Chapter 574 Opening

“Third Brother.”

Mi Nianhan spoke.

“What do you know about that place?”

“I don’t know much. After all, it happened a thousand years ago.” Li Xianshan took a deep breath. “A thousand years ago, when Mang Mountain was first established, the world paid it little mind. The Divine Dynasty merely sent some nearby Demon Slayers to investigate, but…”

“The appearance of the Mang Mountain Demon Saint shocked the world. The Divine Dynasty dispatched troops to suppress him, leading to a great war.”

“In that war, three Super Grade Powerhouses fell, including Demon Venerable Luh Wu.”

Mi Nianhan nodded.

Super Grade Powerhouses of the Demon Race are called Demon Venerables. As for Demon Saints, they are the absolute strongest of the Demon Race.

A Demon Venerable, though powerful, can be killed.

But a Demon Saint…

To this day, only one has ever died—and it was by suicide, transforming into the annual Emperor’s Liquid to bless the Demon Race.

“Second Brother.”

Li Xianshan said,

“Actually, are the three great families of Taiyuan Prefecture all connected to Luh Wu’s bloodline?”

“Oh?” Mi Nianhan raised an eyebrow.

“The Nie Family, the Zhou Family, and the City Lord’s Mansion’s Yann Family?”

“That’s right.” Li Xianshan nodded.

“The Nie Family are descendants of the great general who besieged and killed Luh Wu. To this day, they still pass down the Battle Array Method.”

“The Yann Family’s ancestor was a prison official in the Divine Dynasty who set up the Grand Array that trapped and killed Luh Wu. As for the Zhou Family…”

“The Zhou Family’s ancestor was originally a servant of the Hek Family. After the Hek Family declined, the Zhou Family, as servants, usurped their masters and seized the Hek Family’s foundation. The Hek Family were originally disciples of a Celestial Sect and also descendants of an expert who helped besiege Luh Wu.”

“Tsk, tsk…” Mi Nianhan shook his head, clicking his tongue.

“So you’re saying all three families know about the Divine Mansion created from Luh Wu’s death?”

“They’re guarding this place, searching for Luh Wu’s bloodline, hoping to open that Divine Mansion?”

“The Zhou Family probably doesn’t know,” Li Xianshan said.

“The Zhou Family’s lineage only goes back two hundred years, and they never received the Hek Family’s Core True Inheritance.”

“The Hek Family’s Vast Cold True Skill and Ice River True Qi are Celestial Sect inheritances that lead straight to the First Grade. The Zhou Family’s Profound Ice Force, however, can only be cultivated to the Sixth Grade at most.”

Mi Nianhan grew thoughtful.

With his Fifth-Grade Peak Cultivation, it wouldn’t matter if the three great families of Taiyuan Prefecture knew the secret.

But… there were still disciples from the Wenda Sect in the city.

And judging by how much importance the Wenda Sect placed on Qian Hu, they had likely already learned about the Divine Mansion.

‘This is trouble!’

What’s more, a disciple from the True Martial Sect was now home visiting family, making the situation even more complicated.

‘Thankfully, the True Martial Sect probably doesn’t know about this. Otherwise, things would be even more troublesome.’

“Our junior brother may be resourceful, but with the Wenda Sect’s methods, it’s only a matter of time before they trace things here.”

Mi Nianhan’s brow furrowed.

“It will still take some time for Eldest Brother to get here, and besides…”

“If he can come, so can the experts from the Wenda Sect. When that happens, I’m afraid a fierce battle will be unavoidable.”

Li Xianshan nodded.

In truth, they both knew that while the “Eldest Brother” they spoke of was strong, he was by no means stronger than the Wenda Sect.

“So…” Mi Nianhan spread his hands.

“What’s your plan?”

Gazing at the unconscious Qian Hu in the iron cage, Li Xianshan’s expression shifted, and he finally clasped his hands together.

“We open the Divine Mansion. We go in first and grab as much as we can before the Wenda Sect tracks us here.”

“Excellent!”

Mi Nianhan clapped his hands lightly.

“That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

A thing like a Divine Mansion was far beyond what people like them could hope to control. The only logical course of action was to get in, get what they could, and maximize their gains.

*

*

*

「A few days later.」

Zhu Shuang’er, with a bulging pack on her back, bowed deeply to Zhu Ju and the others.

“Big Brother.”

