Duosheng Danyuan

About fifteen minutes later, Yue Hu spoke up, asking, "When did this happen?"

"secret."

Is it worth it?

"secret."

"...Why?"

"Hehe... It's a secret."

"Your temper really hasn't changed at all. Even though your face is as aged as mine, that stubborn tone is still the same as before, that former leader of the kids, that young lad." Yue Hu shook his head and smiled bitterly for a while after hearing Jian Shan's perfunctory reply, before saying again, "Is this your source of confidence?"

"Um."

Jian Shan's brief answer was filled with unwavering determination.

"I really don't know what you're thinking. Since you chose to use the method of sprinkling your own blood on the ground to cover up the existence of the ancient parasitic worm, why did you risk your life to heal the wound opened by the Immortal Sword - Defeat Cloud? I really can't tell whether you want me to see through it or not."

"A child who runs away from home angrily deletes all contact information with his parents, yet leaves behind the most clumsy and obvious clues, hoping that his parents will find him in the alley not far from his home. That's probably the kind of awkward feeling," Jian Shan said calmly.

"Hmm... So, you're here to challenge us elders with the mindset of not wanting me to see through you, yet hoping I will?" Chishong interjected.

"You? No, I didn't intend to challenge anyone. I just wanted to show Su Wanqing around the Old Xuan Palace, and then leave."

"hehe."

"Sigh...why are you doing this to yourself?" Mu Yun shook his head helplessly and sighed. "If you really had such awareness, you could have absorbed a lot of alchemical energy. With your ruthlessness towards yourself, I believe you could have entered the inner sanctum long ago and become one of the Supreme Elders of the Old Profound Hall."

"It's only a matter of time, it won't make a difference if we wait a little longer," Jian Shan grinned and said.

"Alright, I acknowledge your qualifications. You do indeed deserve to be one of the candidates to become Master Su Wanqing." Yue Hu frowned slightly and reluctantly closed the glazed light of the Immortal Treasure Faceless. The next second, Jian Shan's right hand returned to its normal appearance in everyone's eyes.

"However, the matter of Su Wanqing becoming a disciple still needs to be finalized here at the Old Profound Hall." Then, Yue Hu changed the subject, saying coldly, "The sect leader is currently in seclusion, and the current sect chief and the sect leader's true disciple are protecting him. Under these circumstances, the Old Profound Hall has the temporary authority to manage all matters, large and small, of the Shengdan Academy. This is a rule that has been in place for ten thousand years in the Shengdan Academy."

"Admittedly, the Old Profound Hall has the power to govern everything on behalf of the sect leader, but governance does not equate to decision-making. Su Wanqing's future is of great importance to the Shengdan Academy, and his fate cannot be decided in a day or two. As I said before, bringing Su Wanqing to meet everyone is in accordance with the rules of the Shengdan Academy; what the young man from Jianshan is doing now is also in accordance with these rules."

"What do you mean? Are you implying something? Do you think what we're doing right now is against the rules?" Chishong said unhappily, the cold glint at his waist flashing again.

"A matter can be decided by rules or by expediency. The sect leader has been in seclusion for many years. As an elder, how can you not offer some expedient solutions?" Mu Yun said.

"Su Wanqing is a peerless genius, which is naturally an extraordinary matter. Extraordinary matters should not be bound by ordinary rules." Yue Hu pondered for a moment before finally stating his position.

"Then there's nothing to talk about." Shrugging, Jian Shan tore off the restraints on his right arm, completely exposing the ancient parasitic worm to everyone's view.

This deliberate exposure was completely different from Yue Hu's use of the Immortal Treasure - Faceless Deception Breaker. Without the secrecy of Jian Shan's own magic, the evil and ugly appearance of the ancient parasitic worm was displayed to everyone without any concealment. Along with its true form, what was revealed was the stench of decay like a demon and the ear-piercing sound like a knife scraping metal.

Previously, during the initial examination, everyone had only glimpsed the rough outline of the Gu worm on Jian Shan's arm, without seeing its entire body. Now that they had seen its whole body, everyone present involuntarily activated their protective techniques to the fullest extent.

