Chapter 1417: Lu Zheng and Si Lingxi Have Arrived Too

Dongyangzi, Ling Kunzi, and Zen Master Dejie exchanged glances and smiled harmoniously.

Lu Zheng had only emerged for a short time, and had not even traveled across the various paths under heaven. Besides showing his face at the New Year Dharma Assembly in White Cloud Temple, which allowed the major sects of Sanjiang Dao to recognize him, he had not interacted much with many individuals in the cultivation realm.

Although he visited the Jinhua Sect, Feiyu Mountain, toured Chixiao Temple and Fahua Temple in Zhongjing, and knew the experts of Qingwei Palace, Chunyang Palace, and the Celestial Escape Sect, the rumors did not spread widely. He remained unremarkable, staying in his Tonglin County to enjoy leisure.

Honestly, the reputations of Lady Qingyi and the Peach Blossom Fairy were greater than his.

However, in the eyes of those who knew and understood the insider information, Lu Zheng held far more weight than Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying.

After all, Lu Zheng contributed to the reputation of Shen Ying and Liu Qingyan, and even their immense progress in cultivation was related to Lu Zheng.

In the eyes of the disciples at White Cloud Temple, Lu Zheng was already considered the figure to support the scene after Master Qingsong.

Of course, that was in the past, but Dongyangzi no longer thought so now. The next generation of Master Qingsong still needed to be sought and trained.

Before a century passes, I’m afraid he would have ascended with Si Lingxi already.

Hmm, and probably Shen Ying and Liu Qingyan as well.

So envious…

While Dongyangzi was thinking, on the other side, Ling Kunzi already harbored some envy and said, “White Cloud Temple’s fortune is flourishing!”

He did not care much about Si Lingxi, but Lu Zheng was a rare genius. Over time, his progress did not slow at all, and if this continued, he would not just be the next generation after Master Qingsong, but would stand as a twin glory alongside Master Qingsong at White Cloud Temple.

“Amitabha Buddha!”

Zen Master Dejie uttered the Buddhist proclamation, “When Sect Leader Si and Lu Xiaoyou came to Fahua Temple at that time, I happened to be in seclusion, so we barely had a chance meeting. It’s quite a pity.”

Dongyangzi paused his thoughts and glanced askew at Zen Master Dejie.

This monk had early on passed the “Lecture on the Heart Sutra of the Buddha on the Dharma Flower Platform” to Lu Zheng, his insight was clearly exceptional. Who knows if he guessed Lu Zheng’s background or roots?

However, no matter what you give, Lu Zheng is still the true lineage disciple of our White Cloud Temple, a Daoist sect disciple.

Dongyangzi: ~(≧▽≦)/~

“Cough, cough!”

Dongyangzi cleared his throat twice and said to Zen Master Ben Hong, “It’s nothing, really, just that Sect Leader Si once took my disciple on a tour of Zhongjing, where they met Fellow Daoist Dejie and Senior Brother Ling Kun.”

Zen Master Ben Hong pursed his lips, slightly skeptical.

However, Ling Kunzi nodded, and Zen Master Dejie did not refute.

“Since we still have to wait, I’ll have the disciples prepare vegetarian dishes.” Divine Monarch Hui Jian glanced at the sky, “Furthermore, the day is ending. How about tomorrow…”

Divine Monarch Hui Jian stopped speaking midway, and everyone’s gaze turned to the eastern sky.

The sun was gradually setting in the west, while the eastern sky was already a glowing sunset, layers of clouds spreading red light.

Amid this red glow, a beam of scarlet-gold light flashed and disappeared, rapidly streaking towards Celestial Sword Mountain.

Everyone had sharp eyes and saw that at the forefront of the scarlet-gold light was a woman dressed in a golden-patterned, scarlet-embroidered palace dress, accompanied by two others.

One was at her side, clad in a long green robe, looking gentle and refined, with bright eyes.

The other was behind her, wrapped in Phoenix Divine Power, flying along, and it was Master Qingsong of White Cloud Temple.

