Chapter 334

Chapter 334: Hanging Mountain Movement, Magical Weapon Begins

At the highest point of Hanging Mountain, a small temple stood.

Compared to the magnificent and splendid temples halfway down the mountain,

this one stood out as exceptionally simple.

Its mud walls and wooden pillars were mottled, bearing the marks of time.

There were only a few monks’ quarters, seemingly only able to accommodate three or five people.

The Great Elder arrived, his face solemn.

He addressed them respectfully, “Master, Grand Elders, Xuanyi wishes to see you regarding an important matter.”

There was no movement within the small temple.

The Great Elder showed no sign of displeasure, his expression remaining reverent as he patiently waited.

After about half a quarter of an hour, a gentle voice slowly emerged from within.

“Come in.”

Then, with a creak, the door of the small temple swung open without a breeze.

The Great Elder bowed respectfully before cautiously entering.

Finally, he stopped in the deserted courtyard and waited quietly.

“What is it?”

After a long pause, the voice slowly drifted out from an unknown source.

At the same time, the Great Elder felt several invisible gazes resting on him.

Unafraid of neglecting his words, he quickly bowed and said, “Well, Master, a while ago, the temple sent Junior Brother Xuanming and the others to Zhongzhou to vie for that unforeseen opportunity.

But just today, the young novice monk in charge of cleaning the Soul Pagoda discovered that Junior Brother Xuanming and the others’ soul lamps had all gone out.

I suspect they may have perished in the outer world.

This matter is of grave importance, and I dare not act on my own. I have come to ask the Master and the other Grand Elders for advice on what to do.”

A moment of silence fell upon hearing these words.

But the Great Elder could clearly sense that the gazes upon him had grown heavier.

His expression remained calm, yet the pressure within him grew steadily greater.

After a long pause, the calm voice spoke again.

“Yes, I just calculated, and their karma has been resolved; they are indeed dead.”

“Then Master, can you deduce who murdered Junior Brother Xuanming and the others?”

the Great Elder asked, his spirits perking up.

“No. Although the rules of the outside world have been initially established, and the mysteries of Heaven are becoming clearer, calculations remain difficult.

Using the power of the Heart Temple through the boundary wall, deducing the cause and effect of Xuanming and the others is already at our limit. Furthermore

, the individuals who killed Xuanming and the others were not ordinary people, and they also possessed objects that shielded the mysteries of Heaven, making calculations even more difficult.”

A calm voice spoke slowly.

It seemed as if the deaths of Xuanming and the others hadn’t caused the slightest fluctuation in his emotions.

The Great Elder felt a pang of disappointment, but continued, “Master, in your opinion, was the murder of Junior Brother Xuanming and the others the work of the three from the Holy Mountain, or of those from the other three secret lands?

I’m worried there might be a conspiracy against us.”

“It’s hard to say,” the calm voice continued. “Xuanming and the others carried treasures like the Demon-Subduing Vajra Pestle. Logically, few from the outside world could harm them.

However, the three Holy Lords atop the Holy Mountain are bound by the Holy Mountain and won’t act arbitrarily.”

“Then the most likely culprits are those from the other three secret lands?” the Great Elder asked hurriedly.

“The secrets of the heavens are unclear, and nothing can be said for sure. You should send someone out to investigate first.”

“I’ve already sent Junior Brother Xuanyi to Wujian Tower and have him send someone out to investigate.”

“That’s right. My Xuankong Mountain has protected Wujian Tower for so long. It’s time for them to prove their worth.”

“But Master, since the changes in heaven and earth and the resurgence of spiritual energy, there seems to be some unrest at Wujian Tower. They’re not very honest,” the Great Elder said.

“That’s fine. They’re just a bunch of shady rats who can’t stand up to the public. In time, they’ll recognize the reality. You can leave now,” a calm voice said nonchalantly.

“Yes, I’ll take my leave.”

The Great Elder felt a chill in his heart, knowing that the Master must have made a decision.

He didn’t dare to ask, so he could only respond in a low voice and slowly leave the small temple.

After the Great Elder left, the small temple returned to peace.

After a long pause, a gentle voice slowly spoke, “Elders, what do you think of what Xuanyi has said?”

After more than ten breaths, a hoarse voice echoed, “Let’s wait and see. Right now, the most important thing for us is to consolidate our cultivation and wait for the day when the laws of heaven and earth are completely stabilized.

