7: Chapter 5 Ying Conspiracy Unfolds, Shouyang Mountain 7: Chapter 5 Ying Conspiracy Unfolds, Shouyang Mountain Tian Nan Undying Volcano, Phoenix Hall.
“Has the little princess not been found yet?” Sitting at the foremost seat of the grand hall, the man on the carved phoenix throne asked.
He was a man of awe-inspiring authority, with a robust figure.
His long fiery-red hair, flamboyant and unrestrained.
The crimson brocade robe he wore was embroidered with a golden phoenix soaring towards the sky.
“Fengtian Clan Leader, our spies report.
The little princess first went to the South Sea, then to the Desert North Dragon Clan’s territory.
After that, she vanished without a trace!” A man in a dark red robe kneeling in front of the throne said.
“The Dragon Clan again?
I only have this one daughter.
If they dare lay a hand on Yan’er, then we’ll assault the Ancestor Dragon Palace, even if it means mutual destruction, the Dragon Clan must be utterly obliterated!” Feng Tian smacked the armrest forcefully with hatred in his voice.
Sitting beside Feng Tian was a beautiful woman wearing a phoenix crown and luxurious attire, exuding a presence of countless charms.
The beautiful woman gently patted Feng Tian’s hand, softly saying, “My lord, do not worry!
Yan’er is clever and resourceful; she will be fine!”
As they were speaking, a Feng Wei in a purple robe rushed into the grand hall, dropping to one knee, he said, “Report to both Clan Leaders, the little princess has returned and is currently waiting outside the hall!”
Bring her in quickly!” Feng Tian’s face showed ecstatic joy.
Father Emperor, Mother Empress, Yan’er has been away for many days and has caused you worry.
Yan’er knows her mistake!” Feng Yan’er, in a light pink long dress, knelt in the center of the grand hall, her eyes brimming with tears as she spoke.
“Good, it’s good you’re back!” Huang Tian (the beautiful woman) took Feng Yan’er’s hand, her smile full of relief: “Do not do this again in the future, it has caused your mother great concern!
Come, tell mother about the dangers of your journey.”
The couple, immersed in the joy of their daughter’s return, did not notice the strange black aura that flickered across Feng Yan’er’s eyes, which were cast down.
The same scene unfolded at the Desert North Ancestor Dragon Hall.
Who that young man in black truly is, the audience must already have an inkling.
Now, back to Li Qingming and his companions.
The party of four traveled through the Southern Heavenly Land, making stops along the way and encountering conflicts amongst the Three Clans.
Depending on the merit they possessed, they would either stop the conflicts or directly kill those involved.
Along the way, countless innocents suffered, mostly newly sentient plants and small animals.
The four took it upon themselves to save and enlighten these sentient beings who then voluntarily followed them.
As they traveled north to Buzhou, a long procession formed, some falling behind, others joining continually.
The party gained much attention from the Primordial All Living Beings, as well as a great deal of merit.
One day, the four arrived at a strangely shaped mountain range named Shouyang Mountain.
The mountain was over a thousand zhang high, with reddish-brown soil covering it,
Ancient pines soared at the waist of the mountain, dense forests abounded, and a clear spring surged at the peak, with refreshing and pleasant ch’i, giving the feeling of sitting on a lotus and grasping at emerald surroundings!
Laozi stopped in front of the mountain and declared, “What a prime location for cultivation!”
Tongtian and Yuan Shi nodded in agreement.
Laozi said, “I feel a strong connection to this place.
Let me explore it before we move on.
What do you two esteemed brothers think?”
“Eldest brother, please feel free.
It gives us a chance to preach to the creatures following us and acknowledge our meeting!” Yuan Shi Tianzun gave a slight bow, with an air of nonchalance.
“Then I shall go!” Saying this, Laozi patted his mount, the Green Goat, turning into a strand of blue smoke, gently rising into the sky.
“Your dedication in following us for thousands of miles shows your determination.
Today, I shall teach you the ways of Transformation, to fulfill your desires!” Yuan Shi Tianzun dismounted from his Four Unlikes mount, and Li Qingming deftly produced two meditation cushions from his storage space, handing them over to Yuan Shi and Tongtian.
“Heaven and Earth were newly formed, all things became sentient, feeling the transformation of Qi Fortune within, surrounded by the vast Qi of the Five Elements.
They move their own Qi within their bodies…” Although Yuan Shi’s preaching did not manifest dazzling lights or Earth Erupting Golden Lotuses, each word contained the essence of Transformation.
All these untransformed plant spirits and fleshly beasts were utterly captivated by his teaching.
Li Qingming, despite having heard it countless times, still benefited enormously each time.
Meanwhile, Laozi ascended to the top of Shouyang Mountain.
He saw the mountaintop bathed in a myriad of rosy clouds, casting a blinding sparkle across the clear sky, with two points of cyan light twinkling in and out of existence.
Laozi frowned tightly, his right hand performing calculations, his fingers moving too fast to be seen clearly.
He murmured in his mind, “What is this?
Even with my Daluo Golden Immortal ability, I cannot discern its origin!”
With a soft “bang”, the colourful glow suddenly retracted.
One of the stars of light, with a speed faster than thunder, shot into the Green Goat beneath Laozi.
Startled, Laozi hastily leaped down to check for any harm to the Green Goat.
For Laozi cherished his mount dearly!
This Green Goat was born out of Chaos Green Qi during Laozi’s Transformation.
Initially devoid of spiritual intelligence, after repeatedly listening to Laozi’s teachings, it developed sentience.
Although not officially recognized as master and disciple, they shared such a relationship.
Now that the Green Goat had been struck by an unknown object, how could Laozi not be worried?
After the Green Goat was hit by the cyan light, it momentarily paused.
Then, a look of pain crossed its face.
A spot of cyan light surfaced on its head, gradually enveloping its entire body in cyan glow.
Laozi watched in astonishment, wanting to break through the light but fearing harm to the Green Goat within, so he could only wait in silence.
After some indeterminable time, the cyan light dissipated.
The Green Goat revealed itself, but its appearance had greatly changed!
Now, the Green Goat appeared:
Its entire body was as clear as Qing water, its nose like that of a buffalo, and its mouth wide as a bowl, with flat horns split to either side.
Its eyes were like copper bells, its stature like mountains, its roar fierce as tigers and wolves, eliciting fear in those who heard it.