Within Nine-Headed Peak, Zhang Yan sat cross-legged atop the stone platform, a sphere of thick yellow mist rising behind him, hovering high above his head, slowly shifting and changing shape.
The mist was dense and heavy, like leaden clouds pressing down, boulders teetering on the brink, or mountains about to crumble, with a foreboding sense of imminent descent.
After circulating the light mist a few tis, Zhang Yan seized a spell, slowly gathering it and drawing it back into his body, only then did he withdraw the spiritual chanism and look up.
In what seed like a flash, two years had passed. Due to various concerns, he had not ignited acupoints or refined apertures, focusing all his efforts on cultivating the Supre Mysterious True Light.
Water is the source of the Five Elents, earth is the mother of the Five Elents. Without earth, nothing grows; without water, nothing flourishes. Previously, his cultivation of the Water Elent True Light had seen minor success, but achieving further progress in a short period was impossible, so he chose to practice an Earth Elent True Light instead.
Despite the assistance of the Broken Jade, over these two years, he could barely condense a single sphere of true light, far from being able to use it to harm others.
He calculated with his fingers; in just a few hours, it would be ti for Qingcun Mountain to open its array. It was about ti to set off, so he laughed aloud and said, "The array gate is about to open, and the child has yet to return?"
Outside the cave mansion, on a wheel-sized stone platform, a small child was playing with a brightly feathered mountain sparrow. Upon hearing the call, the child responded crisply, their small figure arching before turning into a stream of clear qi and darting into his sleeve.
Zhang Yan chuckled; Master Shi had passed away a year ago. Since he had promised to take this Zhi Tong to the mortal world for fun, he wouldn’t go against his word. On the day of the array’s opening, it was fitting to bring him along.
He rose and stepped out of the cave mansion, standing on a mountain cliff, gazing at distant peaks. Suddenly, clear qi reflected the sky, dyeing the heavy clouds erald, as fluttering flying leaves drifted down, a mass of green clouds flew over, and a voice sounded from midair, "Li Daoist, we must depart today, are you prepared?"
With a tip of his toes, Zhang Yan caught the breeze and ascended the cloud, stopping not far from Daoist Dong Jin, smiling, "Since I have an agreent with Daoist Dong Jin, I will naturally comply. Rest assured, once I leave the array, I’ll find a chance to break away."
Daoist Dong Jin replied coldly, "Very well, the Ganoderma Ancestor’s shell must not be lost. In a mont, watch my thods; I shall carve out a path for you, fellow Daoist."
Zhang Yan nodded slightly; this matter had long been settled between them. After exchanging a few more words, they each took a seat on the cloud, waiting for the great array to open.
At this mont, outside the array gate, the Ruya Daoist and Daoist Qingyao had both arrived, bowing in salutation, exchanging words of admiration. Around them swirled clear qi, attracting fragrant flowers and exotic birds into a revolving dance, their feet resting on leaves of gourd, a tender green swaying gently in the wind.
Suddenly, a transformation light lood nearby, accompanied by a cough. The two turned their heads to see, not far away, an elderly Daoist no taller than three feet appear.
Sitting atop a banana leaf, the figure was dry and frail, face full of wrinkles, holding a bamboo cane with a purple-red gourd hanging from it, drooping eyelids, presenting a half-asleep illusion, it was the sa Han Guzi who had once t Zhang Yan at Purple Bamboo Mountain.
The Ruya Daoist exclaid in surprise, "Senior Brother, where have you co from?"
This senior brother had long since had his Nascent Soul shattered by Yun Tian, clinging to life with a piece of Elixir Jade, it was surprising to see him here today, leaving one to wonder what thod he used to co out of the mountain.
Han Guzi croaked, "No need for concern, Senior Brother. I’m here today because I have an unresolved grudge."
The Ruya Daoist nodded, asking no further questions. Since his junior brother’s foundation had been damaged, his temperant had turned peculiar, making it difficult to approach. However, out of respect for common sect courtesy, not greeting him was out of the question.
Han Guzi fixed his eyes on the array gate. On that day, he had sent Yue Hongzhang to probe Zhang Yan’s background, but Yue Hongzhang had acted with duplicity, outwardly respectful, inwardly disdainful.
Since his foundation broke, Han Guzi’s temperant had drastically changed, becoming hypersensitive. Even the secret whispers of his disciples made him suspect mockery, and now being treated contemptuously by the younger generation filled him with intense sha and anger.
Yet he knew he was no longer what he once was, and the Yue Family was beyond his reach. His seething resentnt, however, found its way to Zhang Yan, the more he thought, the more Zhang Yan’s background seed mysterious, driving him to vow to capture and question him. Hence he ca on this day of the array’s opening, to show others he’s not just a recluse in the mountains.
anwhile, Daoist Qingyao and the Ruya Daoist were exchanging conversations with laughter. She cast a glance at a young cultivator behind the Ruya Daoist, noticing his handso deanor, eyes like deep ink, his hair bound under a long robe, exuding grace and strength, she remarked, "Brother Hao, is this your disciple?"
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