CHAPTER 568: CHAPTER 446 VISIT A TRUE IMMORTAL TO BECOME A DISCIPLE!_2

Shen Mo is already advanced in age.

He has witnessed countless proud geniuses in their youth, only to falter on the path to the Fifth Order and quietly withdraw.

He himself is likely to follow in their footsteps.

With mixed feelings of resignation and unwillingness, he hopes that among his fellow disciples, someone will achieve True Immortality. In his view, Shi Ze has hope, and so does Zhou Yan.

But alas.

He fears he won’t live to see that moment.

Shen Mo collected his thoughts and arrived at the Endless Sea, standing before the cultivation cave of Zhou Yan.

"Zhou Yan greets Senior Brother Shen."

Chen Jichuan strode out to welcome him, respectfully cupping his hands toward Shen Mo.

The Daoist Sect, secluded for five hundred years, suddenly produces an Upper Immortal, drawing throngs of visitors. Shen Mo wasn’t the first to arrive, but he was someone Chen Jichuan had long been anticipating.

"Senior Brother, please."

Chen Jichuan led Shen Mo into the cave.

Shen Mo had spent many years in the East River Palace, seldom venturing out. In recent years, his name was not often heard, but in his younger days, he was renowned and illustrious. Not only did he advance to the Upper Immortal Realm early on and conquer the Fourth Peak of Trial Sword Peak as a Daoist True Inheritor, but he also earned a seat among the Twelve Chief at the age of twenty thousand, mastering the Daoist Divine Skills and elevating his strength further. Yet as he aged, and to make room for younger disciples within the sect, he voluntarily surrendered his seat and had kept a low profile in recent years.

Nevertheless, even before attaining Divine Skills, Shen Mo had already secured one of the Twelve Chief seats. After mastering Divine Skills, his strength became unfathomable and immeasurable.

Moreover, as the contemporary senior brother of the East River Palace, acting on behalf of the True Immortal, Chen Jichuan naturally treated him with the utmost respect.

"Junior Brother, no need for such courtesy."

"I came today on my teacher’s orders to ask if you would join our master’s sect as the twenty-fifth Direct Transmission disciple."

Shen Mo, fulfilling his duty under his teacher’s command, asked directly upon entering the cave.

"To be accepted under the Palace Master’s tutelage is the fortune of countless lives. I am more than willing!"

Chen Jichuan’s face lit up with excitement, responding promptly and earnestly.

For six hundred years in this life, he had cultivated to this point and only now truly embarked on the proper path. Having advanced to the Fourth Order, he had finally caught the discerning eye of those exalted True Immortals. There was no reason to decline.

"You must think it over carefully. With your talents, there will surely be other True Immortals seeking to take you as their disciple in the coming days."

Shen Mo, seeing Chen Jichuan agree so eagerly, offered a reminder.

With Zhou Yan’s natural gifts, he could indeed attract the interest of many True Immortals; the East River Palace Master wasn’t the only one likely to extend an offer.

"I understand, Senior Brother."

"However, I am connected to the lineage of the East River Palace by fate. Back during my time in Dongqi Daoist School, it was through comprehending Master Meng Qing’s ’Ten Directions Water and Fire Sword Technique’ that I rose from a Powerful Warrior to a disciple of the Daoist School, beginning my Immortal Path. At the time, it also happened that Senior Brother Shi Ze was at the Daoist School, and he even mentioned to the Dean that he would recommend me to Master Meng Qing when I joined the Dao Sect. Although Senior Brother Shi Ze has been traveling over the years and I never had the chance to meet him, I did pay several visits to Master Meng Qing, who kindly offered me guidance."

Chen Jichuan explained to Shen Mo.

He truly had ties to Master Meng Qing.

Though he had remained within the sect’s gates for five hundred years, it would be a stretch to call him low-profile. The lofty True Immortals might not have noticed a mere Divinity Transformation Disciple like him, but Master Meng Qing certainly had.

Chen Jichuan and Master Meng Qing had connections through the Dongqi Daoist School and the "Ten Directions Water and Fire Sword Technique." Coupled with Chen Jichuan’s exceptional talents, Master Meng Qing had voluntarily reached out to him. When Chen Jichuan advanced to the Third Realm of Divinity Transformation, Master Meng Qing personally handed down the complete version of the legendary "Ten Directions Water and Fire Sword Technique," which he had acquired outside.

Furthermore, it was thanks to Meng Qing’s Transmission that Shen Mo arrived so quickly, and the East River Palace Master learned of this newly minted Upper Immortal without delay. Otherwise, Chen Jichuan might have waited a bit longer.

Given his ties to the East River Palace and the fact that its master was a genuine True Immortal, Chen Jichuan naturally answered without hesitation.

"Just now at the gates of the East River Palace, I saw Junior Brother Shi had returned. What a coincidence!"

