Chapter 195: Release the Long Line to Catch the Big Fish!

The one who came down the mountain was not unknown.

In the Cultivation World, it wasn’t only Immortal Mountain sects that existed; there were also cultivation families bearing clan names.

Well-established families mostly withdrew from the mundane world, avoiding not just human society, but also having little contact with Immortal Mountain cultivators outside.

The man dressed in black robes spoke calmly, “Set up the formation. Don’t let that beast escape, and make sure we don’t alarm the Mortals nearby.”

“Yes, Steward.”

Several cultivators exchanged glances, then softly chanted.

Cultivators stationed in various positions raised their heads, then extended two fingers, summoning their Magical Power, and weaving a spell.

“Hum.”

In just a flash, a golden light spread over the entire mountain, sealing it beneath a Formation Array.

Those inside the array couldn’t get out, while those outside merely saw a quiet mountain with not a single person in sight.

Moyuan was about to step outside when he suddenly saw the array descend, enveloping the Flowing Cloud Temple.

His brow furrowed involuntarily, and he pulled open the temple doors.

Reaching the front gate, Moyuan gazed down.

A cultivator downhill asked, “Steward, shall we ascend now?”

Steward Yun Cang of Qingyuan Yun Manor lifted his gaze. When he saw the man standing at the temple entrance, his brows knitted together.

Yun Cang raised his hand and said, “Wait…”

A cultivator beside him nodded at the order, then followed the Steward’s gaze. His eyes immediately fell upon the figure at the temple gate.

The cultivator frowned. “Could that beast have found a powerful backer?”

Yun Cang nodded slightly. “It seems so…”

And the one standing at the gate… he wasn’t someone easy to deal with either.

Yun Cang thought for a moment, then said, “I’ll go meet him. The rest of you wait here below.”

With that, he lightly leaped upward like flying catkin, drifting towards the mountaintop.

Moyuan witnessed this and raised an eyebrow.

“Get down!”

Three parts of the Dragon’s Might surged forth, crashing towards the Steward of Yun Manor ascending midway.

“Boom!”

Yun Cang’s expression hardened as he instantly felt an overwhelming pressure collapsing onto his body.

Seeing the situation turn bad, he swiftly dropped back down, landing steadily on the stone steps.

“Dragon’s Might?”

Surprise jolted through Yun Cang. Clearly, he hadn’t expected such a presence within the Mortal Realm.

Just as he frowned and looked up to investigate, he heard Moyuan at the temple gate speak: “If you wish to ascend this mountain, you’ll do so step by step.”

Hearing this, Yun Cang felt no anger. He smoothed his black robes and calmly began the steady climb upwards.

Moyuan was a bit surprised. “He really is walking…?”

He considered it. This person did have some guts. But Moyuan was never one for reason. With a mere thought, he intensified the Dragon’s Might, forcing it down upon Yun Cang climbing the steps.

Yun Cang grunted, his body instantly buckling under the strain.

His expression turned grave; he realized now that the person guarding this mountain gate was far beyond what they could handle.

‘That beast really found a formidable refuge…’

Yun Cang clenched his jaw, forcing himself upright against the crushing weight of the True Dragon, and continued step by step.

After about a quarter of an hour, Yun Cang neared the gates of the Flowing Cloud Temple. He stared at Moyuan by the entrance, wondering just who this person was.

Possessing Dragon’s Might… he likely had Dragon Clan bloodline.

This level of pressure…

He must be incredibly powerful, at least a Peak Divine Transformation-stage Flood Dragon nearing Human Transformation.

Moyuan watched Yun Cang’s ascent with keen interest.

Only when Yun Cang stood before him did Moyuan finally withdraw his oppressive aura.

Yun Cang exhaled in relief, then cupped his hands respectfully. “Yun Cang, Steward of Qingyuan Yun Manor, greets you, sir.”

“Qingyuan Yun Manor?”

Moyuan pondered briefly, then shook his head. “Never heard of it.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You’re damn bold. You didn’t even bother finding out whose domain this is before surrounding the mountain and setting up an array?”

Yun Cang paused. “In my haste to arrive, I neglected to inquire. It was indeed presumptuous. I did not know this was your domain. I will have them dismantle the array immediately and retreat ten miles.”

Moyuan scoffed. “That was quite the arrival you made. And now? You catch a glimpse of something more powerful and you want to flee? Do you honestly think it’s that easy?”

