Chapter 57 Then that disciple will do. We respectfully welcome the Immortal Venerable out of seclusion...

The exclamation, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly broke the deadlock.

Shi Lian and Gu Zhi's expressions changed slightly almost simultaneously, and they subconsciously looked in the direction of Evernight Mountain. The emergence of a Celestial Venerable from seclusion was a major event for the sect, especially for this reclusive Celestial Venerable, whose movements were enough to stir the hearts of everyone.

The surrounding disciples suddenly came to their senses, and like a swarm of bees startled, they all took off on their swords, transforming into streaks of light and rushing towards Evernight Mountain.

"Quick! If we could receive guidance from the Immortal Venerable, we could break through to the Lesser Heaven Realm in cultivation, which would be better than years of arduous cultivation!"

Upon hearing this, the sword light flashed even faster, and the sound of it cutting through the air was incessant.

Gu Zhi was also completely captivated, and for a moment he forgot about bringing Mingjian back to the first peak. He leaped onto his flying sword, coughed lightly, tried to suppress his excitement, and said to Mingjian seriously, "Mingjian, this is a rare opportunity. Would you like to come with me to the Everlasting Night Mountain?"

Mingjian: "..."

He couldn't imagine how devastated Gu Zhi would be if he found out that the Hanwei Immortal Venerable he admired was the same person as Xie Hanwei, the outer disciple he mentioned.

Shi Lian glanced at the two of them but did not stop them. He simply said, "When Immortal Venerable Hanwei emerges from seclusion, the elders of all the peaks will surely go. Junior Brother, you can take this opportunity to see him in person before making a decision." His words still carried an intention to win them over.

Mingjian had already made up his mind, but he didn't say it. He just nodded, summoned his natal sword, and lightly leaped onto it.

The group immediately transformed into streaks of light and joined the crowd heading towards Evernight Mountain.

Mingjian was more curious about what Xiao Bumian was going to do after his sudden emergence from seclusion.

The system seemed somewhat confused within his consciousness: [In the original story, Xiao Bumian should have had a year left before emerging from seclusion. This early departure is most likely due to the host's actions. However, the main system has not issued any warnings regarding plot deviations, so it's still within a controllable range. The host need not worry excessively.]

Mingjian gave a vague "hmm".

Well, he wasn't actually worried at all.

Gu Zhi, still unable to contain his excitement, leaned closer and asked Ming Jian in a low voice, "Am I dressed neatly enough today?"

Mingjian then noticed that, without him noticing, Gu Zhi had changed into a brand-new inner disciple's robe embroidered with exquisite dark patterns, and even his hairband was tied up meticulously.

Seeing that his feelings were somewhat complicated, Ming remained silent for a moment before saying dryly, "...It's fine."

"That's good." Gu Zhi seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and his posture while riding the sword became even more upright, almost as if he were floating on air.

The group rode their swords forward for a while longer.

Gu Zhi couldn't hold back any longer. Her voice, trembling with excitement and nervousness, asked again, "Do you think Immortal Venerable Hanwei will speak to me? I... I'm still a little nervous."

He took a deep breath, his eyes shining with an astonishing light. "You don't know, when I was in the clan, I heard the elders talk countless times about how the Immortal Venerable single-handedly annihilated countless demons and wiped out the Demon Realm. From that moment on, I vowed to become a powerful figure like the Immortal Venerable, protecting the cultivation world..."

Ming Jian sighed almost imperceptibly, thinking to himself, "Gu Zhi, not only did you speak with this Immortal Venerable a long time ago, but he also once harbored murderous intentions towards you. Moreover, when it comes to killing cultivators, he's probably no less ruthless than when killing demons."

His gaze toward Gu Zhi was tinged with a complex mix of sympathy.

Gu Zhi remained oblivious, his eyes still full of longing.

Mingjian shook his head, unable to bear listening to this cruel scene of idol worship any longer. He silently took out the earplugs he had specially made a few days ago because the disciples in his courtyard were too noisy from his Qiankun bag and decisively put them into his ears.

Fifteen minutes later, the group finally landed at the foot of Evernight Mountain.

The area around Evernight Mountain is protected by powerful restrictions, making it impossible to fly on a sword. At this moment, the foot of the mountain is already packed with people, disciples from all the peaks gathered here, eagerly awaiting their arrival.

Sect Leader Shi Yan and several elders stood at the forefront, their expressions solemn, looking up at the white figure slowly descending from the sky.

