The Celestial Immortal Academy was grand and magnificent.
In the evening, the crimson sunset was adorned with golden edges, casting its glow upon the buildings, creating a sacred and serene beauty that seemed transcendent.
In the distance, the market stalls were being packed up, marking the end of a day of noise and bustle.
At the academy’s entrance, students came and went, many of them cultivation partners, strolling leisurely under the sunset after a day of training, savoring the tranquil beauty.
The descendant of a divine bird—an Azure-Scaled Eagle—flapped its wings in the evening light, its feathers shimmering like blue-gold, a letter clasped gently in its beak, emitting a soft glow, exuding an aura of peace.
Unfortunately, the tranquility was soon shattered.
From the distant market came shouts, cries of pain, and the shrieks of girls. Treasure Spells flared brilliantly, erupting in chaotic bursts.
“Eh? Those are our academy’s students, fighting someone!”
“They’re getting crushed—they’ve been taken down in an instant! Let’s go check it out!”
The students at the entrance rushed over, especially the experts among them, arriving swiftly like the wind.
“What’s going on?” asked a senior disciple, his body alight with glowing bone inscriptions—a clear sign of his strength.
“That guy from earlier came back. He’s taking on tasks here and just beat these guys senseless,” someone explained, pointing at the students sprawled on the ground.
“What nonsense! Who’s this ‘guy from earlier’?”
Someone quickly clarified, “Uh, earlier today, a guy set up a stall, offering to take on all kinds of jobs—beating up junior students, thrashing senior disciples—anything for a price!”
“How absurd! Coming to our Celestial Immortal Academy to take jobs beating up our elites? Does he have a death wish?”
The academy’s disciplinary team arrived just in time to hear this, nearly fuming with rage. This was sheer audacity—unforgivable!
“So arrogant! He actually dared to come here?”
Under the fading sunset, the crowd buzzed with indignation. Setting up a business to beat people at the academy’s doorstep—was this a mockery of their students?
Soon, the details emerged. A young rogue cultivator, newly enrolled, had been bullied by members of the Netherworld Clan. He had then waited here and hired that person to retaliate.
In truth, Shi Hao had been holding a black metal token, preparing to enter the academy, when he noticed a bruised and battered youth asking about him. After learning the situation, he casually took action, thrashing the arrogant Netherworld elites who had been bullying rogue cultivators, leaving them foaming at the mouth and twitching on the ground.
Shi Hao only took a symbolic payment, telling the youth that since this was his first job, it was half-free—but he wanted the boy to spread the word. He’d beat anyone, provided they had rare treasures or medicines to offer.
“Pfft!”
The Netherworld elites, having just regained consciousness, spat out a mouthful of blood upon hearing the full story.
The crowd was speechless. Was there really someone this outrageous? Getting paid to beat up juniors and thrash seniors at the Celestial Immortal Academy? How shameless and brazen!
“Did he say what his name was?” a senior student asked.
“He called himself ‘Eldest Brother’!”
The group exchanged bewildered glances.
“Did you hear about what else happened today? Apparently, that decrepit sect buried in weeds has revived, producing a new disciple—who also calls himself ‘Eldest Brother’—and beat some of our academy’s juniors black and blue. It caused quite a stir.”
“This is big. Tomorrow, a lot of experts might head over to investigate. If that notorious sect has truly revived, we’ll have to launch a full-scale suppression.”
At this, everyone’s expressions turned strange. Could these two incidents be the work of the same person?
“I think it’s very likely the same guy!”
“Truly cut from the same cloth. That sect is infamous, rotten to the core. Tomorrow, we must go and crush their so-called successor!”
The academy’s entrance erupted in chaos. No one could stay calm, especially the disciplinary team, who were itching to march into the mountains immediately.
“Restore peace to our Celestial Immortal Academy! Eradicate the remnants of that vile sect!”
“Punish the scum!”
“The sun’s almost set. That ruined sect is strange—better wait until tomorrow to gather experts and eliminate the troublemaker together!”
In the distance, Shi Hao heard everything clearly. He sighed inwardly. Wearing the title of “Eldest Brother of the Supreme Dao Field” really made him universally despised—his infamy preceded him.
But he wasn’t afraid. Tomorrow’s problems could wait. Right now, finding the Divine Calamity Lotus was his priority. Worst case, he’d just leave after succeeding.
The Celestial Immortal Academy was an open institution. Its strength meant security was lax, allowing market-goers to come and go freely.
This alone spoke volumes about the academy’s confidence—it feared no intruders!
Shi Hao strolled in without issue, unimpeded.
