Zen Master Xiao Yue's Emei Sect flourished rapidly, growing more prosperous by the day.

Countless martial arts practitioners flocked to the sect to seek apprenticeship. Zen Master Xiao Yue divided them into two disciplines—Buddhist and Daoist. The Buddhist martial arts were taught by his foremost disciple, Bing Weimo Zhu Hong, and the newly recruited Golden Light took the position of Martial Arts Leader.

Within Buddhism, there was a layman named Vimalakirti who was referred to as an at-home Buddha by Mahayana Buddhism, fundamentally a Buddha just like the monastic Shakyamuni himself. The difference lay in the fact that Shakyamuni embraced the monastic life, whereas Vimalakirti depicted the lay life. He taught non-monastics how to cultivate Buddhism and attain enlightenment, blazing a trail for lay Buddhist practice.

This elder layman was a businessman, the wealthiest man, extremely rich, who surrounded himself with wives and concubines, maidens a many. Thus, he feigned illness. Shakyamuni dispatched his ten Great Arhats to inquire after his health. They engaged in a debate over Buddhist Law, which none of the disciples could win, prompting Shakyamuni to send Manjusri Bodhisattva, renowned for wisdom, resulting in a spectacle as celestial as a heaven maiden offering flowers.

The Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei, whose style name was Mojie, originated from this same Vimalakirti.

Zen Master Xiao Yue's chief disciple—unrelated to the person of the same name who wished to steal the Taiyin Five Smoke Net from the Wutai Sect and was killed by Shi Feiyang in the Qinling—was frail and sickly as a child. Coming from a wealthy family, they sought treatments everywhere to no avail. When Zen Master Xiao Yue happened to stop at their door for alms, he noticed the child had excellent innate potential and was fated with him, so he converted the child and took him up the mountain to impart the Immortal Law.

Nowadays, Zhu Hong was still sickly pale, appearing consumptive, yet in truth, his swordsmanship had advanced to exceptional levels. As a monk, he was stationed at the Feilai Temple on Emei Mountain.

The Golden Light was from a family who later became the wealthiest, a vast merchant of great fortune. Fond of martial arts from a young age, he studied under many masters, refining his skill. Now, after formally taking Zhu Hong as his teacher and converting to Buddhism, he was given his dharma name and led over two hundred new Buddhist disciples who joined the sect.

Xiao Yue's second disciple, Lu Qing, now donning Daoist robes, became True Master Lu Qing, dedicating himself to cultivating the "Nine Heavens Mysterious Scripture," Daoist techniques. Residing at the Golden Summit's Jade Emperor Temple, he took under him the Taoist monk Songwen, commanding over five hundred newly inducted Daoist disciples.

The number of Emei disciples grew, bustling across the hills and valleys, prompting Zen Master Xiao Yue to specifically commission the construction of Feilei Hall outside the Feilei Cave.

The area around the Feilei Hall was naturally cloaked in thick fog, where visibility was nil beyond the reach of one's hand, and a hundred paces within would loop back to where one began.

Zen Master Xiao Yue cast a spell to clear a third of the fog and forcefully erected the palace, assigning a group of martial disciples to train there, loudly punching and kicking every day, creating a lively scene.

The Emei Sect blocked all entrances, including the main gate of the previous Immortal Mansion, the Left Yuan's Thirteenth Boundary, and the Right Yuan's Fire House exit, stifling the access with the force of a dragon mount.

If Emei Sect chose to open these portals, the Immortal Array would activate, inevitably drawing crowds to watch, mistaking it for the appearance of Immortals or the emergence of unique treasures...

Those from Emei Sect were driven to despair by the incessant disturbances. They could tolerate the noise for a short period since retreating into seclusion for months, years, and even sixty years was common practice for them.

However, if this situation persisted, it would have severe consequences for the legitimate Emei Sect hidden within the mountains. By the time they emerged from seclusion, these outsiders would become the orthodox Emei.

Logically, for those cultivating towards immortality, as long as one was not concerned with gaining the upper hand, such matters need not be of concern—just focus on perfecting one's own practice. But for Emei Sect, it was unacceptable. With three generations of accumulation and a millennium of heritage, Master Changmei's decree of "Emei to prosper" and the establishment of the sect from a decade ago all became a laughingstock.

