I became an immortal in the mountains

Chapter 750 The Spirit Ruins Sect's Test
Lingxu Gate, in the secluded bamboo garden of the Lonely Guest House.

Li Miaoxuan and Gu Yuanqing suddenly appeared among them.

A look of surprise flashed in Li Miaoxuan's eyes. Even though she had seen it many times before, such methods still seemed unbelievable to her.

Qianyuan Island is tens of millions of miles away from this place, and there is an ancient sword mark separating them. Although the Spirit Realm and the Cultivation Realm have the same origin, they are no different from two different worlds.

According to sect records, even a master cultivator of the Chaos Realm can only use the power of special marks and formations left in certain places to cross the void and make a move. It is even more difficult to descend to the mortal realm in their true form.

Furthermore, with the protective array of the sacred land, which has the effect of imprisoning space and isolating the inside from the outside, even the immortal Hun Tian should find it difficult to break in.

But Gu Yuanqing ignored all of this, moving freely through space with his physical body.

She was certain that this was not a technique used by cultivators, which explained why, even in a place like the Floating Realm, the cultivator's progress was still above hers!
However, this is also good, so that the path of cultivation will not seem so lonely!
A slight smile appeared in Li Miaoxuan's heart, but she asked with a cool expression, "Would you like to go to the Peak of Time?"

Gu Yuanqing shook his head and smiled, "No, at that time, all the people on your Sequence Peak are female disciples of the Spirit Void Sect. Even if you go back to the mountain, you will still need to go into seclusion. It would be inconvenient for me to go up alone, and it would attract attention and cause gossip. It is better to stay here and be at ease."

Upon hearing this, Li Miaoxuan said no more, simply stating, "Then so be it!"

Gu Yuanqing smiled and said, "Cultivate diligently, and I will protect you when you undergo your tribulation!"

Li Miaoxuan smiled slightly, nodded gently, and then her body flashed with spiritual light as she transformed into a stream of light and flew out of the courtyard, heading straight for the Time Peak.

Timing peak.

A figure was still waiting there; it was none other than Li Miaoxuan's master, Yun Yinghe.

Li Miaoxuan bowed slightly: "Greetings, Master!"

Seeing her disciple return, her expression softened slightly, and she asked with a hint of inquiry in her eyes, "Who is he?"

Li Miaoxuan remained calm and spoke in a measured tone, without the slightest hesitation, "He is my Daoist partner!"

Yun Yinghe's heart skipped a beat, and her pupils shrank slightly. Although she had already guessed it, it still surprised her to hear it from Li Miaoxuan's mouth. However, she did not ask any further questions. She just looked at her disciple deeply and said, "Prepare well for the tribulation of chaos. We can talk about the rest later. Don't worry about it."

Li Miaoxuan bowed respectfully: "Thank you, Master."

Yun Yinghe nodded slightly, and her figure slowly disappeared from the spot.

Li Miaoxuan glanced back at the direction of the Jizi Courtyard, and seemed to see Gu Yuanqing looking at her from afar in the courtyard.

A hint of a smile flashed in her eyes as she turned and slowly walked towards the Time Pavilion. With each step, her aura became more mellow, as if everything had calmed down and all distracting thoughts had vanished.

When she arrived at the Time Pavilion, her heart was as calm as a still well, and she had regained her clear and enlightened state of mind!
……

Before Yun Yinghe had even returned to her cave, a majestic voice suddenly resounded in her mind: "Junior Sister, come see me!"

She felt a slight chill run down her spine, naturally knowing who had sent her the message.

She vanished in a flash, landing directly on the main peak.

Inside the main hall of the main peak, Ye Zhenghong, the sect master of the Lingxu Sect, dressed in dark-colored sect master robes, waited quietly. Decades had passed, and he had stabilized his realm. At this time, his true body had gone to the outer realm to guard the defense line. What remained here was only an avatar, but it still possessed the strength of the peak of Yin-Yang Zhou Tian. Within this sect's territory, with the help of the sect's formations and foundation, even if the Hun Tian Undying came, he would have no fear!

He was also keeping an eye on Li Miaoxuan, and the matter of Li Miaoxuan could not be kept from him.

Yun Yinghe entered the hall, clasped her hands in greeting, and bowed: "Greetings, Sect Master."

