Chapter 960: Collision

Practitioners undergo arduous training primarily to achieve enlightenment and transcendence. While enlightenment is difficult, those who reach a certain level of cultivation can, at the very least, achieve transcendence in some sense.

For example, they wouldn't become water ghosts or hanged ghosts needing substitutes, nor would they turn into malevolent entities bound by resentment after death. Even if they couldn't become ghost cultivators, they would at least return to the embrace of heaven and earth.

Yet, at this moment, two cultivators had fallen to the lowly state of a *chang gui*, or ghost servant. After a lifetime of cultivation, they had died, only to find themselves in a state where their very existence, movement, and demise were beyond their control. This was unacceptable to anyone, driving their current emotions to near madness.

"No! No! Impossible—"

"It can't be, this is an illusion! An illusion—"

One screamed "impossible," while the other insisted it was an illusion. Despite their internal realization of the grim reality, no matter how they vented their fear and unease, screaming and struggling, their feet remained rooted to the spot. It wasn't a spell binding them; rather, a strange understanding that they were forbidden to move was the true source of their terror.

Unable to control their emotions, the Old Ox and Lu Shan Jun watched silently from the side. The Old Ox, in particular, wore a cruel, amused smile, as if watching a circus act. Though the two cultivators couldn't rein in their own feelings, someone else could bring them under control.

"Silence."

Just two faint words, uttered by Lu Shan Jun with a slight movement of his lips, instantly silenced the two cultivators who had been raging like madmen.

After all, they had cultivated for hundreds of years. At this point, they had no choice but to accept reality.

"Hahaha… hundreds of years old, and still screaming like children!"

Niu Batian burst out laughing from the side, but Lu Shan Jun did not mock them. Once their emotions had settled, he asked,

"Who are you two, and what are your backgrounds? Speak."

The two *chang gui* cultivators exchanged a glance, gently closed their eyes, then slowly opened them again. One of them spoke first.

"To master, my name is Xia Pinming." "To master, my name is Liu Xi."

"We have long resided in the Jingxuan Sea Pavilion, and we know some secrets of heaven and earth. Our loyalty to the Sea Pavilion is not as strong as our desire to pursue the Great Dao."

"Oh! And people like you two, who truly betray your masters and ancestors, still claim to pursue the Great Dao?"

The Old Ox continued with his sarcastic remarks. Lu Shan Jun knew the Old Ox's temperament and didn't stop him. The two cultivators, however, seemed unaffected by the comments, and one continued,

"We are old acquaintances with Lian Ping'er. Decades ago, it was she who guided us to understand the truths of the Way of Heaven and Earth. However, we later found ourselves serving different masters. After initial disbelief, several of us received guidance from an esteemed lord behind the scenes, and our cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds. That lord, however, has never truly appeared in person."

The other added,

"We occasionally contacted a cultivation family on Thousand Reefs Island, which is connected to a major immortal sect. The disaster at the Sea Pavilion this time was also premeditated."

The Old Ox squinted at Lu Shan Jun, who understood his meaning without a word.

"Besides you two in the Jingxuan Sea Pavilion, who else is involved? What do you know about those outside the Sea Pavilion? Give us the specifics of that cultivation family, and which immortal sect they are connected to. Even if you don't know for sure, tell us your suspicions."

"Yes!"

Many crucial secrets they had once guarded were now easily spilling from their mouths. However, even as Lu Shan Jun's *chang gui*, they couldn't say everything. For instance, there were things they clearly wanted to utter, but Lu Shan Jun would subtly sense something and stop them.

This wasn't due to any past vows they had made; after all, even if such vows came true, they would only claim the lives of these two, which had no bearing on Lu Shan Jun. However, if the vows were activated, he would not only fail to get the desired information but also lose two very useful *chang gui*.

Nevertheless, Lu Shan Jun and Niu Batian still acquired sufficient information.

After a long while, the two *chang gui*, who appeared somewhat listless from revealing too many "forbidden words," were reabsorbed by Lu Shan Jun. The Old Ox chuckled and praised,

"Heh heh, Old Lu, getting these two *chang gui* who know so much is far better than those intimidating demons you ate, who were really just counting money for the ones who sold them! It's a pity these two came out too early and don't know Lian Ping'er's whereabouts."

