Chapter 260 Mountains and Rivers Interrupted (Part Fourteen)
When Jiang Gu woke up, his expression was complicated.
The conversation in the dream was fairly clear. He originally thought that his master-disciple relationship with Wei Feng in the Upper Realm was at least harmonious, and even if they weren't Daoist partners, it should still be warm and cozy. But he didn't expect it to be like this... As expected, and he himself didn't seem to be a good person either.
What concerned him most was, what exactly was the Chaos Core? And why did he use Wei Feng, such an insignificant little filth, to obtain a Chaos Core? Why did Wei Feng vomit after absorbing only turbid energy, and why could he only absorb Yao Yan's spiritual energy to fill his stomach? Was Wei Feng's descent to the mortal realm related to the Chaos Core?
It's normal that he's not a good person, but whether in the Upper Realm or now, Wei Feng seems to care too much about Yao Yan.
The night outside the window was dark. Wei Feng opened his eyes and saw Jiang Gu staring at him thoughtfully. He smiled at Jiang Gu, revealing two sharp canine teeth.
A soft, warm kiss.
Jiang Gu snapped out of his daze, enveloped by his aura, and said solemnly, "You must not be so indulgent next time. It is not beneficial to cultivation and will also damage your vital energy."
"Okay." Wei Feng nodded, draped a long leg over Jiang Gu's waist, and almost half of his body was pressing down on Jiang Gu. He yawned lazily and hugged him even tighter.
"When you go to see Xiao Dan, find a way to bring Chan Lin in," Jiang Gu said.
Wei Feng paused for a moment, then nodded without hesitation: "Okay."
——
Chan Lin's eyes were already large, and in his shock, they looked like two enormous luminous pearls. He looked at Jiang Gu incredulously, pointed at Feng Wuyou, and said, "He's luckier than me, and he has the highest cultivation level among us."
He then pointed at Jiang Xiangyun and said, "He's your older brother, he's absolutely on your side."
Finally, he pointed to himself and said bitterly, "I am just a toad demon with mediocre cultivation. At most, I can only attract some wealth. The Rakshasa clan is fierce and they can't beat Xiao Dan and his group of humans. If I fall into Xiao Dan's hands, I will only die. Brother Jiang, this is not appropriate, absolutely not appropriate."
Feng Wuyou pressed down on his shoulder, signaling him to calm down, and said to Jiang Gu, "Brother Jiang, Chanlin is only at the early stage of the Dao Ancestor Realm. It is indeed dangerous for him to go there rashly. But is there something that is absolutely necessary for him?"
“Toads can devour all spiritual stones, magical treasures, gold, silver, and jade artifacts in the world,” Wei Feng said, standing behind Jiang Gu. He then stared at Chan Lin and said, “Fellow Daoist Chan Lin, this matter truly requires your expertise.”
He was unusually amiable, and despite his toothache, he took a half-step back.
"I heard that Xiao Dan really built a road to heaven in Anliu City, but no one has ever seen it," Jiang Gu said. "I would like to trouble Fellow Daoist Chanlin to go with Wei Feng. If the time is right, bring back a part of it."
Chanlin wondered if he had misheard: "Bring back what?"
"The Road to Heaven," Jiang Xiangyun told him considerately, smiling as he said, "Fellow Daoist Chanlin, you've had a long journey."
How could this be considered hard work?! Canlin stared in shock at their nonchalant attitude and turned to Feng Wuyou for help.
Feng Wuyou said, "Brother Jiang, this road to heaven—"
"It might be true," Jiang Gu said.
Feng Wuyou's expression changed instantly. He turned to look at Chanlin and said, "Brother, I believe in you."
Chan Lin: "???"
Whether Chan Lin liked it or not, he was eventually dragged onto the pirate ship. Among those around him, whether human, demon, or monster, one or two were not quite right in the head, making him, a normal demon, seem out of place. What respectable cultivator would believe in such nonsense as the Path to Heaven?!
Two hours later, at the Xiao residence.
Xiao Dan sat in the main seat and smiled slightly, "Fellow Daoist Wei, how have you been?"
Wei Feng nodded politely: "Master Xiao."
“The Misty Rain Terrace no longer exists, Fellow Daoist Wei, there’s no need for you to be so polite.” Xiao Dan said amiably, “A while ago, City Lord Ji suddenly came to visit, bringing a message from you. I originally wanted to give her the item, but after thinking about it carefully, I realized it was inappropriate, so I’ll trouble you to make this trip.”
“It’s alright,” Wei Feng said. “I should have come in person, but Jiang Gu was keeping a close eye on me, so I finally found an opportunity to come recently.”