Xiao Bumian was dressed in a spotless white outer robe, and his face was not the one Mingjian usually saw; he had clearly used a disguise technique. Although this disguised face was not as stunning as his original appearance, it still bore a resemblance to it in three or four parts.

His facial features appeared colder and harder, and the eerie red lotus pattern on his forehead was hidden. He exuded a distant and holy aura, which truly gave him a sense of compassion and empathy that people imagined.

"Welcome back, Immortal Venerable, upon your emergence from seclusion!"

Shi Yan bowed first, his voice deep and resonant. The elders followed closely behind, bowing in unison. Upon seeing this display, all the disciples instantly knelt down, creating a magnificent scene.

Mingjian and Guzhi arrived late and couldn't squeeze to the front, so they had to stay at the back of the crowd.

Mingjian overheard disciples whispering among themselves.

"Immortal Venerable...Immortal Venerable is so handsome..."

"This pressure... the Immortal Venerable's cultivation must have improved again. I feel my heart pound and my legs go weak just from looking up at him."

"If I could receive a single word of guidance from the Immortal Venerable, my life would be complete..."

"..."

Mingjian was kneeling among the crowd, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

He couldn't help but wonder, if one day these people discovered that the Hanwei Immortal Venerable they revered as a god was not as virtuous and upright as they imagined, and even knew his half-demon identity, what would their piety and fanaticism look like now?

But this thought only flashed through Mingjian's mind for a moment.

Why should he worry about these things?

Just as everyone held their breath, a slightly lazy, even bored voice came from above:

"Hmm, how come after five hundred years, you still only know how to say these few words?"

Xiao Bumian tilted his head slightly, seemingly genuinely curious.

Upon hearing this, Shi Yan's forehead instantly broke out in a fine layer of cold sweat.

He knew Xiao Bumian's true colors. He had previously followed Xiao Bumian to the Demon Realm. Xiao Bumian killed without blinking an eye. Anyone who blocked his path, whether a demon or a cultivator, would be killed without hesitation. In his eyes, they were no different from grass and trees. His ruthlessness was chilling.

But Jianming Immortal Mountain needs this killing god to guard it. His master, Immortal Venerable Ji Sui, had already warned him that if he was not absolutely certain that he could completely kill Xiao Bumian, he should never provoke him lightly, otherwise he would bring annihilation upon the sect.

Everyone says that Immortal Venerable Hanwei is the pillar of Sword Bright Immortal Mountain, but as the sect leader, Shi Yan knows all too well that Xiao Bumian actually has no deep ties with the sect. This person is exceptionally talented and naturally unrestrained, but it is only because he had a deal with his grandmaster Ji Sui in his early years that Sword Bright Immortal Mountain provided him with cultivation resources, and he lent his reputation to the sect to intimidate all sides.

Shi Yan once asked his master why he didn't just take such a talented person under his wing.

He still remembered Ji Sui's expression at the time, which was complex and hard to read. He only said in a deep voice, "This boy's nature is unpredictable and he is no ordinary person. If we can kill him, we will eliminate future troubles forever. If we cannot, then we must not provoke him."

Later, his master passed away, and the sect was surrounded by demons, teetering on the brink of destruction. Shi Yan had no choice but to bite the bullet and ask Xiao Bumian for help.

He was initially apprehensive, fearing that Xiao Bumian would not agree.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Bumian agreed.

He watched as Xiao Bumian slayed demon after demon, and should have been overjoyed, but instead, a chilling coldness welled up in his heart. It was then that he truly understood his master's warning from years ago.

They were even more afraid of Xiao Bumian.

At this moment, facing Xiao Bumian's casual remark, Shi Yan felt a chill run down his spine. He quickly bowed, his voice trembling slightly, "Immortal Venerable, please forgive us, it was our oversight."

Xiao Bumian's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile, but the last bit of interest he had felt had vanished, leaving him with nothing but utter boredom. He casually said, "Never mind."

He wasn't doing it for them either.

Xiao Bumian's eyes curved slightly, but his gaze drifted lightly over the dark mass of people in front of him, landing in the distance.

Shi Yan noticed that Xiao Bumian seemed a little absent-minded, but he didn't dare to raise his head or look back.

Xiao Bumian was indeed distracted.

His gaze precisely caught Mingjian kneeling at the back of the crowd, whispering something to Gu Zhi. Looking at the man's slightly uneasy yet trying-to-remain calm profile, Xiao Bumian silently curved his lips into a smile.

If Mingjian wants to leave, then let him go.