Once again, they gathered to strategize a response.

Shi Feiyang listened quietly; most of their discussions revolved around inviting masters to join forces and expel Zen Master Xiao Yue and the rest.

Qi Shuming frowned slightly, listening in silence. He did not favor this approach. As the leader of Emei Sect, he had let the situation fall into such disarray that not only was the sect's site threatened, but also seeking external help to clear house was utterly humiliating.

Had it been just a matter of losing face, it might have been acceptable. The problem was, even if they managed to drive away Zen Master Xiao Yue, what then? Those masters couldn't stay at Emei Mountain indefinitely. Once they left, Xiao Yue would return, and they would be back to the current predicament.

Ultimately, Qi Shuming's gaze settled on Shi Feiyang, who was sitting in a corner, silent throughout, "Does Junior Brother Yue have any insightful suggestions?"

Shi Feiyang replied, "Our true enemy is the Blood God Child Deng Yin. If we could eliminate Deng Yin, Zen Master Xiao Yue could be dispersed with a mere flick of the wrist. If Deng Yin remains, even temporarily driving Xiao Yue away is futile."

Qi Shuming nodded slightly, acknowledging the truth in his words. However, being correct wasn't enough; a solution was needed. Everyone looked towards Shi Feiyang, awaiting more.

Shi Feiyang continued, "I recall that before our senior master's ascension, he left behind the Jade Box Flying Saber, specifically to slay traitors. It goes without saying that it could kill Zen Master Xiao Yue, but could it also slay Deng Yin?"

Qi Shuming exchanged glances with Xuan Zhenzi and others, eventually shaking his head slightly, "I fear probably not."

Shi Feiyang asserted, "I have deduced that our senior master left behind a treasure specifically to deal with Deng Yin!"

Qi Shuming and the others fell silent for a moment, "Our predecessor indeed left behind a treasure, but it should be inside Spiritual Jade Peak, and we are unable to enter. We can only hope that it will open on its own again."

"Is it inside Spiritual Jade Peak then? So the only thing we have that can deal with Deng Yin is the Liangyi Dust Formation? Is there a possibility that we could find a way to lure him in and eliminate him?" Shi Feiyang slapped the table with great resolve, "Why not open the Mountain Gate and let that Blood Child in! We'll rely on the Liangyi Dust Formation to have a decisive battle with him!"

This idea was truly shocking, and everyone exchanged glances, without a word. Finally, Can Xia, the master, said, "That Blood Child is unfathomable, capable of splitting his Primordial Spirit. Now there is a Blood Shadow in our Immortal Mansion, and we are unsure if it's him. We've been on such high alert and still, he found loopholes. Letting him in would be like inviting a thief into the house..."

"We have the predecessor's Liangyi Dust Formation! With Spiritual Jade Peak and the Innate Taiqing One Qi Talisman as the formation's eyes, its power is boundless! Do you all really think that even with the Immortal Array on our side, we still can't defeat him?" Shi Feiyang's tone suddenly changed, "Has our Emei Sect fallen so low? Lack the courage to engage in a fight to the death with the enemy?

If that is truly the case... I have also deduced that a major disaster is destined for us in the future, which should fall upon the Wutai Sect before the future swordfight takes place. I cannot calculate the specifics with my limited Dao Level, but continuing to hold our position here is undoubtedly sitting ducks!"

Qi Shuming said, "I have also calculated that this catastrophe destined for the Wutai Sect is because the Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor intends to once again attempt to snatch the Xuanyuan Nine Swords from Grandmaster Ha Ha. Once he obtains those Nine Swords and completes the fusion of the Heavenly Demon Immortal Slaying Sword with Chi You's Primordial Spirit, there will be nothing left in the world that can control him."

Shi Feiyang purposefully stated only part of the destined catastrophe, leaving the rest for Qi Shuming to reveal, increasing credibility and stirring more intense emotions.

Continuing to cower here, while Zen Master Xiao Yue blocks the door, means once Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor has snatched the Xuanyuan Nine Swords from Grandmaster Ha Ha, the Emei Sect's future will also face extermination. It's better to take a gamble and open the Mountain Gate now, face Deng Yin in a battle to the death!

