The No.1 Undercover in the Immortal World-Chapter 417 - 407: Mistakenly Entering Mount Heavenly Dragon
Upon hearing news of Lin Yun once more, the Snow Maiden felt both relief and concern.
She was relieved that Lin Yun had indeed survived that sea disaster, yet she worried about his current predicament.
Though Lin Yun was formidable, he had made so many enemies in the Central Plains. If he were pursued by top experts, could he escape unharmed?
Besides, her heart ached for Lin Yun in ways she couldn’t express; he had become estranged from everyone for her sake, yet when he needed her response the most, she found herself hesitating.
"Your Highness need not worry too much. I’ve heard that when Lin Yun fled, two Enlightened Realm Cultivators from the Shenxiao Sect failed to capture him, which shows that he has enough ability to protect himself,"
Even after listening to Zhang Ling’s comforting words, the Snow Maiden still sighed in dismay.
"I know he probably won’t have issues escaping, but where could he be now? Without a place in the Central Plains, and I...,"
She trailed off, feeling upset at the thought.
If she had been more decisive back then, not overthinking it, Lin Yun wouldn’t be homeless like he is now.
But she didn’t want to discuss this topic further with Zhang Ling and abruptly stopped. After a while, she composed herself and asked, "Is there any other news?"
"The Emperor of the Imperial Court in the Central Plains is dead, the Imperial Family has fallen to pieces, and all the major powers are starting to fight for themselves. In three days, they will convene at Yuqing Mountain for the competition for supremacy. In my opinion, this is the perfect opportunity for us to launch an attack on the Mountain and Sea Pass,"
Attacking the Central Plains now would indeed put them under renewed pressure, but when they react, their unity won’t be as it was before.
If every power has their reservations, how could they resist the united front of the Grassland People?
This is truly a heaven-sent opportunity.
The animosity between the Grassland and the Central Plains has a long history. The Central Plains is rich in land and resources, something the Grassland People have coveted for a long time.
However, the Central Plains has always been a place where talents emerge, and if not for the protection of the Snow Mountain Divine Power, the Grassland wouldn’t be as peaceful as it is today.
While the Central Plains produces many geniuses, this also comes with a drawback—they are prone to infighting, unlike the Grassland, which has the presence of the Snow Mountain Divine Church, effectively uniting almost all their experts.
Now that the Central Plains is so divided, if they don’t strike now, when will they?
After a moment of thought, the Snow Maiden realized that Zhang Ling was right; it was indeed the optimal time to deploy troops. But war would inevitably bring death and slaughter—could she really bring herself to massacre the people Lin Yun wanted to protect?
The Snow Maiden found herself in turmoil once again.
"Let me consult the Grand Shaman before making a decision,"
Unable to clear her mind, she decided to seek advice from the Grand Shaman.
The Grand Shaman was the wisest person on the Grassland, and perhaps the answer to her inner confusion lay with him.
Zhang Ling wanted to say more but hesitated.
After a brief struggle, he finally said, "In that case, I shall take my leave."
The Snow Maiden didn’t notice the nuances; even though she knew there was something peculiar about Zhang Ling’s identity, she didn’t pay him much attention.
However, Lin Yun, concealed in the shadows, watched Zhang Ling’s reaction and pondered his thoughts.
It seems that like Ya Ruo, Zhang Ling had some understanding of the Grand Shaman’s other side.
Only the Snow Maiden, in her blithe ignorance, never thought to suspect the people around her.
After Zhang Ling had left, she took out the Ice Jade used for communicating with the Grand Shaman.
The Ice Jade, clear and flawless, transformed into a mirror-like surface after the Snow Maiden cast her spell, reflecting the image of the Grand Shaman wrapped in a black robe.
"Your heart is in turmoil, Snow,"
Before the Snow Maiden could speak, the Grand Shaman preempted her.
Feeling exposed by the Grand Shaman’s words, the Snow Maiden paused and then asked with confusion, "Has the Grand Shaman received some revelation?"
"It’s not like that, it’s just that your face shows unhappiness, you used to be carefree, and now, are you thinking about the Divine Child?"
The Snow Maiden nodded, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Ah Yun said he is originally from the Central Plains People. Why do you claim he is the Divine Child, Grand Shaman? Could it be that even the gods can be mistaken?"
This had been a nagging question for the Snow Maiden, who had spent most of her time recently being saddened by Lin Yun’s issues, while her remaining thoughts were consumed by this very question.
"The gods of course are not mistaken."
"But Ah Yun, he..."
"He is the Divine Child, and there is no conflict with him being from the Central Plains. He is the one chosen by the gods. You just need to be patient, and fate will guide him back into the embrace of the Snow Mountain God."
Lin Yun, eavesdropping in secret, was utterly bewildered.
Hey, I didn’t pay the Grand Shaman any money, so why is she firming up my identity like this?
The Grand Shaman herself was in denial inside. What could she do?
