Chapter 1810: Embarrassed

The mountains of Yunshan reach unending heights; even ghosts lament the moonlight. Immortal birds find them hard to traverse; to seek the Dao, one must call upon a heavenly vessel.

As one of the five Sacred Emperor Secret Realms, the Cloud Mountain Emperor Realm is renowned for its sheer "height." Both its mountains and its Dao reach immense altitudes. Those who seek the Dao by ascending these peaks must also cultivate a supreme mindset; without it, crossing is impossible.

This realm is filled with towering mountains and ridges. Various tribes reside on the peaks, which soar into the clouds amidst ethereal mist and smoke, making residence feel like living in a heavenly realm of breathtaking beauty.

Legend has it that when the ancestor of the Yunshan Hua Clan discovered this realm, he achieved enlightenment atop a high mountain, transforming into an immortal bird. This bird soared over high mountains, spreading its wings to tread upon the stars. It traversed peak after peak, each time believing it had reached the absolute summit, only to look up and see yet another mountain beyond. The bird spent an entire lifetime traversing, yet never managed to leave the mountains.

The mountains of Yunshan are stacked endlessly, and the path of the Dao is similarly obscured by countless layers. Perhaps only by riding a heavenly vessel can one truly reach the summit. The Hua Clan ancestor eventually halted on one of these mountains, suddenly awakened to the truth, and, in a burst of anger, drew his sword to cleave through the illusion. On this very mountain, he built a dwelling and settled. With his sword, he carved eight large characters onto a stele, meant to serve as a warning for future generations:

“The Dao is boundless; know when to cease.”

This peak later became known as the "Stopping Dao Peak" within the Cloud Mountain Emperor Realm. His dwelling was subsequently rebuilt into the "Cloud Mountain Sacred Hall" of the Cloud Mountain Emperor Realm. This principle thus served as a warning to all future generations: when a Yunshan Hua Clan member seeks the Dao, they must strive for the "supreme" but also question "when to stop."

“Greed, anger, and ignorance... greed is the primary detriment...”

Inside the Cloud Mountain Sacred Hall, mist hung heavy.

Hua Changdeng sighed softly. He suddenly rose from his high seat in the main hall and slowly descended the steps, intending to exit.

“Patriarch?”

Below the jade steps, clan elders on both sides were embroiled in a furious debate, arguing incessantly. Only the silent few at the back noticed the patriarch's unusual movement.

The other clan elders, split into two factions, left and right, were still vehemently debating something:

“The Wurao Emperor Realm is a top-tier blessed land, no less significant than our Yunshan. Now that Wurao is being divided into ten parts, Han Palace and Beiming each claim only one, Gan Shi takes nothing, and our Yunshan alone stands to gain eighty percent.”

“Consider, everyone, isn’t this akin to pie falling from the sky? Does such good fortune truly exist in this world?”

“While the five Sacred Emperor Families may differ in status, they have always maintained a relative balance. If you ask this old man, our Yunshan could reasonably take three parts of the Wurao Emperor Realm; five parts would be pushing it. We absolutely cannot claim eighty percent; that would be overreaching!”

While the right faction remained conservative and rational, the left faction's arguments were decidedly more aggressive:

“Fortune favors the bold, and timidity leads to ruin. If Heaven bestows a gift and you fail to seize it, you’ll bear the consequences. Our patriarch was largely solely responsible for slaying the Sacred Emperor Yu Kunpeng, and now, with the spoils distributed, we’re hesitant to claim what is ours?”

“The Han Palace Sacred Emperor remained in seclusion; that Moon Fox merely provided some intelligence and gets to claim ten percent. The Beiming Emperor Realm didn’t even make an appearance from start to finish, yet also demands ten percent. And as for Gan Shi...”

“Haha, Gan Shi contributed nothing either. He dares not claim anything precisely because he doesn’t deserve it. This eighty percent of Wurao, I consider it far too little, yet you find it excessive? Simply ludicrous!”

