Chapter 2490: Would You Like to Join Mount Hua?

Amid the vast expanse of heaven and earth, majestic mountains stood proudly. With Huashan at the center, the peaks of the surrounding mountains were all crowded with figures, a dense multitude, but at that moment, everyone was scratching their heads and gazing puzzled at Huashan. It wasn't without reason, for within Huashan, the great Dao heavenly sound had ceased entirely, leaving no sound at all.

"Why has the heavenly sound stopped? It should last for three days."

"Perhaps it's a break. We mortals don't understand the immortals' ways."

"Just wait patiently."

Discussions echoed across the mountain peaks, with many little demons standing with hands tucked away, eagerly awaiting the great Dao heavenly sound. It only came once every hundred years, and although they couldn't enter, they still hoped to gain some fortuitous opportunity from it.

Sure enough, before long, the heavenly sound resumed, its ethereal Dao tones drifting to the four seas and eight directions. All who heard it felt their minds clear and enlightened, with many advancing in their cultivation as they sat cross-legged in meditation.

For some reason, people outside sensed that this iteration of the great Dao heavenly sound was slightly different from before, as if it carried an added essence of life, with a touch of worldly vitality mingled in the ethereal mist.

Looking into Huashan, it wasn't that Dao scriptures were suspended in the sky; the so-called great Dao heavenly sound emanated from Ye Chen himself. His Dao essence resonated with the Dao scriptures, weaving together a new heavenly sound.

"Sell me this favor and bring out the Dao scriptures, won't you?" Huashan Zhenren said with a laugh.

"Senior, you jest. The Dao scriptures belong to Huashan anyway." Ye Chen smiled, and with a thought, the Dao scriptures emerged again, like a beam of immortal light piercing the sky, as the great Dao heavenly sound rose once more.

"That's more like it!" Niu Mowang and Jiaolong Wang grinned, each patting Ye Chen on the shoulder before stepping into the void to find the best spot.

"Thank you." Biyou Xianzi murmured with a light smile, then ascended into the sky in a single step.

The immortals were quite self-aware, rising into the sky and sitting cross-legged. Those visiting Huashan for the Dao discussion for the first time, like Taiyi and Taibai, were extremely grateful, naturally thankful to Ye Chen.

Ye Chen didn't leave. Casually, he pulled out a wine flask.

"Little one, are you willing to join the Huashan Sect?"

Huashan Zhenren descended, smiling with kindness and warmth as he looked at Ye Chen, finding him far more pleasing than Yin Ming. At least Ye Chen knew respect and had a good character. For a moment, Huashan Zhenren even thought of passing on his legacy to him, making Ye Chen the future lord of Huashan.

"This junior is merely at the Lingxu Realm." Ye Chen smiled.

"You may fool others, but not me." Huashan Zhenren's smile was full of meaning. "Your Dao essence is so profound that few can match your comprehension of the Dao."

"Truthfully, I want to become an official in the Tian Ting." Ye Chen coughed dryly.

"In your eyes, is my Huashan inferior to the Tian Ting?" Huashan Xianzi chuckled lightly.

"That's not it."

"Is it for the Yang family, for Yang Yu?" Huashan Zhenren stroked his beard, as if he had long seen through Ye Chen's thoughts. Or perhaps he had been secretly observing Ye Chen and noticed that this little stone spirit paid little attention to the Dao scriptures but showed great concern for the eighth prince's guard.

His guess wasn't hard to make, for the way Ye Chen looked at Yang Yu was different from others. They might even be old friends.

"As you said, senior." Ye Chen didn't hide it.

"Do you think, with your Lingxu Realm cultivation, you can save the Yang family?" Huashan Zhenren looked at Ye Chen with a smile. "Don't underestimate the Tian Ting. Rescuing someone from the heavenly prison is as hard as climbing to heaven. And don't underestimate Yin Ming—he's a master of schemes and plots. The Yang clan is the best example."

"Little one, here's some advice: Don't get involved in the Yang family's affairs. When you go to the upper immortal realm, you're no match for Yin Ming, whether in cultivation, background, or anything else. If he's a vast ocean, you're just a grain of rice in a granary. To make an enemy of him is to make an enemy of the Yu Di, of the entire Tian Ting." Huashan Xianzi added, her words not only beautiful but also kind-hearted.

"Thank you both for your advice." Ye Chen bowed again.

"So, what's your choice?"

"I still want to go to the Tian Ting and become an official."

"Then who, bring over my twenty-meter great blade."

A stout old Taoist shouted to someone at his side, not even bothering to use his hands—he'd hack at types like Ye Chen with a blade. We old folks have nagged enough, and you're treating it like hot air! If it weren't for you being an outstanding little stone spirit, I wouldn't bother with you at all.

"Very well, even as a Huashan disciple, you can still go to the Tian Ting and become an official." Huashan Zhenren laughed, perhaps because he valued Ye Chen so highly that he was this invested.

His words carried deeper meaning: A Huashan disciple going to the Tian Ting would at least get some face from the Yu Di. More importantly, he cherished talent, and Ye Chen's character—loyal and principled—was rare in this cruel world.

"Since you're showing such favor, this junior won't refuse." Ye Chen laughed.

As he spoke, a burst of brilliant light suddenly appeared in the void—it was the immortal light of a breakthrough. Under the Dao sound, someone had broken through.

From the first one, breakthrough immortal lights kept appearing one after another.

It wasn't just inside the mountains; outside Huashan, there were also many talented individuals. Though they lacked the fortune to enter, by listening to the Dao sound, they found their opportunities and broke through as desired.

