Chapter 177: Penglai Sect – True Flood Dragon√

The Crimson Sky Sect’s chief team gave chase, following her trail as they moved farther and farther from the forest.

“Why is she heading toward the coast? Could it be that the Returning Immortal Sect is hiding by the sea?” Gao Linzhen asked.

Lu Feishuang replied coldly, “Whether they’re there or not, she must die.”

The grudge over Yan Fu’s death had yet to be avenged. The Crimson Sky Sect would not let it go.

Suddenly, Shen Wusang frowned. “Don’t go any further.”

At his command, everyone came to a halt. They had reached the edge of the beach, and not far ahead, a strange ring of blue flowers had been planted.

Lian Mu was still quite a distance away from them. All they could see was her figure weaving through the flowerbed. She bent down to pick the flowers, then tied them into a bouquet. From afar, the scene looked almost picturesque.

“What’s so special about those flowers that she’d stop to pick them? Could they be some rare spiritual plant?” Changsun Li asked.

Gao Linzhen shook his head. “No, those are Yinghui Flowers, native to a few islands of Penglai. We don’t see them much in our sect, but they grow near the Jade Purity Curtain on Yinghui Island.”

The Jade Purity Curtain was a waterfall formed by a stream flowing through a crevice between two mountain rocks on Yinghui Island. In the past, it was where disciples about to enter the Penglai Sect would cleanse themselves of Profound Water’s impurities.

Though the Crimson Sky Sect was based on Yinghui Island, almost no one dared to step into that area. Like Profound Water, the Jade Purity Curtain was known to devour people. Those who passed beneath it with lingering attachments or emotional burdens would, at best, have their skin peeled off, and at worst, be reduced to bones. Only those truly free of worldly ties could walk through it unscathed.

The Yinghui Flowers grew just beyond the Jade Purity Curtain, and ordinary disciples rarely ventured there.

Lu Feishuang thought for a moment and said, “So there are this many Yinghui Flowers on Penglai Island… I remember seeing the exact same flowers on Ying You a few days ago. Could it be that he’s already let go of the past and made it through the Jade Purity Curtain?”

“Whatever the case, this is a perfect opportunity,” Changsun Li said, lifting his foot to charge forward. “We still haven’t settled the score from last time.”

During the last Illusion Realm trial, he had fought Lian Mu and was wounded by her Flame Blade. The burn marks still lingered on his hand.

“Don’t go. Something’s wrong here,” Shen Wusang said, his unease growing stronger. “Don’t get close to those flowers.”

Changsun Li scoffed. “Lian Mu touched them and she’s fine. Get out of my way. I’m taking her down today.”

“You’re being reckless. You might drag us all down with you. You know what the Sect Master is capable of—those flowers might’ve been planted by him.”

Lu Feishuang raised her hand to stop him. “Listen to Wusang. Let’s observe a little longer.”

Changsun Li had no choice but to step aside, though he shot a glare at Shen Wusang and muttered, “I saw you warning the Returning Immortal Sect back at White Tiger West. Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for Lian Mu too?”

“I don’t know Lian Mu,” Shen Wusang replied calmly. “But Bai Li Que is my friend. I warned them out of loyalty.”

The Baili and Shen families were both renowned talisman cultivator clans and often interacted. While Shen Wuxie was arrogant and looked down on others, Shen Wusang was different—steady and well-liked among the younger generation of cultivators.

When people spoke of the Shen family’s children, they never judged Shen Wusang by his brother’s reputation. In fact, it was Shen Wuxie who benefited from his brother’s good name—people tolerated him only for Shen Wusang’s sake.

Changsun Li sneered, “You sure know how to network. But don’t think Bai Li Que actually cares about you. If you let the Returning Immortal Sect off the hook this time, do you really think they’ll help you next time?”

Shen Wusang was silent for a moment before saying, “…Do you know what the biggest difference is between you and Wen Yun?”

Changsun Li frowned. “Why bring him up out of nowhere?”

“Because he can face his failures. You can’t. No matter how many times you lose, you’re still as arrogant as ever. Even after losing to Lian Mu, you still don’t take her seriously. Underestimating your opponent is dangerous.”

Changsun Li snapped, “So what, you’re telling me not to touch her?”

“At the very least, now is not the time.”

From the shadows, the Crimson Sky Sect’s chief team watched helplessly as Lian Mu picked flowers all the way down the beach, stuffing her spatial pouch full. Then she tossed aside her sword and crouched by the sea to wash her hands.

A sword cultivator discarding their sword—this was the perfect moment for a sneak attack.

Changsun Li could no longer hold back. In a blink, he flashed forward and swung his fist at her.

Shen Wusang shouted, “Didn’t I tell you—!”

Lu Feishuang also frowned, clearly displeased with Changsun Li’s impulsiveness. But once the arrow was loosed, there was no taking it back. Now that he had made his move, they had no choice but to follow through.

Just as Lu Feishuang raised her sword, Lian Mu—who had her back to them—suddenly turned around, as if she’d been expecting it all along. She caught Changsun Li’s punch barehanded.

