Chapter Seventy-Four
"As long as you hand over Hong Yi to me, all matters between us will be settled!"
Hua Shu's voice echoed over Great Marsh Mountain. Gu Jin's hand holding the sword paused, forced into a difficult choice by her words.
Three months ago, when Hua Shu lent him the Feathered Phoenix Crown to refine the Divine Transformation Pill, she had made one request—as long as it was not an unjust act that went against his conscience, whatever Hua Shu wished for, he must fulfill it for her.
Who would have thought that in just three short months, Hua Shu would demand he fulfill that promise, and right before all the Immortal Lords and Ayin.
Seeing Gu Jin remain silent, Hua Shu grew even more aggressive, attempting to bypass him and head into the mountain, only to be blocked by Gu Jin's sword as he snapped back to his senses.
Furious, she shouted, "Gu Jin, don't forget what you promised me back then!"
"I did promise you that whatever you wished for, I would fulfill it for you."
Hearing this, Ayin, who was not far away, suddenly looked up at Gu Jin, disbelief flashing in her eyes.
Whatever you wish for, I will fulfill it for you.
Just how deep must his affection be to willingly make such a promise?
A Jin, is Hua Shu truly that important to you?
Gu Jin's voice rang out low and heavy: "But I also said that what I do for you must never go against my conscience."
"He is of the Demon Tribe! Why would you rather trust him than me?" Hua Shu's eyes filled with sorrow. Gu Jin had treated her with sincerity, and she, too, had shown him some genuine regard. But Lan Feng had suffered such a calamity, his thousand-year foundation destroyed in an instant, and yet Gu Jin was willing to protect the murderer rather than choose to believe her.
Hua Shu suddenly glanced at Ayin behind him. "Is it because that fox saved your junior sister that you are willing to protect him to this extent? Gu Jin, you cannot distinguish right from wrong!"
Gu Jin's expression remained unchanged. "I understand Hong Yi. Though his nature is arrogant and rude, he would never commit such a harmful act. Though the Immortal and Demon Tribes are distinct, there has never been a distinction between good and evil."
Gu Jin's words resounded heavily, astonishing all the Immortal Lords present. His voice was firm and resolute, his expression solemn. Though surrounded by the Immortal Tribe, not a single person refuted him.
"You!" Hua Shu, enraged, waved her hand, and the divine power of the Sky-Shielding Umbrella intensified. "What if I insist on taking him away today? Gu Jin, would you dare raise your sword against me?"
Gu Jin frowned deeply. Though Hua Shu pressed him relentlessly and forced her way into the mountain with the umbrella, he absolutely could not draw his sword against her today.
Lan Feng and Hua Shu had saved Ayin's life before, and now Lan Feng had met a tragic death. How could he possibly raise his hand against Hua Shu while Lan Feng's body was still warm?
At this critical moment, a calm and solemn voice came from the Hall of Eternal Life beneath the Nine Star Lantern, reaching the ears of all the High Immortals present.
"Hua Shu, what Gu Jin says is true. Our Great Marsh Mountain can indeed vouch for Hong Yi, the nephew of the Fox race's king. He is definitely not the one who assassinated High Lord Lan Feng in the Hall of Imperial Cosmos."
Before the voice faded, its owner arrived. A streak of light flashed, and Xian Shan, clad in black Daoist robes and holding a dust whisk, appeared before the crowd.
Upon his appearance, aside from Yu Feng, Jing Lei, and the sect leaders of various factions, all the other High Lords bowed respectfully and took a step back. The tense atmosphere outside the mountain gate, which had been on the verge of erupting, eased with Xian Shan's words.
"Greetings, Elder Xianshan," Yu Feng said politely, offering a salute.
Xian Shan returned the gesture but said nothing more, turning his gaze to Hua Shu first. "Hua Shu, regardless of the rights and wrongs, the black and white of this matter, is it not highly inappropriate for you to raise the Sky-Shielding Umbrella and force your way into our Great Marsh Mountain?"
These words, leaving no room for courtesy, were truly a slap in the face!Upon hearing these words, the assembled immortals felt a jolt in their hearts, knowing that the famously gentle-natured Sect Leader of Great Marsh Mountain was truly angered.
Indeed, it was utterly unreasonable to use another clan's Divine Artifact to storm their mountain gate.
Hua Shu's face paled, her eyes clouded with humiliation. Unlike those seasoned elders tempered by tens of thousands of years, she was directly chastised by Xian Shan, her hand trembling as she held the Sky-Shielding Umbrella.
