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Chapter 189: Cruel Reality

Fairy Shi had previously collaborated closely with Huanglong Mountain, even meeting and conversing with Huanglong Immortal in the past.

A funeral is considered a significant ceremony in the cultivation world, especially for a Core Formation Immortal. Many will come to pay their respects.

Under these circumstances, failing to attend could be seen as lacking in basic courtesy.

"Manrong is going to make a trip, and will also use the opportunity to procure some resources. With the recent increase in traffic at Huanglong Immortal City, the upcoming auction will likely be of a higher caliber than usual."

"Chang\'an, you can decide for yourself. Even if you don\'t go, I doubt Huanglong Mountain would hold it against you."

Shi Manrong understood Lan Chang\'an\'s concerns.

There was a possibility of disturbances during Huanglong Immortal\'s funeral, such as enemies of Huanglong Mountain seizing the opportunity to cause trouble.

Attending the funeral could be interpreted as "lending support" to Huanglong Mountain.

However, Lan Chang\'an and Shi Manrong were ultimately outsiders. As long as they didn\'t forcefully stand up for Huanglong Mountain, they shouldn\'t attract any serious trouble.

Huanglong Immortal had cultivated numerous connections over the years, and the funeral was expected to draw many invitees, including cultivators from various sects who had good relations with Huanglong Mountain.

"Since you plan to go, I might as well accompany you, so we can look out for each other. However, we should first gather more information about the current situation at Huanglong Mountain."

Lan Chang\'an nodded in agreement.

If Shi Manrong wasn\'t planning to attend, he might have found an excuse to decline and visit later to pay his respects.

But given that they were both on Wuqi Mountain, if Shi Manrong attended while he, who had received favors from Huanglong Mountain, didn\'t even dare to attend the funeral, it would make him appear cold-hearted.

If Huanglong Mountain managed to weather this storm, they might develop a negative impression of him, and his reputation among the wider cultivation world could also suffer.

Wuqi Mountain had its share of well-informed subordinate cultivators.

Once the peak masters gave the order, information was quickly gathered and delivered.

"During the year before Huanglong Immortal\'s death, it was rumored that he had been bedridden, not leaving Huanglong Mountain even once."

"Huanglong Immortal\'s eldest disciple, \'Ji Yifeng,\' has visited many of his master\'s old friends and several major forces over the past two years, but was met with many closed doors."

"Half a month ago, \'Sanhu Immortal\' arrived at Huanglong Immortal City again, suspected to have been hired by someone, likely to the detriment of Huanglong Mountain."

...

As Lan Chang\'an sorted through the information, an unexpected guest arrived at Wuqi Mountain.

A powerful presence belonging to a Fake-Dan cultivator descended from the rolling storm clouds above.

"Peak masters of Wuqi Mountain, come out and face me!"

A fierce-looking bald man in a purple robe landed between the three main peaks, his voice booming like a massive bell.

"A Fake-Dan Immortal!"

"He\'s He Yuanwu! The fourth disciple of Huanglong Immortal—what\'s he doing here at Wuqi Mountain..."

The affiliated cultivators on Wuqi Mountain were filled with dread. Facing the aggressive He Yuanwu, they hid in the shadows, not daring to make a sound.

He Yuanwu was known for his ferocity and his habit of bullying the weak. He was not someone who was easy to deal with.

"Greetings, Immortal He."

Lan Chang\'an, Shi Manrong, and Ye Fei, the three peak masters, came out to greet him.

"What brings Immortal He to our mountain? If you have any requests, we can discuss them on the main peak."

Shi Manrong maintained a dignified posture and smiled lightly.

She had dealt with He Yuanwu in the past during her previous collaborations with Huanglong Mountain.

"No need."

He Yuanwu\'s gaze swept over the three peak masters, lingering slightly on Shi Manrong and Lan Chang\'an, while almost completely ignoring Ye Fei.

"I\'m here to warn you not to attend Huanglong Mountain\'s funeral. If you do, you\'ll bear the consequences!"

This statement was delivered via a voice transmission, his tone overbearing, carrying an unmistakable threat.

Hearing this, Shi Manrong\'s expression changed, but she did not dare to openly defy him.

"He Yuanwu is a good person." Lan Chang\'an\'s heart was delighted.

He wasn\'t particularly eager to attend the funeral at Huanglong Mountain. He preferred to avoid trouble when possible.

But he couldn\'t find a sensible excuse.