The crimson sunset bathed the academy in an even more serene glow. Students moved in and out in orderly silence, no one raising their voice.
Shi Hao, with his youthful and refined appearance, blended right in. Everyone assumed he was just another student.
He took his time, not rushing to find the Divine Calamity Lotus. Instead, he paused occasionally to admire the picturesque scenery—cliffside inscriptions imbued with Dao imprints, sprawling architecture, auspicious mountains, rivers cutting through the grounds, cascading waterfalls, and divine beasts roaming freely.
Half-mountain, half-city, the scenery was breathtaking. A faint mist of condensed spiritual energy lingered, not mere vapor.
Suddenly, Shi Hao noticed a lively area where many students were gathering. From afar, the intoxicating aroma of fine wine and delectable delicacies wafted over.
“What a fantastic place,” he murmured, eyes widening at the sight of golden elephant trunks, violet-gold camel humps, spirit-medicinal monkey mushrooms, and even roasted golden-winged roc wings.
“Ah, but business first.” He swallowed hard, reluctantly tearing himself away. Tonight’s mission was too important.
Following a tattered map given by Qi Daolin, he navigated the cobblestone paths toward a secluded area deep within the academy.
Along the way, he noted that key zones were heavily warded with glowing symbols, making them inaccessible to outsiders.
After twists and turns, he crossed a mountainous stretch, where auspicious energy rose in radiant clouds—clearly, he’d entered a vital treasure ground.
A few tried to stop him, but upon seeing his black metal token, they retreated without a word.
When Shi Hao stepped into a formation, the token glowed, neutralizing the attacking runes and clearing a safe path.
Shi Hao was stunned. He now believed Qi Daolin’s words—this token was indeed extraordinary, a treasure of the academy!
“How much did that old scoundrel owe—or do—for the academy’s higher-ups to both respect and loathe him enough to give him such a token?”
He mused that Qi Daolin, despite his notorious reputation, must have had his moments of “righteousness” amid his troublemaking.
The sun had set. Insects chirped in the grass—some melodious, others deep like rumbling thunder.
Shi Hao was surprised. There were definitely insect kings here—extraordinary ones.
Using his dual-pupil vision, he spotted dozens of radiant insects perched on leaves and rocks, their auras astonishing.
One in particular stood out—a thumb-sized creature emitting crimson light, dyeing an entire hill red. Its shape was bizarre, resembling a blood phoenix.
“Could this be the legendary insect king that Feng Wu brought back from the Yuan Heaven Secret Realm—the one with the potential to become an Insect Emperor?” Shi Hao felt a chill. Would there be an Insect Emperor War in the future?
The moon rose, silver light spilling down.
Passing through dozens of formations with the black token’s aid, Shi Hao arrived at a misty, radiant area.
“This must be the immortal pond where the Divine Calamity Lotus grows,” he murmured, gazing at the shimmering, fragrant waters ahead.
“The pond’s huge, no wonder the academy dares to announce that those who offer Seven-Colored Immortal Gold can soak here for a day and night.”
It was less a pond and more a crystalline lake, vast and hazy with mist.
Suddenly, Shi Hao’s senses tingled. He detected someone in the distance and immediately concealed his presence, activating his dual-pupil vision. What he saw left him stunned.
Under the bright moon, an ethereal figure stood—raven-black hair cascading to her waist, neck as fair as a swan’s, her robes slightly parted to reveal delicate shoulders. Her starry eyes and long, fluttering lashes made her a vision of celestial beauty, poised to bathe.
It was Yue Chan!
Her figure was graceful, skin like snow, framed by the giant moon behind her. Petals swirled around her as she stood by the pond, steam rising like an immortal descending to the mortal realm.
“See no evil,” Shi Hao muttered, then added, “Wait, she’s my wife!” He widened his eyes for a better look.
He hadn’t expected to encounter Yue Chan here. Stroking his chin, he quietly admired the view.
Yue Chan’s instincts were sharp. She turned, suspicion flickering in her eyes, but without dual-pupil vision and with Shi Hao’s aura concealed, she hesitated only briefly before stepping into the water.
“Guess I’ll go another way for now,” Shi Hao decided, choosing a different path into the divine pond.
With his mission at hand, he didn’t dawdle, silently swimming through the moonlit waters toward the source of the medicinal fragrance.
But what if they crossed paths?
Shi Hao figured he was already being considerate by avoiding her. Besides, she *was* his “wife”!
“Just don’t come tempt me. My self-control is… not the best,” he muttered shamelessly to himself.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage