Chapter 258 A Series of Obstacles (Part Twelve)
Chenyaobo, Yaoyan Temple.
Wen Xiuji, dressed in black, knelt on a prayer mat, his brows furrowed with gloom. He looked at the statue in the center of the hall and said in a deep voice, "Elder, my avatar was severely injured. Although it has returned, we cannot be certain whether its memories have been tampered with, including those of the disciples. Therefore, whether Jiang Gu is truly the reincarnation of Immortal Lord Yaoyan is something we cannot conclude at this time. Furthermore, even if those memories are real, Jiang Gu is only a minor immortal reincarnation. His ability to subdue so many half-immortals indicates his limitless potential. Betting on him is a sure bet, but—"
"Just what?" The man he called the Grand Elder turned around, his gaze cold and calm.
Wen Xiuji said in a low voice, "It's just that he cares too much about his disciple Wei Feng. I originally wanted to remind him through the Vine Demon Illusion Array that Wei Feng is a half-immortal with a special physique, and that he cultivates the Path of Ruthlessness, so he should be able to cut ties decisively. However, he has already fallen deeply in love with Wei Feng. Two thousand years ago, I used Wei Feng to wipe out the Vine Demon City. Jiang Gu probably already harbors resentment towards me. It is not advisable for me to get involved in the following matters."
“The path of ruthlessness is rooted in deep affection,” the Grand Elder said. “He has indeed overcome the tribulation of love.”
"You mean he is Yao Yan?" Wen Xiuji asked.
"Only Immortal Lord Yaoyan is descending to the mortal realm to undergo tribulation this time, but it's hard to guarantee that others won't accompany him. The identities of these people are difficult to discern. For example, when Immortal Lord Haohai descended to the mortal realm to undergo tribulation, we found over 180 people who appeared to be reincarnations of Haohai. Even so, none of them were the real Haohai. We only found his true form after he failed his tribulation," the Grand Elder said. "Although Wangyue's Misty Rain Terrace has some abilities, the Spirit Realm Princess was born there ten thousand years ago, which is why she was found by chance... Although Xiao Dan is convinced that Jiang Gu is a Jade Rank Immortal, it's possible that he's just a decoy put up by the Upper Realm."
"These fake bodies, which are difficult to distinguish from the real ones, cannot be ascended by the followers who were chosen to protect them. Only Immortal Lord Yaoyan can truly ascend. There is no other way but to find Yaoyan."
Wen Xiuji suppressed the shock in his eyes: "Disciple understands. I will immediately increase manpower to search Shenyao."
"Let's expand the search area this time and look in Hirasawa and Mochizuki as well," the elder said.
Wen Xiuji hesitated and said, "But the oracle said—"
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Go forth." The Grand Elder waved his hand.
"Yes." Wen Xiuji nodded and got up to leave.
Divine power swirled within the temple. The Grand Elder looked up at the black-clad statue, slowly closed his eyes, and a black aura appeared between his brows. A gentle, ethereal voice echoed in his mind:
"We must expedite Yao Yan's ascension; if necessary, we must spare no expense."
"We will obey the divine will." The elder knelt on the ground and responded respectfully.
The Changning Temple is located across mountains, thousands of miles away from the Yaoyan Temple.
The disciples in the mountain academy were all dressed in black, carrying all sorts of magical artifacts and scrolls, bustling about.
"Recently, the spiritual energy in the world has begun to rise steadily again... It's a good time for alchemy..."
"Anliucheng has sent another letter. Deliver it to the main hall as soon as possible..."
"I wonder what those guys at the Yaoyan Temple have been up to lately..."
"It seems they've found the reincarnation of the Divine Lord Yaoyan... Three divine decrees have been issued recently..."
"A bunch of sycophants..."
The little vine in the corner pricked up its ears to listen, but soon a divine sense swept over, forcing it to retreat.
