Chapter 147 - 91: Moyun’s Invasion (Part 2)

Chapter 147: Chapter 91: Moyun’s Invasion (Part 2)

Daoist Zhang stopped in his tracks, a troubled look on his face. "Junior Martial Uncle Xu, please don’t misunderstand," he said. "You’re weary from your travels and haven’t even settled into your residence. This is merely a trivial matter that your nephew can handle."

Xuzhuang smiled. "If it’s such a trivial matter, why the urgent report?"

With that, he paid Daoist Zhang no further mind, turning his gaze to Zeng Quanfeng. "Nephew Zeng, have that disciple come up. Whatever urgent matter it is, he can report it here. I only just arrived at the temple today. It’s a perfect opportunity to see how you nephews handle the sect’s affairs."

Daoist Zhang’s mouth opened and closed, but he didn’t dare defy Xuzhuang. He could only force a wry smile.

Seeing the situation, Zeng Quanfeng immediately saluted, then turned and took two steps forward. "Acolyte," he called out, "let Dengxiao come up and report."

The acolyte answered and quickly lowered the arm he was using to block the young disciple. He bowed with clasped hands and said, "Senior Brother Qin, please."

Qin Dengxiao nodded. Despite the urgency, he still straightened his cap and smoothed his robes before stepping onto the summit. Facing the seniors, he bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Sect Leader. Greetings, Junior Martial Uncle Zeng."

Zeng Quanfeng nodded. "This is a sect elder, Junior Martial Uncle Xu. Pay your respects," he said first. Then, turning to Xuzhuang, he explained, "Dengxiao is one of the few disciples in our new generation with the best chance of forming a Perfect Dao Foundation."

"An elder? And a Junior Martial Uncle?" Surprise filled Qin Dengxiao’s eyes. Hearing Zeng Quanfeng’s praise, he quickly said, "Junior Martial Uncle, you flatter me." Then he bowed low and said, "Greetings, Elder Xu."

Xuzhuang accepted the bow with his hands behind his back and gave a slight nod. "Not bad."

Zeng Quanfeng had long revered the upper sect and knew that geniuses like Qin Dengxiao were likely common there, so Xuzhuang’s unimpressed attitude didn’t surprise him. He turned to Qin Dengxiao and asked, "What’s the matter? Why are you in such a panic?"

Qin Dengxiao presented a sheet from a Talisman Book with both hands. "Reporting to Junior Martial Uncle," he said, "a message has come from Lianyun Mountain. Master Taishi of the Moyun Sect, leading several dozen Moyun disciples and a thousand Dao Soldiers, has massed at the foot of the mountain."

"What?" Zeng Quanfeng snatched the Talisman Book and glanced at it, his face flushing with fury. He clenched his fist. "Fine! That little brat Taishi has truly overstepped!" As he spoke, he made a sudden move.

Daoist Zhang frowned and barked, "Junior Brother Zeng!" Zeng Quanfeng froze, his expression shifting several times before he stepped back to stand before the other two.

Xuzhuang frowned. "Nephew Zhang, Nephew Zeng, perhaps you could start by explaining the situation to me?"

As if jolted back to his senses, Zeng Quanfeng said apologetically, "Junior Martial Uncle Xu, please forgive me. The Moyun Sect is just too aggressive. For a moment, I couldn’t contain my anger."

"It’s fine," Xuzhuang said. "If I recall correctly, the Moyun Sect is the dominant sect in Canglan Province, correct? And where is this Lianyun Mountain?"

Zeng Quanfeng cupped his fist. "To answer Junior Martial Uncle, yes, the Moyun Sect is indeed the dominant sect of Canglan Province. That sect harbors vicious ambitions and has been eyeing our Yunlan Province greedily..."

"As for Lianyun Mountain, it lies on the border between Yunlan Province and Canglan Province, with most of its territory falling within Yunlan. The mountain itself was originally unremarkable and never a source of conflict."

"But unexpectedly, not long ago, one of our temple’s disciples discovered that several Natural Stone Pools had formed within the mountain. This should have been a joyous occasion, but once the Moyun Sect found out, they grew greedy. They issued a decree claiming Lianyun Mountain as territory of Canglan Province and accused our True Form Temple of encroaching on their domain..."

As Zeng Quanfeng explained the situation, Xuzhuang gradually came to understand it.

In truth, the small border region between Yunlan and Canglan provinces received very few of the Celestial Waterfall Blessings, and the spiritual energy there was weak. In the past, no one could be bothered to fight over it. Since the majority of Lianyun Mountain was within Yunlan Province, it had always been considered Yunlan’s territory.

But as the saying goes, a man is not guilty, but his treasure makes him so. This principle applied to both the True Form Temple and Lianyun Mountain.

Lianyun Mountain had given rise to Natural Stone Pools. By simply implanting a Spirit Vein beneath these pools, they could continuously and endlessly produce a type of Superior Spiritual Truth known as Stone Pool Spirit Truth. Such a cultivation treasure was naturally precious to any sect. And with the True Form Temple having been weak for so long, the Moyun Sect naturally developed designs on it.

