Chapter 392: And You Too
The great elder composed himself. “Have you ever heard of Immortal Inquiry Mountain?”
Xu Sanyan nodded thoughtfully. He recalled Patriarch Chang mentioning it once—a mysterious place with extraordinary cultivation methods, about which the outside world knew very little.
“Something has happened at Immortal Inquiry Mountain,” the great elder continued.
Xu Sanyan wanted to punch him. Just get to the point! Stop dragging this out.
The great elder elaborated slowly, “Immortal Inquiry Mountain has three sect leaders, each named after the principles of Taiyin, Taiyang, and Taihe. Daoist Taihe is the eldest senior brother.”
Having resided in the Chaotic Cloud Mountains for years, the Wang Family naturally possessed more knowledge about Immortal Inquiry Mountain than most.
“Recently, Daoist Taihe attempted to harness the power of the Mist Tide Heaven to break through the three gates and ascend to the immortal dao. Alas…”
“He failed?” Xu Sanyan asked.
“No.”
“Huh?”
Xu Sanyan’s expression froze, his voice rising sharply. “He succeeded?”
If he had succeeded, wouldn’t that mean he had attained immortality?
The world’s first immortal had actually emerged from Immortal Inquiry Mountain!
The great elder slowly shook his head. “It can’t be considered a success. He didn’t ascend to immortality, but he didn’t fail either. At least his soul wasn’t scattered by the yin wind.”
“Daoist Taihe passed the first trial by borrowing the Mist Tide, then attempted to force his way through the second trial by invoking the protection of the Founding Ancestor. Unfortunately, something went wrong. The Founding Ancestor of Immortal Inquiry Mountain…”
The great elder paused dramatically. “…came to life!”
“Came to life?” Xu Sanyan straightened up, his mind reeling. What the hell is going on? The Hundred Saints Secret Realm was full of immortal old bastards—could the Chaotic Cloud Mountains be hiding something similar?
The great elder continued, “Not exactly fully alive. According to Daoist Sun, his senior brother transformed into a calamity, merging with the Grandmaster’s Divine Statue to become a skinless, fleshy giant.”
“A skinless, fleshy giant…” Xu Sanyan’s mind conjured a vivid image. He turned to ask, “What about the disciples of Immortal Inquiry Mountain?”
“All dead. Only Daoist Sun escaped with his life, barely managing to reach Sui Xin Temple to report the situation before succumbing to his wounds. Sui Xin Temple then informed us.”
Xu Sanyan clicked his tongue inwardly. “How powerful is this Daoist Sun?”
The great elder replied solemnly, “No weaker than I am!”
“Hiss—”
Xu Sanyan gasped. The great elder was a powerhouse in the void harmony realm, meaning even such a master would have to flee for his life before that monster!
This implied the flesh-and-blood monstrosity possessed at least the strength of a sage realm expert!
A sage realm expert… There wasn’t a single sage realm expert in the entire Chaotic Cloud Mountains!
Wait…
Xu Sanyan suddenly recalled hearing that the founder of Sui Xin Temple was still alive. He might even be a sage realm expert.
“Then what should we do?” Xu Sanyan was already contemplating escape.
The Wang Clan Head had no intention of fleeing. After all, the Wang Family’s entire foundation lay within the Chaotic Cloud Mountains. Even if they wanted to run, where could they possibly go?
Moreover, the Wang Family wasn’t a pushover. If this calamity truly descended upon them, they might still have a fighting chance!
The Wang Clan Head spoke slowly, “Hold our ground and wait for the Mist Tide to pass. I suspect the calamity’s formation is related to the mist.”
“Hmm, this old one shares that suspicion,” the great elder nodded in agreement.
Perhaps it was the confluence of various factors—the dense fog, Daoist Taihe, the Grandmaster’s Divine Statue, and the yin wind—that ultimately triggered this calamity.
This was the tribulation of the Chaotic Cloud Mountains.
Xu Sanyan suddenly recalled something. “The fog has grown increasingly dense along our journey, and ghost beasts have been appearing in greater numbers. What could be the reason for this?”
The great elder replied coldly, “It must be connected to Immortal Inquiry Mountain!”