Every time someone broke through outside the mountains, a Huashan elder would note their name in a book. With such talent, how could Huashan not recruit them? Over the years, Huashan had always done this, embracing talents from all directions and gathering waves of cultivators from the world.

Ye Chen finally sat cross-legged, entering his own meditation. He aimed to solidify his foundation within these three days, seeking to break through to the highest realm in the shortest time possible. Afterward, he would head to the Tian Ting.

For three days, the breakthrough immortal lights continued, painting one profound vision after another in the skies above Huashan. This hundred-year grand event was the most lively Dao discussion in Huashan’s history, all thanks to the profound nature of the Dao scriptures.

After three days, Ye Chen remained at the peak of Lingxu Realm, suppressing his cultivation and refusing to break through. If he wished, a single thought could take him to Kongming, another to Tianjing, and he could even charge straight to Sheng Ren or forcibly reach Da Sheng Realm. That was the power of his divine-level system—his comprehension of the Dao was more effective than any divine elixir.

Not far away, Huashan Xianzi and Huashan Zhenren quietly brewed tea. While the immortals meditated for three days, they drank tea for three days, their attention mostly on Ye Chen.

"He could break through but is holding back. This little one is quite interesting." Huashan Xianzi glanced over more than once, her surprise evident, unsure what Ye Chen was up to.

"He's solidifying his Dao essence and foundation." Huashan Zhenren smiled. "Without haste or impatience, his temperament exceeds my expectations. Given enough time, he'll surely shake the Tian Jie."

Suddenly, the Dao scriptures suspended in the void fell once more, like a beam of immortal light merging into Ye Chen's body. With that, the Huashan Dao discussion came to an end, its three-day limit reached.

The immortals rose and descended from the sky, exchanging courtesies with Huashan Zhenren.

Then, they all surrounded Ye Chen.

"Kid, do you need a big brother?" Niu Mowang said brashly, patting Ye Chen on the shoulder. Perhaps he used too much force, nearly knocking Ye Chen over. This old bull stood straight as a rod, his words bold and commanding, clearly meaning: Take me as your big brother, and I'll look out for you.

"Not needed." Ye Chen replied casually. If they weren't in Huashan, he'd drag this old bull to some deserted spot and teach him what a real big brother is—then stew him in a pot.

People usually ask if you need a wife, but you're asking if I need a big brother? How original.

"If not a big brother, we could become sworn brothers." Niu Mowang grinned, lowering his own status another notch. Anyway, he just wanted to rope Ye Chen in—making things easier for borrowing the Dao scriptures later.

"Now that's more like bull talk." Ye Chen laughed.

"In that case, this old bull will wait for you at Huoyan Shan. We won't stop until we're drunk." Niu Mowang laughed and strode away, walking with his usual swagger. He'd gained some fortune from this Dao discussion and was in high spirits, his steps quick. He needed to hurry home and show off to his wife—maybe she'd get excited and they could chat in bed. Sounds reliable.

After Niu Mowang left, Jiaolong Wang stepped forward and handed Ye Chen a token. "If you face any danger in the future, show this token, and the Dao friends in the lower realms will give you some face."

"Thank you, senior."

"What's with 'senior'? Call me brother."

"Thank you, brother."

"Good, you're teachable." Jiaolong Wang laughed and turned to leave, his faint words echoing back: "If you have time, come to Beihai. I'll be waiting anytime."

One great demon and one great fiend had both extended olive branches. They weren't fools—they knew how to make connections, mainly because Ye Chen had the Dao scriptures. If he were just an ordinary little stone spirit, they wouldn't bother.

After that, more people approached, offering treasures or immortal arts. The enthusiasm was overwhelming. A little stone spirit on his own wasn't much, but with the Dao scriptures, given enough time, he'd become a mighty figure.

This was investment—for the chance to latch onto a big leg later.

But Ye Chen knew full well that among those extending olive branches, some had ulterior motives.

Just wait! Once he left Huashan, many would lie in ambush, then strike to kill and rob him. The allure of the Dao scriptures was too great, bound to stir greed.

Even more people crowded around, and Ye Chen welcomed them all—free gifts, after all. He'd accept them; genuine friendships were fine, but if anyone had robbery in mind, he wouldn't be polite.

Not far away, Huashan Xianzi shook her head with a smile, feeling a bit awkward. This was like their Huashan, and they were the hosts, yet they were being ignored.

"Making friends from all directions isn't bad." Huashan Zhenren laughed, viewing this as paving the way, all in preparation for Ye Chen inheriting the Huashan legacy.

On another side, Biyou Xianzi soared upward, and Kunlun Zhenxian had already departed on his crane. Those who came for the Huashan Dao discussion scattered to the four winds, leaving the vast Huashan suddenly much emptier.

"Huashan old Dao, have you invited him to join Huashan?" Taiyi nudged Ye Chen.

"We've already discussed it." Ye Chen smiled.

"That's good." Taibai stroked his beard. "Before your cultivation reaches great heights, don't go to the upper immortal realm. For now, it's best to stay in Huashan."

Ye Chen understood—this was to avoid retaliation from the eighth prince, with Huashan as his backing.

Taiyi and Taibai left, quite pleased. They were glad to have met Ye Chen early and planned to visit more often to borrow the Dao scriptures for study—it shouldn't be hard.

"Little one, follow me." In the distance, Huashan Zhenren stood up.

Ye Chen said nothing and followed on foot.