“Never mind!”
Wu Ming bowed in return.
This was truly a Heaven Immortal’s domain! Another Heaven Immortal entering was akin to a tiger breaking into one’s home. If he still couldn’t detect that, Yunshan might as well go bang his head against a mountain.
“Ancestor… Master!”
Feixingzi and Yuxue Nu Guan opened their mouths wide in shock and knelt down together.
“It’s actually a Heaven Immortal Senior!”
The Sect Leader Daoist performed the same gesture respectfully, his heart even more tremulous and anxious.
After all, he had slighted a senior. If the Ancestor truly wanted to blame him, he would certainly be unable to bear the consequences.
Don’t look at him as a Land Immortal, but compared to a Heaven Immortal, he was truly not worth mentioning.
Even if the Sect’s Ancestor was for another cultivator, he would definitely not show favoritism.
“Hmph, you have slighted a noble guest. What crime do you think you’ve committed?”
Heaven Immortal Yunshan snorted coldly, and the sky suddenly darkened as if lightning flashed.
A Heaven Immortal was the master of their domain. Within their domain, they could resonate with the heavens, possessing boundless power, vaguely resembling a miniature world’s status.
In a rage, the sky darkened, and lightning descended.
Wu Ming watched this and secretly chuckled.
If Heaven Immortal Yunshan were truly to attack, these disciples would have already turned to dust. Now, it was all thunder without rain.
“What he is more afraid of is probably my entering his domain, but he must be confident he can keep it a secret…”
Wu Ming flicked his sleeve: “It’s just children fooling around. Forget it!”
“Haven’t you thanked the Immortal Sage yet?!”
Heaven Immortal Yunshan immediately shouted, while inwardly calculating: “Heaven Immortals have comparable combat strength, but within a domain, this person would have no chance of victory. Yet he dares to come in, so either he has another life-saving trick or he’s clean-hearted… Fortunately, my domain’s entrance has already been concealed by the Nine Transmutation Empty Evasion Array; I doubt he could detect anything…”
This domain nexus was truly the foundation of a Heaven Immortal’s existence. If these two disciples leaked its location, Heaven Immortal Yunshan would definitely strike them down with Five Thunderbolts.
“Thank you, Immortal Sage, for pleading on our behalf!”
Feixingzi and Yuxue Nu Guan were trembling like cicadas in winter, their hearts filled with dread: “We thought this person was just a wandering cultivator, but who knew he was a Heaven Immortal! We don’t know which sect’s ancient ancestor or mighty immortal figure this is visiting us, playing such a joke on us disciples. It nearly scared us to death!”
A Land Immortal might not have a blessed land, but a Heaven Immortal would certainly have a domain!
The difference between them was like a vast chasm between heaven and earth, beyond comprehension.
“Senior Daoist, please!”
Yunshan carefully examined Wu Ming. He saw that this Heaven Immortal was extremely young, with pure aura harmonizing with myriad transformations, clearly a Dao cultivator of great virtue. Yet he looked unfamiliar, causing Yunshan to feel puzzled inwardly.
But of course, he wouldn’t say much at this moment and simply raised his hand in greeting.
Wu Ming nodded in courtesy and entered the sect’s gate with Heaven Immortal Yunshan, witnessing another magnificent sight.
Before them lay nine-tiered palaces, with golden jade paving the ground and dragonwood pillars. Colorful talisman runes transformed into restrictions, clearly indicating extremely powerful formations for protection.
Rows of alchemy rooms and herbal chambers exuded an aura reminiscent of ginseng, filling the air with a unique fragrance.
“Excellent… This medicinal fragrance captures the essence of heaven and earth. Originally the essence of alchemical pills, it disperses throughout the sect, enhancing the effectiveness of disciples’ meditation and spiritual energy cultivation!”
Wu Ming praised.
“Just minor skills, Senior Daoist, please!”
Yunshan smiled slightly, leading Wu Ming to the largest palace at the sect’s center.
On the white jade staircase, rows of young boys and girls stood on both sides, now bowing solemnly with hands clasped: “We welcome the Immortal Sage!”