Denying Lin Yun as the Divine Child now would be akin to slapping her own face, diminishing her credibility.
If only she hadn’t spoken carelessly at first, but Lin Yun could summon the Great Mist, that was clearly a divine power, and later Lin Yun even brought Fulong and Qiaobian down the mountain, giving one to the Snow Maiden.
That is a Divine Artifact!
Is this how one acts as an undercover agent?
Is this something a normal person could do?
Are you here to be undercover, or to flirt with the Snow Maiden?
In any case, the initial claim was indeed very reckless.
To make up for her initial blunder, the Grand Shaman had no choice but to stubbornly carry on to the end.
As long as she insisted she wasn’t wrong, that Lin Yun is the Divine Child, then no one could say she was mistaken.
The Snow Maiden couldn’t grasp the complexities within, but suddenly everything seemed clear to her.
Right!
Why did she continuously ponder over who was mistaken?
Perhaps things were meant to be as they are, Ah Yun is indeed the Divine Child, naturally paired with her from birth. That’s why even if they were from opposing forces, they had never harmed each other.
And now, after overcoming some difficulties, with Lin Yun having no home in the Central Plains, isn’t it just the right time for him to return to the embrace of the Grassland?
The Snow Maiden felt the clouds within her heart dissipate completely, now all she wanted was to find Lin Yun and tell him that she was still his Ah Jie.
"Grand Shaman, thank you. I now know what I should do."
Grand Shaman: "..."
Watching the excited Snow Maiden, the Grand Shaman couldn’t help but sigh internally.
This child is so simple to console.
However, even the Grand Shaman herself was almost convinced by her own words.
Indeed, it was because of Lin Yun that she felt that pure Divine Power; could it be that she had accidentally blurted out the truth?
The Grand Shaman originally just wanted the Snow Maiden to come back, now she had abandoned that thought.
She wanted to take Lin Yun as well.
No hurry to close the net, just keep fishing a while longer.
"It’s good that you can pull yourself together. Moreover, regarding your future, I have received a new revelation."
The Grand Shaman spoke with grave seriousness, "The Yuqing Mountain Conference in three days will relate to a great shift in the fortunes of the world. Your opportunity lies there, and perhaps, the Divine Child will also appear."
Lin Yun, who remained hidden in the shadows, silently criticized, why would I want to join in that commotion?
"Then I will set off immediately!"
Without any hesitation, Snow Maiden accepted the task, wishing she could depart right away.
Seeing her urgency, it was apparent that she was spurred on by the Grand Shaman’s mention that Lin Yun might be there; she couldn’t wait to meet Lin Yun.
This time, she planned to apologize to Lin Yun properly and tell him that she did not blame him for what had happened.
"Don’t rush; you’ve lost your Fulong to the masters of the Central Plains, and now you’re without a protective charm. Going alone to the Central Plains is too dangerous. I’ve already dispatched Ya Ruo, and she can travel with you."
"Thank you, Grand Shaman."
Snow Maiden expressed her thanks repeatedly; having no other matters to inquire about, she immediately withdrew her spell.
"Zhang Ling!"
"Your subordinate is here."
"If Ya Ruo arrives, tell her to look for me on Yuqing Mountain."
Zhang Ling: "???"
Why suddenly go to Yuqing Mountain?
That place is where all the masters of the Central Plains gather; going there, Snow Maiden might not be able to return.
"Does Your Highness mean to not send troops?"
"You decide for yourself. The Grand Shaman didn’t say, but I need to make a trip to Yuqing Mountain, the sooner the better."
Snow Maiden couldn’t wait to find Lin Yun. She agreed to everything readily, only to turn around and leave Ya Ruo behind.
Perhaps influenced by Lin Yun, she had also picked up some bad habits, such as standing someone up.
Snow Maiden left swiftly and decisively, leaving Lin Yun with a headache.
He couldn’t outrun Snow Maiden...
Although Snow Maiden chose to be low-key this time and didn’t use her unique movement technique, opting for Snowstep instead, which was slightly slower, Lin Yun could only trail behind, eating her dust.
"I must find myself a fine steed in the future," Lin Yun silently vowed in his heart, yet he still had no choice but to head towards Yuqing Mountain.
But speaking of mounts, Lin Yun realized he had forgotten something.
On Mount Heavenly Dragon, two girls—one in white and one in green—trudged along the mountain with dirt-smudged faces. As they walked, the girl in white cursed, "Lin Yun, that heartless man, he promised that after returning, his cultivation would surely reach the twelfth level, but what happened? He never came back at all!"
These two were naturally Green Snake and Bai Jiaojiao.
Green Snake had completely assimilated the Dragon Blood she had obtained, and had now transformed into a Sea Dragon, no longer just a snake.
Although her realm had not advanced but actually dropped a level, her strength had increased a bit compared to before.
The powerful sisters found themselves in such an awkward position, all because of Lin Yun.
