Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

A mountain mist, carrying a hint of night's chill, drifted over the eaves and brackets of the inner disciples' residences, covering the green tiles with a thin layer of dampness. Lin Yan and his group had just released the tension of their post-battle spiritual energy, and their spiritual energy channels still felt slightly sluggish. Yi Azhu raised her hand and released a gentle, healing green light. The lustrous wood-based spiritual energy flowed slowly, soothing the hidden injuries and discomfort left by the surge of spiritual energy in everyone's bodies.

Yun Xi raised her hand to brush away the remaining sword energy and dust from her white robes. The few bloodstains, not completely washed away, were still conspicuous on her spotless garments. Her eyes were cold and aloof, and a lingering, sharp sword intent still emanated from her. Chen Dagang's thick arms occasionally ached, a lingering effect of enduring the attacks of the four major sects. He stretched his limbs, and the robust blood and qi of a martial artist slowly surged within him. Despite his exhaustion, he stood ramrod straight, displaying the spirit of an inner disciple of Laoshan.

"If the elders hadn't arrived in time, we probably wouldn't have been able to escape unscathed today. The experts from those four major sects were all eyeing the Inkstone Pearl treasure with ruthless intent." Chen Dagang clenched his fists, still feeling lingering fear as he recalled the thrilling confrontation at Lingxian Valley. His physical body was strong, and he managed to withstand most of the attacks, but he also consumed a lot of spiritual energy.

Ye Qing found a clean stone bench, sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and circulated the Laoshan Green Wood Heart Sutra. Pale green spiritual energy slowly flowed around his body, and his originally pale face gradually regained its rosy hue. He opened his eyes, his tone somewhat solemn: "Shuiyue Pavilion has always been on good terms with Laoshan, yet today it openly participated in the ambush. It is clear that when faced with a priceless treasure, the so-called thousand-year friendship is nothing but a mirage. The four major sects have suffered a loss and will never let it go. From now on, there will definitely be constant turmoil inside and outside Laoshan. We must be extra careful in our guard duty and cultivation."

Lin Yan sat quietly to one side, his fingertips repeatedly caressing the inkstone and the Dingyuan Pearl before him. The two treasures' spiritual light had subsided, returning to calm. However, the chilling tremor emanating from the depths of the earth when the Guixu Rift was sealed still lingered clearly on his fingertips, refusing to dissipate. He was now the chosen successor of the Guixu Guardian of Laoshan, bearing the immense responsibility of guarding the spiritual veins and protecting the sect. He was far more aware than others of the dangers behind this turmoil. He said in a deep voice, "The crisis at Lingxian Valley seems to have been resolved, but the secrets of Guixu have already been leaked. Various forces in the cultivation world of the East Sea have long been eyeing Laoshan. It's easy to dodge open attacks, but hard to guard against hidden arrows. The undercurrents in the shadows are far more dangerous than the direct pursuit by the four major sects."

No sooner had the words been spoken than a rapid knock came at the door. The disciple on duty outside spoke respectfully, yet with barely concealed urgency: "Senior Brother Lin Yan, Senior Sister Yun Xi, fellow senior brothers and sisters, the Elder Hall has sent word that Senior Brother Lin Yan is requested to come to the Elder Hall immediately for a meeting. Elder Wu Dao, True Person Guan Hai, True Person Yu Lan, and several other sect elders are already seated and awaiting your arrival."

Yunxi frowned slightly, her delicate hand gently pressing the sword at her waist, and said in a low voice, "The three elders naturally know the whole story of Lingxian Valley, but the deacons of the elders did not come to the scene in person and only know the basics about Guixu and Yanzhu. The sudden summons at this moment is probably because rumors that are unfavorable to you have already spread within the sect."

Lin Yan understood. He slowly stood up, smoothed the wrinkles on his Daoist robe, and said with a calm and steady gaze, "A person with a clear conscience has nothing to fear. I am devoted to the sect and have no selfish thoughts. Go then. You wait here for a while. If there is nothing else, I will return soon."

"We'll go with you!" Chen Dagang, Ye Qing, and Yi Azhu said in unison. Yun Xi also stepped forward, her eyes firm: "Fellow disciples, we can go and come back together, and look out for each other."

Lin Yan looked at the group of fellow disciples who trusted him beside him, and his heart warmed. He nodded, and the group walked towards the Elder Hall under the cover of night.

