Chapter 2311: Fifteen Years Later Reunion

Fantasy Novel

The Shanjing Plain boasts such a vast expanse, astonishing wealth, and abundant spiritual energy, yet Lingshan receives barely a share of it. This naturally causes resentment and frustration. In recent years, with immortals and demons entering the mundane world, Lingshan's overall power has grown. They occasionally sow discord against Cangyan. The Qixia Sect was likely just a pawn in Lingshan's schemes.

"Let's return to the main topic," Liu Qingdao said sternly. "All the Profound Crystals you stole from Cangyan must be returned, and you will be fined an additional double as compensation for threatening the livelihood of Weian City, killing the great demon Wu Chuanjia, and for the Heavenly Centipede's earlier injuries. Furthermore, after your emergence, the Qixia Sect is forbidden from establishing independent rule or from detaining and enslaving common folk. Whether you establish your sect in a town or in the wilderness, you must report to the Bingyuan Directorate and be officially registered."

The Qixia Sect had stolen over a thousand jin of Profound Crystals using the Heavenly Centipede. If they had to pay double compensation, they would owe nearly three thousand jin. Upon hearing this figure, all the Qixia Sect members gasped sharply. They had targeted Cangyan precisely because of their shortage of Profound Crystals. Furthermore, activating the Golden Core to block the Luohe River was extremely energy-intensive, consuming most of their Profound Crystals. Otherwise, how could they have resisted the relentless digging of Cangyan's army and civilians? Now, the Qixia Sect was suddenly expected to produce over two thousand jin of Profound Crystals—it was an impossible demand!

As for Liu Qingdao's other demands, they could be discussed later. Elder Chu exclaimed, "The Qixia Sect has just emerged from seclusion; how could we possibly have that many Profound Crystals!" Madam Zhu and the others shot them a contemptuous look. They'd surely used all their Profound Crystals against Weian City, hadn't they?

Yuan Xilin raised a hand, interrupting Elder Chu. "Though Old Chu is somewhat impulsive, his words are true. Elder Liu, could we perhaps mortgage the Titan God first, and then slowly gather the Profound Crystals?" Since Liu Qingdao had already taken the Titan God and seemed unlikely to return it anytime soon, it was better to be direct.

"Using such a valuable treasure as collateral is certainly sufficient," Liu Qingdao said with a smile, clearly appreciating the Sect Master's pragmatism. "Furthermore, completing various tasks assigned by Cangyan—such as conjuring clouds and bringing rain, creating arcane artifacts and illusory spirits, subduing demons and eliminating monsters, or providing disaster relief and resisting enemies—can also count towards debt repayment. Many immortal sects and demon tribes within Cangyan already shoulder these very responsibilities."

The Qixia Sect, having just emerged from seclusion, was immediately burdened with heavy foreign debt. They had no idea how long they would have to serve Cangyan to repay it. Yet, this was also Great Emperor Jiuyou's punishment for them. Only by forcing these arrogant immortal sects and demon tribes to confront reality could Cangyan maintain dynamic balance within its borders. Nevertheless, having managed to subdue the Qixia Sect today, Liu Qingdao covertly let out a long breath of relief. Although this immortal sect had only three immortals, they were genuinely difficult to handle, not to mention the hidden manipulators behind them. If Madam Zhu hadn't captured the Heavenly Centipede and extracted information about the Qixia Sect beforehand, and if Great Emperor Jiuyou hadn't personally overseen the situation and devised a tailored strategy, Weian City would surely have suffered losses tonight.

Yuan Xilin suddenly remembered something and volunteered, "Ah, the Golden Core hasn't been retrieved yet! I'll move the Flying Peak immediately to restore water to Weian City!" He did a quick calculation with his fingers, then abruptly halted, his expression shifting.

"What's wrong?"

Yuan Xilin's fingertips twitched rapidly a few more times, his expression growing increasingly peculiar. "The Golden Core..." he murmured, "My connection with the Golden Core has been severed; I can't sense its presence!"

"What?" Elder Chu jumped in fright. "How is that possible?"

