It was freezing cold, but the frost did not stop the flowing water. In the distance, the waterfall was rumbling.
Under the stars and the moon, a horse galloped forward. The horse exhaled hot air all the way. The man on the horse was shrouded in a black cloak.
When he reached the shallow river, he turned into the river, waded into the shallow water, splashed to the other side of the river, and continued to gallop into the distant forest.
The forest in the mountain was deep, and the light was dim. When rushing into the forest, the knight waved his hand, and a pink and white warm light flashed from his black robe, illuminating the way.
The pink and white warm light was a fluttering butterfly named 'Xiao Yue', which meant that Xiao Yue was bright. It was covered with hard armor, and there were bone spurs in its wings. In the daytime, it did not look abnormal, but in the dark, it emitted a soft brilliance, which could illuminate a distance of two feet. It could fly fast and slow, and was domesticated by cultivators to illuminate the road.
'Xiao Yue' glowed from its wings. There was no light on the back of its wings, and the light came from the inside of its wings. Therefore, when it moved its wings, the range of its light would fluctuate. When it stopped and folded its wings, it could be used as a light.
'Xiao Yue' led the way and illuminated the way, while the knight rode behind.
Suddenly, a streamer flew out of the forest in front of them and blocked their way. It was another glowing butterfly.
The knight hurriedly stopped the horse, and 'Xiao Yue', who led the way, flashed back to him. The knight shrouded in the cloak raised his head. He was a thin old man with three strands of white beard, and his eyes were full of spirit. He threw out a token.
The figure lurking in the tree caught the token and checked it, then threw it back. The glowing butterfly quickly withdrew and disappeared into the darkness.
The horse galloped again, chasing 'Xiao Yue' all the way into the depths of the forest.
The bright moon shone brightly. Deep in the forest was a beautiful place with strange peaks and cliffs. On the cliffs, there were palaces and towers with bright lights. This was the place where the Shangqing Sect was located in the world of cultivation.
The black-robed knight jumped down from a cliff, lifted his cloak, and revealed his face. It was the head of the Shangqing Sect, Tang Mu.
A disciple immediately came to greet him, "Head!"
Tang Mu casually tossed the reins to the other party. Without saying a word, he quickly walked up the zigzag shaped stone steps on the cliff wall. With a few light leaps, he landed on the top of the cliff. He had already arrived outside the towering palace on the mountain and continued to walk forward.
Under the soaring eaves, a woman with a green conch bun stood quietly.
Her eyebrows were like slender willow leaves, a pair of phoenix-like eyes that were as bright as black jade gems, a delicate nose, cherry lips that were like blooming flower pistils, a face that was like a hibiscus, but also slightly dignified and elegant. Her skin was white and tender like fine porcelain, her breasts were plump, and her figure was graceful. She wore a grey muslin dress, and her temperament was otherworldly.
She was, and she was, and looked like an immortal. She was. She was, and her eyes were as bright and beautiful. She Yi was. She was.
The glowing butterfly was eye-catching. Although it was put away as soon as it reached the top of the cliff, it was still discovered by Tang Yi.
Tang Yi looked back and was a little surprised. She walked to the steps to greet them. She looked behind her father and didn't see anyone else. She couldn't help asking Tang Mu, "Father, didn't Shixiong and the others come back together?"
Unexpectedly, Tang Mu's body shook. He was distracted and tripped on the steps. At the same time, he choked and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Tang Yi was shocked. How could this happen with her father's cultivation? She quickly went to help him.
When she got closer, she smelled the strong smell of blood on her father. She found his sleeve was wet and a little sticky. She raised her hand and looked under the light under the eaves. She found it was blood. She couldn't help but ask in shock, "Father, are you hurt?"
Tang Mu slightly waved his hand, motioning her not to make a sound.
It was freezing outside, and the temperature on the mountain was even colder. However, it was as warm as spring inside the house. A huge copper furnace, which looked like an alchemy furnace, was in the center of the hall. People standing under the furnace had to look up. Inside, there was a burning charcoal fire. When they got close, they could feel the heat. It made the whole house warm. The heat went straight to the inside of the house. Even with the door open, it couldn't reduce the warmth in the house.
She helped her father into the house and sat down. Tang Yi looked anxious. She wanted to check her father's injury.
Tang Mu raised his hand to stop her. He said in a deep voice, "Immediately inform the three elders and the inner disciples to come see me. I have something important to announce!"
Tang Yi was anxious. "Father, your injury …"
Tang Mu shouted and interrupted her. "Go quickly! Quickly! "
Tang Yi bit her lips. Her bright eyes were filled with tears. She seemed to have sensed something, but she had to turn her long skirt and run away quickly.
Before long, several inner disciples arrived first. They were shocked to see Tang Mu's appearance. Under the light, it was obvious that Tang Mu was seriously injured.
The disciples rushed forward to check, especially the eldest direct disciple of Tang Mu, Wei Duo. He was even more anxious. "Master … master … how … how did you … get hurt like this … disciple will … heal you!" He was born to stutter.
Tang Mu waved his hand, motioning them to step back. He didn't want them to take care of him. Wei Duo, who had a simple and honest face, was so anxious that he knelt down on the side.
Tang Mu closed his eyes. It seemed that he had no energy to say anything to him.
After a while, three elders of the Shangqing Sect who lived in the back mountain flew out of the door. They were two men and one woman.
The three men were named Luo Yuangong, Su Po, and Tang Susu. They were all old, older than the Sect Head, Tang Mu. They were originally Tang Mu's martial uncles. After Tang Mu took over the Shangqing Sect, the three of them retired to the position of elders.
