Xiao Yizai lowered his voice, and his face turned somewhat solemn. "Master asked me to ask you, Uncle Master, is the 'Tianji Seal' on the back mountain of Dazhu Peak still intact?"

  Tian Bu Yi's face changed drastically, and he suddenly stood up, staring at Xiao Yu Cai. Xiao Yu Cai also slowly stood up, but took a step back. Tian Bu Yi gazed at Xiao Yu Cai for a long time, his expression constantly changing. At first, it was shock and astonishment, then gradually calmed down to contemplation, and finally, another strange glint flashed in his eyes as he looked at Xiao Yu Cai, and suddenly said:

  "It seems that Master Daoxuan really intends to pass on the position of future sect leader to you."

  Xiao Yicai slightly lowered his head and said: "Master Shu's words are too serious, I don't dare to accept them."

  Tian said faintly, "He didn't even hide this matter from you, so it's naturally clear what he means. Never mind, this is a matter of Tongtian Peak, and I'm too lazy to care about it. However, regarding the Tianji Seal," his voice paused here, and he continued in a deep tone, "This matter is not trivial, and it also involves the Qingyun Gas Number. In those years, Qingye Ancestor had a clear order passed down to the first seat of the Qingyun Seven Veins, which cannot be used unless absolutely necessary..."

  He took a deep breath and said, "The relationship between them is clear to everyone. I just want to ask, has Daoxuan Shixiong really thought it through?"

  Xiao Yizai's expression was also extremely cautious, and after hesitating for a long time, as if he didn't dare to say anything wrong, he nodded and said: "Yes, Master had already given me careful instructions before I left."

  Tian didn't hesitate for a moment and said: "What about the 'Heavenly Machine Seal' of the other five veins, apart from Tongtian Peak and Dazhu Peak?"

  Xiao Yizai bowed and said, "Master only told this matter to one of his disciples, because Master felt that among the Qingyun Gate, Tian Shifu was the most prestigious and respected. So he came to ask for your opinion first, Teacher Uncle. As for the other five veins, I will go visit the various heads later."

  Tian nodded slowly and sat back in his seat, thinking for a long time before sighing and saying: "As for the current situation, it's indeed reached a critical point. The fate of the Tianlong Clan hangs in the balance, and Master wants to go all out, I have nothing to say about that. But when you return, please pass on a message from me."

  Xiao Yizai's face was respectful and he said: "Yes, Master Tian, please speak. I will definitely pass it on."

  Tian's face turned slightly pale, and he said: "Once the Seven Veins Heavenly Machine Seal is removed, the suppressed aura of Qingyun Mountain for a thousand years will inevitably burst out. Although the ancient sword of the Immortal Executioner has the power to suppress it, it can also turn into an unparalleled killing intent. However, the harm caused to the person holding the sword and the erosion of their foundation are not trivial matters. Daoxuan Shixiong's contributions to the creation of the world are undeniable, but this matter is not trivial either. It's better to ask him to think carefully beforehand to prevent any unexpected consequences."

  Xiao Yizai's expression turned serious as he said, "Yes, I will definitely pass on Master Tian's words." After a brief pause, he continued, "If Master Tian has no other matters to attend to, then I will take my leave first."

  Tian Bu Yi nodded slightly, but didn't say a word. Xiao Yi Zai saw that his face was heavy with emotion, and he too didn't dare to speak much, slowly backing out. In the quiet hall, only Tian Bu Yi remained. He slowly turned around, gazing at the Taoist San Qing ancestor gods' statues enshrined in the hall, his expression complex, after a long while, but ultimately still saying nothing, just letting out a sigh.

  ********

  When Xiao Yicai flew back to Tongtian Peak, it was already nightfall. The entire Tongtian Peak was brightly lit, and the original Qingyun Gate's many Longmen disciples, plus the countless righteous cultivators who had flooded into Qingyun in recent days, made this place that was once like a paradise on earth somewhat crowded and worldly.

  However, Xiao Yizai didn't pay attention to these and walked straight towards the Yuqing Temple at the summit. After inquiring about the whereabouts of Daoxuan Zhenren from Qingyun, a young disciple in the Yuqing Temple, he headed towards the bedroom of Daoxuan Zhenren in the back hall of the temple.

  After arriving at a quiet place in the back hall, Xiao Yi stood in front of Dao Xuan's door for a moment, composed himself, and just as he was about to knock on the door, Dao Xuan's voice came from inside, saying: "Is it Yi Cai? Come in."

  Xiao Yicai paused for a moment, then respectfully said: "Okay", he gently pushed open the door and walked in.

