125: Chapter 125 Hall Debate

Outside the Immortal Cave.

Several Qi Refining demonic Cultivators had quietly gathered together, discussing information with each other.

"Still no trace found behind the Immortal Cave. Have any of you found anything else?"

"Of course. I saw Senior Chu enter that Xu Changsheng's Immortal Cave!"

"Is that true? Don't just spout nonsense."

"If you don't believe me, look at the Retrospective Mirror."

Just then, a familiar voice drew all their attention.

"Why are you all chatting here instead of keeping a close eye on that Xu Changsheng?"

They all looked up and saw a plain but stern face.

"Martial Uncle... Martial Uncle Gou?"

...

Fifteen minutes later.

"Soul Cleansing Dream Weave."

Deep in the forest.

Xu Changsheng's brows were tightly furrowed as he held two Qi Refining demonic Cultivators by their collars.

He hadn't expected that despite his many preparations, the Ghost Shadow Sect would still manage to track him down by following the clues.

Fortunately, there was still Li Hongxuan and that female Foundation Establishment Cultivator named Gu Fengping to take the fall for him.

Just now, he had used illusionary methods to construct a scene, causing their memories to become muddled.

Not only did he erase Chu Linger's appearance from their memories, but he also diminished his own significance as the culprit in their minds.

Once they woke up, they would believe that the suspicion surrounding Xu Changsheng was not as heavy as before.

Soul Cleansing Dream Weave did not directly alter memories; instead, it used illusions to cause the victims' concepts of time and space to become displaced.

Seeing people they shouldn't have seen at that time in different locations.

Xu Changsheng inverted the sights and sounds they had experienced since that messenger spy left.

Based on the previously circulated 'facts,' he reduced the probability of himself being the culprit.

After placing the Demonic Path Cultivators in a designated spot, he left the area.

Within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, these 'unconscious' Demonic Path Cultivators woke up one after another.

They stared blankly at their surroundings.

Suddenly remembering something, they slapped their foreheads and headed down the mountain.

...

Half a day later.

The City Lord's Manor of Yellow Ox Immortal City.

The courtyard was vast and empty, with the doors to the eastern and western palaces all closed.

Two date trees were planted in the north and south corners, one of which had already withered.

A simple and honest-looking old man with white hair and beard sat under the living date tree, wearing a muddy yellow short shirt that revealed his powerful muscles.

Just then.

The main gate was pushed open, and a plainly dressed middle-aged woman led a handsome youth into the City Lord's Manor.

The woman wore a lotus-root-colored jacket and a high bun; her face was calm, revealing no emotion.

A cup of spiritual tea sat by Yellow Ox's side; it had long since gone cold, and he hadn't touched it.

"You're here?"

True Person Hong Zao sat down and poured herself a cup of tea. "I'm here."

Taking a small sip, she said, "After all these years, you still haven't changed. Your tea is just as bitter as ever."

Yellow Ox gave a simple laugh and looked at the youth behind the woman. "Shaotian, come here."

Huang Shaotian walked forward, stood still, and bowed with hands clasped. "Father."

"Good, good. As expected of my, Huang Jinglong's, son. You reached Foundation Establishment before thirty. How is your cultivation going? Is there anything you don't understand?"

"Although your father isn't some peerless expert, that 'Huang Xuan Righteous Law'..."

"There's no need. I am currently practicing the 'Spirit Date Evergreen Art.' Mother has been guiding me."

"Oh, oh, that's good then."

The second half of Yellow Ox's sentence got stuck in his throat. He could only rub his hands together to ease the awkwardness.

True Person Hong Zao picked up her teacup, took another sip, and parted her red lips. "I heard you were injured in the Yuan State?"

"A minor injury, not worth mentioning."

"You're still as stubborn as ever."

"Clang, clang, clang."

The loud tolling of a bronze bell echoed from behind the hall.

Yellow Ox slapped his forehead. "I forgot. We have to discuss the Immortal City's defense matters today. Madam, please take Shaotian to the rear hall to rest for a while."

True Person Hong Zao chuckled. "Actually, let Shaotian participate as well. It's about time."

Yellow Ox looked at Huang Shaotian, who resembled him by seventy to eighty percent, and said with great joy, "Good."

...

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

The main hall of the City Lord's Manor.

A large crowd of Cultivators stood there in a noisy swarm.

All of them were prominent figures in the Immortal City.

Immortal Master's disciples, heads of various departments of the Immortal City, Clan Chiefs of cultivation families...

Huang Shaotian was standing at the back of the line when his eyes suddenly lit up, his gaze firmly locked onto Chu Linger, who was dressed in silver.

Yellow Ox began to speak.

"Fellow Daoists, colleagues, I, Huang, wish you all a good afternoon."

"I know everyone has their own speculations regarding the situation in the Yuan State to the north, but please trust this old man. Currently, Yellow Ox Immortal City is as solid as a rock."

...

He spoke eloquently for a full hour, mostly words of reassurance.

Until finally: "Does anyone else have anything to say?"

The entire hall fell silent.

At this moment.

Chu Linger clutched the paper in her sleeve and slightly raised her hand.

"I, Xiong, have something to say!"

Xiong Meng stepped into the center of the crowd.

Seeing this.

The hand Chu Linger had finally plucked up the courage to raise dropped down. Her eyes held a hint of craftiness as she wanted to see what kind of tricks Xiong Meng was trying to pull.

After receiving Yellow Ox's silent permission, Xiong Meng spoke eloquently:

"Master, I feel that the news of your previous injury has caused widespread panic and an outflow of the Immortal City's Cultivator population. I have a proposal that can reverse this situation."

"What proposal?"

"Why not open the City-Protecting Great Formation and hold a Yellow Ox Grand Assembly like the one from a hundred years ago? We can invite various forces to participate and reshape our city's immortal prestige!"

Hearing this.

Yang Yang, the head of the Yang Family, also stepped forward and clasped his hands. "I think Fellow Daoist Xiong's plan is excellent and worthy of the Immortal Master's consideration. I remember during the Yao Beast riot three hundred years ago,"

"Yellow Ox Immortal City relied on this method to recruit enough Cultivators, thereby standing tall amidst the desolate cultivation world of the Chu Kingdom."

The Immortal City's Formation Guest Elder, a quasi-tier-three Formation Master—Song Hongyu—also stood up. "The Great Formation hasn't been used for years; it's about time to shut it down for an inspection."

There was a flurry of discussion in the hall.

It wasn't just those who supported Xiong Meng.

There were also many voices of opposition: "I disagree. What if those Demonic Path people take the opportunity to attack now?"

"Exactly. Even Yellow Ox was wounded and forced to flee. How will we survive?"

Opinions were divided.

At this point, Yellow Ox made the final decision: "We will do as Xiong Meng suggested to prove that this Immortal Master has not lied to you."

Intelligence suggested that the possibility of the Demonic Path attacking the Chu Kingdom within a year was minuscule, so he held a glimmer of hope in his heart.

Just then.

A cold voice came from below the dais: "Master, you cannot listen to what Senior Brother Xiong says. He is a traitor."

The moment the voice fell, the entire hall went silent.

Seeing Chu Linger, Xiong Meng was furious. "Junior Sister Chu, what are you talking about?"

Chu Linger pointed her slender finger at Xiong Meng. "Do you want me to say it again? I said, you are a traitor. You betrayed the Immortal City, and you betrayed our sect!"