The Wandering Immortal

Chapter 121 Zhongli Quan

Jiang Yuan's only impression of Mount Lu was of the beautiful woman, Nangong Qiu, who deliberately made herself look ugly.

Qin Feihong was willing to vouch for Nangong Qiu's character, and Jiang Yuan asked Qin Feihong to invite Nangong Qiu out for a chat.

Two hours later, Nangong Qiu arrived gracefully, only to find the four people gathered together. She was very curious and a little apprehensive, unsure of how to greet them.

Qin Feihong took the initiative to greet her, "Junior Sister Nangong, there's no need for such formalities. Let's address each other as fellow Daoist from now on."

Upon hearing Qin Feihong's explanation, which seemed to indicate that he wanted to uncover the secrets of the Lushan sect, Nangong Qiu was extremely apprehensive.

Chu Yunfei quickly stated, "I, Chu Yunfei, swear on my Dao heart that I did not intend to pry into the secrets of Mount Lu; I only want to know the details of the war between the righteous and the demonic."

Nangong Qiu was slightly relieved. "The stories and anecdotes related to the demonic path are all secrets even within the inner sect of Mount Lu. Although I am a true disciple of the inner sect, I have never seen any related books in the Scripture Pavilion, and even my master has never mentioned them."

Chu Yunfei couldn't help but feel disappointed. "If even Senior Zhongli doesn't know the details, then what should we do!"

Jiang Yuan's heart skipped a beat, "What is Fellow Daoist Nangong's master's name...?"

Nangong Qiu already knew that Guan Canghai and Cui Qinghe were idiots in the martial arts world, so he didn't care much. "Master Zhongli Quan is the chief elder of the inner sect of Mount Lu."

Jiang Yuan suddenly got goosebumps all over his body. Wasn't Zhongli Quan one of the legendary Eight Immortals? He wondered if he had descended to earth to undergo tribulation or had not yet attained enlightenment and ascended to heaven.

According to later legends, Zhongli Quan's preacher was the Eastern Emperor. The Four Great Emperors were all at the Heavenly Venerable level. Although their status was slightly lower than that of the Jade Emperor, they were still enough to rival the Jade Emperor!
Chu Yunfei also noticed the change in Jiang Yuan's expression. "Fellow Daoist Guan, have you perhaps obtained some heavenly secret?"

Jiang Yuan pondered for a moment, "If my guess is correct, Senior Zhongli must know the details of the conflict between the righteous and the demonic, but he just didn't tell Fellow Daoist Nangong."

Chu Yunfei believed that Guan Canghai had divined something, and thus trusted him completely. "In Fellow Daoist Guan's opinion, what should we do?"

"If Fellow Daoist Nangong were to introduce us, or if the Young Sect Master were to visit in the name of Mount Luofu, would Senior Zhongli grant us an audience?"

Nangong Qiu looked troubled. "Given Master's temperament, he might not see me if I visit him in the name of Mount Luofu. However, he might not refuse if I visit him in a private capacity to discuss the Dao with a friend!"

"Then so be it. I ask Fellow Daoist Nangong to introduce us. The young sect leader and his wife will pay their respects under the guise of discussing the Dao, while we two will disguise ourselves as disciples of Mount Luofu and follow them."

Jiang Yuan and Cui Qinghe made no move, and their Taoist robes immediately changed to the style of Mount Luofu, and their cultivation levels were both at the early stage of Golden Core.

This clever concealment was so skillful that even Chu Yunfei couldn't see through it, and Nangong Qiu was completely dumbfounded.

Nangong Qiu led the four to a secluded valley on the south side of Mount Lu, saying it was her place of seclusion outside the sect, unknown even to the inner disciples.

Cui Qinghe looked around. Inside the illusion array, there were only a few thatched huts and a field, planted not with medicinal herbs, but with ordinary flowers and plants.

The four of them sat down in the thatched hut to wait. Nangong Qiu returned to the mountain gate to ask Zhongli Quan for instructions. Of course, he also brought a memory talisman, which was the one that Shen Wangzhi had infused with his memories of when he was captured by the Sa God Sect.

Nangong Qiu explained the purpose of Chu Yunfei and the others' visit and gave the image-recording talisman to Zhongli Quan. Zhongli Quan frowned when he saw the fake Hetu's ice magic, and then asked Nangong Qiu to lead the way to see Chu Yunfei and the others.

