Chapter 40

The current Immortal Flower and Immortal Wine Gathering had invited a large number of immortals.

Although not all had arrived, the Pixiang Hall was already enveloped in auspicious clouds, filled with ethereal immortal figures.

Thousands of disciples, dressed in dark robes and wearing green wooden crowns and rings, stood at the hall entrance to welcome the immortals.

Each was handsome and beautiful beyond compare. The external decorations were splendid and luxurious to the utmost degree.

Tanyin had never seen such a spectacle and couldn’t help but be entranced. Such opulence and extravagance would never be seen again in the Divine Realm.

“Wait for me a moment,” Yuan Zhong said, squeezing her hand, “I’ll be back soon.”

Tanyin nodded.

Only a fraction of the guests had arrived, and the banquet had yet to start. The immortals who knew each other were conversing in groups, and no one noticed her. She leaned against the railing, admiring the splendid scenery of Xiang Mountain, when a rich, charming voice sounded behind her, “Miss, are you alone?”

The voice was very familiar, one that was hard to forget after hearing it once. Tanyin turned around to see Fu Jiuyun standing behind her. He wore a green wooden crown and a dark robe, standing out among the disciples of the mountain lord.

Tanyin smiled slightly, “We meet again.”

Fu Jiuyun was taken aback. He had been bored and had noticed the High Priest with a white-robed girl, intending to greet them. However, the high priest had left her alone and entered the hall.

Curious, he approached, but the girl seemed to recognize him.

He was quite surprised.

He had a vague feeling, as if he had experienced a similar situation before, but couldn’t recall it.

“Have we met?” he asked with a calm expression and a warm smile.

Tanyin remained silent.

As soon as she entered Xiang Mountain, she sensed the aura of the Soul Lamp.

It made sense that Fu Jiuyun would stay here as a disciple.

Seeing her silence, Fu Jiuyun didn’t mind, “I thought the high priest would arrive with young master Tanghua. I didn’t expect him to come with you.”

The mention of young master Tanghua reminded Tanyin of the purple figure who had ruthlessly tried to curse Yuan Zhong to death.

Though she knew the Fox clan member was manipulated by Han Nu, she couldn’t muster any goodwill.

“Young master Tanghua is here too?” she asked casually.

Fu Jiuyun pointed to a distant purple figure, “Isn’t that him?”

Tanyin was stunned; he had indeed come!

How could he face Yuan Zhong?

Or did he plan to act in front of many immortals?

She looked in the direction Fu Jiuyun pointed and saw a purple robe.

The figure seemed to sense her gaze and turned, staring at her with a peculiar smile.

“Ji Tanyin,” his lips moved without sound, but she understood immediately.

He knew her identity?

Had Han Nu told him?

During the incident in the cave, she was in a divine sense state, and these mortal immortals couldn’t have seen her.

How did he recognize her?

Tanyin immediately walked towards him.

For the first time, Fu Jiuyun was ignored by a woman and stood stunned.

Soon, he was surrounded by several female disciples, and the strange girl was forgotten.

Seeing Tanyin approach, Tanghua smiled and turned to leave.

Trying to escape?

Tanyin followed him closely, quickly leaving the Pixiang Hall.

Inside the hall, the number of immortals was slightly less.

Wooden tables were arranged in tiers, each with a flower—osmanthus, rose, peony—emitting a faint fragrance.

Yuan Zhong carried a box to the inner part of the hall. Along the way, he encountered many immortals, some he knew, some he didn’t. Unfortunately, he couldn’t exchange many words as Lord Meishan stuck to him like glue, cautiously asking, “Are you planning to give all the Tian Xia Wushuang Wine to the Mountain Lord?” and then pretending to be generous, “I don’t mean anything by it, just asking.”

Yuan Zhong found it both amusing and annoying, suddenly pointing behind him and exclaiming, “Huh? I think I see the War Ghost General! Is that Xin Mei beside him?”

Lord Meishan turned and ran, hiding under a table, “Don’t tell them I’m here!”

Look at his cowardice!

Yuan Zhong shook his head and walked on.

The Mountain Lord was changing in a small room at the back of the hall. Hearing the disciple report the high priest’s visit, he hurriedly put on his shoes and opened the door himself. The Fox clan high priest had a high status, and he dared not neglect him, greeting him with hands clasped, “Your Highness, your visit is an honor. Forgive my appearance.”

The Mountain Lord seemed to have gained weight since they last met. The small room was filled with treasures, suggesting he was admiring the guests’ gifts.

“No need for formality. I’ve been away from Fangwai Mountain for a long time and have brought only two jars of Tian Xia Wushuang Wine as a token of gratitude.”

Before Yuan Zhong could present the box, the Mountain Lord’s face changed. He knew what Tian Xia Wushuang Wine was and realized this gift was too valuable. He immediately understood Yuan Zhong must have a question, but he was puzzled about what the high priest needed from him.

The Mountain Lord accepted the box carefully, “Your Highness, you are too kind. How can I help you?”

Yuan Zhong took out a pair of God-Slaying Daggers.

The Mountain Lord’s jaw almost dropped, but he composed himself, his voice trembling, “These… these are my collection… How did they get to you?”

Yuan Zhong smiled, “Have you forgotten? If you hadn’t lent them personally, how could anyone obtain these treasures? To be honest, these daggers almost took my life.”

