The bright moon hung high, casting a cold brilliance.
The clouds drifted by, causing the moon in the sky to appear intermittently bright and dim.
Lu Mu's white shirt was somewhat disheveled, stained with traces of blood. He staggered out of the Wolong Ridge, tapping his bamboo staff, trembling as he walked.
In the dense forest behind him, night crows cawed as they flew high.
The carriage driver who stayed behind was alarmed when he saw Lu Mu's appearance and hurriedly ran over.
"Sir, have you encountered wild beasts in the mountains? I saw some mountain folks running out in panic earlier. There must be some ferocious beasts or monsters in the mountains."
The carriage driver supported Lu Mu onto the carriage and asked.
Lu Mu waved his hand dismissively. Despite his unkempt appearance, he inexplicably felt excited, sitting in the carriage, his body trembling uncontrollably.
"To the Imperial Capital!"
Lu Mu ordered.
The carriage driver was taken aback but didn't ask too much. He raised the reins, and the spirited horse neighed as they galloped away.
...
Imperial Capital.
In the quiet night, amidst the bustling city, a teahouse still burned with candlelight.
Behind the counter, a maid with a bun on her head boredly calculated the accounts.
Inside the teahouse, chairs were overturned on tables, and a servant in white cloth was cleaning up.
Suddenly, there was a light knock on the door.
The maid with the bun on her head became alert. "Who's there? It's late at night, and we're not serving tea."
After a moment of silence outside the door, a hoarse voice came.
"It's just a matter of heavenly secrets, no need to worry about worldly affairs."
The maid's eyes lit up at the secret phrase and she quickly ran out from behind the counter to open the door.
Outside, there stood an old man in white, holding a jade bamboo staff, looking exhausted.
"Elder Uncle!"
The maid exclaimed in surprise.
"Shh." Lu Mu raised a trembling finger to his lips.
The maid closed the door, and upstairs, footsteps could be heard.
Lu Mu pulled out a chair and sat down, heaving a sigh of relief.
On the pavilion, a beautiful woman with a bun, dressed in luxurious silk, came leisurely.
"Old Lu, why are you in such a hurry? The Master asked you to stay in Beiluo City. Why did you come to the Imperial Capital?"
The beautiful woman, with a hint of doubt in her beautiful eyes.
The servant poured a cup of hot tea for Lu Mu.
Lu Mu didn't mind the heat and drank it directly. Then, he looked at the beautiful woman, pinching three copper coins and suddenly tossing them out.
The graceful woman raised her slender hand and caught the three copper coins.
Huh?
Her eyebrows furrowed slightly as she saw the three copper coins turn black and even crack.
"What have you done?" The beautiful woman took a deep breath.
"I went to Wolong Ridge and saw terrifying things and objects..."
Lu Mu grinned, revealing a missing tooth.
"Why did you go to Wolong Ridge?"
The beautiful woman was puzzled as she returned the copper coins to Lu Mu.
"I heard from someone that there's an Immortal Fate appearing in Wolong Ridge, and I went specifically to check it out. After divining, I inadvertently captured something terrifying."
Lu Mu took a deep breath, no longer smiling. The matter at hand was important.
"Sister Qianqian, can I borrow the Heavenly Secrets Pigeon?"
Lu Mu asked.
The beautiful woman looked deeply at Lu Mu. "Is it true?"
"Once the Heavenly Secrets Pigeon is used, it will surely cause a great disturbance in the world. Are you determined to do this? If it turns out to be a bad thing, can you bear the consequences?"
Lu Mu's gaze was profound.
"I will bear all consequences."
"Alright." The beautiful woman nodded.
Then, the two of them went upstairs.
The maid and the servant looked at each other in surprise.
On the top floor, in a secret room.
Lu Mu followed in.
He took out yellow paper, slapped his chest, coughed up blood to dye the ink, and began to write.
"The decree of heaven and earth, the dragon lies, the ghost appears.
The spirit revives the world, cultivation grasps immortality.
...
Heavenly Secrets Family, Lu Mu, blood writing."
