A soft voice echoed across tens of thousands of peaks within Wuliang Mountain.
The peaks rose and fell, with the highest main peak towering over ten thousand feet, piercing the clouds, while the lower peaks on the outskirts measured several hundred feet tall.
A Taoist holy land covered in lush greenery.
However, at this moment, Wuliang Mountain appeared dim and somber.
The mountain hanging inverted in the sky loomed down, not only blocking the sunlight but also stirring the hearts of many disciples of Wuliang Mountain.
"It must be the ancestor!"
"The ancestor has cultivated for thousands of years, being the junior disciple of our founder Daoist Fantian, his cultivation has long surpassed the mortal realm."
"Moreover, with the Fantian Taoist skill he practices... I can't imagine how Chen Yi could win."
"How could decades of Sword Dao from Chen Yi defeat a thousand-year-old Divine Power Realm skill?"
Many disciples of Wuliang Mountain could not see the scene above the "Sealing Mountain Formation", but it did not affect their confidence in the ancestor's victory in the duel.
"It's a pity that the ancestor proposed a non-lethal duel, otherwise he could surely kill Chen Yi!"
"Indeed, Senior Brother Liu, Senior Brother Fang met such tragic ends, yet the ancestor still treats Chen Yi with such courtesy. I, I don't understand!"
"Alas, perhaps the ancestor is dissatisfied with our actions in recent years."
"Senior brother is right, ever since the battle at Beixiong Pass where hundreds of disciples died, there have been changes within the sect."
"Regardless of the Sect Leader, elders, or disciples from various peaks, their actions have been strange and domineering."
"Originally 'first in Taoism', Wuliang Mountain was frequently in close contact with other Taoist sects, but in recent years, it's been 'stubbornly isolating itself'."
"This is true, but why is Chen Yi so domineering?"
"Because he is the foremost prodigy, because he has cultivated Sword Dao to the level of Divine Skills, because he saved many prodigies at South-Garrison Pass!"
"But Wuliang Mountain has people colluding with demons and the Barbarian Clan, plotting to overthrow South-Garrison Pass..."
Lou Yuchun heard the discussions of the surrounding disciples, his face was somewhat unpleasant, and his heart was extremely troubled.
Previously, he did not feel there was an issue, but now, listening to it, he realized that Wuliang Mountain had not been interacting with other Taoist sects for a long time.
Decades ago, before he took the position of Sect Master of Wuliang Mountain, disciples of Wuliang Mountain often exchanged with other Taoist holy lands.
Like when he traveled outside the mountain, his first stop was the Grand Void Sect to duel with Xiao Huang at the time.
Later, he went to Yuhua Immortal Sect, challenging numerous prodigies there.
He fought until there were no rivals in the Taoist sect, then he traveled through the Martial World, ventured into Southern Barbarians, journeyed through East Continent Islands, and headed north to the Ten Thousand Mountains.
But now, it seems the disciples of Wuliang Mountain are no longer like him...
"Senior brother, there's no need to think too much."
"The ancestor said earlier that this 'Little Sword Immortal' Chen Yi's Mountain Worship duel is not bad for our Wuliang Mountain."
Even Lou Yushan heard the discussion among the disciples and said with a somber expression through sound transmission:
"Once the ancestor wins, I will go to Taizhou Mountain Battlefield to cultivate arduously. I seek no merit, only to avoid mistakes."
Lou Yuchun nodded slightly, his eyes fixed on the "Little Sword Immortal" facing the ancestor, revealing a long sigh.
Compared to the deaths of hundreds of disciples, it is the accusations from the ancestor and the disciples that pained him more.
During his decades in the position of Sect Master, he never imagined that within the sect, there would be people colluding with demons, not just one or two.
Among them were even his own brother Lou Yuhuang, elders from Sea Covering Dao, and Evil Demons like "Array Ghost" Cen Yu who betrayed the sect...
"Indeed, it's time to make some changes, or else the thousand-year legacy of Wuliang Mountain might decline in our hands."
Lou Yushan patted his shoulder, yet his face showed a smile.
In a trance, he seemed to see his former brother, the invincible one who roamed the Martial World with Fantian Taoist skill, defeating countless prodigies.
"With this Mountain Worship duel from the disciple of Grand Void Sect, one day, our Wuliang Mountain will have disciples going to the Grand Void Sect and challenging others!"
Lou Yuchun glanced at him, forcing a smile on his face.
Though he felt that way, he knew it was nearly impossible for Wuliang Mountain to cultivate a prodigy as young as Chen Yi.
Even if some disciples could suppress their peers, they couldn't overshadow everyone like Chen Yi.
This setback – Wuliang Mountain is bound to suffer!
The discussions below did not affect Chen Yi and Daoist Gushan's duel.
But neither of them acted directly, while they accumulated their surrounding momentum and observed each other.
At this moment, Chen Yi gazed at Daoist Gushan simply hovering in mid-air, his expression growing solemn.
Previously, whether facing great demons or numerous Master Realm evil demons, under the pressure of Sword Intent, they all showed some weakness.
Some had brittle physical bodies, some had inadequate Divine Souls, while others had sluggish flows of True Yuan or skill art intent.
But these weaknesses were all absent in Gushan Taoist.
He stood there, before the solid mountain, with his aura entirely hidden.
It was as if he had merged with the mountain, with his Divine Soul, True Yuan, and skill art intent becoming "unmovable like a mountain."
Not only him, but even the White Tiger Divine Intent beneath him seemed subdued, lowering its posture, its claws sometimes stepping on the stars.
Daoist Gushan's lean face held a smile, his body slightly hunched like an ordinary old man, holding a horsetail whisk resting on his other arm's elbow.
He looked Chen Yi up and down, suddenly realizing.
"Friend Chen Yi is young, born with extraordinary talent, his Sword Dao Realm is profound, but he has yet to completely master the essence of Divine Skills."