Chapter 731: The Business World (II)

On Mirage Mountain, in Daoist Cangsheng's cave dwelling.

The sect leader of the Penglai Supreme Sect had a palace of his own, yet he still kept the cave dwelling he used to live in—a place that would never be removed from Mirage Mountain. Daoist Cangsheng spent most of his time cultivating in his cave dwelling instead of the grand palace hall for the sect leader.

His cave dwelling was at the finest location on Mirage Mountain, perched atop a towering cliff by the sea. Shrouded by divine trees, it was bathed in the vast winds of the heavens that swept across the residence.

At this moment, Yang Shenlong stood at the edge of the cliff, letting the wind whip his robes and tousle his hair as he stood in silence for a long time.

Rumble!

The grand doors of the cave dwelling swung open. Daoist Xuan Lu stepped out from within and said flatly, "You may enter."

Yang Shenlong cast a glance at Daoist Xuan Lu but said nothing, stepping forward into the cave dwelling.

Qi Lin'er's death had been largely caused by Daoist Xuan Lu. Yang Shenlong had assumed that no matter how highly Daoist Cangsheng valued Daoist Xuan Lu, he would still be punished. Yet, it seemed that Daoist Cangsheng had merely sent him on a trip to the Far West, without any further reprimand.

Perhaps he had been forgiven because he had no knowledge of Qi Lin'er's true origins.

The resurrection of Hallowed Yang was an utmost secret, one that could never be openly revealed. If it were to fail for any reason, it could always be blamed on fate.

But Yang Shenlong refused to submit to fate, and this was why he had come to see Daoist Cangsheng today.

The cave dwelling was huge. After entering the front courtyard, one had to walk along a long corridor, passing by waterside pavilions on either side, before finally reaching the place where Daoist Cangsheng typically engaged in closed-door cultivation.

The furnishings were simple—just a single divine statue and a few meditation cushions. Wisps of incense smoke curled gently within the private chamber.

Upon seeing the seated figure in meditation on the cushion, Yang Shenlong nodded and bowed in greeting. "Sect Leader."

"You rarely come to see me," Daoist Cangsheng said, slowly opening his eyes and speaking in a gentle voice. "I assume it must be something important."

Rumors often circulated in the outside world that Daoist Cangsheng had struck down the Yang Family of Penglai. However, only those on Mirage Mountain knew the truth. With the sect leader’s authority and position, if he had truly intended to eliminate a family, it would have been eradicated long ago—no matter how deeply rooted they were in Penglai. There was no way he would have allowed Yang Shenlong to grow into a peerless prodigy known throughout the world.

The reality was that while Yang Shenlong had little direct contact with the sect leader during his growth, every resource he required had been of the highest quality.

Yang Shenlong pondered for a moment before speaking. "Qi Lin'er is dead. Do you have anything to say about this?"

"I had Xuan Lu take a trip to the Far West and uncovered a few things," Daoist Cangsheng replied. "That Chu Liang seems to be hiding something. Even the East Sea Chrono Wheel couldn't save the person he killed... Moreover, it seems he possesses something the demons want."

"Chu Liang?" Yang Shenlong seemed surprised that Daoist Cangsheng would bring him up. He thought to himself,

Qi Lin'er is dead. Is it even important as to how he died?

"Indeed." Daoist Cangsheng seemed to take this matter quite seriously. "Those two demons risked their lives to save Chu Liang, claiming he carries something sacred that belongs to the demons... What could it be?"

As Yang Shenlong listened, his mind raced. Suddenly, he said, "I once heard Yuhu mention that when he first met Chu Liang, he was shocked. Chu Liang destroyed a solid enchanted tool in mere moments..."

Then something seemed to click in his mind.

"Could the sacred item the demons are so desperate to obtain be related to the resurrection of the Demon God...?"

Hearing this, Daoist Cangsheng connected the dots. "The true form of the Demon God? It could only be the Heaven-Devouring Bug!"

With a composed expression, Yang Shenlong’s gaze revealed that he had come to the same conclusion.

Earlier, when Daoist Xuan Lu reported to Daoist Cangsheng, the two had speculated about what it might be but had no idea. Now, with the crucial information provided by Yang Shenlong, they were able to immediately piece together the answer.

If Caiyi had revealed this information outright, they might have suspected she had ulterior motives. But since they had deduced it themselves, there was no reason to question its validity.

"No wonder he hasn't left Mount Shu since returning from the Far West. It seems he's not just guarding against our retaliation," Daoist Cangsheng said, gazing in the direction of Mount Shu. "He's clearly afraid of the demons."

Yang Shenlong asked doubtfully, "But even if he possessed the Heaven-Devouring Bug, surely he should have been killed it by now?

"Not necessarily," Daoist Cangsheng said, his gaze growing darker. "Perhaps the Mount Shu Sect has some deeper scheme in motion."

Hearing this, Yang Shenlong shook his head slightly. From what he knew of Chu Liang, the man might be skilled in strategy, but he was not someone with an evil, cunning mind. He would never use the safety of the human world as a bargaining chip in a scheme.

For Daoist Cangsheng to say such things—he was judging Chu Liang by the standards of a sect leader.

Daoist Cangsheng continued, "But even though he hasn't left Mount Shu recently, he's been quite active. Young men like him tend to draw attention no matter where they go. Perhaps we can test him a little."

Yang Shenlong had no intention of defending Chu Liang, as he had come to talk to Daoist Changsheng for a different purpose altogether.

"Sect Leader, now that Qi Lin'er is dead, about our ancestor, Hallowed Yang..."

"It will naturally be put on hold for now," Daoist Cangsheng said firmly. "You are not to mention it to anyone. We will revisit it once we find a suitable vessel."

"Actually, I..." Yang Shenlong hesitated before saying, "I can—"

"You can what?!" Daoist Cangsheng's voice suddenly turned sharp.

"I can also transition to learn the Great Dao of Physical Cultivation. And since I share a bloodline with Hallowed Yang, the fusion will be twice as compatible—far more than with anyone else..." Yang Shenlong said softly.

"Don't you dare mention this again," Daoist Cangsheng scolded sharply, flicking his sleeve heavily.

But still, Yang Shenlong seemed unwilling to give up. "Sect Leader..."

"I am willing to sacrifice myself because only when one reaches the peak does one understand the limits of their own aptitude," Daoist Cangsheng said sternly. "You are still at the beginning of your cultivation journey. How can you be so eager for such ambitions?"

"..." Yang Shenlong remained silent.

"I once swore to your forefathers that I would ensure the safety of you and your family members. I absolutely will not allow what you just said to happen," Daoist Cangsheng vowed firmly. "I shall ban you from leaving your residence for a year. Go back and reflect on your actions."

Yang Shenlong seemed like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he held his words back. Lowering his head, he simply replied, "Yes."

...

Chu Liang, who had been the subject of countless discussions, now found himself in an awkward situation.

Inside Red Moon Pavilion, a lavish banquet had been set, with all sorts of exquisite dishes spread across the table. The red oil hotpot bubbled and boiled, sending up bursts of steam.

However, the people sitting before him showed him no respect. They simply focused on eating and drinking, not even sparing him a glance.

Lin Bei frowned in displeasure. It seemed he wanted to say something about it. "You all..."

However, Chu Liang gestured lightly in the air, signaling him to stay calm, Then he smiled and said, "Young Master Hong, now that we've almost finished eating, shall we discuss our business?"

"What's there to discuss? Heh, our stance remains the same..." The burly young man across from him finally looked up and wiped his mouth. "No extra money, no deal."