Shen Mo also found it intriguing.

"Senior Brother Shi Ze has returned?"

"I must pay my respects."

Chen Jichuan straightened his posture and said earnestly.

"No rush."

"Now that you have joined our teacher’s sect, you’ll have plenty of time to interact as fellow disciples in the future."

Shen Mo smiled and said, "Come with me first to meet our teacher."

"Understood."

Chen Jichuan responded, immediately following Shen Mo toward the East River Palace.

...

East River Palace.

Clouds floated above, and towering mountains stretched below.

In the One Origin Dao Sect, any True Immortal could establish their own palace amidst the mountains and seas, forming an independent domain. Within were Shen Mo, Meng Qing, Shi Ze, and other True Immortal inheritors, as well as registered disciples under the East River Palace Master. The Direct Transmission disciples took in disciples, whose disciples in turn accepted other disciples, continuing the line of succession. The East River Palace rivaled the grandest Daoist traditions in all of Shenzhou.

In the One Origin Dao Sect, there were forty-nine such immortal palaces.

"Forty-nine immortal palaces."

"Forty-nine True Immortals."

"This doesn’t even include those True Immortals who ascended but chose not to manage worldly affairs or establish a palace."

"The power of the One Origin Dao Sect is terrifying, even the portion exposed to the world."

Chen Jichuan glanced around the East River Palace. Among the Upper Immortals traveling back and forth, all paid respects to Shen Mo while also casting curious glances at him. In this moment, he gained deeper insight into the strength of the One Origin Dao Sect and newfound hopes for this lifetime.

Moving deeper.

Soon enough.

The two arrived at the entrance of a grand and ancient hall.

Shen Mo pushed the door open and stepped inside, with Chen Jichuan following closely. Seated in the hall was a middle-aged man in the lead position, his features ordinary and unremarkable, dressed in simple white robes, projecting an air of a worldly Great Scholar.

This man was none other than the Daoist True Immortal, "East River Palace Master!"

Within the hall, there were three others—two men and one woman. Among them was Shi Ze, whom Chen Jichuan had caught a fleeting glimpse of six hundred years ago when he was at Dongqi Daoist School.

With Chen Jichuan’s arrival, the three turned their gazes toward him.

Shi Ze nodded at Chen Jichuan with a smile.

Chen Jichuan straightened his face, maintaining his composure, not daring to show even the slightest disrespect.

The man at the head of the hall, the "East River Palace Master," was a True Immortal of extraordinary stature, impervious to the ravages of time, capable of immense Divine Skills. Even with the experience of multiple lifetimes, Chen Jichuan retained utmost reverence and awe for such figures.

It was both respect for their supreme powers and admiration for their perseverance in overcoming endless tribulations to attain True Immortality.

"Teacher."

"Zhou Yan is brought here."

Shen Mo bowed respectfully to the East River Palace Master, and Chen Jichuan followed suit, bowing deeply. "Disciple greets the Palace Master!"

"Zhou Yan, would you like to become a disciple under me?"

The East River Palace Master’s voice was clear and bright from his seat at the top.

"Disciple is willing!"

Chen Jichuan responded immediately.

"If so, kneel and bow your head three times, and you shall be my twenty-fifth Direct Transmission disciple."

The East River Palace Master’s tone was not harsh, yet his delivery was direct and decisive.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Without hesitation, Chen Jichuan knelt down and kowtowed, proclaiming, "Teacher!"

"Good!"

With a nod and a smile, the East River Palace Master waved his hand, sending several beams of luminous radiance descending. Three rays entered Chen Jichuan’s forehead, while two hovered before him—revealing a flying sword and a flying shuttle.

"Your aptitude is exceptional, having already created your own Magic Skill during the Divinity Transformation stage. This path is worth continuing. I pass on to you the ’Five Elements Daoist Collection,’ which contains various texts related to the Five Elements that should aid your cultivation."

"Additionally, I grant you two Absolute Skills. The first, ’Reincarnation Skill,’ is derived from my extrapolations of the Daoist Divine Skill ’One Origin to the End’ and can harmonize the Five Elements, integrating them into one, reinforcing your foundations. The second, ’Sky Splitting Skill,’ is an escape technique to preserve your life."

"Take these two Magical Treasures and refine them—you will understand their uses once done."

The East River Palace Master bestowed the Absolute Skills and Magical Treasures and continued, "The East River Palace holds assemblies every nine hundred years. You may attend and listen. Should you have doubts about your cultivation, you can seek clarification at these gatherings. Cultivate earnestly and do not squander your talents."

With the grant of skills and treasures complete, along with words of encouragement, the East River Palace Master finished speaking. In the next instant, his figure faded away, vanishing from the hall.

"We respectfully bid farewell to our teacher!"

Chen Jichuan, Shen Mo, Shi Ze, and the others rose to their feet, respectfully bidding farewell together.

...