Their words were sharp, laced with sarcasm and disdain.

The right faction, though conservative and rational, was not without temper. They immediately pointed at the left faction members and retorted angrily:

“You reckless fools, you will bring ruin upon our Yunshan’s prosperity!”

“Is Gan Shi some benevolent entity? His open refusal only indicates a far greater hidden ambition, beyond our foresight.”

“If Beiming wants it, let them have it—not just one share, even three would be acceptable. At a time when five families are becoming four, we need to form alliances. Yunshan dominating alone will only make us the target of all others!”

“And as for the Han Palace Moon Clan...”

The elder leading the conservative right faction scoffed repeatedly, saying, “Regarding the 'Hua Yuebei Dao' (a historical cooperation between the clans), their Han Palace Moon Clan was once at the forefront, yet now they only seek ten percent. If our Yunshan makes an outrageous demand and truly suppresses them, are you not afraid of the repercussions?”

The leading elder of the radical left faction dismissed this as utter nonsense, brazenly mocking:

“Rao Mang is dead, Yu Kunpeng is vanquished—these are all achievements owed solely to our patriarch. The 'Hua Yuebei Dao' is now a relic of the past.”

“Today, we shouldn’t even speak of 'Hua Yuebei Dao,' but rather 'Yue Huaobei Dao.' Our clan patriarch is indomitable; how magnificent is the sharp edge of this ancient sword cultivator?”

“Where the Hunting Ghost Sword points, even the Han Palace Sacred Emperor must concede. Yet you wish for our patriarch to halt his advance? How preposterous!”

The scene immediately devolved into chaos.

The clan elders from both factions were now forehead-to-forehead, nose-to-nose, hurling insults, moments away from physical blows:

“You’re absurd!”

“No, you’re even more absurd!”

“You are all arrogant extremists!”

“You cowardly rats!”

“If you dare, make the first move! Let’s see if the Patriarch will strike you down, or if clan law will tolerate you!”

“This old man has no descendants to speak of. You, on the other hand, have heirs. Dare to try laying a hand on me?”

“Try me then!”

“Argh—”

A sharp thud echoed.

Hua Changdeng remained silent, descending the steps to stand before them all.

He subtly raised his left hand, and a bronze lamp materialized within it. His right hand lightly pressed against his waist, where the formidable Hunting Ghost Sword rested.

“Hoo—”

In broad daylight, an eerie, ghostly wail reverberated throughout the Cloud Mountain Sacred Hall, circling its four sides and startling everyone present.

All eyes snapped back to the figure at the forefront. Compared to the numerous grey-haired clan elders, Hua Changdeng appeared to be only in his thirties or forties, a middle-aged man. Though his eyes bore a hint of world-weariness, his aura was sharp and incisive.

His gaze swept over them, like an eagle's predatory stare or a wolf's wary glance. All the clan elders bowed their heads, clasped their hands, and obediently retreated:

“Patriarch, we were merely impulsive; we wouldn’t truly come to blows.”

“Why has the Patriarch come down? This sword... uh?”

“Where is the Patriarch heading?”

The clan elders were clearly not foolish. Even amidst their most intense daily arguments, the Patriarch would not descend the steps with a sword simply to make an example and demand silence. With a lamp in one hand and the Hunting Ghost Sword at his waist, he was evidently heading outside the hall to eliminate those who deserved it.

Soon, a clan elder's eyes lit up with surprise and asked:

“Has the Sky Ladder passage opened?”

Hua Changdeng had no patience for these old men. Yu Kunpeng had fallen months ago, and the fertile lands of the Wurao Emperor Realm remained unevenly divided among the five Sacred Emperor Families, a matter constantly delayed. Every tactic had been employed—from suggestions of equal division and polite concessions, to outrageous demands, feigned disinterest, or reluctant acceptance.

