Legend of the Great Sage

In the Hundred Herbs garden, beneath the bodhi tree.

A spirited, handsome young man laid on his side. He propped up his head with his right hand, while his left hand was placed flat before him. The light, soft silken kasaya of ochre yellow glowed down from his body like water. He seemed extremely relaxed and at ease.

His rosy cheeks gave off an aura of gentleness and peace as if he was sleeping soundly, yet he also seemed as if he was deep in thought, filled with a buddhist aura.

Suddenly, a breeze filled his face.

With a rustle, the shadow of the tree danced about, casting golden light everywhere. The entire tree full of golden leaves clashed together, producing a slight, metallic thrum.

A gentle voice said, “You need to leave here immediately.”

After almost two or three seconds, Li Fengyuan finally opened his eyes as if he had just woken up from an extremely deep dream. He saw Ruan Yaozhu, except his expression was still rather misty, like it was hidden behind some fog.

“You can’t!”

Before he could respond, a streak of colourful light shot over, landing on the hill gently and turning into a white deer. The deer’s antlers glistened like coral, while her fur shone with mottled colour. She was Ruan Yaozhu’s mount, the nine-coloured deer.

“Jiu’er, don’t butt in this.” Ruan Yaozhu waved her hand and rebuked her gently.

The nine-coloured deer took a step forward and stood in front of Li Fengyuang. “You piece of wood, you’re the one who shouldn’t so something so foolish! I’ve already heard it. Li Qingshan has already defected to the Demon domain. You’re too deeply involved with him. If you let this kid go now, then you’ll really be in too deep. Even expelling you from the sect would be a light punishment. Your life might even be in danger!”

She turned to Li Fengyuan and said, “Kid, I quite like you, but your father has always acted with absurdity. Given the situation, we can’t help you either.”

Li Fengyuan nodded with a smile. “My father has always been a great bastard. There’s nothing strange about him defecting to the Demon domain.”

Ruan Yaozhu said, “No, there must be some kind of misunderstanding! He might not be a good person, but he’ll never take the side of demonfolk. He must have been captured by a Demon God. We need to find a way to save him…” However, her voice gradually fell off. She understood very well that she was incapable of barging into the Demon domain and saving anybody. However, if she did nothing, how could she find peace?

The nine-coloured deer widened her eyes as if she was looking at a fool. “I think you’re the one who needs saving. The Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance’s judgment can’t be wrong. How can there be any misunderstanding? The Heavenly Tome of Liberty he practises has always been a demonic art. Even back then outside Black Cloud city, he was exchanging secret glances with Demon God Taowu. Now, he’s probably gotten sick of all the rules up in the heavens and run off to the Demon domain as a Heretic God.”

Li Fengyuan smiled. “That’s very possible. He always does whatever he wants.”

The nine-coloured deer nodded in agreement. “I couldn’t normally tell, but you’re quite sensible when you need to be.”

“You too, you too.” “You flatter me.”

“Both of you, shut up!” Ruan Yaozhu was already in emotional turmoil. She could no longer stand how they chimed in on the same tune anymore. “Li Fengyuan, I expel you from the Hundred Herbs garden right now as the master of the Hundred Herbs garden. You must leave immediately.”

“I can’t leave.” Li Fengyuan shook his head. “If I leave, wouldn’t I be getting you into trouble?

“I have my plans!”

“You can’t go! Ah, let go of me!”

The nine-coloured deer even tried to stop him, so Ruan Yaozhu went up and grabbed her antlers. Tender vines extended out from her green sleeves, trapping her firmly in place.

Li Fengyuan sat up and extended his arms up forcefully to stretch. “I can’t leave.” Then he raised his head as if he had sensed something before he said seriously, “And I won’t be able to leave even if I try to.”

The nine-coloured deer continued to struggle, wanting to butt Ruan Yaozhu with her antlers. Hearing that, Ruan Yaozhu immediately shut her eyes and circulated the Heavenly Tome of Nature.

Immediately, all of the plants within several dozen kilometres of her became her eyes and ears. She immediately discovered a person lurking in the depths of the ocean near the Hundred Herbs garden.

With a thought, she controlled the nearby seagrasses to ensnare the person, so he immediately erupted with sharp sword qi, reducing the seagrass to shred and killing them all.

“Senior brother Wan!” She immediately recognised the sword qi.