After the Moyun Sect issued its decree, the True Form Temple countered with sound reasoning and dispatched disciples to garrison and defend Lianyun Mountain. The conflict between the two sects escalated, and it seemed they were on the brink of coming to blows.

And Qin Dengxiao’s report confirmed this: the Moyun Sect’s forces were at their doorstep, intent on forcing the True Form Temple to concede.

"I see," Xuzhuang said thoughtfully. "My two nephews, how do you plan to handle this?"

Zeng Quanfeng said indignantly, "We will, of course, muster our Dao Soldiers and have it out with the Moyun Sect! I’d like to see where that little brat Taishi found the gall to bring troops to the foot of Lianyun Mountain."

Daoist Zhang frowned. "Junior Brother Zeng! Master Taishi is no great threat. But after we repel him, who will they send next? Are we really going to declare war on the Moyun Sect?"

"And what if we do? We must let the Moyun Sect know that the True Form Temple is not to be trifled with!" Zeng Quanfeng said, his brows shooting up. "Besides, the borders of the sixteen provinces have been set. I refuse to believe the Moyun Sect would actually dare to invade Yunlan."

Daoist Zhang said gravely, "Junior Brother Zeng! The True Form Temple cannot afford to lose a single disciple right now. That kind of thinking will only plunge our sect into an abyss from which we can never recover."

Their words grew heated, and they began to argue right in front of the disciple. Qin Dengxiao, who was clearly not completely ignorant of the sect’s internal affairs, could only stand helplessly to one side.

But just then, the mysterious grand martial uncle, Elder Xu, suddenly spoke. "Dengxiao, is it? Do you know the extent of the Moyun Sect’s power?"

Qin Dengxiao was slightly startled. He thought for a moment before answering uncertainly, "As far as this disciple knows, the Moyun Sect has over ten thousand members, more than a dozen Golden Core Mages, and is presided over by a Nascent Soul Venerable..."

Such an answer was far too vague. Xuzhuang asked a few more questions but failed to gain much more of an understanding of the Moyun Sect.

Suddenly, Zeng Quanfeng’s voice rose. "Zhang Ren! I can’t get through to you!"

He then turned, cupped his fist, and said gravely, "Junior Martial Uncle Xu, in your opinion, regarding Lianyun Mountain... do we cede it or do we fight!"

Xuzhuang’s brow furrowed slightly. Truthfully, in terms of temperament, he was more inclined to side with Zeng Quanfeng. ’When I retreat, the enemy advances; forbearance is clearly not a good option.’ From Zeng Quanfeng’s words, he could also tell the man wasn’t being mindlessly reckless.

But Daoist Zhang’s words were not without reason. Moreover, he had only just arrived. He didn’t know the true extent of the True Form Temple’s weakness, and he had no way to judge the disparity in strength between them and the Moyun Sect. He couldn’t make a decision that would endanger the sect’s disciples.

Just then, Daoist Zhang also walked over and cupped his fist. "We ask Junior Martial Uncle Xu to decide for us."

Xuzhuang pondered for a moment, then said suddenly, "The Moyun Sect’s forces are already at Lianyun Mountain. Why don’t we hurry over there to take control of the situation? We can see if they’re merely bluffing, and then decide on a course of action."

It was like a light went on for Daoist Zhang. "Junior Martial Uncle Xu is absolutely right! Junior Brother Zeng, go and prepare the Cloud Boat at once."

Zeng Quanfeng hurriedly agreed, but Xuzhuang held up a hand to stop him. "The Cloud Boat is too slow. Wouldn’t it be much faster to use Flying Escape to get there directly?"

Daoist Zhang hesitated, "Don’t we need to bring disciples and Dao Soldiers?"

Zeng Quanfeng burst out laughing and pointed at Daoist Zhang. "Senior Brother Zhang, look at you! You wanted to bring the Dao Soldiers after all."

Daoist Zhang retorted, "I’m just being cautious! If negotiations fail and it comes to blows, we will certainly need the aid of our Dao Soldiers."

Xuzhuang shook his head and asked, "What is that Master Taishi’s cultivation level?"

Zeng Quanfeng immediately replied, "Reporting to Junior Martial Uncle, that little brat Taishi is merely a Low Grade Golden Core, and an unrefined one at that. He’s no cause for concern."

Xuzhuang nodded. "It seems the Moyun Sect is just making a probing move. Isn’t there already a garrison at Lianyun Mountain? That should be sufficient. Let’s head out directly."

"Junior Martial Uncle is right," Zeng Quanfeng said at once. "Your nephew will lead the way." With a stamp of his foot, he shot into the clouds on a beam of light.

Daoist Zhang shook his head, then cupped his fist toward Xuzhuang. "Junior Martial Uncle Xu, after you."

Xuzhuang didn’t stand on ceremony. With a slight shift, his body shot upward, transforming into an immense, iridescent beam that pierced the clouds. Daoist Zhang hurried to follow. Once they were both in the sky, they sped off after Zeng Quanfeng.