Dao Cheng Gui Xian

Chapter 417 The Grace of Attaining Dao, Pointing to the Sealed Spirit Path
The power of the void surged, yet remained remarkably stable.

The Azure Lotus Venerable observed the changes in the void with great interest. He knew that the two masters of the Central Region before this great upheaval had arrived.

Flames arose from the void, and the dark yellow hung high in the sky.

Yanwu Dazun and Xuanhuang Guanzhu emerged from Jiezi Ferry at the same time, both of them coming in their true forms this time.

Looking at the figure seated on the flaming lotus platform before them, the two bowed simultaneously and said:

"Greetings, Great Venerable Qinglian!"

"Xuanhuang, Yanwu, it's been a long time!"

The Azure Lotus Grand Venerable still had his back to the two of them, but his tone was a bit lighter, as if seeing the two of them made him feel good. As for the destruction of the Yan Yang Luo Clan, it seemed that it had never shaken his mind from the beginning.

Both Yanwu Dazun and Xuanhuang Guanzhu smiled at the same time.

The two people's attitude towards the Azure Lotus Venerable was different from that towards the Immortal Lotus Venerable. This was not just a matter of etiquette and respect, but also a subtle way of placing themselves in the position of juniors.

The whole scene resembles the scene when Wu Zhuangyuan faced the old beggar.

Just as the two were about to step forward to exchange pleasantries, their smiles suddenly froze. The scene of blood flowing like a river inside the Luo family mansion left them somewhat taken aback.

They were discussing matters concerning the Immortal Mountain when they suddenly sensed the aura of the Azure Lotus Venerable's arrival. That's why they rushed over to meet him, only to witness this scene.

The abbot of Xuanhuang Temple stepped forward and asked solemnly:
"Lord Lotus, what's going on with the Luo family?"

Upon hearing this, the Azure Lotus Grandmaster waved his hand and replied:

"Two Nascent Soul cultivators from the Sealed Spirit Path, who had sealed the heavens and earth, came over and massacred the Luo family. Xuanhuang must be ashamed."

The abbot of Xuanhuang Temple repeatedly said he dared not, but the Great Venerable Yanwu frowned and said:
"Sealing the Spirit Path again? Sealing the spirits of heaven and earth again?"

Upon hearing this, Grand Venerable Qinglian gave a soft "oh" and looked at Grand Venerable Yanwu with some confusion.

Seeing this, Venerable Yanwu realized that Venerable Xianlian probably hadn't communicated with Venerable Qinglian about the situation in the Holy Domain yet. So he described in detail the scenes in the Holy Domain that the two of them knew to Venerable Qinglian.

The Azure Lotus Venerable listened quietly, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

Having finished his narration, the Great Venerable Yanwu couldn't help but ask:
"Does Lotus Venerable think this is because Sparrow Venerable was careless, or has Sparrow Venerable already sided with the Immortal Mountain?"

After Yanwu Grand Venerable finished asking his question, Xuanhuang Temple Master also looked at Qinglian Grand Venerable with a solemn expression. Both of them were unsure about this point and did not know how to proceed.

The Azure Lotus Venerable pondered for a moment, for he himself had been somewhat puzzled.

Hearing the narration of the Great Venerable Yanwu, I vaguely have some answers now.

"According to Yan Wu, the Spirit Sealers in the Holy Domain have instigated the killing intent of heaven and earth, which has even affected those in the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm. Those two should have already died in the Holy Domain."

Since you two have examined the human skin contract from Xianlian, there should be no doubt about that.

It seems that within the Sealed Spirit Path, there are quite a few who have sealed their own spiritual realms. Those who destroyed the Luo Clan were also those who sealed their own spiritual realms, but their sacred domains of sealing their spiritual realms were probably not strong; the killing intent they unleashed only affected True Monarchs.”

Upon hearing this, Yanwu and Xuanhuang were startled. Looking down at the Luo family mansion, they realized from the corpses that these people had all killed each other.

The two exchanged a glance, and both knew the answer in their hearts.

Although the Azure Lotus Venerable did not say it explicitly, the answer was self-evident.

If the Sparrow Lord didn't investigate two Sealed Spirit Realms, how could he not investigate so many?

The Sparrow Master has actually colluded with the Immortal Mountain!

A chilling glint appeared in Xuanhuang's eyes, and he said resentfully:

"The Sparrow Lord is so short-sighted, abandoning the countless lives on the Sealed Spirit Path. It is truly shameful."

Yanwu, however, offered a sarcastic remark from the sidelines:
"Maybe the Sparrow Lord has gone mad? Sealing spirits, sealing spirits, sealing until the end, neither human nor ghost, this kind of lineage should be cut off."