Shen Wusang tried to warn him, but it was too late. A handful of flower petals slipped from Lian Mu’s sleeve and fluttered onto Changsun Li’s face.

He froze for a moment, then caught a strong whiff of floral fragrance. As he looked down, he saw Lian Mu’s grinning face.

In the blink of an eye, darkness closed in. Changsun Li’s body went limp, and he collapsed unconscious.

At almost the same moment, Lian Mu twisted her body and dodged the heavenly lightning Lu Feishuang had summoned.

The lightning struck the flowerbed, instantly charring it black.

Lian Mu glanced around and saw that Lu Feishuang had also fallen. The Crimson Sky Sect’s chief team—completely wiped out.

“Having a reckless teammate really is a liability,” Lian Mu muttered as she nudged Changsun Li with her foot. Then she began rummaging through their belongings, stripping them clean just like she had with the Azure Profound Sect.

She walked over to Lu Feishuang, crouched down, and tried to take her Pohong Sword. But Lu Feishuang’s grip was too tight, so she gave up on the sheath and simply pulled the blade free.

This time, Wealth Bringer showed no reaction. She raised the Pohong Sword under the light—its blade shimmered with sunlight, reflecting a rainbow of colors, strikingly similar to the radiant glow that emanated from the skyborne pavilions of Penglai Island.

Lian Mu looked left and right, a nagging sense of familiarity tugging at her. She was sure she had seen a sword like this before—when the blade caught the light, it emitted the same strange, prismatic gleam.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall where. She had to let it go.

She tried to resonate with the sword, but nothing happened.

As expected, the Flying Swan Sword was unique. She could only resonate with it—Pohong Sword remained inert in her hands.

Unlike the Flying Swan Sword, the Pohong Sword wasn’t something just anyone could wield. Among the five famed swords with sword spirits, Pohong Sword wasn’t one of them. Lian Mu guessed it was because Pohong Sword lacked a sword spirit. Compared to the Flying Swan, it felt more like a lifeless object—less agile, less responsive.

Still, it was a renowned blade. Just holding it felt different. Though she couldn’t resonate with it, Lian Mu’s hands itched with curiosity. She couldn’t resist trying it out.

She swung it through the air—and in the next instant, a bolt of heavenly lightning struck down, aimed directly at her.

Quick as lightning herself, Lian Mu spotted the flash in the sky and instinctively dodged.

That bolt must have been a seal-triggered lightning strike, left by Lu Feishuang on the Pohong Sword. It activated automatically when someone tried to take the sword.

Lian Mu had no choice but to set the Pohong Sword down. But the moment the blade touched the ground, it suddenly stirred. Heat flared at her waist.

The Pohong Sword rose into the air, and another bolt of lightning came crashing down—this time striking a spot over the sea.

The lightning hit something invisible, and a barrier flared up to block it. The barrier shattered.

Far out on the sea, a pavilion emerged. Then more followed, spreading from the ocean all the way to the shore, just like the Crimson Sky Sect.

Lian Mu: “?”

She stared, stunned, at the sudden appearance of the sea-bound structures. After a moment’s thought, she decided to investigate. Mounting her broom, she flew out toward them.

The moment she crossed over the sea, the world around her began to twist and shift.

Darkness fell over her vision, and she felt the ground vanish beneath her feet. Instinctively, she grabbed for the broomstick—but her hand landed on a wooden pillar instead.

When her vision cleared, Lian Mu found herself standing on solid ground. In front of her was a grand gate, with large characters inscribed on the plaque above: “Penglai Sect.” The once-bright vermilion characters had faded with time.

Lian Mu frowned. “…”

This was… the legendary ruins of the Penglai Sect.

How had she ended up here?

She stepped through the gates of the Penglai Sect and found desolation. The place was deserted. The layout of the pavilions was strikingly similar to that of the Crimson Sky Sect—almost identical.

But in contrast, the Penglai Sect exuded a sense of precision and discipline, every detail reflecting strict rules and order. The Crimson Sky Sect, though grand and prosperous, was far more unruly, its flamboyance tinged with rebellious arrogance.

Though the Crimson Sky Sect was a continuation of the Penglai Sect, the two sects couldn’t be more different in conduct. Aside from their geographic proximity, they had little in common.

No one had been here in ages. Cobwebs and dust covered everything. The main hall had been stripped bare—nothing worth seeing.

Lian Mu wandered around and eventually found a residential courtyard. It was clean—spotless, even. The flowers and plants in the garden were lush and well-tended, as if someone had been caring for them.

She stepped inside and immediately felt a warmth in the air. Stopping beneath a magnolia tree, she noticed the flowers and grass growing at its base.

Beneath the tree bloomed a pale blue flower with five petals arranged in a spiral, giving off a faint, delicate fragrance.

For some reason, it felt oddly familiar. Lian Mu found herself staring at it longer than she expected.

As she moved toward a side hall, her spatial pouch suddenly began to tremble. She reached in and pulled out the Jiao Pearl she had obtained earlier.

