After revisiting Fengcheng, the trip was not without its gains.
It allowed Chen Jiuyang to clarify his thoughts amidst his cultivation bottleneck.
"Is this a kind of 'killing and arson for gold belts'?"
Chen Jiuyang's Grade Three Spirit Devouring Pills were indeed effective, pushing his cultivation to the peak of the second level of the Venerable Realm in a very short time.
But he was stuck there. Swallowing more Grade Three Spirit Devouring Pills yielded no progress.
Nurturing the Dao in the Venerable Realm could not rely entirely on external elixirs.
"There is also the power of karma obstructing my Dao heart."
"It prevents my Dao heart from comprehending certain thoughts."
Chen Jiuyang sat in the carriage heading back to the Green Bamboo Spirit Domain, his eyes closed in deep thought.
Various thoughts surfaced in his mind. Some could be understood, while others were inexplicably bound, preventing him from reaching clarity.
"There must be secrets I don't know about nurturing the Dao in the Venerable Realm."
Deng Zun drove the carriage to the edge of the bamboo forest, and Chen Jiuyang alighted to walk.
"Someone."
"Sect Master." The Left Protector of the True Demon Sect immediately appeared, bowing respectfully to Chen Jiuyang.
"Issue an order that on December 1st, I will attack the Origin Saint Sect and find someone to deliver a challenge on my behalf," Chen Jiuyang said indifferently.
"Yes, Sect Master." The Left Protector of the True Demon Sect's eyes gleamed. This Sect Master was truly fond of battle; it had been less than a month since they had taken back the Truth lineage, and he was already eager to attack the Origin Saint Sect.
Under this acting Sect Master, the True Demon Sect would surely reach its peak glory!
At the same time, the Left Protector of the True Demon Sect spoke, "Reporting to the Sect Master, two hours ago, the Chen family of Mount Shu sent a challenge, claiming to be cleaning up their own house, and they will bring people this evening."
"Hmm?"
Chen Jiuyang's gaze immediately sharpened, his eyes erupting with a piercing light, his expression turning cold. "The Chen family of Mount Shu, cleaning up their house?"
His Green Bamboo Chen family only had one person, the former Sect Master of the Chen family of Mount Shu, Chen Biandao.
Now, the Chen family of Mount Shu bringing people to clean up their house clearly meant they intended to deal with Chen Biandao.
He had always regarded Chen Biandao as an elder in his family. When that incident happened years ago, Chen Biandao had voluntarily withdrawn from the Chen family of Mount Shu and come to him.
"Well done, Chen family of Mount Shu, truly arrogant, not putting this seat in their eyes."
"Since they dare to come, then this seat will see how capable they are."
"Issue an order: do not obstruct the people from the Chen family of Mount Shu. Bring them outside the Green Bamboo Spirit Domain."
"Yes, Sect Master."
"Should I notify Uncle Chen about this matter?" Chen Jiuyang asked.
"Not yet. The bamboo forest is where the Sect Master's close relatives reside. All information must pass through our hands before it can be delivered inside," the Left Protector of the True Demon Sect replied.
"Mm." Chen Jiuyang's expression softened slightly. "You have done well. Go down, I will personally speak with Uncle Chen."
"Yes." The Left Protector of the True Demon Sect vanished from the spot.
Apart from his close associates, even people like the Left Protector of the True Demon Sect were not allowed to step into the bamboo forest.
He had not mentioned anything about the Green Bamboo Spirit Immortal to anyone.
Walking back into the courtyard, the air was warm and inviting, like spring.
In the large courtyard, the elderly and young were playing with a child. Chen Biandao, a dignified Heavenly Realm expert, held a milk bottle in one hand and a diaper under his arm.
Everyone was being extremely careful, like ordinary mortals. The child was too young and could not withstand even the slightest aura of pressure.
"Splash!"
Chen Han peed all over Chen Biandao, causing everyone to burst into laughter.
Chen Biandao also smiled, skillfully picking up a tissue with a smile to wipe the urine from his beard, then went back inside to change his clothes.
