CHAPTER 717: 593 LINGJIAO IMMORTAL PALACE

At the farthest reaches of the East Sea, leaning toward the southeast, beyond the Falling Waterfall, there was a divine mountain in the sea that reached up to Heaven—Tianpeng Mountain. Atop this mountain rested the Lingjiao Immortal Palace.

The Palace Master, Master Chi Zhang, became a True Immortal during the Tang Dynasty and was a contemporary of the three greats from the early Tang: Luo Gongyuan, Ye Fashan, and Zhang Guolao.

By then, he had survived the forty-nine tribulations of an Independent Immortal and had built the Heavenly Immortal Palace at the summit of Tianpeng Mountain.

Now, he had already attained the level of a Golden Immortal. However, he needed to pass one more tribulation to ascend. He believed that taking a divine position in heaven would be too restrictive. Unwilling to reincarnate and undergo the hassle, he remained in the Human World, maintaining his position as an Earth Immortal. In fact, several of his disciples were at the level of Heavenly Immortals, each boasting a Dao Level of a thousand years, with the youngest disciple being an Earth Immortal of three to five hundred years.

His fellow Daoists, who had ascended to the Spiritual Space Immortal Realm, included Golden Immortals and more commonly Heavenly Immortals. They would occasionally come down to visit him for tea and discussion on Daoist Techniques.

This sect, nestled far from human habitation, focused on secluded cultivation and rarely engaged in activities outside their cloister.

The most famous treasure within the palace was the Blue Field Jade Fruit. Consuming it would grant one eternal youth, drawing many, despite the treacherous journey of quicksand, waterfalls, fierce flames, and solid ice, all seeking this fruit.

On the southern side of Tianpeng Mountain stretched a large island into the sea, in reality an often-erupting volcano.

Normally, it would eject dense smoke, fierce fire, and magma. Every seven hundred ninety years, it could eject a Pure Yang Treasure known as Thunder Marsh Divine Sand.

This Thunder Marsh Divine Sand, whether used in Sword Refining or for crafting Magical Treasures, was excellent. Not only was it incredibly sharp, but it also had the effects of vanquishing demons and dispelling evil.

The last eruption had occurred fifty or sixty years ago. Without reaching the designated time, it was impossible to collect.

However, the Lingjiao Immortal Mansion was nearby. If no one collected the sand after an eruption, they would descend to do so, keeping much in reserve.

Yu Wa wanted to acquire the Thunder Marsh Divine Sand for Sword Refining and crafting treasures so that she could seek revenge on Shi Pi the Elder. Currently, her only choice was to head to Lingjiao Immortal Palace.

According to her calculations, her two good friends from West Sea Island, Fairy Shuanghua Wen Liangyu and Piao Ao Pei’er, were currently guests at Lingjiao Immortal Palace.

Ding Chang and Gan Biwu from the palace were good friends of Wen Liangyu and Pei’er. In the past, when they often visited West Sea Island, she would treat them with great hospitality and generous gifts.

Now, she believed it should not be problematic to request Thunder Marsh Divine Sand.

However, she also suspected that Wen Liangyu and Pei’er had intentionally left early to avoid her, which bothered her somewhat.

She then thought to bring Shi Feiyang along to visit Tianpeng Mountain. With Shi Feiyang’s impressive Daoist Techniques, Yu Wa regarded herself as a mere mediator and believed that only Master Chi Zhang and Chi Zhang’s Fairy Grandmother in Lingjiao Immortal Palace could surpass him; the other disciples stood no chance.

Given that the Lingjiao Immortals were hospitable and considering Shi Feiyang’s mighty mana as a member of Mysterious Sect, a visit was bound to be well received. By acting as an intermediary, her chances of obtaining the Thunder Marsh Divine Sand would greatly increase. Hence, she earnestly extolled the virtues of Lingjiao Immortal Palace and fervently invited Shi Feiyang to join her.

While Shi Feiyang had no shortage of Magical Treasures and Immortal Medicine, he had little interest in the Blue Field Jade Fruit and Thunder Marsh Divine Sand.

Nevertheless, it was essential for him to meet Master Chi Zhang at least once. Apart from other considerations, the upcoming great tribulation of Heaven and Earth would spare no Earth Immortal.