Ye Zhenghong raised his hand and said, "Junior sister, there's no need for such formalities."

Yun Yinghe straightened up and asked, "Did the Sect Master summon me here for any instructions?"

"Do you know that person's background?" Ye Zhenghong asked bluntly, his tone slightly grave. "You should know that Miaoxuan is the hope for the future rise of our Lingxu Sect, and her fate is related to the rise and fall of the sect for the next ten thousand years. We cannot afford to lose her. Her relationship with her is of utmost importance!"

Yun Yinghe remained calm and answered, "Reporting to the Sect Master, Miaoxuan did mention that this Gu Yuanqing was her Daoist partner, but she did not say anything about his background. She only said that his name was Gu Yuanqing, that he came from Beiquan Mountain, and that he came with the Star Token of the Spirit Treasure Holy Land."

Ye Zhenghong said, "As your disciple, Miaoxuan was personally trained by you, so you should know more about her than I do. Back then, she said that she had already married and had a child before leaving the Ding Twelve Realms on the Trial Road. Junior Sister, do you think this Gu Yuanqing is the person she was talking about back then?"

Yun Yinghe asked, "Does the Sect Master believe this person comes from the Twelfth Realm of Ding? Or does the Sect Master believe he comes from Qian Yuan Island?"

"Don't you think so, Junior Sister?" Ye Zhenghong walked slowly through the main hall with his hands behind his back. He continued, "Back then, when Qian Yuan Island appeared in Chi Yuan Continent, it was suspected that a Hun Tian Grandmaster had taken action. The lower realm sects of You Ming Sect and Sheng Tian Sect both suffered heavy losses of disciples and Celestial Elders. Xie Zun, together with Sheng Tian Sect and You Ming Sect, came to Lingbao Holy Land to demand an explanation. The commotion was quite significant. Later, they even showed hostility towards my Lingxu Sect. The reason was that the person who appeared in Chi Yuan Continent was suspected to be related to Miao Xuan and also came from the Twelve Realms of Ding!"

Yun Yinghe paused for a moment, then slowly said, “Sect Master, I believe that as long as Miaoxuan’s heart is with the sect, the identity of her Daoist partner is not the key. If the sect were to investigate rashly at this moment, or even forcibly intervene, it might provoke Miaoxuan’s resentment, backfire, create estrangement, or even cause them to become estranged. It would be better to observe the situation quietly and pay a little attention. Moreover, the Lingbao Holy Land is always cautious in giving away tokens, so her identity should not be a big problem.”

Ye Zhenghong pondered for a moment, and finally said, "What you said makes sense, but we can't let this matter go unpunished. Junior Brother Zhang actually met this Gu Yuanqing before, but at that time he didn't know about his entanglement with Miaoxuan and said that it was unfathomable. So, you go to the Jizi Academy yourself, under the pretext of arranging a better place to stay, to meet this person, test him a little, and observe his reaction."

"Yes, Sect Master." Yun Yinghe bowed and left to accept the order.

A moment later, Yun Yinghe quietly appeared outside the secluded bamboo garden where Gu Yuanqing lived.

"Fellow Daoist Gu, I am Yun Yinghe, the teacher of Miaoxuan. I have come to pay you a visit. May I come into the courtyard for a chat?"

Gu Yuanqing had already sensed her arrival the moment she appeared, and smiled calmly: "Elder Yun, please come in!" The courtyard gate opened by itself without any wind, and Yun Yinghe slowly walked in.

"Greetings, Elder! Gu Yuanqing is very polite!" Gu Yuanqing stood in front of the stone table, smiling and clasping his hands in greeting. The other party was Li Miaoxuan's master. Li Miaoxuan had also said that she had received a lot of care from Yun Yinghe in the Lingxu Sect, so she should give her the respect she deserved.

Yun Yinghe's gaze also fell on Gu Yuanqing. He was wearing an ordinary blue cloth robe, without any other gorgeous decorations. He was exceptionally clean and peaceful, as if all the world's troubles could not leave any trace on him.

She revealed no aura whatsoever. If she were in another place, she would probably be mistaken for an ordinary scholar living in seclusion in the mountains. With her cultivation level, she could not sense any fluctuations in the other party's spiritual power or the depth of his Dao foundation.

