91: Chapter 91 Qingfeng Temple, Ziyang, Xuanming Zhenren

At the same time Xia Jin left Great Xia and headed toward the Lieyang Dynasty.

Within the territory of the Lieyang Dynasty stood the highest mountain peak—Piaomiao Peak.

Clouds and mist that never dispersed throughout the year swirled and surged here; even standing halfway up the mountain, one could not clearly see the location of the summit.

At the summit, an unremarkable, grey-green Daoist temple stood quietly amidst this sea of clouds. If one did not look carefully, the three large characters "Qingfeng Temple" on the plaque might easily be overlooked.

In the main hall of the temple, two figures sat cross-legged on two prayer mats.

These two were the greatest foundation that allowed the Lieyang Dynasty to firmly hold its position as one of the two hegemons in the Central Region: Immortal Master Ziyang and Daoist Xuanming of Qingfeng Temple.

"Senior Brother," Immortal Master Ziyang, on the left, let his gaze fall upon a large yellow dog dozing at his feet.

He casually picked up a piece of dried meat from a jade plate beside him and tossed it into the pottery bowl in front of the large yellow dog. "You say, how did those two 'old immortals' in the Great Qian Imperial Palace, and that Wolf Lord of the Northern Frontier... suddenly join forces to attack my Lieyang? Could it be... that they discovered some treasure?"

Daoist Xuanming, sitting opposite him, had his eyelids slightly lowered, his white eyebrows almost hanging to his ears. Upon hearing the words of his Junior Brother, Immortal Master Ziyang, they trembled almost imperceptibly.

After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes.

"Who knows what cooperation conditions they reached in private to join forces! But according to the news from over there, perhaps it might be because of the reason that Lu Tiancheng... fell," Daoist Xuanming shook his head and said thoughtfully.

"To be able to kill Lu Tiancheng near Tianyu City of Great Qian, and without alarming the 'Black and White Ghosts' within the Imperial City... the person who took action is not simple. If fate allows, this old Daoist would like to make the acquaintance of this Fellow Daoist."

Immortal Master Ziyang looked at his Senior Brother opposite, his brows slightly furrowed. He picked up another piece of dried meat and tossed it out: "Senior Brother, you and I generally know the background of the figures on the Dongxuan Continent who have openly stepped into the Land Immortal Realm. There are those who can defeat Lu Tiancheng! But to kill him near Tianyu City without being detected by those Black and White Ghosts..."

"Except for the black flood dragon in the 'Blackwater Marsh' and the fire sparrow in the Southern Region volcano, those two Yao Beasts, and the two of us joining forces today, the number of other strong figures in the Land Immortal Realm capable of doing this would not exceed the count of three fingers."

"But the remaining few have long been in seclusion, not asking about worldly affairs. It is impossible that they were the ones who took action, so it must be someone else!"

"Someone else!?" Daoist Xuanming cast his gaze toward the three sticks of incense burning quietly on the altar, and suddenly a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

"Junior Brother, have you forgotten the Tianqi Continent outside the Dongxuan Continent?"

"Tianqi Continent? Senior Brother, do you think the person who killed Lu Tiancheng came from the Tianqi Continent?" Immortal Master Ziyang was startled, remained silent for a moment, and then shook his head. "Impossible. Between the Tianqi Continent and the Dongxuan Continent, one must cross the 'Everlasting Valley'. The gale winds there have never ceased for eternity; those below the Land Immortal Realm die upon touching it; even for those at our Realm, attempting to cross by force is a situation with nine deaths and one life."

"Besides, you and I have lived for these hundreds of years, and have only seen one person from the Tianqi Continent. Moreover, Lu Tiancheng rarely leaves the Central Region, how could he have formed a deadly feud with a strong figure from the Tianqi Continent?"

"Therefore, I feel that the one who killed Lu Tiancheng is most likely still someone from our Dongxuan Continent..."

"Is that so?" Daoist Xuanming withdrew his gaze from the incense and looked back at Immortal Master Ziyang. "If it is truly as you guess, then there is only one possibility! The Green Lotus Secret Realm! Someone went into the Green Lotus Secret Realm and walked out of it safely."