  The room is very spacious, with all the decorations having a bookish atmosphere. In addition to simple tables, chairs and beds, there are many books on the bookshelves on both sides of the house, including many old books that have been neatly placed on the shelves, which can be seen as being read by the owner countless times.

  Dao Xuan Zhen Ren was sitting beside the desk, holding an ancient scroll in his hand, reading a book. Seeing Xiao Yi walk in, he smiled slightly and said, "You're back now?"

  Xiao Yizai bowed deeply and said: "Yes, Master."

  Daoxuan Zhenren nodded and said: "How's the matter going?"

  Xiao Yicai said: "The first seat of the Seven Veins had no opinion, all said to follow Master's intention, only Dazhu Peak's Tian Shu..."

  Dao Xuan Zhen Ren furrowed his brow and said: "What's wrong, does Tian Shi Di have a different opinion?"

  Xiao Yicai hastily said: "It's not that, Tian Shu also did not object, just entrusted his younger brother to bring a few words, to inform the master."

  Dao Xuan Zhen Ren slightly stunned, said: "What words, you say?"

  Xiao Yizai repeated what Tian Bu Yi had just said, and Dao Xuan Zhen Ren listened silently, standing beside Xiao Yizai, who secretly glanced over and saw that Dao Xuan Zhen Ren's expression was complex, as if he too were thinking of something, his emotions changing constantly.

  Just as Xiao Yicai was guessing what Dao Xuan Zhenren was thinking, Dao Xuan Zhenren suddenly said: "Yicai, what do you think of Tian Shibo?"

  Xiao Yicai was startled and didn't know what Daoxuan Zhenren meant, so he looked at him but couldn't see anything special. He could only say cautiously: "Uh, I think, Shibo Tian is... quite good."

  Daoxuan Zhenren smiled and said, "Yes, he's a good person. Hehe, it's not easy for him to be recognized as extraordinary by someone with discerning eyes back then..."

  Dao Xuan Zhen Ren's words suddenly stopped, and the room fell into a silence. Xiao Yi slightly shifted his body, feeling a little uneasy. After a moment, Dao Xuan Zhen Ren said: "You've been running for a whole day, you must be tired, go back and rest."

  Xiao Yicai nodded and bowed: "I'll go slowly." Then he backed out.

  Dao Xuan Zhen Ren gazed at the figure of his proud disciple disappearing from view, pondered for a moment, then looked out the window at the inky blackness of the sky, slowly stood up, and walked out. Soon, his figure dissolved into the darkness of the Qing Yun Gate.

  Although it was already late at night, the Longming lamp in the quiet ancestral hall behind Tongtian Peak was still burning, like a faint and eerie fire in the darkness. The old man guarding the ancestral hall had not yet fallen asleep, he was standing in front of the altar where the spirits of the ancestors were worshipped, gazing at the names in the dark shadows.

  In the distance, there was a low hum of insects.

  In the silence, there seems to be a heartbeat sound!

  The night wind blew, and the flame of the long-burning lamp flickered, as if trembling with a sigh. The old man slowly turned around, walked to the side of the lamp, and gently blocked the direction of the blowing wind. Soon, the fire calmed down and began to burn steadily again. The old man gazed deeply at this point of light, and the flame was reflected in his eyes, as if something was also burning within him.

  In the dead of night, footsteps suddenly echoed, the old man's eyebrows furrowed slightly, listened carefully, and slowly turned around, his hoarse voice said: "I didn't expect that at such a late hour, you would still come over."

  Dào Xuán Zhēn Rén's figure slowly became clear from the darkness and walked into this ancestral temple.

  Under the dim lamp, the eyes of two old people collided in mid-air, and for a moment they were both stunned. Unintentionally, they suddenly discovered that the other had also become so old, and then immediately remembered that they themselves were no exception.

  Daoxuan Zhenren remained silent, gazing at the old man for a long time before slowly walking to the altar and standing under the ancestral tablets of the Qingyunmen sect's ancestors. He straightened his body slowly. The old man walked behind him, equally silent.

  In the darkness, an invisible aura slowly emanated from those shadows, like a deep mark that time could not erase. Dao Xuan Zhenren's face was expressionless, he picked up three incense sticks from the offering table, walked to the candle flame and lit them, his hands solemnly grasping them, respectfully bowing three times towards the ancestral tablet, then took a step forward and inserted the incense into the incense burner.

  Wafting wisps of smoke rose from the incense burner, dispersing in mid-air and making the spirit tablets ahead even more indistinct. Faintly, they seemed like pairs of eyes gazing coldly at the two old people and this world.

  "Is there something difficult at midnight when incense is burned?" The old man asked lightly, his tone flat, as if he were talking about a matter that had nothing to do with him.

