Chapter 817: The Start of a War

Ever since the incident in the Fuyao Kingdom, everyone had expected the Penglai Supreme Sect to make a move. They would never allow any external influence to encroach upon the forces within their own territory.

Due to the pressure from the immortal sects’ public opinion, Penglai likely wouldn’t send troops directly into the Fuyao Kingdom. However, they would undoubtedly resort to covert tactics with assassinations being the most probable. That was why Han Lingshou had been so cautious, using a body double to attend events in his place.

However, this time, the Penglai Supreme Sect had gone a step too far.

Inciting internal strife in other nations was nothing new for the Penglai Supreme Sect. However, they had likely foreseen that the Mount Shu Sect would, at the very least, exert public pressure in response. Yet, they still brazenly orchestrated a coup and assassinated the king’s double within the palace, showing an unprecedented level of audacity.

Chu Liang keenly sensed that this was not just a matter concerning the Fuyao Kingdom.

He reassured Han Lingshou, “Your Majesty, stay at Mount Shu for now. We won’t let this matter go unanswered. Once I’ve spoken with the sect leader, we’ll determine how to seek justice for you.”

"Alright," Han Lingshou replied pitifully.

The Fuyao Kingdom had once been a formidable kingdom in the East Sea, strong enough to rival the Yu Dynasty at its peak. However, its power had always depended on the support of the Penglai Supreme Sect—a backing that came at the cost of absolute obedience. The moment the Fuyao Kingdom defied them, its fragility became painfully clear. Dependence on others was never a path to lasting strength.

After settling Han Lingshou into his accommodation, Chu Liang wasted no time in heading to Heaven-Reaching Peak to report the matter to Venerable Wen Yuan. The Penglai Supreme Sect had been lying in wait for too long, and this was unlikely to be their only move. He had to warn the higher-ups of his sect to keep a close watch on Penglai’s actions.

Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t have been this cautious. However, ever since Lu Cang had warned him to “Beware of Penglai,” he had remained especially vigilant.

However, the moment he stepped out of the pavilion at the Red Cotton Peak, he caught sight of a familiar figure.

The man looked stern and expressionless. He wore a Daoist robe and fastened his hair with a bamboo hairpin. His left sleeve hung empty, fluttering in the wind, while his right hand rested behind his back as he silently took in the scene at Red Cotton Peak.

Seeing him, Chu Liang’s lingering concerns were instantly confirmed.

"I’ve always been curious. What kind of magic do you possess?"

Daoist Cangsheng turned to Chu Liang. Though they had only met a handful of times, his gaze carried the familiarity of an old acquaintance, likely because he had spent considerable time studying Chu Liang’s past.

“Within such a short time, you’ve risen to prominence and completely transformed Mount Shu. You barely cultivate, yet your strength grows by leaps and bounds. Mysterious enchanted tools appear in your hands out of nowhere. You’ve survived countless crises, always turning misfortune into fortune. Even when I tried to kill you, I failed. You fell into the hands of the demon race and still escaped. And even...”

He paused here before adding, "If I had a choice, I wouldn’t want to kill you."

Chu Liang calmly met Daoist Cangsheng’s gaze, ignoring any need for threats. He knew that if the man had come in person, he clearly had no regard for the fact that they were in the Mount Shu Sect’s territory.

Instead, Chu Liang simply asked, “Will it be worth it?”

His voice sounded indifferent.

No matter what, the Penglai Supreme Sect would have to pay a steep price for this move. He was genuinely curious about what kind of power he possessed that made them willing to go this far.

Daoist Cangsheng shook his head. “Perhaps if you stayed alive, I might eventually learn the answer. But I have no intention of giving you that chance.”

Everything around him came to a halt. Even the falling leaves hung motionless in midair, and the birds in the sky neither rose nor fell. From the moment Chu Liang stepped out of the pavilion, time at Red Cotton Peak had stopped flowing.

Although he could still speak and move, he couldn’t take any real action, not even retreat into the Blue Dragon Hidden Realm. He had learned from experience that when an eighth-realm Eminent One wanted him dead, resisting was nearly impossible unless someone of the same level stepped in.

But this time, there was no one.

Daoist Cangsheng extended his right hand and pointed at Chu Liang.

Whoosh!

For most, reversing the flow of time required immense immortal arts. But for the Dao Master of Infinity, it was as effortless as a flick of his finger. Chu Liang aged in an instant. His skin shriveled and withered, his bones crumbled to dust, and his clothing disintegrated into nothingness.

In the blink of an eye, he was completely erased.

Daoist Cangsheng, however, frowned slightly. “Hmm?”

...

At the Guardian Peak on Mount Shu.

Baize sat cross-legged in meditation within the cave dwelling. Opening her eyes, she reached out and gently nudged the Baize youngling, who was curled up beside her, fast asleep.

“Go play for a while,” she said softly.

“Mmhh...” The drowsy youngling nuzzled against her, letting out a reluctant whimper.

Without hesitation, Baize pressed her palm downward and the youngling immediately disappeared. When it next awoke, it found itself sprawled atop Silver Sword Peak and felt utterly bewildered.

Meanwhile, another figure appeared inside Baize’s cave dwelling.

The person that entered the cave dwelling was hunched over, leaning heavily on a cane. His body was withered and frail, resembling a charred, lifeless tree that could collapse at any moment. His face was gaunt and mottled, with sharp, protruding bones that gave him an eerie appearance.

Baize stared at him calmly and spoke in a cool tone. “Are you not afraid of death?”

"Esteemed Senior... Baize, haha... I truly envy you demonic beasts for your long lifespans," the old man said slowly. "For us humans, living as long as I have is already a rare blessing. At this age, I have no regrets. If I had one, it would be that I never reached the peak of the world. That... remains an unfulfilled wish."