Chen Jiuyang played with his relatives in the courtyard for a while, then found Chen Biandao and told him about the arrival of people from the Chen family of Mount Shu.
Chen Biandao's expression was calm, but the fleeting sadness in his eyes could not hide the turmoil in his heart:
"It's been years, I knew this day would come."
"The Chen family of Mount Shu is a renowned righteous sect, holding a significant position within the Immortal Alliance. I was the former head of the Chen family, and now I have betrayed them... How could they let me go?"
"More than three years... For them to choose to make a move now, it must mean the Chen family is unified, and the Immortal Alliance is stable both internally and externally."
His own proud Chen family of Mount Shu had done something three years ago that shattered his faith in Mount Shu and the Chen family.
Chen Jiuyang patted his shoulder and said, "Uncle Chen, there's no need for that."
"The Mount Shu of the Immortal Alliance today is not the Mount Shu of the past."
"It's not uncommon for dragon slayers to become dragons."
"I am telling you this so that you can go with me. I will deal with them cleanly in front of you."
"If they think that sparing Chen Fengge's life back then means I will let them off the hook, they are thinking too much."
He had spared Chen Fengge's life outside the Fallen Immortal Cliff and repaid his karmic debt because Chen Fengge had escorted him, resolved some troubles on the Martial Rankings, and guided him in martial arts.
However, three years ago, the Five Great Sacred Lands ascended at the Kunlun Heavenly Gate. The high-ranking officials of the Chen family must have known about it, and perhaps even the ancestors of the Chen family of Mount Shu were among those who ascended.
The Pure Yang Medical Immortal had branched out within the Chen family of Mount Shu, and there were not a few talented juniors among them.
"I'm getting old," Chen Biandao said with a bitter smile. "I don't have the courage and decisiveness of Jiuyang."
Chen Jiuyang smiled and said, "Uncle Chen, next month, you should start cultivating immortal cultivation techniques."
Chen Biandao had developed a heart demon due to the matter with the Chen family of Mount Shu. He had been able to step into the Heavenly Realm due to years of accumulation, but his cultivation had not advanced at all in three years, all because of this heart demon related to the Chen family of Mount Shu.
The long lifespan brought by the immortal path should allow Chen Biandao to slowly erode this heart demon related to the Chen family.
Chen Biandao smiled and said, "We'll see."
At this moment, Chen Biandao was severely afflicted by a heart demon, self-sealed.
Chen Jiuyang did not press further, and instead said, "Then let's go deal with the people from the Chen family who are coming today."
Chen Jiuyang took Chen Biandao out of the courtyard, out of the bamboo forest, and to the Green Bamboo River.
The weather had turned cold, and pedestrians hurried along the road. By the time it was dark.
"Swish!"
Several streams of light flew from the horizon.
Each carried a long sword, their auras vast and pure, giving a sense of loftiness and being from a righteous sect.
The leader wore the attire of an Immortal Alliance elder, with an aged appearance and eyes like sharp swords, making the skin of those he stared at prickle.
Chen Biandao's expression changed slightly, but his face remained calm. He cupped his fists and bowed, "Greetings, Ancestor Tongxuan!"
Chen Tongxuan was the current head of the Chen family of Mount Shu.
Chen Tongxuan stared at Chen Biandao, his words sharp and his tone cold and merciless, "Since you still acknowledge me as your ancestor, then you should know that you are still a member of the Chen family of Mount Shu."
Chen Biandao replied, "The Chen family of Mount Shu raised me, how could I forget?"
"Our Chen family of Mount Shu has been a renowned righteous sect since ancient times. Yet, you shamelessly defected to the demonic path, shaming our ancestors and making the Chen family of Mount Shu a laughingstock among the righteous path."
"Chen Biandao, if you still have any shred of shame, then commit suicide before me today, and all will be settled!"
"Commit suicide?" Chen Jiuyang's expression turned icy, his eyes erupting with terrifying golden light as he stared at Chen Tongxuan and roared coldly:
"Old man, what right do you have to be arrogant in front of this seat!"