Nine Transformations of the True Spirit.

Chapter 726 Mundane Matters
The next morning, Chen Yuan and the others quietly left the Lingyun Sect's mountain gate and traveled to the Nine Immortal Continent via an ancient teleportation array.

Before leaving, Jin Luoheng handed over the sect leader's seal to Wu Zexian, whom he trusted most, to take control of the sect's protective array, but did not tell him about the ancient teleportation array.

Sun Congyao will accompany Chen Yuan to Jiuxianzhou. Before he returns, the ancient teleportation array will be unguarded.

However, the ancient teleportation array has remained undiscovered for over a century.

Now that the State of Qi is completely under the control of the Lingyun Sect, there is no need to worry about being discovered, and leaving for a few days will not cause any trouble.

However, out of caution, Chen Yuan had Bai Yanji set up another formation that would be impossible for a Core Formation cultivator to break through.

As for Nascent Soul cultivators, Chen Yuan had just given a three-day public sermon, and no one dared to sneak into the heart of the Qi Kingdom.

Chen Yuan did not go looking for Lu Wangquan. Lu Wangquan had said that she would appear on time at the Dual Cultivation Ceremony, and she would definitely not break her promise.

After everyone walked out of the ancient teleportation array, Sun Congyao was visiting the Silent Sea for the first time. Although he had heard Chen Yuan and Jin Luoheng mention it many times, he was still quite surprised.

However, he was calm and composed, and did not show it, silently following the others away from the Silent Sea.

The fact that the spiritual energy concentration in Yuqing Sea exceeded that of Donghua Continent made Sun Congyao quite emotional, truly realizing the gap between Donghua Continent and Jiuxian Continent.

The group arrived at Tianji Island without concealing their cultivation levels and flew directly into the market.

A patrolling cultivator from the Heavenly Mystery Sect came to greet him. Chen Yuan showed a token, and the patrolling cultivator immediately stepped aside, clasped his hands in a respectful salute.

This is a token given to Chen Yuan by Ningbi Zhenren at the behest of Tianjizi before he left Tianji Island. It signifies his status as an elder of the Tianji Sect.

Although they cannot enter or leave the sect's protective formation on their own, they have unimpeded access outside the mountain gate.

When the group arrived at Welcoming Peak, the Core Formation Steward on duty there had already remembered Chen Yuan's identity and immediately ordered someone to report to him.

In less than a quarter of an hour, Master Ningbi arrived in person.

She had known Jin Luoheng and Zhuge Qi for a long time, but mistakenly took Sun Congyao and Bai Yanji, who were standing quietly to the side, as her master and disciple.

When she heard Chen Yuan address Sun Congyao as his senior brother, she was extremely surprised, but she no longer dared to underestimate Sun Congyao and even addressed him as a fellow Daoist.

However, Sun Congyao was very tactful and did not become arrogant just because he was Chen Yuan's senior brother. He still respectfully addressed Ningbi Zhenren as senior, without overstepping his bounds.

Cultivators value cultivation level above all else, disregarding lifespan. Seniority among disciples is determined by the order of entry into the sect, and beyond that, only the level of their cultivation realm matters.

Even the term "fellow disciples" is only determined by whether they have studied under the same master. Within a sect, only the level of attainment matters, with those who have reached the highest level being given priority.

Ningbi Zhenren arranged cave dwellings for everyone, but Chen Yuan still stayed with Jing Shuhan on Wulan Peak.

Immortal cultivators have long lifespans and only value their cultivation level. Unlike mortals, they are not bound by many rules and regulations, and they are extremely open-minded about relationships between men and women.

After Chen Yuan arrived at Misty Peak, he had Jing Shuhan send a communication talisman to Liu Ye, instructing her to leave the mountain gate and go find Li Qingshan.

Li Qingshan's cave dwelling is located in the same place as Sun Congyao's, on Yingke Peak.

Chen Yuan could bring him into the Tianji Mountain Range, but that would be too conspicuous. It would be better to let Liu Ye leave the mountain gate and discuss things with Li Qingshan on his own.

