I became an immortal in the mountains

Chapter 722 Before the Holy Heaven Sect!

“I’ve heard of him, and I know him too. He was a prodigy in the Qian Yuan Realm back then, so how could I not know him?” Gu Yuanqing naturally knew who Zhang Xuanlin was talking about.

"It is truly a rare occurrence in history for a floating realm to produce two fellow Daoists, Fellow Daoist Gu and Miao Xuan! It is a pity that the Mountain Lord did not embark on the Path to Heaven with her back then; otherwise, the presence of such two peerless talents together within my Spirit Ruins Sect would have been a legendary tale."

Zhang Xuanlin laughed and said, "Of course, Lord Gu had other opportunities and was able to break free from the cage and achieve such success. Everyone has their own destiny. In fact, I am also curious. When the Tongtian Stele fell and the Twelve Realms of Ding were about to advance to the Linglong Realm, the whole world was shrouded in a seal. How was Lord Gu able to break out of the realm?"

His words carried a hint of curiosity.

Gu Yuanqing hesitated for a moment, but before he could speak, he did not speak.

Zhang Xuanlin seemed to sense his predicament and smiled, "Of course, if it's inconvenient to talk about it, that's fine. After all, everyone in the cultivation world has secrets. I'm just curious and have no intention of prying into other people's secrets. Moreover, there is one thing I must remind you, fellow Daoist: if you are not on the path to heaven, then it's best not to let outsiders know about this matter."

Leaving aside the Floating Realm, the Exquisite Realm is rich in resources, countless rare and precious materials, and various opportunities, making it a truly bountiful place. Countless people in the cultivation world yearn to enter it, but unfortunately, the only way to reach it is through trials. If anyone knew that the Mountain Lord didn't enter through the Path to Heaven, it would likely cause trouble.

"Thank you for the reminder, Sect Master." Gu Yuanqing remained calm and did not mention the matter of breaking through the boundary again.

He was naturally aware of what Zhang Xuanlin had said, but everything was based on strength.

If we're talking about opportunities, the various sects in the Spirit Realm have countless opportunities, with treasures, pills, rare materials, and magical artifacts readily available. They are far richer than the Linglong Realm, so why does no one dare to rob them?

To put it bluntly, these sects are powerful enough that others simply don't dare to do such a thing.

But wasn't Gu Yuanqing the same way at this moment?

Let alone the existence of Beiquan Cave Heaven, even just Gu Yuanqing himself, there are probably very few people in the world who can rival him. If Beiquan Cave Heaven is included, who is there that Gu Yuanqing should fear?
Besides, if his power could truly surpass the combined power of Gu Yuanqing and Beiquan Cave, he would have already transcended the mortal realm and ascended to the immortal realm. Why would he care about the so-called opportunity of the Linglong Realm?

Therefore, Zhang Xuanlin's worries were no longer worries.

In fact, if it weren't for this, how could Gu Yuanqing dare to travel so openly in the cultivation world!
Zhang Xuanlin didn't say much on this issue, and then smiled and said, "As long as the mountain lord knows what's going on, that's fine. Speaking of Junior Sister Miaoxuan, no, now we should call her Senior Sister Miaoxuan. After she broke through to the Yin-Yang Zhou Tian Realm, she became the senior sister of my Lingxu Sect. She may come to find you in the future. She was born in the Ding Twelve Realm. Two hundred years ago, she came to the lower sect to inquire about the movements of the Ding Twelve Realm. There are her relatives in the Ding Twelve Realm. She has not been able to let go of them even after so many years. If it weren't for the Tongtian Stele descending and isolating the Ding Twelve Realm, I'm afraid she would have sent a clone inside."

As he said this, noticing Gu Yuanqing's gaze, he added, "Fellow Daoist, rest assured, when I left Beiquan Mountain, I promised not to reveal anything about the mountain. I, Zhang, have naturally kept my promise and have never mentioned it to anyone."

“I trust the sect leader, otherwise I wouldn’t have come to visit. As for Miaoxuan…” Gu Yuanqing paused for a moment, then smiled and said, “I will meet with her.”

Zhang Xuanlin kept a close eye on Gu Yuanqing's expression.

He was unaware of the entanglement between Li Miaoxuan and Gu Yuanqing. Although it was rumored within the sect that she had personally said she had left offspring in the Ding Twelve Realms, most people actually believed that this was just her excuse.

Yunmeng Holy Son was determined to become Daoist partners with Li Miaoxuan, while Li Miaoxuan was focused on her own path. Using this as an excuse to avoid the conflict, although it tarnished her reputation, it was the most appropriate way to avoid offending Yunmeng Holy Land.

In everyone's eyes, Li Miaoxuan was a prodigy. She grew up in the Lingxu Sect from a young age, and after achieving the Dao Embryo, she broke through to the Dao Fire Realm in just over a year and then entered the Path to Heaven.

Such a prodigy, single-mindedly devoted to the path of cultivation, no one would believe that she would leave behind worldly entanglements during her period of spiritual progress.