Now, with He Yuanwu\'s blatant threat, it provided Lan Chang\'an with the perfect reason to stay away.

"Dare I ask Immortal He, is something about to change at Huanglong Mountain?" Lan Chang\'an asked respectfully, cupping his hands.

He had crossed paths with He Yuanwu before, although it was with the identity of Brother Cheng.

Officially, this was the first time Lan Chang\'an and He Yuanwu were interacting.

"This doesn\'t concern you. Don\'t ask too many questions!"

He Yuanwu shot a cold glance at Lan Chang\'an, then his figure turned into a gust of black wind and sand, disappearing into the sky.

...

After sending off this ferocious god, the three peak masters of Wuqi Mountain were left with sour expressions.

The three of them gathered at Little Turtle Peak, displeased by He Yuanwu\'s behavior.

"After Fu Xuemei formed her Core, He Yuanwu kept a low profile for over a decade, not daring to show his face around Huanglong Mountain. Now that Huanglong Immortal is gone, he\'s brazenly jumping back into the fray."

Shi Manrong\'s expression carried a hint of sarcasm.

"As a traitor to Huanglong Mountain, he likely fears the rise of the Huanglong Mountain lineage under Fu Xuemei\'s leadership more than any other force."

Lan Chang\'an could easily imagine that He Yuanwu was probably obstructing not just him and Shi Manrong, but many other cultivators as well.

Most likely, his targets were all loose cultivators.

"Fairy Shi, perhaps we should wait until the situation stabilizes before going to pay our respects." Lan Chang\'an suggested via a voice transmission.

"That seems to be our best option."

Fairy Shi sighed. She didn\'t dare to cross paths with He Yuanwu, an Immortal, in the case he held a grudge, the consequences would be hard to predict.

That very day, Lan Chang\'an sent a letter to Huanglong Mountain, expressing his condolences.

In the letter, he explained that he had been threatened by a Fake-Dan cultivator and was too afraid to visit Huanglong Mountain in the short term.

This approach was in line with his persona and it was hard to fault him.

Lan Chang\'an and Huanglong Mountain had only turned on good terms in recent years, with no real friendship or significant exchange of interests.

The cultivation world was a place where the strong ruled and the weak perished.

Lan Chang\'an staying out of the fray without kicking them while they were down was already better than many other cultivators would have done.

...

Ten days later.

Shocking news came from Huanglong Immortal City.

Lan Chang\'an opened a letter from Zheng Centipede, and his face changed as his mood fluctuated.

According to the letter, less than a third of the expected number of cultivators from all parties had come to the funeral ceremony of the Huanglong Immortal.

Of the expected Core Formation Immortals, only two showed up, and fewer than ten Fake-Dan cultivators attended.

Given Huanglong Immortal\'s extensive network built over hundreds of years, the low attendance from high-level cultivators was surprising to Lan Chang\'an.

But that wasn\'t the worst of it.

There was another, more alarming detail from the funeral.

None of the major sects of the Liang Kingdom sent any high-ranking cultivators to offer their condolences.

Flame Departing Palace only sent a single Foundation Establishment disciple to attend the funeral.

Other sects sent at most a single Fake-Dan representative.

"The Huanglong Mountain lineage is finished!"

Reading halfway through the letter, Lan Chang\'an\'s heart sank as he already guessed what would happen next.

The reality was even harsher than he had anticipated.

According to the letter:

Before Huanglong Immortal\'s death, he had made arrangements for his passing, and took the initiative to relinquish a significant portion of Huanglong Immortal City\'s interests.

The various factions in Huanglong Immortal City should have had no objections.

After all, there was still a Core Formation Immortal present in Huanglong Immortal, and the Huang Dragon Beast retained its cultivation at the early stage of the third-rank.

With peaceful negotiations, they could have shared the benefits without conflict.

However.

During the latter part of the funeral ceremony, former enemies of Huanglong Mountain, mostly those with personal grudges, collectively launched an attack.

With no support from the higher-ups of any sect, Huanglong Mountain was isolated and outnumbered, facing two to three times as many enemies.

Of those attending the funeral, only a few were willing to fight to the death, while most, seeing how things were unfolding, seized the opportunity to leave.

"Huanglong Immortal\'s eldest disciple, Ji Yifeng, used a secret technique during the chaotic battle to hold off several Fake-Dan cultivators, sacrificing his life in the process..."

"The Huang Dragon Beast fought desperately against a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, its fate unknown, though there are rumors of it being blasted to death by the cultivator\'s magical treasure."