That evening, Chen Yuan told Jing Shuhan everything about his origins in Donghua Prefecture and the Lingyun Sect.

To Chen Yuan's surprise, Jing Shuhan wasn't particularly surprised. She simply asked, "Fellow Daoist Jin, have you agreed to our marriage?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yuan felt a strange sensation, but he still nodded: "After I enter the spatial passage, you can go to Donghua Continent to cultivate and serve as a Supreme Elder in the Lingyun Sect. Are you willing?"

After cultivators become partners, they do not change how they address each other as masters, unlike ordinary people.

Although Jin Luoheng was Chen Yuan's master, he never taught Jing Shuhan any martial arts techniques or supernatural abilities. Jing Shuhan would only address him as a fellow Daoist, and after they became Daoist partners, she would only call him the Sect Leader.

Jing Shuhan rolled her eyes at him: "Everyone knows that a woman follows her husband wherever he goes. Since I have married my husband, I have also married into the Lingyun Sect."

Chen Yuan asked, "Even if I'll stay in Donghua Continent forever?"

Jing Shuhan paused for a moment, then shook her head: "Husband, have you forgotten that I still need to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, waiting for you to advance to the Mahayana stage and open the path to ascension?"

"If Donghua Continent is truly as barren as my husband says, I must stay in Jiuxian Continent to seek opportunities."

"Fellow Daoist Jin, are you worried that I might reveal the matter of the ancient teleportation array?"

Chen Yuan smiled and said, "After we become Daoist partners, we will be one, and the Lingyun Sect will have no secrets from you."

"In the future, Lingyun Sect cultivators will enter the Nine Immortal Continent in large numbers for training. Why would your master restrict your whereabouts?"

Jing Shuhan breathed a sigh of relief: "Husband, rest assured, I will keep my mouth shut and won't even tell my master."

Chen Yuan nodded, but a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes: "Just now I said that I am not a cultivator from the Nine Immortal Continent, why weren't you surprised at all?"

Jing Shuhan smiled faintly: "Ever since I learned that my husband has gained the favor of four Nascent Soul cultivators and will break through to the Nascent Soul stage within a hundred years, I will no longer be surprised by anything my husband says."

……

The next day, Liu Ye and Li Qingshan entered the Tianji Mountain Range together and arrived at Wulan Peak, where they met Chen Yuan and Jing Shuhan.

Li Qingshan, beaming with joy, bowed deeply to Chen Yuan: "Liu Ye has agreed to become my Daoist partner. I hope Master will grant my request."

Jing Shuhan stood up and went to Liu Ye's side, took her hand, and asked softly, "Senior Sister, have you thought it through?"

Chen Yuan looked at Liu Ye, whose cheeks were slightly flushed. He lowered his head and said in a voice barely audible, "I am willing to go to Donghua Continent with Qingshan."

Yesterday, she and Chen Yuan did not cultivate. After their lovemaking, they left the cave and nestled together under the starry sky, whispering sweet nothings.

Chen Yuan told Jing Shuhan about Li Qingshan's feelings for Liu Ye. After Chen Yuan and Li Qingshan returned to Lingyun Sect, Jing Shuhan also learned from Liu Ye the reason why the two were in love with each other.

A year ago, Liu Ye went to Fengyuan Mountain in Renzhou to look for Chen Yuan, but he was not in the cave. He only met Li Qingshan.

The two had already met when Liu Ye came to see Chen Yuan after Jing Shuhan was seriously injured.

After seeing Liu Ye, Li Qingshan asked her why she had come.

However, Liu Ye was angry when he saw that Jing Shuhan had waited for Chen Yuan for twenty years, and spoke somewhat harshly.

Li Qingshan mistakenly believed that she came with ill intentions, so he refused to tell her whereabouts of Chen Yuan.

In reality, Li Qingshan didn't know Chen Yuan's whereabouts either, but during their verbal exchange, Liu Ye thought he was deliberately hiding something and attacked him in anger.

Liu Ye knew that Chen Yuan had only been a Nascent Soul cultivator for a hundred years and had not been a disciple of Li Qingshan for long. He himself was a late-stage Core Formation cultivator, so he did not take him seriously.