Can Xia, the master, said, "Then let's rely on the Liangyi Dust Formation and have a go at it with the Blood Demon Red Corpse. We are all people who have been through generations of trials, with a millennium of accumulated cultivation. Now, with the help of the predecessor's Liangyi Dust Formation, if we still can't defeat those two demons, what's the point of all our Immortal Cultivation? If we die, so be it!"

She had truly had enough of these years of being holed up. Her aptitude was not as good as Lady Miao Yi's, her foundation in the Buddhist Law somewhat shallow. That's why after Master Changmei's Ascension, she took You Tan, the master, as her teacher to study Buddhist Law.

After cultivating both Dao and Buddhism, despite her diligent efforts, she still fell short compared to Xun Lanyin. She wasn't capable of ascending to the Spiritual Space Immortal Realm, and could only aim for the Western Heavenly Bliss World.

She still desired to go to the Immortal Realm, or else she wouldn't have maintained her Daoist appearance for all these years. Unlike those fellow sect members who had completely converted to Buddhism, with the resolve to go to the Nirvana, such as Ascetic Monks, Master Baiyun, Great Master Yuan Yuan, Zen Master Yuan Guo, and so on, who had adopted the full Buddhist appearance.

Master Can Xia had a bit of defiance in her heart, and Shi Feiyang had been subtly rousing her anger recently. This time she truly couldn't hold back anymore, ready to fight to the death with the Blood Child!

Qi Shuming didn't agree immediately but went back inside the cave and discussed and planned carefully with Master Xuanzhen, Xun Lanyin, and others. Finally, they decided to adopt Shi Feiyang's strategy: to let the Blood Child in for a fight to the death!

Then everyone gathered again to study the specific implementation. Master Baiyun proposed to ask for experts to assist in battle, such as Master Fen Tuo, Master You Tan, Master Ren, Li Jingxu, and others.

Qi Shuming shook his head and rejected the idea, "If we invite all of them, the Blood Child won't come. They cannot stay at Emei Mountain forever. We have to solve this ourselves.

I, in my capacity as the current Emei Sect Leader after Master Changmei, formally challenge that Blood Child. We won't be asking for any outside help. As for who will come to help at that time, it's all up to fate."

Shi Feiyang then suggested, "While we're dealing with the Blood Demon and the Red Corpse here, although the Liangyi Dust Formation is infinitely wonderful, the Blood Demon originated from Emei, and this is where he cultivated in the past.

He also has a deep understanding of the Liangyi Dust Formation. Inevitable accidents might occur, so we should send the children to Master Fen Tuo, Master You Tan, Jile Perfected, and others,

to prevent any losses. Once we have eliminated the Blood Demon and Red Corpse, we can bring them back. But let's say the worst happens, and we fall to the Blood Demon and Red Corpse, an entire loss,

the Emei Sect would still have left many excellent successors on the outside. In time, once they grow and slay demons for revenge, they could also rejuvenate the Emei Sect."

Qi Shuming had already planned for this, not all the Emei Sect disciples could be sent away. He had a list based on everyone's Dao Level and fate with those outsiders—some people were to be sent away, and some were to stay and share the fate of the Emei Sect.

When he took out the list for everyone to see, there was an uproar.

Qi Lingyun and Qi Jincan, the siblings, were all left behind, with only Qi Xia'er taking some people to Baihua Mountain Chaoyin Cave to seek refuge with Master You Tan.

Li Yingqiong and Zhou Qingyun were both to leave, and they were tasked with the Purple and Blue Double Swords. But since Li Yingqiong was the future Sect Hierarch, sending her away to protect the remnants was also understandable.

And those with outside family powers like Ling Yunfeng, Yi Jing, Yi Ding, and Yi Zhen were all sent back.

The remaining disciples like Zhuge Jingwo, Shen Tuhong, and the other three Immortal direct descendents stayed to share the fate of the Emei Sect.

Seeing the list, Shi Feiyang noticed that Yue Wen was also on the list to be sent away, and he couldn't help but admire Qi Shuming a little. After all, none of them knew whether they would ultimately be victorious in the coming challenge.

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