Although the three of them had been mentally prepared before they came, they were still surprised to see Tang Mu's condition. The three of them went forward to check him together.
Unlike the disciples under him, Tang Mu couldn't refuse them, so he let them do as they pleased.
After the three of them examined Tang Mu, they all looked very serious. They knew the reason why Tang Mu didn't want to save him. Tang Mu's injury was too serious. His five viscera and six bowels were almost destroyed. He was hanging on by a breath of True Qi.
The three of them probably guessed what Tang Mu wanted to announce by calling them here.
"Who did it?" Tang Susu asked angrily. She was Tang Mu's aunt. When Tang Mu entered the Shangqing Sect, she was the one who introduced him. Later, she also contributed a lot to Tang Mu's position as the Sect Head. How could she not be angry when her nephew became like this?
Slowly, Tang Mu said, "Wait until everyone is here!"
Everyone had to wait.
When Tang Yi came back, she summoned all the disciples of the Shangqing Sect who stayed in the inner sanctum. After they stood in several rows in an orderly manner in the hall, Tang Mu grabbed the armrest with both hands and sat up straight. He said in a clear and powerful voice, "Because of my body, I can no longer be in charge of the Shangqing Sect. Today, all the disciples of the inner sanctum are here. Listen to my decree. Everyone is a witness. I officially pass the position of the Sect Head of the Shangqing Sect to Junior Brother Dongguo Haoran. Those who listen to my decree can't be deceived. There are sect rules, and violators will be severely punished!"
The group of disciples looked at each other, but the three elders were very surprised. Passing the position to Dongguo Haoran?
According to the rules of the Shangqing Sect, the Sect Head of the Shangqing Sect could only be held by an inner sanctum disciple, who was appointed by the previous Sect Head. If something happened to the Sect Head and he couldn't be appointed, one of his disciples would be chosen to inherit the position of the Sect Head, and all the inner sanctum disciples would vote for him. Unless the Sect Head didn't even have a disciple, only then would he choose someone from the collateral branch.
Dongguo Haoran was Tang Mu's junior brother, so naturally, he was considered an inner sanctum disciple and also qualified to be appointed by the Sect Head. However, from the perspective of Tang Mu's branch, they chose someone from the collateral branch to take over the position. In addition to some other factors, from a certain point of view, Dongguo Haoran was not a suitable candidate.
Tang Susu was the first to lose her composure. She said sternly, "Sect Head, please reconsider. Dongguo Haoran and King Ning Shang Jianbo have been flirting with each other for a long time. Shang Jianbo was indulging in wild fantasies, which made all the cultivators in the world dissatisfied. It was precisely because of this that when my senior brother wanted to pass the position to Dongguo Haoran, he was stopped by the other martial uncles and passed the position to you. Now, you've taken a detour. Don't you know that once Dongguo Haoran takes over the position, it will bring disaster to the Shangqing Sect? How can we treat such a big matter as a child's play?"
Tang Mu said calmly, "On the way here, I've heard the news that Shang Jianbo has been assassinated. Therefore, the matter of Shang Jianbo is already over."
Shang Jianbo is dead? King Ning Shang Jianbo is the younger brother of the current Emperor of the Yan Kingdom. He is one of the Three Dukes of the Kingdom. He is the commander-in-chief of the Yan Kingdom's army. He is good at warfare and has real power. Unexpectedly, he has been assassinated. How big of a deal is this? Why didn't the Shangqing Sect receive the news?
The aged Tang Susu raised her head and said, "I object!"
Tang Mu squinted at her and asked, "Why do you object? Have you ever violated the rules of the Sect? "
Tang Susu said, "I have never violated the rules. But since the establishment of the Shangqing Sect, the position of the Sect Head has always been passed on to a direct disciple. There has never been a precedent of passing the position to a branch disciple. It's not like there are no disciples under the Sect Head. Why did you pass the position to a branch disciple? There must be a reason, right?"
Tang Mu closed his eyes and sighed, "All the disciples who followed me on this trip have been killed."
Everyone was silent. When they saw Tang Mu come back with such injuries and did not see any other accompanying disciples, they had a rough guess in their hearts. Now that it was confirmed, they could not help but wonder what had happened.
Tang Susu pointed at Wei Duo and said, "Wei Duo is your first disciple. How can the Sect Head ignore him?"
Tang Mu said indifferently, "Wei Duo is honest and loyal. He can be a virtuous assistant, but he is not suitable to be the Sect Head. He cannot bear the heavy responsibility of the Sect Head."
No one objected to this argument. Besides, Wei Duo stuttered. If he became the Sect Head, it would indeed damage the image of the Shangqing Sect. Even Wei Duo himself lowered his head.
Tang Susu pointed at Tang Yi and said, "What about Tang Yi? There is no reason why a woman can't be the Sect Head of the Shangqing Sect."
Tang Mu said, "Tang Yi is my daughter. The Shangqing Sect is not my family's private property. As the Sect Head of the Shangqing Sect, how can I hide my selfishness and pass on the Sect Head from generation to generation?"
Tang Susu said in a loud voice, "There is no need to avoid family. Who dares to disagree?"
Tang Mu said indifferently, "That's not appropriate!"
Tang Susu was angry. "In the end, the Sect Head just wants to pass on the position of the Sect Head to Dongguo Haoran. Why? Is there any ulterior motive?"
Tang Mu suddenly opened his eyes and looked around. His tone was a bit harsh. "Are the rules of the Shangqing Sect dispensable to Elder Tang?"
"…" Tang Susu choked and was speechless. She clenched her fists and trembled with anger. She did not expect that her closest nephew would talk to her like this in public. It was the first time that he was so tough to her and made her lose face in front of all the disciples.
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