Behind Lu Mu, the beautiful woman finished reading and her pupils contracted, feeling shocked.
If what Lu Mu said was true, then the world... would surely be in turmoil!
"Is this... true?" The beautiful woman asked again.
"If it's false, let thunder strike me."
Lu Mu wiped away the blood stains and said.
Then, he rewrote the letter several times, stuffed them into the pigeon's letter tube, and pulled the cage forcefully.
The flapping sound echoed.
One by one, white pigeons flew out of the cage, spreading their wings towards the Imperial Capital and flying in all directions.
Lu Mu looked at the sky filled with Heavenly Secrets Pigeons, revealing a relaxed smile.
The beautiful woman frowned, ignoring Lu Mu, and went downstairs, sending someone to rush to Wolong Ridge.
...
The Heavenly Secrets Pigeon is the means by which the Heavenly Secrets Family communicates with the world.
As each Heavenly Secrets Pigeon was released, the forces of the Heavenly Secrets Family in cities shrouded by the night received the messages.
Upon receiving the letters, the strong individuals of these Heavenly Secrets Families were filled with disbelief.
The spiritual energy of the world is recovering?
Is there really Immortal Fate in the Wolong Ridge? Can those holding the Heavenly Qi Token obtain Immortal Fate?
What on earth is going on?
Many people dispatched their strong individuals, rushing to the Wolong Ridge with all haste.
For a while, the earth was bustling with dust as horses galloped.
As the morning sun scattered its rays, in the depths of the Wolong Ridge, beyond the spiritual pressure "eggshell", figures stood in an incredible manner, watching the "eggshell" emitting colorful radiance under the morning sun, causing everyone's hearts to contract involuntarily.
Immortal Fate... It's real!
The news spread back to various cities.
One by one, Heavenly Secrets Pigeons were released, flying to various parts of Da Zhou.
...
In the Northern County, at the Dantai Mansion.
Dantai Xuan's face was solemn, while below the main hall, Mo Ju, dressed in a long gown and a kerchief, squinted at the letter.
"Immortal Fate outside Beiluo City, in the Wolong Ridge..."
Mo Ju held the letter, deep in thought.
The Heavenly Secrets Family communicated with the world using Heavenly Secrets Pigeons. At this moment, I'm afraid the entire world already knows this news.
The news shouldn't be false; the Heavenly Secrets Family wouldn't easily use Heavenly Secrets Pigeons. Once they do...
It must be earth-shattering news.
"Mo Ju, do you think this news is true?" Dantai Xuan, sitting on the grandmaster's chair, frowned and pondered, asking his advisor, Mo Ju.
"Ninety percent believable. Lord, do you still remember the battle outside Beiluo City?" Mo Ju lightly waved his feather fan, saying.
Thinking of the battle outside Beiluo City, Dantai Xuan's face darkened.
Gathering fifty thousand troops and even seeing the dawn of victory, they were unexpectedly overturned.
And after that, it seemed like he, Dantai Xuan, had been plagued by bad luck, attacking Zuilong City, only to have his army collapse under Jiang Li's single spear.
"That extraordinary woman back then was Lu Ping'an's maid. She displayed the means of a cultivator after obtaining Immortal Fate." Mo Ju's eyes flickered.
"If not for that, we shouldn't have lost that battle. The existence of cultivators is a variable."
"Lord, the situation in the world has changed. With the appearance of Immortal Fate, the battle situation will change. We must seize this opportunity to obtain Immortal Fate and cultivate cultivators. Only then can we hold our ground."
"Otherwise, even if Da Zhou collapses, in the future... we will still become others' pawns."
"As far as I know, Xiang Shaoyun, the Overlord of the Western County, has already obtained Immortal Fate, enhancing his strength even further, making him unfathomable, capable of single-handedly facing ten thousand troops." Mo Ju said.
Dantai Xuan's gaze tightened. Xiang Shaoyun was already terrifying enough, and now with Immortal Fate, who could stop him?