"With Huanglong Mountain\'s efforts to cover her escape, Fu Xuemei managed to flee Huanglong Immortal City despite her serious injuries. Her whereabouts are currently unknown, and there doesn\'t seem to be an organized pursuit."

"The next morning, Flame Departing Palace\'s law enforcement cultivators arrived. They took charge of the situation, mediating disputes, temporarily \'taking over\' Huanglong Mountain, maintaining order in Huanglong Immortal City, and eradicating evil-doers and looters."

...

"Flame Departing Palace really knows how to show up at the right time."

After finishing the letter, Lan Chang\'an couldn\'t help but feel a deep sense of sorrow.

Huanglong Mountain\'s willingness to relinquish some of its interests might have allowed them to survive in ordinary times.

However, with the Liang Kingdom\'s sects suffering a major defeat and incurring heavy losses—especially Flame Departing Palace, which bore the brunt of it—things were different.

In its heyday, the sect might not have cared for the resources of Huanglong Mountain, or rather, it wouldn\'t have risked its reputation for them.

But now, absorbing Huanglong Mountain\'s resources could help Flame Departing Palace recover some of its strength.

The only silver lining was that Flame Departing Palace, as the supreme power in the Liang Kingdom\'s cultivation world, still wanted to maintain some semblance of honor and didn\'t personally take action.

By simply standing back and doing nothing, Huanglong Mountain found itself isolated, with plenty of people eager to take advantage of the situation.

Of course, Huanglong Mountain\'s flourishing power over the past few centuries had made them many enemies, and now they were facing the consequences.

The next evening, at the cave mansion on Little Turtle Peak.

Lan Chang\'an had just finished a conversation with Fairy Shi.

"This guy, why is he here again?" He gently stroked the smooth, fair skin of her back, his brows furrowing slightly.

At that moment, a familiar Fake-Dan aura rapidly intruded into Wuqi Mountain.

"Immortal He! How dare you trespass on the main peak!" Ye Fei\'s voice rang out in shock and anger.

A loud bang echoed as He Yuanwu, surrounded by the Core power of his Fake-Dan, violently shattered the formation protecting Little Pill Peak, which had not yet fully activated.

"He Yuanwu, stop this!"

By the time Lan Chang\'an and Shi Manrong had dressed and arrived at the scene, it was too late.

Ye Fei was being held aloft like a chicken by He Yuanwu.

"Immortal He, why have you captured Ye Fei?"

Faced with the imposing presence of He Yuanwu, Lan Chang\'an and Shi Manrong didn\'t dare get too close and instead engaged him from a distance.

"I have no intention of killing Herbalist Ye. I just need to take him away for a few days."

He Yuanwu said calmly, showing no further hostility toward Lan Chang\'an and Shi Manrong.

Both Lan Chang\'an and Shi Manrong were stronger, and their residences were protected by quasi-third-rank formations, making them much harder targets.

"Why... why is it always me..."

Ye Fei, under a restrictive spell, had a bitter expression on his face.

This wasn\'t the first or second time something like this had happened at Little Pill Peak.

"Immortal He, could you at least tell us why you\'re doing this?" Lan Chang\'an had a feeling there was more to He Yuanwu\'s actions.

"It has nothing to do with you."

He Yuanwu had no intention of explaining, leaving only a final word before departing:

"For the next couple of days, it\'s best for Wuqi Mountain not to take in any outsiders, especially those who are seriously injured."

With that, he stepped onto his flying light and swiftly left Wuqi Mountain.

Lan Chang\'an and Fairy Shi exchanged helpless glances.

"The feng shui of Little Pill Peak, isn\'t there something wrong with it?"[1]

Lan Chang\'an surveyed the terrain and thought about the past events, his expression looked odd.

As for Ye Fei, the best he could do was have the Earth Burrowing Rat memorize his scent and figure out a way to help later.

He Yuanwu would not dare to openly kill Ye Fei if he wanted to maintain his standing in the Liang Kingdom.

Based on Lan Chang\'an\'s experience and intuition, Ye Fei\'s life was likely not in immediate danger. At worst, he might lose some money or suffer a little.

To better understand the situation, Lan Chang\'an and Fairy Shi headed over to Little Pill Peak to inspect the scene.

[1] Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice that involves arranging the environment to harmonize with the natural energy (qi). It is believed to influence well-being, fortune, and spiritual balance.