Chapter 143 — Reluctance
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 5 of 7
Yun Yifeng shook his head again and again. "Zhenren flatters me, far too much," he said—then his expression suddenly grew grave. "In truth, my visit to your mountain this time concerns two great matters, on which I must beg the aid of the Canglan Sect."
Zhenren Daoyan said quickly, "Valley Master Yun is too courteous. Pray speak freely."
Yun Yifeng cleared his throat. "I will conceal nothing from you, sirs. The first of these matters concerns a great calamity such as the world has rarely seen in these several hundred years!"
The Canglan Sect at once stirred. Tian Buhui, seated below Zhenren Daoyan, knitted his brows. "What does Valley Master Yun mean by that?"
Yun Yifeng sighed. "You may not know, sirs, but just one month ago, within the ten thousand desolate mountains of the southern border that my valley has guarded for generations, a peerless demon has been reborn."
Zhenren Daoyan was taken aback. "A peerless demon?"
Yun Yifeng nodded. "Indeed—a peerless demon. You are far away in the Central Plains and do not know the particulars, but my Fenxia Valley line has guarded the southern border for generations, and so I know them well. This demon styles himself the 'Beast Sovereign,' an ancient fiend. None know whence he came; all that is known is that in ages past he brought ruin to the world and slaughtered countless living souls..."
Zeng Shuchang, peak master of Fenghui Peak, seated beside Tian Buhui, frowned. "Do you mean to say that with Valley Master Yun's heaven-spanning cultivation, and the full strength of Fenxia Valley besides, this demon cannot be dealt with?"
Yun Yifeng's face darkened. "You mock me, sirs. It is not that my valley fears trouble or dares not shoulder the burden—it is that I know full well this matter is no trifle, and far beyond what Fenxia Valley alone can withstand. That is why I have come so presumptuously, to beg you, Zhenren, for the sake of all living things under heaven, to raise the call and have the whole world strike together—only thus is there hope of victory. Otherwise all is lost, and countless living souls will surely perish."
The Canglan Sect exchanged glances. In truth, it was hard to credit: all had been well, and suddenly Fenxia Valley leaps out to announce a peerless demon, one that requires every cultivator under heaven to unite against it before there is any hope. How was anyone to accept such a thing? But Zhenren Daoyan was, after all, a man who had attained the Way. After a long silence, he said resolutely:
"If matters are indeed as Valley Master Yun says, then this is a calamity such as the world has never seen. We who cultivate the Way, and who have always styled ourselves the righteous path, cannot stand idly by. In that case, the Canglan Sect shall join hands with Fenxia Valley to resist this demon. Afterward I shall send word to Venerable Pucheng of the Brahma Sound Temple, asking him to come to Canglan Mountain to deliberate with us."
Yun Yifeng let out a long breath and clapped his hands. "Excellent, excellent. Only now can I set my heart at ease."
Zhenren Daoyan smiled. "Valley Master Yun jests. By the way, what of this second great matter—what is it? Another calamity, perhaps?"
A gleam flashed in Yun Yifeng's eyes. He gazed deeply at Zhenren Daoyan, then said, "No. This second matter is a joyous one."
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Zhenren Daoyan's mouth.
Yun Yifeng smiled and said, "The second matter for which I have come is to seek, on behalf of my disciple Li Xun, the hand of your sect's Miss Lu Xueling."
At these words, Lu Xueling, standing behind Master Shuijing, trembled; she flung up her head. And among the Canglan Sect it was as though a pot had boiled over—an uproar on the instant, a reaction far more astonished than when they had heard of peerless demons and heaven-sent calamity!
Countless gazes instantly fixed on Lu Xueling's stunned face, then, a moment later, were drawn away once more by Daoist Zhenren Daoyan.