The heavenly glow descended, auspicious clouds embraced, and the turbulent sea of energy in the void parted, revealing a magnificent and ethereal ship hovering above the Huamei Villa.
The envoy from Golden Tortoise Island stood proudly at the bow, waved her hand, and let down a cascade of misty clouds, forming a staircase of multicolored radiance that reached the edge of the protective formation around the mountain.
“Inviting Master Lu to the banquet,” a solemn and grand voice echoed around.
Master Lu, the eldest, grasped the sword at his side, rose from the thatched cottage, cast a deep glance at his wife’s grave, and ascended the staircase onto the majestic immortal ship, nodding slightly to the envoy from Golden Tortoise Island.
The envoy returned the nod without arrogance. With her cultivation level and strength, she could naturally see that Master Lu was very close to becoming a Celestial Immortal, on the verge of transformation, and bore legendary characteristics, not far from her own level, truly worthy of the title of the greatest expert in the Central Land, and thus deserved serious treatment.
Master Lu looked around and saw familiar faces like He Qi.
This was a “banquet” reserved only for those powerful enough to attain the Dharma Body.
…
This magnificent and majestic immortal ship hovered halfway over the Yuxu Palace on Mount Kunlun. From afar, it seemed no smaller than the mountain itself, blocking sunlight and creating an overcast sky.
“Inviting Master Su to the banquet,” the Golden Tortoise Island envoy softly spoke, yet her voice was grand, as if a deity had spoken, triggering “tidal” changes and bringing waves from the “sea,” forming drifting flowers of spiritual energy.
Then, the cloud staircase naturally descended, like a summons from the ancient celestial court. However, unlike the previous experience of those with the Dharma Body, this staircase was misty and floating, within which clarity rose and turbidity fell, the Four Symbols calmed, and laws took form, evolving into a realm of heaven and earth. Some steps were shrouded in eternal darkness, others glittered with stars, resembling divine kingdoms; some were covered with lush greenery, teeming with vitality, while others were submerged under vast seas with scattered islands. Each step represented a different universe, a transient and unstable cosmos!
The envoy had not seen “Yuanhuang” Su Meng during her previous visit to the Yuxu Palace. She knew he was born amidst tribulations, possessing both legendary and Transcendent characteristics immediately after attaining the Dharma Body, an unprecedented phenomenon and a very unique case. If he did not perish midway, he would certainly achieve legendary status in the future. Thus, she wished to test him to provide insights for the island master’s judgment and decision.
Sitting cross-legged on a cloud couch, Meng Qi concealed his sword and blade within his sleeves. Now, he opened his mouth, swallowing fragments of the Heaven-Reflecting Mirror as dark light, then patted his robe and rose leisurely.
His hands were no longer as pale and smooth as before, possessing a demonic charm akin to a god or demon, but increasingly returning to simplicity, appearing normal. They were simply clasped behind his back, yet vaguely exuding a sense of “power,” capable of breaking the heavens and annihilating the three realms.
Meng Qi slowly ascended the cloud steps. Beneath his feet were sparkling stars of various colors, symbolizing the dominion of different deities. Feelings of night, Daoist law, morning light, balance, and justice permeated, as if attempting to ensnare his ankles.
With a single step from his straw sandals, the stars suddenly spun rapidly, losing their order, descending into chaos, ultimately leading to their demise and returning to silence.
With every step Meng Qi took, whether through eternally dark realms or worlds submerged in water, stability was lost momentarily, inevitably leading to a silent and profound end.
Watching Meng Qi ascend steadily, exuding no worldly aura as he approached, the Golden Tortoise Island envoy couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, musing: was this the ability to alter the laws of the self-evolving cave heaven by harnessing the breath of the Real World, or the Transcendent characteristic of manipulating future destinies?
Regardless of which, even after a thousand years of arduous cultivation, she still could not match it, remaining far behind.
Compared to such a person, even as a Celestial Immortal, she would feel overshadowed.
“Greetings, Master Su,” the envoy from Golden Tortoise Island calmly greeted.
Meng Qi smiled slightly: “Greetings to the envoy. Next time, if there’s another invitation, just send the invitation to places like Huamei Villa. The wall is the Yuxu Palace’s face to the world, and leaving writings there is always inappropriate.”
It was impolite to scribble on walls.
The face to the world… recalling the empty Yuxu Palace from last time, the envoy almost couldn’t resist retorting. First, get a famous disciple to guard the gate before worrying about appearances…
She eventually swallowed those words, maintaining her calm and aloof demeanor.
Through the surrounding mist, Meng Qi casually glanced at the Celestial Immortal, seeing her graceful figure as if naturally born, her beautiful features like a celestial maiden from myths, her skin smooth and her aura profound, making it impossible to discern her age.
