Chapter 38: Longevity Palace

Mu Yuan squinted his eyes, occasionally glancing around. He happened to see that brilliant light and felt a stir in his heart. However, having just escaped a life-and-death situation involving the Stone Jar, he remembered the saying: “Once bitten by a snake, one fears even a rope for ten years.” Suppressing his curiosity, he thought to himself, “The Southern Wildlands are truly bizarre, with so many strange things. I better leave quickly, or I might end up losing my life here.”

With that thought, Mu Yuan turned over and sat up. Suddenly remembering something, he retrieved two ice-jade hooks from his Black Water Gourd, which he had previously seized from disciples of the Ice Path. He quickly walked back to the house, left a letter, and—without even seeing anyone—directly took Zha Feng with him, mounted the Feng Luan, and headed north.

The Feng Luan was so fast that Zha Feng shrieked excitedly on its back. Mu Yuan smiled slightly and released a stream of Tide True Qi, helping Zha Feng deflect the wind and reduce the force. Looking back at the passing mountains and dense forests, Mu Yuan smiled again, gazing toward the northeast—the direction of Longevity Palace.

Longevity Palace bordered the East Sea. Back when the Five Elements were scattered, the five major disciples each took a direction: Wood held the East, Water merged with the North, Earth resided in the Center, Metal occupied the West, and Fire stayed in the Southern position. Longevity Palace was over a thousand miles from the Hundred Thousand Mountains, but for Mu Yuan at this stage, it was not too far. Passing through the Tiandu Kingdom and arriving at the East Sea, a lush forest appeared before his eyes. Longevity Palace was hidden within this forest.

All cultivation sites were separate Grotto-Heavens, spanning hundreds of miles. If they occupied mortal space, these cultivation sects would have long divided the entire continent. Moreover, the mortal world was noisy and chaotic; although spiritual energy was abundant, it carried a sense of worldly dust. While practicing could temper one’s Dao Heart, it was not as fast as cultivating within a Grotto-Heaven. One chose purity, the other chose complexity; it could not be said which was superior.

Mu Yuan had spent ten years at Longevity Palace and, therefore, knew his way around. Landing the Feng Luan in the center of the dense forest, he put it away and led Zha Feng. With a gentle push, a flowing, shimmering qi wall appeared before them, undulating up and down. Mu Yuan stepped forward and entered.

Instantly, the scenery before them changed. White clouds drifted leisurely in the sky, and a gentle breeze blew comfortably. On the ground, endless stretches of palaces were visible, with exotic flowers competing in beauty, emitting a fragrant aroma. Tall trees cast shade with dappled light and shadow, enveloping countless palaces and pavilions in an orderly, staggered, and spectacular arrangement.

Mu Yuan was used to it, but Zha Feng had never seen such a place. He stood dumbfounded, his small hand tightly clutching Mu Yuan’s clothes. Gazing at the various halls built from strange stones and rare woods—some magnificent, some ancient and elegant, others subtly intricate—he felt shocked and speechless.

Mu Yuan smiled gently, took Zha Feng’s hand, and thought about first visiting his master to report on taking a disciple and also to submit the Tidal Flow mental technique. After all, the Five Elements were one entity, and Mu Yuan did not mind doing things for his sect.

Walking along a quiet path, they were surrounded by flowers, plants, and rare treasures, with fragrances ranging from rich to pure, refreshing to the senses. The Longevity Palace Grotto-Heaven was three hundred miles wide, with mountains and crisscrossing rivers. Seven main peaks encircled the area, where the seven highest-ranking members of Longevity Palace resided: Sect Leader True Lord Tiemu, True Lord Qinghua, Fengliu San, Zhen Yun Zi, Ju Gaoqi, and Mu Yuan’s master, Cang Qing Zi!

Among the seven, True Lord Qinghua and Ju Gaoqi were women; the rest were men. Mu Yuan’s master, Cang Qing Zi, was only at the Core Formation Realm. Zhen Yun Zi, Ju Gaoqi, and Fengliu San had not yet glimpsed the Great Dao or achieved Primordial Spirit. Only Sect Leader Tiemu, True Lord Qinghua, and Fengliu San were Nascent Soul Level experts, overseeing Longevity Palace.

Cang Qing Zi resided on Cloud-Capped Peak, the southernmost of the seven peaks. Mu Yuan walked leisurely with Zha Feng, introducing the scenery, buildings, winding paths, and various plants and herbs along the way, truly embodying the demeanor of a master.

Suddenly, Mu Yuan frowned and stopped speaking. Zha Feng noticed his master’s silence and looked up to see two young men approaching. Dressed in green robes and quite handsome, their movements carried an elegant air. Zha Feng’s young heart instantly felt envious.

Mu Yuan recognized them: one was Zhou Huasheng, the other Wu Dejun, disciples of his uncle Fengliu San. It was said that Fengliu San and Cang Qing Zi had some minor disagreements, so the disciples of the two branches did not get along well, often exchanging sarcastic remarks in private.

As for the rift between Fengliu San and Cang Qing Zi, Mu Yuan had heard about it. Among the three Nascent Soul Level experts, Sect Leader Tiemu lived a simple, reclusive life, devoted to the Great Dao, and was highly respected. The other, True Lord Qinghua, was not an outsider but Mu Yuan’s master’s wife, Cang Qing Zi’s partner!

It was said that both Cang Qing Zi and Fengliu San had pursued True Lord Qinghua, but she ultimately chose Cang Qing Zi, who was only at the Core Formation Realm. This left Fengliu San resentful. Arrogant and highly judgmental, Fengliu San, after failing to win True Lord Qinghua, challenged Cang Qing Zi to a duel.

Cang Qing Zi was no match and was severely injured. True Lord Qinghua immediately went to Fengliu San’s Strange Abode Peak. Rumors said the two Nascent Soul Level experts fought fiercely, darkening the skies. It was unclear whether Fengliu San held back out of affection or if True Lord Qinghua was more skilled, but Fengliu San suffered a major defeat. True Lord Qinghua pierced his arms with Greenwood Divine Radiance, nearly destroying his physical body. He took ten years to recover! Since then, the disciples of Strange Abode Peak and Cloud-Capped Peak had been like fire and water, frequently engaging in private fights. Sect Leader Tiemu had punished disciples from both branches many times but could not stop it, which troubled him greatly. He had also scolded his two junior brothers repeatedly, but it did not help.

Seeing the two, Mu Yuan frowned slightly and, holding Zha Feng’s hand, intended to ignore them. However, Zhou and Wu did not let him off. They approached with false smiles. “Isn’t this Junior Brother Mu Yuan? Why didn’t you inform us when you returned from the mountain? We could have come to welcome you. Oh, and you brought back a child in such a short time. Did you hook up with some woman during your trip?”

Zhou Huasheng spoke, and both laughed heartily. Wu Dejun stepped forward to pinch Zha Feng’s fair cheek, but Mu Yuan snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve, and a gust of wind surged forth, forming a whirlwind that struck Wu Dejun’s outstretched right hand!

Wu Dejun was prepared. His outstretched hand suddenly turned into a claw, with five streams of Zhenqi bursting forth, emitting a brilliant green light that collided fiercely with Mu Yuan’s whirlwind!

Both had used their real power. It was unusual for disciples of the two branches not to fight upon meeting. Both sides knew that neither would hold back. Wu Dejun knew Mu Yuan would strike when he reached out, and Mu Yuan knew Wu Dejun was ready to counter. Thus, although the change was sudden, neither was caught off guard. A burst of energy erupted between them, causing Mu Yuan’s sleeves to flutter and his long hair to fly back.