Although Li Qingshan's cultivation level was one level lower, he was a sword cultivator with an exceptionally sharp flying sword. After a battle, he still managed to defeat Liu Ye.

Rumors, having lost face, covered her face and left. But Li Qingshan wanted to know why she was inquiring about Chen Yuan's whereabouts, and worried that she might harm Chen Yuan, so he followed her and kept asking her questions.

Liu Ye refused to answer, and the two fought several times, but Liu Ye was no match for him each time and was defeated every time.

However, Li Qingshan was mindful that she was Jing Shuhan's senior sister, and dared not kill her, so the two remained deadlocked.

As a disciple of True Person Ningbi and a late-stage Core Formation cultivator, Liu Ye had never suffered such humiliation. Overwhelmed with anger, he burst into tears and decided to tell the whole story. Li Qingshan was shocked and quickly apologized to Liu Ye, but Liu Ye ignored him.

Knowing that Chen Yuan and Jing Shuhan had a deep relationship, Li Qingshan was worried that he would offend his future teacher's wife. Helpless, he could only try to win Liu Ye's favor.

Even when Liu Ye deliberately made things difficult for him, he didn't get angry.

Gradually, the two developed feelings for each other and even secretly pledged their lives to one another.

Liu Ye then returned to Tianji Island, while Li Qingshan embarked on a journey to find Chen Yuan.

After learning about the story between Jing Shuhan, Chen Yuan was filled with emotion.

Such an old-fashioned story had long since disappeared in his previous life, yet it unexpectedly appeared in his own disciple's life.

Fortunately, neither Chen Yuan nor Jing Shuhan were old-fashioned people, and they would not separate the couple just because one of them was their apprentice and the other was their senior sister.

As for Ningbi Zhenren, Chen Yuan had no worries at all.

Lu Wangquan has been away from Tianji Island for less than ten days. As long as Chen Yuan proposes marriage, Ningbi Zhenren will definitely not refuse.

Seeing that Li Qingshan and Liu Ye had both expressed their feelings, Chen Yuan didn't hesitate and immediately took the two of them to propose marriage to Ningbi Zhenren.

Upon learning of this, Ningbi Zhenren was extremely astonished and stared intently at Liu Ye: "Do you really intend to marry Qingshan?"

Liu Ye shrank back, but still mustered his courage and nodded.

Ningbi Zhenren raised her eyebrows, about to erupt.

But when she caught a glimpse of Chen Yuan out of the corner of her eye, and thought of the unfathomable Senior Lu, as well as the three great cultivators who had presented congratulatory gifts on behalf of Nascent Soul cultivators, she couldn't help but tremble, and her anger vanished without a trace.

She gave a bitter smile: "A daughter is like a tree that grows up and leaves home..."

Chen Yuan smiled slightly: "Qingshan, why don't you thank Fellow Daoist Ningbi?"

A hint of joy flashed in Li Qingshan's eyes. He clasped his hands in a bow and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Senior Ningbi. I will definitely treat Liu Ye well."

Liu Ye bowed deeply: "This disciple is unfilial and will not be able to serve Master from now on. I hope Master will forgive me."

Ningbi Zhenren sighed, took out a top-grade spiritual material, and gave it to Li Qingshan.

Liu Ye is only a Core Formation cultivator, not a true disciple.

She and Li Qingshan became Daoist partners, a decision Ningbi Zhenren could make herself without Tianjizi's approval.

Chen Yuan was much more generous, taking out two bottles of late-stage Core Formation pills and giving them to Liu Ye.

When he handed over the inheritance of the Yuling Sect to Jin Luoheng, he withheld some cultivation resources, including many pills for the Core Formation stage, which came in handy today.

Liu Ye was overjoyed. For True Person Ningbi, a late-stage Core Formation pill was no ordinary treasure.

But Chen Yuan's casual gift of two bottles, showing such importance to her, dispelled all of Liu Ye's doubts as she was about to leave the sect and travel to another continent.

Without any hesitation, Ningbi Zhenren flicked her sleeve and put the betrothal gifts on the table into her mustard seed ring.