Madam Zhu, from behind, said lazily, "Could it have been stolen?"

Elder Chu shook his head vehemently. "The Golden Core is one of Yuanshan's legacy treasures! Sect Master Yuan spent fifty years just to establish a connection with it and be able to control it!"

"But they've already lost contact," Madam Zhu analyzed rationally. "Either the treasure grew legs and ran off on its own, or it ran off with someone else."

Yuan Xilin's mind was in turmoil, and he spoke without thinking. "It's rooted beneath the Flying Peak! If it were so easy to steal, how could Cangyan have been helpless against it these past few days?" His fear was: if the Golden Core went out of control and he couldn't restore water to the Luohe River, how would Cangyan punish the Qixia Sect?

Just then, Weng Xing suddenly pointed downwards and exclaimed urgently, "Hey, look at the Luohe River!"

While the Qixia Sect and the Bingyuan Directorate were locked in fierce combat within the Mirror World, the mountain-moving project at the Luohe River was still in progress. As the Golden-armored Divine Generals dug down three feet, the mountaintop seemed to rise two feet. Though slow, the Flying Peak's height was indeed gradually receding. The construction site was still buzzing with activity. The rain had stopped, and a crescent moon wove through the clouds, occasionally casting a layer of clear light.

"Who's there?" Elder Dao of the Rongshan Sect, overseeing the site, suddenly sensed a presence. He spun around sharply, only to see a familiar figure emerge from seemingly nowhere, slowly approaching. The excavated hilltop was rugged and difficult to traverse, but the figure crossed it in just a few strides. Elder Dao immediately led everyone in a bow, exclaiming, "Your Majesty!"

"Halt all work for now," He Lingchuan said casually, waving a hand. "Everyone is to withdraw from Flying Peak; no lingering is permitted."

"Yes."

Following the Great Emperor's verbal command, within fifty breaths, Flying Peak was completely cleared of all personnel. Even the Golden-armored Divine Generals ceased their movements and sat down. He Lingchuan surveyed his surroundings; a profound silence had fallen.

Then he flipped his palm, and an object hovered two feet above his palm: a small, portable sand table. The sand table now displayed the entire Flying Peak, almost to scale, with even the ice river flowing at its base. However, the Flying Peak on the sand table was enveloped by a faint, web-like golden light around its perimeter, shimmering in and out of existence. He Lingchuan looked up at the sky; indeed, above the real mountain, a golden web occasionally flashed by, synchronized with the sand table, then vanishing once more.

"This is one of Mian Sect's most treasured artifacts, the Heaven-and-Earth Net." He seemed to be speaking to the air, not deliberately raising his voice, yet his words effortlessly reached every corner of Flying Peak. "It envelops the entire Flying Peak. As long as I don't deactivate it, not even a mosquito can escape. Furthermore, it has locked onto the Golden Core beneath the ground; no matter if the Golden Core expands or shrinks, the net will adjust accordingly." The unspoken implication was that the entire Flying Peak was enveloped by the Heaven-and-Earth Net, making escape impossible for anyone on it.

He paused, then continued, "Come out. Cangyan never neglects its distinguished guests."

With no one else in sight, Great Emperor Jiuyou's voice echoed across the silent hilltop. His only reply was a profound stillness.

"Since you've already arrived, why hide?" He Lingchuan spoke again, but this time, he added a name: "National Master Shuangye!" He imbued his voice with a touch of true power, causing the name to reverberate several times through the mountains.

National Master Shuangye... Shuangye...

From the shadowy recesses of the mountain hollow, a figure slowly emerged, wearing a crown adorned with luminous pearls and a blue-gold robe, its wide sleeves fluttering as if an immortal had descended to the mortal realm. In the desolate wilderness, he somehow exuded an aura as if walking on a golden path. Who else could it be but National Master Shuangye? He walked until he was one and a half zhang in front of He Lingchuan before coming to a halt.

"He Xiao, long time no see." His smile and voice were as gentle and warm as a spring breeze in March. "Oh right, I should call you Great Emperor Jiuyou now."