The Path Toward Heaven

There were many paths leading to Green Mountain; but those clans and merchants who depended on Green Mountain for their prosperity would face a dead end if they didn’t comply with the requests of the Green Mountain Sect.

However, the owner of the Precious-Tree House couldn’t comply with the requests of the Green Mountain Sect. If he did so, the people in Scenery Garden would sentence him to death. Even though Gu Qing might be able to sympathize with his predicament, it would be impossible for Zhao Layue to forgive him. He had served her before and was well aware of how formidable and ruthless the young peak master was.

The key to his survival was getting help from Shenmo Peak.

Gu Qing knew that the quotas that would be decided the day after were actually the distributions of the resources for those clans outside Green Mountain.

He had no choice but to support the Precious-Tree House, because his Gu Clan was among those involved.

…

…

Many clans had earned an unimaginable amount of wealth by sending various resources to Green Mountain. The Fang Clan had earned the most and had the highest status over the last few hundred years. The Yuan Clan in Lelong County was responsible for collecting the precious treasures in the sea and had a close relationship with Penglai Island, but they had never been involved in the business of the southern mainland. The Liu Clan had in fact never been heard of.

The Gu Clan had been very popular and prosperous in recent years, and as such, they were also under a great deal of pressure.

The clans related to Green Mountain were all familiar with each other, and the representatives participating in the meeting were not the servants and low-ranking caretakers. The masters of the clans were all present, and some clans at least sent their high-level managers; so they were all acquaintances. However, the atmosphere was rather tense, and no pleasantries could be heard in the quiet hall, except for occasional discussions in low voices.

“Is he Ma Shixiang from Cheng County? I heard that the Ma Clan had been destroyed.”

“It can’t be considered being destroyed as long as some people in the clan have survived…Immortal Master Ma Hua is the brain of Liangwang Peak, enjoying a high status there. Haven’t you seen the people in the Jian Clan come out already? Immortal Master Jian has been released from the Sword Jail; it’s said that he is favored by the peak master of Yunxing.”

“The Muddy River has changed its channel of three thousand years. It’s really hard to predict the affairs in the world.”

“The Gu Clan has been prosperous in the last few years, and they’ve earned enough. But it’s still uncomfortable to think that they will be replaced by the Ma Clan and the Jian Clan.”

The Ma Clan and the Jian Clan had been insignificant in comparison to other clans related to Green Mountain in the past and at the moment. Many clans were naturally resentful when they were to gain a great deal of benefits. Yet, thinking of the current situation on Green Mountain, those clans, though they had some immortal masters on Green Mountain, were unwilling to stand up to them.

As the curtains were pulled aside, You Silou led a few disciples of Liangwang Peak walking in.

The masters of various clans and their managers got up hastily and bowed to them reverently.

You Silou flashed a small smile, gesturing for the clan masters to go back to their respective seats without further rituals. He stepped onto a platform.

On the platform on the ground floor of the Precious-Tree House that was usually used for auctions there was a screen, behind which a table and a chair were placed as the head seat for the immortal masters of Green Mountain.

Ma Hua didn’t get on the platform. He stood in the hall and looked at a private room to his side while smiling with narrowed eyes.

The master of the Gu Clan kept a bowing posture by bending his upper body. To say nothing of sitting down, he didn’t even dare straighten his body. He looked extremely pitiful.

Jian Ruyun stared at this person emotionlessly. He didn’t give the words to allow him to get up; it seemed that the master of the Gu Clan would keep on bending his body for a long time.

Thinking of the challenges his clan had faced lately, the master of the Gu Clan blanched even more, and his body wobbled, as if he would collapse at any moment.

The Jian Clan and the Ma Clan were suppressed in the last few years. Though they were not totally destroyed, their lives were rather miserable.

Ma Hua said with a smile, “You’re deserved to die. After you go back, make sure they all will die on their own. We don’t want to dirty our hands finishing them off.”

Hearing this, You Silou halted his steps and spun his head to take a look, but he didn’t say anything.

The master of the Gu Clan lowered his head even more, saying, “Our clan has had many misfortunes lately; seven of our people have passed away…I heard that Immortal Master has a close relationship with our Young Master Han; so please, have mercy.”

Ma Hua patted on his shoulder while saying, “This is the intent of our masters. Big Brother Gu Han can’t say anything about it. I advise you to finish off all of your clan for your own good; it’s better than making the masters angry.”

