CHAPTER 718: 594 MASTER CHI ZHANG

The Daoist child looked adorably ugly, with a face full of smiles. He was indeed Ruan Jiu, the chief disciple of Master Chi Zhang.

He had accumulated over a thousand years of Daoist power and both his inner and outer skills had already reached perfection. He could have ascended to the Spiritual Space Immortal Realm long ago, but because Master Chi Zhang chose not to leave, he stayed as well to accompany his master, waiting to traverse the great calamity of the Earth Immortals together.

He wore a coral staff on his waist, looking young yet bearing a very steady aura. Ding Chang introduced, "This is our senior brother, Ruan Jiu, also known as the Chi Zhang Daoist Child."

Although Ding Chang also possessed a thousand years of Daoist power, she still had the mischievous nature of a little girl. As she spoke, she pointed casually at the red coral staff tied to Ruan Jiu’s waist.

Ruan Jiu came over and said, "I am here by the orders of our master to welcome you all personally. The master has been waiting for you at the Jade True Palace." After exchanging a few courteous remarks, he took the lead and guided them inside.

Shi Feiyang entered the Lingjiao Immortal Palace accompanied by his three fellow disciples.

This Immortal Mansion was built by Master Chi Zhang and his wife, along with their disciples, who spent many years and much effort on it.

Shi Feiyang saw elements of his own Outer Heaven Divine Mountain’s palace style in it.

The Outer Heaven Divine Mountain was a piece of land that had fallen from the Spiritual Space Immortal Realm, and its palace was indeed an Immortal Realm’s official palace.

Master Chi Zhang frequently had immortals from the heavens visiting the Lower Realm, and there was mutual exchange between them. Hence, the architecture here bore the style of the Heavenly Palace, blending elements from human constructions, possessing the strengths of both celestial and human aspects, with the refinement of the Heavenly Palace and the uniqueness of human architecture.

They soon reached the Jade True Palace. Ruan Jiu went in first to report and quickly came back out to invite everyone inside.

Walking into the grand hall, which was incredibly spacious and housed many small landscapes, they eventually passed a gold screen and saw a Daoist wearing exquisite robes, a jade crown, and a three-strand long beard sitting on a Jade Cloud Bed, exuding an ethereal aura as if he could ascend at any moment.

Others, upon arriving at this Lingjiao Immortal Palace, did not dare to overstep their bounds, only treating persons like Ruan Jiu, Ding Chang, and others as equals, and would greet Master Chi Zhang in a junior’s manner.

Naturally, Shi Feiyang did not consider himself a junior. He and Li Jingxu addressed each other as Daoist friends, and besides, he was the elder brother of Blood God’s Son Deng Yin and Qingcheng Sect’s Jiang Shu. Acknowledging himself as a junior would also lower the status of his two brothers.

In fact, with Master Chi Zhang’s years of cultivation and Daoist power, he was considered a peer of the three elders of Emei. It was only natural for Deng Yin as a junior, and as for Jiang Shu, he was half a generation below Master Changmei, so addressing Master Chi Zhang as ’Grandfather’ should not have been demeaning.

However, Shi Feiyang disregarded these conventions and met as an equal, calling Master Chi Zhang ’Brother Liu’.

Ruan Jiu and Ding Chang were astonished. They believed that there were only a handful of people in the world who could be considered peers to their master. They knew the background of Shi Feiyang, and his direct equal interaction with Master Chi Zhang seemed somewhat audacious.

Yu Wa and others were even more stunned, internally blaming Shi Feiyang.

She was someone who would actively seek favor from Gan Biwu and Ding Chang. Facing Ruan Jiu, she felt an invisible pressure weighing heavily on her heart. Her usually arrogant persona did not dare to act out in front of Ruan Jiu, much like a primary school student in front of a strict teacher.

Her heart was in her throat, fearing that Shi Feiyang might anger Master Chi Zhang and his disciples, which could also bring suffering upon herself.

However, to her surprise, Master Chi Zhang was extremely kind and affable, recognizing Shi Feiyang as a Daoist friend without any displeasure, which even Ruan Jiu and Ding Chang found remarkable.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Shi Feiyang, Master Chi Zhang invited him to sit in the guest seat and then Ruan Jiu introduced the rest of the group.

Yu Wa thought to herself: Since Shi Feiyang was treating Master Chi Zhang as an equal and calling each other Daoist friends, if she also addressed Shi Feiyang as a Daoist friend, then she would be considered a peer to Master Chi Zhang too. Otherwise, if ranked with Ding Chang and the others, she would be considered a generation lower than Shi Feiyang.

Being proud and haughty, she was unwilling to be seen as someone’s junior and thus resolved to treat Master Chi Zhang as a peer.

But although Master Chi Zhang looked kind and approachable, smiling at her, when she stood in front of him, the same smile suddenly seemed to exert immense pressure.

She was certain no deliberate actions were taken against her, yet the invisible pressure made her knees weaken as if she were in the presence of a deity from the Upper Realm, making her unable to look directly or act disrespectfully, only wishing to bow in reverence.

Then she naturally kneeled down on both knees and kowtowed, "Junior, Yu Wa, has been cultivating on West Sea Island with Daoist friends Gan and Ding, close as sisters. I have long wished to visit the Immortal Palace to pay respects to my seniors, and finally meeting you in person is truly a privilege that spans three lifetimes..."

At the beginning, there were a few stutters, but as he spoke further, it became smoother, as if everything that was said came from the bottom of his heart, genuinely sincere!