The Jiao Pearl slipped from her hand and rolled in a specific direction.

Lian Mu followed it to an ornately carved wooden door. The pearl rolled through a crack beneath it.

She hesitated for a moment, then pushed the door open.

A blast of cold air hit her face.

She raised her hand to shield herself and looked inside. Atop a tall table sat a glass bottle—something inside was moving.

The Jiao Pearl rolled to a stop beneath the table.

Lian Mu picked it up and looked at the bottle. Inside was a small, slender creature flicking its tail. It had horns on its head, pitch-black scales, and four limbs flailing with a powerful presence.

Clutching the now-hot Jiao Pearl in her hand, Lian Mu understood immediately: the real Flood Dragon was here.

She gently tapped the bottle. A crack split the glass, and the Flood Dragon slipped out. It was no larger than her finger, lying in her palm with its eyes closed. Sensing the Jiao Pearl, it opened its mouth to swallow it.

Lian Mu had a strong feeling that once it swallowed the pearl, it would transform—so she quickly hid the Jiao Pearl away.

The little Black Flood Dragon opened its eyes to look at her, then coiled around her finger, gripping her tightly with its claws.

Just as Lian Mu was about to pry it off, a voice came from her spirit jade token.

…

…

“Second-seat sword cultivator of the Returning Immortal Sect, come out of the Penglai Sect immediately.”

“Second-seat sword cultivator of the Returning Immortal Sect, come out of the Penglai Sect immediately.”

Inside the Hundred Fragrance Hall, the image-recording stone from the Returning Immortal Sect had gone dark again. They could no longer see what was happening inside, but all the Venerable Elders knew exactly what had occurred.

Lian Mu, the second-seat sword cultivator of the Returning Immortal Sect, had shattered the barrier concealing the ruins of the Penglai Sect—and entered without permission.

“She actually managed to enter the Penglai Sect gates. That’s…” Cheng Ling said in astonishment. “Even Mei Chengyu, as she is now, probably couldn’t get in so easily. Has the Jade Purity Veil already acknowledged her?”

Just as they were speaking, Mei Chengyu stumbled in, clearly drunk, and stopped in front of a row of image-recording stones. She hurriedly asked, “Who entered the Penglai Sect?”

“It was Lian Mu from the Returning Immortal Sect—the sword cultivator you fought before.”

Mei Chengyu paused for a moment, then burst out laughing. “I knew I wasn’t wrong about her. If the Penglai Sect still existed, she would’ve definitely been one of us.”

She was always like this. The Venerable Elders were used to it by now. Even though the Penglai Sect had long since ceased to exist, in her heart, she still considered herself a Penglai disciple and never took the Crimson Sky Sect seriously.

The Sect Master of Crimson Sky Sect didn’t look pleased. Normally all smiles, his face was now expressionless. “Chengyu, you’re drunk again. You don’t need to worry about the Illusion Realm. Go back and rest.”

But Mei Chengyu refused to leave. “I want to watch her come out.”

Murong Yi’s expression darkened as he reminded her, “Senior Mei, Lian Mu is from the Returning Immortal Sect.”

Mei Chengyu acted as if she hadn’t heard him at all. Instead, she walked over to the Returning Immortal Sect’s section and sat down right in front of the image-recording stone showing Lian Mu.

Murong Yi: “…”

The Venerable Elders of Crimson Sky Sect were used to her stubbornness and didn’t say anything. They only cast worried glances at their own disciples.

This time, the Crimson Sky Sect’s chief team had entered the Heart Realm Trial last. Their timing was off, and their entry point was dangerously placed.

The Returning Immortal Sect’s chief team was lying on the beach. They had entered earlier, and some of them were already waking up. If they ran into each other, it could be trouble.

“At least there are no Spirit Beasts causing havoc in this area,” a Crimson Sky Sect Venerable Elder muttered to comfort himself.

Over on the Clear Thought Sect’s side, they looked completely unconcerned as they watched the image-recording stones, wearing expressions of indifference. They weren’t worried at all.

The Clear Thought Sect was named for their unique Wunian Heart Method. Those who cultivated this technique could remain unaffected by external emotional disturbances and could even influence others’ mental states instead.

Moreover, most of their disciples were carefree and shameless by nature, carrying the attitude of “whatever I do is right.” Very few things could make them hesitate, regret, or feel emotionally attached.

The Clear Thought Sect’s chief team had only been unconscious for about half an hour before they began to wake up one after another. The first to awaken was Gong Rumei.

As soon as he woke, he instinctively went into the cave to look for Lian Mu, but found only Shen Wuxie remaining inside.

On Wind Eagle Cliff, after Ying You and Jiang Yuechen had left, the rest of the Azure Profound Sect’s chief team also began to wake up. Compared to the other two sects, the Returning Immortal Sect remained unusually quiet.

“Among the Returning Immortal Sect’s chief team and Second Seat, only Lian Mu is awake. Looks like she’ll have to face the chief disciples of the other sects all on her own.”