Under the cover of night, the Elder Hall stood solemnly on the mountainside of Laoshan's main peak. Its black-tiled roofs and upturned eaves were shrouded in mist, and the stone pillars were engraved with the admonitions and sect rules of Laoshan's past sages, exuding an inviolable majesty. Inside, the hall was brightly lit, with flickering candlelight. Elder Wudao, True Man Guanhai, and True Man Yulan sat on the main seats on the high platform, their auras calm and composed. On either side of the platform stood several sect elders and core members of the Discipline Hall. The atmosphere in the entire hall was solemn and oppressive, with a hint of tension.

Lin Yan led the group into the hall, bowed respectfully, and said in a clear and proper voice: "Disciple Lin Yan, along with inner disciples Yun Xi, Ye Qing, Chen Dagang, and Yi Azhu, pays respects to all elders and deacons."

The first elder on the left spoke first, his voice carrying the sternness unique to the Discipline Hall, his gaze fixed on Lin Yan: "Lin Yan, rise. In today's battle at Lingxian Valley, you protected the treasure and resealed the Guixu restriction with your Foundation Establishment cultivation, making you a meritorious official of the sect, a fact beyond doubt. However, just now, many disciples within the sect privately spread rumors that you alone obtained the ancient opportunity of Guixu and possess the two precious treasures, the Inkstone Pearl, yet you concealed the core secrets of Guixu from the sect. Some disciples even claimed that Hailan and Su Chen, who were stripped of their cultivation and expelled from Laoshan three months ago, left a message before leaving, directly accusing you of hoarding the secret realm's opportunity and harboring ill intentions. The elders in charge have doubts, hence we summoned you here for questioning."

Upon hearing this, all the deacons in the hall turned their gazes to Lin Yan, some with curiosity, some with doubt, and some with scrutiny. They had not personally visited Lingxian Valley and had only heard bits and pieces about the Guixu Rift and the siege by the four major sects. They had also been misled by rumors, so it was inevitable that they would harbor suspicions towards Lin Yan.

Chen Dagang's eyes widened in anger, and he couldn't help but speak up: "Elder, please be wise! Hai Lan and Su Chen are traitors who betrayed the sect. Three months ago, they were stripped of their cultivation and expelled from Laoshan for colluding with outer sect members and violating sect rules. They will never be allowed to return. Their words are pure fabrication. How can you believe them!"

Ye Qing stepped forward, his tone earnest: "Elder, today on Lingxian Valley, the four major sects joined forces to besiege us. Senior Brother Lin Yan single-handedly fought against several deacon-level experts, exhausting all his strength to reseal the Guixu Restriction. His spiritual energy was almost completely depleted, and he was in danger several times, all to protect the sect's treasures and spiritual veins. If he harbored ill intentions, why would he risk his life like that?"

Yi Azhu softly echoed, her eyes clear: "Yes, Elder, Senior Brother Lin Yan is of pure heart and single-mindedly devoted to the Dao. He has never had any selfish thoughts. Those rumors must have been deliberately spread by people with ulterior motives to disturb the hearts of the sect."

Yunxi's eyes were clear and cold, her voice calm yet powerful: "Elder Wudao, True Person Guanhai, and True Person Yulan were all present today and witnessed Senior Brother Lin Yan protecting the sect and repelling the powerful enemy. These three elders can bear witness to this. I hope that all the elders in charge can distinguish right from wrong and not be misled by rumors."

Lin Yan straightened up, his gaze calmly sweeping over the elders in the hall before looking at the high platform. His tone was steady and firm, without the slightest hint of panic: "This disciple is grateful for the cultivation of the sect and the teachings of Master Guanhai on inkstones. I survived a near-death experience in the Guixu Secret Realm and found the Dingyuan Pearl. Both treasures are important artifacts that protect the Guixu veins of Laoshan, and are connected to the spiritual veins of Laoshan. Just now in Lingxian Valley, this disciple, in front of the three elders, used his essence and spiritual energy to verify that he had successfully resealed the Guixu Rift."