The mere sight of its hideous, grotesque appearance was something the people could withstand by sheer physical strength. But when combined with the additional sensations of sound and smell, no one wanted to confront this vile monster.

Behind Jian Shan, Su Wanqing, the only Foundation Establishment stage cultivator present, was also well protected by Jian Shan using a secret technique, and was not affected by the impact of the ancient parasitic gu worm revealing its true form.

"Jianshan! Are you really going to fight me?!" Amidst the foul storm stirred up by the ancient parasitic worms, Chishong shouted angrily.

"Hmm." At the eye of the storm, Jianshan stood firmly in place, nodding slightly in the direction of Chishong. This was also the first time he had looked Chishong directly at him.

"You have no chance of winning! This is the Old Xuan Palace. Even if we don't count the three of us, if the dozen or so Supreme Elders who are currently recovering their cores from the black mist above attack together, no matter how powerful you are, you will have no chance of survival!" Mu Yun shouted.

"Why would they intervene?" Jian Shan asked with a hint of mockery, gently stroking the Gu worm in his right hand with his left. "To help you? Why would they help you? Even if they helped you and you won, Su Wanqing wouldn't be personally taught by these Grand Elders of the Core Formation stage. To them, whether they help you or not is just a matter of their mood. Besides, if they really helped you, wouldn't they miss out on a long-awaited spectacle? Our battle isn't that boring, is it?"

Seeing Shan's words, Yue Hu fell silent for a moment.

About a minute later, the voices of the Supreme Elders finally came from the black mist above the Old Mystic Hall: "Boy, we're very unhappy, but you have a point. As long as you don't destroy this Old Mystic Hall, we'll just watch the fight between you and these three old buddies!"

"Understood," Jianshan said with a smile.

"You've wanted to fight for a long time?" After staring at Jianshan for a long time, Yuehu closed his eyes and concentrated, saying helplessly.

"You're only realizing this now?" Jian Shan pursed his lips, then shook his head with a smile.

"I've always been wondering about this, but now I'm certain," Yue Hu said, frowning.

"Do you like the challenge I chose?"

"hehe......"

Yue Hu looked at his former student, whose right arm was scarred yet who exuded a spirited air, and a fleeting pang of sadness crossed his eyes. However, it was only for a moment. The casual conversation before the battle was primarily for Yue Hu to restore the spiritual energy in his dantian.

As Qingyue had previously stated, the elaborate process of using the Immortal Treasure, Faceless, to explore Su Wanqing's talent had truly drained Yuehu of his energy. Although, in retrospect, using the Immortal Treasure, Faceless, instead of the "White Crystal Spirit Platform" for Su Wanqing was entirely without issue, Yuehu still paid a considerable price for forcibly activating the Immortal Treasure.

Later, during his battle with Chishong, Jianshan intentionally or unintentionally revealed the strange aura emanating from his right arm, enticing Yuehu to use the Immortal Treasure - Faceless's Disillusionment Technique to forcibly dispel Jianshan's disguise in public. Jianshan's disguise was no ordinary illusion; it was one of the three existing Immortal Techniques of the Shengdan Academy: the Immortal Technique - Illusion Pill. Jianshan, stubbornly refusing to shed his disguise, had indeed expended a significant amount of spiritual energy when Yuehu used the Mirror of Encounters.

These two rounds of attrition, frankly speaking, were both the result of Jian Shan's deliberate actions.

Why didn't they immediately verify Su Wanqing's progress on the Rejuvenation Pill after learning about it from Huaizhen, instead choosing to come to the Old Profound Palace? They could have simply had Su Wanqing recite the Rejuvenation Pill method in front of them again; it wouldn't have been so troublesome.

Why did he immediately start provoking Chisong and the other Supreme Elders in the black mist as soon as he entered the Old Xuan Hall? No matter how much displeasure he had accumulated over the years, Jianshan should have been able to prioritize things in the face of Su Wanqing, a matter of paramount importance concerning the future rise and fall of the Shengdan Academy for ten thousand years.