He'll eventually bring him back.

On the other side, Gu Zhi's voice trembled with excitement as she whispered to Ming Jian, "Is the Immortal Venerable looking this way?"

Mingjian's heart skipped a beat.

Well, after Gu Zhi said that, he hadn't felt it before, but now he clearly felt a gaze that seemed to be intangible falling on him from a distance.

Seeing that his mind was in complete chaos, he thought about it carefully and concluded that he should not have said anything wrong.

He also said he was coming to find Gu Zhi, and Xiao Bumian didn't say anything.

Mingjian was somewhat unsure about Yandere's intentions.

Ahead, Shi Yan struggled to decipher the Emperor's intentions, and forced himself to speak, attempting to break the suffocating silence, "Immortal Venerable, Mount Everest is quiet and secluded. Would it be necessary to send a few disciples up the mountain to attend to you and take care of your daily needs?"

"Then there's no need," Xiao Bumian said lazily, sounding as if he really had no interest.

Upon hearing this, Shi Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, although this immortal venerable one's temperament is unpredictable, he has always disliked being disturbed by others. If he were to actually send disciples up the mountain, he would have to worry day and night about whether those disciples could return safely.

But before he could fully exhale, Xiao Bumian changed the subject, a playful smile curving his lips and amusement in his eyes, and said slowly, "Very well, since you have this intention, I have no reason to refuse you. In that case, choose a disciple to serve you on the mountain."

Shi Yan: "..."

He choked up.

When she looked up and met Xiao Bumian's unfathomable eyes, her heart trembled uncontrollably.

His disciples, unaware of the inside story, were astounded when they heard that the Immortal Venerable had actually agreed to allow people to go to Mount Evernight. Although they dared not make a sound, their faces were filled with longing and their excitement was palpable.

Looking at these disciples who were oblivious to their own mortality and were about to be devoured by the tiger, Shi Yan felt his vision go black and almost coughed up blood.

He was unwilling to send his disciples up the mountain.

Xiao Bumian still wore a gentle, spring-like smile, and asked softly, "Or are you unwilling?"

The moment the words fell, a terrifying pressure, almost tangible, suddenly descended.

Shi Yan felt the air around him suddenly sink, as if a mountain was pressing down on him. Cold sweat instantly soaked his back, and large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. The elders around him groaned and slumped lower involuntarily, barely able to breathe.

Everyone was shocked, wondering just how terrifying Xiao Bumian's cultivation level had reached.

At the same time, regret welled up in their hearts. Five hundred years ago, they should have taken advantage of Xiao Bumian's serious injuries, obeyed their master's dying wish, and joined forces to kill him.

But by then Xiao Bumian's reputation had already shaken the cultivation world, so they were ultimately too timid to make a move.

Moreover, Jianming Immortal Mountain is still the top of the five major sects, and Xiao Bumian has made great contributions to this. If Xiao Bumian were to perish, the landscape of the cultivation world would likely change again.

Shi Yan's throat went dry, and he hurriedly denied it, his voice trembling almost imperceptibly, "How dare I, how dare I! Immortal Venerable, please choose as you please, it is a blessing for these disciples!"

Xiao Bumian laughed. His laugh was beautiful, yet it inexplicably sent chills down one's spine.

Xiao Bumian tilted her head. "Hmm, so who should I choose?"

Shi Yan swallowed hard, and said in a trembling voice, "Immortal, most of my disciples are young and impetuous, and I'm afraid they won't serve you well. If you don't mind, I'm willing to go up the mountain myself and serve you like a dog or a horse."

Xiao Bumian did not respond immediately.

He suddenly remembered that Mingjian had said that when a person says such things, it is called lying through their teeth or saying one thing but meaning another.

Why do you always pretend to be indifferent when you're clearly terrified?

Xiao Bumian didn't understand.

However, he wasn't particularly curious.

Time passed little by little.

Mingjian, kneeling behind, didn't hear the conversation in front of him clearly, but felt that the atmosphere was strangely oppressive.

He was getting really bored while waiting, so he subconsciously looked up and glanced ahead, only to be met with a pair of unfathomable eyes that were looking at him with a smile.

Mingjian: "..."

Well, barring any unforeseen circumstances, something unexpected is likely to happen.

Sure enough, the next moment, he heard that clear and melodious voice.

"Hmm, alright." Xiao Bumian casually flicked his finger forward, precisely bypassing countless heads and landing on him. "Then... that disciple will do."

Mingjian: "..."