This Earth Immortal was a true Earth Immortal. All those who had not ascended from the earth were Earth Immortals, including the elderly couple of Master Chi Zhang.

With the impending great tribulation, even someone as mighty as Master Chi Zhang would feel immense pressure, not to mention his numerous disciples and grandchildren who were all Earth Immortals needing to transcend tribulation.

As powerful as Li Jingxu, who had to undergo the Demon Tribulation, even he had to borrow the Heavenly Heart Double Rings from Shi Sheng for safety. Master Chi Zhang might not be outmatched by Li Jingxu in terms of mana but in terms of his complete cultivation achievements. He would also likely need Shi Feiyang’s help.

Shi Feiyang was prepared to meet him, to talk and see what Master Chi Zhang’s thoughts were.

Thus, he agreed to accompany Yu Wa and told Liu He and others, "Meeting is fate itself. You should come along as well. Experience the palace from beyond our world; broadening your horizons will also benefit your future cultivation."

Some among Liu He and the others had heard of Lingjiao Immortal Palace, while others had not and quietly inquired among themselves.

However, Yu Wa frowned, displeased. There’s a saying, "Guests should not bring other guests," lest they become unwanted. She was already being impolite by bringing Shi Feiyang uninvited, which could still be somewhat excused, but bringing so many people was entirely inappropriate. However, since Shi Feiyang had spoken, she found it difficult to refuse.

Just like this, Yu Wa and her five disciples, Liu He and six other guests, together with Shi Feiyang, a total of twelve people, left West Sea Island and flew toward Tianpeng Mountain.

First, they passed over a hundred thousand li of quicksand and falling waterfalls at the boundary of the East Sea and the South Sea, an area where cold and warm currents clashed, and the yin yang magnetic energy collided intensely. The clouds in the sky were red, pink, purple, blue, and of all color, while the conditions of the sea below were even more complex, both cool and warm. The deeper they went, the more storms and lightning there were.

Luckily, everyone’s mana was exceedingly strong, and even Liu He and his colleagues were top-ranking Sword Immortals, hence they all easily managed to get through.

Upon reaching the foot of Tianpeng Mountain, on the southern side, a volcano burbled and puffed black smoke, yet there were no visible flames or magma; indeed, it wasn’t when the Thunder Marsh Divine Sand was erupting.

Yu Wa explained, "That Thunder Marsh Divine Sand is the refined essence of Bing Fire. On the day it erupts, it emits strong light both day and night, illuminating everything within a thousand li. The last time it erupted, I had intended to collect some, but was delayed by an incident en route. By the time I returned, the fire had died down and the smoke had cleared, alas."

She sighed, still thinking that if she had been able to collect the Thunder Marsh Divine Sand last time and refined it into a powerful magical treasure, perhaps this time she might have been able to defeat Shi Pi the Elder and avenge her disciples and grand-disciples.

Yu Wa pointed to the sky, "This mountain stretches up tens of thousands of zhang, and halfway up there are Gang Winds, hail, and fierce fires, and several layers of Forbidden Circles. Even Earth Immortals who have cultivated for many years might find it hard to ascend."

While she was speaking, suddenly the cloud path above opened, and a colorful cloud descended rapidly from a great height. Standing on it were two fairies, one a beautiful matron and the other a youthful girl. Upon landing, they addressed the two, "Our master, Master Chi Zhang, knows of distinguished guests arriving and specially commanded us, his foolish sisters, to come and welcome you."

The two volunteered their names; the matron was Gan Biwu, the fourth disciple of Master Chi Zhang, and the younger girl was called Ding Chang, the seventh disciple of Master Chi Zhang, both of whom were millennium-old Heavenly Immortals.

They often visited West Sea Island to meet friends. Although they looked down upon Yu Wa’s character and did not wish to be closely associated, they still maintained the necessary courtesies. Having received Yu Wa’s hospitality and even brought her gifts, they managed to maintain appearances.

Yu Wa, considering herself as a friend to both, approached them happily and introduced the others: "This one here is the Great Ming National Master, Master Yuan Yang, whose first name is Shi and his full name Feiyang. These two are the masters of the palace, with a millennium of cultivation and boundless mana, and are my closest friends."