We must be able to transcend the tribulation immediately, condense our golden elixir, and return to the Golden Core realm.

Then, no matter how conspiracies or overt schemes there are, they won’t be a concern.”

“Indeed, no matter how much commotion there is out there now, it’s ultimately just a minor incident.

Once our cultivation recovers, we can crush them with a single blow.”

“As long as we can recover before the immortals in the other secret places, all the advantages and fortune will belong to Xuankong Mountain,”

two other voices echoed.

“Good, elders, you’re absolutely right. Let’s wait and see, and let Xuanyi and the others toss around a bit,”

the gentle voice said calmly.

Silence fell once again in the small temple, and no one spoke for a long time.

As the Great Elder left the small temple, a figure appeared at the gate at the foot of Hanging Mountain, riding a stream of light and soaring towards the earth below.

After a while, it landed in front of a village. With a wave of his hand, the stream of light beneath his feet rapidly shrank and landed in his hand.

It was a small boat transformed from a green bamboo leaf.

It was Xuanyi, the man ordered to Wujian Tower.

“Master Xuanyi, what brings you here?”

Xuanyi’s arrival was so ostentatious that the village had already noticed him. Someone

immediately stepped out and offered him a fawning salute.

“No need to waste time. Where is your leader? Take me to him,”

Xuanyi said with a hint of disdain, gazing at the greasy, fat man before him.

He had always held these dark, shrewd people in contempt.

He wondered why his leader had chosen to protect them in the first place.

“Our leader is inside. Please follow me,”

the fat man said, seemingly oblivious to Xuanyi’s profound disdain.

“Then lead the way.”

Xuanyi followed the fat man into the village. After a short while, his brow furrowed.

The village was littered with skeletons and mummified animals, creating a rather eerie and terrifying atmosphere.

From the gloomy rooms around him, many cold eyes were peering in, making Xuanyi feel deeply uncomfortable.

“Master Xuanyi, what’s wrong?”

the greasy fat man hurriedly asked when he saw Xuanyi stop.

“Hmph!”

Xuanyi snorted, and his robes suddenly glowed with a dazzling golden light.

The next moment, muffled screams could be heard from the dark rooms on either side.

The greasy fat man’s face turned pale, and he cursed, “You blind men! Do you think you can even look Master Xuanyi in the face? I’ll deal with you when I get back!”

He then bowed to Xuanyi and said, “Master Xuanyi, don’t bother with these blind men. I’ll punish them later. Don’t let this delay your important work.”

Xuanyi said nothing, his face expressionless as he walked forward.

Given his status, a simple punishment would suffice, not a quarrel with a bunch of rats.

After all, he still had to command them to do their work.

Following the greasy man, Xuan Yi finally arrived before a tall wooden tower.

“Master Xuan Yi, our leader awaits you within.”

The greasy man offered him a hand, but he didn’t proceed.

Undeterred, Xuan Yi walked towards the tower.

However, a wave of discontent lingered within him.

A shady rat leader, barely surviving under the protection of Hanging Mountain, dared to act so arrogantly before him.

If it weren’t for the fact that he had something else to do with these rats, he would have exploded immediately.

Entering the tower, Xuan Yi saw a black figure, standing with its back to him and its hands behind its back.

Its presence was so vague and elusive that Xuan Yi couldn’t even determine whether the person before him was real or not.

A chill sank in his heart, knowing that the person’s cultivation level was even higher than his own.

The black figure was contemplating a painting on the wall.

It depicted a massive black yaksha, holding two pitchforks, resembling a king from the underworld, exuding a mysterious and eerie aura.

“It’s a rare opportunity to have such a distinguished guest from heaven. Wu Xing apologizes for not welcoming you. Master Xuan Yi, please forgive me.”

The black figure turned and smiled brightly at Xuan Yi.

“Wu Xing, stop talking nonsense. I’ve come to you to help you with something.”

Although Xuan Yi sensed the black figure’s cultivation level was higher than his own,

he still didn’t treat him with much warmth, only speaking coldly.

“I wonder what else is going on in the mountains that requires the intervention of lowly people like us?”

The black figure continued smiling, seemingly unfazed by Xuan Yi’s attitude.

“A while ago, my Senior Brothers Xuanming and Xuannu, along with a group of other disciples, along with some of your Wujian Tower members, went out into the outer world to compete for opportunities.

Now, something unexpected has happened, and their whereabouts are unknown.