To ensure Li Qingshan could marry Liu Ye, Chen Yuan offered ten top-grade spirit stones, five high-grade spiritual materials, and a bottle of early-stage Nascent Soul pills as betrothal gifts—a truly generous offer.

However, after the two became Daoist partners, the Lingyun Sect essentially gained a late-stage Core Formation cultivator for no reason. In truth, the Tianji Sect was at a disadvantage.

Ningbi Zhenren was clearly not as generous as Tianjizi. She directly returned Jing Shuhan's betrothal gifts to Chen Yuan and even gave him a three-thousand-year-old purple spirit ginseng as part of his dowry.

This is not only because Liu Ye is her personal disciple, but also because Liu Ye, as Jing Shuhan's senior sister, became a Daoist couple with Chen Yuan's disciple. Even in the cultivation world, which does not value etiquette, this is a great breach of propriety.

However, since Chen Yuan, a great cultivator, personally proposed marriage, and four Nascent Soul cultivators were backing him up, True Person Ningbi dared not offend him and could only express her dissatisfaction in this way.

Chen Yuan pretended not to know about this, and then, under his and Ningbi Zhenren's witness, Li Qingshan and Liu Ye held a simple dual cultivation ceremony and officially became Daoist partners.

Their identities are special, so they shouldn't make a big fuss about it.

However, getting married under the witness of a great cultivator was a rare occurrence in the cultivation world. The two of them didn't care about such formalities and were completely content.

After the two became Daoist partners, they quietly left the mountain gate and went somewhere to express their love.

Chen Yuan stayed on Misty Peak, waiting for his dual cultivation ceremony with Jing Shuhan twenty days later.

Time flies. Just one day before the Dual Cultivation Ceremony, Chen Yuan, who was meditating and cultivating in Jing Shuhan Cave, suddenly opened his eyes, startled awake from his meditation, and listened intently.

After a while, he got up and left the stone chamber, went to another cultivation room, and woke up Jing Shuhan who was meditating.

Jing Shuhan was quite surprised: "Is there something you need, husband?"

These days, the two have not been inseparable. Instead, they meditate and cultivate every day, and only spend the night together in the evening.

But after it was over, the two would continue meditating and cultivating.

Cultivation is like sailing a boat; you are constantly racing against time to save your lifespan. If you don't advance, you fall behind, and you cannot afford to be the slightest bit lax.

Chen Yuan said, "Senior Lu summoned me suddenly, but I cannot leave the mountain gate. I need my wife to see me off."

Jing Shuhan was surprised: "Even through the sect's protective array, my husband could receive Senior Lu's telepathic message?"

Chen Yuan shook his head: "How could we possibly fathom the methods of a Nascent Soul cultivator?"

He felt somewhat fortunate. After returning to Tianji Island, he set up an array to block divine sense in Jing Shuhan's cave dwelling, and then set up another layer of divine sense barrier.

Even a Nascent Soul cultivator must activate the formation before they can probe the cave with their divine sense.

The two left the cave, their escape light flashing as they departed from Misty Peak.

It was late at night, and there were few cultivators coming and going in the Heavenly Mystery Sect, with few escape lights.

Jing Shuhan took out the elder's token, and the two quietly passed through the sect's protective formation.

Just as they were about to fly away from Tianji Island, Jing Shuhan suddenly stopped and whispered, "Senior Lu must have something important to tell you, my husband, since he summoned you so late at night. I cannot stay here and wait for you. You may go on your own."

Seeing how considerate Jing Shuhan was, Chen Yuan couldn't help but smile. He gently squeezed her hand before turning and flying away.

He flew for over a hundred miles before stopping.

Lu Wangquan stood with his hands behind his back on a towering, solitary stone pillar in the sea, looking down at the dark sea with a leisurely expression.

This stone pillar is about a hundred feet tall, with only a few feet at the top, yet it stands firm against the waves. Its entire body is black, like a piece of dark iron.

Chen Yuan clasped his hands in a respectful bow and said, "Senior, you summoned me late at night. What are your instructions?"

(End of this chapter)