His mood was foul. Immortal Inquiry Mountain had dealt them a devastating blow. The vassal clans under their protection had suffered heavy casualties, and the Wang Family had indirectly sustained immeasurable losses.
Moreover, they weren’t the only ones suffering. The Li Clan, Sui Xin Temple, and even the Supreme Harmony Gate were faring poorly.
The worst fate befell the smaller clans, countless of whom were annihilated and their families exterminated.
No one had anticipated such a catastrophe.
But Immortal Inquiry Mountain had been completely destroyed, leaving no place for anyone to seek revenge.
“Alright, everyone, disperse. Remain vigilant.”
“Yes.”
The crowd dispersed in orderly fashion. As Xu Sanyan turned to head home, the great elder called out, “Young Master Lin, wait!”
Xu Sanyan stopped and turned with a smile. “Did the great elder need something?”
“Heh heh…”
The great elder stroked his beard and chuckled. “Young Master Lin saved my life earlier and later brought pool milk to heal my injuries. Now that I’ve fully recovered, I’ve come to express my gratitude.”
“Great elder, you’re too kind,” Xu Sanyan replied. “It was a mere trifle, nothing worthy of thanks.”
As they chatted, they noticed someone hurrying toward the clan head’s study. The great elder stopped the youth. “What’s the rush?”
“Disaster!” the young man exclaimed anxiously. “The Second Madam’s family has sent a plea for help. A horde of ghost beasts has appeared and is besieging the Fang Clan!”
The Second Madam’s maiden name was Fang.
Hearing this, the great elder frowned, inwardly cursing the timing. The clan head had just declared Thousand Autumns City under lockdown, and now this crisis had erupted. Should they send aid, or not?
If they did, who should lead the rescue?
The clan head couldn’t go. Though the Second Madam was his wife, he was also the Wang Family’s pillar of stability. Any mishap befalling him would have catastrophic consequences.
These were turbulent times, and his safety was paramount.
If they didn’t help, the Fang Clan would likely face imminent destruction. Since they had specifically requested assistance, the situation must be dire.
Moreover, with the Second Madam caught in the middle, the clan head faced an impossible dilemma. Neither going nor staying seemed appropriate.
Xu Sanyan, however, cared little for such considerations. The Fang Clan had nothing to do with him. He clasped his hands in farewell. “Great Elder, please attend to your affairs. I’ll take my leave.”
“Very well. We’ll catch up another day.”
Xu Sanyan returned home to find the courtyard ablaze with red lanterns, their glow shimmering through the mist like eerie apparitions, creating a chilling atmosphere as if he had stumbled into a realm of ghosts.
“Ah, Master, you’re back!” Chunmei exclaimed, rushing forward to bow.
Xu Sanyan chuckled, pinching her cheek hard enough to leave a crimson mark. Chunmei endured the rough treatment without a hint of displeasure.
“Master, I’ve completed the task you assigned me the day before yesterday. Here are thirty thousand catties of meat.”
Chunmei presented two storage pouches.
“Good work. Come to my chambers tonight, and I’ll reward you personally.” Xu Sanyan accepted the pouches, casually stroking her smooth, delicate hand.
“Thank you, Master…”
“Ah, Master!”
“Master, you’re well.”
At that moment, the other women in the house began to emerge one after another: Wang Zixuan, Wang Mingxin, Yang Shuang’er, Xiazhu, and a large group of others, their chatter making Xu Sanyan’s head ache.
Xu Sanyan frowned slightly, considering poisoning them all to silence their incessant noise.
“Husband has been working tirelessly these past few days. He must be exhausted. I’ll prepare water for you to wash away the travel dust, and perhaps…” Wang Zixuan, ever scheming, immediately sought to monopolize Xu Sanyan upon his return.
“Perhaps what?”
“…You know.” Wang Mingxin lowered her gaze, too embarrassed to speak plainly.
Wang Zixuan curled her lip in silent contempt, muttering “slut” under her breath before forcing a smile. “I’ve recently learned a new massage technique that’s even more relaxing than a bath. Husband, why not try it?”
Xu Sanyan, holding a woman by each hand, strode toward the house. “Why bother with such formalities? Come along, all of you.” He glanced at Yang Shuang’er, Chunmei, and Xiazhu. “And you too.”
(End of the Chapter)