"Fellow Daoist Wen, this way please." The half-immortal disciple leading the way politely blocked Wen Hanjiu's view, led him around the corner from the entrance of the mountain courtyard, and said with a smile, "Junior Brother usually doesn't leave his residence and stays in the side hall for hundreds or thousands of years. He said that an old friend came to visit, which startled us. May I ask how you two met?"
“He went out three thousand years ago, and I had not yet taken human form at that time. I happened to save him once,” Wen Hanjiu said.
"I see." The disciple who led the way smiled wryly. "Then we have indeed known each other for a long time."
Unlike the clansmen of Yaoyan Temple who were formed after their failed ascension attempts, the semi-immortals of Changning Temple were originally a sect of Shenyao. Thirty thousand years ago, the sect leader had reached the pinnacle of his merits and was supposed to ascend to the upper realm, but he failed. The other disciples sacrificed their lifespans and cultivation to save the sect leader. The sect leader couldn't bear it and transformed his primordial spirit into the spirit of the disciples. As a result, the disciples of the sect experienced a great increase in cultivation and frequently ascended to the upper realm, but none of them succeeded. They only gained the benefit of endless lifespans.
Over the course of tens of thousands of years, they moved around and eventually settled in the Changning Temple. They were once annihilated by the half-immortals of the Yaoyan Temple. After that, they began to recruit disciples widely because they firmly believed that even half-immortals could successfully ascend. As a result, they attracted many disciples who had failed to ascend. Now, they have become a force to be reckoned with, rivaling the Chenyao Temple.
The friend Wen Hanjiu was looking for was Chang Ping'an, the youngest disciple of the Changning Divine Palace.
Chang Ping'an, like his name, was ordinary and unremarkable. He was thin and looked slightly tired. He was sitting at the table with a book in his arms. When he saw Wen Hanjiu come in, he showed no excitement at the reunion with his old friend. He just nodded politely to him and said, "You've come."
Wen Hanjiu sat down opposite him and said, "I came here because I have something I want to ask you."
Chang Pingan nodded.
Wen Hanjiu said, "I told you before that I have vague memories of the Upper Realm. Before I descended to the Lower Realm, I was a vine drawn on an umbrella. Do you remember?"
Chang Pingan nodded.
“I think I’ve found my master in the upper realm,” Wen Hanjiu said.
Chang Pingan closed the book in his hand and finally looked up at him.
“But I can’t be sure yet.” Wen Hanjiu clenched her hands on her knees. “You are the only half-immortal in the Changning Temple who can communicate with the gods of the upper realm. Can you do me a favor?”
The wind outside the window swept over the serrated leaves, swirling them as they fell onto the dark blue pages of the book.
——
Anliucheng.
Sunlight filtered through the thin fabric, and the warm heat made Wei Feng frown. He turned over and buried his head in Jiang Gu's waist. The familiar scent made him feel at ease, and warm fingertips pinched his earlobe.
“…Master.” He called out in a daze, reaching out to hug Jiang Gu’s waist, but he couldn’t wrap his arms around him. He suddenly opened his eyes and saw his short, chubby little arms.
Wei Feng was completely covered by the large sleeves. He struggled to crawl out of Jiang Gu's arms and asked in shock, "Master, how come I've shrunk again?"
There's no way to change it back yet.
"This will slow down the rate at which you absorb the turbid energy, which will help your wounds heal." Jiang Gu saw him sitting on his lap, lost in thought, and asked, "Don't you have anything to say?"
Wei Feng tugged at his soft robe and said happily, "Master, did you make all of this for me?"
“…Hmm.” Jiang Gu saw him rushing over and reached out to support him.
"Thank you, Master!" Wei Feng looked at the new clothes with great interest, but suddenly realized that the broken umbrella wasn't entirely useless.
Unfortunately, Jiang Gu was neither an understanding teacher nor a considerate and gentle Daoist partner. He coldly exposed Wei Feng's guilty conscience: "What conditions did you agree to with Xiao Dan?"