Hua Mo, more composed, understood that if even Xian Shan spoke in Hong Yi's defense, it would be nearly impossible for the immortals to take Hong Yi away today.
Hua Mo stepped forward. "Shu'er, come back at once! How could you be so reckless? How dare you deploy the Sky-Shielding Umbrella at Great Marsh Mountain? This is utterly thoughtless!" After reprimanding Hua Shu, he bowed deeply to Xian Shan and apologized, "Elder Xianshan, on the day of her wedding, Shu'er lost her husband. Overwhelmed by grief and indignation, she offended your mountain. I beg you not to hold it against a junior like her."
Hua Shu withdrew the Sky-Shielding Umbrella, took a step back, and lowered her head slightly toward Xian Shan, hiding her reddened eyes. Her voice trembled with grievance, "Elder Xianshan, this junior..."
"Enough!" Xian Shan sighed, his expression softening slightly. "Supreme Lord Lanfeng was benevolent, kind, and righteous. It is tragic that he met such a fate. Princess, please accept our condolences, but do not fall into the traps of those with ulterior motives, lest discord between immortals and demons reignite war."
"Sect Leader, what do you mean...?" Yu Feng looked at Xian Shan, a trace of concern flickering in his eyes.
Xian Shan nodded. "I share A Jin's view. There are too many suspicious points surrounding Supreme Lord Lanfeng's murder, and each one points toward Great Marsh Mountain and Hong Yi, which naturally raises doubts. Moreover, Hong Yi has indeed not ascended to the rank of Demon Monarch among the Demon Tribe. Even if he could lie, the Heaven-Pillar would not."
The fact that Hong Yi's name was absent from the Heaven-Pillar's list of Demon Monarchs was indisputable.
Yu Feng collected himself and agreed with Xian Shan. "The Sect Leader is right. Any immortal or demon who attains the rank of High Lord will inevitably appear on the Heaven-Pillar. Since Hong Yi's name is not there as a High Lord, a mere Lower Lord like him could never have easily killed Lanfeng."
"However..." Yu Feng paused before continuing, "We saw from the Mirror of Observation that the demon fox did enter Great Marsh Mountain. Sect Leader, this..."
Xian Shan sighed, his tone heavy. "With the Demon Tribe's resurgence, no place in the Three Realms remains pure, and Great Marsh Mountain cannot remain untouched. This old Daoist is powerless to keep the Demon Tribe beyond our mountain gates. If the demon still lurks within, we can only rely on the divine power of the Nine Star Lantern to force the demon creature to reveal itself."
With a wave of his Dust Whisk, he activated all the Mountain Protection Arrays above Great Marsh Mountain.
"Venerable Yu Feng, the Immortal Tribe has lost Supreme Lord Lanfeng, and we must stand united. Great Marsh Mountain is no exception. Aside from my junior brother Xian Zhu, who is currently lighting the Nine Star Lantern in the Hall of Eternal Life, and Demon Monarch Hong Yi, who is undergoing ascension in the side hall, there are no other Great Marsh Mountain disciples within the mountain. You, Supreme Venerable Jing Lei, and the other Sect Leaders may enter the mountain to search for the nine-tailed fox demon who assassinated Supreme Lord Lanfeng. Should you find anything, all of Great Marsh Mountain will assist wholeheartedly and will never tolerate this demon."
Having said this, Xian Shan stepped aside, followed closely by Gu Jin, Ayin, and the disciples of Great Marsh Mountain, clearing a path for Yu Feng, Hua Shu, and the others.Yu Feng nodded. "Sect Leader, this matter concerns the peril of the Immortal Tribe and the death of Lanfeng Supreme Lord. I must apologize for my offense." After speaking, he turned to Hua Shu. "Your Highness, I and the various sect leaders will enter the mountain to investigate. Please remain outside and await our news."
Although Xian Shan had permitted him and the other immortals to enter the mountain for investigation, Yu Feng, having stood firm in the Immortal Realm for ten thousand years, was by no means an ungrateful person. Great Marsh Mountain was a giant among the Immortal Tribe, revered by all immortals. Even if it was currently under suspicion, it was not a place just anyone could enter for investigation. Even if an investigation was necessary, it should at least be conducted by those of high status like themselves, who held the position of supreme leaders of their prefectures. Otherwise, how could they give an explanation to Great Marsh Mountain and Xian Shan?
Yu Feng's intention was clear to all the immortals. Jing Lei and the sect leaders of the Three Prefectures and Six Caves, like Yu Feng, each offered a half-bow to Xian Shan, saying "We apologize for the offense," before flying toward Great Marsh Mountain.