This kind of "ordinariness" is itself the greatest extraordinary!
Looking into his eyes, deep within that gentle gaze lies an unfathomable depth and tranquility, as well as a detached and knowing indifference born of having seen the vicissitudes of life and understood the ways of the world.
The faint smile at the corner of his lips seemed to convey a sense of detachment from the world.

She thought to herself, "No wonder Zhang Hegui's background is hard to fathom. He is said to be unfathomable. If he is indeed the person the sect leader is thinking of, then the Twelve Realms of Ding are truly miraculous. It is amazing that two people with such talent as him and Miaoxuan have appeared at the same time! I wonder what kind of encounters allowed them to achieve such cultivation and Daoist attainment in just three hundred years!"

She suppressed her inner suspicions, smiled, and cupped her hands, saying, "Fellow Daoist Gu, it is truly inadequate to have you stay in this Silent Courtyard. The sect has prepared a courtyard for you in the Ruins Courtyard, with far superior facilities and a much richer spiritual energy. Would you mind moving there?"

Gu Yuanqing smiled and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Elder Yun. However, this place is quiet and I am used to living here, so there is no need to trouble yourself. Please have a seat, Elder Yun!"

Seeing his refusal, Yun Yinghe did not insist. She sat down on the stone bench and said, "If that's the case, then I was overthinking it. As long as you're happy, that's all that matters." She paused for a moment and then got straight to the point: "Besides, Fellow Daoist Gu should also know the purpose of my visit, right?"
"Is it because of Miaoxuan?" Gu Yuanqing poured tea for Yun Yinghe, then sat down, not surprised.

Yun Yinghe nodded and said, "Then I will speak frankly. Miaoxuan has an extraordinary future, and Lingxu Sect has also devoted countless efforts to her. She is also the future of Lingxu Sect. I hope that, in any case, Miaoxuan, and even Lingxu Sect, will not be involved in unnecessary conflicts."

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuanqing's smile faded slightly, and he said indifferently, "So, Elder Yun has come here to stop Miaoxuan and me? If so, there's no need for further discussion. What's between Miaoxuan and me is a matter between the two of us, and she will decide for herself. It has nothing to do with the Lingxu Sect. Does the Lingxu Sect intend to interfere in her private affairs? Just like the matter of Xiao Yunqi from the Yunmeng Holy Land back then?"

Yun Yinghe said, "Fellow Daoist Gu, please don't misunderstand. Although I am her teacher, I will not make any decisions for Miaoxuan. It's just that your background has given me and the sect some doubts."

"Oh?" Gu Yuanqing responded.

Yun Yinghe stared at Gu Yuanqing: "When you entered the sect, you registered your origin as Beiquan Mountain, but if I'm not mistaken, you should be from Qianyuan Island, and also from the Twelve Realms of Ding?"

Gu Yuanqing smiled faintly, picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and slowly said, "Your clan seems to know quite a bit about me."

Yun Yinghe sighed softly: "I have to know more. Back then, the sect almost collapsed after that battle. Even after so many years, it was only after the sect leader reached the Hun Tian realm that the sect's situation stabilized. It can't withstand any more turmoil. Similarly, Miao Xuan is the same. With her talent and temperament, the Shattering Heaven realm is not her final destination. As her teacher, I have to consider her situation more."

“I understand Elder Yun’s love and care for his disciple.” His tone was calm, but it carried an undeniable air of authority. “I will not allow my personal grudges to affect Miao Xuan’s path of cultivation, nor do I need to worry about my private affairs dragging the Lingxu Sect into turmoil.”

Yun Yinghe gave Gu Yuanqing a deep look. Seeing his calm and composed demeanor, which was not feigned, her doubts only increased.

Both the Netherworld Sect and the Holy Heaven Sect are top evil sects in the world, with undead masters within them. Even though there is an alliance between good and evil, it doesn't mean that the other side won't dare to make a move. If they strike with lightning speed and kill everyone on Qian Yuan Island, even if the Spirit Venerable knows, it will be useless. Is it really going to start a war between good and evil?
Just like the Lingxu Sect, it wasn't that there weren't any disciples with outstanding talent who were capable of achieving the Hun Tian realm over the past ten thousand years. However, it wasn't until a hundred years ago that the sect leader, Ye Zhenghong, achieved the Hun Tian realm. That was because the other people who were qualified to achieve the Hun Tian realm disappeared without a trace.