Master Chi Zhang kindly allowed her to rise and praised her several times.

Then, Liu He and others approached to kowtow and pay their respects before finally taking their seats. Among them was Disciple Ding Chang, and three very beautiful fairies who looked like young girls. In reality, they were Earth Immortals with three to five hundred years of Dao Level, serving the guests with various fruits and teas.

The group comprised of Immortals who had transcended the need for grain, so naturally, they did not indulge in eating like mortals but merely sipped tea and ate fruits, largely to set the scene. The main value still lay in conversation.

Master Chi Zhang was definitely an elder among the Sword Immortals, having lived through the magnificent Kaiyuan era, known for interacting with highly regarded Immortals in history.

Besides the previously mentioned Three Immortals of Kaiyuan, he also met with Lu Dongbin, Chen Xiyi, and others, engaging respectively in exchanges that broadened his insights to awe-inspiring depths. Even Li Jingxu could not compare to him in this regard. His Dao Level and mana had reached such extremities that he had done everything there was to do... running out of interests, he then went to Tianpeng Mountain for secluded cultivation, never leaving the mountain again.

He could see through the problems that each person harbored, using mere words to enlighten them instantly.

He could also see through a person’s character, knowing Yu Wa was proud and arrogant. Speaking publicly about her issues and providing solutions would not only fail to make her grateful but would also embarrass her, benefiting neither party.

Liu He spoke the most. This eldest disciple from Tongye Island, youthful and handsome, had a character gentle as jade. He was tactful and well-mannered, humble in speech and action.

Master Chi Zhang particularly liked this child and spoke more to him than to others.

On Tongye Island, there was a Magnetic Peak containing Magnetic True Qi. Any metallic object near this peak would be drawn to it.

Thus, the island used millennium-aged Tongye Divine Wood to refine swords and treasures, to prepare against enemies using metal Flying Swords by creating Magnetic True Qi specifically to counteract the Five Metal Treasures.

This arrangement was mutually beneficial, where wooden swords and magnetic force complemented each other. However, this also created a weakness—the wooden swords lacked lethal power.

Master Chi Zhang instructed Liu He that wood generates fire, and fire overcomes metal, and provided him with specific cultivation methods.

Evidently, he tailored his method according to Liu He’s personal circumstances, which would be futile for others to learn.

Liu He had not expected such a tremendous unexpected gain from this visit, hurriedly kneeling down to kowtow and express his gratitude.

After the banquet, Master Chi Zhang had his disciples take Yu Wa and others to tour elsewhere, leaving only Shi Feiyang and himself in the room, along with the eldest disciple Ruan Jiu in attendance.

This time, the conversation turned more profound. Shi Feiyang knew that in the future, Master Chi Zhang would seek his assistance to transcend a major cosmic catastrophe. However, he himself had a vague understanding of the impending catastrophe, having calculated it several times with only a rough outline formed. It was certain that Spiritual Energy would decrease and eventually deplete post-catastrophe, among other events, including a significant Demon Tribulation and great disaster—affecting not just Earth Immortals but all sentient beings in the world.

Master Chi Zhang said, "Thirteen years ago, Jile True Master Li Jingxu visited. He mentioned that his cultivation had reached absolute Perfection and that he would soon ascend to the Spiritual Space. Originally in the Lower Realm’s Mysterious Sect, he and Ying Mu had the highest Dao Level and strongest mana, regarded as the pillars of the Orthodox Daoist community.

"But Ying Mu ascended early, and later he was also departing. He worried about how the Mysterious Sect’s fortunes would fare after his ascension. There was Master Miao Yi from the Emei Sect, capable of leading the group of immortals to combat the disaster. However, many uncertainties emerged. He proposed that I leave my seclusion... Haha, my friend, it is laughable."

Shi Feiyang had already calculated Li Jingxu’s visit and its connection to the Mysterious Sect leader but was unclear of the specifics. Now, hearing him finish, he sighed with a smile, "If my friend could leave seclusion, it would indeed be good. I find myself somewhat powerless now."

"My friend is too modest!" Master Chi Zhang laughed, "I haven’t descended from Tianpeng Mountain for several hundred years. Otherwise, by just making another turn in the Human World, within a decade or so, I could also reach Cultivation Perfection, achieve Body Ascension, and ascend to the Immortal Realm. Li suggested sending my disciple Ruan Jiu instead, but I rejected it right away. Later, he mentioned you."

Shi Feiyang said, "Sending Ruan would be fine too, I mean it. I still can’t find where Chi You is hidden. The main reason for coming up the mountain was actually to consult with you directly about where exactly Chi You is now hiding."

Master Chi Zhang slowly shook his head: "I can’t find him either, but be cautious of another future menace, the Blood Demon."

Shi Feiyang added, "Ayin has already been sent by me for reincarnation at Outer Heaven Divine Mountain. Born with extraordinary talents this life, I instructed my disciple to educate him well, trying not to let him choose the path of evil. Born from the essence blood of Turtle and Snake—and should he deviate—I will use the Turtle Snake Parents Heart Mantra to discipline him."

Master Chi Zhang’s expression turned serious: "It’s because you are too calculated, which has caused resentment in the Blood Demon’s heart. Though he has reincarnated, his enmity is planted like a seed in his heart, bound to sprout one day!"

At this, Shi Feiyang also felt some worries, "I... can’t just eliminate him now. I can only take things as they come. If he truly turns to evil in the future, I will personally eliminate him. My friend, do you know of a better solution?"