After speaking, Yanwu looked up at the Azure Lotus Venerable and said excitedly, "Lord Lotus, the Immortal Mountain has become so rampant. Just because their actions in the Holy Domain were thwarted by the Immortal Lotus Venerable, they dare to directly annihilate the Yanyang Luo Clan. Lord Lotus Venerable is immortal for ten thousand years and has also been kind to me and Xuanhuang in our path to enlightenment. We are willing to join Lord Lotus Venerable in attacking the Immortal Mountain together."

Upon hearing this, the abbot of Xuanhuang Temple echoed his sentiments with equal fervor.

The Azure Lotus Grandmaster sighed softly, his voice aged and melancholic as he said:

"I am old and hopeless in the path of immortality. With the great changes in the world, it is already a blessing to be able to help the younger generation and protect the Green Lotus and ensure the continuation of the Immortal Lotus. How can I have any strength left to fight against the Immortal Mountain?"

As for the grace of attaining enlightenment, Yanwu is overthinking it.

Your attainment of the Dao with Xuanhuang was entirely due to your own efforts, and had little to do with me.

If you two truly have a grudge, then after my passing, please look after the Qinglian clan for me; that would fulfill the good karma between us.

Yanwu and Xuanhuang raised their heads, both somewhat incredulous.

How could someone as venerable as Lotus Venerable become disheartened?
But as they gazed at that figure with his back to the world, they noticed a slight hunchback. This giant who had dominated for millennia seemed to have truly aged.

The two were filled with inexplicable emotions, and for a moment, Mount Jin Yan fell into silence.

The flames on the lotus platform beneath the Azure Lotus Venerable slowly receded, and the roots that had taken root on Golden Flame Mountain gradually withdrew.

The terrain was sunken, and the entire Luo family mansion sank into Jin Yan Mountain.

"Yanwu, Xuanhuang, after the great changes in heaven and earth, we meet again!"

Facing the silent Yanwu, Xuanhuang waved his hand, and the roots of the Azure Lotus Grand Venerable shrank back into the void and disappeared into the world.

The Great Venerable Yanwu gazed into the void, remaining silent for a long time.

After a long while, he transmitted his voice to the Xuanhuang Temple Master beside him and asked:
Do you still suspect that the Lotus Venerable had ulterior motives in helping you attain enlightenment back then?

Xuanhuang Temple Master opened his mouth, speechless. If it were the ambitious Immortal Mountain, there would be no need to explain, but what about a disheartened Lotus Venerable?
The two noticed the arrival of the Lotus Lord and rushed over immediately. They even adopted a very humble posture upon arrival, appearing as if they were willing to follow the Lotus Lord's lead. In fact, they also wanted to see how the Lotus Lord would behave.

There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world, but Lotus Venerable helped him and Yanwu achieve enlightenment one after another.

Over the years, they have offered to repay the favor several times, but the Lotus Master has never taken credit for it.

Even when Luo traveled within the two's territories in the Central Region, he never asked them for assistance.

Is he really nearing his end and thinking of creating a good connection for future generations?
After a long silence, Xuanhuang sighed:
"It's best to remain vigilant!"

Although the Great Venerable Yanwu didn't take it to heart, he didn't argue further and changed the subject, asking:
"Regarding the matter of the Sparrow Lord's collusion with the Immortal Mountain, I intend to have my subordinates investigate. What do you think?"

The Abbot of Xuanhuang Temple clearly had a plan in mind as well, and he was well aware of what the Great Venerable Yanwu was thinking. He nodded slightly and replied:
"Let's test it out and see if that old sparrow has lost its mind or its senses. At the same time, let's contact Zhenhai. If we're sure, we'll find an opportunity to kill it and be done with it!"

Yanwu Dazun nodded, a murderous glint appearing in his eyes.

Yanwu was filled with rage at the sudden change of attitude of the Sparrow Lord.

Although it was never explicitly stated, the Fubo Domain, the Central Domain, the Fengling Path, and the Qinglian Clan all shared a tacit understanding: when facing the Immortal Mountain, the three domains were in an alliance.

The three clans united and had six Venerables. Although five of them were Venerables who had only become Venerables during this period of great change in the world, with the addition of the Azure Lotus Venerable who had existed for ten thousand years, they were not afraid of the Immortal Mountain of the five Venerables.

Over the years, for the sake of this overall situation, he and Xuanhuang have repeatedly rejected their subordinates' requests to gradually encroach on the territory of Fenglingdao.

Unexpectedly, the Sparrow Master suddenly changed his mind, breaking the unspoken agreement between them.

One wrong move and the whole game is lost.

How could the Great Venerable Yanwu not feel hatred? The Master of Xuanhuang Temple felt the same way.

Having made up their minds, the two turned and disappeared into the horizon.

A storm that will sweep across both regions is quietly brewing!

(End of this chapter)