A flicker of anger warmed Yun Cang’s chest, but he remained outwardly calm. “Certain matters may still be open to negotiation. You should consider your position carefully, sir.”

Admittedly, the people he’d brought today couldn’t handle this Great Demon. But Yun Manor’s true depth went far beyond this. These were merely some Divine Transformation cultivators. It wasn’t Yun Manor’s style to retreat simply out of fear.

“Want to reason with me?”

Moyuan laughed. “Too bad I never reason with anyone!”

His words still hung in the air as his hand shot out, seizing Yun Cang by the throat.

Yun Cang’s heart lurched! He tried to dodge, but under the Monster/Demon’s cold glare, he found himself utterly frozen.

His Divine Sense and Magical Power were both suppressed. Within that gaze, he faintly discerned the silhouette of a Black Dragon.

In an instant, the grip closed on his windpipe. Moyuan lifted him clear off the ground!

“Ghah…”

Grimacing, Yun Cang couldn’t believe how direct this being was.

His face flushed crimson, strangling his air. He thrashed, desperate to break free.

“You… are…!”

“A True Dragon!”

Moyuan snorted disdainfully and flung the man aside.

“Thud!”

Yun Cang slammed onto the ground, gasping for air.

Moyuan spoke. “A Dongxu Cultivator like you? The Cultivation World is crawling with them. You think you’re some big deal?”

Staggering to his feet, Yun Cang suppressed his terror and clasped his hands again. “This lowly one has eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai. I have offended the True Dragon. I shall take my leave immediately.”

“Leave? Where do you think you’re going?”

Moyuan’s cold eyes swept over him, pinning Yun Cang in place.

Yun Cang halted. He sighed inwardly. Escaping today seemed unlikely.

He truly couldn’t fathom how a True Dragon could reside within a humble Taoist Temple in the Mortal Realm.

Moyuan cast a sidelong glance with the corner of his eye into the temple compound.

He asked, “How many years have they hunted you?”

The creature hiding inside the temple answered immediately: “Probably…”

“Over a sexagenary cycle (60 years).” He’d been hiding in this world for a full sixty years.

The corner of Moyuan’s mouth lifted into a smile. He reached out again, grabbing Yun Cang by the nape of the neck and hoisting him aloft once more.

“How many of you came today?” Moyuan demanded.

Yun Cang hesitated, then replied, “Including myself… a total… a total of one hundred and three cultivators.”

“Quite a party.”

Moyuan swung Yun Cang around to face him. “Alright, my turn to talk now.”

“I don’t care where you skittered in from. Hand over every valuable treasure you have on you. Additionally, every one of you will fork over Merit equivalent to one sexagenary cycle! Short by even one year, and none of you will walk off this mountain alive!”

Yun Cang breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought his life ended today. There was actually room to bargain. If he survived this intact, he could always return later and plan anew.

“Does the True Dragon keep his word?”

“Naturally.”

Thus, the scene at the foot of Flowing Cloud Temple shifted dramatically. Hundreds of cultivators lined up, each dutifully handing over Magical Artifacts, treasures, and their accrued Merit.

Moyuan collected it all gleefully, his hands overflowing, a wide grin splitting his face.

“Alright, alright,” he waved dismissively. “All of you, get out of here!”

Yun Cang gave him another look, then addressed the hundreds of cultivators behind him.

“We leave.”

In the blink of an eye, the hundreds of cultivators vanished.

Moyuan, true to his word, let them go.

Chenghuang stood beside Moyuan, wanting to say something but hesitating.

Moyuan glanced at the Mythical Beast. “You want to ask why I let them leave?”

Chenghuang nodded. “Qingyuan Yun Manor has existed for thousands of years. If they rally their forces and return, dealing with them could become… troublesome. Judging by that Steward’s eyes, I know they will be back.”

“You’re still too green.”

Moyuan patted his shoulder. “Release a long line to catch a big fish. You have no idea what Mr. Chen actually represents.”

Chenghuang looked stunned. “Mr. Chen… what level of cultivation does he possess…?”

“You’ve got it wrong.”

Moyuan shook his head. “It has nothing to do with his cultivation level. If that so-called Yun Manor dares to cause trouble here again, it won’t require Mr. Chen to lift a finger. Before half a day passes, Yun Manor will likely turn to dust.”

Confused, Chenghuang pondered Moyuan’s words. He thought long and hard, but the answer remained elusive.

“What do you mean?”

Could this Mr. Chen harbor some truly extraordinary origins?