He raised his hand and gently summoned the Inkstone and the Dingyuan Pearl, which slowly rose into the air. A vibrant blue and dark gold light intertwined and flowed, and the ancient restriction patterns engraved on them were clearly visible. They resonated subtly with the overwhelming pressure of the mountains and seas of Laoshan, their spiritual energy pure and boundless, devoid of any evil. He said, “These two treasures recognize their masters only according to their character. Only those who cherish Laoshan and have no evil thoughts can activate them. If I, your disciple, harbored any disloyalty, I would have already been devoured by the restrictions of these treasures and would have been unable to control their power. As for the secrets of the Returning Void, I have told the three elders everything I know without concealing anything. If you elders do not believe me, I swear to the spiritual veins of heaven and earth that I will never betray Laoshan or the sect in this lifetime.”

Seeing this, Master Guanhai's expression darkened slightly, and he said, "Fellow deacons, everything Lin Yan said is true. I, Elder Wudao, and Master Yulan witnessed what happened at Lingxian Valley today. He was fearless in the face of danger, guarded the treasure to the death, and turned the tide. He is a great hero of the sect. Hailan and Su Chen are traitors to the sect. Their words are not credible at all. Those rumors must have been deliberately spread by the four major sects to sow discord within Laoshan and shake people's morale. We must not fall for their tricks."

Master Yulan nodded slowly and added, "The Guixu Rift is extremely dangerous. The leakage of spiritual energy has already alarmed all the forces in the East Sea. Now, Laoshan should unite as one to resist the external enemy, rather than be suspicious of each other internally. If we lose our composure, we will give the four major sects an opportunity to take advantage of us."

Elder Wudao's gaze swept over everyone in the hall, his vast, mountain-and-sea aura slowly spreading out. His majestic voice resounded throughout the entire Elder Hall: "Guanhai and Yulan are absolutely right. I know Lin Yan's character well. I personally appointed him as the successor of the Guixu Guardian Lineage. His loyalty and achievements are evident to everyone in Laoshan. From now on, anyone within the sect who spreads rumors, makes unfounded suspicions, or disturbs the peace will be dealt with according to the sect rules without exception!"

As soon as the elder finished speaking, all the doubts in the hearts of the deacons and elders in the hall dissipated, and they all nodded, without a trace of questioning. Subsequently, the deacons ordered that the two of them have their spiritual roots destroyed, be reduced to mortals, and be banished from the Laoshan sea frontier, abandoned on the desolate reefs of the East China Sea, to bear their own fate.

Elder Wudao looked at Lin Yan, his gaze softening slightly, and his tone carrying a hint of solemnity as he admonished, "Lin Yan, although today's events were caused by rumors, they have served as a reminder to both of us. There is still suspicion within the sect, and powerful enemies surround us from the outside. As the successor of the Guardian of the Meridians, you must be even more cautious in your future actions. With your Guardian of the Meridians token, you can freely enter and exit the outer secret realm of the Ruins of Return, slowly comprehend the mysteries of the Inkstone Pearl treasure, and hone your own cultivation. Remember, do not rashly venture into the depths of the Ruins of Return; always prioritize your own safety. If there is any unusual activity, immediately report it to the sect."

"Disciple obeys. I will live up to the trust placed in me by the elders and the sect. I will dedicate myself to cultivation, guard the Ruins of Return, and protect my Laoshan Mountain." Lin Yan bowed and accepted the order. He raised his hand and put away the two treasures, the inkstone and the pearl. He became increasingly clear that the burden on his shoulders was far heavier than he had imagined.

After the meeting, Lin Yan and the others walked out of the Elders' Hall. The night grew deeper, the mountain mist thickened, and the evening breeze carried a biting chill, fluttering their clothes.

Yunxi walked to Lin Yan's side, looking at his still solemn expression, and said softly, "Although the Elders' Hall's doubts have been resolved, the rumors within the sect may not have subsided. In addition, with the four major sects eyeing us covetously, the road ahead will still be difficult."

Lin Yan looked up at the dark sky, his gaze deep, and gripped the precious treasure in his palm. He said in a deep voice, "No matter how many storms lie ahead, as long as we stay true to ourselves and are of one mind with our fellow disciples, there is no difficulty we cannot overcome."

The distant peaks of Laoshan Mountain are shrouded in the night, like a lurking beast. Beneath the seemingly calm mountains, the undercurrents within the sect and the crisis on the East China Sea are intertwined and slowly creeping toward Lin Yan and the entire Laoshan Mountain.