Chapter 575: Gathering (A toast to the Fierce Immortal Alliance Leader! )
Chapter 575: Gathering (A toast to the Fierce Immortal Alliance Leader! )
Western Desert Cultivation World.
Saint Fire Cult.
Misty Peak, at the edge of the ancient teleportation array.
The Nascent Soul cultivator 'Sang Qingsong', who was previously responsible for guarding the ancient teleportation array, was demoted for his mistakes. Now, another Nascent Soul cultivator was stationed there.
Dressed like a scholar, he held an ancient book in his hand, swaying his head as he read.
Suddenly!
The teleportation array leading to the East Sea Cultivation World roared, emitting beams of light, and silver pillars of light flickered.
The scholar immediately put away his ancient book, a token appearing in his hand, his heart still beating like a drum.
With a flash of silver light.
A palace-robed woman of exquisite beauty, accompanied by a Nascent Soul female cultivator behind her, gracefully stepped out from the teleportation array.
Her aura was ethereal, appearing as ordinary as a mortal.
But how could an ordinary person command such respectful attendance from a Nascent Soul female cultivator?
This woman was naturally Yunxi Xianzi.
Her divine consciousness swept out, and she immediately sneered, "Old Man Huo certainly puts on quite a show. . . So many restrictions and formations. . . Is this the Saint Fire Cult's way of treating guests?"
"Is it Ancestor Yunxi in person?"
The scholar's divine consciousness swept over, and he hastily put away his token, bowing humbly, "The Ancestor gave early instructions that if Fairy Yunxi arrived, she was to be treated with the utmost respect as a distinguished guest. Our Saint Fire Cult suffered a calamity recently, so it's unavoidable that our enchantments and restrictions are a bit stricter. Please forgive us, Fairy!"
His demeanor was graceful, every movement well-measured and appropriate, which made Yunxi Xianzi nod slightly, her expression softening.
Just as she was about to say something more, her beautiful face suddenly shifted, and she looked towards the teleportation array leading to the Northern Plains Cultivation World.
With a flash of silver light, a Soul Transformation cultivator clad in ice armor emerged—it was none other than the original Ice God Palace Master!
"Fairy Yunxi?"
The Bai Family Ancestor's eyes flickered slightly upon seeing Yunxi Xianzi, and he immediately bowed, "We've only communicated through flying sword messages until now. To finally behold Fairy's true visage, it is truly peerless grace. . ."
"Old Man Huo has invited both you and me here; it's clearly no small matter."
Yunxi Xianzi's expression was grave, mixed with a hint of playful complaint, "My East Sea is still burning with anxiety over that black Taisui. . . and yet, I haven't seen any fellow Daoist come to help. . ."
The Bai Family Ancestor's expression remained unchanged.
He originally cultivated a technique that severed emotions and desires. Later, guided by Bing Xuanzi, he gained immense benefits in the Demon World, and only after achieving Soul Transformation did he gradually shake off the technique's influence.
Even so, his disposition remained as cold as solid ice.
Regarding major affairs outside the Northern Plains, he actually had no desire to involve himself.
This time, it was also due to Huo Laozu's repeated invitations via letter that he had no choice but to come.
His eyes shifted, and he saw Shui Lingxin, veiled, standing behind Yunxi Xianzi. He squeezed out a stiff smile and said, "This must be your esteemed disciple, yes? From her aura, to have advanced to Nascent Soul at such a young age is truly remarkable. . ."
Now that Yunxi Xianzi brought this woman by her side, it was clearly the posture of a direct successor.
It seemed this woman would be the one to lead the East Sea Cultivation World in the future.
"So it's Senior Bai from the Ice God Palace!"
The scholar bowed again, faint beads of sweat trickling down his temples.
Fortunately, at this moment, Huo Laozu's voice transmission arrived, rescuing him from his predicament: "Fellow Daoists, please come to the 'Saint Fire Hall' for a gathering."
The Bai Family Ancestor looked at Yunxi Xianzi.
After all, among the three Soul Transformation cultivators present, his cultivation was the most shallow.
"Fine, let's go together and see what trick Old Man Huo has up his sleeve."
