Chapter 490: The Third Fated Battle (Thirteen)

An uninvited guest arrived at the Mountain and River Sect.
Within the sect, a group of disciples of varying ages curiously gazed at the mysterious middle-aged man.
These disciples ranged from men in their thirties and forties to children as young as seven or eight.
Su Chen sighed inwardly. Back in the day, those with the potential to reach the Immortal Emperor realm were merely considered peripheral disciples. Only those with the potential to become Emperor Venerables could become core disciples, the pillars of the sect, and only those with the potential to become Emperor Lords could lead the tides of the era. Every sect leader of the Mountain and River Sect throughout history was said to possess the potential of a True Immortal, virtually invincible within their realm, suppressing an entire era!
Now, the best talent in the Mountain and River Sect only reaches the Spirit Pattern Realm, while those with poor talent... are now over thirty and still only at the Spirit Awakening Realm.
The current sect leader of the Mountain and River Sect is an ordinary person—ordinary talent, ordinary cultivation, and ordinary appearance.
"Ling Anping greets fellow Daoist. May I ask what brings you to my Mountain and River Sect?"
Ling Anping was of medium height, and had to look up to see the unfamiliar man. Fine lines, accumulated over the years, etched beneath his eyes; he was nearing fifty.
Seeing the extraordinary bearing of the visitor, Ling Anping sighed inwardly. This was definitely not an ordinary person, for ordinary people could not possess such a composed demeanor!
Hearing this name, Su Chen knew that the man before him was a descendant of Ling Jiuxiao... Even though the power of his bloodline had long since diluted to a negligible level, the predetermined karma had never been so strong. That familiar aura from the past had descended upon this era.
Su Chen smiled and said, "This humble Taoist has traveled extensively and, seeing the beautiful scenery here, wishes to stay for a while. I hope the Sect Master will allow me to trouble you for some time."
Ling Anping blinked. He looked around, seriously doubting that the middle-aged man before him was lying. This was clearly just a small hill. His master had chosen this location for the Mountain and River Sect precisely because it was remote and poor enough that no other power would bother coveting such a secluded place.
Although cultivation was slower, the advantage was the absence of other conflicts, allowing for a peaceful life.
Seeing Ling Anping's hesitation, Su Chen reached into his sleeve and pulled out a crystal-clear stone, without the slightest impurity.
Ling Anping's eyes widened instantly, staring intently at the stone in Su Chen's hand.
Su Chen squinted and said, "Of course, I'm not staying here for nothing. This spirit stone will serve as my lodging fee."
Ling Anping rubbed his hands together and said, "Senior, how could I accept this? This is absolutely unacceptable!"
Su Chen pushed the spirit stone forward.
Ling Anping swiftly took the spirit stone from Su Chen's hand. Its cool touch indicated it was definitely a mid-grade or higher spirit stone—a valuable item!
"Senior, you may stay here as long as you wish. Our Mountain and River Sect always welcomes you."
"This isn't about spirit stones,"
Ling Anping smiled broadly.
And so, Su Chen settled into the Mountain and River Sect.
A small sect, yet quite interesting.
Su Chen sat cross-legged under the only tree.
He slowly raised his fingertips, and colorful flowing sand drifted between them like wisps of smoke.
The large yellow dog beside him was still wagging its tail. Su Chen gently touched it, and as the green smoke flowed into the dog's body, the dog, which had been wagging its tail, suddenly froze and spoke in human language: "Master, you're finally back! Woof woof woof!"
The dog, as if seeing a savior, tried to pounce on Su Chen.
Su Chen's expression remained unchanged. He raised his hand and flicked the dog's head, sending it flying.
"Woof woof!"
"No, this dragon..."
Long Jueshen stood up. He looked at his paws, then bent down to examine his body. Su Chen casually pulled out a mirror and placed it in front of Long Jueshen.
Long Jueshen: "..."
"No!"
"How could I, a dignified Dragon Lord, be reincarnated as a dog!"
"Woof woof woof"
Long Jue Shen let out a piercing scream.
Su Chen had already contained the commotion, thus preventing it from alerting the people of the Mountain and River Sect.
Once Long Jue Shen calmed down, he had to accept the fact that he had been reincarnated as a dog.
"Even if I'm reincarnated as a dog, I can still become the most powerful dog,"
Long Jue Shen consoled himself.
Watching this scene, Su Chen suddenly felt a faint sense of guilt, but he quickly suppressed it. After all, he, Su Chen, wasn't a petty person and wouldn't easily seek revenge.
The big yellow dog was naturally not Long Jue Shen's reincarnation. Su Chen reached back hundreds of epochs and had divided Long Jue Shen into one hundred and eight pieces. A fragment of his thought had also been casually placed in a certain spacetime. He placed this fragment of Long Jue Shen's thought into the big yellow dog's body, making Long Jue Shen believe he was a reincarnation.
Long Jueshen, unaware of these matters, said with considerable shame, "My lord, I failed to protect the Mountain and River Sect."
Su Chen nodded, "You have done your best. The change in destiny is an inevitable trend; even a True Immortal cannot defy fate."
Long Jueshen asked, "Does My lord not intend to revive Ling boy?"
Su Chen shook his head: "He's already too tired. The destruction of the Mountain and River Sect might be a good ending for him. Let him rest."
Long Jueshen nodded and sighed: "Ling boy lives like a puppet. I still prefer the fearless Ling boy, the Ling boy who didn't follow the usual path. He's lived too long, lost all emotion, only possessing obsession."
To be of non-True Immortal rank yet live as long as a True Immortal—this isn't a blessing, it's torture.
Su Chen said to Long Jueshen: "From now on, you'll be Da Huang."
Long Jueshen blinked: "What's Da Huang?"
Su Chen explained: "Da Huang is a dog."
Long Jueshen: "......."
"Woof woof woof!"
Long Jueshen: "......"
He could only woof woof now.
He seriously suspected his master was doing this on purpose.
......
In the blink of an eye, Su Chen had been in the Mountain and River Sect for five years.
Long Jueshen hadn't expected the Mountain and River Sect to have fallen so low, and for him to have become its mere watchdog.
This seemed somewhat coincidental.
Facing the fleeting glance directed at him,
Long Jueshen quickly thought to himself,
'The Lord is as magnanimous, all-encompassing, and wise as ever.'
Su Chen withdrew his gaze.
Long Jueshen sighed inwardly.
Outside the Mountain and River Sect's gates, there was a commotion.
Long Jueshen said, "Woof woof!"
"Master, the Mountain and River Sect seems to be in some trouble."