"I see," Xiao Dan said with a smile.
They spoke very politely, as if the deep-seated hatred they had shared on the Moon Gazing Continent had vanished like smoke, and both sides tacitly kept quiet about it.
"Fellow Daoist Wei has already acquired quite the demeanor of Fellow Daoist Jiang, and now he seems much more composed," Xiao Dan praised. "However, the two of you have a deep master-disciple bond, and I have also heard that you have become Daoist partners on the Wangyue Continent. Even so, will you still agree to my conditions?"
“Although I cultivate the Six Desires Path, I also know that some things are far more important than love and affection.” Wei Feng said calmly, “I only found out that I am a half-immortal when I came to Chenyao. According to the ordinary way, I have no hope of ascending. Now I can only place my hopes on Lord Xiao… Compared with ascending to the upper realm, so-called Daoist partners and master-disciple relationships are not worth mentioning.”
Wei Feng's tone carried a hint of sarcasm: "Besides, people only know one side of the story. Jiang Gu only became my Daoist partner because he valued my cultivation and special physique. Back in Pingze Continent, he ripped out my protective scale and removed my Fire Core, torturing me to the point of wishing I were dead. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have been kidnapped to Wangyue by Lu Liyu... All of this is unforgettable. If you were in his shoes, would you still treat such a person sincerely?"
"I didn't expect there to be such a story between you two. It seems to be a tragic fate, truly living up to the saying about the Jade Tribulation and the Jade Steps," Xiao Dan said. "If it were me, I would have made sure he died without a burial place."
“What’s the point of keeping him alive?” Wei Feng scoffed. “Since he’s descended to the mortal realm to undergo a love tribulation, he should taste what it means to love someone you can’t have. I’m going to make him fall completely in love with me, break his ruthless path, and then betray him completely, so that he can’t live or die and will kneel at my feet begging for mercy.”
He spoke with a sinister expression, his eyes bloodshot with hatred, and his body emanating a turbulent aura, giving the impression that he was going mad.
Seeing this, Xiao Dan gently advised, "Fellow Daoist Wei, please calm down. I have a divine artifact here that can remove immortal bones without leaving a trace, which can help you achieve your wish."
With a wave of his hand, a small and exquisite dagger appeared in front of Wei Feng. Xiao Dan said, "This item is called the Seven Absolute Blade. The blade is filled with jade-grade marrow. You only need to put a drop of your own essence into it and then offer it to Jiang Gu. Once the blade recognizes its master, it will firmly attach itself to the immortal bone. From then on, he can only obey your orders and cannot disobey."
Wei Feng dripped a drop of essence into the dagger in front of him, then gripped the dagger tightly and slowly curled the corners of his mouth: "Then thank you very much, Lord Xiao."
Xiao Dan stood up and said, "Fellow Daoist Wei is indeed decisive. In that case, please follow me."
Wei Feng followed behind him.
Chan Lin transformed into his original form and hid in Wei Feng's sleeve, just inches away from the dagger. The sinister and chilling aura emanating from it made him very uncomfortable, so he quietly retreated.
With just a slight movement, Xiao Dan, who was walking in front, turned around.
"I've acquired a little spirit pet." Wei Feng generously took Chanlin out of his sleeve. "It's a lucky toad. If Lord Xiao doesn't mind, you may accept it."
"...Thank you, but no need." The toad was so ugly that Xiao Dan looked away and ignored it.
Seeing this, Wei Feng immediately placed Chan Lin on his shoulder.
It seems that the combined efforts of Jiang Gu, Feng Wuyou, and Jiang Xiangyun in suppressing Chanlin's cultivation level were quite effective; at least Xiao Dan did not discover that Chanlin was a powerful demon capable only of taking human form.
Meanwhile, inside the inn.
A water mirror, about half a person's height, floated in the air, its field of vision slightly lower than Wei Feng's. Sometimes it fell on the artificial mountain carved from cold jade in the Xiao mansion, sometimes on the flower window carved from pure silver, and sometimes on the jade pendant, a divine artifact of heaven, at Xiao Dan's waist.
Feng Wuyou sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation. Jiang Xiangyun laughed and said, "Fellow Daoist Chanlin's hobbies are truly consistent. It's a pity we can't hear their conversation."
“Sound transmission will cause fluctuations in spiritual energy, which Xiao Dan can easily detect,” Jiang Gu said without looking up from his map of the Chenyao Continent.