Wan Jianfeng practised the Heavenly Tome of Sword Control. He was the only sword cultivator among the direct disciples, which meant he was extremely skilled in battle. When it came to individual battles, very few of the direct disciples were his opponent.

Ruan Yaozhu glanced at Li Fengyuan in surprise and thought, Senior brother Wan’s swordsmanship is almost divine. He’s already reached the realm of a hidden edge, such that he himself dulls. Even I failed to sense him, yet he could. Sure enough, he’s a natural spirit!

She could not help but furrow her brows firmly. If it was only Wan Jianfeng, she could try and keep him busy for a moment, but given the kind of person that senior brother Wan was, he would never be willing to sneak around like this. He must have received orders. She could not help but look in the direction of Myriad city. “Senior sister Dai!”

At the same time, in the Direct Disciple hall.

The direct disciples all received their orders and dispersed. From this tall building, Dai Mengfan also gazed in the direction of the Hundred Herbs garden, ready to support Wan Jianfeng at any moment. She had known Ruan Yaozhu for many years, so she understood what kind of person she was. She was gentle on the exterior but staunch on the interior, possessing indomitable will. She would probably let Li Fengyuan go.

That was why she immediately sent Wan Jianfeng to lay in hiding near the Hundred Herbs garden after Ruan Yaozhu had left the Direct Disciple hall so that he could take down Li Fengyuan as soon as he left.

And, she had already made up her mind. If she could not capture him alive, she would rather have him killed than let him escape.

She was reluctant to offend Li Qingshan, but Li Qingshan was nowhere to be seen after all. Li Fengyuan was simply too important, far more than Yang Miaozhen.

The relationships in the cultivation community were different from the secular world. Master and disciple surpassed father and son, fellow disciples were closer than siblings, while cultivation partners surpassed husband and wife.

Yang Miaozhen was merely Li Qingshan’s lover. Letting her go was not particularly important. As long as she was willing to draw a clear line between her and Li Qingshan, she could even remain in the Myriad sect and continue as a formal disciple.

However, a mount and a master shared the same lifespan and went through thick and thin together. In terms of their closeness, they even surpassed master and disciple, cultivation partner and cultivation partner. They could almost be viewed as one entity.

On top of that, he was a phoenix.

The Demon domain had never been under the jurisdiction of the underworld. If she allowed a phoenix to return to Li Qingshan’s side, that was equivalent to giving him a limitless lifespan. He might become a Demon God one day.

Now that the daemon star of misfortune had emerged and the crisis of the world was imminent, the war against the Demon domain loomed over all of them. It was the most sensitive and tense moment of the situation. Li Qingshan’s betrayal had already left the Myriad sect in an extremely miserable spot. If something like that happened as well, the Desireless Heavenly Palace would never spare anyone related. By then, it would not just be the matter of a few people. The entire Myriad sect and even the Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance would face punishment.

At this moment, a wisp of sword qi flew into the pavilion. Wan Jianfeng sent her a message.

“First senior sister, junior sister Ruan has already discovered me. Do you want me to take action immediately and capture the phoenix?”

“Keep watching. I’ll give her three days.”

“Yes.” Wan Jianfeng was rather reluctant to go forward with all of this, but he did not dare to disobey her given the general situation. He just released countless strands of sword qi like he was venting, slicing apart all the seagrass within several dozen kilometres. He leapt onto a protruding rock and placed his sword on his back, standing with his hands behind him.

Dai Mengfan’s lips curled into a smile. Suddenly, she did not find that being the first senior sister was all bad.

These direct disciples were all proud and aloof, especially Wan Jianfeng. He recognised no one. In the past, he did not particularly respect her despite being the third senior sister, but now, he obeyed every single order from her. He was at her beck and call.

She could not help but look down at her right hand—her skin was fair and her fingers were slender. She closed it gently. This was the taste of authority. It was far sweeter than she had ever imagined!

Relying on oneself was always better than relying on others. What Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance or Li Qingshan? They were all unreliable. She could only rely on herself.

Before she knew it, she gained a hint of dominance, glancing in the direction of the Hundred Herbs garden again. She thought, Piece of wood, oh piece of wood, this is all I can do to help you. If you obediently let that Li Fengyuan leave the Hundred Herbs garden, I’ll treat it as you handing him over to junior brother Wan. If you want to be obstinate, don’t blame me for showing no mercy!

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