“Sect Leader Si and her group have arrived,” Dongyangzi said casually.

The next moment, the scarlet-gold light landed and instantly dissipated, revealing Si Lingxi and her entourage.

“Greetings to Sect Leader Si!” Several, including Divine Monarch Hui Jian, greeted either with hand salutes, bows, or palms together.

“Greetings, everyone!” Si Lingxi also nodded slightly, returning the courtesy politely.

“Master Ancestor!” Lu Zheng and Master Qingsong stepped forward, first greeting Dongyangzi, then going to salute the other four seniors.

Although Si Lingxi and Dongyangzi were peers, everyone addressed each according to their status.

Divine Monarch Hui Jian and Zen Master Ben Hong saw Lu Zheng for the first time and couldn’t help but scrutinize him, wondering what was special about this young man who managed to subdue the Fire Phoenix that had been in the world for three thousand years.

However, both were very subtle in their observation, and not even Lu Zheng or Si Lingxi noticed.

Divine Monarch Hui Jian smiled, “I was just saying to prepare some vegetarian dishes and depart early tomorrow, but since Sect Leader Si has already arrived…”

“Then let us set out now,” Zen Master Ben Hong interjected.

Everyone, “…”

“The Yin Qi is heavy at night, which suits the Demon Lord’s Demonic Skill.”

Divine Monarch Hui Jian said, looking over at the five people around him, and then shook his head, “However, with all of us here together, it’s certainly of no concern.”

The crowd laughed at his words.

“But after all, that demon has been entrenched in Hua Tu Mountain of Tu State for over a decade, and the surrounding terrain is surely arranged,” Dongyangzi pondered aloud, “Hui Jian, you’d better deploy Celestial Sword Mountain’s Great Celestial Circle Ten Thousand Sword Array.”

“No problem.”

Divine Monarch Hui Jian nodded, and with a transmission of divine thought, the prepared disciples of Celestial Sword Mountain responded in unison. ℴ𝗆

In an instant, more than a hundred streams of Sword Qi soared to the sky from the entire Celestial Sword Mountain.

“Master Ancestor, the One Hundred and Eight Celestial Swords are ready, and we can set out to subdue the demon at any time!”

“In that case, let us depart!” Divine Monarch Hui Jian declared in a deep voice.

Being centuries-old seniors, they were straightforward in their actions, without much ceremony.

When they say they’re leaving, they leave!

Divine Monarch Hui Jian, as the host of Linxi Dao, took the lead, soaring skyward.

More than a hundred elite disciples of Celestial Sword Mountain, under the guidance of 12 elders’ Sword Qi, also ascended, following behind.

Zen Master Dejie, Ling Kunzi, Zen Master Ben Hong, Dongyangzi, and Si Lingxi also took flight together.

In this mission to subdue the demon, though disciples from Chixiao Temple, Fahua Temple, and others have entered Linxi Dao, their main task is to track the demon’s whereabouts. As for actively subduing the demon, there was no need for them to make a grand fanfare.

All they needed to do was wait for the destruction of Yuzhen Temple, then capture and eliminate the fallen disciples of Yuzhen Temple scattered across various places.

After all, no matter how formidable the Profound Profound Demon Lord is, he is just a Fallen Celestial Demon. And from the intelligence, it’s evident he intends to engage in a protracted war.

In that case, it’s sufficient for Celestial Sword Mountain alone to array their forces. Doing it with high profile and excessive attention would only make the monks from the Western Buddha Country and the great demons of the Northern Three Countries laugh.

The Central Plains Great Sect maintains the dignity and reserve of being a Central Plains Great Sect.

Divine Monarch Hui Jian served as the vanguard, followed by Ling Kunzi, Zen Master Dejie, Zen Master Ben Hong, Dongyangzi, and Si Lingxi, with one hundred and eight disciples of Celestial Sword Mountain in the rear. The only extra individuals were Lu Zheng and Master Qingsong, who inexplicably came to watch.

Master Qingsong: ???

Soon, Hua Tu Mountain, several miles outside Tu Prefecture, came into view in the distance.