“Even if Chanlin manages to swallow the Path to Heaven and return, whether the Path to Heaven can actually be traversed is still debatable,” Jiang Xiangyun said. “Are we really not going to make any other plans?”
"Let's see." Jiang Gu raised his head and looked at the water mirror.
In the water mirror, a crystal tower entirely crimson appeared before them.
The crystal tower is only about half a person tall. It is crystal clear under the moonlight. Through the windows, you can see the spiral staircase inside. There are even handrails next to the staircase. The carved flowers and trees are very detailed, and the figures are lifelike. If you stare at it for a long time, it seems to breathe, making people unable to help but be captivated.
"This is the divine artifact upon which the Path to Heaven relies. This tower and the Golden Spirit Tower are opposite each other, but unfortunately the Golden Spirit Tower has disappeared without a trace," Xiao Dan said regretfully.
The tower looks completely ordinary, with no trace of spiritual energy or divine power around it. Apart from its exquisite craftsmanship, no one would doubt that it is just a beautiful ornament.
The night wind was chilly. Wei Feng stood in front of the small tower. Behind the tower was a wall covered with vines, the serrated leaves rustling in the wind, and the white flowers emitting a faint fragrance.
The Mirror Flower Scroll within his body, which had been refined, was showing signs of restlessness.
Xiao Dan formed a hand seal, and the mountain wall in front of him slowly parted, revealing a downward passage. The steps were also crystal clear crimson, with two rows of huge luminous pearls embedded on the side, illuminating the white bones and jade marrow in the steps in every detail. A surge of turbid air rushed over, but was buffered and dispersed to both sides by the spiritual energy shield that Xiao Dan had formed. Except for the vines on the mountain wall, all other spiritual plants in the courtyard withered instantly, and the hanging magical artifacts all turned into dust.
"Please." Xiao Dan looked at Wei Feng and gestured downwards.
Wei Feng caught a faint, familiar scent in the thick, foul air. He pinched his palm hard, smiled, and stepped down.
As the footsteps faded into the distance, the wall gradually closed, and the vines outside rustled, revealing Wen Hanjiu's figure.
He gathered his sleeves and looked down at the small crimson tower. A thin vine slowly climbed onto the tower, only to be blown away by the foul, stagnant air within. Half of his body withered rapidly. Fortunately, Chang Ping'an appeared in time and forcibly separated him from the tower, saving him from certain death.
“It really is chaotic energy.” Wen Hanjiu clutched her withered arm, frowning as she looked at the closing mountain wall. “You said before that you were told by a divine decree how Xiao Dan would build the road to heaven. Do you know which immortal lord told you that?”
Chang Pingan shook his head.
Wen Hanjiu pondered for a moment: "Can you sense the color of the primordial spirit?"
"It seems to have a faint golden hue, but it's not very clear," Chang Ping'an said.
Wen Hanjiu's expression tightened: "It seems that this road to heaven must be built."
“This path to heaven is still missing the most crucial jade step, and right now only Immortal Lord Yaoyan is undergoing his tribulation.” Chang Ping’an paused slightly and looked up at him.
"Then we'll have to ask Jiang Guyi for help," Wen Hanjiu said.
Chang Ping'an frowned: "What exactly do you want to do?"
Wen Hanjiu shook her head: "Once it's out the mouth, everything will be for naught."
The lightning in the sky appeared and disappeared intermittently, seemingly echoing his words.
"Let's figure out a way to take this tower with us first."
Underground, with each step Wei Feng took, he felt the increasingly dense turbid air, mixed with some extremely pure spiritual energy, and wisps of divine power swirling within it, making him yearn to get closer to the source of the earth. He could sense that it was already very close to him.
However, Xiao Dan stopped halfway.
He took a walnut-sized piece of "mud" from a niche in the wall and handed it to Wei Feng, saying, "This can help you quickly improve your cultivation. As long as you leave half of your primordial spirit here, you can break through to the Great Perfection of the Dao Ancestor Realm within a hundred days."
Looking through the water mirror, Feng Wuyou crossed his arms and frowned: "Why does this thing look so familiar?"
"Wei Feng made the deal with Xiao Dan for this thing?" Jiang Xiangyun leaned closer to take a look. "What is it?"
In the water mirror, Wei Feng and Jiang Xiangyun asked the same question: "What exactly is this?"
Jiang Gu put away the map on the table and his gaze fell on the piece of "mud," saying, "This should be the original form of the Mirror Flower Scroll."
Xiao Dan slowly opened his mouth in the water mirror, his lips moving silently yet clearly visible.
Jiang Gu's expression hardened slightly.
Xiao Dan was referring to the "chaotic core".
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