In an instant, eleven High Immortals flew to the sky above Great Marsh Mountain, each choosing a peak to land upon. They summoned their personal magical instruments, using the mountain range as a network, and channeled their Immortal Power to its utmost limit. Above Great Marsh Mountain, they formed an immense, seamless immortal net that spread layer upon layer, covering the entire Great Marsh Mountain range.
Under the combined power of the eleven High Immortals, the Immortal Power imbued in the net surpassed the might of a Demigod, approaching the Half-God Peak, nearly reaching the level of a High God!
With such divine power, if the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon who assassinated Lan Feng was still within Great Marsh Mountain, it would have nowhere to hide!
The surging Immortal Power cleansed the entire mountain range. Within the mountain, the soul imprints of all things possessing Spiritual Power were reflected upon the immortal net, including Xian Zhu, who was striving to light the Nine Star Lantern in the Hall of Eternal Life, and Hong Yi, who sat cross-legged in a side hall, entering a meditative state while awaiting his ascension.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the immortal net swept up and down Great Marsh Mountain, leaving not an inch of land unchecked. However, aside from Hong Yi, there was no trace of a second Nine-Tailed Fox Demon. Only when these eleven High Immortals could no longer sustain the immortal net with its High God-level power did its divine might slowly dissipate above Great Marsh Mountain.
By the time the Immortal Generals and the people of Great Marsh Mountain recovered from the overwhelming Divine Power, Yu Feng, Jing Lei, and the sect leaders of the Three Prefectures and Six Caves had already flown back to the mountain gate.
Yu Feng took the lead. Before he even arrived, he raised his hands in a distant salute toward Xian Shan. "Elder Xianshan, today I have offended greatly. I hope you will not hold it against me."
Xian Shan waved his Dust Whisk, still gentle and courteous. "High Venerable, there is no need for such words. This matter is of great importance. I understand your good intentions." He slightly cupped his hands toward Yu Feng and the sect leaders of the Three Prefectures and Six Caves. "I also thank the High Venerable and all the sect leaders for clearing Great Marsh Mountain's name."
The reason Xian Shan allowed Yu Feng and the others to enter the mountain for investigation was precisely so they could personally prove that Great Marsh Mountain was not harboring that mysterious Nine-Tailed Fox Demon.
Yu Feng wore an expression of shame. "If not for the Sect Leader and Immortal Lord Gu Jin discerning that Fox Demon's scheme, today we might have committed a grave error. Although the Immortals and Demons hold deep-seated grievances, all matters of right and wrong cannot be arbitrarily judged. Otherwise, the regrets of a hundred years ago are sure to repeat."
Over a hundred years ago, the Heavenly Empress Wu Huan, desiring to unify the Three Realms, led a hundred thousand Celestial Soldiers to invade the Demon Realm. In the end, the hundred thousand Celestial Soldiers perished miserably at the Immortal-Demon boundary, and the Second Prince Jing Jian fell in battle at Rakshasa Land. In this war, countless Immortals and Demons were killed or wounded, and blood flowed like rivers between the Two Realms. It was the most devastating conflict between Immortals and Demons in sixty thousand years. If not for the True God Bai Jue sacrificing himself to stop the Chaos Tribulation and resolve the conflict between the two races, the Three Realms would have long been destroyed.Xian Shan shook his head, also filled with self-reproach. "The emergence of the Demon Tribe has always been an ill omen since ancient times. If I had discovered the Demon's intrusion into the mountain earlier that day and captured it, perhaps High Lord Lanfeng would not have suffered this calamity. Now the truth remains buried, everything is shrouded in mystery, like viewing flowers through a fog. We must trouble the High Venerable to continue searching the Immortal Realm for traces of that Demon and the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon, to uncover everything and restore the truth to the Three Realms."
Yu Feng nodded, also feeling the weight of the pressure. "Rest assured, Sect Leader. I have already sent Ling Dian to Phoenix Island overseas to request the Celestial Emperor's return to the palace. With the Celestial Emperor present, the truth will inevitably come to light. Although it has now been confirmed that the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon who intruded into the palace was not Chang Qin or Hong Yi, it must still be related to the Fox race. I will dispatch immortal envoys to the Demon Tribe to have the Demon Emperor thoroughly investigate the Fox race and provide an explanation to the Immortal Realm."
Before Yu Feng's words had fully faded, a crimson demonic light suddenly erupted across Great Marsh Mountain. That demonic light emerged from the Hall of Eternal Life and shot straight into the highest heavens.
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