Ding!
The sound of bells and chimes echoed, suddenly transforming into the eighty-one sacred tones, spreading continuously throughout the heavens and earth.
This was the etiquette for welcoming a Heaven Immortal. Originally, there should also be grand ceremonies with immortal cranes and processions, but since Wu Ming didn’t follow the rules and arrived suddenly, there was only this much prepared.
“You’re being too courteous…”
Wu Ming tried to decline.
“Senior Daoist, as a Heaven Immortal, your personal visit brings us honor. It’s only appropriate…”
Yunshan said with a smiling face.
Wu Ming appreciated everything, also getting a glimpse of the ancient rituals and regulations of the Great Zhou World, finding them slightly novel.
After the grand ceremony, the two entered the Ancestor Hall, sitting as host and guest. Around them now were only a few Land Immortals.
“Daoist Wuming, come! Let me introduce a few!”
Yunshan Daoist waved his sleeve: “This is our sect leader, Xuanji Daoist, whom you’ve already met. And these two are Xuanming and Xuanyu…”
“We greet the Immortal Sage!”
Even though these three were Land Immortals, who would normally be treated with great respect by empires, lightly regarding princes and dukes, they now respectfully performed the junior’s bow.
After all, this was a Heaven Immortal!
Even in the entire Great Zhou World, from ancient times to the present, there had never been more than fifty Heaven Immortals, and possessing a domain represented an awe-inspiring force.
“Senior Daoist, your sect has such talented disciples!”
Wu Ming politely remarked.
“Not at all…” Yunshan Heaven Immortal smiled and said a few more words before seemingly casually asking: “May I ask which sect Senior Daoist comes from?”
He then showed an embarrassed expression: “This humble Daoist is ignorant and had never heard of Senior Daoist’s name before. It seems Senior Daoist is a solitary cultivator, and your perseverance and temperament are truly admirable!”
“Senior Daoist flatters me!”
Wu Ming took a sip of spiritual tea before saying, “I do not belong to any immortal sect. I merely had a fortunate encounter with the ‘Huangting Jing,’ which allowed me to embark on the path of Daoism. I have been cultivating on my own all along, not wishing to become a wild fox Chan practitioner and be laughed at by true experts!”
Upon hearing this, Heaven Immortal Yunshan’s smile froze slightly, his eyes widening. The three Land Immortals behind him nearly spat out their tea, their hearts filled with shame: “A wandering cultivator? Reaching the Land Immortal level while remaining unknown in Daoist circles is already inconceivable! As for a Heaven Immortal? Am I being invaded by heart demons and seeing illusions?”
Comparing themselves to this individual, and looking at their own sect with its domain and ancestral support, yet still unable to break through to blessed land, they couldn’t help but wish they could find a crack in the ground to hide in.
“Senior Daoist is a rare genius, destined to join our Daoist sect!”
Heaven Immortal Yunshan had already suspected this, stroking his beard as he spoke: “I’ve heard of the ‘Huangting Jing’ before. It’s an ancient authentic Daoist scripture, one of the Heavenly Treasury Jade Books. However, it’s said to have been lost long ago, with only scattered fragments remaining. It’s truly fortunate that Senior Daoist obtained it…”
Wu Ming smiled without answering.
In fact, his cultivation foundation was indeed thanks to the ‘Huangting Yinfu Jing,’ but after reaching the Land Immortal level, he had self-realized and walked the path of the World Dao, deviating from the original Daoist teachings.
However, he was confident that his path was the true way to transcendence and the only method to master the Temple of the Sovereign.
The Temple of the Sovereign encompassed all phenomena, transcending eternity.
Using this divine artifact as a blueprint, he perceived the universe and created his own Heaven Immortal cultivation techniques, essentially learning directly from the great being who created the Temple of the Sovereign. The benefits were truly indescribable.
“May I ask where Senior Daoist’s immortal home is?”
Yunshan’s eyes flashed with a glimmer as he asked again.
“Dingzhou!”
Wu Ming smiled slightly and answered candidly.
“Dingzhou?!”