As for what happened back then, very few people in the Lingxu Sect knew about it. Qin Baijun and other parties involved would not expose their shameful deeds, so the high-ranking Zhang Xuanlin and Ji Qingyun were completely unaware of the whole story.

However, this did not prevent him from having some guesses. If what Li Miaoxuan said was true, could it be the Lord Gu in front of him?

After all, in the Twelve Realms of Ding, there is truly someone who is worthy of Li Miaoxuan, and perhaps only him.

However, Gu Yuanqing's words did not reveal any information, so he did not ask any further questions.

The two then talked about the Holy Heaven Sect, the Netherworld Sect, and the affairs of the Crimson Abyss Continent.

Zhang Xuanlin said, "You must be careful when facing these two sects. Although the righteous and evil paths are currently working together to fight against the extraterrestrial demons and have signed an alliance, they probably wouldn't dare to attack us head-on. However, the methods of these two sects are strange and hard to guard against. Many cultivators in our righteous sects have suddenly perished, and we suspect that it is related to them. But without evidence, it all comes to nothing in the end. We can only keep these grudges in our hearts."

……

An hour later.

Zhang Xuanlin personally escorted Gu Yuanqing to a secluded courtyard in the mountains before taking his leave.

Upon returning to his cave dwelling, he was greeted by the treasurer elder, who held a jade box, a gift from Gu Yuanqing.

"Sect Master, please take a look. This is the gift presented by Lord Gu today. This elixir is no ordinary one."

Zhang Xuanlin took it, opened the jade box, and poured out a Spirit Nourishing Pill. He was immediately struck by its unique fragrance. Just smelling the aroma made him feel refreshed and clear-headed, as if his soul and consciousness had become clearer.

Looking at the pill again, the Dao essence flowed, faintly transforming into Dao patterns, which upon closer inspection revealed nine patterns.

"A top-grade Earth-rank spiritual pill!" Zhang Xuanlin was extremely surprised. Even for a cultivator like him who had just reached the third stage of the Heavenly Transformation Tribulation, this pill would be of great use. If given to a cultivator at the peak of the Void Heaven Realm, the possibility of achieving the Heavenly Human Realm would increase by at least 30%.

In particular, these nine Dao patterns indicate that the alchemist's alchemical skills are extraordinary, making him a top master. Such pills are almost free of toxicity, and the Dao essence within them can almost directly elevate the quality of the pill by one grade.

“I also had Junior Brother Zheng examine it. The technique used to make this pill is superb, truly a masterpiece of nature. Although it is an Earth-rank spiritual pill, it is comparable to a Heaven-rank one,” said the Treasurer Elder.

Zhang Xuanlin put the pills back into the bottle and sealed it again, saying, "I never expected that the pills in this box would be so precious."

“Yes, I only discovered it when it was put into storage, so I rushed here to the sect leader. Now there is a troublesome matter. Since Lord Gu is giving such pills as a gift, what should we give him when he leaves so as not to make the Lingxu Sect seem impolite?” The treasurer elder smiled bitterly. Sometimes it is not a good thing to receive too much as a gift. If it were just one pill, it would be fine, but there is a whole bottle in this box, with a total of nine pills.

Zhang Xuanlin frowned slightly. This was indeed a problem. Lingxu Sect was a major sect in the world. If others gave them generous gifts and their return gifts were too meager, it would be a laughing stock, with people saying that the people of Lingxu Sect were too stingy.

In their view, Gu Yuanqing's cultivation had reached the Yin-Yang level, so he should at least return some things that others could use.

Of course, it's not that the Lingxu Sect can't reciprocate the gift, it's just that some things are not suitable to be given away.

……

The next morning, Zhang Xuanlin personally accompanied Gu Yuanqing to tour the scenic spots in the Taiyan Mountains.

Star debris fell into the Jade Gorge, the gorge filled with fragments of deep blue stars.

The Thousand Tribulations Thunder Sound Waterfall, a waterfall of ten thousand feet, is not a stream of water, but solidified purple-gold heavenly thunder, which strikes the bottom of the pool and transforms into billions of thunder runes that rise up.

Xuanji Chessboard Peak: Entering it transforms one into a chess piece, capable of evolving the world.

Dragon's Metamorphosis Cloud Corridor...

All these wondrous sights are the foundation of the Lingxu Sect as a major sect!
Cultivating within it allows one to perceive profound changes in the Dao that are difficult to comprehend outside. Gu Yuanqing was merely a visitor and could not directly enter to comprehend it, but under the power of his Void-Piercing Heavenly Eye, he could still "see" the changes within.

Although this insight may not be enough to improve one's cultivation, it can accumulate resources for future practice.

In the afternoon, the two played chess in the mountains, chatting and laughing about strange and wonderful things in the cultivation world.

Gu Yuanqing also asked a lot about the current state of the cultivation world, and Zhang Xuanlin did not hide anything and told him everything. However, when it came to the Spirit Realm, he knew very little.

He then added with a smile, "It's fortunate that the mountain lord has come to the sect now. If it had been a few more years, I'm afraid I would have gone to the spirit realm as well."