Nangong Qiu asked if they should lead the person to the outer reception hall, but Zhongli Quan shook his head, knowing full well where Nangong Qiu cultivated. Chu Yunfei and the other three rose to greet him outside the thatched hut, bowing respectfully as juniors.

When Jiang Yuan saw Zhongli Quan's attire, he was not in the legendary bare-chested state, but rather in a rather formal white Taoist robe, wearing a green jade Taoist crown, with white hair and beard, and a ruddy complexion.

Zhong Liquan noticed that Jiang Yuan and Cui Qinghe's spiritual platforms were being concealed, so he naturally assumed that the two of them were Chu Yunfei and Qin Feihong's personal guards and might be using some special magic treasure to cover their auras, so he didn't pay much attention to it.

After everyone was seated, Nangong Qiu, as the host, brewed tea to entertain the guests.

Zhongli Quan asked Chu Yunfei, "When did Fellow Daoist Chu obtain that image-recording talisman?"

"About a year and a half ago, two fellow Daoists who knew Yunfei were captured by the Sa God Cult, and Yunfei had no choice but to go to Changbai Mountain to rescue them."

"Have you ever met the person who uses ice magic?"

"The man claimed to be Hetu, the high priest of the Sassa Cult. Yunfei could not see his cultivation level, but he sensed that his technique had some sinister and demonic energy."

"The two captured are Maoshan disciples who are skilled in using talismans. The female Daoist's water technique does not reveal her sect, but both of them have the strength of the late Golden Core stage. Even I might not be able to make such a clean move. Hetu must have the cultivation of the late Nascent Soul stage, but the techniques he uses have nothing to do with the Sashen Sect."

“Those two fellow Daoists were old acquaintances of Yunfei. On the day they were traveling to the foot of Changbai Mountain, a man suddenly emerged from the mountain. He also claimed to be Hetu, the high priest of the Sashen Sect. He threw out two magical treasures and said that the Sashen Sect was in trouble and asked the fellow Daoists for help. Then he fled, which led to my two friends being captured by the Sashen Sect.”

"Was there any further contact with the Satanic cult after that?"

"Yunfei, under the guise of thanking his friend for releasing him, sent a million spirit stones and some mineral resources. The Sa Shen Sect accepted the gifts but showed no intention of making friends. Later, the Taiyi Sect's Laoshan branch was destroyed, and Yunfei guessed that it was probably related to the Sa Shen Sect."

"Has this matter been explained to the Taiyi Sect?"

Chu Yunfei glanced at Qin Feihong, "The Taiyi Sect is unaware of this!"

Zhongli Quan pondered for a moment, "I understand your concerns. The Taiyi Sect married off its inner disciples to outsiders, yet they condensed their Nascent Souls on Mount Luofu. They must have misjudged them; the fault does not lie with you."

"That being said, after the destruction of Laoshan, Yunfei handed over the old site of the Laoshan sect, which led to the tragedy of the Taiyi Sect's Laoshan branch. If the Taiyi Sect were to hold them accountable, Yunfei would find it understandable, but their silence for the past six months is truly unsettling."

Zhong Liquan glanced at Jiang Yuan and the other person standing behind Chu Yunfei, seemingly casually. "Before Laoshan was destroyed, they publicly released a talisman book saying that your disciple Cui Qinghe, whom you had never taken in, was practicing demonic techniques. Lushan also sent disciples from the Hall of Affairs to witness the scene of Song Tianxi's murder. Song Tianxi also died from ice magic!"

Chu Yunfei was extremely embarrassed, thinking that Zhongli Quan had seen through Guan Canghai and Cui Qinghe's method of concealment. "Yunfei guarantees with his Dao heart that Guan Canghai and Cui Qinghe are by no means evil or heretical. The reason they came to Lushan to bother you, senior, was because of their advice. I hope you can give me some guidance!"

Nangong Qiu was also covered in cold sweat. As a disciple, he had actually colluded with outsiders to deceive his master.

Jiang Yuan didn't know if Zhongli Quan had seen through his divine sense illusion. Since things had already come to this point, it wouldn't hurt to show himself. So he bowed and said, "I am Guan Canghai. I have no intention of deceiving you, senior. If I were not following the young sect master, I was afraid you would not be willing to meet me."

Cui Qinghe also bowed, revealing her true form, "Cui Qinghe greets Senior!"

Zhongli Quan wasn't surprised. "Please sit down and have some tea!"

Nangong Qiu almost knocked over the teapot!
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(End of this chapter)