However, the current contentious situation in the Cloud Mountain Sacred Hall was likely little different from what was unfolding in the other Sacred Emperor Secret Realms. Essentially, each clan desired to gain more for themselves but also wished to avoid being targeted by other families and becoming a common enemy for the next hundred or even thousand years over this issue. Judging by the past efficiency of the various Sacred Emperor Secret Realms, this matter would likely drag on for another six months to a year without resolution.

Hua Changdeng naturally could not involve himself in such a dispute. Carrying his lamp and with his sword at his side, he walked to the hall entrance under the elders’ bewildered gazes, pausing only then.

“You may continue your discussion.”

“A rat has found its way into the rice bin; someone is far too greedy. I’m going to clean it up.”

“What?”

The elders, bewildered, followed him out of the hall. Some wanted to inquire what exactly had happened, while others wished to offer the Patriarch advice or assistance. However, Hua Changdeng did not linger. After speaking, he swayed, and his figure vanished.

“What did the Patriarch mean?”

“Is he annoyed again? Were we too noisy?”

“This is a clan meeting! We are discussing important matters! What's this about being annoyed? Is the Patriarch truly such a person?”

The elders huddled together, sensing a hidden meaning in Hua Changdeng’s words. Someone pondered aloud:

“In this old man’s opinion, the Patriarch’s stance is very clear: we must not be greedy!”

“Nonsense! Do not twist the Patriarch’s meaning…”

“You’re talking nonsense…”

“You’re even more…”

Soon, the old men erupted into another argument. However, outside the main hall of the Cloud Mountain Sacred Hall, there seemed to be a mysterious calming power, more potent than inside. The elders did not argue for long before they successively quieted down. Finally, their gazes collectively turned to a tall stone stele standing to the right of the main hall, lost in thought. That stele was left by the Hua Clan ancestor after he selected the clan’s location, bearing eight inscribed characters of profound meaning:

“The Dao is boundless; know when to cease.”

“Dao Qiongcang!”

Xu Xiaoshou, hovering above the purple bamboo forest in free-view mode, shouted unapologetically at the stone figure below. He knew that Dao Qiongcang had undoubtedly detected his presence. This omnipresent individual truly embodied unfathomability, proving unavoidable even within Hua Changdeng’s soul memories.

“Xu Xiaoshou.”

The youth within the stone figure, appearing only thirteen or fourteen, spoke in a snide, particularly irritating tone. It conveyed a clear message: “Want to hit me? Then show yourself!”

“Hmph…”

Xu Xiaoshou composed himself, relaxed his mind, and suppressed any anger. Even though Dao Qiongcang and Cui Yin had colluded half a year ago, seemingly putting them at odds and leading to a complete cessation of contact between them, Xu Xiaoshou did not believe the flamboyant old Daoist would willingly remain subservient; he surely had other motives. There was one absolute principle for Xu Xiaoshou:

“Unless absolutely compelled, never make an enemy of Dao Qiongcang.”

This was Xu Xiaoshou’s innermost conviction. He had, of course, made every preparation to completely sever ties and become an adversary, yet he still knew that truly making an enemy of Dao Qiongcang would come at an exorbitant cost, perhaps even unbearable for the Ancestral Gods. And that was precisely the nature of their ongoing game. Xu Xiaoshou also understood that, given the flamboyant old Daoist’s intellect, his own value in Dao Qiongcang’s eyes should be no less than Cui Yin’s. So, after their initial exchange of shouts, seeing that Dao Qiongcang was willing to communicate, Xu Xiaoshou let out a soft chuckle, his tone becoming gentler:

“My Dao.”

Hearing this, the stone figure Dao Qiongcang's voice became even more affectionate:

“My Xu.”

No further words were needed; this simple change in address signaled that the two scoundrels were once again in league.

Dao Qiongcang spoke first: “I don’t know what you intend to do here, and although I’ve already provided cover for you, he should be able to pinpoint the rough memory timeframe and will soon detect you. Your time is limited.”