Upon hearing this, Yunshan hadn’t even responded before the several Land Immortals behind him couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise. They quickly realized their rudeness and hurriedly apologized.
“My disciple was rash and disrespectful…”
Yunshan Daoist’s face flickered with an unusual expression: “Previously, I heard that a woman had risen in Dingzhou, named Wu Zhi, with heroic demeanor, surpassing even men. She now unifies Dingzhou and possesses the aura of a king. I was wondering who the great master had enlightened her, but it turns out to be right here before me. What an oversight!”
“It was just a fortunate coincidence. The emergence of a hidden dragon is the work of heavenly will and the dragon vein. Whether it can become a true dragon depends on human effort. We are merely helping along, not the main force!”
Wu Ming replied.
Now that his foundation was established, he naturally wasn’t afraid of the other party investigating.
Moreover, even if they did investigate, they could only trace back to his identity as Wu Ming, with no trace of the Temple of the Sovereign.
As long as the Temple of the Sovereign remained hidden, with his Heaven Immortal status, he could shoulder any resulting ripples without fear.
Since there were ancient gods reincarnating, why couldn’t there be a Heaven Immortal descending into the mortal world?
Even if they investigated to the end, they would probably only conclude that he had previously struggled in cultivation, then transferred his primordial spirit into Wu Ming’s body, participated in the struggle for the dragon throne, and eventually broke through to the Heaven Immortal level through fortunate circumstances.
“This ‘cultivation method’ being spread… I wonder how many Land Immortals will risk trying it… Perhaps they’ll even think my breakthrough was due to cultivating with E Xu… Haha…”
Wu Ming secretly chuckled: “I wonder how many female warlords will rise in the future, and how many Land Immortals they’ll deceive…”
“Senior Daoist’s words are indeed correct, deeply aligning with the essence of the dragon veins across the land!”
Heaven Immortal Yunshan solemnly said: “Those ordinary people think we cultivators possess extraordinary powers, easily able to enlighten a true dragon, but that’s all mistaken… Our Daoist techniques can at most attract earth’s energy, enhancing the hidden dragon’s foundation… A true dragon emperor is chosen by the Heavenly Emperor, a matter of grand destiny. We cultivators can offer little assistance…”
“Oh?”
Wu Ming’s heart suddenly tensed, instantly realizing that the heavenly court and divine Dao in this world held considerable power, even surpassing the Daoist sects:
“The Daoist path is about freedom. Although our Daoist sects have thirty-six great domains and seventy-two blessed lands, we are loosely organized by nature. For instance, you and I, could we truly submit to the heavenly court like subjects, bowing and scraping before some celestial sovereign, following their every command?”
“Senior Daoist’s words hit the nail on the head!”
Upon hearing this, Heaven Immortal Yunshan was momentarily stunned: “Could it be that Senior Daoist has also heard that rumor?!”
“Hmm? What rumor?”
Wu Ming asked with feigned ignorance.
“Oh, Senior Daoist didn’t know…”
Yunshan Heaven Immortal breathed an inward sigh of relief: “Our immortal path forces are actually no weaker than the divine path, but we are fragmented and unable to unite. Naturally, there are some ambitious individuals who harbor thoughts of unification!”
“What a fitting phrase, ‘ambitious individuals’—so this Heaven Immortal is against such unification!”
Wu Ming’s eyes flickered, instantly understanding: “May I ask who this ambitious individual is?”
“None other than the Heaven Immortal Sovereign of the First Great Domain, Dayou Kongming Tian, the Heaven Severing Immortal Sovereign…”
Yunshan Heaven Immortal sighed: “It is said that this immortal has already broken through to the Golden Immortal realm, with profound and unfathomable magical powers. Recently, he has been taking frequent actions, intending to unify the immortal sects… Alas, the path of immortality is about freedom. For an old Daoist like me to have to rush about and toil under someone else’s command is truly asking too much…”
“I feel exactly the same way…”
Wu Ming’s thoughts raced, smiling in agreement.
“Senior Daoist is truly a kindred spirit!”
Heaven Immortal Yunshan was delighted upon hearing this.
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