As his perception extended, Meng Qi “saw” Master Lu diligently and devoutly carving wood sculptures in a corner of the deck, Su Wuming sitting with his eyes closed, ignoring the outside world, and Gourdo, his skin bronze and exuding divine aura, holding the terrifying axe Tianzhu.
Crack!
Lightning flashed in the void, and a domineering aura erupted, making even the Golden Tortoise Island envoy shudder inwardly. Facing the Tianzhu axe, the Absolute Blade was eager to fight.
As their eyes met, a heavy and oppressive atmosphere descended. Just as Meng Qi was about to speak, his perception suddenly detected a familiar figure, someone he hadn’t expected to meet.
Gao Lan stood proudly at the edge, gazing down at the Zhou lands below. Han Guang stared intently at the heavens, as if contemplating profound Daoist mysteries. Beside them sat a blue-robed Daoist, his face smooth, his beard half black and half white, unmistakably the Fate Daoist, the one who had taken in the Jiesha Daoist Sa Ren Bowa and recognized Meng Qi’s five-colored fate mark!
“Many years have passed since we last met. How have you been, Senior?” Meng Qi’s aura suddenly deepened, resembling chaos, instantly breaking free from the entanglement with Gourdo’s aura to stand before the Fate Daoist.
He had also attained the Dharma Body?
The Fate Daoist shook his head: “Not well, not at all. My fate dictates constant toil and hardship.”
His tone was calm and unemotional, as if he had experienced the vicissitudes of life, finally seeing through worldly affairs, his sharpness worn away, achieving a certain peace.
“Senior, you are a hermit of the world. I thought you wouldn’t come to Golden Tortoise Island,” Meng Qi remarked casually.
The Fate Daoist sighed: “Fate decrees it. How can one escape?”
Nearby, Gao Lan withdrew his gaze and looked at Han Guang, transmitting his voice: “The cloud steps connect, the glow and auspicious clouds respond. Golden Tortoise Island is acting like a Heavenly Emperor. Their ambitions are not small.”
Han Guang smiled faintly, self-deprecatingly: “There is not only myself who aspires to the position of Heavenly Emperor in this world.”
His demeanor was carefree, as if it meant nothing to him.
…
When the “Night Emperor” Huo Lishang boarded the immortal ship sent by Golden Tortoise Island, he found that there were already three Dharma Bodies aboard.
To the left, the “Yin Patriarch” Xu Beitong was entirely wrapped in a black Daoist robe, his figure blurred and twisted, as if he might dissipate in the sunlight at any moment; to the right, the “Red Emperor” Sun Chuci, who had once dueled with him, was leisurely admiring the scenery of the seven seas, his long robe like flames, his appearance exuding a radiant charm, as if the sun had just risen in the east.
And in the center, a woman in a plain robe had her back to him, her skirt fluttering, exuding an ethereal aura, almost as if she might fly away at any moment.
Seeing this woman, Huo Lishang’s heart suddenly quickened. After attaining the Dharma Body, he had roamed the seven seas for many years. He had only suffered two complete humiliations: one bestowed by the “Taiyi Heavenly Venerable” Han Guang, and the other at the hands of this woman, who had nearly severed his Dharma Body and sent him back to the mortal realm.
Every time he recalled that incident, he felt a surge of fear toward the woman in the plain robe, though he cherished the memory of her beauty, he dared not approach her.
This woman in the plain robe was none other than Bi Jingxuan, the Mistress of the Three Grotto Isles and the leader of the Five Elders of the Heavenly Dao Alliance, a master only half a step away from becoming a Celestial Immortal, known as the “Primordial Fairy.” It was said she wielded a terrifying ancient artifact, though no one had ever seen her use it.
Bi Jingxuan did not turn around, as if she were carefully examining the cabin of the immortal ship. The Night Emperor instinctively moved to the left.
“Prince Lishang, have you been well?” the Yin Patriarch greeted him first.
Huo Lishang smiled cleanly and transmitted his voice: “For now, I am fine. After the Golden Tortoise Banquet, it will be hard to say. Does Fellow Daoist Xu have any advice for me?”
You are a secret member of Golden Tortoise Island. You should know something about the inside story, right?
The Yin Patriarch looked deeply at the Night Emperor: “Prince Lishang, your divine skills have reached perfection, capable of turning stones into gold, rivaling legendary great beings. What is there to fear?”
This journey’s most mysterious and noteworthy person is you!
That’s not me… Huo Lishang’s smile suddenly stiffened.
How could I have such ability!
“Taiyi Heavenly Venerable” Han Guang, I wonder if we shall meet again?
…
The immortal ship, shrouded in mist and vapor, arrived at Golden Tortoise Island. The island’s thick fog dissipated, revealing ancient buildings adorned with the totem of the black bird.
The black bird descended to give birth to the Shang dynasty.
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