Wei Feng's bright smile froze.
“The vine umbrella can withstand heavenly lightning. You’ve always been careful with your absorption of turbid and spiritual energy. With your cultivation level, you shouldn’t have suffered such severe injuries in the Vine Demon Secret Realm. Either you did it on purpose, or you’ve lost control over how much turbid energy you’re absorbing.” Jiang Gu looked at him calmly. “The dominant artifact in your body right now is the Mirror Flower Scroll. Either way, I will bring you to find Xiao Dan. Wei Feng, do you want me to help you, or do you just want to use me to negotiate with Xiao Dan?”
Wei Feng held his breath, staring intently at Jiang Gu, and after a long while, he managed to speak with difficulty: "Master, I didn't—"
Jiang Gu stared at him coldly.
Wei Feng asked nervously, "What if... we're negotiating terms?"
"Then I won't interfere. Success or failure is entirely up to you." Jiang Gu raised his hand and helped him straighten his disheveled front, the gemstone necklace gleaming in the sunlight.
Wei Feng swallowed hard and tentatively asked, "Master, aren't you angry?"
"This is your own decision." Jiang Gu looked at him. "Given our relationship, wouldn't it be a waste not to take advantage of it?"
Wei Feng hurriedly said, "But I was just lying, Master. I would never hurt you."
"You can't hurt me even with your skills." Jiang Gu showed no mercy.
"Ah." Wei Feng touched his nose.
“However…” Jiang Gu looked at him, deliberately paused for a moment, and only spoke after seeing him pacing anxiously, “I want to make a deal with you. It won’t affect what you want to achieve in any way; on the contrary, it will be helpful. How about it?”
Wei Feng slowly opened his eyes wide: "With me?"
Jiang Gu nodded.
Wei Feng was initially happy and wanted to laugh, but then he became wary and tentatively asked, "But Master, do you know what I want to do?"
Jiang Gu admired his ever-changing expressions, suppressed the corners of his mouth, and said, "I can guess a thing or two. If you don't want me to say, then I won't."
Wei Feng's mind nearly went blank after hearing this, but he managed to calm himself down and stared at Jiang Gu warily: "If you really knew everything, you wouldn't say that, and you certainly wouldn't make a deal with me."
He dared to swear to Jiang Gu that very few people who did business with Jiang Gu ever came out ahead. Most ended up losing money but were still willing to do so. Moreover, in all the years he had known Jiang Gu, Jiang Gu had never done anything with him. Jiang Gu had always ruthlessly plundered him. Sometimes, before he could even react, Jiang Gu had already tricked him and taken everything from him.
He would never believe that his master had suddenly had a change of heart.
Jiang Gu looked at him with some surprise: "Your brain works just as well even though your body has shrunk?"
Enraged, Wei Feng bit Jiang Gu's wrist. Just as Jiang Gu was about to pull him away, the child sitting in his lap suddenly grew bigger, and before he could react, he was pinned down.
Wei Feng gripped his wrist, his sharp canines gleaming coldly as he stared down at him: "I agree, but you have to agree to one condition of mine."
He was tall and imposing, almost casting Jiang Gu in his shadow. Having lost his little apprentice, Jiang Gu immediately lost interest in playing with the child. "Speak."
Wei Feng clearly noticed the subtle change in his attitude, and feeling wronged and annoyed, he left two bloody holes on his shoulder.
Jiang Gu was very displeased with this vicious revenge. Just as he was about to push the man away, he heard him say succinctly, "Consummate the marriage."
"..." Jiang Gu looked at him with some hesitation.
Wei Feng almost exploded under his scrutinizing gaze, and said aggrievedly, "You don't want to, Master?"
Jiang Gu frowned and said, "Since you're so afraid of pain, let's wait a little longer."
Wei Feng finally grasped the deeper meaning from those words and stared in shock.
...What exactly did Master misunderstand?!
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