"Send troops to the Wolong Ridge outside Beiluo City! Seize Immortal Fate!" Dantai Xuan stood up, slamming his palm on the armrest of the grandmaster's chair, and shouted.
...
In the Western County.
Inside the military tent.
Xiang Shaoyun, with his burly figure, sat high on the chair, staring at the letter, his eyes seemingly burning with flames.
Below him, there was an old man with white hair and a bent back, as if he could fall at any moment.
"Shaoyun, you must visit the Wolong Ridge. The appearance of Immortal Fate is enough to change the situation in the world."
"And that 'Heavenly Qi Token', I've already ordered someone to collect it."
"Prepare yourself; I'll let Shougui accompany you." The old man said slowly.
"Uncle, there's no need for that. I alone am enough." Xiang Shaoyun glanced lightly at the old man on the chair and said indifferently.
This old man was none other than the head of the Mo Family, Mo Beike.
An existence who rivaled the National Teacher of the Confucian School.
Xiang Shaoyun's words were quite assertive.
Mo Beike paused, then slowly said, "Immortal Fate is destined for those who have affinity with it. You alone can't swallow all the Immortal Fate."
...
Imperial Capital.
In the study.
The National Teacher pinched the letter, gazing into the distance where the morning light shone.
"Immortal Fate... Heavenly Qi Token..."
Recalling what His Majesty had said before, the National Teacher took a deep breath.
The news of the Immortal Fate Secret Realm in the Wolong Ridge had spread throughout the world.
But...
"Why is the Heavenly Secrets Family propagating this so widely? Is someone behind the scenes stirring up trouble, controlling everything?"
In the murky gaze of the National Teacher, there was a hint of sharpness.
...
On this day.
With the appearance of Immortal Fate in the Wolong Ridge, the news spread throughout various counties of Da Zhou.
The world was shaken.
The "Heavenly Qi Tokens" were also found by various heroes in different places.
...
Beiluo City.
The Lu Residence.
The morning light streamed down.
Lu Fan lazily got up and began his debauched day under the care of Yi Yue and Ni Yu.
He transmitted the Ksitigarbha Sutra to Ning Zhao and dispatched her overnight to Hu Xin Island to begin her cultivation there.
Yi Yue pushed the wheelchair out of the courtyard.
Jing Yue, with the yellow pearwood sword box on his back, greeted Lu Fan with a fawning smile, "Good morning, young master!"
Lu Fan glanced at him and nodded slightly.
"Go and meet the assassin from yesterday," Lu Fan said slowly as he stretched lazily on the wheelchair.
Yi Yue, pushing the wheelchair, partedher lips.
"Yes."
Suddenly.
Outside the small courtyard.
Lu Changkong had changed into deep black armor at some point, dressed in military attire, and hurried over.
"Son."
Lu Changkong frowned and said.
But Lu Changkong was holding a piece of mysterious yellow paper in his hand.
Lu Changkong handed the paper to Lu Fan, who glanced at it and understood, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.
It seemed that this Lü Mudui had started to take action.
"There is Immortal Fate in the Wolong Ridge. The Heavenly Secrets Family has spread the news throughout the world. Now, heroes are gathering, scouts are reporting, various factions, at least five county governors... are all leading their troops here. Beiluo City needs to be guarded closely during this time."
"Son, is this Immortal Fate... real?" Lu Changkong's gaze sharpened as he asked.
On the wheelchair, Lu Fan smiled faintly as he put down the paper and nodded.
"Then... Father promises you ten thousand troops to accompany you in seizing this Immortal Fate!"
Lu Changkong took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and made a decision.
On the wheelchair, Lu Fan chuckled dumbfoundedly.
There was a hint of emotion in his heart.
But he waved his hand.
"No need for ten thousand troops. I will send Old Nie and Ning Jie."
Lu Changkong was stunned, "You're not going to seize this Immortal Fate yourself?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Fan laughed.
A gust of wind blew, lifting his hanging sideburns.
Then, his faint voice echoed in the courtyard.
"The Immortal Fate is too small. I can't be bothered."