The Mountain Lord was even more shocked, “I truly don’t know! I have not participated in immortal conflicts for years. Your Highness, there must be some misunderstanding.”

Yuan Zhong handed him the daggers and said, “See if they’re yours.”

The Mountain Lord carefully drew the daggers. The dark blades emitted a murderous aura. During the ancient battles, countless gods were slain by these daggers. The Mountain Lord quickly sheathed them, sweating profusely.

He had collected treasures for so many years; if not 100,000, there were at least 80,000 or 90,000 pieces, each with varying quality and rarity. He couldn’t remember them all, but he definitely remembered those related to the ancient battles, like the Soul Lamp, locked securely in the Nightfall Pavilion with various immortal methods. Even his closest disciples couldn’t access it.

But the daggers were here, and the high priest was asking about them.

How could he respond?

The Mountain Lord put the daggers into his sleeve, “Your Highness, please wait a moment.”

Before he finished, he transformed into a whirlwind, rushing to the Nightfall Pavilion. Upon landing, he saw a purple figure standing before it. Shocked and angry, he shouted, “Who dares disturb my treasures?!”

The figure didn’t move. The Mountain Lord, even angrier, stepped forward, his immortal energy forming a giant snake to attack. The figure’s sleeve waved, dispersing the power like dust.

Stunned, the Mountain Lord was struck by red beams and couldn’t avoid them.

Red light pierced his body, and his consciousness immediately became fuzzy. His body was no longer under his control. One hand reached into his sleeve, took out the God-Slaying Daggers, placed them on the ground, and then he slowly turned and, as a gust of wind, rushed down the mountain.

It was only when he landed that the Mountain Lord suddenly woke up, feeling as if he had been in a dream. He had no recollection of what had just happened.

Right, the Immortal Flower and Wine Gathering… He should be at the Pixiang Hall to greet the guests. He looked back at the Nightfall Pavilion with confusion. The wind was blowing, and there was not a single person in sight. The complex immortal spells surrounding the pavilion were still in effect. Shaking his head, puzzled, he hurried to the Pixiang Hall.

Yuan Zhong had not expected the Mountain Lord to leave so abruptly. He had planned to get a clear answer, but the Mountain Lord’s attitude seemed genuinely perplexed. Could it be that he didn’t know how Tanghua had obtained the daggers?

Unable to understand the situation, Yuan Zhong paced the small room, waiting. This tiny room was half-filled with gifts from the immortals, with various treasures emitting light and fragrance.

Yuan Zhong casually glanced around and suddenly noticed a porcelain basin in the corner. Compared to the many immortal treasures, this basin appeared ordinary, but he recognized it. It was from Guixu, the capital of the Qiong Kingdom, from that shop… the basin Tanghua had bought!

Startled, Yuan Zhong wondered if Tanghua had come as well.

How dare he show up?

He walked over slowly, picked up the basin, and saw fine cracks on it, as if it had been broken and then expertly repaired. It emitted a faint fragrance—the scent of fox blood.

Yuan Zhong leaned in to smell it closely, his expression darkening.

It was Tanghua’s scent, the smell of Tanghua’s blood!

He threw the basin down and transformed into a golden light, shooting out of the small room.

He had to find Tanghua!

Tanyin followed Tanghua all the way, watching as he walked faster and faster.

He bypassed a cluster of osmanthus trees and suddenly headed towards the highest peak.

She was puzzled.

Though she didn’t know what the peak was in Xiang Mountain, she could feel the Soul Lamp’s aura from the top.

What was he planning?

To take the Soul Lamp?

She took another step, and suddenly, an unusual and subtle fluctuation startled her. It was not the fluctuation of the evil spirit, but… but it was an aura that she was very familiar with, which could only be produced by the divine sense of gods.

Obviously, the newcomer compressed his divine power to the minimum so that his true identity would not be discovered by the various immortals, but he could not escape Tanyin’s senses.

Tanyin accurately caught the direction of the aura—it came from Tanghua. Shocked, she wondered if Tanghua had already died and his body was occupied by a god.

She hadn’t noticed anything earlier, but now the divine sense was growing stronger.

Was he intentionally releasing it to lure her?

Without further thought, Tanyin turned into a streak of clear light, racing up the peak.

There was no one else around.

The peak was steep and rocky, with Tanghua’s purple figure becoming a small dot nearing the summit.

The divine sense grew closer and clearer.

Tanyin suddenly stopped.

She knew this divine power all too well—the power she had missed for five thousand years, the one that shouldn’t appear here and now: Taihe’s divine power!

Tanyin felt overwhelmed.

She couldn’t understand why Taihe’s divine sense was suddenly on Xiang Mountain.

Had he awakened?

Had he come to find her?

Had he taken over Tanghua’s body?

His left hand wasn’t healed, and his divine power was weakened—how could he descend?

These unanswered questions made her anxious. She could only rush to the peak. Tanghua stood in front of a small building covered in immortal spells.

He would answer all her questions!

In almost the blink of an eye, Tanyin reached the peak. She stared at the familiar yet unfamiliar purple figure, feeling the divine power of Taihe she hadn’t felt for five thousand years.

She stepped forward slowly, her voice trembling, “Taihe?”