Why step into the attack range of three Supreme Elders simultaneously? Why utterly insult Chishong? Why, after Chishong's attack, did you choose to take the hit head-on instead of dodging? Why, why, why...

Everything has an answer at this moment.

Jian Shan Wuben came here to cause trouble for these old fogies, while Su Wanqing merely gave him a pretext to enter the Old Xuan Palace.

However, Yue Hu still didn't understand why Jian Shan insisted on using the appearance of the Heavenly Spirit Root to bring up his grudges with the Supreme Elders. Even the most important matters should have priorities; even if Jian Shan was truly filled with resentment, he shouldn't have created such a huge mess in the face of such a momentous event that would determine the rise and fall of the Life Elixir Academy for millennia...

"Is it that you really can't wait any longer? Or have you been bewitched and have your lifespan shortened by this ancient parasitic worm, so... you're out of time?" Yue Hu thought to himself, but said something else entirely. "Stop, Jian Shan. The hall is full of formations we've set up. Even if you know us inside and out, don't forget that the Old Xuan Hall was built by the second-generation sect leader. It holds countless deadly moves that you've never even heard of."

"Go ahead." Jian Shan completely ignored Yue Hu's warning. He simply pushed Su Wanqing behind him, and Jian Feng, understanding immediately, took Su Wanqing's hand and shielded her behind him. Only then did Jian Shan confidently shout at Yue Hu, "Come on, the Gu worms have appeared, bloodshed is inevitable. Now, I can't stop even if I wanted to, hahaha!"

As he spoke, Jian Shan went mad, letting the Gu worms on his right arm roar as he flashed toward Chi Song.

"Damn it!"

"Stop!"

"rise!"

In the blink of an eye, a series of immortal-level killing moves, such as Immortal Sword - Defeat Cloud, Immortal Treasure - Faceless, Immortal Technique - Returning Pill Sword, Immortal Technique - Pill Flowing Heart, and Immortal Technique - Illusionary Pill Exquisite, suddenly erupted, and the intense spiritual energy fluctuations made the other five elders behind Jian Shan tremble with fear.

"Is Jian Shan really that capable? To fight against three Supreme Elders all by himself?!" Huai Zhen exclaimed in astonishment.

"..." The other four people remained silent at this moment.

The three immortal techniques of the Shengdan Academy have appeared in the world at the same time; and two of the three treasured immortal artifacts of the Shengdan Academy have also been revealed. With such a fierce confrontation, unless the sect leader intervenes, there is no room for negotiation.

At this moment, all that is left for everyone to do is wait and witness one or three freshly made corpses...?

Just after Jian Shan and the three Supreme Elders completed the first round of clashes between immortal techniques and immortal treasures, in the interval between the exchange and circulation of spiritual power and spiritual energy, an undeniable surge of spiritual power erupted from outside the Old Xuan Hall, accompanied by a voice that everyone was all too familiar with.

"The sect leader has given an order! You are to stop immediately!" The door of the Old Xuan Hall was kicked open by a young figure. Holding the sect leader's golden token, he directly suppressed everyone present.

The three treasures that guarded the Shengdan Academy have now all appeared in the world!

"The sect leader has emerged from seclusion!?"

"But if he's emerged from seclusion, why send the chief disciple with the Immortal Treasure, the Spirit Suppressing Seal? Could it be that something went wrong during the sect leader's seclusion?"

"..."

The Immortal Treasure, the Spirit Suppressing Seal, has many variations, but now, in the hands of the sect's chief disciple and the sect leader's true disciple, it only plays the most common yet most important role—suppressing the spiritual power of cultivators.

Even though the sect leader, whose cultivation level was only at the Nascent Soul stage, possessed the Immortal Treasure, the Spirit Suppressing Seal, he was completely unable to suppress the riotous Chisong, Muyun, Yuehu, and Jianshan. The reason he was able to issue orders here was largely due to the smear of blood on the Spirit Suppressing Seal's golden plaque—the sect leader's life essence blood.

