Chapter 462: All Are Opportunities

Chapter 462 All Are Coincidences

Mountain peaks layered atop one another, shrouded in white mist.

A majestic Taoist palace hovered atop the summit, its resonant bronze gongs chiming with the murmurs of sutras, echoing across the entire world.

At the midpoint of the slope, a robust figure ascended the winding mountain path veiled in fog, moving slowly, exuding a profound stillness in every gesture.

A loud cry!

A piercing crane’s call rang overhead. The bearded immortal looked up, but only saw the vast silhouette of a crane vanishing into the distance.

The fog ahead was scattered by the force of the crane’s wings, revealing an ancient, elegant rain pavilion in the far distance.

“How exquisitely detailed, down to the smallest meaningless details—it’s simply lavish beyond measure.”

Yanglong lifted his hand to grasp the dissipating mist, carefully feeling the faint chill and dampness along his fingertips, his heart swelling with quiet admiration.

“Older brother, you’ve finally appeared in person.”

A clear voice emerged from the rain pavilion.

The kindly immortal smiled, raising his hand in invitation toward Yanglong.

“I’ve sent you countless invitations to enter the secluded realm, all of which you’ve rejected. I was beginning to think you’d drawn a line between us, severing all ties forever!”

“How could that be?”

Yanglong settled gracefully onto a stone mound within the pavilion, his face bearing a bitter smile. “You know, the circumstances I’ve faced—Demon Court has had people secretly watching over us, making it impossible to act decisively.”

The immortal waved dismissively. “Brother, I’ll say it plainly: the decline of the Tiger and Dragon Mountains is unmistakable, yet the Zhang family remains as domineering as ever. I wonder where their confidence stems from. If this continues, the Taoist realm’s ‘Four Mountains, One Palace’ structure may soon undergo a reshuffling. When that happens, what will become of you and others like us, outsiders to begin with?”

Yanglong sighed. “If this misfortune befalls me, I must accept it as fate, resigning myself to being the unfortunate one.”

“Or perhaps you should change your sect, join us at Qingcheng Mountain. With our brotherhood, I’m certain a vacancy for a cultivator unaffiliated with the ‘Four Mountains, One Palace’ could be arranged for you.”

The immortal adopted a façade of sincerity, yet Yanglong merely offered a faint smile, unmoved by his words.

“What urgency prompts you to contact me so swiftly?”

When the immortal noticed Yanglong’s evasion, he let the matter drop, knowing his words were merely a perfunctory courtesy.

“There’s nothing urgent, merely some matters I wished to clarify with you.”

“Say what you will; I know all things.”

The immortal spoke slowly: “Has Tiger and Dragon Mountain definitively abandoned this trial?”

“The nine divisions of Tiger and Dragon have indeed withdrawn. We’re currently in Liaocheng, Shandong Prefecture, and should return to Tiger and Dragon Mountain soon. But whether Demon Court has called it off—I cannot say.”

“What transpired in Osaka Castle that forced such a sudden retreat?”

The immortal’s tone sharpened, bordering on accusation, stirring Yanglong’s ire.

“Brother, don’t you know? With Qingcheng Mountain’s strength, surely you’d have noticed any upheaval in the Wa territories?”

Yanglong’s words carried a sharp edge. The immortal tightened his brows, restraining his anger. “Qingcheng Mountain’s power is unquestionable, but we don’t devote attention to trifles like these!”

Facing the immortal’s rebuttal, Yanglong remained serene. “If it’s a minor matter, then why the urgency to enter the secluded realm?”

“It seems you’ve been harboring resentment!”

The immortal feigned surprise. “Tell me, brother, have I offended you somehow?”

“Since we’re at this point, I’m a man of integrity—I’ll no longer dance around the issue.”

Yanglong’s face darkened. “I risked my life to reveal Tiger and Dragon Mountain’s plans to you, aiding your victory in this trial. Yet you’ve gained nothing, not even a scrap of benefit. Is that not unjust? Or have you deemed me now useless, cast out of the Wa territories, and sought to sever our ties entirely?”

His voice rose to a near shout, echoing through the rain pavilion.

Yet as Yanglong’s fury erupted, the immortal’s expression shifted, calm and composed.

“Rest assured, brother. Whatever benefit I promised, I shall fulfill. You need not worry.”

He rose slowly, pacing to Yanglong’s back, his hands behind him, gazing at the mountains swallowed by mist.

“Moreover, brother—you know I am your destined opportunity, do you not?”