It goes without saying who made the move!

But the man before him didn't seem arrogant. So where did his confidence come from? Was it from his own cultivation level, or was there another powerful cultivator on Qian Yuan Island? Could Qian Yuan Island truly be the legendary Qingping Dao Palace's legacy?
Or perhaps it was the Lingbao Holy Land that gave him this confidence?
"Elder Yun, is there anything else you'd like to ask?" Gu Yuanqing asked again.

Yun Yinghe did not probe further, lest Miaoxuan harbor resentment in the future. She stood up and said with a smile, "Since you say so, I am relieved. Then I will not disturb your cultivation. If you have any needs, you can use your token to have a disciple of the Silent Affairs Hall inform me at any time."

"Thank you, Elder!" Gu Yuanqing nodded.

Yun Yinghe said no more and turned to leave Zhuyouyuan.

As soon as she stepped out of the courtyard, she transformed into a streak of light and headed straight for the main hall on the summit.

Inside the hall, Sect Master Ye Zhenghong was still waiting.

"How is it?" Ye Zhenghong asked.

Yun Yinghe shook her head, her expression complex, and said, "I can't see through his cultivation level. Junior Brother Zhang's judgment should be correct. Gu Yuanqing is at least a Yin-Yang Zhou Tian cultivator, or even... a Hun Tian Undying Grand Cultivator! Regarding his origins, he admitted to coming from Qian Yuan Island and promised not to cause trouble for the sect, but..."

Yun Yinghe didn't finish her sentence, but everyone understood what she meant. Sometimes, what good are promises? Since Qianyuan Island has grudges with Shengtian Sect and Youming Sect, and Gu Yuanqing and Li Miaoxuan are Daoist partners, if something really happens, it's not something that can be easily cleared up.

Ye Zhenghong sighed softly. If it were the Lingxu Sect at its peak, with the Undying Chaos Grandmaster in charge, there would be no need to worry at all. But now, the Lingxu Sect simply cannot withstand any setbacks.

You should know that anything can happen in battlefields outside your territory!

The Lingxu Sect is still facing constant danger!
However, this matter cannot be forcibly intervened in. The incident back then may have already caused Miao Xuan to harbor some resentment towards the sect. If, as Miao Xuan claims, Gu Yuanqing is her husband and they have a child, then the three hundred years of sect loyalty may not be able to compare to the bond between husband and wife and blood. If this matter causes her to ultimately distance herself from the sect, then the Lingxu Sect will suffer a great loss!

After a moment, he finally said, "Let's put this matter aside for now. Miaoxuan's tribulation is the most important thing. We can talk about everything else after the tribulation! The situation on the outer battlefield is tense, and my true body is unlikely to return. This tribulation may not go smoothly either. Some sects may not want my Lingxu Sect to rise again. So, junior sister, you must be extremely careful this time!"

Yun Yinghe's expression also became solemn. Li Miaoxuan's tribulation and Ye Zhenghong's tribulation back then were completely different things. When Ye Zhenghong underwent his tribulation, he was already over eight thousand years old, and the Shattered Heaven Realm was probably his end point. Li Miaoxuan, on the other hand, achieved this at just over three hundred years old. The threat they posed to the outside world was incomparable!

Moreover, the Lingxu Sect has been weak for thousands of years and is riddled with problems. Even within the sect, there may not be unity.

"Sect Master, rest assured, even if I, Yun Yinghe, risk my life, I will not let anything happen to Miaoxuan. Anyway, I have no hope of breaking through to the Chaotic Heaven Realm, and my lifespan is not long anyway. If I can exchange my life for the future of the sect, then it is worth it!" Yun Yinghe said in a deep voice.

Ye Zhenghong sighed softly, patted Yun Yinghe's shoulder, turned around and looked at the portrait of the patriarch in the main hall with his hands behind his back. If it were ten thousand years ago, the Lingxu Sect would not have needed to be so cautious and tolerant at all times.

Yun Yinghe remained silent. She naturally knew the heavy burden her senior brother carried. The Lingxu Sect was indeed still a large ship, but it was precisely because of this that it was even more dangerous!

After all, a whale fall can bring life to countless creatures!

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(End of this chapter)