Chapter 457: The Linmu Mountain and the Yun Sect
In the early morning, the gentle sunlight of tranquility softly spilled onto the girl's countenance, casting a faint blush upon her delicate and tender skin.
The fresh forest breeze of the wilderness brushed against her nostrils, causing her petite little nose to twitch ever so slightly.
Subsequently, the young girl abruptly leaped up with a graceful, fish-like movement.
"What on earth?!"
She looked around with a face full of dread, breathing in the thick spiritual energy and refreshing mountain breeze in the air. The whole person was bewildered.
"Master! Have we died? Why have we never seen this place before?"
In the eyes of the young white dragon girl, who has only wandered in the cosmic starry sky and chaotic realm since her earliest memories, the world she finds herself in now is incredibly unfamiliar and frightening.
While not far away from her, Lu Heng, dressed in white attire, stands pensive and detached on the hillside, with his back turned towards her, lost in thoughts unbeknownst to her.
Upon hearing the commotion of the young girl, Lu Heng finally sighs and turns back, saying to her, "We are still alive and well… This is the Celestial Desolation Realm, and we have successfully broken through the Earthly Behemoth's blockade and returned."
Lu Heng's words left the young girl wearing a perplexed expression.
"Hmm? Master, are you serious?" She sizes up Lu Heng, then glances at the surroundings and continues, "Although this place does indeed resemble the Celestial Desolation Realm you mentioned, but… but since we have returned, why do you wear a troubled expression, Master? Having successfully come home, shouldn't you be happy?"
The girl asked skeptically, "Could it be that we are actually dead, and you, Master, are lying and deceiving your disciple?"
The girl had ample reasons for her doubts.
Regarding this, Lu Heng could only smile wryly and say, "Indeed, we have clearly returned to the Celestial Desolation Realm, so why am I still wearing a troubled expression… sigh…"
Lu Heng pointed towards the distance and said, "Look over there, what do you see?"
The girl followed Lu Heng's pointed direction and saw the sun that had recently risen in the sky, along with the mountains, forests, and earth bathed in sunlight. And there… stood a colossal celestial tree that seemed to tower at the edge of the heavens and earth.
Indeed, the Celestial Tree, this is not an adjective, but a noun.
In the direction that Lu Heng pointed, at the distant end of the mountain range, there stood a colossal and unbelievably enormous tree, surpassing the bounds of reality.
In comparison to the towering tree, the vast and sprawling mountain range not far from Lu Heng appeared as mere worms at the feet of giants, insignificant and minuscule.
The vast expanse of clouds, barely reaching the middle of the towering tree. Amongst the immensely colossal canopy, it remained uncertain as to how many miles in circumference it veiled. Such was the extent of its grandeur that even Lu Heng and his companions, who stood at a considerable distance, could behold the true countenance of this colossal tree.
Lu Heng inquired, pointing in that direction, while the young girl, resting her hand on a pergola, replied, "I saw a tree… What's the matter?"
The perplexed young girl turned her gaze towards Lu Heng, and said, "In the Celestial Desolation Realm, isn't it normal for there to be a slightly larger tree? Master, why do you look so surprised? Have you never seen this tree before?"
With a wooden expression, Lu Heng nodded and said, "Indeed, I have never seen this tree before… Furthermore, it seems that the location of this tree is right on Hanyu Mountain."
"Oh, I see now…" the White Dragon maiden exclaimed in realization, "Master, after being away from home for four thousand years, you return only to find that our ancestral grounds have transformed into a majestic celestial tree… erm…"
The young girl turned sharply towards Lu Heng, astonished, and exclaimed, "Master! Your home has been burglarized!"
Lu Heng glared at her and retorted, "Nonsense! Utterly devoid of comprehension… What burglary? This tree is the peach tree I mentioned, capable of bearing peach fruits! It's just that I never expected it to grow so large after four thousand years of absence."
"Oh, it's not a case of burglary…" The girl sighed with relief, then complained, "Since it's not a burglary, Master, what are you worried about? This peach tree has been alive for four thousand years and it has grown so… um, robustly. In any case, it's a good thing! It shows that Martial Sister Xiao Ai and the others have put a lot of effort into cultivating the fruit trees and managing our sect."
"Although it appears that our sect may have moved to another location, seeing how they have managed to nurture a peach tree to such a grand extent, our sect must surely be formidable!"
The White Dragon maiden's face was filled with anticipation.
Lu Heng, on the other hand, silently gazed at her, shaking his head with a bitter tinge. "Decaying wood cannot be carved… Decaying wood cannot be carved… Alas…"
He sighed and said, "After returning last night, I discovered that this peach tree had grown so massive. Subsequently, I entertained the idea of going to Hanyu Mountain to see Xiao Ai and the others."
"However, as this thought emerged, there suddenly flashed within my heart a palpable sense of unease, as if there were immense troubles awaiting me ahead…"
Lu Heng said with a gloomy expression, "Four thousand years ago, when those fellows were still inexperienced, they caused a great commotion. Now, after four thousand years, their cultivation has far exceeded the past, so the troubles they provoke are bound to be even greater…"
"Alas…"
Lu Heng spoke and couldn't help but let out a sigh. He said, "How about this, while I wait here, you secretly go to Hanyu Mountain to observe the current situation and gather information for me? Then, you can come back and inform me."
The words of Lu Heng left the young girl speechless.
She stared at Lu Heng and said, "Master, are you really acting cowardly…? Although it is understandable for a disciple to feel uneasy when they are close to home, as the mighty Wolf God of Hanyu Mountain, a towering figure in cultivation, why would you fear a group of junior disciples? Haven't you been missing for four thousand years? Haven't you left without a word? Haven't you abandoned them, with their low cultivation levels? A mere trivial matter… wouldn't Martial Sister Xiao Ai and the others dare to act insolently, right?"
The girl was filled with confidence in Lu Heng.
Lu Heng coughed and said, "Um… it's not that I fear Xiao Ai, even though the Heavenly Thunder Sword is in her possession. Could she really use the Heavenly Thunder Sword to strike me down? My main concern is…"
Just as Lu Heng was about to persuade his disciples, two rays of light suddenly flew in from a distance.
Lu Heng's brow furrowed, immediately halting his words.
As those two rays of light circled in the air, they directly flew towards Lu Heng and his disciples, landing in front of them and transforming into two young men dressed in similar green robes.
"The disciple Qingye of the Linmu Mountain…"
"…Qingyu."
The two young men in green robes simultaneously bowed and said, "Greetings, senior."
The young girl with a white dragon observed these two strangers with unparalleled curiosity, awaiting her master's response.
Lu Heng, slightly perplexed, murmured, "The Linmu Mountain…"
In his memory, he had never heard this name before.
However, he still respectfully returned the gesture and said, "Lu Ren of the Yun sect, my young friends, you are quite polite."
Lu Heng casually threw out an alias Lu Heng.
The disciples of the Yun sect are the most common sight, they can be found on every street. It is most convenient to travel under the identity of a Yun sect disciple.
However, this time, it seems that Lu Heng miscalculated.
After he finished speaking, the two young men in green clothes simultaneously trembled.
"The Yun sect…"
The two exchanged a glance and both saw the astonishment in each other's eyes.
The young man who called himself Qingye respectfully asked, "May I inquire, is it the ancient Yun sect from which the Sword King Huo Feng, who shattered the mountains with a single sword for thousands of years, hails?"