The three streaks of escape light arrived at the Saint Fire Hall, where they saw an inconspicuous old man with eyebrows and hair like burning flames, greeting them at the palace entrance: "Fairy Yunxi, Fellow Daoist Bai. . . please come in!"
"Old Man Huo. . ."
Yunxi Xianzi entered the Saint Fire Hall, her eyebrows subtly raising, "Are your injuries from the battle with that Demonic Fire Qilin during the Demon Realm Descent still not healed?"
Upon hearing this, a sharp glint seemed to flash in the Bai Family Ancestor's eyes.
He had not detected this at all; clearly, Fairy Yunxi's divine consciousness was considerably stronger than his.
However, the other party was a Soul Transformation cultivator of many years, while he had only just advanced and consolidated his realm, so it was entirely reasonable.
"Cough, cough. . ."
Old Man Huo's face was pale, and he occasionally coughed, "Although one shouldn't air dirty laundry. . . I don't believe you two are completely unaware."
"It seems the rumors are true. Fellow Daoist Huo was actually gravely wounded by a Nascent Soul cultivator, resulting in a mutual defeat?"
The Bai Family Ancestor's face was filled with disbelief.
As a Soul Transformation cultivator, he naturally understood the vast disparity in power between Soul Transformation and Nascent Soul, which was like the difference between heaven and earth.
And for Huo Laozu to actually be injured by a Nascent Soul cultivator, it was truly a huge loss of face. . .
"Cough, cough. . . Even if any of you were in my place, I'm afraid the outcome wouldn't be much better. . . That person had demonic armor on his body, seemingly a secret demonic art, and several high-grade fourth-tier puppets. . ."
Huo Laozu described Fang Xi's methods, then gazed fixedly at Yunxi Xianzi, "This person. . . does Fairy happen to know him?"
Behind Yunxi Xianzi, Shui Lingxin, who had been standing silently, felt her heart give a violent jolt.
"This 'Qing Hezi' person, this palace naturally doesn't know him. . . However, combining the information Fellow Daoist provided, and deducing from that person's time of arrival in the East Sea Cultivation World, as well as his spiritual treasures, puppets, and secret arts, it does remind this palace of someone — Yun Jizi!"
Yunxi Xianzi smiled, "This Yun Jizi is a Grand Cultivator, yet he appeared in the East Sea as if out of nowhere. Indeed, the only explanation is that he came from another realm. If Fellow Daoist wishes to deal with Yun Jizi, please forgive this palace for being unable to agree, as he is, after all, my junior disciple's savior."
Shui Lingxin, however, felt a hollow ache in her heart. So this 'Yun Jizi', his true name was 'Qing Hezi'?
"Hmph! " Old Man Huo coldly snorted, "If Fairy knew the true identity of this 'Qing Hezi', I'm afraid you wouldn't be so agreeable. . . That 'Qing Hezi' openly displayed the 'Withered Glory Mystic Light' in front of me; he must be a remnant of the Green Emperor Mountain! ?"
Upon hearing these words, Yunxi Xianzi showed little reaction, but the Bai Family Ancestor's expression instantly changed, "What? The Green Emperor Mountain has actually reappeared?"
He had not detected this at all; clearly, Fairy Yunxi's divine consciousness was considerably stronger than his.
After his shock, he fell into contemplation, "Even if one obtains the cultivation method and secret art incantations for 'Withered Glory Mystic Light'. . . without the true inheritance of the Green Emperor Mountain, it simply cannot be cultivated. . . Since Fellow Daoist is certain it was Withered Glory Mystic Light, then it must undoubtedly be a true inheritor of the Green Emperor Mountain!"
"My Penglai Immortal Island lacks sufficient foundation; some ancient texts still require me to consult the Four Seas Sect. . . I wonder what secrets this ancient Green Emperor Mountain truly holds?"
Yunxi Xianzi's expression remained unchanged as she asked.
"Back then, this Green Emperor Mountain was almost the foremost Daoist lineage in the Human World. . . because its founding ancestor came from the Earthly Immortal World, and furthermore. . . was a fugitive from the Earthly Immortal World!"
The Bai Family Ancestor, expressionless, revealed a world-shattering secret.
"A fugitive from the Earthly Immortal World? ! " Yunxi Xianzi blinked, seemingly in disbelief.