I need you from Wujian Tower to send some more people out to investigate the whereabouts of Senior Brother Xuanming and the others,

as well as what major events have occurred in the outer world recently.”

“Xuanming and the others are missing?”

The black figure was surprised, seemingly unaware that Xuanyi had come for such a matter.

Could there still be a force in the world that dared to oppose Xuankong Mountain?

“Indeed, not only Senior Brother Xuanming and the others, but even those of you Wujian Tower disciples who followed them out have no news.

So, when you go out this time, you don’t need to do anything too much, just investigate the whereabouts of Senior Brother Xuanming and the others.”

The black figure felt a chill in his heart.

From Xuanyi’s tone, it seemed as if Xuanming and the others were in grave danger.

He immediately realized the seriousness of the matter.

“Master Xuanyi, rest assured. I’ll arrange for the personnel right away.”

Xuanyi nodded. “Once you’ve selected your men, have them wait at the boundary gate. Someone will escort them out.

Remember, on this trip, your priority is to find out the whereabouts of Senior Brother Xuanming and the others.

Do not do anything else, or you will suffer the consequences!”

With that, Xuanyi turned and walked out of the tower. Led by the greasy fat man, he headed out of the village,

as if staying even a moment longer would be a disrespect to him.

Standing in front of the tower, watching Xuanyi’s departure, a mysterious look crossed the black figure’s eyes.

Suddenly, a strange figure appeared beside him.

“Master, this Xuankong Mountain is increasingly disrespecting us.

A mere Qi Refiner of the Minor Success Stage dares to bully us in my Wujian Tower and disrespect you, Master.”

“We’re under his roof, what can we do?” the black figure sighed.

“He’s a disciple of Xuankong Mountain. Any one of those old monsters on the mountain could crush us with just a finger.

Not to mention, he controls the way in and out of this world.

If it were you, you’d be just as arrogant.”

The strange figure fell silent.

He knew the host was telling the truth.

After a moment, he said, “Then, host, what do you think of what Xuanyi just said?

Could there really be someone in this world who dares to attack someone from Xuankong Mountain?

Could it be someone from the other three secret places?”

“Who knows? But it’s clear that the changes in the outside world are far more drastic than we could have imagined.

Even Xuankong Mountain can’t fully control the situation. This presents an opportunity for us.”

The strange figure perked up: “House, you’re saying…”

“You’ll lead the team this time. Remember, there’s no need to rush back.

This is a rare opportunity to gain information about the outside world. We must seize it.

Once we’ve thoroughly explored the situation outside, it won’t be too late to return,”

the black figure explained.

“Yes, I understand,” the eerie figure said respectfully.

“Go ahead, choose your own candidates, pick the clever ones.

This may be our only chance to escape the control of Hanging Mountain.”

…

Lu Qing knew nothing of what had transpired in the secret area of Hanging Mountain.

At this moment, he was concentrating intently, mobilizing the power of the Lihuo Cauldron, refining his own unique restriction within the gray gourd.

And he had already reached the final stage.

As the last restriction was unleashed, the gourd suddenly emitted a grayish light.

This gray light was unlike the deathly plague-gray light of the Plague Elder.

It was imbued with a profound aura, imbued with the power to encompass and evolve all things.

As the gray light slowly faded, the Lihuo Cauldron ejected the gourd, which landed in Lu Qing’s hands.

“This person has truly mastered the Lihuo Sect’s secret weapon-refining techniques.”

“Yan,” who had watched Lu Qing refine the gray gourd from beginning to end, was absolutely certain that Lu Qing had truly inherited the Lihuo Sect’s true weapon-refining traditions.

He had even mastered them to a supreme level.

His refining skills alone rivaled even those of the Lihuo Sect’s former disciples.

“Congratulations, young master, on successfully refining your magic weapon,”

Yan congratulated Lu Qing upon seeing the gourd land in his hands. “

This is just a preliminary refinement. There’s still a long way to go.”

Lu Qing shook his head, his expression devoid of pride.

His current cultivation level was still too weak.

Even with the Lihuo Cauldron’s power, he had only barely managed to infuse the gourd with a few layers of restrictions.

So, at the moment, this gourd magic weapon was only in its initial form.

It was still a long way from being fully perfected.

To continue perfecting the ritual, he would need to advance his cultivation even further.

However, even in its initial form, Lu Qing could sense the extraordinary nature of the gourd in his hand.

He activated his supernatural powers and looked at the gourd.

(End of this chapter)