He paused, then added an explanation for the events of six months prior:

“As I stated before, I never targeted you. It was merely a fork in the road where a choice had to be made.”

“And that choice, while seemingly unfriendly to you, was in fact harmless.”

Xu Xiaoshou ignored the superfluous explanations, simply realizing why he had been reading Hua Changdeng’s memories for so long without the other party appearing. Apparently, it wasn’t just his own Dao of Intent that was effective; Dao Qiongcang was also interfering.

“Good friend!”

He praised him first, then immediately cut to the chase: “I’ve come to observe the five Sacred Emperor Families. Since time is short, I might need a little assistance from you.”

Dao Qiongcang, hearing this, paused, a hint of reluctance in his demeanor. His philosophy was to offer help if it was within his means and posed no harm to himself, viewing it as a way to cultivate good karma. What he gave Xu Xiaoshou today would naturally be reciprocated someday, whether actively or passively. But if Xu Xiaoshou desired more, and his subsequent actions threatened to drag him into a larger vortex of events...

“Not even a little.”

Having spoken, the stone figure Dao Qiongcang turned his head back, cloaked himself in stone with a clatter, sealing his heart and affections, and quickly followed the Moon Fox. What a needless appearance this was! Xu Xiaoshou was too greedy; he would surely die quickly! This was not the Apricot Realm; it was the Cloud Mountain Emperor Realm—Hua Changdeng’s very lair!

Xu Xiaoshou watched Dao Qiongcang depart, knowing that the flamboyant old Daoist wouldn't be able to leave so easily today, but he didn't try to stop him, focusing instead on his own task. He used his Intent Dao Plate as the primary, the Art Dao Plate to form the technique, joined his fingers in a mudra, and drew in the air:

“Memory Imprint, appear!”

The stone figure Dao Qiongcang heard this, his body trembled, and then convulsed violently. He didn't even need to turn his head to sense that in various hidden places within the purple bamboo forest, numerous memory imprints he had left earlier were lighting up.

“Handshake, handshake, handshake…”

If someone looked down from above, they would see no fewer than a hundred handshake patterns illuminating the bamboo forest. This, however, was only the purple bamboo forest. For the Cloud Mountain Emperor Realm, the purple bamboo forest was but a tiny fraction of the whole. And indeed, for Xu Xiaoshou to enter the Cloud Mountain Emperor Realm in this form, he couldn't possibly target only Hua Changdeng's thirteen or fourteen-year-old self, or just his purple bamboo forest. What he desired was the entire Cloud Mountain Emperor Realm. Furthermore, he aimed to use the various handshake imprints within the Cloud Mountain Emperor Realm as a foundation to extend his influence to the other Sacred Emperor Secret Realms.

“Body, Spirit, Intent…”

The three Dao Plates operated at full power. The power of Fame flowed from the five domains, continuously pouring in, combined with the boundless silence supplying energy. Xu Xiaoshou suddenly roared:

“The Three Daos are within me; memories transcend!”

He directly 'pulled' himself out, within the long river of Hua Changdeng’s memories, within the past time and space of the purple bamboo forest.

“Grotesque Illusion, turning the void into reality!”

He forcefully cast this will-body of his, Jinjin, towards the Cloud Mountain Emperor Realm—the Cloud Mountain Emperor Realm existing in both void and reality. Formerly, Cui Yin possessed a technique to reverse reality in the past, forcibly imposing forgotten reversals. Now, Xu Xiaoshou replicated it, breaking free from the shackles of soul memory, determined to contaminate the imprints.

“Imprint of Intent, spin!”

When he truly leaped into the past of the Cloud Mountain Emperor Realm, Xu Xiaoshou, without hesitation, used a weaving technique to contaminate the various imprints his "good friend" Dao Qiongcang had casually left everywhere.