Because of this drop of life essence, the four people who were about to go all out were able to brake suddenly before the Jade Palace Immortal Heart could floor its accelerator. It was also because of this drop of life essence that Yue Hu was able to successfully dodge the deadly bite of the ancient parasitic gu worm during the gap when Jian Shan was suppressed but he was not yet suppressed.

Everything is happening too fast; everything is changing in an instant.

"Sect Leader, you've emerged from seclusion?" Mu Yun was the first to ask the sect leader. He had never wanted to fight Jian Shan, and now that a fresh opportunity had presented itself, he was the first to accept it.

"Hmm." The sect leader lowered the golden seal of the sect leader that he had raised above his head and nodded to Mu Yun.

"Oh ho, we can't fight now!" Chishong threw the Immortal Sword·Baiyun to the ground and made a smug face at Jianshan.

"When did the sect leader emerge from seclusion?" Yue Hu asked, looking at the sect's chief disciple whom he hadn't seen in a long time.

"An hour ago. He had just emerged from seclusion, and there were still some signs of his spiritual energy and power not flowing smoothly, so he sent me to visit the masters of the Shengdan Academy first." Respectfully, the sect leader bowed slightly to Yue Hu.

Of the four, only Jian Shan remained silent.

"Elder Jianshan, please stop. The sect leader has decreed that Su Wanqing is the absolute future of the Shengdan Academy, and you, as the discoverer of this future, will receive the sect's highest reward."

"Heh..." Jian Shan merely grinned and sneered, seemingly unimpressed.

"Jianshan, the time for making trouble is over. The sect leader has emerged from seclusion; any further commotion will only bring shame upon yourself!" Above everyone's heads, the elders in the black mist also began to mediate, "It's just a friendly spar; it's always good to stop when you've made your point."

"Elder Jianshan, please be patient. The sect leader will be here soon. At that time, the truth will be revealed." The sect leader also advised.

"...Sect Leader, when will you arrive?" After a long silence, Jian Shan shook his head, the murderous glint in his eyes fading, and stretched listlessly before speaking to the sect's chief disciple.

"About an hour. Please understand, the sect leader has just emerged from seclusion and needs to attend to some personal matters..."

Before the sect leader could finish speaking, a relieved smile on his lips, a look of relief that the matter was over, Jian Shan suddenly appeared behind him and easily severed his neck with the power of a half-step Mahayana cultivator.

Under the astonished, angry, shocked, or frantic gazes of the crowd, Jian Shan easily caught the head with his right hand, letting the Gu worms devour the entire head; then, he took the Immortal Treasure - Spirit Suppressing Seal from the headless corpse of the sect leader who was still standing in place and had not fallen, and threw it directly outside the Old Xuan Hall.

"Just a drop of my life essence blood, it can only suppress the trash that wants to be suppressed by it. The Illusionary Pill is exquisite, it can't be activated by spiritual power." Licking the still warm blood on his right fingers, Jian Shan's eyes darkened with satisfaction. The ancient parasitic worms that were originally raging gradually calmed down, but it was obvious that Jian Shan himself was not satisfied.

He glanced at everyone in the old Xuan Hall, taking in their expressions. Then, he gently placed his left hand on the headless male corpse in front of him and gave it a gentle push. The flesh of the sect leader's body turned to ashes, leaving only a skeleton lying on the ground.

"How many Nascent Soul stage Immortal Venerables can you kill in an hour?" Jian Shan's mocking voice, accompanied by the scurrying of Gu worms as he rubbed his hands together, permeated every corner of the old Xuan Palace.

Until that man's voice appeared.

"Now that the person is dead, the Gu worms' fire should be extinguished. Now, can we sit down and have a proper talk?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young man who looked no more than nineteen years old, dressed in a gilded blue robe, descending slowly from the sky with a spirited air, standing side by side with Jian Shan.

And hanging from his waist was the sect leader's golden seal that Jian Shan had casually tossed out of the hall!