Yanglong let out a cold hiss, his jaw clenching, silent.

From behind him, the immortal’s face was laced with contempt. Extending two fingers, he traced ethereal Taoist sigils in the mist before them.

As the final stroke completed, Yanglong seemed to sense something, his anger instantly dissipating.

“Brother, you should have received the transfer notice by now. Rest assured—this sum was sent under the name of a lone cultivator unaffiliated with any of the ‘Four Mountains, One Palace.’ Even if Demon Court investigates, no irregularities will be found.”

The immortal turned, pressing his hand to Yanglong’s shoulder. “I’ve prepared this for you all along, but feared to act without seeing you. Now, I trust you’re satisfied?”

“It seems I’ve been narrow-minded. This misunderstanding stems from me. I offer my apologies, brother.”

Yanglong bowed in contrite apology, yet felt the immortal’s weight on his shoulder halting his movement.

“An misunderstanding, then. Our shared path to immortality is a rare chance—do not let a trivial matter dim it, do you agree?”

“Yes, brother, you’re right.”

With the benefit secured, Yanglong’s demeanor had shifted entirely, nodding eagerly.

Yet the immortal’s words shifted abruptly. “But opportunities and transactions are separate matters. The money is settled—shouldn’t you complete the remaining tasks?”

“Of course!”

Yanglong nodded vigorously. “We withdrew from the Wa territories because Zhang Qinglu was murdered!”

“Who killed him? The Kenpo City Guard?”

The immortal’s pupils shrank.

“The Buddhist monastery’s Sanyin Temple also intervened. Though Zhang Qinglu perished in the mortal realm, it remains unclear whether Sanyin Temple or the Judge of Hell dispatched the assassins.”

Yanglong recalled the scene: “But the earthly immortal from Demon Court stated Zhang Qinglu’s death was attributable to the Judge of Hell.”

“Tiger and Dragon’s Tian Shi Zhang Qinglu, the first beneath the earthly realm.”

The immortal furrowed his brow. “So easily slain—this lone martial way surpasses even my estimation!”

“Indeed, this martial path’s innovations outstrip our expectations. The Buddhist monasteries have recognized this threat before we have. If we fail to adapt, we’ll surely suffer consequences.”

Yanglong’s concerns, however, went unnoticed. The fate of the Taoist realm’s dominion was a matter for the elders of the Blue City, not his immediate worry. His priority remained securing the ‘High Heaven Plain.’

“I hear a martial order from Dog Mountain City bears the Kenpo Guard’s seal, still lingering in the Wa territories without joining our withdrawal. Might this be my rival?”

“Dueling department Yang Xuan, mortal name Chen Qisheng.”

Yanglong nodded. “He has a history with the Kenpo Guard’s head, Judge Yan. Upon entering the Wa territories, he became their honored guest. Many in our sect regard him as Tiger and Dragon Mountain’s sole hope for this trial, possibly the one to claim the opportunity.”

“So he’s my competitor?”

The immortal’s lips curved into a smile. “Yet Zhang Qinglu died by the Kenpo Guard’s hand, forcing Tiger and Dragon Mountain’s retreat, leaving only him as their last hope. Might there be ulterior motives here, or does Tiger and Dragon Mountain ignore this?”

“Our sect’s rule is ‘opportunities belong to no one; each must rely on their own strength.’ Allying with others is common. When Yang Xuan joined the Kenpo Guard, we held no enmity with them, and he never sent us a talisman. By all means, the fault lies elsewhere.”

“Still, the coincidence is too convenient. It’s hard not to suspect something amiss.”

The immortal blinked, teasing. “Besides, when did the Demon Court ever adhere to principles?”

“Indeed…”

The steadfast resolve of Yan Liang rebuked him, yet no forceful rhetoric emerged. He sighed, his voice breaking beneath the weight of unspoken truths. The air hummed with unspoken tensions, a silent storm brewing beneath the surface. Each word carried the weight of unseen histories, each pause a whisper of past conflicts. The weight of expectation pressed upon him, a burden he could not bear to bear alone. His gaze drifted, lost in the echoes of memories, while the world around him remained a shadow, silent and unyielding. The silence stretched, thick with unspoken promises and unvoiced fears. He exhaled slowly, a single breath escaping, yet the burden remained, unrelenting, a shadow that clung to the edges of his being. The weight of what had been, the burden of what remained, pressed upon him like an unyielding stone, waiting for the moment to break, to collapse, to be forgotten.