"What is your name?" Baize asked again.

The old man let out a soft chuckle. "I have long forgotten the name I was called in the first two hundred years of my life. But for the past two centuries, they have known me as the Elder of Mount Lu. If I am to die at the hands of Senior Baize today, then my four hundred years of cultivation will not have been in vain."

Baize observed him for a moment before suddenly remarking, "The human race has always produced great figures. That someone of your caliber remains nameless... is truly a pity."

The Elder of Mount Lu chuckled and said, "In any sect, not all masters can stand in the spotlight."

"What’s even more unfortunate is that you’re going to die before making a name for yourself."

If someone were to name the strongest expert in Penglai, it would undoubtedly be Daoist Cangsheng, wielder of the Chrono Wheel of the East Sea. However, if they ignored legendary artifacts and judged solely by cultivation, the strongest would be none other than Cangsheng’s senior uncle, a figure from the generation before him.

As the Elder of Mount Lu had said, not all of a sect’s true powerhouses could be known to the world.

Boom!

A brilliant light erupted atop Guardian Peak.

Far away on Azure Falling Peak, atop an ancient tree, Daoist Yan found herself facing an unexpected visitor.

The visitor looked beautiful. He wore a sleek blue-black Daoist robe and tied his hair in a high bun. His skin was fair, and he had a small goatee. A wooden sword with red tassels on the hilt was strapped to his back.

Daoist Yan gazed at him indifferently. "Jing Yuanzi? It’s been many years."

During the era when the golden generation of the Mount Shu Sect dominated the world, few could rival them. If anyone came close, it was Jing Yuanzi of Penglai.

Unfortunately for their peers, the Three Geniuses of Mount Shu shone too brightly. Because of them, the others in their generation could hardly gain any recognition. Even if they were prodigies of their sect, their brilliance would be overshadowed by the three geniuses of the Mount Shu Sect.

Jing Yuanzi was one such case.

He had spent years cultivating in seclusion on Mirage Mountain. Few knew that he had reached the Heavenly Origin realm even slightly before Daoist Yan.

Jing Yuanzi met her gaze and addressed her directly. "Yan Zi. When you won the fight for the Great Dao of the Cloud of Determination, I wanted to issue an official challenge. And now, I finally have my chance. It’s time to settle the old scores."

"You lost back then, and you won’t win now." Daoist Yan’s tone remained utterly calm. "If Penglai intends to stall me, they should have sent your elders instead."

Swish!

Before the words had even faded, the Heavenly Cloud Ancient Sword erupted with a surge of sword qi, piercing through the sky!

At the exact moment the swordlight shot skyward, two Daoist monks from Penglai appeared before Venerable Wen Yuan inside the Boundless Palace.

Venerable Wen Yuan asked with a smile, "Daoist Priest Cangyun, Daoist Priest Cangqiu, what brings you here without so much as a greeting?"

The two men standing before him were Cangqiu, whom Chu Liang had encountered before, and an older-looking Daoist. Both were eighth-realm Eminent Ones from the Penglai Supreme Sect, and Venerable Wen Yuan was naturally well-acquainted with them.

Their expressions were grave as they locked eyes with Venerable Wen Yuan. Cangqiu spoke solemnly, "There is a young disciple in Mount Shu who is a calamity in the making."

"Chu Liang?" Venerable Wen Yuan cast a glance toward Red Cotton Peak, as if sensing something from afar. Yet, his smile remained. "Sect Leader Cangsheng, as an Eminent One, isn’t it rather petty to hold a grudge against a mere junior? That's not very nice of you."

As he spoke, another person arrived.

With a dark and brooding expression, Daoist Cangsheng arrived at the Boundless Palace in an instant. Such was the power of an eighth-realm expert. Unless obstructed by heavily restricted hidden realms, they could come and go as they pleased. Apart from someone of equal strength, nothing could restrain them.

However, sects with masters of Heavenly Origin rarely stormed another sect’s headquarters. If one sect could invade and slaughter disciples at will, the other could just as easily retaliate. If Daoist Cangsheng rampaged through Mount Shu today, Venerable Wen Yuan could do the same in Penglai tomorrow.

Yet today, Penglai had sent a total of five Heavenly Origin masters to Mount Shu! Unless one was fully prepared for an all-out war, such actions were rare.

Two of them were cultivators unknown to the world, and Penglai was also home to the famed guardian celestial beast—the Azure Dragon. This meant they commanded at least six Heavenly Origin masters.

They were undeniably worthy of the title of the Greatest Immortal Sect Under Heaven.

Daoist Cangsheng stepped into the Boundless Palace and locked eyes with Venerable Wen Yuan. "Today, we come for one man—Chu Liang. Hand him over, and our sects will remain at peace. Otherwise..."

He left the rest unsaid, but Venerable Wen Yuan could see the resolve in his eyes. It was almost unimaginable—the leader of the strongest immortal sect in the world was so determined to kill a mere junior disciple that he was willing to start a war over it.

What was even more astonishing was that, despite his status, he had failed to kill Chu Liang.

It wasn’t his fault. Who could have guessed that the Chu Liang at Mount Shu was merely a clone, while the real one was elsewhere? Daoist Cangsheng had believed that striking straight at the heart of Mount Shu would end things once and for all. Yet, once again, he had fallen into Chu Liang’s trap.

Daoist Cangsheng was one of the strongest cultivators in the world. Failing twice to kill a mere junior—someone far beneath him—was beyond humiliating. It was infuriating.

In response, Venerable Wen Yuan simply smiled.

He was surprised by how determined Penglai was to eliminate Chu Liang. But just as shocking to them... was his own resolve to protect him.

Without even bothering to stand, he raised his hand slightly and said, "Then all of you—come at me together."