"Hehe, Green Emperor Mountain always claimed to inherit an immortal Dao lineage, which isn't false. After all, its founding ancestor was indeed an 'immortal' who escaped from the Earthly Immortal World. . . However, ascension is difficult, and high-level cultivators descending to a lower realm is even harder. For him to escape to a lower realm, he must have paid an unimaginably heavy price, a drastic drop in cultivation being the least of it. . ."
Huo Laozu interjected, "There are thousands upon thousands of lower realms. It wasn't until this person established the Green Emperor Mountain Dao lineage and became renowned in the lower realms that. . . our ancestors received a message from the upper realm, learning the true origins of the Green Emperor Mountain. . . By then, much time had passed, and that descending immortal had probably already passed away, but Green Emperor Mountain had Soul Transformation cultivators in every generation and was not to be trifled with, or rather, was extremely difficult to provoke. That rumored 'life-controlling great divine ability', even when wielded by a Nascent Soul cultivator, would make us retreat three paces. . ."
"However, at that time, it seemed the demon race also transmitted information to the Demon World, and powerful demon cultivators descended. . . They battled the Green Emperor Mountain's Soul Transformation cultivators, and our ancestors intervened, almost shattering the Human World, before finally destroying the Green Emperor Mountain Dao lineage."
The Bai Family Ancestor slowly continued, "Both the Ice God Palace and the Saint Fire Cult were Soul Transformation forces back then. The Four Seas Sect of the East Sea is now the most fallen. . . But in reality, there were still several ancient Soul Transformation sects; our two sects were not the strongest. The truly most powerful ones suffered mutual defeats with the Green Emperor Mountain, and then were swallowed by the river of history. . ."
"No wonder when the Green Emperor Mountain remnant appeared, Old Man Huo and Fellow Daoist Bai were the most anxious. . ."
Yunxi Xianzi let out a soft giggle, "But what does that have to do with us?"
"The ancient grudges are long past. This old man originally didn't wish to pursue anything. . . but that person was simply too overbearing."
Huo Laozu's anger bristled, and then, looking at the expressionless Bai Family Ancestor, he suddenly said, "It seems that since ten thousand years ago, the upper realm has severed contact with the Human World, and no more news has been transmitted down. . ."
"When our sect's ancestors were ordered to exterminate Green Emperor Mountain back then, they suffered heavy losses, yet the upper realm gave no reward whatsoever. . ."
The Bai Family Ancestor said, "If it's merely for old grudges, then I must apologize, but I won't participate. . ."
"Naturally, it's not for grudges. . . As far as this old man knows, the reason the upper realm pursued Green Emperor Mountain so frantically back then was because its founding ancestor, that fugitive, brought a crucial item down to the lower realm. . . And after the great battle, there was no trace of that treasure."
Huo Laozu said, "Ascension is difficult, and breaking through realms to descend is even harder! Now, the Human World is dilapidated, and we have no certainty of cultivating to the Soul Transformation Perfected stage. Ascending via the 'Ascension Platform' also carries immense risk. . . But if we obtain that crucial treasure, it might even compel a great power from the Earthly Immortal World to personally intervene and pierce through both realms. . . allowing us to travel to the Earthly Immortal World without calamity or tribulation!"
Ascension!
At the mention of this, both Yunxi Xianzi and the Bai Family Ancestor's eyes lit up slightly: "What kind of crucial treasure is it? One that could cause a master from the Earthly Immortal World to defect, and countless great powers to obsess over?"
"I don't know. . . but that young man might hold a clue," Huo Laozu chuckled. "So, this old man invited you two to come forth. . . How about we split any benefits we gain equally?"
Yunxi Xianzi glanced at Shui Lingxin's expression, then let out a soft, charming laugh: "Old Man Huo, you're quite the schemer. He's clearly your enemy, yet you're dragging our two families along to bear the burden. . . All for some vague, ethereal treasure? I see you're afraid of that person retaliating against you after he reaches Soul Transformation, and you don't dare risk entering the Ascension Platform now, nor can you bear to part with the Saint Fire Cult's legacy and your family's assets. . . Is that why you've roped us in?"
Upon hearing this, the Bai Family Ancestor's gaze towards Huo Laozu became somewhat profound.
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