She then addressed the two fairies, "I didn’t notify you beforehand and just brought these guests along, hope you two sisters won’t mind?"

Gan Biwu smiled and nodded at her, then addressed Shi Feiyang, "Our sect often cultivates in seclusion in the mountains, rarely venturing out, and even when we do, we seldom go far, with only a few disciples traveling to Central Earth and the Four Seas either to settle external affairs or to accumulate meritorious deeds. They have mentioned Master Yuan Yang’s great name before, not just a State Preceptor of Central Earth, but also the progenitor of all demons on Outer Heaven Divine Mountain. Many exotic beings near Great Wilderness Mountain also speak of Master Shi’s fame! This time when our master unexpectedly broke his seclusion because distinguished guests were visiting, he instructed us to hurriedly come and invite..."

Yu Wa let out a sigh of relief internally but then felt somewhat displeased.

The relief was because Master Chi Zhang wouldn’t mind her bringing strangers to visit, but the displeasure arose from her initial belief that Gan Biwu and Ding Chang referred to her as the distinguished guest.

Both were millennium-old Heavenly Immortals with vast divine skills and boundless mana. Yu Wa, who was highly proud and usually unconvinced by others, even considering Wen Ruyu and Pei’er from West Sea Island as significantly inferior to herself, genuinely respected these two sisters, acknowledging their superior strength.

Yu Wa had thought that Gan Biwu and Ding Chang had descended to the Lower Realm to welcome her, feeling highly favored and shocked, thinking that such grand gestures in front of others saved her face; in her original expectation, they wouldn’t come down to greet anyone, requiring them to pass through the layers of Forbidden Circles themselves... It would have been a great courtesy already if they had merely sent a junior disciple to welcome them at the palace gates.

Unexpectedly, they had specifically come down the mountain to welcome Shi Feiyang!

Discontent as she might be, Yu Wa didn’t dare show it and had to maintain an outwardly enthusiastic and joyful demeanor, actively joking with Gan Biwu and Ding Chang.

Gan Biwu and Ding Chang then invited everyone to ascend the mountain together, specifically saying to Shi Feiyang, "This mountain connects to the Spiritual Space Immortal Realm, with seven layers of cloud belts and nine layers of Forbidden Circles between them, filled with many sudden dangers. Although master friend’s mana is strong and you won’t be harmed, it’s your first long journey here, and as the hosts, we should come to receive and guide you, please forgive our humble efforts at showing off!"

They genuinely were modest, making Shi Feiyang a bit embarrassed, and he quickly nodded in indication, "Then I’ll trouble you both."

Gan Biwu then raised her hand, and from her sleeve flew out a multicolored nebula that rapidly dispersed and transformed into an area of ten acres, supporting everyone underneath. With Ding Chang’s gentle reminder, the colorful cloud slowly rose, gaining speed gradually and eventually moving as fast as lightning.

This rapid ascent through the colorful cloud soon brought them to the first Forbidden Circle, truly a dangerous place as Gang Wind grew fiercer, causing the colorful cloud around them to violently sway as if being continuously slashed by thousands of swords.

Yet the central area remained very calm, where everyone stood steadily.

Gan Biwu chuckled, "This mountain’s Gang Wind is really annoying, which is why we sisters seldom wish to descend."

After she spoke, she gestured with her hand, and the colorful cloud flipped upwards, completely enveloping everyone but only forming a thin layer of misty fog that blocked the Gang Wind, hail, and frost from outside.

Thus, they passed through nine layers of Forbidden Circles and seven cloud belts. From the mountain base, after moving upward for twenty to thirty thousand zhang into the Forbidden Circles and then further seven to eighty thousand zhang, trees and plants began to appear, the mountain transformed from wind-and-snow-carved barren rock to lush greenery, and numerous rare birds and exotic beasts scuttled about.

Another three thousand six hundred zhang later, they finally reached the mountain top, where a vast expanse of splendid buildings lay.

Upon reaching the mountain gate, a young Daoist child with a tiger’s face, leopard’s head, golden hair, purple eyebrows, and heavy golden pupils had already been waiting there.