrist emitted a soft glow. As the glow spread, a magnificent palace appeared out of thin air in the sky.

The woman floated into the hall, and the hall doors closed. On either side of the golden hall doors were inscribed couplets.

First line: Following the way of Heaven, we follow the way of Earth, inheriting the tradition to rectify the world's destiny.

The second line reads: "Acting on behalf of Heaven, upholding the law of Heaven and rectifying human relations."

The two couplets radiate a bright light, seemingly containing boundless Taoist meaning, making one feel as if they are drawn into it.

The group of Golden Core cultivators glanced at the couplet, then quickly looked away, seemingly not daring to look any longer.

(End of this chapter)