  Dao Xuan Zhen Ren did not turn his head to look at him, his eyes were always fixed on the majestic spirit tablets behind the light smoke. After a moment, he slowly said: "You say, after you and I pass away in the future, what kind of mood will people have when they worship us?"

  The old man hummed and said: "As for you, I naturally have great respect. As for me, will anyone still remember?"

  Dao Xuan Zhen Ren didn't mind the old man's slightly sarcastic words, and only smiled faintly. Then, he said quietly: "At present, a great calamity is imminent, and all living beings are suffering from the ravages of beasts and demons. Just thinking about the impending battle between Qingyun Mountain and the beast demons makes it difficult to sleep, as the weight of the fate of all living beings rests on my shoulders."

  The old man furrowed his brow and said, "You're not here to complain to me, are you? That's not like you."

  Daoxuan Zhenren looked at the old man for a moment, suddenly smiled and sighed: "The friendship between you and me for hundreds of years, indeed only you understand my character."

  The old man shook his head and said: "I know your character? If so, I wouldn't be guarding the temple here either. Alright, cut to the chase, what do you want to say?"

  Daoxuan Zhenren seemed particularly tolerant of the old man, who repeatedly provoked him. Daoxuan didn't take it to heart, his face only slightly solemn as he slowly said: "I've already made up my mind. This battle is too important, for the sake of all living things under heaven, I must remove the Heavenly Mechanism Seal from the seven peaks of Qingyun Mountain."

  The old man's expression suddenly stiffened, his eyebrows deeply furrowed, and he stared intently at Daoxuan. Daoxuan met his gaze calmly, and after a long while, the old man slowly said, "Have you thought this matter through?"

  Dao Xuan nodded slowly and said, "However, today when I secretly informed the head of Liu Mai, Tian Bu Yi had someone pass on some words to me, advising me to be careful not to provoke a backlash."

  The old man smiled coldly, turned to face the ancestral spirit tablets, and said after a while, "You're not unfamiliar with the 'Fantasy Moon Cave Mansion', you know what's inside." He paused for a moment, his voice suddenly softened, with a hint of helplessness, saying, "Take care of yourself."

  Dao Xuan Zhen Ren remained silent, and after a moment, he too lifted his head, gazing at the profound darkness, that majestic silence, as if also silently sneering in the darkness.

  ********

  Seven days later, the surrounding area of Qingyun Mountain was filled with rumors of beast demons. Within a hundred miles, with Heiyang City at the foot of the mountain as the center, people fleeing in all directions could be seen everywhere. It seemed that only the towering and majestic Qingyun Mountain could bring people a sense of comfort and security at this moment.

  Among the countless crowds, Heiyang City was the most chaotic place. The streets and alleys were packed with people, and the original inns and taverns were already full of people. Many more refugees who had escaped could only sleep outdoors. In this situation, the food supply in Heiyang City became extremely tense, but fortunately, since the city was located by the river, water sources were not a concern.

  It's hard to avoid some looting and murder in such a chaotic situation, and there have been rumors of this kind of thing happening from time to time. Yesterday, someone was missing, and today it was said that someone was found dead on the street. However, the city of Heiyang is located at the foot of Qingyun Mountain, and the Qingyun Gate had made preparations in advance, dispatching a considerable number of disciples to maintain order in the city. As a result, among these countless refugees, nothing untoward has happened in this disaster so far.

  But as the terrifying rumors of the beast spread day by day, no one could predict what tomorrow would be like. In this situation, a growing sense of unease filled the air in Heicheng, and people were on edge.

  It was in this situation that Zhou Yixian, a Jianghu knight-errant who had been wandering the world, brought his granddaughter Xiao Huan and Ye Gou Dao Ren to this city. Standing on the once spacious streets, they now saw only a sea of people's heads swaying, and the main street was so crowded that it was difficult to walk. Ye Gou Dao Ren was all right, but Zhou Yixian and Xiao Huan were stunned.

  Relying on his robust physique and ferocious appearance, the Wild Dog Taoist led the way, pushing aside those with less strength. Even the stronger ones didn't dare say much after a glance at him. Zhou Yixian and Xiaohuan followed closely behind, struggling to keep up as they sweated profusely. After great difficulty, they finally made it through the main street and turned into a small alley on the west side of the River City.

  Three people walked in, the small alley that was usually quiet now had many people standing around, but compared to the crowded streets outside, this place could be said to be spacious. Zhou Yixian muttered under his breath, looking very angry, as if to say that even if I, an old man, escaped, why would so many people follow and escape together, making it uncomfortable for me to escape.

  This small alley was very long and winding, with fewer people as you walked further in. After about half an hour of walking, the three finally reached the end of the alley, only to find that there were no more refugees here. The reason was simple: this place was a charity house. However, looking at the gate of this small charity house, it was dilapidated and broken, with half of the wooden door fallen to the ground, and the other half gone without a trace, who knows if someone had taken it away to burn as firewood.