On the third day, Gu Yuanqing prepared to take his leave.

Zhang Xuanlin escorted him to a place a hundred miles away.

Before leaving, standing in the void, Zhang Xuanlin gestured to those behind him, and immediately an elder presented a wooden box with both hands.

Zhang Xuanlin took it and handed it to Gu Yuanqing, saying with a smile, "Mountain Lord Gu's gift is too precious. Our Lingxu Sect does not know what to return it with. After thinking it over, I think this item may be of some use to the Mountain Lord."

Gu Yuanqing did not refuse, and said with a smile, "Then I will accept it without being impolite!"

Zhang Xuanlin laughed loudly: "It is only right to reciprocate. We part today, and perhaps we will meet again in the spirit world."

"Farewell!" Gu Yuanqing clasped his hands in greeting.

"Farewell!" Zhang Xuanlin clasped his hands in greeting.

Gu Yuanqing turned around, riding the wind and clouds like an immortal, and drifted away, instantly reaching thousands of miles away.

Only after opening the wooden box did they find a handwritten note inside.

It records some places of opportunity in the cultivation world. Most of these areas are dangerous and difficult to enter, but the notes point out these dangers one by one, and also record how to resolve them, as well as relatively safe routes.

These were likely left behind by some senior cultivators of the Lingxu Sect, and Zhang Xuanlin had them copied down as a return gift.

Gu Yuanqing chuckled lightly: "That's quite thoughtful of you. To me, its value far exceeds that bottle of pills."

Those pills were refined by himself. Although they contained some divine soul medicines and Dao souls, Gu Yuanqing only intended them to be given as rewards to his subordinates. However, the notes recorded that even he himself could use them.

Examples include Yin-Yang Reversed Mountain, Star Sand Sea, Thunder Sound Wutong Forest, Heavenly Cry Cliff, Floating Life Mirror Lake, and so on.

Every place has its own unique features, and is a wonder born of nature.

Many great cultivators, when they reach a bottleneck in their cultivation, will travel hundreds of millions of miles to observe and seek opportunities for breakthroughs from the Dao of Heaven and Earth.

Gu Yuanqing glanced through it casually and then memorized it.

He had come out this time hoping to see the strange places in the cultivation world and accumulate the foundation for his path. This notebook was exactly what he needed, saving him a lot of trouble!
"There are at least two places mentioned here, which we can take a look at while we're at it. As for the rest, we can talk about them another day!"

He smiled and continued to ride the light forward.

He hadn't completely decided on the path he would take, but he had a general direction: to the Heavenly Gate Forbidden Domain, the gateway between the cultivation world and the spirit world.

However, he was not in a hurry. If he really wanted to reach the Spirit Realm or the battlefield outside the realm in one fell swoop, he could use the Heavenly Steed's positioning and the Heavenly Fishing Technique to get there immediately.

Moreover, there are still some grudges to be settled in the cultivation world, so these can all be dealt with in the meantime.

So along the way, whether to go or stop, it was all according to my heart.

He might stay in a small, ordinary town for half a month, just for a few songs.

Perhaps the wine and food there are good, and you could stay for a few days.

Or perhaps there just happens to be a farce, and he'll leisurely be a bystander, joining in the commotion!
In this unprecedented scene, he felt his heart become lighter and lighter.

Breaking through the Chaotic Undying realm, one must use their will to completely integrate the imprints of their body, soul, and Dao principles. This process involves continuous forging and refining, ultimately forcibly integrating all their power into one under the tribulation of lightning.

The entire spirit and will permeated the entire process, as if the mental string was always kept taut.

The next step in the practice is to loosen this tension, so that one can travel light.

Gu Yuanqing was in this state at this time, which is why he has been somewhat unrestrained and unconventional along the way.

This process itself is a form of spiritual practice.

As the saying goes, "too much of a good thing is easy to break." Only by striking a balance between tension and relaxation can one advance or retreat with ease!

Three years passed in the blink of an eye, and he was now standing outside the territory ruled by the Holy Heaven Sect.

In fact, Gu Yuanqing had been not far from the Holy Heaven Sect for half a year, but he did not come because he was waiting for someone, namely Li Chengyi.

Before he left, Li Chengyi broke through to the Yin-Yang Realm, but he needed time to consolidate his cultivation and make his realm more stable.

Only then did Gu Yuanqing believe that he could leave the pass.

A rift opened in the void, and Li Chengyi stepped out, then bowed and said, "Greetings, Father!"

Gu Yuanqing looked it over and nodded with some satisfaction: "Not bad, the foundation of the Yin-Yang Realm is complete, without any flaws."

Li Chengyi laughed and said, "If I still cannot achieve perfect merit even with Father's help, wouldn't I truly become a piece of rotten wood!"

Gu Yuanqing laughed, patted his son on the shoulder, and said, "Let's go. The Holy Heaven Sect is just ahead. If it weren't for waiting for you, I would have gone in and killed Zuoqiu long ago."

Li Chengyi said, "Father, could you please send my grandfather and great-grandfather along as well? They also want to see this scene with their own eyes!"

(End of this chapter)