Yellow Court Daoist

A wisp of qi, capable of turning decay into something miraculous.

"Immortal Pills!"

"So many Immortal Pills?!"

Lin Ye's eyelashes fluttered lightly.

She prided herself on her extraordinary experiences over the years, but even now, the sight of her teacher producing Immortal Pills as if they cost nothing still struck her.

Without a second thought, she could guess their value. Once released, these Immortal Pills would likely cause True Immortals and Earth Immortals in the Nanhua Realm to fight over them, unleashing endless bloodshed and carnage.

"Teacher, I—"

Lin Ye alternated her gaze between her teacher and the Immortal Pills, stammering, at a loss for words.

The speech she had prepared vanished in an instant.

"Don't think too much."

"Keep the Immortal Pills safe for now."

"As for me, I have a string of 'Immortal Grapes,' which can only be nurtured in places full of Immortal Spirits, and are extremely rare. One can increase your mana by a thousand years and has the effect of nourishing both your immortal body and Divine Soul. There are seventeen in total. After you consume them, your mana will be polished to Perfection, and then as your teacher, I will help you on your path to Dao."

True Immortal cultivating True Sect Level Skills aspires to the peak of the Daoist Realm and steps into the Longevity Mist, should have One Yuan Meeting Power.

Although Lin Ye had been on her own these years, constantly battling and waging wars, she had witnessed her fair share of ordinary treasures and miraculous medicines, barely managing to cultivate her mana to Perfection.

She had attained One Yuan.

However, she recently experienced a breakthrough failure, her mana regressed, losing nearly ten thousand years of it, which was a significant loss. That's why Yun Qing, Yuan Shan, and even Lin Ye herself believed it was no longer possible to break through to become an Earth Immortal.

But Lu Qingfeng had plenty of Immortal Elixir Spiritual Objects to increase mana.

This strand of Immortal Grapes, a rarity even in the Primordial realm, was one such treasure. These were a tribute from his disciple, the Longevity Path Daoist Zheng Chi, from the General Mansion.

On reflection,

The disciple he took in his twelfth life in the Five Directions Realm, also a fellow disciple to Lin Ye, was no stranger.

"Teacher!"

Lin Ye's eyes brimmed with tears.

Witnessing her teacher continuously bringing out staggering Immortal Pills and a string of radiant Immortal Fruits, feeling the threads of Pure Yang Qi and abundant Immortal Energy within, a warm current surged in her heart. Scenes when they, as fellow disciples under their teacher's careful guidance, cultivating on the Two Pole Star and Fengyue Star, flashed through her mind.

Back then,

The teacher was just as generous with Elixir Pills and Magic Artifacts.

Except, back then it was Low-level Spirit Pills, and now, they were precious Immortal Pills!

Times have changed, but the bond between master and disciple remained unaltered.

Lin Ye's heart ached, and large tears rolled down her cheeks.

Over the years, first wandering with her fellow disciples and then venturing alone, whether it was Spirit Pills, Spirit Grass, or rare treasures, she had to strategize and fight for everything herself.

When did she ever have the luxury of obtaining Immortal Pills and Fruits without any effort?

From previous cold hardships, now, at last, the bitterness turns to sweetness!

Relishing the ease and warmth bestowed by her master, Lin Ye felt as though her teacher's arrival meant all the vexing problems that had burdened her were about to be effortlessly resolved, the weight of mountains lifted from her shoulders.

A rare sense of relief after ten thousand years.

"Teacher..."

"Teacher, Ye'er has missed you so!"

Contemplating the sorrow of the past years, Lin Ye could no longer hold back. She started with soft sobs, then cried louder, and finally collapsed in front of her teacher, wailing inconsolably.

Her heart-wrenching sobs couldn't help but evoke pity.

"It's all in the past."

Lu Qingfeng gently patted Lin Ye's back, soothing her in a soft voice.

...

The situation in Seven Treasures Mountain settled for the time being.

Far away, at the border between the Meng and Hao nations, beside the ancient Heroic Pass named 'Chongfeng Pass,' was an isolated summit called 'Calamity Peak.' With Gale Winds and Thunder never ceasing, it was a place rarely visited by humans.

Half a year ago,

Two Heavenly Masters, one from the north and one from the south, gathered here, seated on opposite sides of the summit. They used the heavens and the earth as their board, the Wind and Thunder as their pieces, engaging in a game that has yet to determine a victor.

Two Immortal Masters of astonishing prestige have arrived.

The one from the north is the Sect Leader of the Shenxiao Sect, Daoist Zhengqing, and the one from the south is the Mao Mountain Daoist School Master, Jiyuan Daoist.

Both are the leading figures of their respective sects and have always been incompatible, like fire and water.

Their chess game today is like the sharp point of a needle meeting the fine tip of wheat, where every move stirs up gales and echoes thunder across Calamity Peak.