"Stop chattering. Go back to that city, transmit this information. The Wei family will know what to do."

The Old Ox looked up at the sky.

"I never expected the sword carvings on the Sword Wall Cliff of the Jingxuan Sea Pavilion were made by a master from Longsword Mountain. But now, among the masters of Longsword Mountain, there are also those with wicked ambitions!"

Seeing Lu Shan Jun looking at him, the Old Ox grinned.

"Anyway, I don't believe the entire Longsword Mountain is corrupted. Otherwise, many things wouldn't be so complicated."

"Even more unexpected is that ancient demon blood was sealed beneath the heavy water of the Jingxuan Sea Pavilion! Come on, let's head back to the city first!"

Niu Batian and Lu Shan Jun flew together towards the city they had visited earlier. Along the way, the Old Ox and Lu Shan Jun were already discussing how to make use of the two *chang gui*.

"Where do you think Lian Ping'er will go?"

The Old Ox suddenly asked this, and Lu Shan Jun looked at him.

"What do you think?"

For a moment, neither spoke, simply riding the wind forward. But shortly after, Lu Shan Jun and Niu Batian spoke in unison.

"Jiufeng Mountain."

The Old Ox and Lu Shan Jun now understood why the Northern Demon had been so invested in this matter, and so enraged afterward. However, it seemed Lian Ping'er believed the Northern Demon was not worth supporting, especially since the Northern Demon had completely disregarded her safety during the incident.

Given Lian Ping'er's temperament, what would happen if the Northern Demon didn't intend to give her the ancient demon blood? It would be highly likely that she would use it on A Ze, whom she cared for deeply.

Although A Ze was safe and discreet when with Wei Wuwei, in this situation, Lian Ping'er would certainly pay attention to the Jiufeng Mountain area.

When A Ze had previously chosen to leave, Wei Wuwei had informed Lu Shan Jun, who wasn't too far away. So, he and the Old Ox knew A Ze was returning to Jiufeng Mountain. If A Ze appeared at Ruanshan Ferry after disembarking from the Jade Embrace Treasure Boat, it wouldn't be difficult for Lian Ping'er to find out.

At least, if it were either Lu Shan Jun or Niu Batian, they would very likely do the same.

"Since it's such a coincidence, these two *chang gui* could be put to good use."

Lu Shan Jun, still in flight, suddenly spoke again. The Old Ox, though already understanding his idea, still teased,

"These two are precious toys, aren't you afraid of breaking them?"

"No matter how precious a toy is, if you just keep it for show and don't play with it, it loses its purpose!"

"Good point!"

Half a day later, outside a large city, the two Jingxuan Sea Pavilion cultivators were once again exhaled by Lu Shan Jun. This time, however, streams of white energy enveloped them, giving them the sensation of having physical bodies again. Even most of their cultivation power seemed to have returned, and they stood there indistinguishable from living cultivators.

As the two stood amazed, delighted, and confused, Lu Shan Jun transmitted his instructions. The two *chang gui* then bowed in acceptance and departed on the wind.

Meanwhile, Lu Min, though unsure whether those two terrifying demons were truly vexed with each other or deliberately let him go, knew that escaping with his life was paramount. As the saying goes, only with a useful body can one seek revenge.

Regardless of the circumstances, Lu Min hid in a white cloud in the sky and swiftly used all his abilities to stabilize his surging vital energy. It would be a cruel irony to be saved only to die from a qi explosion.

Approximately six hours later, Lu Min finally stabilized his aura, and fortunately, no other incidents occurred.

By now, day had long turned to night, but Lu Min remained in the cloud, not leaving immediately.

'This place is Hengzhou in the Northern Reaches, and I don't have any close friends here… However, Jiufeng Mountain is a major immortal sect, and it was the venue for the last Immortal Sojourn Assembly. I did meet a few trustworthy fellow Daoists there… I'll have to take a chance!'

Lu Min was truly at his wit's end, and with his terrible condition, he had very few options.

PS: My cold is almost gone. Updates will resume tomorrow.