  Xian gazed at the ancestral hall on Monday, shook his head and sighed. Xiao Huan stood beside him and called out in a low voice, "Grandpa."

  The wild dog looked puzzled, but he came from a demonic sect and wasn't particularly concerned about these righteous Taoist temples. He was just a bit perplexed as to why Zhou Yixian and Xiaohuan would come to this place.

  Xian remained silent for a moment on Monday, then said, "Let's go in. Anyway, it should be quieter here."

  After speaking, he walked in first, followed by Xiaohuan and the wild dog. As they entered the abandoned house, they saw a small courtyard with withered grass and trees, scattered wood shavings and broken beams everywhere, and something white seemed to be shining faintly in the bushes. Xiaohuan's face turned pale, and she involuntarily grabbed Zhou Yixian's clothes.

  Xian turned his head to look at her and comforted in a low voice, "It's not the first time you've come here, what are you afraid of? Besides, this is also your father's place, would he still harm us?"

  Xiao Huan nodded slightly, and his complexion improved a bit. The wild dog Taoist frowned behind him, but didn't say anything.

  The front yard was just the gatehouse of the Yi Manor, Zhou Yixian walked up to it, and saw that the door was covered in dust, he didn't know how long it had been since someone last came here. He silently shook his head, let out a sigh, and pushed open the door.

  "Creak..." The wooden door made a piercing sound, slowly creaking open and letting out a musty smell. In the dim light, three coffins were placed haphazardly, but their lids had all fallen to one side.

  The years of desolation that cannot be expressed, as if they are quietly emanating from this small room. Zhou Yixian's mouth twitched twice, his face pale and haggard, slowly walked up, not even glancing at the scattered coffins on the side, but went straight to the altar table where incense was originally offered, looking at the dozen or so spirit tablets that were knocked over in disarray.

  The room was silent, as if no one dared to speak. Zhou Yixian slowly stretched out his hand and took the spirit tablets, slowly wiping off the thick dust on them, looked at them, put them aside, and then went to find the next one. In this way, when he cleaned the seventh spirit tablet, he saw the words "The Spirit of Beloved Son Zhou Xingyun" written on it.

  On Monday, Xian stopped moving and silently stared at the spirit tablet. After a long time, Xiaohuan slowly walked up, looked at the spirit tablet in his hand, and her eyes were also slightly moistened. She said softly, "Grandpa, put Dad's spirit tablet away."

  On Monday, Xianchang let out a sigh, his face somewhat desolate, and nodded. Xiaohuan took the spirit tablet from his hand, carefully placed it on the offering table, then stepped back, joined her hands together, and respectfully paid homage to the memorial tablet, saying in a low voice: "Dad, I'm back with Grandpa to visit you again. These years, thanks to your blessings, although Grandpa and I have been wandering around, everything has been fine. Today we're back to give you a good cleaning, hoping you won't blame us."

  After finishing, he bowed his head and paid homage three times. The wild dog Taoist watched from behind, suddenly walked to the front, and paid homage to this spirit tablet three times, which startled Zhou Yixian and Xiaohuan, Xiaohuan exclaimed: "Taoist priest, how did you...".

  The wild dog didn't go to see Zhou Yixian's strange eyes, and said: "Since he is your father, he is also my senior. Coming to this place, I should pay respects to my senior."

  Xiao Huan finally understood and nodded, saying: "Then thank you." As she spoke, she turned her head to the memorial tablet and said: "Dad, this is Ye Gou Dao Zhang, he's a good person who has helped Grandpa and me a lot."

  Xian hummed on the side and said: "Is he a good person? Hmph, with ulterior motives..."

  The wild dog's face stiffened, but Xiao Huan had already glared at Zhou Yi Xian and said, "Grandfather, why are you talking nonsense."

  On Monday, Xian rolled her eyes and turned to look elsewhere. The wild dog Taoist looked at Xiaohuan with gratitude, just about to speak when he suddenly stiffened, turned around abruptly, and Xiaohuan and Zhou Yixian also seemed to have felt something, almost simultaneously looking towards the gate of the Yi Zhuang estate.

  In the originally desolate and quiet charity house, at that door, a black-clad person suddenly appeared, with even their face covered by a black veil, giving off an inexplicable eerie feeling. The charity house, which had gained some liveliness due to the arrival of Zhou Yixian and the others, suddenly fell into an even deeper deathly silence and desolation because of this person's appearance.

  The wild dog's face changed greatly, his lips moved a few times, before he slowly said in a hoarse voice: "Ghost Sir..."