The master of the Gu Clan lowered his head close to the ground; but he didn’t say anything this time. It was because he couldn’t agree to the request, and nor could he oppose it. In the mortal world, the Gu Clan was very powerful; their clan supported many Cultivation practitioners, including some free-traveling practitioners and retired caretakers of Green Mountain; but they still had no qualification to negotiate with Ma Hua.

Though Ma Hua was merely a regular disciple on Liangwang Peak, he represented the intent of some important figures on Green Mountain.

“I’d like to know which master has such a bad temper.”

A calm and amiable voice broke out from a corner of the hall.

Hearing this voice, the master of the Gu Clan straightened his body slowly, a relaxed expression showing on his face.

Ma Hua looked at the dark corner with a seeming smile, but he didn’t say a word.

Walking out from the dark shadow, Gu Qing continued inquiring Ma Hua, “Is he Elder Bai Rujing? His two arms are already broken off, and he has no hope of cultivating for the rest of his life; so it’s understandable that he has a short-temper.”

Ma Hua had predicted that Gu Qing would show up that day; so he was not surprised to see him, saying with a faint smile, “What you have said can be considered as insulting a master.”

“Insulting a master is an offense deserving death,” said Gu Qing calmly, “but I’m a personal disciple of the Immortal Jing Yang. Who is qualified to be my master on Green Mountain?”

Ma Hua looked at Gu Qing as if he looked at an idiot, saying, “He is a sword devil. Even if you want to deceive yourself, others won’t accept it though.”

“You people will debate about this matter again? It’s truly annoying. Can’t we solve this trivial matter as quickly as possible?”

A drowsy voice burst out. Everybody could tell whose voice this was; but for some reason, this person’s pronunciation was not very clear today.

The gazes of the crowd were trained toward the source of the voice, and they found it was from the platform.

The screen on the platform had been removed, exposing the table and the chair.

There were some dishes on the table. Zhuo Rusui sat in the chair while eating the food with the chopsticks in his right hand. He was talking while chewing.

It was evident that the Shenmo Peak branch that had left Green Mountain and Liangwang Peak that represented Green Mountain were confronting each other right now.

You Silou knew his Young Brother’s temperament, shaking his head. He didn’t say anything, nor did he step onto the platform.

Jian Ruyun looked at Zhuo Rusui expressionlessly, as he demanded, “Young Brother Zhuo, are you sure you want to be with that sword devil?”

“Like I said, I don’t want to debate with you people; it’s too troublesome. Let’s fight to settle the dispute.”

Zhuo Rusui picked up the damp towel with his left hand, and found the temperature was just right, shooting the owner of the Previous-Tree House an appreciative glance. “What was your ranking on Liangwang Peak?” he asked Jian Ruyun.

Jian Ruyun replied, “Fourth.”

“You’re not my match then. Let’s pick someone else.” Zhuo Rusui looked at You Silou and asked, “Big Brother, you’re ranked second. Why don’t you fight against me?”

You Silou snapped indignantly, “Can Big Brother beat you?”

“He could beat me before I came out from behind closed doors. He can’t do it anymore after I came out,” said Zhuo Rusui.

Putting down the damp towel from his hand, Zhuo Rusui picked up the chopsticks and exclaimed, “Since nobody can beat me, why are you still here? Are you going to invite me to a dinner?”

He was the personal disciple of the Immortal Liu Ci, and had the highest Cultivation state and prowess among the young disciples of Green Mountain; no young disciple on the nine peaks was a match for him.

If the meeting was determined by the outcome of fighting, there wouldn’t be any other result for today’s meeting.

“Big Brother Nanshan let you go to Scenery Garden with that person because he wanted you to keep tabs on them. He didn’t want you to oppose the sect and Liangwang Peak.”

Ma Hua said this to Zhuo Rusui in a serious manner. He didn’t intend to conceal this from Gu Qing; in fact, he intentionally wanted Gu Qing to hear it.

By the time Zhuo Rusui appeared on the platform, this so-called auction for the quotas of Green Mountain was mostly finished. The masters of the major clans, including the Fang Clan, had left the Precious-Tree House in tandem. They didn’t dare witness the internal fight between the immortal masters.

“You of all people seem to forget the fact that I’ve never been a member of Liangwang Peak.”

Zhuo Rusui went on while picking up the food with the chopsticks, “As such, don’t try and use the morals and ethics of Liangwang Peak to control me; and don’t even try and fool me. I can tell you this; Gu Qing is actually much smarter than you people even though he looks honest and gullible.”