Daoist Zhengqing sits facing south, with a vertical line on his forehead resembling a lightning bolt, exuding an aura of integrity. As he places a piece, thunder and wind stir together, and he says to Jiyuan Daoist with a smile, "It seems the day when Seven Treasures Immortal cultivates to Perfection is just around the corner."

"Indeed."

Jiyuan Daoist, with his white hair and youthful face, bears an ethereal and carefree demeanor. Compared to the dignified righteousness of Daoist Zhengqing, he appears even more transcendent.

Hearing Daoist Zhengqing speak, Jiyuan Daoist seems indifferent, casually nodding in response, then with a flick of his finger wrapped in wind and thunder, places a piece onto the tumultuous chessboard.

A sudden gale picks up, sweeping away thunder like waves in the ocean.

"Seven Treasures Immortal is on the verge of proving the path of an Earth Immortal, it's perilous for you not to have a protector by your side. Relying only on a pair of Immortal Masters from your sect could be dangerous," Daoist Zhengqing says, laying down a piece with ease.

Unaffected, Jiyuan Daoist broadly responds, "Cheng Jin and Yuan Shan have not mastered their skills, their Dao ability is limited. In the upcoming battle at Seven Treasures Mountain, we will have to rely heavily on the two disciples from your sect with 'Yun' in their names."

Although Jiyuan Daoist is currently at Calamity Peak, he is well-informed about the situation at Seven Treasures Mountain.

Over four months ago, when Yun Qing and Yun De of the Shenxiao Sect showed up at Seven Treasures Mountain along with two great demons from the Barbaric lands, Cheng Jin, the Daoist Nun, sent word that hinted at asking for reinforcements.

However.

The foundations of the Mao Mountain Dao are fairly matched with those of the Shenxiao Sect.

After Yuan Shan and Cheng Jin went to Seven Treasures Mountain, the remaining Pure Yang Immortal Masters barely managed to hold back the Immortal Masters from the Shenxiao Sect, unable to spare another sixth-rank Immortal Master.

But the Shenxiao Sect.

They had kept a low profile all along and suddenly used a Secret Technique to create two Pure Yang Immortal Masters. Jiyuan Daoist had heard about this Secret Technique before. Although the cost of using such a Secret Technique to create Immortal Masters was not small and the resulting Immortal Masters' mana and Dao ability were far inferior to those of traditional Immortal Masters, they still reached the sixth rank.

Far from something that a fifth-order Heavenly Master or a True Immortal could contend with.

Jiyuan Daoist was not optimistic about the situation at Seven Treasures Mountain. The Shenxiao Sect has been scheming meticulously, determined to cut off Seven Treasures Immortal's future at any cost.

How could the modest Seven Treasures Mountain possibly withstand this?

"Heh."

"The troubles of juniors must be amusing to you."

Daoist Zhengqing chuckles lightly, disregarding the subtle ridicule in Jiyuan Daoist's words.

As Jiyuan Daoist contemplates his next move, he attempts to persuade, "Seven Treasures Immortal is close to proving her Dao, and her disciple brother has also been with your Shenxiao Sect for quite some time. Wouldn't it be better for you, Daoist Brother, to let him return sooner rather than later, so as to avoid becoming a laughingstock among our peers?"

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Daoist Zhengqing's face reveals a mocking smile, "Do you truly wish for that person to be released?"

Jiyuan Daoist does not engage in banter, simply says, "I would appreciate it if you could do me this favor."

"Ha-ha."

"If I were to release her elder brother, I fear you would have complaints," Zhengqing Daoist continues shaking his head, "No, I will not release him."

Jiyuan Daoist lifts his gaze towards Zhengqing Daoist, a hint of peculiar light flashing through his eyes, purses his lips but says no more, and prepares to place his chess piece. Suddenly he pauses and turns to look southward—

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

A vision of an immortal crane flapping its wings and piercing through auspicious clouds appears.

Zhengqing Daoist notices the immortal crane and glances south, frowning with an ominous premonition.

The arrival of a Maoshan immortal crane from the south at this critical moment certainly indicates a message from Seven Treasures Mountain. The Maoshan Dao has its immortal crane, while his Shenxiao Sect's 'Golden Tiger' has vanished without a trace.

This is not a good sign.

Jiyuan Daoist, too, senses something amiss, his face bearing a faint smile as he slightly nods toward the immortal crane performing a greeting ritual before him. The crane settles into Jiyuan Daoist's palm amidst chirps and chatter, seemingly communicating something. Jiyuan Daoist maintains his smile, yet as time passes, a subtle, indescribable meaning permeates it.

Only when the immortal crane's glow dissipates, reverting to an ordinary paper crane, does Jiyuan Daoist finally raise his eyes to meet those of Zhengqing Daoist. The look seems mockingly playful, deepening Zhengqing Daoist's sense of unease.

Ignoring the chess game, he immediately begins calculating with his fingers.

Moments later—

"How dare they!"

With an outraged shout, his face suddenly darkens, and he overturns the chessboard!