She had grown accustomed to calling Zhu Ju “Big Brother,” as if they were truly brother and sister.

“You’re already at mid-Seventh Grade. With the Elixirs I’ve left for you, you have a very good chance of reaching the Sixth Grade before you’re forty. When that time comes, you can come find me on the mountain. Perhaps you can even join the True Martial Sect.”

“There’s no need for that.” Zhu Ju smiled and waved his hand dismissively.

“I can come visit you, but joining the Sect is out of the question.”

“Hee hee…” Zhu Shuang’er giggled.

“Is it because you look down on the True Martial Sect, Big Brother?”

“Never mind!”

She sighed softly and said,

“Thanks to the guidance from you and Miss Ming, I finally realized that my Master didn’t want me to find a home, but a purpose to hold onto.”

“Only with a purpose can one go further. Unfortunately, I haven’t found mine yet.”

“Don’t rush.” Zhu Ju said slowly.

“You’re still young. If you take your time, you’ll find it eventually.”

“Yes.” Zhu Shuang’er nodded.

“Well then…”

“Goodbye!”

Her voice carried a hint of reluctance. Her gaze swept over the group, her beautiful eyes turning slightly red.

Partings were always bittersweet.

Though old friends might change, they were still old friends.

“Goodbye.” Zhu Ju waved, then his brow suddenly furrowed and he subconsciously rubbed his temples.

The way of a perfected man allows one to know things in advance.

He had managed to forge a Primordial Spirit in a Dharma-Ending Age; with a foundation so profound, he could have achieved the Immortal Dao in ancient times.

Therefore, he would sometimes get premonitions from the unseen world.

Like right now.

The moment the farewell left his lips, he had a feeling that he would be seeing Zhu Shuang’er again very soon.

‘Strange…’

‘Zhu Shuang’er is heading to the front lines, while I have to take the Zhu Family to Wanhu Island to escape disaster.’

‘How could our paths cross again anytime soon?’

“Goodbye!”

Zhu Shuang’er took a deep breath, and with a flick of her sleeve, she released a paper kite. With a flash of Spiritual Light, an Immortal Crane appeared on the spot.

“SCREECH!”

The Immortal Crane arched its neck and let out a long cry. With a gentle tremble of its wings, it carried Zhu Shuang’er straight up into the sky.

Looking down from above, the vast city gradually shrank, and the figures of the people below became impossible to see.

But in the back of her mind, she could feel a gaze fixed upon her.

Composing herself, Zhu Shuang’er gently patted the Immortal Crane’s back, and they flew through the white clouds toward a certain Daoist Temple.

「Soon.」

Zhu Shuang’er leaped off the Immortal Crane’s back, landing as light as a feather. The crane transformed back into a paper kite, which she tucked into her long sleeve.

“Junior Sister.”

Ji Wenchang hurried forward to greet her, his face full of enthusiasm.

“You’re back.”

“Mhm.”

Zhu Shuang’er nodded, taking an uncomfortable step to the side.

“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting, Senior Brother. I hope I didn’t delay anything important?”

“Not at all.” A flash of displeasure crossed Ji Wenchang’s eyes, but he quickly suppressed it and waved his hand with a smile.

“We’re not the only group heading to the front lines for support. A few days’ delay is no big deal.”

“Besides…”

He chuckled and continued,

“We have something to take care of in Taiyuan Prefecture. We won’t be leaving anytime soon; in fact, we’ll be heading back.”

“Huh?” Zhu Shuang’er was taken aback.

“Something to take care of?”

“Heading back?”

She looked toward Yuan Henshui, who was dressed in a Daoist Robe behind them, and asked in confusion,

“Brother Yuan, what does he mean?”

“Before we set out on this journey, a senior from the Sect performed a divination for me.” Yuan Henshui gently stroked the bark of a willow tree as he spoke slowly.

“The senior said that a great opportunity awaits me on this trip, one that could help me attain the True Dao if I seize it.”

“And now…”

“I have sensed that this opportunity is located in Taiyuan Prefecture.”

“Oh!” Zhu Shuang’er blinked.

“In that case, Senior Brother, why didn’t you stay in Taiyuan Prefecture? That way you could have looked for the opportunity.”

“Heh…” Yuan Henshui shook his head.

“If I am present, the opportunity will not reveal itself. Only by leaving will it truly appear.”

“Junior Sister Shuang’er, have you ever heard of Demon Venerable Luh Wu?”