Ma Hua’s face turned grave before demanding, “What on earth do you want?”

Zhuo Rusui lifted his head and shot him a glance, retorting, “It’s none of your business.”

“Some masters can discipline you though,” said Ma Hua.

Zhuo Rusui said, “I’m a Green Mountain disciple, but there is no sect master on Green Mountain. I’m a member of Tianguang Peak, but there is no peak master on Tianguang Peak. Who can discipline me now?”

Jian Ruyun said emotionlessly, “Given that you’re a Green Mountain disciple, the sect rules of Green Mountain will be able to punish you.”

Zhuo Rusui shot him a sympathetic glance, “Was it hard spending time in the Sword Jail? Unfortunately, it’s not easy for me to experience the hardship in it because I have a close relationship with Shangde Peak.”

Having said that, Zhuo Rusui drew back his gaze and resumed searching for his favorite green pepper in the fish stomach cooked with the preserved peppers.

There was nothing more to be said up to this point.

Seeing Zhuo Rusui on the platform behaving like he was at his own home, a hateful fire generated in the deep ends of Jian Ruyun’s eyes. His temperament had changed tremendously ever since the death of his brother. Ignoring the gesture in You Silou’s eyes, Jian Ruyun summoned a sword instruction with his right hand and employed the most powerful move of the Old-Bird Sword style, slashing at the platform.

The bright sword light was intermittently visible in the hall, traveling like a bird in the clouds. It arrived before the platform instantly. It was difficult to determine the tracks of this flying sword, so it was very hard to intercept it. Yet, the strength of the sword will didn’t lose a touch because of its litheness. If this slashing sword landed on someone, a swordsman in the Broken Sea State would be severely injured.

Zhuo Rusui didn’t even bother lifting his head. The chopsticks in his right hand left the fish stomach cooked with the preserved peppers and pointed at a spot in the air while dripping some juicy beads.

Crack!!!

A bright flame burst in front of the platform, which was the result of two flying swords clashing.

Grunting once, Jian Ruyun attempted to drive the flying sword at Zhuo Rusui again.

Yet, Zhuo Rusui didn’t give him the opportunity to do so. He stabbed the chopsticks aimlessly at the air; the Swallowing Boat Sword turned into a flash of gray sword shadow, arriving before Jian Ruyun in an instant.

Jian Ruyun folded his arms in front of his chest to form a sword will; his flying sword was called back quickly enough to shield his body.

Boom!!!

The flying swords clashed again.

Jian Ruyun flew backwards diagonally. He bumped into the wall behind him, his two feet creating two deep ditches in the ground.

The Precious-Tree House had no window, and was protected by the formations; it was exceedingly strong. However, the building began to sway violently, as if it would collapse.

Jian Ruyun was in terrible condition. His face looked as white as a sheet, his chest covered with the blood he had spat out. His flying sword quivered in front of his body, a large crack visible on the shaft of the sword.

The flying sword was the most important tool for Cultivation on Green Mountain; they were actually cultivating swords.

His flying sword was damaged very badly; as a result, his sword pill must have had some ruptures as well. It would take more than ten years to cultivate diligently in order to repair the damage.

The Swallowing Boat Sword hovered in front of Jian Ruyun, only a few feet away. The sword lowered its tip slightly, resembling a sleepy and unenergetic fish.

Yet, everyone could sense the lethal intent of the Swallowing Boat Sword; and it could strike like a lightning again at any moment, cutting Jian Ruyun into pieces.

It was deathly quiet in the Precious-Tree House.

Ma Hua and the other disciples of Liangwang Peak knew that Zhuo Rusui was quite powerful, but they had no idea that he had already become this unstoppable.

Facing the attack of Jian Ruyun who was ranked fourth on Liangwang Peak, he had won easily, without even lifting his eyelids.

You Silou was fully aware that Young Brother Zhuo had actually cut Jian Ruyun some slack; otherwise, he could have cut Jian Ruyun’s flying sword in half earlier.

Jian Ruyun stared at Zhuo Rusui, his eyes full of resentment and hatred, yelling, “You should have killed me. I’d like to see how you’re going to tell the ancestors of Green Mountain.”

“I hate the mentioning of our ancestors for such a matter. The Green Mountain disciples speak with their swords.”

Zhuo Rusui lifted his head. While pointing his chopsticks at Jian Ruyun and the other disciples of Liangwang Peak, he said, “You people should learn how to shut up if your sword work is inferior.”