"The Green Lotus Secret Realm!?" Immortal Master Ziyang was somewhat puzzled, but immediately, as if thinking of something, his expression suddenly changed. "Even with our abilities, it is no problem to force our way into the Green Lotus Secret Realm! But once inside, wanting to come out safely is as difficult as ascending to heaven."

"But it is not absolutely impossible to do, is it?" Daoist Xuanming said indifferently.

"The Green Lotus Sword Immortal, with astonishing talent and brilliance, stood supreme for an era. The Green Lotus Secret Realm... it is rumored that it contains the insights he left behind after he achieved a Breakthrough to a Realm above the Land Immortal Realm!"

"You should know what that means!"

"Senior Brother, do you mean that they might also have guessed that the person who killed Lu Tiancheng had entered the Green Lotus Secret Realm? This alliance is to enter the Green Lotus Secret Realm and investigate!?" Immortal Master Ziyang's breathing became slightly rapid. The large yellow dog at his feet seemed to sense his fluctuation, raised its head, and let out a low whimper in its throat.

"Exactly!! This Green Lotus Secret Realm happens to be within the territory of my Lieyang Dynasty. If it were just relying on the Black and White Ghosts, with the two of us here, they would not have the guts to barge into the Lieyang Dynasty casually. So I guess that is why they joined forces with the Wolf Lord of the Northern Frontier this time!"

Daoist Xuanming slowly stood up and looked in the direction of the north.

"Let's go, you and I will go see that Wolf Lord. What we just said is, after all, only our own speculation. But if it is true... since they can join forces with the Wolf Lord and point their blades at my Lieyang, we might as well do the opposite: join forces with the Wolf Lord and turn around to deal with Great Qian!"

"Good, then the two of us will make a trip!" Upon hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in Immortal Master Ziyang's eyes.

He patted the head of the large yellow dog at his feet. "Watch the house well, do not be greedy and miss the time."

That large yellow dog let out a "woof" as if it had spiritual sense, rubbed against his palm, and then lay back down, only its ears pricked up, watching the two leave.

The two Senior and Junior Brothers looked at each other. The next moment, the prayer mats were empty, with only the smoke rising from the three sticks of incense in the hall slightly disturbed for an instant.

...

At the Northern Frontier border where the Lieyang Dynasty and the Great Qian Dynasty shared a border.

On the edge of a steep cliff, a middle-aged man with disheveled hair sat casually. In his hand, he was holding an entire hind leg of an antelope with bloodstains, tearing and chewing it in large mouthfuls.

Even as fresh blood flowed down between his fingers, he seemed completely indifferent.

This person was the Wolf Lord, who was jointly revered as a totem by the Three Northern Frontier Kingdoms!

Beside him, a young man silently handed over a wineskin filled with wine. After the Wolf Lord reached out and took it, he tilted his head back and took a big gulp.

"Revered Master." Seeing him pause, the young man slowly opened his mouth to ask, "Is our alliance with Great Qian to attack the Lieyang Dynasty this time... truly for that rumored 'Green Lotus Secret Realm'?"

"Xiaoer! Do you think that is possible? Your Revered Master's brain is not broken." Upon hearing this, the Wolf Lord sneered and casually threw the gnawed-clean leg bone off the cliff.

"Those two bull-nosed old Daoists at Qingfeng Temple, where are they so easy to deal with? And these two people do things very deviously!" He clapped his hands and took another drink from the wineskin.

After letting out a hiccup, he wiped the wine stains from the corner of his mouth and sneered: "Although those Black and White Ghosts of Great Qian are very strong, even if they join forces with me, they might not necessarily be able to do anything to those two bull-nosed old Daoists."

"Since that is the case, why do you think I would go and do such a thankless job!! I believe that once the news of the Three Northern Frontier Kingdoms joining forces with Great Qian spreads, those two bull-nosed old Daoists will soon come knocking!!"

"Hahahaha!!" The Wolf Lord stood up, and those dark green pupils seemed to become even brighter.

The young man beside him was thoughtful, but still somewhat disbelieving. "Revered Master, are you certain... that Immortal Master Ziyang and Daoist Xuanming of Qingfeng Temple will, as you expected, take the initiative to come find us for cooperation?"

"Just watch, Xiaoer. Three days, at most three days, and they will come looking for us..."