When the news of Lin Yun being a traitor came, the stance of Bai Jiaojiao and Xiao Qing, who were left in the camp, became very awkward.
Before the news of Lin Yun’s betrayal arrived, they were treated with much respect, with Bai Jiaojiao’s formidable strength winning the admiration of many warriors.
But with Lin Yun’s incident, all warriors united and prepared to besiege them.
Naturally, Bai Jiaojiao wouldn’t sit and wait for death. She transformed into her dragon form and fled for her life. However, the direction of Mountain and Sea Pass was sealed off, forcing Bai Jiaojiao to flee westward. Additionally, since Dragon River was lined with restrictions set by the Central Plains, it was impractical for Bai Jiaojiao to break through the formations while on the run. With no other choice, she had to escape to Mount Heavenly Dragon.
Traveling from the easternmost coastal region all the way to Mount Heavenly Dragon near the far west, Bai Jiaojiao felt that things were truly too difficult for her.
Had it not been for the Grassland People’s numbers, she would have let them know that even Dragon Mothers are not to be trifled with!
Fleeing to Mount Heavenly Dragon, Bai Jiaojiao simply decided to enter it.
The more she thought about it, the sadder she became.
Everything had been fine, so how did Lin Yun blow his cover?
It must have been an indulgence in the Snow Maiden’s beauty; otherwise, with Lin Yun’s cunning, he wouldn’t have been so easily discovered.
"He couldn’t have forgotten about me, could he?"
Considering this possibility, Bai Jiaojiao felt even more upset.
As Lin Yun was hurrying on his way, he suddenly sneezed.
He must be coming down with a cold lately.
Of course, Lin Yun had not forgotten Bai Jiaojiao. What could he forget if not his own dragon!
It was just that after arriving at the Grassland, he had learned about Bai Jiaojiao’s situation and knew she had run away, so he felt at ease.
Lin Yun was unaware that Bai Jiaojiao had run to Mount Heavenly Dragon, otherwise, he might have been a bit worried.
Mount Heavenly Dragon is one of the most dangerous places in the Cultivation World, with a risk level ranking even higher than the Land of Death and the Misty Forest.
There are many legends about Mount Heavenly Dragon, about gods, and about ancient myths. It is said that some have seen heavens full of Immortal Gods and palaces of jade there, as well as hellish netherworlds.
These accounts don’t come from just one person, but invariably, those who have witnessed these fantastical scenes all ended up insane, with not a single one remaining sane.
This is the risk for Mortals and low-level Cultivators, but for high-level Cultivators, Mount Heavenly Dragon is a place of both temptation and danger.
There is a consensus in the Cultivation World that if there is a place closest to the Heavenly Dao, it must be Mount Heavenly Dragon.
Since records began, many Cultivators have gone to Mount Heavenly Dragon in pursuit of higher realms, despite none ever returning alive. Still, there are always Cultivators willing to take the risk.
Indeed, this is understandable; reaching the Enlightened Realm grants one eight hundred years of life, and the majority of Enlightened Realm Cultivators reach it before the age of four hundred, with very few achieving it after that age.
Yes, because before reaching the Enlightened Realm, life expectancy is only four hundred years.
This makes sense.
Once a Cultivator reaches the peak of his Cultivation Level, his heart becomes incredibly lonely. Anything in the mortal world can be easily attained if desired.
But the yearning for the Dao is insatiable.
At that time, many Cultivators, knowing the danger, would still step into Mount Heavenly Dragon without looking back, never to be seen again.
Many masters from the Seven Great Sects and the Three Great Demon Sects have entered Mount Heavenly Dragon.
The decline of the Sword Sect was so rapid partly because several Elders of one generation entered Mount Heavenly Dragon.
Everyone thought future generations would manage, so the top Cultivators went searching for the Dao. Unexpectedly, their descendants failed them, failing to carry on the legacy, leading the Sect to become subpar.
Of course, at its core, the decline wasn’t because the masters had gone; the crux of the matter lies in the failure of the younger generation to rise up.
Naturally, Bai Jiaojiao also knew of the legends surrounding Mount Heavenly Dragon, but she wasn’t very frightened.
Mount Heavenly Dragon is not an inherently fatal place. Interestingly, those who come here, if not in search of the Dao and unfortunate enough to witness some strange phenomena, no matter what their realm, can still make it out. Mount Heavenly Dragon is a treasure land with many precious materials and Spirit Beasts. Guanghan Palace’s Heaven-Devouring Python was found in Mount Heavenly Dragon.
It’s only just reached adulthood but is already equivalent to a Celestial Knowing Realm Cultivator. Once fully mature, it will be on par with an Enlightened Realm Cultivator. Such a creature is a treasure to any major Sect.
If you’re just treasure hunting and not seeking the Dao, the odds of getting out of Mount Heavenly Dragon are quite good.
"Anyway, I’m not here to seek the Dao, so if I come across any treasures, I should just pick them up on the way out, right?"
