Stop it, Taoist, Your Fight almost Ruins the DAO!

In the night, the moon shone like silver.

The cold moonlight scattered across Dragon Tiger Mountain's Tianxuan Peak, rendering everything as cool and refreshing as water.

The mournful autumn breeze blew by, yet stubbornly, yellow leaves continued to fall from the treetops, reluctant to part.

Birth, aging, sickness, death; spring's bloom, autumn's fruit; prosperity followed by decline—it seemed as though the world operated in a cycle, as if everything was predestined.

Tonight, at Dragon Tiger Mountain, on Tianxuan Peak.

Yuan Hong True Monarch sat in meditation in his room, yet inside he couldn't shake off a sense of restlessness that had persisted for quite some time. Initially, he thought it was the work of inner demons, so he sought out a precious censer of Jade Heart Soothing Incense to calm his mind from his senior.

Unfortunately, the Jade Heart Soothing Incense truly worked wonders, but as time went by, the incense's effectiveness weakened.

In the room, a mist of green entwined, filled with a mysterious aura. This was the special ability of Jade Heart Soothing Incense, warding off evil and manifesting its wonders.

Yuan Hong True Monarch picked up a sandalwood incense scoop, hoping to stoke the incense slightly and burn the waning Jade Heart Soothing Incense more intensely, but alas, the anxiety in his heart remained indomitable.

"No, this isn't the disturbance of inner demons; rather, it's as though the Yang Five-Thunder Divine Intent that I've painstakingly cultivated over the years is issuing a warning," he thought.

"But in this vast Dragon Tiger Mountain, with the Heavenly Master himself returned and personally overseeing Tianxuan Peak, what could possibly threaten me here on Tianxuan Peak?"

"Strange, strange, truly strange, everything on Tianxuan Peak seems normal, and yet, there's always this discordant feeling. Regrettably, when I asked the elders, they all said it's the invasion of inner demons, a lack of steadfastness in my Taoist heart."

Yuan Hong True Person meticulously recalled everything that had happened these days and couldn't help but let out a sigh. After much vexing thought, he gritted his teeth and made a secret decision in his heart.

Leave.

Depart from Tianxuan Peak.

Go and wander to the other peaks.

He wanted to see whether there actually was an issue with Tianxuan Peak, or if all this was merely his imagination, the mischief of inner demons.

"However, before leaving, I must bring Jiu'er with me. After all, she's now with child."

"And Long Yi, he has been shutting himself away these days. It seems the incident with Zhang Ronger has truly hit him hard, poor child."

After another inner sigh, Yuan Hong True Monarch snuffed out the Jade Heart Soothing Incense in the censer with a wave of his hand and immediately stepped out of the room.

"Uncle Master, taking a walk so late at night? You're in quite the mood," came a deferential greeting from afar, from the treetops, just as he stepped through the courtyard gate. Yuan Hong True Monarch looked up and recognized one of the junior disciples from Tianxuan Peak who had gained a bit of name for himself.

"Ming Zhenzi, it's deep into autumn, shouldn't you be in your room cultivating instead of up in a tree? Our Tianxuan Peak is declining, and in the future, it will be relying on disciples like you to support the sect," Yuan Hong True Monarch said, his tone a mix of reproach and earnest instruction.

"The autumn's declining energy is desolate and stern, overly solitary, not befitting your current need for vigorous progress in your cultivation. Hurry back, do not err and create endless regret for yourself, as Long Yi has, tainting your state of mind," he advised.

"Thank you for the instruction, Uncle Master. Ming Zhenzi understands," the disciple responded.

"But regarding the desolate energy of late autumn, I see it differently."

"Since ancient times, each autumn brings sorrowful solitude, but I say autumn days surpass the glory of spring mornings."

"With the divine presence of the clear autumn moon and osmanthus, it draws poetic passions to the azure skies."

Ming Zhenzi stood on the treetop, back facing Yuan Hong, eyes fixed intently on the bright moon above, his voice rising in a long song to the moon. What Yuan Hong did not see was the fervent and rigid look that flashed in his eyes.

"You have a remarkable way with poetry! Enough said, as long as you are aware," Yuan Hong responded. With his mind preoccupied with his concubine and Zhang Longyi, Yuan Hong made his comment and moved on, without further entanglement, his sleeves billowing as he continued to press forward in the moonlight.

Soon, on his way to the concubine's Tianhua Pavilion, Yuan Hong was shocked to discover that his Tianxuan Peak was unusually lively.

Along the way, many disciples were either walking or lying down, some sleeping on branches, others dueling or discussing the Tao with each other, expressing their own insights. Tianxuan Peak was now abuzz with vibrant life and flourishing growth.

"This… I've only been in seclusion for less than ten days; why has Tianxuan Peak changed so drastically."

Yuan Hong True Monarch felt a deeper unease. Not that he didn't step forward to inquire, even using his Divine Thought to thoroughly check, but still, he found nothing. Everyone had more than legitimate reasons, everything was too reasonable to be questioned.

"Forget it, I must quickly find Jiu'er and Long Yi. That's what's important."

With a shift of his thoughts, Yuan Hong couldn't help but quicken his pace. Soon, he arrived at Tianhua Pavilion.

Just as Yuan Hong pushed open the courtyard gate, about to call out, a repressed, resentful, and longing moan pierced his ears like a devilish chant.

"You shameless woman! How dare you be so bold while I'm in seclusion!"

In an instant, Yuan Hong True Monarch's eyes turned red with fury. Overwhelmed by anger, he quelled the myriad suspicions and fears in his heart, and with his aura concealed, he drifted towards the concubine's bedroom chamber.

"Long Yi, faster, faster!"

"Ah~~~!"

Accompanied by a shrill shout, a mindless Yuan Hong swept his sleeve, instantly pulverizing the bedroom door into fragments.

The very scene he hoped never to witness suddenly unfolded before Yuan Hong.

He no longer needed to search for Zhang Longyi.

The visit to Tianhua Pavilion had caught them all at once.